- 19 hours ago
We put the all-new 2026 Honda CRF300F through its paces in this first ride review, testing Honda’s latest trail-oriented machine designed to replace the CRF250F. With a larger 294 cc air-cooled engine, wider powerband, six-speed transmission, comfy ergonomics, and proven reliability, the CRF300F delivers confidence-inspiring performance on everything from mellow fire roads to tight singletrack. Whether you’re a new rider or experienced off-roader, see how Honda balances power, handling, and value in one of the most appealing trail bikes you can buy right now.
Check out the story at https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/honda-crf300f-first-ride/
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Check out the story at https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/honda-crf300f-first-ride/
Become a Channel Partner: https://octanemedia.co/home/become-an-advertiser/
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CLI74xvMBFLDOC1tQaCOQ
Read more from Cycle World: https://www.cycleworld.com/
Buy Cycle World Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/cycleworld
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SportsTranscript
00:00whoo-hoo dragon foot pegs through here
00:06whoa
00:08whoa
00:13today we're down on chocolate mountain outside of san diego california riding honda's new
00:182026 crf 300f this is the successor to honda's long-standing very successful
00:25crf 250f which replaced the long-standing and also very successful honda 230f these are this
00:33is the flagship bike from honda and their trail lineup the crf f line these are recreational fun
00:39green sticker trail bikes are meant to get more people on two wheels go out and have fun we're on
00:45this beautiful property there's dirt the dirt's good we had some rain got a brand new bike throw
00:51the helmet on go over some of the stuff that's new and go get dirty all right honda crf 300f
00:57let's start off with the power plant it's still the same or very similar single cylinder air-cooled
01:03single overhead cam engine but now it's a 294 cc displacement up from 250 cc's honda has done
01:11that by increasing the bore measurement by six millimeters they've also given it a six-speed
01:16transmission where last year's bike had a five-speed it's got a new oil cooler just to help keep things
01:21a little bit cooler a little bit more reliability and durability the clutch plates have also been
01:26adjusted again for just a little bit more durability um suspension has been updated as well you now have
01:33a little bit stiffer suspension settings the uh the pivot link the linkage is now made of aluminum to
01:42help with weight and handling the bottom triple clamp is now made of aluminum or before it was made out
01:48of steel the front brake diameter of the line is actually a little bit smaller than before
01:55to help give it a little bit better braking performance and the lever is now adjustable
01:59new styling obviously this bike looks different than last year's it's now current and looks a lot like
02:07the current 450r motocross bike um another thing honda did was they have these uh new fasteners where
02:14before they're rubber rubber grommets now you have a true metal fastener again just making sure that
02:20this bike stands up to honda's reputation of reliability durability fit and finish this bike
02:26has always been a favorite of mine in this trail bike segment i love the 230 i love the 250
02:32really excited to get on the 300 so you got a little key ignition to start it it's a fuel injected just
02:39like the 250 boom no worrying about cleaning carburetors just park this thing and it'll start
02:47just about every time let's get a little sound check
02:50all right nice honda increased the inner diameter of the exhaust and the header pipe
03:03to uh help out just to match that new engine and new uh increased power and displacement
03:09the bike's on we're ready to go kickstand has also been adjusted just to make it a little bit easier
03:17to park and we're off chocolate mountain we got some rain honda laid out a little course for us
03:24let's go have some fun
03:26all right this engine is so playful
03:51so tractable such great linear power delivery whoa double clutching it this section's tough
04:01let's get through here
04:02just really good tractable power off the bottom
04:09but it has really good mid-range and honestly
04:13even the top end is impressive it just works really well
04:18whoa all the way throughout it's such an easy engine to ride
04:24you know you don't need to be on the clutch
04:26just great great throttle response out of this thing
04:31it's nice and tractable but then
04:34with a little bit of clutch work
04:38you can really bring it to life
04:43lift the front wheel
04:45blow up a berm
04:46slide a corner
04:48we're in third gear right now
04:51third gear is so usable second and third gear
04:54but this new transmission the six speed transmission
04:59whoa third gear right there
05:02the six speed transmission feels even more usable
05:08than the previous five speed
05:11you can get away with using third gear like I am now even at slow speeds
05:19getting really good contractable controllable power out of it
05:22down to second there
05:25you really come to it
05:27back to third down to second
05:29so that's second
05:32pretty good power all the way up top
05:36I mean it is the air cooled you know recreational engine
05:39so don't expect this thing to be
05:41you know
05:42having the same
05:43top end power as a competition bike
05:47but
05:47for sure
05:49once it gets moving
05:51then you can get going pretty good
05:53and it just has such responsive power
05:56even at high rpms
05:58woohoo
06:04sixth gear
06:06nope now we're in sixth gear
06:07we're connecting these fire roads
06:11fifth
06:12oh here we go
06:13now down to second
06:15back to third
06:25so the engine is just so versatile
06:27and now the suspension
06:29the handling
06:30the chassis
06:31oh
06:31overshot that
06:32so that's third gear still
06:34you know
06:36still good
06:37good power
06:39but now
06:40let's talk about the chassis
06:42the suspension
06:43the handling of this bike
06:45speaking of suspension
06:47oh
06:48okay
06:51maybe
06:53found the limits of the suspension there
06:55but for the most part
06:57the suspension is nice and plush
07:02and comfortable
07:02on some of these smaller bumps
07:05and at slower speeds
07:06but then
07:07you still have
07:08enough hold up
07:11to attack things like that
07:13hit jumps
07:14I've only
07:16bought the suspension out
07:17maybe once
07:18on a jump today
07:19and then the handling
07:22is so flickable
07:24and with this lower center of gravity
07:26than a traditional
07:27you know
07:28high performance dirt bike
07:30the center of gravity
07:33makes this bike
07:33just always feel planted
07:35closer to the ground
07:37easy to ride
07:37friendly
07:39approachable
07:39you don't got to think about it as much
07:41you don't have to be perfect
07:42like you do on competition bikes
07:44it's fun
07:46it's playful
07:46you don't got to ride hard
07:48but if you want to
07:49it has the chops to do it
07:51of course
07:52you will find the limits
07:53a lot sooner
07:55than you will
07:56on a
07:59competition spec motorcycle
08:01like Honda CRF250RX
08:04but
08:05for a play bike
08:07this thing
08:08can do some serious
08:10off-roading
08:10whoa
08:11I'm a little bit off the trail
08:12there we go
08:14and with these ergonomics
08:16you know
08:17Honda's always
08:18been known
08:19for really
08:20agreeable ergonomics
08:21the ergonomics
08:24allow you to really
08:25get weighed over
08:27the front tire
08:27on some of these
08:29flatter corners
08:30like this
08:31the front
08:32the front just feels
08:32so planted there
08:33oh my goodness
08:35that was sketchy
08:37the ergonomics
08:48the bike is
08:50you know
08:51smaller
08:51with a hundred
08:53with a 35 inch seat height
08:54the wet weight
08:56is not particularly light
08:57but as I mentioned
08:58this bike feels light
09:00once it's in motion
09:01its lower center of gravity
09:02really helps the
09:05handling
09:06of this motorcycle
09:08it's light
09:09it's flickable
09:09it feels smaller
09:11it is smaller
09:12dimensionally than
09:13a full size
09:15competition bike
09:16and that just makes you
09:18whether you're experienced
09:20or newer
09:22it makes the bike feel
09:23very manageable
09:24very playful
09:25you never feel like
09:26you're buying off more
09:27than you can chew
09:28with this thing
09:29it just
09:30it just inspires you
09:32to just give it
09:33a little more gas
09:33a little harder
09:35on the brakes
09:35get on the side
09:37of the tires
09:38a little bit more
09:38the handling
09:40the suspension
09:42the chassis
09:43the ergonomics
09:45make this bike
09:46so playful
09:47so fun
09:48and so easy to ride
09:49which is important
09:50for all riders
09:51whether you're experienced
09:52or
09:54or beginner
09:55with this bike
09:58you can do just
10:00about anything
10:00jump it
10:01teach a new rider
10:03to get into
10:04motorcycling
10:05it's going to be
10:07affordable to own
10:09affordable to buy
10:10and it's going to start
10:11just about every time
10:12so I hope you enjoyed
10:15the video
10:15I was going to wrap up
10:17this onboard review
10:18of Honda's new
10:18CRF 300F
10:21of course
10:22if you enjoyed
10:22the video
10:23hit the like button
10:24comment
10:25consider subscribing
10:26let me know
10:27what you think
10:28about this bike
10:28and the other ones
10:29in the class
10:29and we'll see you
10:33in the next video
10:33thanks for watching
10:34I'll see you
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