2025 Honda CRF300L and CRF300 Rally Preview

Reliable, affordable, and insanely capable for the money, there’s really no question as to why Honda’s CRF300L remains one of the most popular dual sport motorcycles money can buy. Honda has been slowly but steadily refining this trusty trail bike since 2012, and this year Big Red is rolling out what looks to be the best version yet.

Related: How the Honda CRF300L Became the Bestselling Dual Sport

We’ve done our fair share of seat time on the 300L, and the two updates that always make the top of our wish list are firmer suspension and an update to the oversized parts-bin headlight. Both of those wishes are coming true for 2025.

The biggest headline here is updated suspension, and while travel specs for the CRF300L’s Showa components remain unchanged, Honda has improved the damping rates for both the fork and shock. This should help address the fairly soft settings many owners currently remedy in the aftermarket.

As for the headlight, the US CRF300L gets an upgraded slim LED unit for 2025 matching the style of Honda’s current CRF450RL. This headlight has already been around for a few years in Asian markets like Thailand and Vietnam, and gives the 300L a much more modern and aggressive look.

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Honda says the placement of the radiator fan has been adjusted this year for improved heat management, as has the radiator’s protective shroud. The 2025 CRF300L’s side covers have also been redesigned to direct hot air away from the rider for improved comfort.

Those side covers are now adorned with new graphics for 2025, further enhancing the 300L’s sporty new styling. The vertically stacked “CRF” logo is borrowed from Honda’s current line of motocross bikes, something Honda fans should appreciate.

Last but not least, new LED indicators have been added for 2025, replacing the fairly large and dated halogen units of the previous year. Mechanically the 300L returns entirely unchanged with no updates to the tried-and-true 286cc single-cylinder engine and six-speed gearbox.

Honda has confirmed the return of its CRF300 Rally for the new year, which inherits all of the same updates as the standard 300L minus the updated headlight. Improvements to suspension damping and heat management both apply here, as do the new LED indicators and vertically stacked CRF graphics.

The 300L Rally will return in a single color option for 2025 (red, white, and blue), albeit with a handsome new blue seat exclusive to the Rally version. Pricing and availability for both the 2025 Honda CRF300L and 300 Rally have not yet been announced.