Lightweight Honda CRF190L adventure motorcycle launched
Ideal for new riders, the Honda CRF190L adventure motorcycle features a 184cc engine and featherweight 145kg wet weight!
GOOD things do come in small packages as the new China-only (for now) Honda CRF190L adventure motorcycle is revealed.
Distinctly different from the more road/touring biased Honda CB200X that is already available in the Asian market. The CRF190L features a hefty amount of Africa Twin attitude, with rugged Dakar-a-like styling, and that iconic tricolour HRC graphics package.
Away from the styling, the CRF190L is a rugged thing, with fairly basic looking mechanicals that centre around an air-cooled single-cylinder engine, conventional telescopic front forks, and budget looking brakes. Power is reported to be around 16bhp, while torque is a modest 11lb-ft.
New HONDA CRF1100L AFRICA TWIN 2022
Honda CRF190L vs the rivals
The lack of power and torque may have some of you smirking slightly, but this isn’t an adventure motorcycle as we know it. The Honda CRF190L weighs in at a frankly featherweight 145kg wet! To put that into perspective, the class-leading KTM 390 Adventure weighs 158kg, the BMW G310 GS 170kg, and the Suzuki V-Strom 250 188kg. It may be small on the capacity and technology front, but when tackling tight and twisty trails, most off-road fans would take a lightweight and manageable package over tech and equipment.
Chassis spec for the Honda CRF190L is fairly basic, although Honda Sundiro (the Chinese subsidiary that is building and marketing the bike) seem to have their heads screwed on when it comes to the set-up. There is nothing mediocre about the dimensional specs. The bike has a whopping (for the sector) 241mm of ground clearance, while suspension travel is reported to be a very healthy 180mm! With such ample numbers, you’d expect the bike to be some towering machine where sub-six-footers need not apply. It’s not the case though as the bike's seat height is claimed to be just 830mm.
At this time the bike is only aimed at certain Asian markets with no talk of shipping to the UK or Europe. That was the same story with the little CB350 H’Ness released recently, although the response from Europeans was so strong there is now talk it could make its way to these shores.
If the same was to happen with the Honda CRF190L, would you be interested in placing an order?
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
