Honda CRF300L part 1: Sorting the suspension with a K-Tech shock and fork kit by FTR Suspension

Honda's CRF300L trail bike can make an awesome off-road machine, once you have sorted the overly soft, non-adjustable suspension at the front and back.
We fit a K-Tech Razor-R Lite rear shock with rebound and preload adjustment.
And take the bike to suspension expert James Young at FTR Suspension so he can strip the forks down, take a good look inside and fit the full 20 IDS K-Tech kit which has adjustable compression and rebound damping, as well as external preload adjustment.
James gives a masterclass in off-road suspension - how it works, how to set it up and what to look for. And despite the bike still running trail tyres, MotoHead's Dave Willet gives the new suspension a test to see how much improvement it has made.

[@marshalbird2480]

My 300L Rally has the same K-Tech shock and fork kit upgrade / with correct springs for my weight (fork kit installed by nearby suspension shop). Front and rear setting are set to factory recommendations for my weight : ie my K-Tech suspension is basically plug and play per K-Tech’s factory recommendations. And I absolutely love it. My brother and I recently rode the 300L Rally side by side with my 390 Beta RR-S for 2 full days across desert singletrack, double track and gravel roads in the St George UT area. The K-Tech suspension allowed the little 300 to mostly match the Beta 390 over all the same technical sections and for the most part at or near the same speeds. Matching the 390 on the same trails and at near the same speeds (think fast trail pace, maybe 50/60% of a recreational race pace) would have been impossible before the K-Tech upgrade. The 300’s capability and fun factor have increased exponentially, money well spent!

[@trouty65]

Just the video I’ve been waiting for! Thanks so much keep it coming. Can’t wait to see what you guys are going to do with this bike! It’s at the top of my list again now 👍👊

[@jamesstefanson652]

I literally just ordered my 20ids front kit for my 300l as well with a hyperpro piggyback rear shock. Glad I found this video as there's like zero videos on cartridge kits on the fronts of these bikes! Subscribed for more vids!

[@michaelhulas9801]

Man, thanks so much for making this video, it was exactly what I was looking for. I recently put a down payment on a new 2023 CRF

[@Scoottoots]

I have the K-Tech Razor R Lite shock on my 300L, and according to K-Tech it is not adjustable for compression damping as you stated in the video; only rebound damping and preload. That's also all they list for adjustability on their product detail page. That said, it's an excellent shock. I couldn't afford a cartridge kit for the forks so I went with the RaceTech Fork Spring Kit. It's an improvement, albeit very stiff, as in it's impossible to use the last 1/4 of front end travel no matter how hard you hit it. Still, it seems a good improvement when combined with the K-Tech shock. Apart from dirt in mountainous terrain, I ride a lot of twisty tarmac. The bike now handles that well. In stock form it was downright dangerous going from corner to corner; so unsettled and wallowing. Lovely bike all round now 🙂.

[@MotoHead]

Yes, it was our mistake. It's not compression adjustable.

[@maxflight777]

Superb info

[@ulrichsoll895]

Hallo, danke, gute Arbeit.

[@johnharris7756]

I love my 300l. Just stock as it is one day I’ll do some mods

[@marcelhorisberger9256]

Yep same here. I’m 70 and don’t want to win races or do jumps. 👍

[@johngray722]

I like it that price is mentioned on shocks and stuff

[@KippartRS]

Got the last 2023 on the lot for $7500 CDN (before tax), its been amazing if anyones considering them, a little bit slow on highways but great on trails

[@eyemanm6045]

good info

[@DavidJones-pc4ft]

Is it possible to add a schrader valve fitting so that you can use compressed air?

[@vanhalenman60]

i was on a waiting list in southern california for like a month and i walked into a random dealer and they happened to have one on the floor,i guess everyone on reserve that they called didnt want to come down 4th of july weekend so i bought it that day for 7k with 2k down.

[@joseserrano1295]

I got on a waiting list in MT and the three people ahead of me dropped out, one week wait for mine and I couldn’t be happier lol

[@dazbagsmason]

Just one question, why did you remove the stanchions from the fork slider???

[@hadimoallem3586]

do you have a link for the crf450l headlight cover?

[@thecornishbiker9323]

Hey there. Ive just brought a new 300l and would love this set up. How much would the front and rear be fitted and can i ride in ride out? Thanks si

[@johnnygabriel4730]

What would be the best suspension set up for my supermoto to get rid of tank slappers?

[@Taedy]

Nice to hear the term “Trail Bike”used and not that other aggravating term coined by half the world introduced by advertising..

[@dualsportscandinavia353]

What does the bill end up being after all the upgrades required for CRF300L ; not even LED version, compared to street legal Trail/Enduro/DSB´s straight from the showroom floor e.g. Honda Red Moto CRF300/400RX, CRF450L/RL, KTM, Husqvarna, GAS GAS, Beta , TM, Sherco, SVM, Bimota, Kove, Fantic, Kawasaki, Yamaha, 690/700/701 Enduro and so forth? Just inquiring 🤔🔧💸

[@eyemanm6045]

Super knowlagable....Does anyone knows a GOOD suspension Specialist in Texas?

[@damacknificent151]

I'm between to shocks. The 175 - 210 and 210 - 245. My weight is 207, what would be a good shock for me?

[@perfidiousalbion9975]

Go the heavier option

[@alinn.4341]

Go to heavier if you also like to add luggage, a lot of equipment on yourself etc.

[@xani666]

I wish 2024 version would fix that shock...

[@MRryuhayabusa]

Would be cool to see a supermoto build on this bike! Also is there a way to make the transition from seat to the tank flatter?

[@ArbitraryLifestyle]

Look up Jake TheGardenSnake if you want supermoto 300L content.

[@MRryuhayabusa]

@ArbitraryLifestyle would prefer a much more established and professional build instead of a dude In a shed building the bike and having inputs by proper professional supermoto riders to build the bike

[@dcd5050]

no its not, the best selling honda is the honda cub, and there are a ton of other hondas selling more than crf 300 l worldwide

[@jjustj]

Nice vid other than obnoxious music

[@libertyliberty4371]

Low power 😢.

[@richardkenna149]

Perfect for a crap rider like me! I'm finally having immense fun on a bike and it's not trying to kill me

[@libertyliberty4371]

@@richardkenna149 🙂👍👍👍

[@ShanenDanaShoemaker-wf4tr]

550performance

[@inlikeflynn673]

​@@richardkenna149mate , go a new exhaust and it livens up heaps

[@richardkenna149]

@inlikeflynn673 not convinced that there's a huge power increase, but I'll certainly put one on to get a better note.

[@NapoleonDynamite69]

This bike is rubbish and the suspension is for 60kg rider. Meanwhile i am 60kg 😂