Honda XR150L

[dmonkey]

I’m waiting for a 300L Rally, they due in august. Something a little bigger, faster and more trail worthy for times when I know the ride will require more than what the ct can dish out. Anyone know where the XR150L is manufactured? Low price makes me think low quality.

The engine is made by Sundiro Honda Motorcycle (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. in China, the bike itself is assembled by Honda de Mexico S.A. de C.V. in Mexico, with American Honda Motor Co., Inc. handling import and distribution in the USA.

This is all according to the EPA certification for the XR150L.

Model Year	2023
Category	Highway Motorcycle - Ib (50-169cc)
Certificate No.	PHNXC0.15CBA-028
Engine Family	PHNXC0.15CBA
Permeation Family	PHNXPMETAL02
Manufacturer Name	American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Engine OEM Manufacturer	Sundiro Honda Motorcycle (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
Engine OEM Country	China
Vehicle OEM Manufacturer	Honda de Mexico S.A. de C.V.
Vehicle OEM Country	Mexico
Small Volume Manufacturer Type	NA
Application Type	COR
Sales Area	50S
Combustion Cycle	4
No. of Cylinders	1
Valve per Cylinder	2
Fuel Type	GAS
Engine Displacment(s)	149
Fuel System Type	CARB
Air/Fuel Feedback Sensor?	N
No of Carburetors	1
Other Fuel System
Air Aspiration Type	NA
Other Air Aspiration Type
Air Injection Type	PAIR
Other Air Injection Type
Charge Air Cooler Y/N	N
Electronic Control	ICM
EGR - Y/N	N
Catalytic Converter - Y/N	N
Catalyst Type
Models Certified	XR150L
Exhaust Test Procedure	FTP_C
Emission Measurement Unit	G/KM
ABT Engine Family	N
Exhaust FEL - HC
Exhaust FEL - HC+NOx
Exhaust FEL - CO
EDV Type	NEW
EDV Model	XR150LE
EDV VIN	3H1KD1319PD000007
EDV Engine Code	PAM1
EDV Engine Displacement - cc	149
EDV Rated Power	9.3
Power Units	kW
EDV EIM	220
EDV Rated RPM	7750
EDV Road Load Force (N)	119.
EDV Transmission Type	M
EDV Transmission - No. Speeds	5
EDV N/V Ratio	79.3
DF Type	M
DF-HC	1.011
DF-NOX	1.002
DF-HC+NOX	9.999
DF-CO	1.000
Low Hour GHG CO2	44
Low Hour GHG CO2 Method	Tested result from the EDV(s) of the Engine Family
Low Hour GHG CH4	0.018
Low Hour GHG CH4 Method	Tested result from the EDV(s) of the Engine Family
Low Hour GHG N2O	0.07
Low Hour GHG N2O Method	Tested result from the EDV(s) of the Engine Family
Certification Level - CO	4.7
Certification Level - NOx
Certification Level - HC	0.4
Certification Level - HC+NOx
Permeation-Tank CBD Y/N
Permeation-Fuel Line CBD Y/N
Fuel Tank Material	M

 

[cyb3rbyte]

Really interested in the 150, love single cylinder, reliable bikes. Unfortunately there are very few reviews of these right now. But it's much cheaper than what I can think of as its next dual sport equivalent, the XT250, which start out around $4,500.

 

[m in sc]

well they sold them overseas for a pretty long time. i do know they can do 68 dead bone stock, and are considered dead reliable. simple as it gets, carbureted air cooled single.

 

[J Posey]

Just put 60 miles on mine. Very pleased. 3,574.10 including Tax..out the door. Insurance libility, collision, comprehensive and road side assistance, $75.00 for a year.
Now for a few farkles..

 

[cmb23trail125]

I looked at and sat on one today. I am 6-1' 215lb ready to crash and for the price i could care less where it is made. Seeing is where it was really from, made for and used for many many many years, the reliability should be without question. I almost said lets load this little bad boy up until two 23' Trail 125's got delivered to the dealer when i was there. I am a goofy american that when i saw a 23' Trail 125 in person i could car less what it cost, i just had to have what i rode as kid in a modern form.

 

[Kev250R]

I'm debating about adding an XR to my stable. Problem is I already have a TW200 which fills the same riding niche. I'll be curious to see one in-person.

 

[Cardinal Direction]

What’s one more bike? I’ve got two little hondas and am definitely thinking about the third right now.

 

[BaldRider]

I think I would look heavily at the CSC TT250 if I were looking for an inexpensive dual sport. Sure, it has its quirks and is a rebadged Zhongshen. The Honda is a Honda and that is a selling point. CSC is an hour or so away from me and replacement parts for when I crash it are dirt cheap. I'm not sure which one I would get when it came time to put up my money

 

[dmonkey]

For anyone outside California entertaining various budget dual sport offerings, there is also the X-Pro Hawk 250 which can literally be purchased through Amazon.com. The regular model is carbureted, the DLX model has EFI.

There's a good video comparison of the XR150L to the CT125:

 

[m in sc]

yeah, nothing really surprising there, about what i expected. the .9 gal reserve is nice though.

 

[cmb23trail125]

While neither the XR or CSC or Hawk are expensive, the part that will get you the most $$ and less of a selling headache is the XR. Once/if you blow the motor the XR looks to be a good CRF candidate that has a legal street titled frame.

 

[G19Tony]

For anyone outside California entertaining various budget dual sport offerings, there is also the X-Pro Hawk 250 which can literally be purchased through Amazon.com. The regular model is carbureted, the DLX model has EFI.

There's a good video comparison of the XR150L to the CT125:

I’ve looked into those. I may get the Lifan X-Pect. After having FI, it’s hard to go back to a carb. My Honda dealer called yesterday and said he had a white one for me. I told him to sell it to someone else. Surprisingly, there is a Lifan dealer in Vegas. I’m going to go have a look at one, it they have it. I already have a CSC RX4, which is a Zongshen. So I have some experience with China bikes.

The ChinaRiders forum has a lot of good info and guys with a lot of experience with these bikes.

 

[m in sc]

hard pass on the amazon bikes. After almost buying a dr650 last year, the only downside, for me, was size. Otherwise I really liked it. I went in planning to get a klx300 (size), and then i kept looking at options. cost isn't really a factor, but i'll take a carb over the fi on a bike like that. the XR will suit me just fine. I have made room by selling of one of the other bikes, and the TZR is now sorted, so, the time is right. should be shipping in 2 weeks as of last notice. Also, the support for a honda branded bike will be much, much greater in the long run, I firmly believe that. Also, if they are putting their name on it, the QC standards will absolutely be higher, even if it comes from the same country/region as the cheapo bikes. If you think i'm being harsh, talk to any independent shop owner worth a crap about working on these knockoff bikes.

 

[KYtrailfan]

I had a TW for several years. Never any carb issues. I loved it for trail riding but honestly didn't feel it was much more "pavement worthy" than the Honda Trail. In these parts the speed limit is 55 on all country roads and any place there is a straight stretch someone will be playing Dukes of Hazard.

So where is the cc sweet spot for dual purpose? My teenage years the 175 Yamaha 2 stroke Enduro would outrun anything that didn't have wings on a backroad.

 

[Backwoods]

I had a TW for several years. Never any carb issues. I loved it for trail riding but honestly didn't feel it was much more "pavement worthy" than the Honda Trail. In these parts the speed limit is 55 on all country roads and any place there is a straight stretch someone will be playing Dukes of Hazard.

So where is the cc sweet spot for dual purpose? My teenage years the 175 Yamaha 2 stroke Enduro would outrun anything that didn't have wings on a backroad.

I’m not sure where the cc sweet spot is for off-road, but I did get my name written down next to the August shipment for Honda 300 Rally ABS when it comes in. I think it will be what I need for some trails that are a bit too gnarly for the 125. Logs across the path need to be hopped over, etc. The suspension is much better, ground clearance also real good. Dealer would not price it, said he was not sure. I remember my neighbor 50 years ago climbing over parked cars with a Yamaha Trials bike, then he would jump it off the hood. My first bike was a 1979 KTM 420, that bike was quite capable offroad, also I think too much power for anyone’s first bike. I rode it within the scope of my capabilities, which was limited, so it had hp available I never tapped into.

 

[m in sc]

to your point.. depends what you want to do with it i think. way back, when i was getting into off road a bit, i bought a YZ85 new. I know, seems silly, but if you have ever ridden one, they are pretty damn fast. but, more importantly, light. they are a bot over 20 HP stock, maybe 22? but my thought was i could pull it out of a muddy hole or ravine pretty easily. and, i did. had it for a few years but got out of riding in the dirt. In hindsight, i probably should have bought a YZ125, but i had a LOT of fun on that YZ and had no problems keeping up with people on larger bikes. In mY case, these were single day rides, so no camping/road riding/etc. but the point is, IF i got stuck out in the woods, and i did a few times, i could easily man-handle it out of a gully, mud pit, or off my leg.

.02

 

[BaldRider]

A KLX230 is another option if you aren't looking to light the trails on fire.

Going in another direction, I have lusted after a Janus Gryffin 250 for a long time. They are quite expensive but very nice to look at. They show up for sale for $4500-ish somewhat frequently. They aren't incapable offroad but I certainly would feel better bashing one at a discounted price over their $10k MSRP. Any bike can offroad if you offroad it.

 

[m in sc]

Any bike can offroad if you offroad it.

agreed.
case in point.

 

[Backwoods]

agreed.
case in point.

I rode with a buddy years ago,he had a Honda street bike and street tires. It was always off-road and I often would shut my bike off and wait for him to catch up, I could hear his cussing loudly often, sometime his voice sounded 1/2 mile away. He did manage to muscle the bike over stuff when needed and apparently didn’t mind the bike going down frequently. I can’t remember the bike I was using, I think it was the KTM 420. It’s nice having a bike you can handle alone if it needs to be dragged, lifted, etc. I had a brand new Honda Fat Cat 200cc, that was very manageable. My Rokon I could lift over a locked gate if needed, lil 6hp Koehler.

 

[BaldRider]

If I won an old GL1500 in a raffle, I was going to turn it into some sort of offroader. I didn't win.