After visiting with Tyler/everide and reading/watching some reviews, I decided to replace my 2003 DRZ with a 2022 GPX Moto 300R.
My all time fav off road bike is the Husky te300i, which costs over 10k and has high maintenance schedules IMO.
My all time fav toy, is a timbersled snowbike (which I converted my 2012 WR450f into a snowbike). IMO the 450 is too much of a bully for most dirt riders. I do enjoy the power hit of the 450. However, it requires a lot of clutch slipping so I don’t whiskey throttle off a cliff nor flame out and stall the bike.
The Yamaha 450 makes an ideal snow bike IMO. I hear the yz450f is the most ideal snowbike.
While on the 450 kick, the crf450l is so plugged up with govscam epa junk, its almost unusable as a serious dirt machine IMO.
GPS Moto 300 R PROS:
- limited govscams – no stealership scams (Dealership scams), I can put $400 down, show up with cash and they load the crate/box into my truck and I take it home and put it together. Not wasting time/money dealing with scams of some financial controller (different layers of management like Moto United (I swear, I will NEVER buy a machine from them…because they act like a car stealership). With USA Moto Toys (GPX Moto) the price is the price is the price and its reasonable for what you are getting IMO.
- comes with street legal kit and number plate, so if you want a dual sport, install the street kit. SUPER easy to install with quick connectors.
- PROTIP on install
- pay attention to the color of the wires on the quick connectors, otherwise you may burn out components
- install the rear signals FIRST, otherwise the wires may be too short. I had to splice in and extend the wires to reach the connectors. (The rubber retention straps on the headlight are so so stiff, it was easier to splice the wires than take off the rubber retention straps again)
- if you are installing Tusk handguards, consider buying a new handle bar like protapper. Even drilling out the handbars to fit the tusk expansion bolt was the hardest part of the install. I had a protapper sitting in a box and I could have easily upgraded it.
- The signal cluster/control panel has a set screw, that goes into the bar (I removed it unknowingly)
- Adjust the shifter UP, especially if you have size 13 boots otherwise it is VERY hard to shift and get your foot under the shift lever.
- Adjust the rear brake pedal (mine came almost unusable while standing and going down steep hills).
- For Moto Communications. Simple/rugged and low-cost, I suggest a shoulder mic/speaker on your hydration pack COMBINED with uv5r radio. Expect 5-10 LEGIT miles.
- Packtalks are nice for open mic close range (less than 100 yards), but pricy and buggy IMO.
- PROTIP on install
- good wheels, suspension, brakes (once tuned)
- Easy oil changes
- Crazy good torque on low RPMs, Likely the best tractor factor of any bike I’ve been on. It just lugs and lugs. Meaning it is rare for it to stall.
- Gearing seems VERY close together 1-5 gears. (I guess this can be good or bad)
- a 6th/sixth gear is NICE so you can run that HUGE rear sprocket for off trail tractor factor
- value – Getting a MODERN dual sport for about 6k (before scamtax) is pretty good.
- No big bully for power hit. So learners can ride this bike and I don’t have to worry about them whiskey throttling off a cliff in the back country.
- I LOVE the color grey on bikes and just about everything (Grey man). White gets scratches quickly and then dirt sinks in and looks poorly quickly.
- Gary/USA Moto Toys – really really has a great reputation of helping you out if things go sideways. Dealer support, IMO is much better with USA Moto Toys and is 20 min drive from my house.
- I’m not a facebook fan and I rarely use it, cuz I think they are censorship bastards/and data collection for govscams, but the GPX Moto facebook group is awesome.
- You can get a new machine for the cost of a used one…in this socialist apocalypse environment of high costs and low availability of goods/services.
GPS Moto 300 R CONS:
- wonkie case – so no poly guards for case, I put poly guards on ALL of my bikes (Tenere 700, TE300i, wr450, drz 400 etc). You CAN order Poly case guards off aliexpress
- kick stand is too close to my foot and my boot presses the kickstand down while I’m riding, which makes sure it gets hit by many large rocks and twist the kickstand foot. I removed some aluminum with my angle grinder sanding wheel on the bolt and the kickstand and its a little better.
- bash plate is known to fall off and only has ONE bolt
- Totally lacks power hit to climb a very steep and loose hill climb. If there is a short run up, I stress about getting momentum to get up the obstacle. Where my te300i, I can hit it hard and get that power hit and in a short run-up climb just about anything I have the guts to attempt.
- Hard to loft the front wheel over obstacles like large rocks/logs.
- Be brave! You can order the parts you need. You just got to figure out which ones to order (If body related, 2020 KTM 500).
- No TIME/Clock on the meter. It has speed, rpms and even what gear you are in, but no TIME!
- first ride, not over 40 miles, my knees started rubbing off the stickers.
- FREAKING FLATHEAD fastener! OMG, I HATE HATE HATE flathead fasteners. It is NOT on my te300i nor my buddies ktm 300 2stroke
- comes with a junky air filter that is NOT oiled!
- Plan on storing some of the electronics in the airbox, fuses, connectors etc
- If you do the lowering link, you’ll need to shorten the kick stand about 1/4″. I sanded the cup and cut off 1/4 on the bottom with a jig saw. Red lock tighted the cup and bottom bolt that holds the cup, because it tents to rotate. While I was at it, I angle grindered/sanded the kick stand near the bolt, so it’d go up higher so I’d be less likely to push the peg down while riding and slam it into large rocks/ledges.
- The exhaust by your leg can BURN YOU. I though it was just me, one day I road it and didn’t put my riding pants on and it was REALLY hot and I had a close call. But when I renter burned his riding pants, I knew I needed to order a guard. So I ordered one off amazon, I hope it fits.
SUMMARY:
If you are coming from a 30 year old Japanese dual sport technology, I think you will really love the new tech on the GPX 300r.
If you are coming from a ktm/husky Europe dirt bike, you may really enjoy the lower maintenance costs/schedule/bugginess in the wilderness AND a much lower cost.
When the GPX 450 Rally comes out, I’m GOING to buy it! I hope it is not too much to hope for similar torque/power as the yz450/wr450f!
For me, the GPX 300R will be my companion bike/loaner bike/spare bike. It will keep my hours down on my TE300i and allow me a light weight bike that is street legal.
I’m a FIRM believer in owning a LARGE dual sport and a SMALL dual sport. Do NOT try to make ONE bike fit all niches, otherwise you will be frustrated and injured.
My fav bikes will continue to be my TE300I and Tenere 700 and I will take which ever one is needed based on all the circumstances.
QUICK NOTE:
After putting 14k miles on my Africa Twin and 10k miles on my Tenere 700. I sold my Africa Twin for several reasons. Weak right foot peg mount. PIA air filter changes. TOO freaking heavy for adventures. The T7 can do all the things the Africa Twin can do, AND is funner on AND off road IMO. BTW, I SOLD ALL MY HONDAS (Pioneer 1000, crf450l and crf1000l). There may never be a better looking bike than the Red/White/Blue Africa Twin!
Great review. Any experience on a drz400? How do they compare if so.
I had a drz400 for a couple of years. It was my loaner bike to friends and my son. I got tired of the carb and its about 50 lbs heavier than the gpx 300r. But I did like the quality japan build vs china build.