The Beginner-Friendly Dual-Sport You Can Pick Over The Honda CRF300L Rally
For the longest time, there’s been one big winner in America’s beginner-friendly dual-sport segment: the CRF300L. Honda struck gold with this platform upon debut, then refined it not too long ago to sweeten the package. So much so that it’s been the highest-selling dual-sport of its kind here, with part of the credit going to its two-variant lineup that gives riders better choice.
Now, though, another Japanese heavyweight–Kawasaki–is trying to follow this very same approach by giving its popular dual-sport a more ADV-like variant. That way, it aims to compete with Honda slightly better than before. And we think the new machine is a solid CRF300L Rally alternative.
Very Few Bikes Can Take The Fight To The CRF300L Rally Today
Kawasaki’s move isn’t out of spite. There’s an honest opening here to exploit, thanks to limited rivals for the CRF300L Rally. Part of it is down to the CRF’s brilliant blend of reliability, features, attainable MSRP, and serious off-road abilities. The overall versatility helps as well.
The other reason is the overall shift towards adventure bikes. Nearly all bikemakers have stopped focusing on entry-level dual-sport bikes, instead focusing their research and development on exploiting the more popular adventure bike segment. That inevitably leaves the CRF300L Rally with very few rivals that can hold their own against it.
For instance, the KTM 390 Enduro R beats the CRF300L Rally in terms of power, price, and features. But its naked bike origins make it considerably heavier and less dirt-focused. Similarly, the Royal Enfield Himalayan is a more versatile option with better performance than the Honda. Yet, it’s nearly 100 pounds heavier and has a not-so-off-road-focused performance curve. In comparison, this gray area is exactly what Kawasaki wants to play in, as you’re about to see.
The Kawasaki KLX300 XPL Walks The Middle Ground Between Dual-Sports And ADVs
Kawasaki’s weapon of choice is the new-for-2027 KLX300 XPL. This is essentially a 2027 KLX300 dual-sport, armed with several components that boost its versatility. We’re talking knuckle guards, a windscreen, a rear carrier, and updated bodywork. You also get a new headlight with a sturdier bracket that should stay on even if you take a spill.
At the same time, the mechanical package comes straight from the KLX300. So you still have the full off-road capability. Impressively, the weight penalty of all the extras is low at just 10 pounds, while the price is just $400 more than the 2027 KLX300.
Why The KLX300 XPL Is A Solid CRF300L Rally Alternative
Why should you pick this over the CRF300L Rally, you ask? Well, because the package is more capable here. Power has gone up over the 2026 KLX300, which puts it on par with the CRF300. Add to that the XPL’s sizable weight deficit, and you get a considerably better power-to-weight ratio than the CRF. Also, the Kawasaki is more stripped-down with fewer plastic bodywork panels. That means should you take a tumble on the trails, you’ll have a smaller repair cost to deal with. On that note, here are some other integral details of the new XPL.
An Updated 292cc, Single-Cylinder Engine Brings The Firepower
In 2026, the KLX300’s 292cc single-cylinder engine had 25 horsepower and 17.7 pound-feet. Both figures were lower than the CRF300’s output via the 296cc single-cylinder engine. But for 2027, Kawasaki has updated the internals to boost the output to 26.8 horsepower and 18.4 pound-feet. This is right in the ballpark of the CRF now, while the power peaks at 500 RPM lower in the rev range on the green bike. The six-speed transmission remains unchanged, meanwhile.
Rugged Underpinnings That Can Handle Tricky Terrain
Like the engine, the XPL has essentially the same underpinnings as the KLX300 we all adore. Thus, a race-derived semi-double-cradle chassis sits at the center. This works in tandem with 43 mm USD forks and a monoshock. There’s 10 inches of front travel and 9.1 inches of rear travel. 21/18-inch spoke wheels and single disc brakes round off the package. All of this is in the ballpark of the CRF300L Rally, but the XPL weighs a sizable 20 pounds less than the CRF. Part of that is down to its two-gallon tank, 1.4 down on the Honda.
The low weight doesn’t bring serious compromises to the feature list, though. Things are right on par with the CRF. As a refresher, the XPL has a fully digital instrument cluster, armed with smartphone connectivity. Once connected, you can use Kawasaki’s app to track the odometer, trips, average fuel economy, and service reminders, in addition to recording GPS route information along with vehicle running data. The display doesn’t show any phone information or allow turn-by-turn navigation, however. Topping things off are standard ABS and LED lights.
Source: Kawasaki
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