Hello from central Indiana

[snotcricket]

Just hit 800 miles on my new 2023 Ct125 I got about 2 months ago and love it. Traded in my 2021 CRF300l for it and I couldn’t be more pleased. I hope to ride it to visit the Serpent mound in Ohio sometime, visit an out of town brewery or two and get lost on some back gravel roads. My goal is to just get some adventuring done in the next few months before I become a first time father in November.

 

[CTExplorer]

Just hit 800 miles on my new 2023 Ct125 I got about 2 months ago and love it. Traded in my 2021 CRF300l for it and I couldn’t be more pleased. I hope to ride it to visit the Serpent mound in Ohio sometime, visit an out of town brewery or two and get lost on some back gravel roads. My goal is to just get some adventuring done in the next few months before I become a first time father in November.

If you're going from central IN to serpent mound you'd be passing right by me about an hour away from the mound. Let me know if you want company

Also look up the S.O.A.L (Southern Ohio Adventure Loop) if you haven't seen it as Serpent mound is right along that track. Or the "Ohio Gravel Grinders" bike groups site has multiple mice tracks in that area as well that translate into overall good riding for the CT125.

 

[CTExplorer]

Just hit 800 miles on my new 2023 Ct125 I got about 2 months ago and love it. Traded in my 2021 CRF300l for it and I couldn’t be more pleased. I hope to ride it to visit the Serpent mound in Ohio sometime, visit an out of town brewery or two and get lost on some back gravel roads. My goal is to just get some adventuring done in the next few months before I become a first time father in November.

Also, would you be willing to give more details on your opinions of the CRF300L vs CT125 and why you made the change? I've thought about going the other direction but really like the CT so afraid I'd have regrets.

 

[snotcricket]

Also, would you be willing to give more details on your opinions of the CRF300L vs CT125 and why you made the change? I've thought about going the other direction but really like the CT so afraid I'd have regrets.

Sure! it's a mix of a few of things for my specific situation.
basically, coming from smaller bikes I was allured by the power and speed.
I'm 5'10 and only 130lbs with short legs and wasn't flat foot in boot, so I didn't feel very confident on it for the hooligan type stuff I wanted to do with the CRF300l and that led into me just riding it mostly on road and in town for quick sessions. The few times I'd take it off road was fun, but I found myself playing it safe. Dropped it a few times in slow, uneven tight turns and lifting it up against an incline took everything I had. I simply did not feel confident on it for my liking. I basically rode it like a large adventure bike on tiny adventures for beer runs. Glad I got the chance to experience it cause it helped me zero in on the perfect bike for me and its closer to the ct, but I miss the power the crf300l has. That's honestly the only thing I miss.

 

[Cpd419]

Welcome

 

[SneakyDingo]

Welcome to the forum.

That is pretty solid reasoning. The CRF300L does have a much higher weight distribution and a heavier curb weight than the CT125, which is the easiest bike I've ever picked up (even fully loaded). Another nice thing about the CT125 over the CRF300L is the cargo capacity. Only one of those bikes can easily carry a keg on the back.