i’ve had these exact bikes for upwards of 3 years now, both 2007 both completely stock, and I can say with full confidence that the CRF is the better bike 150%. The TTR is meaner sounding, it is quicker off the start, and it’s easier to pop wheelies up with, but the honda is just so much better in every way. the honda feels lighter, springier, and quicker, is waaaaay more reliable and is just so much nicer to ride. the top speed of the honda is also unofficially a lot higher. i’ve had to wrench on my TTR probably 30 times more than i have to mess with my honda. they’re both great bikes, but if you’re on the fence about getting a ttr or a crf, and you stumble upon this video and scroll into these comments, I’ve been riding for 8 years and I can say with full confidence that you should get the CRF.
I will start off by saying these are both great bikes and highly reliable. Yamaha’s are just as reliable as Honda’s and there is a high probability that you just bought a lemon because you’ve only been riding eight years and you’ve wrenched on it 30 times now. The ttr is just as bulletproof as the crf.
@@northamericanproductions all trail bikes are pretty near indestructible but at least from personal experience, the ttr takes more work than the honda and the honda is a lot easier to wrench on
This is a great video. You really covered everything anyone might ask about the two brands . I just bought my first new bike I went with the 2020 ttr-230. Been riding quads for over ten years and I love this bike. Its easy to ride, enough power to keep up with my friends on quads at top speeds although not a super powerful or machine that's too tall. I'm only 5' 08" I can touch the ground flat feet. I do wish I saw this video when I was researching what bike to buy. Hope your two bikes last you a long time. Ride on my guy!
Blake Hemphill vlogs They’re both great bikes. It comes down to personal preference really. The Yamaha has a more quality build to it, but the Honda is more fun to ride. Honda seems slightly more powerful, but not a real noticeable difference. If I bought only one bike I’d buy the Yamaha first.
I’ve had both bikes. They are both rock solid reliable. I like the Honda seat better. In the end you can’t go wrong with either one. My son rode the hell out of the Trr and it is still going strong!
You’ll love the bike. I recommend rejetting the carb, big gun aftermarket exhaust with full header and a K&N air filter ASAP. You won’t have to use the choke anymore on a cold start.
I went with the klx230 but really any size air cooled 230 is a great bike. Simple, light on maintenance and easy to own, perfect for fun trail rides. Mines street legal and I go everywhere on it. I don't care for living with fuel injection though. I'd rather have a carb but that's just personal preference
I think you should have said the "fit and finish" was better on the Yamaha. I agree with that but to say it has better "quality" parts than the Honda? I think both brands track records speak for themselves on quality. One thing you won't find near as much of with the TTR230 is aftermarket support. Lots of aftermarket goodies for the Honda such as suspension, motor upgrades etc. Not so much for the TTR. Thanks for the video and comparison though, it is nice to see both bikes side by side.
Thanks for the review! I am actually considering both of these bikes right now, except I will have to choose one of them to buy. I saw a review on the TTR230 that mentioned the suspension is soft, I'm curious about that. I personally am more of a Honda man, but I have had 3 Honda's and 3 Yamaha's in the past, and they are both great bikes. (I've also owned 2 Kawasaki's and I liked them as well) We're talking '70's and 80's here. I know what you mean about getting old, I'm 65 years old now and still looking for a new bike. Where I live there are 500 miles of ATV trails right out my back door. Hardly anyone is riding on two wheels anymore around here, but I much prefer motorcycles over 4 wheelers any day.
I feel anybody would be happy with either bike. It just comes down to preference. I recommend going to the dealer and checking out both of these bikes before purchasing. Like I said in the video, the crf230f is disappearing from dealers because it’s been discontinued. If you want the Honda, there are a select few dealers that have some in stock still, but I’d move quick on the Honda. I prefer dirtbikes over atvs because they are easier to transport and have been proven safer than atvs. A atv is more likely to roll over and crush its operator, where as statistically speaking the dirtbike will tumble away from you in the event of a crash. As for the suspension, the Yamaha is a little bit softer, but not a huge noticeable difference.
@@northamericanproductions Thanks. I went to a dealer today and looked at a Honda Crf230f, they have two in stock for $4175, plus $125 set up fee. Another dealer, 100 miles from me have two Crf230f's and two Ttr230's in stock. They are asking $3999 for the 2019 Honda's. The Yamaha's are about $400 cheaper and they are 2018 models. Your video comparing these two bikes was spot on for me, exactly what I was interested in. I think I will go with the Honda at the dealer closer to me since that will most likely be where I would get parts and service. I do plan on getting the bike in the next couple of weeks, even though the snow is 4 foot deep on the level around here and it will be a couple month's before I could possibly ride it. I agree that atv's are less safe. There was an incident where a Grandfather rolled his atv with a 5 or 6 year old child onboard. The kid was killed, that was about 8 years ago. Of course it was stupid to do that, I'm sure the whole family was tore apart and the man responsible must feel terrible. Also, transporting a atv would require a trailer, plus they cost a heck of a lot more than these bikes. I've been riding dirt bikes since I was about 10 years old and I am more comfortable on two wheels. Back then they did not have these cute little 50cc kids bikes, I could not put both feet on the ground. My last bike was a 500cc Honda thumper, air cooled 2 strokes where mostly the norm at the time. Looking at the Crf230f in the showroom today it looks very similar to my old bike. The body panels and seat are more modern, but the suspension and engine have not changed much. I paid $1200 for that bike brand new off the dealers floor. It was the first year Honda put the Pro-Link suspension on a 4 stroke trail bike (1982 XL500). I rode that bike for 15 years, I rebuilt the engine one time and put God knows how many new clutch plates in the thing, but I would say it was remarkably reliable.
I disagree and have lots of experience with both bikes now and the Honda engine gets hotter quicker than the Yamaha and the Honda engine stays hotter longer after you turn the engine off. The Yamaha undoubtedly dissipates heat better.
Nice comparison! I've been very happy with my 2005 CRF230F. One question, why did you get two nearly identical bikes? Is there a second rider in the household?
Thank you. They’re both great bikes. I bought identical bikes because I ride dirt bikes with family and friends. It’s much easier getting new riders into riding if you have a spare bike for them. It’s always more fun riding with a friend than by yourself.
That's awesome I been looking for a trail bike and when I was a kid I rode a xr100 years ago...I also seen the Kawasaki 300 but still looking! Hope I find a good one thanks for posting..
I love the TTRs. I have a TTR225. Over 10 years now. They NEVER EVER STOP RUNNING. I also have a YTM225DX. Same engine and they are reliable. My Buddy has a XR200 my TTR225 is a bit faster straight out but the XR handles like a dream. Either bike is a great Pick
The seat is way better on the Honda because it has a gripper seat while the ttr230 doesn’t have a gripper seat it is slick as butter and ive ridden both a 2017 crf230f and a 2019 ttr230
Thank you for providing this video. I'm looking at my first bike in 40 years and in the homework stage. I'm a short rider (5'-6") and the lower seat height of the TTR230 fits me much better than the YZ125X.
This will be a good starter bike for you and will be a very dependable bike. These bikes rarely leave people stranded in remote areas. Just make sure you change your oil regularly and only run 91 octane fuel. As for battery issues when riding remote, I’m not concerned because you can always bump start the bike in emergency situations.
c103110a Anytime. You shouldn’t have any issues with the bike. It’s good that you’re buying new because people like to abuse dirt bikes. These bikes will outlive us, literally. Anymore questions, feel free to ask. Take care and enjoy your new bike!
Thanks! I'm in the market for one of these for my son. Leaning towards the Yamaha for sure. Honda is good as you said.. but Yamaha overall can't be beat. My experience! If you asked me bout trucks ..I wouldn't hesitate to say Ford trucks! From a new Ranger to new F350 etc. I have a '20 Raptor 700R-SE & love it.. been riding 35yrs+. Appreciate ur simple & thorough review . Thanks! - NW Ohio.
Thank you for your comment. If I only bought one bike it would be the Yamaha. Hands down better quality bike. Also the Yamaha has wider grips for adults with large hands. I have average midsize hands and the Honda grips are a tad bit narrow. I wish I had more time to talk about other key points, but my channel at this point is only allowed 15 minute videos. Maybe I’ll do a update video in the future. -East Wisconsin
you probably already got a bike. but a great bike that i just got like 3 days ago is a 2019 CRF 250f. it is a super nice and powerful but not to powerful trail bike. i am a pretty small 13 year old and i fit on it very good. it’s an amazing bike
I own a TTR230 and have raced multiple crf230s trails tracks and drag raced I’ve beaten them all not sure if it was more bike or rider but everything counts ...... TTR230 in my opinion is 100% better
Have you seen the klx230r yet? It’s a super nice bike, and the plastics are cool looking. I think that it is the better bike of the three, but you should check it out.
Jeff Hainline I’m about 5’10 and it really fits me perfect. But yes, Kawasaki seems to make higher seats than the competition. And Honda seems to make midget bikes to me. (The new ones anyways)
@Joey VanDeWeert thanks for the comment back! i havent made a decision yet . favoring the current honda lineup at the moment because their fuel injected now so one less thing to think about.
@@northamericanproductions that’s basically what I did 🤣🤣 can’t wait to get my ttr in a couple of weeks !! Only thing I don’t like is the carb but damn that blue looks nice lol
im sure Yamaha plastics will look like sh.t in 10 years ! yama plastics fades quicker must be cheaper mix in it! i had 15 yl rancher atv and same year Yamaha atv yamahas plastics did look like shit to be honest and more in complicated in service . I have 2005 crf230f right now i bought from original owner, bike is 17 yl but look likes new ! i love it !
Just bought a crf230f second hand an upgrade on mine crf150f so thats my choice as had buddies have both and the crf230f takes way more abuse and less repairs have been done on the honda
Idk but if I agree with you on the quality part you seem to be splitting hairs, both are awesome bikes there’s a give-and-take on both but if I were to choose one it would be the Honda
I'll do a update soon. I'm not the best channel at posting videos. I'm a busy person with many things going in my life and I don't make money off my channel. Thanks for viewing!
@jocoloco1320 That's a hard question to answer because they're both great bikes. I think the better handling bike is the Honda and it's more fun to ride. The better quality built bike is the Yamaha and oil changes are easier. The Yamaha has better low end which means it's faster off the start than the Honda. The Honda has better top end which means it's slightly faster than the Yamaha at higher speeds. You can't go wrong with either bike. I have aftermarket exhausts with full headers on both bikes now and the Yamaha sounds better than the Honda. I'm glad to have them both.
I agree. I’d love these bikes to be street legal, but with a 55mph top speed, you’ll be riding in the city. You’ll need more power to ride the highway.
Eijah Martin 230 is probably better for your height and you wont grow out of the power as fast as the 150. I’d assume you’re plenty big to fit a 230, probably even a 250 if you wanted to.
I'm a little bit anxious about the electric start due to the maintenance of the battery itself. Do I need to put it on a trickle charger if the bike isn't being used for awhile? Do the batteries go bad? Still like the TTR230 and taking a second look at the dealer tomorrow.
The dealer recommends keeping the battery on a battery tender, especially if you’re going to keep it in a cold garage. Cold air kills batteries. I don’t use one because I keep my bikes in a warm room and I also start them up and run them every couple weeks.
On my crf I've only replaced the battery once and I owned it a long time before it happened, not to mention the bike was used when I bought it. Dont worry about the battery. The only time I charge it is when its winter time and its too cold to ride it. Other than that it wont go bad.
Your choices are the 150f or 230f. When I was your age, I went straight into riding a 250 two stroke because that’s all my buddy had for me. I personally would say get a ttr230, that way you can grow into it a bit. So many people think getting the exact bike they need now, throw their money away because after a few months of riding, they outgrow the bike. You’ll be happy with the ttr230 until you’re about 18, then you’ll be looking for a 250 two stroke of 450f as your experience and confidence grows. I never recommend a 250f race bike. Those are just a waste of money.
I have a crf230 and and am a similar age and height, they are a great bike, I dont recommend going any smaller as you will grow out of it quickly, I can throw the 230 around a track and bush trials and it holds up great, can’t recommend them enough, consider a 230, brand won’t matter much but stick with a reputable brand, one like Yamaha or Honda
Really surprised you are so tall and ridden before, didn't get at least the 250f for real suspension. Long ride on these, your going to feel thrash and hunch over back pain. IMO
It all depends on what the purpose of the bike is for what you intend. These aren’t for going fast. They’re for cruising trails. I bought two new 230s for the same price as one new 450f.
Get a full front forks from a Yamaha YZ85 bolts straight up ,put stiffer springs thicker oil and you will have a dream bike trust me I'm building a 2007 KTM 85 big wheel with a custom front frame and a ttr230 engine.
Yamaha has more torque and low end. It's faster off the start than the Honda. The Honda has better top end. It's slightly faster than the Yamaha at higher speeds.
Im 13 in not quite big enough yet to ride full size bike but i ride a 125 ttr its really comfy at high speeds and very smooth but i really like everything about the honda bikes what should i get im 5,7 but i fit perfect on the ttr 125 idk if i would fit on a full size bike
I started off on a 250 two stroke and 125 two stroke at 13, but I’m not going to recommend those bikes for you. I caught on to riding very quick at that age. If you’re competent with your riding abilities, go with a 150f or 230f.
Ok my next bike is gonna be one of these or something similar and I’m 5 feet tall will that be a serious problem? I’m 15 btw and I’ve been riding since I was 8 so I have experience.
What am I looking for as a beginner rider buying her first dirt bike? I’ve done my research and both of these models have come up a lot and very similar. I’m 5’9 155 pounds Thanks
At your height you can definitely start on one of these bikes, but if you have no experience with working a clutch and gear shifting then a crf150f would be your best option as it would be safer to learn on. If you have a experienced rider to teach you the basics of riding then you’re going to be happier with a 230cc because this really is the right sized bike for your height. These bikes for my size are underpowered, but I’ve been riding all my life and these bikes are just trail cruisers for me. You being a beginner and lightweight these bikes will be a monster for you and they will pull you up big hill climbs and do about 60mph sixth gear pinned. Anymore questions feel free to ask.
@@northamericanproductions Awesome very helpful advice - I almost was considering the CRF250R 2008 because it was on sale in my area or a WR250f but read both weren’t ideal for a beginner is this true? thank you so much you’ve really helped me narrow down my choice. I’m from New Zealand and only could find one used crf230 that was around the same price as a new TTR230. So might be leaning towards the Yamaha.
@@fastfoxxx88 Yes this is true. The Crf250r is a motocross bike and the wr250f is a detuned race bike designed for trail riding. Both of those bikes are going to have more power than a ttr230. Both those bikes are liquid cooled vs an air cooled 230cc. That means more components on the bikes. The 230cc will have plenty of power for a beginner and is far more reliable than a liquid cooled bike. That being said the ttr230 is carbureted and both bikes you mentioned are electronic fuel injection. You want to make sure whatever you buy has a kickstand and electric start. There’s nothing more demoralizing to a beginner rider than sitting there in a remote location trying to manually kickstart the engine over. Note that race bikes don’t have a kickstand either, which means on the trail you’ll be leaning the bike up against a fixed object like a large rock. A kickstand is a nice luxury to have while trail riding. The ttr230 is going to have less maintenance than a liquid cooled race bike. Air cooled bikes are built like tanks and will last a lifetime if properly taken care of. I hope I’ve answered your questions. Greetings from the USA 🇺🇸
I’m 5’8 and 120ish pounds and i have wanted a dirt bike since I’ve known what one was.Can someone give me ideas on how to convince my parents,and what bike I should get
I’m 14 and the same size as you. The CRF230F will fit you well. it’s not ideal for learning. It’s got a good bit of kick for a beginner, but you’ll get use to it. And for your parents, start saving up to help them buy it. And tellem it’s all you want for Christmas, or your birthday.
Hard to say. It’s personal preference. The Yamaha is quicker off the start and the Honda has a higher top speed. The Yamaha sounds better than the Honda. The Honda is more fun to ride and it shifts better than the Yamaha. Overall fit and finish of the Yamaha is higher quality than the Honda. Hope this helps.
Yes I do have both of them and yes I have done some modifications on them. I know my channel isn't the best on posting RU-vid videos because I'm not that kind of channel, but I will be doing a update video on both these bikes with the modifications.
For a beginner ride a four stroke 250 is definitely the way to go with your height and weight. Two strokes are a lot to handle for your first bike and the 450 might be to much power.
I’m estimating the speed by what it feels like. I haven’t clocked the bikes with gps yet, but will soon. I’ve also read other reviews that say 55-60 is stock speed for these bikes, but if you uncork the bike you could achieve greater numbers.
I have a 2019 crf230f. Looking to re-jet but the carb on the 2019 is different. Any issues on jetting? 26mm vs 28mm I believe. I love the bike. Great on trails.
Ttr230 mike can go abt 60 mph or 100 kph I think the klx might be a tiny bit faster but the ttrs can take a beating and great for trails so I think ttr is your best beat
@74 CYCLES yeah your right but he asked to compare the 2. really if he wants a trail bike he should go with the crf250 x as it’s the only fuel injected trail bike and if he wants a good track bike for a starter he should go with the yz 125 of something along those lines. he asked what would be better so just give him your best op
I like them both the same and gave my girlfriend the Yamaha. They both have their differences but I like them both equally. The Yamaha has better low end and the Honda has better top end.
Hey man, I respect your opinion but I disagree. I get what your saying...quality is in the details; however, in 20 years you'll still have that CRF(which is an updated XR). The Yamie not so much. Either way though, you can't go wrong with a single cylinder air cooled thumper.
In Los Angeles, new dirt bike rider attempting to make his first purchase.. 5'11" + 220 pounds, I can either choose the 2020 Honda CRF 250F ($4600) or I can choose the Yamaha TTR 230 ($4450) OR...lol, there is also the new 2020 Kawasaki 230R ($3700)... I mean, I wanna choose the Kawasaki just off the price lol.. HELP !!! lol.
The 230s are great starter bikes because of the price. If you’re going to buy a full size race bike the 250f is a waste of money that you’ll outgrow quickly. I always recommend 250 two strokes or 450 four strokes if you’re looking for a full size bike and have the money. I personally started off on a 250 two stroke and 125 two stroke at 13 years of age.
@@northamericanproductions Copy that !!! Thanks for the reply + advice. About a week ago I decided on a 2020 KLX 300R. First bike ever, taking it to some dirt this weekend. So far so good tho, I like it.
The Topshelf Company I was close to buying a Kawasaki as well. I love all the different brands out there. I’ll eventually buy a Kawasaki too. I’m not one of those diehard Honda for life guys. I can see Honda has been riding their name for far too long. Enjoy the bike. Cheers 🍻
not exactly sure if you are still replying to these comments but right now i am 5’4 and a half and 114 pounds. i want to get a dirtbike next summer. how tall should somebody be to ride a 230?
It all depends on what you are comfortable riding on. When I was younger I started riding directly on a full size 250 2 stroke because that’s all my friend had for me to ride. It was way over sized for a 12 year old, but I made it work anyway. I’d say you’d be fine riding on a 230 as they sit much lower than a full size race bike and the 230 will have plenty of power for someone 114 pounds.
If someone wants to steal your bike, it’s very easy. Put it in neutral and push it away, then load it in your truck. You can fix the Yamaha by wiring in a toggle switch hidden under the bike inline with the kill switch. Then nobody would be able to start the Yamaha. It doesn’t mean they can’t just load either bike in the back of their truck.
you got mad it un fair for the hunda becuase you got the 2019 for it then you got the 2020 for the ttr 230 and that and I would hop it would look better if its from 2020 over 2019
Hey guys ! I wanna buy a bike, but idk what to buy, I'm between Kawasaki klx 140L, Kawasaki kx 250 and Yamaha ttr 230. What you recommend me, im 5'8 and 215 pounds.
Don’t get the 140. Too small. You’ll likely want something else soon. KX 250 is a motocross racing two stroke, so I’m not sure if you meant that or the KX250F, but it depends on what you want. If you are racing, get the KX 250 or the KX250F. If not, get a 230. A 140 is just too small for you. I have a 230 and am also 5’8”. Perfect fit for me but I’m only 160 pounds. It’s up to you really, mostly just would depend on your budget.
Ktm and Husqvarna are not o these bikes level. Lol. Yes they have kickstart as opposed to these, but they are way more of a premium bike. These bikes are half the cost of an equal ktm or husq.
North American Productions You’re right I was thinking of the KLX230R. Also I realized the CRF230F doesn’t have a 2020 model according to their website. I’m trying to decide between the KLX230R and the CRF250F. I can’t find any direct comparisons between these two.
