In keeping with Honda’s goal of providing motorcycling experiences to a large variety of riding styles and skill levels, Honda has announced two new dual-sport motorcycles that are beginner-friendly and affordable: the all-new 2023 Honda XR150L and the new low-seat 2023 Honda CRF300LS.
2023 Honda XR150L
The new XR150L is Honda’s lowest-priced full-sized dual-sport. It’s designed to be approachable for beginner riders while also being a good option for riding around the campground and exploring the countryside. It features an air-cooled 149.2cc single-cylinder engine and a 2.8-gallon fuel tank (a 0.9-gallon reserve) with for a claimed 346 miles of range. The 31mm fork and single rear shock deliver 7.1 inches of travel up front and 5.9 inches in the rear, and it rides on 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels.
The XR150L features an upright riding position and a tall handlebar for comfortable maneuverability. Ground clearance is 9.6 inches, seat height is 32.8 inches, and curb weight is said to be 282 lb. For brakes, the dual-piston hydraulic front caliper is paired with a 240mm rotor, and there’s a 110mm drum brake in the back.
Related: Honda Announces More 2023 Returning Models
The 2023 Honda XR150L has an MSRP of $2,971 and comes in White or Black color options.
2023 Honda CRF300LS, CRF300L, and CRF300L Rally
The Honda CRF300LS is a new version of Honda’s top-selling CRF300L, featuring a lower seat height of 32.7 inches. With this new lower seat height version, the CRF300L is now an option for more riders.
The CRF300L, which returns for 2023, is powered by a liquid-cooled 286cc single-cylinder engine. It has a fuel capacity of 2.1 gallons (with a 0.5-gallon reserve). Suspension includes a 43mm inverted Showa fork and a Pro-Link single rear shock. The standard and ABS versions of the CRF300L have 10.2 inches of travel rear and front, while the new low-seat CRF300LS has 9.3 inches in the front and 9.0 inches in the rear. Wheels are 21 inches in the front and 18 inches in the rear with black aluminum rims.
Related: 2021 Honda CRF300L and CRF300L Rally | First Ride Review
The CRF300LS’s lower seat height of 32.7 inches brings it 2 inches lower than the standard CRF300L’s seat height. Brakes are hydraulic single discs front and rear with 256mm and 220mm rotors, respectively. The CRF300LS comes standard with ABS, while the CRF300L comes in non-ABS and ABS versions.
Also returning for 2023 is the CRF300L Rally, featuring comfort-focused upgrades like handguards, a bigger fuel tank, and a windscreen, and it’s available both with ABS ($6,449) and without ($6,149).
For the new low-seat CRF300LS, MSRP is $5,699, the same price as the CRF300L with ABS and $300 more than the non-ABS version. The LS comes in a Swift Gray colorway, while the standard, ABS, and Rally versions come in Red.
2023 Honda Navi
Introduced in 2022 as part of Honda’s miniMOTO lineup, the twist-and-go Navi also returns for 2023. Powered by a 109cc single-cylinder engine, the Navi features a CVT transmission that requires no clutch or shifting. At $1,807, it’s the same low price as last year and comes in four colors: Red, Grasshopper Green, Nut Brown, and Ranger Green.
Related: 2022 Honda Navi | First Ride Review
the 125 is well appointed and well priced. A good street squirt . the 300 is a bit over priced and a bit too serious of an of roader to be the fun smalln bike it should be.
150, not 125. Hey, 25cc may not sound like much, but when you’re talking 12 HP vs 15, every little bit counts.
The 150 looks fun. It’s only 2900. Think I’m gonna get one. That’s so cheap.
I’m 87 and my riding partner is 85 and we both have CB500X which we dearly love. The only real complaint we have is height. We have put lowering kits on both bikes, but the hump on the back of the seat makes it much harder to get on and off than it needs to be. If a flat seat was available at a reasonable price we would both buy them and it would make the bike much enjoyable. I forgot to add that we both have had hip replacements which makes throwing the right leg over the seat difficult If there is a seat from a different model that will fit, that would be great. When designing bikes for oldsters who many have leg issues, that consideration should be considered. Weight is not the one issue tho the lighter bikes definately have advantages.
Scooters have open seats for what you describe needing.
Though it’s not quite a bike, it solves your swing over problem.
Amazing stuff. I was looking at the CB500X, but took the CRF300L because I wanted something a bit more offroad. The new 2023 CRF300L has a Low Seat option, also Seat Concepts company makes lowered seats for many models.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Take care
White or black for the 150 XRL? Can’t decide which I like better! Hoping Honda brings the fuel-injected with digital dash 150 XRL to U.S. soon! Time to get younger riders back in the game with brand name bikes that can be upgraded and repaired! Just wish we were making them here!
I had a crf 250L and got rid of it. The suspension was terrible, and the engine in it was from a street bike. Handling was a nightmare and quite frankly it stunk on the road and the woods, even after I put almost 2 g’s into it, if you buy one , don t drop it unless you are extremly strong. Sold it and got a Husky .