My CRF300L is a Failure

[@chrisdigital]

Oh shit your are still alive. Haven't seen one of your videos in like 7 years. Good old KZbin algo...

[@TheKansasDude]

I miss the wr450f.... The sound of that bikes rev limiter is cemented in my brain.

[@--LZ---]

Oh mate I just got one as my first bike, did a pretty significant rebuild, disassembled everything myself as a first bike project. Gotta say , I love this thing. Have already done 220+ km days on it , mostly double track but also technical double track and singletracks in forests. Only change from factory I've done is a 14 tooth front sprocket. 2012 model so it's EFI as well, runs without a problem. Dont think I'll sell it, even if I'll end up buying a 701 husky.

[@F80mthree]

@@--LZ---my first bike also was the 2012 wr450. Put 16 THOUSAND miles on it before I sold it. 80% street 20% woods/trails. Never even had any reliability issues except the electric start, which you’ve probably figured out by now can be iffy at times. Mainly when super cold here in Chicago. Miss it but I love the 2022 wr450 I replaced it with.

[@--LZ---]

@@F80mthree cold start is either improper timing by one tooth, because the timing marks are super confusing, or improper idle air adjustment. Mine starts up hot almost every time after i've gotten it all dialed, to the point i can reliably shut it off waiting in lights. I do mostly adventure on doubletrack, singletracks, sometimes a bit of motocross as well (rebuilt shocks with max oil in fork legs and high compression damping). Just finished a session training on a 10 meter table. 3 weeks of riding, 2000km 😁 Mind you, Im currently unemployed and i ride almost daily.

[@CorkyStuntsTV]

The 500 excf is under appreciated I feel. It has done all 4 things for me from 15+ hour days in adventure mode in Colorado, cruises 75+ all day with bags (if you can handle the vibration) to currently having a hand brake and still seeing hours of rev limiter as a stunt bike. Roughly 700 hours with 3 valve shims and several 40 hours on an oil change. No other motor work. Maybe I got lucky but I treat it no different than my old wr250x stunt bike just added the hard enduro and adventure riding. It has made me a KTM fan boy

[@rli1223]

I had a CRF300L and sold it for the same reasons. I now adventure on a 2019 CRF450L. KTM capability, Honda reliability. I smirk when it’s 35 degrees out and my KTM 350&500 buddies are struggling to start their bikes and mine fires right off. It is definitely a vibrating thumper, but way more knarly like you’re wanting.

[@DemetriusDemarcusTheThirdJr]

But his main want in getting the 300l was the maintenance and with the 450 I know I can barely ride 1 week before it needs a oil change

[@elliotpaulsen5485]

300 is just a turd, not enough power to be exciting on the road

[@noahmantaro8209]

This was a great bike build series! Def the best out of all of them on the CRF300 thanks for sticking with it.

[@robertwise383]

The expectations people have around this bike are really unrealistic. It's a reliable budget 300CC single. It's not a 700 inline twin. It's not a 150HP ducati. It's a comfy fuel efficient commuter and totally capable off-road. I've done thousands of miles on mine: off road, on road, everywhere from miami to montreal. I've done black bear pass and hundreds and hundred of miles of single track. It's a great bike for what you pay for. If you want to do "adventure" riding where you coast at 85mph on asphalt but never do anything else- it's not the right bike. If you want to go 120mph around a circuit- it's not the right bike. If you want to bang doubles on an MX track it's not the right bike. If you want a reliable 4 stroke you can ride to the single track and rip around this is a great bike.

[@Tn_hooligan]

This is more testament to not having just 1 bike. It’s just not possible in my opinion. UNLESS you only do 1 or 2 styles of riding

[@JOA-S]

what about the 701/690 supermotos? they are pretty close (commented before watching)

[@glockmodder]

thanks i will let my wife know immediately 🤗

[@kdxkyle]

They weight well over 300 pounds. That's a far way away from being a decent off road bike in my opinion. ​@@JOA-S

[@JOA-S]

@@kdxkyle it feels really light when u actually ride it though, and because of the extra weight on top of the crf300's etc it handles the windy highways way better as well :)

[@MyWifesBoyfriend-pp8kq]

@@kdxkyleThe 300l weighs 311 with not even half the power. EXC-F 500 is the answer (but also miserable on the highway)

[@sheff150]

Your the reason I bought a 300l in 2021. Loved it, but I'm definitely not sad I sold it to buy my 690. Been 2 years with my Ktm and no "KTM things" have happened... just a beast on and off the street

[@foolsperspective]

Sneeky snek needs the 701

[@brandonrides8953]

If the 701 still had the LR version, with a rally tower it would be a no brainer

[@xedniw23]

@@brian7670810k miles on mine and I have taken it everywhere. 🤷 still the best bike I’ve owned

[@Nakker1]

There are awesome rally kits for the 701.

[@BlackRabbitt92]

Buddy forgot the XR650 exists. Road cruiser, high clearance long travel trail bike (single track if you're strong enough) swap the front end and wheels and you got a sumo. Definitely one of the more versatile bikes

[@westywest59]

Xl750 transalp is amazing but too big. Cb500x almost does it, but lacks power and still a tad big. The moment you go small enough you lack power and the moment you have poer it's too big

[@meatmilkeggfruits9117]

Tenere 700

[@Al.j.Vasquez]

The CB500X does almost 50 HP, does it really lack power? How many horses do you need and for what? The CB500X / NX500 can hold 80 mph without stress, do you need to cruise at 90 mph?

[@kh8655]

@@meatmilkeggfruits9117 ...sadly too big... I checked it out because I wanted it as a first bike, but the T7 feels very heavy even compared to the Transalp.

[@mt1885]

SUZUKI DR650 - Big bore and pumper carb! Can do suspension/tires ect excellent bike!

[@Jakew241]

It would be so awesome to see you on a 701 again. Your the reason I bought my 701 and mt07!

[@MargusMoto]

I had the 2019 Husky 701 Enduro and right after first service rode it 4000km on asphalt in 10 days. Had it for almost 10K, used it for adventure and as a daily. 0 problems. Next had the 2020 Husky and again not a single issue. The clutch slave cylinder was pre-emptively replaced by the dealer.. So yeah - unless Ducati comes out with the 698 Mono Enduro any time soon, then the KTM 690 (in any of the three flavours) will be my unicorn bike. With a rally tower. I don't do much gnarly stuff though, so this little added weight is not a problem for me.. (My current ride is the 2024 CRF300L and I owned the Hypermotard 698 Mono for a few months. Had to ditch it as that supermoto was abysmal for anything other than sporty riding..)

[@MrWilson812]

I considered getting the CRF 300L to turn into a sumo ,but ended up buying the GPX FSE 300R instead. It's lighter by nearly 30 lbs because it's technically an enduro, and has a more powerful engine. Despite being called a 300, the CRF is only a 286cc engine wheras the GPX is 298. I switched the gearing from 13/52 to 14/45 and put a pair of 17 in Warp9 sumo wheels with 70/30 tires so now it has a top speed of 95-100 mph. It was a great buy, I'm very happy with it.

[@FITFO]

Living in Texas at the time is the main reason why I got a Ktm 890 over a dual sport like a 500 exc. every time I would think about how most back roads are 75 let alone most people drive 90 and the long distances I got a mid size adventure bike and haven’t looked back

[@TheGardenSnake]

It’s really the smart move

[@sixpest]

Texas highway ways: go fast and eat ass on barriers 😂

[@TheGardenSnake]

haha

[@TheRabauke]

I can hit jumps with the CRF300L now - Motocross is totally possible! After the suspension upgrade, it’s been riding perfectly. Best from Germany Rabauke

[@cecilyt006]

Great channel, bro. I have a 2003 640 smc that has tires bordering on slicks. It still rips on all terrain except grass and mud. On-road it carves like a demon and tops out at 110mph.

[@IowasDirtyCivilian]

I just got into dual sports so my opinion doesn't have much weight. But I do think 400' and 450's would be winners. I have the KLX300 and I love it. Stock engine and gearing, I can reach 80mph but it's stressed. Luckily the speed limits on the highways around me are 65 and everyone cruises at 70. I do my best not to ride the highways though. I usually take gravels everywhere. Yeah the trip becomes longer but the mpg is increased by onlying having to do 50mph. Do I wish I had some extra power? Yes. But do I love this bike? Hell yeah!

[@507sounds]

Should another 10hp have to cost more than 20 additional pounds? Where's all this technology being developed in racing being utilized? It seems like if any significant time was spent on engineering it, we should be able to have a 40hp bike that weighs less than 350 pounds, that is bulletproof, with long service intervals. A wr450 and a Tenere? So let's say you want "Adventure" to Colorado. You take the Tenere because highway speeds. You get to Colorado and find yourself saying "Wish I had my 450 for that trail." I see a CF Moto in your future Jake.

[@jeremiahcaron8322]

Ok, hear me out. Honda needs to build the exact same design bike as the 300l but in a 500 flavor. Same type engine design with the oil capacity, head design, valve design, etc. so the maintenance is similar as is the reliability. I don’t want a 450 with snappy power and ridiculous maintenance intervals.

[@kendrickh91]

Would love that!

[@aremadv]

My last dual sport was a 2017 CRF 250L. Sold it a couple of years ago but it was a great bike for around town and off-roading. Highway/freeway speeds out here are 65mph so it had no problem cruising around at 70mph. I just picked up a 2023 Royal Enfield Himalayan and it reminds me a lot of my old 250L all be it a ton more comfortable. No problem cruising at 70mph and even hitting 80mph and off road is awesome!

[@lukeblackley7129]

I rode a 125cc 4stroke across 6 countries in 2 weeks in Europe and sat at 60 on the motorways, the crf doing only 90 isn’t a problem, ( nice bike btw😁)

[@hours-ev1fq]

Just watched this newer video for the hell of it after a while of watching older stuff and its takin me this long to realize we live 30 minutes apart. Hope i start biking soon and catch you out cruising

[@treggs]

I have done it successfully with a DRZ-400E(Aussie spec) with a 434cc big bore kit and 15-44 gearing. Can sit all day on the highway and handles the other stuff like... a DRZ. A rally tower made a huge difference too. Time for another DRZ build Jake?

[@GrapplingwithReality]

I’ve been building out a 400S for the last 6 months and have the enduro/dualsport/supermoto aspects covered as well as adventure bags. I jetted it with the JD jet kit, 3x3, and FMF exhaust. I’m thinking with the big bore, wide ratio gears, and a rally tower it could fit the bill for the perfect Swiss army bike. I’m going to run it until it needs a rebuild and I’ll build it up like yours I think with the higher displacement and beefier carb. What tower did you get? I’ve been looking at the adventure man cave enduro l8 one

[@cthomps]

@@GrapplingwithReality The FCR carb was a game changer on my SM. Big bore and hotcams were decent but with the stock carb but really noticed the difference with the FCR. Never did do the wide ratio gears. I did the poor man's rally tower - garbage can velcro mod :p

[@TheRoboticDream]

i had a 250L, i loved it to death, but man.. going to supermoto ride outs, being last in the pack struggling to keep up on the straights hurt. Also weighed a ton, dropped it so many times on the trails. I don't do adventure riding, but my 05 wr450 is everything i need. Had it 8 years now and still gives me joy every time i ride it.

[@maulp0k3r]

I think it's time for a DRZ build. Or maybe dr650. Personally would love to see a big bore, cams and high compression drz build. So many parts out there, you can get them for cheap, loads of sponsors, and something you can easily sell.

[@Jeredsmith]

As an owner of a crf300l rally, crf450rl, and a tenere 700, the 300 is great durable reliable bike that’ll take you across the country and through any terrain. Will it do it fast? No but I’ve done the bare minimum for performance and also put rally raid suspension and it works. 450rl is of course more power and all but it’s also maintenance between 600-1000miles and then more frequency valve checks. The tenere for me is a monster on the road and off . Also I do not take my 300l on a interstate if I can avoid it 🤣 gets up to 70-75 but that’s it for it

[@vertvlogs675]

How does the vibration compare on the crf300l rally and the crf450rl? I have a crf450l in supermoto trim and I love it EXCEPT for the vibes. It's honestly kinda brutal and it stops me from riding the bike as much as I would like. After an hour or so my hands and feet are numb and I have to take a 10 or 15 minute break before I can start riding again. I'm thinking about trading it in for a 300L Rally.

[@Jeredsmith]

@@vertvlogs675 it might be a little smoother but it's still a single cylinder. It all depends on your end goal for the bike and what you want to mainly ride in terrain/road. You will not want to do much over 60-65 on the 300l just because of the power. Another plus depending if you'll piling on the miles is less frequent oil changes and valve checks. another plus is 65-70 mpg.

[@vertvlogs675]

@@Jeredsmith Thanks for the response. From your description between the two I think I'll stick with the 450. I'll see if I can get some rubber footpegs and rubber mounted handlebar clamps to help with the vibration. With the gearing on my 450 it will sit at 70-75 just fine. And it's top speed is around 100. I don't want to give that up if the 300L isn't that much smoother of a bike anyway.

[@Jeredsmith]

@@vertvlogs675 yea not worth the "downgrade" if you prefer power. It'll take you anywhere but not the power to blow your pants off. I think there's handlebars called flex bars that reduce vibrations too. not sure the price but it's an option.

[@baconwhip]

90k km (55k miles) on my 13’ 690. Had to fix some things, but overall solid. The main problems with that generation (2012-2015) is clutch slave, fuel pump and rocker arms. Just change those and you’re good.

[@IRLtrolls]

You couldn’t ever convince me to buy a 690 or 701 and do any amount of touring on one. It’d just inevitably going to break. There is a reason you rarely ever see a 690 platform with more then 20,000 miles. For what it’s worth, my two bike solution was a WR450 and a Super Tenere 1200. Dualsport on the 450 and long distance touring and light offroad on the big tenere. Shaft drive is elite for big miles. For your final question Jake I really don’t understand why Kawasaki hasn’t made a Versys X 500 with the new ninja 500 engine. 21/18 wheels and a good suspension and it would make a great light weight adventure bike but it would probably kill KLR650 sales

[@diggy-d8w]

I drive that stretch of 75s all the time & you're right..... Life has little Value out there !!? Bigger wins in their minds but you learn how to ride defensively which is a great skill-set ! People on mopeds & scooters learn it even faster than you did b/c they get challenged on roads they can do the speed limit on, you only get it on the bigger highways but in North Dallas that IS what ya got to deal with. Glad you made it home & thanks for the video. peace

[@Tinker3504]

I’ve always thought about a Swiss army bike like this but it’s just not worth it. It’s easier and arguably cheaper to have 4 bikes that all operate at an A- level if you aren’t buying new and you have any value on time.

[@TheGardenSnake]

Or have at least two. Like when I had my plated WR450f and something like a Tenere 700.

[@Tinker3504]

@@TheGardenSnake currently I’m rocking a KLx300R and a mt-09. So I couldn’t agree more. Kinda wanna add a supermoto but only so much time in the year

[@3GingerCats]

For me a do it all bike, would be the Tenere 700. Commuting, Open road/highway touring, gravel/dirt, and more extreme if you're into that. I would probably have to settle for a V-strom 650 because it falls into the rules of my current licence, where the slightly larger 700 doesn't. but by the time I save up enough to replace my current V-strom 250SX, I would probably have the Full licence so the Tenere comes back into contention

[@cablebandit]

Feels like a Texas problem, not a bike problem. I get wanting a new project though.

[@iaahner]

My 500EXC-F is CLOSE.... And I know all the horrible reliability horror stories, but I've had great luck and never had any issues. The maintenance schedule is more aggressive than my Hondas, but all I ever do is keep up with maintenance and fix the stuff I break on trail....

[@cosamuel7182]

Why are so many of the rtw types picking the 500 exc and yet it isn’t being discussed here? My take is that it is as close to this does it all mission as the market has got. If not, pretty close to it

[@chevyracing1080]

Who ever could've predicted this..?! A 300cc dual sport as an all around bike that's already compromised..?! Noooooooo..

[@TheGardenSnake]

hey hay, im dumb ok

[@chevyracing1080]

@@TheGardenSnake ❤

[@buscoclanlatinol2494]

Bro leave Mr.Gardensnake alone ok? It's not his fault ,it's Dan's

[@TheGardenSnake]

@@buscoclanlatinol2494it’s always Dans fault. It’s cuz he’s little

[@TheGamersRace]

The DR650 starts at like 360lbs, so it's not terrible. You can drop it maybe 10lbs after all the mods you add back to it. You'd be surprised at the aftermarket community, also. I'm also currently working on a mounting modification to be able to mount a dr650 engine into a tw200, which would automatically place it at the top and it'd be the king swiss army bike. The tw200 would already be the king swiss army bike, if it didn't have the exact same problem you're complaining about in the crf300L.

[@OhThisFleece]

Obviously need a DR650

[@OhThisFleece]

790 big bore and tm40 and sm wheels and and and

[@TheGardenSnake]

@@OhThisFleece A DR790 would be soooo coool

[@alexandernormington1181]

Please get a clapped out or roller DR650 and completely build one up

[@ohrunescapes]

What I was thinking I got a 2017 650 im converting to a super moto

[@PatchedBandit]

I have a perfect solution. A crf300 + a VAN to carry it closer to the trails 🎉 Videos on the channel. The risk racing van mount is superb!

[@SirMo]

This is the way I recon. I don't have a Van, but I do have a truck (van would be better), and I will be loading up my crf300l on my Truck to get to the trails.

[@BattleKegGreg]

I have a klx230, and that thing will beebop down the highway at 65 all day long, interstate sucks on pretty much anything, plus it's more fun to see what's going on anyhow

[@gopherchucksgamingnstuff2263]

Dual sport, to me at least, Is oil and water in the same cup. They can certainly share that cup but they do not mix well.

[@TheGardenSnake]

true

[@loganclark312]

My fourwheeler has taught me, that with enough rpm, oil and water do mix. Then you get vanilla milk

[@0Rookie0]

@@loganclark312 Frothy milk in a dark brown liquid? Get my wife, we're serving up latte's.

[@loganclark312]

@@0Rookie0 this is the right mindset. Get them brewing

[@gabrielbrown8557]

So I’m swapping my 250L with a cbr300r motor that I will eventually big bore to the same size you did on this 300L. my hopes are that it will be able to reach 90 on the high way as well as still be rideable in the dirt, with the some airflow mods and a new exhaust. I don’t know if you’d even be willing to tear this bike apart at this point but hey if you see this comment and want to know it goes to do it yourself, let me know!

[@MichaelShaw206]

I think the 701/690/700 bike is tempting except for those "KTM things" you mention. I went with the cheaper Kove 450 Rally as my Swiss army knife bike, So far, its reliable. A bit heavier than the 300L but very good both on road and off. Better suspension, a bit of wind protection and fairly comfortable. If you fill it with 8 gallons of gas, it gets heavy, but dry it's 320 lbs. The gas is carried low. It needs a better bash plate, and the gas tank venting can be an issue, but its a great BDR bike.

[@thinkdunson]

you're talking about the 690, but there's an adv version of the 390 which would easily do well beyond highway speeds. even on uphill with a slight headwind, i would imagine it has enough power to keep at least 80mph.

[@rcvg69420]

You might be surprised how a 50hp bike runs out of steam at 80mph. I had a CB500X and with luggage it would barely go 85 wide open.

[@0Rookie0]

@@rcvg69420 Then it has to be drag and weight. Plus maybe those pesky uphills. We have a Ninja 300 with a pipe and tune and it does over 115mph. 80mph all day. It has probably around 45hp since the tuner claims 11% or something over stock. Maybe Honda played it too safe for emissions. I wonder what it would do for you after letting it breathe better. (Reliability matters so I get not wanting to on principle, I'm just curious how much it would change for your setup. It sounds kind of sad since you seem to have wanted to load it up and go travel with it.)

[@rcvg69420]

@@0Rookie0 Yes it was drag in my case. I had the Tusk large aluminum panniers on it and a slightly raised stock windshield since I'm pretty tall. It's ok, I sold it and picked up a used R1250GS and I'm much happier with the power. It's better at literally everything too except MPG and being more expensive.

[@matt_kelly]

I take my 390 Adv. on motocamping trips and it does just fine up to 80 MPH - but that is my limit, I don't NEED to ride faster than that since I'm on mountain roads in Canada. It does surprisingly well offroad, but it's definitely not an enduro. It would be better to pair it with an XR650 or an EXC (which is what I did) to get the best of all worlds.

[@jetta.josh4]

I owned a KTM 390 Adventure in Bogotá Colombia at elevation of around 8,600 feet and even with the elevation and power loss, the bike was able to get up to around 105 mph. I’d say it could do 80 comfortably.

[@max_archer]

We've got similar problems here in Southern California, and it's made even worse by the fact people here almost ALWAYS pass on the right, even when the left lanes are open, and on top of that a significant percentage of drivers are batshit psychopaths who not only do 85+ everywhere but exclusively use the right two or three lanes and keep their speed up with kamikaze weaving in and out of the slow lane or onramp/offramp lanes at even higher speeds. Then add to that that our freeways are ancient and poorly designed, with extremely short offramps, weird merges that force fast-moving through traffic into the right lanes, and so on, and driving or riding anything that can't do 0-60 in 7 seconds tops or maintain 80mph comfortably is borderline suicide. It's a big part of why, despite having been really interested in bikes for as long as I can remember, I still haven't gotten one yet. That said, I do plan on getting a 300L soon as my first bike, but that's going to be after I move out of this insanity to somewhere with more sedate traffic and a short ride to the stuff dual sports are really meant for.

[@autismion]

That would be awesome somewhere with just twisty mountain roads

[@max_archer]

@@autismion That's almost what some of the places I've looked at are like, like Carson City is high on my list and the town itself is flat but you go a block or two west of the main street and suddenly you're on gravel roads headed up into the mountains. It's all BLM land around there so all the trails and fire roads etc. are legal to ride as well.

[@autismion]

@@max_archer I want to get a diesel truck and fifth wheel toy hauler so I can move my house to enduro/trials races, and not have to rent anymore

[@memphis024]

Get the Ducati 698 mono. Put knobbies on and it’ll be perfect mate.

[@DaBombDotCom77]

The 650R would have been better for the Swiss army bike project. I get what you’re saying it’s a heavier bike but true adventure bikes weigh twice as much ie. BMW GS 1200, TENERE 700, Africa Twin 1200.

[@Hasselhoff1]

DRZ400s in enduro trim is my dream bike

[@ericweber1969]

Good choice, I’d also consider a bush pig, the old DR650.

[@Hasselhoff1]

@@ericweber1969 yess the mighty dr650!

[@shadetreesurgeon]

Time to build an ADV sportster

[@LupusAdNoctem]

Kove 450 Rally would be a sick project bike to follow, but realistically, the 690/701 is the only serviceable "unicorn" platform

[@ryanking6811]

I tried making my dr650 into an adventure build. I really liked it for about three years, but finally accepted that I liked it more in its stock form for rising off-road. Less weight and drag means so much more to me now. And yeah idk, part of me thinks you should go way out in left field and get a desert x or a 900gs. The other part makes me want to see another 650 on the channel!

[@aknmtbr]

I live in Alaska and it’s an awesome bike here! No interstates. Max speed limit 65.

[@christopherjohnson3377]

Well, the Ibex 450 looks awesome. I don’t know enough about Kové to speak about those bikes. I could see a Suzuki vstrom 650 build doing well. Change the suspension and gearing a little. Also, some weight reduction. Plus with Suzuki you have a long standing reputation. Just my opinions though.

[@rcvg69420]

Jake I think you might particularly enjoy a massive full size GS. I know you must dream of the 1300 you rode in Spain or wherever a handful of vids back. The only problem is that they are perfect out of the box, not a project. ;) Of course there is the price.... But you could get an old one and fix it up. Then it's also a good project. No they aren't a great hooligan bike since they are heavy AF, but man are they are perfect ADV bike. 90mph on the highway with the cruise on effortlessly if you want, cut up twisties like a sport bike, get groceries, butter smooth engine, great bikes. I wouldn't call the CRF an outright failure. I think the CRF300 has an excellent place as a bulletproof dualsport. If you're an owner you just have to be honest with yourself that it's really not that comfortable on the freeway, is what it is. And tbh I don't think a 690, 701, or any of the Japanese 650s are going to be all that much better. Sure the engine is less strained and you can technically go faster but you are still sitting on a board with no wind protection and single cylinder vibes.

[@frednerk2127]

Yes totally agree, nearly got run down last weekend. Really have to stay of the main highways.

[@6Twisted]

Maybe try a WR450 next. Super reliable in my experience (5000 miles on mine with just oil changes and zero issues). Put on a softer seat, bigger fuel tank and softer suspension and you've got a nice dual sport that weights 30kg less than your 300 and will do over 110mph. The only thing I'm not sure about is carrying luggage as my 2022 just has a plastic tail. And yeah as you said, stay away from KTM. They're always breaking down with electrical issues.

[@YourLordMobius]

He used to have a wr450 WAY back in the day.

[@6Twisted]

@@YourLordMobius Ah the new WR's are a different breed though. Way lighter and more powerful and can be retuned with your phone.

[@YourLordMobius]

@@6Twisted oh yeah. I just find it funny that it could be possible that he goes back to "the same bike" that is now completely different from how it used to be lol.

[@Motoriden]

Try a WR450F!!!

[@Abide]

you are 100% right on this. im a xr650r/xt225 owner for this reason. Some of the 500enduros can do it all but they are all such high maintenance and expensive. There just isnt something that ticks enough boxes that exists right now. I think youre on the right track with a WR450 or an older XR450-500 maybe swapped into an AL CR frame? The XR650R is really close but no magic button like you said and ill also add the maint intervals are a bit too high. We need crf300 like oilchanges and valve adjustments, somewhere in the 50+hp range, and lighter than a 650L/DR. somewhere in the 500cc range i think. It looked like the KOVE was going to be that answer but they were a bust.

[@AVarietyOfPleasingHeads]

look up CRF500L. if you swap a CB500X/NX500 engine and wire harness into a 250L or 300L frame, you get exactly what you describe, and it's purportedly only an extra 20lbs (340lbs w/ fuel). you need to extend the frame to do it, though, so that does make it a bit more expensive and scary.

[@EricBanner571]

I own a Beta 480 RR and Gas Gas 700 ES but the do it all bike is the DRZ400E that we can still buy in Australia. It can do all those things better than the CRF300L.

[@TheGardenSnake]

I had a DRZ with 50k miles. I did all kinds of daily and fun stuff with it. Thing was a tank. Do yalls E models come with the good carb?

[@SultanOfSlam69]

@@TheGardenSnake they sure do, FCR39. Fully street legal off the floor too.

[@will6409]

@@TheGardenSnake There is an endless catalogue of mods we can do to DRZs, like 470 big bores and wide ratio gear sets, which imo would get it pretty close to unicorn

[@billness2635]

Hands down the KTM 500exc is the Swiss Army knife for what you are describing. It’s not terribly good at any one task, but is great at doing everything! Having the PDS suspension is a plus IMO, but if you’re wanting a linkage suspension on virtual the same bike as the KTM, you can go with the Husky 501.

[@jimperry4420]

Taller geared Drz for the win.

[@Tracy494]

Bad ass biker robot vibes with shadow and blue glasses at like 7 minutes in.

[@bigdmc1]

XR650R is the unicorn bike however, the electron carb is not as good as the Sudco FCR 41 that opens up way more power. A good project for you would be try to obtain the TRX700XX quad that they made with that engine. It has fuel injection and electric start. Of course it has reverse so I’m not sure how that could be put in the XR650R frame

[@Fireblaze1230]

That would be so good to see.

[@psavar97]

How about one of the new Triumph 400 bikes? My dad's got one as his first bike this spring and even stock it's pretty quick probally hold up on the highway speeds pretty well. Maybe not exactly a dirt bike but could work still fairly lightweight.

[@BlackdogADV]

My Husqvarna 701 s an excellent dual sport as well as an adventure bike. As a matter of fact I rode from Portland to Tuktoyaktuk and back with it.

[@jeremiahcaron8322]

I like my 300L but envy the 35-45 hp

[@matt_kelly]

My 690 was pretty good at most things. But the composite tank can't handle the weight of a full camping setup, the tires suck on the highway, and it needs more wind protection. I tried to build it up as an adv bike (aux. tank, protection, skid plate, etc) but then it started to compromise everything that made it a good dual sport / enduro bike. If you only have one bike, the KTM 690 Enduro R is a great choice... but I have since bought an 890 Adv. R, and decided to trade in the 690 for a 500 EXC-F. I am fortunately enough to have multiple bikes and that really is the way to go, there is no unicorn bike - there can't be. I'm not going to commute to work 30 miles on 90% dirt tires, but I'm not going to go offroad on street tires either. That is just one example of competing purposes, there are others like weight, engine power, seat height, etc.

[@The3rdWiseMan1]

In my opinion you need two bikes. An older 450 supermoto, pick your brand doesn’t matter, and a t7. I personally think the t7 is the best value “light-ish” adv bike that can do trail and trail adjacent things.

[@loganclark312]

When I ride my drz to work, it is about 25-30 miles each way. Most trip speed limit is 55 and most go 60-70. The drz is revved high but does it and doesn’t use any oil. Just hit 10k miles. I used to go down 65mph roads but trying to go 75ish was just miserable for right under an hour.

[@walterlancaster2230]

For your next project bike... Currently available: A DR650 would be a much better starting platform than the CRF300L for your previous intended purpose. Fantasy: Dualsport based on the SV650 OR a Honda XL/XR/CRF with their 500 twin (the Scrambler currently available is possibly the ugliest bike ever created). I suppose if you want a real challenge, try to make the Honda Scrambler 500 not ugly.

[@Tn_hooligan]

This bike has same problem as the klx300. They just need more power. Great bikes for riding to work and riding trails in your area but much else it just ain’t working out

[@spartanx169x]

MY KLX 300sm will run 90MPH+ all day long. (I weigh 175lbs for reference and the bike is modded). It will run faster than I want to run it. I also avoid interstates like they are the plague. Nothing is fun about driving on interstates. But I agree its made for just trails and for me twisties. I'm not taking it across the State on an adventure. Its not made for that.

[@Tn_hooligan]

@@spartanx169x yeah. I had a enduro 22. klx300 and it was not happy above 50

[@lexian5602]

Ive own a husky 511 supermoto with 477cc and even that can't handle the highway. IMO, although ive never personally ridden them, the 690/701 are the only bikes that can handle a decent adventure setup while being decent at everything else. Anything smaller just can't reach the 'solid adventure bike' bar.

[@ethanhoffman5120]

i went from a drz to a 701 so far so good only complaint is the false neutrals over got almost 8k miles on it and havent had anything major happen yet

[@ajatkins3]

Crf450rl seems to really be the ticket. It has better road handling than all of the other enduro’s. I’d say its more reliable than any of the euro enduros as well. Just stick with the honda theme and do the 450rl.

[@kugangles9860]

Thats why I had to get rid of my WR250R. Great bike but here in Phoenix AZ where you have to drive 30 miles of highway to get to trails it was a death trap.

[@leoveroude4492]

You built a sweet bike Jake😍. CF Moto MT450 getting much attention in Texas?

[@JamesMargolis79]

Perfect bike I don't think exists. I have a DR650, T7, KTM500 exc-f and a KTM 450xc. Yeah I don't know lol! I'd LOVE to just have the KTM 500 be the do it all bike. But the DR650 is more chill/old man retro feel and better on the highways. I have done some fairly technical single track on the DR a well though! The 500 is probably the best bike I think. and I've heard they are doing pretty good reliability wise. The fuel pump was much easier to swap than what I read. Maybe a 500? A WR450 is always been on my radar though. I'm not sure on the reliability of the new engines? Are they more YZ450 race oriented? Might just have to get one some day and find out.

[@joshr8650]

I havent exactly been following this experience but i cant help but feel like the 450rl and 500exc/350exc are just hanging out there waiting for you

[@bensexton4200]

As far as the Swiss army bike. I would say you could do a very similar mod roster to the honda CRF 450 L or whatever they call their 450cc dual sport. If the gearing limits the speed too much, you could throw a different sprocket on and sacrifice torque for top speed. I am sure that sacrifice would be fine since it is a 450 and probly makes way more than enough power for the dirt and for being a hooligan. I would love to see it and it would be really cool to see the comparison to the 300.

[@-RyN-23]

Hope this means a new build is coming soon!

[@brucearena]

I love that 300 of yours, but if your highways are as speedy as you say it would always struggle in that department The Husky 501 might be more capable of doing the highway stuff, but not as good as a 690. Cheers

[@ps360bros]

ditch the 690/701 and get the 500ecx. its far more of a dirt bike and you can put a rally headlight/shield on it. mine will lug rocky hills in second then do 90+ while geared down...OR get the 890 smt and make it more off road worthy, then you'll still have the unique bike on the road/youtube!

[@brianmartindale2221]

People are tellin me that the Kove 450 is close to that unicorn if you don't include the nastiest enduro and long travel is your thing. I may try one, but I still like the 300L

[@RaittyRat]

We all knew that highway speeds were the big downside from the beginning, my DRZ is my only bike so I use to commute as well and although only about 15 minutes of that commute is on a motorway (UK) it's still enough to make me dream of a 701. Way too expensive though!

[@erokrocks1567]

I’m on a DRZ, want more power for highway when I need it, just like you. Not sure if I should do an engine kit with cams and the works. The other two options is the 701 but the gas tank in the back sketches me out. And now the hyper mono is out, that seems to be the only other option but you pay the Ducati tax. Don’t want to keep doing top ends on a 450. Very interested to see what you choose to do cause I’m in the same boat. Also have an eye on the MT09, but it’s not quite fit for purpose and the added weight.

[@universalglitch]

Im glad i live where i do in Idaho. Roads are so twisty here you cant go more than 65 anyway unless you want to fly off the road.

[@F80mthree]

If you want a do it all Dualsport/supermoto, it’s either a WR450/yz450fx(would have to build it) or one of the ktm/husqs.

[@denox420]

i use the 2023 klx 300sm as my everything bike. yes i have the same highway issues. but it will do it, only on the days im up for it tho. i am a lighter rider so the 300 is enough power to hold me comfortably at 80 basically all day with full gear.

[@JamesBurr-vk7kh]

I'm thinking about going with an xr650 or drz650....for the do All bike

[@CplVasilli]

CFmoto Ibex, Thanks for coming to my ted talk

[@mateopenatesuarez953]

I think the bike you're looking for is a a newer 450/500 like the yamaha wr 450, beta 480 rr etc. Also you could consider looking into the AJP higher end lineup, like the SPR 510 or if you want a more adventurised bike, the PR7 is an interesting option aswell.

[@bikewes]

I have the same bike but the rally version. Motor is stock, have the suspension upgraded and dirt tires on it. And ya I absolutely love this bike, I rip it in single track all the time it’s a blast. But I feel the same as you…just the other day I was merging on the highway and trying to get up to speed with cars flying past me…it’s definitely scary. I’m thinking about Trying out the Yamaha Ténéré 700 for my next adventure bike.

[@tryptaminer]

I don't think there's any getting around the need for both a small bike and a big bike. A dirt bike can't do the adventure thing very well, and a big bike is a chore in any serious dirt unless you're Pol Tarres. For serious, multi-state adventures, I definitely want a bike that can comfortably jump on the highway and get me to a bed. I love my KLR, but by the time I load a hammock, a few days of essentials, and myself on the back, it won't do 90 either lol If it's me, Tenere for adventures, WR450 or perhaps a CRF300 for dirt/sumo shenanigans, MT09 for fast.

[@Coldlegend214]

its Texas baby. When down the street is 30 minutes we drive fast cause we don't want it to take 30 minutes

[@TheGardenSnake]

Oh I get it. Been here my whole life. I just drove to Huston and back. Spent most of the time with cruise control set to 80mph.

[@Coldlegend214]

@@TheGardenSnake oh yea you have to

[@TheGardenSnake]

Dangerous not to haha

[@sladewilson8241]

Well for me in Eu with max speed 120 km/h (74 mph) and most doing 54 mph i see no problem with my crf 300

[@deathcass]

KZbinr “itchy boots” took your basically same bike through several countries as an adventure bike on several Terrans including lots of deep mud without too many problems. She rode through South America, North America, and Africa on road but mostly off-road.

[@matt_kelly]

To be fair you're only seeing some of her experience. She doesn't show too many tarmac sections because it's boring, but likely it's not a very fun experience on knobbies on a lighter bike. Not that I think it's a bad bike, but she is editing for the best parts.

[@jeremiahcaron8322]

……and from what I have seen, I think she rides more to experience places. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen her aggressively riding anywhere. On the 300 you really need to just come to terms that it’s not about the bike and not about the experience of being out there exploring. That is, unless you perform many modifications and the that still might not get you the desired outcome.

[@fearlesswhetu4555]

If Honda just made this a 450 it would be job done. I really don’t understand why they made it so slow

[@SirMo]

They do have a CRF450L. Granted, I do realize 450L doesn't have the same service intervals, but they do make a more powerful bike.

[@kdxkyle]

I had a 300l also. Bought it shortly after you boght yours and sold it last winter. My experience was essentially the same as yours. I just live too far away to get to anywhere to actually ride real off road. Closest real riding area to me is about an hour and a half. More like 2+ after you account for doing it on the 300. Its just not worth it. It was my first street legal bike. I found it kinda boring on the road. Still had my KTM 2T. So there wasnt really a reason to keep the honda. If i were to do it again i would have sold my ktm and bought a 500. Or just gotten more of a streetable bike. Feel like i kinda chose the worst option in my situation haha.

[@Troysbuildsnlife]

looking at the power map after you put the bug bore kit on it would pull a fair bit taller gear better on the hwy. take 2 teeth off the front and give it a go. its a cheap easy trial. i usually wouldn't make the suggestion but as it sits you are asking it to cruise beyond the peak power as it is

[@DrewSprings]

Did you turn your FZ-07 into an adventure bike? There is that! We don’t have options today like we use to years ago with bikes. I feel like there was a wide variety of bikes back then and manufactures cut most of them.