Make your Dual Sport Better Off Road ~ Tires & best Air pump Honda CRF300L

[@davidlarson8299]

Hi Frank. I (like a lot of CRF300L owners) was surprised at how quickly the stock tires wore out. I was also not too upset because I was looking forward to getting something better! By all accounts, the stock IRC tires are just "okay"... pretty good on and off road and a good choice for a stock tire. But there are better solutions and it all depends on your particular riding style. I am a 50/50 or maybe a 60/40 guy... meaning 60% on-road, 40% off-road, so I want a tire that does both well. Thank you for the update on the Tusk Dsport tires... These look like a great choice for a 50/50 guy or someone who leans a little more towards dirt than street use. I was seriously considering these as they seem great and your endorsement helps make a case for these tires. After talking with a friend and reading reviews, I ordered a pair of Michelin Anakee Wild tires for the CRF300L. They are pricey, but by all accounts, they are one of the best choices for a 50/50 dual sport tire! If you haven't noticed, there is a serious supply problem with tires... I think I got the last 90/90-21 Anakee Wild on planet Earth! A lot of popular tires including the Michelin Anakee Wilds and Dunlop 606s are on backorder. I think these Tusks are going to start getting gobbled up! A quick comment about sizing... the stock front tire size of 80/100 x 21 means the tire is 80mm wide, and that the height is 100% of that (so also 80mm). The first measurement is mm, and the second number is "aspect ratio" or percentage of the first number. A 90/90-21 is fine because if you do the math, it is just a little wider than stock (90mm, great for me in the Mojave desert) but the same as stock in height (within 1mm). The 90/90 being a little wider increases contact patch (traction) on pavement, increases "float" on the soft loose stuff, and the same height means it won't mess with your MPH or MPG instrument data. Good stuff! I love the battery operated pump, but I I carry a tiny Zefal mountain bike hand pump in my kit... I found it only takes a dozen pumps to air up these small tires completely and I like that I am not dependent upon a battery operated something out in the boonies. For tire buying choices, here is a good take... I would look at the Tusk Dsport, Dunlop 606, or Pirelli MT21 if you want really good performance off-road. For 50/50, the Michelin Anakee Wild offers excellent performance on and off road and are good for thousands of miles, but they come at a premium price. If the Michelins are too pricey and you want a decent 50/50 tire at an amazing price point, look to the Dunlop 605, Shinko 244, or Kenda 270. If you lean a little more street (say 70%/30%) a Shinko Dual Sport 700 combo (affordable) or Metzeler Enduro 3 Sahara (pricey but excellent) would be a good call. The Continental Twinduro TKC80 is also good as a 40/60 tire but it is an older design that has long been a trusted choice by dual sport veterans and loyalists. Another interesting development is that some people are wearing out tires at a ratio of 2/1, meaning two rear tires to one front tire. This has resulted in some people pairing an aggressive off-road front tire with a 50/50 rear tire. Again, it comes down to riding style and preference. The main point is to get out there and ride! And if you ride in the boonies, carry the tools and tubes needed to change a flat and know how to do it! A good tip is when it comes time to change tires or a tube, do it with the tools you carry in your pack so that you are confident and proficient. Ride on!

[@WOODZMAN]

Hi Dave Thanks for the comments, I odnt think many people actually understand what the tire size numbers mean but you are absolutely correct. I agree also about the stock tires and I have always told viewers that the stock tires are ok on road and ok off road but not great at ether. I ride like 70-80 off road and 20-30 on road and the Tusk Dsport tires should be a good fit for me, time will tell! One thing about the Dsport tires is that they are extremly stiff compaired and hard to mount. I carry a spare front and rear tube on long rides but a person could get by with just having a front tutbe as in an emergency it could also be used in the rear tire. I just cary both because I dont want to have to switch it out later. Thanks for watching!

[@donreed1133]

Oh, I ordered the air pump and I really like it. It seems much more accurate than my older pressure gauges! Thanks for showing it to us!

[@WOODZMAN]

Yea I love mine! Thanks for watchin

[@motogoon]

Been ripping mine off-road just like a dirt bike, my favourite mod for off-road has been the folding enduro mirrors from double take mirrors you can just tuck em in and they aren’t in the way of anything including the dash.

[@WOODZMAN]

Yea I had a set of them on my 2014 250L, they were great

[@frankdecaprio8214]

Me too..dont know how much longer the springs are gonna last! Tires, sprockets are a must!

[@SarasotaTim]

Just saved the air pump in my wish list however living in South Florida and 100% street writing don’t really have a need for it but I really like that little thing and would like to add it as an accessory. It’s now $60

[@WOODZMAN]

Yea but sometimes you can have a flat on the pavement but not as likely

[@hiltonmcconnell2563]

on my KTM 390 Adventure and my DR650 have Dunlop TrailMax Mission tires and hit the gravel and dirt roads all the time and never had to air down they do very good with out airing down and are also great on the road, with over 7.600 Km on the KTM rear tire only down 1 mm and front showing no ware. As I am on and off grave dirt and paved roads all the time do not want tires that I have to stop and air down and the pump back up on a 250 km run might be on and off form paved to gravel or dirt 5 or 6 times. The other day I slipped off some grass in to about 10" of mud and water came to a full stop, thinking I would be stuck but gave it a try and got wright out no problem these tires are way better than I though they would be. By far the best 50/50 tires I have ever had. they should of called them 80/80 or 90/90 tires as they are that good. Hold the road as good or better than a lot road tires and way better than any other 50/50 tire off road than I have ever tried. If I remember wright Dunlop eves says no need to air them down and it is not recommended to air them down. and I have seen no need to on the KTM or the DR. and been though some pretty gnarly stuff.

[@gripitandripit7957]

Those tires perform a lot better and its got the more dirt bike look rather than a street bike so I think the tires also make it look a lot better

[@WOODZMAN]

Agreed

[@whileistillcan9338]

I like my Tusk tires on my 250l but I did notice a lot of gyroscopic effect due to the heavier weight of the tire. It makes the steering heavier on the road but not a problem.

[@2wheelthrill886]

That pump is really cool! I gotta pick one of those up

[@WOODZMAN]

Got that 300L yet ?

[@2wheelthrill886]

@@WOODZMAN No unfortunately definitely wanting one

[@WOODZMAN]

Come on man

[@douglassfwilson]

Thanks for the good information!

[@mitchellbowman4393]

I have the same tires on my 300 rally, love the rear, I do not like the front especially in loose dirt or gravel

[@SuperLaplander]

Good information dear sir, thank you!

[@WOODZMAN]

Welcome!

[@aoakeen]

Tires are next for me, Got bars, skid plate luggage rack and 1 gallon roto pak

[@WOODZMAN]

Nice!

[@Broxty]

I need that pump!

[@mikegillespie266]

Good stuff!!

[@lwrich2229]

Great video Woodsman. Like the air pump, but let me know how those D-Sport tires are after you get 1000 miles on them without balancing.

[@WOODZMAN]

Will do

[@CountryGentleman]

Note the Tusk Dsport Adventure Tire is not available in the CRF300L stock size of Front: 80/100-21 , Rear: 120/80-18. I looked into it deeply in July and the only good options for upgraded nobbies at the stock size was Metzeler MC360 Mid/Soft and IRC M5B EVO Soft Terrain. I expect more will pop up soon. I got the Metzeler and am happy with them, big improvement in the wet and mud. Rougher on the road though.

[@WOODZMAN]

My front is a Dsport Adventure Tire 90/90x21 got on Amazon. Woks perfect amzn.to/2ZEmpLR My rear tire is a Dsport Adventure Tire 120/90x18 works perfect amzn.to/3m3Kmni

[@reg26]

@@WOODZMAN Curios the tube you recommended for the front was for a 80/100-21. Are you supposeed to size the tube with the 90/90-21 or the stock size 80/100-21? I'm confused

[@WOODZMAN]

Most of the tubes are to fit multi size tires. 90/90 80/100 same tube works

[@michaeljames6821]

I remember when you were running the motoz tractionators do you ever run them anymore?

[@WOODZMAN]

I liked them a lot. My only complaint was they are extremely loud on the pavement and the price

[@donreed1133]

Hi Frank, I’m curious how the Tusk D-Sport tire on the front is doing for you? One review I saw said it was really good on hard surfaces, but not so much on looser dirt and gravel? Thanks

[@WOODZMAN]

I think it’s good on gravel. It’s way better then stock

[@sarahdell4042]

I ride a lot of highway, and gravel. Any idea how the Tusk do at 70 mph? Would love to know how long they last. Hate changing tubed tires!

[@WOODZMAN]

I haven’t owned them long enough or enough miles to do a good review yet. I have heard good things about them and that is why I chose them myself

[@razorsharpbt124]

How is the sound and vibration on the road? Thanks, Frank!

[@WOODZMAN]

I do notice the sound is a little louder than the stock but. Not bad so far, it may change as they wear. It has a little vibration but not bad

[@tylerhickernell3099]

I am so ordering one of those pumps!

[@WOODZMAN]

I love it. I carry it at all times now

[@animalcrackrzz]

Agreed!

[@pjshepherd5462]

Did I miss the name/model/brand of that little pump? Where did you order it from? Thx!

[@WOODZMAN]

I put the link to it in the description

[@t_c5266]

Any new ecu or fuel controller to fix the jerky throttle?

[@WOODZMAN]

Mine don’t have a jerky throttle

[@KentwoodWarrior]

Do you have the jimmy button bars? Are they taller than the cr high?

[@WOODZMAN]

Yes I have the Jimmy button bend. They are high but I’m not sure about that, you would have to go to Renthal site and check the specs

[@KentwoodWarrior]

@@WOODZMAN do you use just them alone or do you have risers with them?

[@WOODZMAN]

Just alone

[@Mjr1348]

What brand air pump is that ? Is it the Airmoto ? Thank you.

[@WOODZMAN]

It says air moto but it’s the same as the one in the description, just rebranded

[@mauricelowery9711]

Beware of this Airmoto pump. I’m on my second pump after first failed within 3 weeks of use. They have sent me another one after I paid even more money for shipping to return they did not cover that expense. I love the pump when it works, hope this one lasts much longer or I’m asking for a full refund. Btw the reset mode did not fix my problem with the erratic digital display problem.

[@libertyliberty4371]

How is name pump model ? Thanks !!

[@WOODZMAN]

Mini Moto Pump : amzn.to/3tpIJDB

[@libertyliberty4371]

@@WOODZMAN Thank you frend !!! 🙂👍👍👍

[@hornet224]

The audio is muffled,

[@timnisley5391]

BEWARE! I ordered this product and used it to make sure it worked out of the box. Well it did. The trouble is when I went to use it for real to air car tires, the PSI was reading 15 PSI higher than what was actually in tire. Nowhere in instructions to find a remedy. Returned for refund.

[@WOODZMAN]

I have 2 of them and they have been fine

[@timnisley5391]

@@WOODZMAN well guess I just had the bad luck to get defective one. Sure seems like by and large have been pretty reliable by reading other comments.

[@WOODZMAN]

A friend said he had that problem with his and there is a reset button that fixed it

[@damacknificent151]

How u keep bike so clean? Wash every day?

[@WOODZMAN]

I wash it every time I get it dirty lol

[@damacknificent151]

@@WOODZMAN I couldn't do that. Maybe if I got muddy. I live in a desert. Dusty

[@frankdecaprio8214]

I went with trackmasters, too noisy on the road. How are the tusks?

[@WOODZMAN]

They are not bad at all but I will have to wait and see after I get more miles on them

[@whileistillcan9338]

They do get louder once broken in but not annoyingly.

[@Keaton2]

mkae

[@richardguinan3298]

Translates to Sit Down it turns out

[@Keaton2]

@@richardguinan3298 lol he misspelled make and in the title had mkae for 15 minutes

[@WOODZMAN]

Lol yep ooops

[@savage22bolt32]

@@richardguinan3298 wonder in what language mkae means sit down?

[@richardguinan3298]

@@savage22bolt32 google translate seems to be Swahili