2009–2013 · Enduro · Buyer's Guide
Open-Class Punch, Featherweight Frame
The WR 300 is a two-stroke enduro built around one idea: put open-class shove into a bike that still feels light and narrow under you. The 293 cc liquid-cooled single makes 51 hp and 32 lb-ft, but how that power arrives matters more than the figures. It pulls cleanly from low rpm and stays tractable when the rear tire is scrabbling for grip. When the trail opens up, it still revs out hard. Around it sits a steel double-cradle frame with an adjustable upside-down fork and shock, and there are no electronics to manage. You get a carb, a clutch and a throttle. This is Husqvarna substance under the style.
It ages like a proper dirt tool. It's simple to wrench on, easy to keep fresh, and backed by a deep aftermarket. That simplicity asks for attention, though. An air leak at the reed block can lean the mixture enough to melt a piston. The frame can crack around the engine mounts after hard use. The stator, the factory CDI, the wiring harness and the shift-star bolt all have known weak spots, so check every one before you buy. The suspension runs on the firm side. This is a bike for an experienced off-road rider who does their own maintenance. It is not a gentle first dirt bike.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 51 hp (37 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 32 lb-ft (44 Nm) |
| Displacement | 293 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 90/90-21 |
| Rear tire | 140/80-18 |
| Ground clearance | 13.6 in (345 mm) |
| Front travel | 11.8 in (300 mm) |
| Rear travel | 11.7 in (296 mm) |
| Seat height | 38.2 in (970 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.5 gal (9.5 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Much of what I know about how the WR 300 lives with its owners comes from years of listening: paddock talk, club nights, long conversations with riders, and the messages people send me directly. The pattern on this bike is clear. Owners praise the engine and how it copes with tight terrain. They grumble about the fork, the controls and the brakes.
The praise that comes up most is for the engine's shove in roll-ons, where owners say it walks away from four-strokes. Riders also like the surging top end, which rewards an aggressive style. The chassis gets its share of the credit too. Riders describe it as planted in technical singletrack, and they say it resists bottoming well for a big-displacement bike.
The most common complaint is the fork. Riders call it stiff and vague straight out of the crate, and they report leaking seals again and again. The shock gets better marks, though owners say its rebound adjuster is hard to reach. Owners also mention a heavy clutch with a long pull and shifting that gets notchy when cold or worn, which makes technical riding more tiring. Some feel vibration through the pegs at certain rpm while the bars stay isolated. A few riders say the brakes lack progression, and on steep descents the rear locks easily.
Reed block air leak
Air leaks at the reed block manifold can cause a dangerously lean mixture, leading to piston melting. Preventative sealing with RTV is recommended.
Frame cracking at engine mounts
The chromoly frame can develop cracks around the engine mounts after heavy use, requiring inspection and welding if found.
Ducati ignition failure
The factory Ducati CDI unit can fail, resulting in no spark or hard starting. Replacement with an analog ignition from earlier models is a known fix.
Shift star bolt loosening
The bolt holding the shift star can loosen, causing the transmission to lose gear engagement. Fixable by re-torquing with red Loctite.
Stator failure due to moisture ingress
The stator tends to fail when moisture gets under the ignition cover, causing charging issues or no-start conditions.
Wiring harness chafing and breakage
The wiring harness is prone to chafing and breaking around the steering head and under the seat, causing intermittent electrical failures.
Where this Husqvarna WR 300 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the WR 300 is actually built for.
This is your bike. The low-rpm pull finds grip on slickrock and sand, it's light enough for the ledges, and you can tune the suspension yourself. Seal the reed block before your first desert trip.
Made for Bar M / Kane Creek · Imperial Sand Dunes · Johnson Valley OHV Area
It will lap a motocross track well, and you can firm up the suspension to suit, but it's an enduro first. If racing MX is the whole plan, a dedicated motocrosser fits you better.
Made for Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area · Fox Raceway at Pala · Glen Helen Raceway
Honestly, this is not your bike for loaded multi-day BDR runs. A 2.5 gal tank, no luggage system and a tall, firm setup make it a day-ride tool. Take it for the gnarly sections, not the whole route.
Made for AZBDR — Arizona Backcountry Discovery Route · California BDR South · COBDR — Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
