2026 Honda CRF300F Review – First Ride
A Bigger, Better Trail Bike For Every Rider
Honda trail bikes have a knack for turning simple rides into stories worth telling. It’s not just the sound or the smell of fresh dirt and fuel, it’s that feeling of knowing you’re about to have a good time, no matter your skill level. Nothing shows its heritage more than the classic Honda dirt bike. That’s the mood Honda leaned into when they brought us out to Chocolate Mountain Ranch in El Cajon, California, for the first ride of the brand-new 2026 CRF300F.
2026 Honda CRF300F
The CRF300F is a bigger, stronger upgrade to the CRF250F, featuring a 294cc engine, a new six-speed transmission, improved suspension, and updated ergonomics. It’s a reliable, easy-to-ride trail bike built for a wide swath of riders, offering smooth power, durability, and confidence-inspiring handling.
Highs
- Usable fun power. And now with a 6th gear!
- Being able to touch the ground with a 28-inch inseam is nice
- Keeping the same MSRP deserves big kudos
Sighs
- While the suspension is a step in the right direction, it can still be overwhelmed as speeds increase
- The instrument cluster is minimal with just a low fuel light, but hey, it's a dirtbike
- Ergonomics are great for somone of my stature but larger riders may feel cramped
Chocolate Mountain is a dream backdrop for this kind of launch. It’s rugged, welcoming, flowing, and honestly just a breathtaking location that made the ride that much more enjoyable. Before we hit the trails, Honda’s team gave a quick presentation on the evolution of their trail machines. Starting from the 1981 XR200R, then through the 2003 CRF230F and 2019 CRF250F, each generation building on the same philosophy: make it simple, make it durable, and make it fun. The new CRF300F, they said, carries that legacy forward but with a little more muscle.
A Familiar Feel, with More Fire
I’ve spent time on a few of Honda’s small-bore trail bikes over the years, from the CRF250L to the CRF300L and the 2019 CRF250F. They are solid bikes, reliable as ever, but not exactly thrilling. The weight, soft suspension, and mild engine left me thankful for its reputation in reliability, though less than satisfied. So, when Honda announced a bump to 294cc for 2026, I was curious.
Right away, the new engine feels livelier. The bore jumps from 71 to 77mm, meanwhile the compression ratio has decreased from 9.6:1 to 9.3:1 when compared to the outgoing CRF250F. With an extra 43cc on tap, it still pulls stronger through the midrange and carries speed better on long climbs.
Honda also added an oil cooler to compensate for the larger bore and potential overheating. Also, the clutch is upgraded with more heat-resistant materials to keep things happy on long, technical trail sections. Power numbers are around 24 horsepower, up from roughly 20 on the old CRF250F, which was certainly noticeable. The header and muffler diameter have also been increased to complement the more powerful engine. The biggest mechanical win might be the new six-speed gearbox. The CRF250F’s five-speed setup always felt limiting, but the extra gear finally gives the CRF300F the legs it needed. Whether you’re crawling through rocks or cruising down a fire road, the spread feels just right.
Suspension that Finally Better
Even though the suspension is mostly the same, it has some minor adjustments that make a major difference. The CRF300F rides on a 41mm Showa fork with 9.5 inches of travel up front, compared to the 8.5 inches on the CRF250F, and a Pro-Link rear shock offering 9.1 inches in the back. The shock mount is also changed from steel to aluminum to reduce weight and improve performance. And, no, aluminum isn’t stronger than steel in a direct comparison, but using aluminum allows for more mass and stiffness without adding much weight. The lower triple clamp was also swapped from forged steel to aluminum.
On paper, that doesn’t sound like a huge difference from the CRF250F, but in practice, it’s night and day. The front end feels more controlled with less dive, which is a huge improvement from my complaints about other similar models. The rear shock tracks better over small chatter and no longer feels like I’m trying to maneuver a forklift through a rock garden. Honda managed to make it feel firmer without beating you up.
Despite being about eight pounds heavier than the old bike, the CRF300F rides lighter. The weight disappears once you’re rolling, thanks to better balance and geometry tweaks that make the bike easier to flick through turns. I seriously loved riding through the roller section of the track at Chocolate Mountain. The bike gave off a weightless feeling while floating over each rounded mound of dirt, and my absolute favorite part of the day. Sometimes it's simple pleasures like this that make the bike even more memorable. Another change that improves the bike’s handling is the reworked engine mounts, which Honda says allow for more feel in the bike. That might be a little too heady of a concept for beginners, but they’ll unknowingly enjoy the benefits and that’s the point: the CRF300F offers the kind of setup that makes you forget about specs and just ride.
The Fit and Finish
At 35 inches, the seat height is just a hair taller than the 250F (34.8 inches), but the ergonomics are spot-on. I’m five-foot six-inches, and while I can’t flat-foot both sides, I can easily get one down with confidence. The narrow seat and smooth midsection make it easy to move around, and the overall layout feels comfortable and not intimidating.
Styling-wise, Honda nailed it. The new shrouds, sharper plastics, and updated graphics make the CRF300F look more like a CRF450R’s younger sibling than a mild-mannered trail bike. Even small details, like screw-mounted side panels instead of pop-in grommets, show that Honda thought about the rider who actually washes and maintains their bike. It looks and feels built to last.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 Honda CRF300F doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t have to. What it does is make trail riding more enjoyable for more riders. It’s stronger, smoother, and more refined than the 250F it replaces. Yet, it keeps the same low-maintenance charm that made Honda’s trail line a household name. It has more power, more torque, better suspension, better looks, six gears, and it’s honestly just a better bike for the exact same price!
At $4,999, it costs the same as last year’s model, which makes it one of the best values in off-road motorcycling. It’s not trying to be a race bike, and it doesn’t pretend to be. Instead, it’s exactly what a trail bike should be: approachable, reliable, and a whole lot of fun to ride. Honda didn’t just update the CRF, they improved the formula. The CRF300F feels like a reminder of why we all started riding in the first place.
Scorecard
Engine | 19/20 | Suspension | 11/15 | Transmission | 10/10 |
Brakes | 9/10 | Instruments | 2/5 | Ergonomics | 9/10 |
Appearance | 9/10 | Desirability | 9/10 | Value | 10/10 |
Editors Score: 88.0% | |||||
In Gear
- Helmet: Arai VX Pro 4 Block
- Gloves: Fox Dirtpaw
- Top: Alpinestars Stella Fluid Wurx
- Pants: Alpinestars Stella Fluid Wurx
- Boots: Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro
- Airbag: Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma
2026 Honda CRF300F Specifications | |
|---|---|
MSRP | $4,999 |
Engine Type | 294cc air-cooled, SOHC, 4-our-valve, single-cylinder four-stroke |
Bore x Stroke | 77.0mm x 63.0mm |
Compression Ratio | 9.3:1 |
Induction | Programmed electronic fuel injection (PGM-FI); 34mm throttle body |
Ignition | Full transistorized |
Starter | Push-button electric starter |
Transmission | Constant-mesh six-speed return; manual |
Clutch | Multiplate wet |
Final Drive | #520 chain; 14T/50T |
Front Suspension | 41mm conventional telescopic coil-spring fork; 9.5-inch travel |
Rear Suspension | Pro-Link system with single shock; 9.1 in. travel |
Front Brake | Single hydraulic caliper w/ 240mm petal-style disc |
Rear Brake | Single hydraulic caliper w/ 220mm petal-style disc |
Front Tire | 80/100-21 tube type |
Rear Tire | 100/100-18 tube type |
Rake / Trail | 25.7° / 3.9 inches |
Length | 82.9 inches |
Width | 31.5 inches |
Height | 46.8 inches |
Ground Clearance | 11.4 inches |
Seat Height | 35.0 inches |
Wheelbase | 55.8 inches |
Fuel Capacity | 1.6 gallons |
Curb Weight | 273 pounds (claimed) |
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My motorcycle addiction began in 2013 after buying a 1986 Ninja 250 to save money on gas. We all know, it motorcycles never truly save anyone money :). Most of my riding experience has been sport bikes on the street and the track. I recently started riding dirt bikes on trails and a little bit on MX. I am a certified MSF instructor, control rider for multiple track day organizations, and a current expert supermoto racer. I like to save money when I can so I do most of the maintenance on my motorcycles. Valve adjustments, engine rebuilds, and tire changes just to name a few.
More by Sylvia Houston
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Nice bike for its intended buyer (someone looking to play around in the dirt), but Kawasaki has a much more serious dirt machine with their KLX300R. It’s $550 more, but well worth it. Depends on what type of rider you are. Both have their place.