– All New 2016 CRF300M Motard / CRF300L Dual Sport Tag-Team Combo? –
Could we see a CRF300M as an all new motorcycle for 2016 / 2017? Well, the better question would be will we see a motard for 2016 / 2017 in the USA from Honda? To the dual-sport fans if we see a CRF300M Motard that would mean a CRF300L would be releasing side by side with it and talk about getting some people excited. In my dreams they would use the Honda 300RR engine they crammed in the 2016 Montesa Cota but that’s a pipe dream. The engine just isn’t designed for a street bike. But… Honda did bump up the old CBR250R engine in return creating the CBR300R. What Motard from Honda shared the same engine as the CBR250R that is now extinct? The CRF250L we have here in the states and the model we weren’t lucky enough to get on our shores – the CRF250M. Could this mean it’s only a matter of time for a CRF300L / M? Is this why Honda still hasn’t announced a 2016 model for the CRF250L / CRF250M yet?
If you think back to when the CRF250L / CRF250M were released. The CBR250R had been in production for one year and then the CRF250 variants were released. Well… Now, the CBR300R has been put for one year just like the CBR250R haD been when it’s brothers were added to the lineup. Is Honda going to follow the same schedule? Will the CRF300L and CRF300M be introduced for the 2016 Honda motard and dual-sport model lineup?
Honda Montesa 300RR Engine
Another thought… Honda is working on a new smaller cc “Light Weight Super Sports Bike“. We know the engine is a twin-cylinder and we know it looks BAD to the bone (pictured below). You can read more up on this possible new CBR250RR / CBR300RR sportbike by clicking here. There’s also some interesting rumors floating around of a CBR350R to replace the CBR300R while having the RR be more “race” orientated. If it’s anything like the old CBR250RR from the late 1980’s to early 1990’s this engine produced over 40 horsepower. The small cc sport bike market is growing with more and more of the manufacturers diving into the mix with models that actually put out decent horsepower numbers like the RC390, R3, Ninja 300 etc that are above the puny 250 class power-plants from 10 years ago. It’s a pipe dream and could be a few years in the making but if this Light Weight Super Sports Bike makes it in production, it wouldn’t be far fetched at all for Honda to use that engine in multiple other models. Here’s a few examples of Honda using the same engine and getting their moneys worth out of the R&D put into them… 250cc = CBR250R / CRF250L / CRF250M – 500cc = CB500X / CBR500R / CB500F – 700cc = NC700X / CTX700N / CTX700 / NM4 / NC700J – 1300cc = Fury / Stateline / Sabre / Interstate – 1800cc = Gold Wing / F6B / Valkyrie. That’s just to name a few and I’ll stop there as I’m sure you catch my drift.
Honda played with the supermoto / motard here in the USA back in 2009 and had it lined up next to the CRF230L (eventually replaced with CRF250L in 2013). The CRF230M was short-lived here in the state as it only hung around for one year and didn’t make it back into the model lineup for 2010. Was the CRF230M a good bike? If I’m being honest… It left a lot to be desired and was not worth the $4,999 MSRP / price tag it had when new. It was under-powered and old-school suspension with conventional forks up front with no adjustability etc. The CRF230L dual-sport version also wasn’t the hottest selling bike as we struggled to sell them until it was replaced with the CRF250L and Honda tossed better suspension under it, got rid of the carb and of course more horsepower. Since Honda did those changes to the CRF250L overseas they did the same on the CRF250M that other countries in the world are lucky enough to get as well and their sales skyrocketed when replacing the CRF230M. When the CRF250L replaced the 230 in 2013 it also had a $500 price drop coming in at only $4,499. Customers were flopping down their money left and right because of those upgrades for even less money. The 250L did receive a couple of price increases that went up to $4,799 and then where it sits currently at $4,999. I worry the flop sales wise on the 230M here in the USA doesn’t have Honda gun-shy to where they are worried in lackluster sales for a motard here in America and that’s why we haven’t been graced with the upgrade. It’s a shame we do miss out on some super cool bikes that are available in other countries and this may end up being one of those that will never make it to our shores…
Some of you may be asking “Why didn’t he mention turning the CRF250R / CRF250X into a motard or the big daddy CRF450R / CRF450X into the ultimate supermoto?” Some of us aren’t lucky enough to live where we can jump through the needed hoops with our tag / title office to legally tag one of these off-road bikes since their MSO / MCO says for “off-road use only”. It can be done, yes. In some areas and in some it isn’t and then your only choice would be to buy one that someone has already tagged and registered in another county or state so all you have to do is transfer that title. Another reason I didn’t mention those bikes is because of their maintenance schedules. Flip through the owner’s manual on the CRF R / X models and you’ll see how it can get expensive rather quickly if you put some decent miles on her clock. Yes, the power is nowhere near comparable though as the X / R model 250 / 450’s wI’ll absolutely destroy the CRF250L / CRF250M in a drag race etc. One last key point that really works in the favor of the L / M CRF engine is going back to touch on the maintenance – It’s hard to bear recommended every 8,000 miles!
Until Honda answers our prayers on this side of the pond, if we want a Honda supermoto bike we’ll have customize the CRF250L and turn it into what Honda should give us as a “turn-key” bike…
What do you think? Am I way out in left field? Would you like to see the CRF250M or a CRF300M SuperMoto / Motard available for sale here in the USA for 2016 or 2017?
All I know is, if Honda turns bumps up the displacement and makes a CRF300L for 2017, I will be the first in line to buy it. I have the cash already. This is the reason I am not buying a 2016 250L. I would have to buy a big bore kit and make it a 305 and I will just wait for the 300L. Work is, the bore and stroke will be identical to the CBR300 which is actually 286cc. Thats fine, can’t wait and hope Honda really makes the CRF300L.
I don’t blame you one bit for holding out on the purchase in hopes that we’ll see the CRF300L / CRF300M in 2017. It’s going to happen, it’s just a matter of time. I just hope when it happens that Honda will bring the new 300 CRF motard here to the USA… If so, I’ll probably break down and pull the trigger to add one to the garage. The CRF250L is a little on the slow side for my likings in stock configuration but with a little money it can be pepped up considerably. I’ve gotten to put some miles on a CRF250L (stock bore) but with Bazazz, DCR cams, full Yoshimura exhaust, custom aluminum airbox etc and it’s night and day compared to the stock setup but that stuff isn’t cheap by any means. Now if we get the “300” engine and throw similar mods it’ll be even more fun. I’ve never met a horsepower I didn’t like haha.
Thanks for checking out the site and posting up too! Glad to see others that have similar opinions on this bike and hope the 300 engine gets tossed in there.
Honda Kevin, thanks for replying to my comment. Appreciate that. When will you know for certain if the 2017s will be a 300L? I am on the verge of just buying a 250L and getting B&B 305 kit for it. But if I know for sure by say end of Feb/March that these awesome machines will be a 300L, then I will suck it up and wait.
don’t hold your breath. Honda won’t even offer the 250M to US and Canada, why hoping for a 300L? A 300cc won’t improve performance much, I need to see at least 350cc before I would go adventure with a dual purpose. The japs has the technology to build a 450cc dual purpose at ~ 300 lbs but they are hesitant. Ktm is eating jap’s lunch. Looking back, good thing though the 250L didn’t came to north America, I bought a better and cheaper dual purpose than a 250L.
“”good thing though the 250L didn’t came to north America””
The 250L has been in North America for 3 years now. Its here for sure. But yah, the KTMS are better….at the cost of higher maint. demands and price. You are correct the 250L jumping to the 300L would only add about 4-5HP, but when stock HP is just under 19HP, thats means 23-24HP and thats a positive gain. The CBR300 puts down 6 more HP than the CBR250. I know these numbers are peanuts compared to the Husky’s and KTM’s Dual Purpose models, but I like Honda and at half the price of a KTM, I will take it. So, what did you end up getting thats better than a 250L?
just a typo in the end, I meant 250M. I mentioned Honda 250M didn’t bother to sell 250M in north America, no bother wishing for 300L. The cbr is tuned for high rev but loses low rev torque.
I think you’re too optimistic on the extra 4-5HP from a 300L since it would be a 286cc, or a 36cc gain. This equate to 2.75 HP gain using 19HP from 250cc
I would prefer the CRF250M over a CRF300M. A 250 is big enough for the riding I want to do and a 300 would probably get worse gas mileage, aside from costing more out the door. I don’t need or want the extra cc but I would settle for a CRF300M over no SM at all.
If Honda followed suit from the CBR250R to CBR300R we wouldn’t see a drastic price increase or drop in MPG. The CBR250R to CBR300R upgrade only resulted in a $200 price increase when comparing their MSRP and a drop from 77 MPG to 71 MPG. Not to go too far off topic but speaking of MPG comparisons it’s amazing that the CBR500R with almost double the horsepower can pull the same 71 MPG as the CBR300R. Quite the feat of engineering there. Now that’d be a cool bike, toss that CBR500R 500cc engine into the frame of the CRF250M and create a CRF500M motard / supermoto bike… haha. Especially if they kept the weight the same as the current 250!
Oh yeah, I’d settle for that versus not having one here in the USA that’s for sure.
“I’ve gotten to put some miles on a CRF250L (stock bore) but with Bazazz,
DCR cams, full Yoshimura exhaust, custom aluminum airbox etc and it’s
night and day compared to the stock setup but that stuff isn’t cheap by
any means”
here is a reminder: there is no replacement for displacement.
exactly in the same boat, if it doesnt happen I’ll go with wr250x
Thanks for replying to my comment. When will you know for certain if the 2017s will be a 300L? I am on the verge of just buying a 250L and getting B&B 305 kit for it. But if I know for sure by say end of Feb/March that these awesome machines will be a 300L, then I will suck it up and wait.
get the 250L with the big bore kit to 305. If honda does come out with 300L, it’s only 286cc.
This cannot be used in Calif…. so sad
I am very interested in seeing the CRF300L manufactured in the USA with the same seat height. A CRF350L would be ideal, but again keeping seat height and weight the same or even less. As it is I will have to lower the CRF250 if I buy it. I am waiting to see if 2017 brings more bhp to the CRF before I buy. As a woman it is next to impossible to find a dual sport that is low and light enough, with bhp that can manage freeway speeds. I have spoke to some men who are having the same probblem. Is there a Honda office we can contact to encourage this to happen?
Kevin do you know when Honda will be releasing their new lineup for 2017?
Nancy,
Honda hasn’t ‘officially’ set the date for their next 2017 motorcycle model lineup announcement. The first 2017 model announcement took place a couple weeks ago, did a post on it but it only covered a handful of models. The next 2017 announcement from Honda is in July. That update is only slated to cover 2017 side by side / UTV information but it wouldn’t be the first time Honda has slid in a little information on other models so we could see something. It won’t be anything about the 2017 CRF250L or a possible 2017 CRF300L though. That will be what is considered a big deal compared to updates where they just have color changes etc which are the ones they usually slide into other announcements. ‘If’ they decide to build and bring the CRF300L to market it will come in closer to the 2016 Tokyo Motor Show and or EICMA show. They’ve got something interesting in the works… Thanks to some new patent documents being filed and some other misc info I have, it’s going to be an interesting next 6-12 months for the motorcycle market.
Thanks for checking out my blog and posting up too Nancy. Sorry for the long winded answer to such a simple question lol, once I get to rambling on it’s hard to shut up.