HONDA CRF230L 3000 Mile Review - CRF230L VS CRF250L Dual Sport Motorcycle 

I have a 2009 Honda 230L and I love it. Who cares if it isn't fast? It's not made to win races. It was made to go anywhere and go there economically.

I use this bike for my daily commute. I like it. It also gets over 70mpg. Mine also starts super quick with no choke. The second you press the start button it’s already running.

5yrs later im watching this learning alot I just bought myself a 08 crf230l and this is helping me alot my bike has 5,573 miles on it all stock and im already loving it im 6ft 240ish lbs but it's doing exactly what I bought it for so im happy with it

Hey guys and gals, took me forever to figure out but if you want a windshield, get the National Cycle universal model. I installed it on my 2009 CRF230L and it works great. Still get beat on side drafts but just having the front protected has really made a difference. I no longer freeze or get a neck ache from fighting the wind. Took about an hour to install. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the review. Sometime, if my uber busy life ever slows down a bit, I will do a review of mine that I have set up as a mini-adventure bike.

Nice review and nice bike. That little crf230 is actually a Very good bike for climbing mountain trails in Colorado. I've seen several of them up there on some very nasty, steep trails. 1. Low seat height 2. Light weight 3. Geared low 4. Street legal (no need to haul the bike in a truck) I have a DR650 but always liked the 230L and the older XR200.

I wish they still made these. It would be a perfect fit for me.

20,000 mile CRF230M owner here. I can confirm that everything you said is pretty much true. For my height and weight, it feels very ideal. Only differences are the color, sprocket & wheel sizes, height. Downside is figuring out what quality aftermarket parts are out there, cross referencing helps find those things. I have no experience on the 250L other than just learning the ins and outs of those models.

Hell yes! So excited to get mine buying one next week with less then 20 hours ride time

Bought my son one, he loves it. I love riding it also. Fantastic bike!

My 230L is sitting at 27,000 miles. Zero engine work and all drive components still operate with zero problems without ever being rebuilt. It's been through hell and keeps on going....the most abuse it saw was a 30-40% grade mountain hiking trail...I overheated it climbing about 3 miles of this where you can barely keep the bike going redlined in first gear. Bike made it to the top but when I shut it off it would not start for a while. 10 minutes later it was good to go. Shift lever bent to hell from freak occurrences with branches/small logs Broken frame by footpegs from a 30 mph crash/slide - re-welded and it's holding together. Original wheel bearings are pretty worn out Original steering head/swingarm bearings are fine. Engine leaks oil like hell from some of the rubber seals being shot but it still runs fine I don't ride it on the road anymore due to worn bearings and breaking the frame, but it's still fun as hell offroad and rides well enough for that. Keep the 230L until it won't go anymore....you'll regret getting rid of it.

Thanks for the great review! I'm 5'5" tall. It sounds like this might be an ideal bike for me...

Just bought an 08 Frank and love it. Miss my 300L, but felt it was just too tall.

thanks just the info i was looking for. you look fine on the bike. the GROM with big guys looks funny. but they have fun.

thank you! very helpful to decide between the 230 and 250 for my daughter...230 better for new rider. another advantage of air cooled is less likely to damage in crash or trail debris - no cooling system to hole

Nice review wood. We are about the same size and your right the bike is small. Sometime I'll make you laugh and show you what I look like on my TC 90. Ride safe

Great info as usual Frank. This 230L maybe the ticket for my wife. I’ll have to watch for a used one for her to sit on. I’m 6’2”. 220. So the 250L and my 450L fit me fine but she’s much shorter.

OK, thanks just got one trying to figure things out

Very nice bike for a guy like me. 5’8” 185 pounds.

Excellent review. Thanks.

Excellent review. 2 thumbs up.

Thanks for the review. Hopefully you are still responding to questions. How does the 230 do on the highway? We do some pavement to dirt riding here and there and I'm looking for a bike that can do 60mph without too much trouble. I'm 5'9" 185 with short legs and I like the size of the 230 but may need the 250 for pavement traveling. Thanks

Awesome video, I do have one question for you though. Do you know if the 230L and 250L have the same rear shock linkages? I'm looking for a better rear shock for my 230L, and it seems like the 250L has just what I'm looking for. I just dont have a 250L to compare with my bike

I have the garmin 12 like I see on your bike . If your are getting a battery message and you lose your way points when you turn it off do this . Let me start off saying I took mine apart and put a tester to it so I know whats happening to the battery . First off the internal battery will only charge when its on . The best way to charge the internal battery is to plug it into a ac adopter turn the unit on and leave it on for a good week . You can turn the gps signal off so it won't keep searching or just leave it on . While I had the unit apart I did a daily test with the tester on the charge of the battery and it took 5 days to charge it to full charge . The unit will not charge the internal battery by just adding new aa battery's in the unit . None of the aa battery's goes to the internal battery when the unit is off . The aa battery's will give a small charge to the internal battery when the unit is on and running from aa battery's and will keep it charged to a point . If you keep the unit on and running often the internal battery will keep working fine and you won't lose your way points but if the unit sets with out use the internal battery will get to low . There is no need to take the unit apart and replace the battery just give it a 5 day charge with the unit on and you will be good for a year . If you don't use the unit very much you will need to recharge it for 5 days once you see the low battery message again .

is the CRF230L still in production? or still available to buy new in America? it's a lovely little bike, i always had attention for this little machine. i admit if it was available here in my country and i had to choose between the CRF250L and 230L would be a tough choice ....maybe there would be good chances that i would buy the 230L. low seat height, much lighter, air cooled, more simpler and it's a Honda..what the hell you need more lol. power i think it's not that of an issue, sometimes power it's not everything.

nice bike.i have a 74 cb360 w 7k on it that I need to get running.been sittin for long time.good shape thou

thanks for the info

You think I could tour Mexico on this thing? I see alot of adventure bikers getting KLR650's, but they're going to South America, & they're also spending a tad bit more than I'm wanting to spend. This looks like an option MAYBE. Thoughts?

Great video! I'm 5'8' 120 but am excepted to grow quite a bit more. Would I grow out of this bike?

Yeah I'm 230lbs, 6'. Maybe this is too little? Maybe I should just do the KLR650 to tour Mexico.

When does this bike start to redline?

Does your son know you are out on his bike. heheheheh J/K Thanks for the review, I think it would make a great little bike as well. Its kinda like a gun, some guns work better for different people, hence all the variance in make and model,. I am a firm believer in Honda though. Thank you for the review sir. I appreciate you.

On one of your videos you mentioned which oil is best, but I cant remember if you said to use 30 or 40?

I am 5 foot 10, 230lbs, do you think this bike would be ok as a beginner bike and one that would mainly be used for just going around town, no highway driving?

Great video, I agree with everything you said, question though, do you have the stock mirrors on your guys's CRF230L? I replaced the ones on mine with larger ones and they're much better than the stock ones. Other than that I love everything else that's stock on it.

On the 230 is there a separate plug for the transmission, or is it all changed with the oil?

what bag does he have on the rear rack? I want to get one for mine. Thanks.

so as a commuter bike with a maybe some possible light trail riding how would you rate it

How big is your son? I got my eye on one of these for my kid. Hill might even get one for myself LOL

Is this bike a trail bike

Im a short guy looking to buy this