By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Enduro
Honda CRF250 Rally (Gen1) vs CRF300 Rally (MY2025)
Honda CRF250 Rally vs CRF300 Rally: which one to buy for the riding you do.
At a tight turn the Honda CRF250 Rally's bars swing through a huge arc, and it's coming around before the corner closes up. The Honda CRF300 Rally flicks in on a nudge.
What makes each one tick
CRF250 Rally
Once the weather sours, the CRF250 Rally's rally fairing does real work you'll notice. A pothole on broken pavement sinks into the fork and shock and doesn't jolt the seat. Rough ground uses up the travel fast. Its pegs keep you standing through long sections.
Nils rode the CRF250 Rally in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
CRF300 Rally
On a trail the CRF300 Rally's front wheel switches lines on a whim. It's soft at both ends: the fork dives under braking and wallows at speed. Its single answers the throttle with a steady pull that doesn't spike. Dropped, it's quick to haul upright.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The CRF300 Rally has the lower wet weight: 337 lb (153 kg) vs 346 lb (157 kg).
- The CRF300 Rally makes more peak power: 27 hp (20 kW) vs 25 hp (18 kW).
- The CRF300 Rally makes more peak torque: 20 lb-ft (27 Nm) vs 17 lb-ft (22 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Look at the dirt, commuting, twisty roads, running costs, and a first bike and you'll find two bikes doing the same job equally well. Fit is what breaks the tie.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
CRF250 Rally
Strengths
- Fun from walking pace
- Big wind protection, small bike
- Tiny turning circle in town
- Throttle you can meter
- Rear ABS off for dirt
Trade-offs
- Engine wants revs, not lugging
- Vague chassis feedback
- Suspension runs out on rough ground
- Cheap bar, imprecise clutch lever
- Heavy for its power
CRF300 Rally
What owners say
Strengths
- Accessible, smooth engine
- Lightweight and nimble handling
Trade-offs
- Soft, underdamped suspension
What they share
- Engine
- Single-cylinder
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Front brake
- 296 mm
- Rear tire
- 120/80-18
Where the spec sheets split
| CRF250 Rally | CRF300 Rally | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 35.2 in (895 mm) | 34.8 in (885 mm) |
| Wet weight | 346 lb (157 kg) | 337 lb (153 kg) |
| CRF250 Rally | CRF300 Rally | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 249 cc | 286 cc |
| Power | 25 hp (18 kW) | 27 hp (20 kW) |
| Torque | 17 lb-ft (22 Nm) | 20 lb-ft (27 Nm) |
| CRF250 Rally | CRF300 Rally | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 2.7 US gal (10.1 L) | 3.4 US gal (12.8 L) |
| CRF250 Rally | CRF300 Rally | |
|---|---|---|
| Front tire | 3.00-21 | 80/100-21 |
| Wheelbase | 57.3 in (1455 mm) | 57.2 in (1453 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 10.6 in (270 mm) | 10.9 in (277 mm) |
| Front travel | 11.0 in (279 mm) | 9.2 in (234 mm) |
| Rear travel | 10.3 in (262 mm) | 10.2 in (259 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| CRF250 Rally | CRF300 Rally | |
|---|---|---|
| Manually Adjustable Rear Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
