VOLUME ISSUE OCTOBER , P101
The RS300R has a radiator
cooling fan, aluminum handle-
bars, quality grips, and basic
flag-type handguards. A small
aluminum skid plate and plastic
guards help to protect the mo
-
tor. Most of these are items you
won't find on the less-expensive
Honda CRF300L or Kawasaki
KLX300 dual sports. Compared
to those bikes, the SWM has
about 1.5 inches more sus
-
pension travel, a 2.5- to nearly
three-inch taller seat height, and
a two-inch longer wheelbase.
So, the SWM is more in line
with the higher-end dual sport
models in terms of physical size
and suspension travel, while the
Honda and Kawasaki are a bit
smaller, which may be good or
bad depending on your stature
and riding pace. With a ready-
to-ride weight of 299 pounds
on our scales, the RS300R is at
least 30 pounds heavier than the
more expensive dual sport mod
-
els from Europe and only slightly
lighter than the less expensive
Japanese 300s.
WHAT'S IT GOT? >>
The RS300R feels like an au-
thentic dirt bike when you first
sit on it, and its ergonomics are
neutral and should be comfort
-
able for a wide range of riders.
Our only complaint in this area
is the placement of the standard
passenger pegs, which inter-
fere with normal riding position
when standing, so we removed
(Above) The
meter has just
what you need
and nothing
more. (Right)
Its engine might
look familiar to
you, and that's
because it's
essentially a
pre-KTM, pre-
BMW Husqvarna
engine.
