2009 Honda CRF230L Review

I’ve been riding about 25 years now and I recently decided to get back into dual-sport riding so I chose the Honda CRF230L. I’ve had it for almost one year now (over 4000 miles) and ride 50 miles to get to Carnegie (State Vehicle Recreation Area) for my weekend "therapy", as I like to call it. I ride on the highway about 35 of those miles and then do about 10-15 miles with buddies on off-road only bikes. The bike tackles all the different trails (advanced ones too) and it really is limited only by rider talent (and maybe the tires when it’s muddy) but I really can’t give it enough praise. It has averaged 76mpg (with a low of 63mpg and a high of 100mpg) and it tops out at an indicated 80+ mph. Before anyone says that’s not possible, let me specify: I weigh 165lbs and that speed does take a while to reach (maybe two minutes from 65-80mph and you do have to be fully tucked). Normally, however, I stay in the right lane between 60-65mph while enjoying good gas mileage and knowing it still has some reserve power to pass slow merging vehicles. Excellent little thumper!

We rode CRF 230Ls this year for Enduro Africa, a 1500-mile offroad, fundraising trip through Southern Africa. The bikes worked flawlessly in mud, gravel, stream crossings, and steep ascents/descents, even though these are billed as more street-oriented. A couple were drowned in rivers but started back up within minutes. They’d climb a tree if you let them. Perfect for newer riders. Google "Andrew’s Enduro Africa" to read more.