A new sub here. Being a new rider with a height of 6ft4 and 210 lbs ive been researching which duel sport would be better suited for me without having to do a bunch of mods right off the bat, being on a budget has its limits, id be doing most of my riding off the pavement and have the choices narrowed down to three, the DR650, the DRZ400 and the 300 Rally. What would you recommend? there is so many choices to choose from and I keep flipping back and fourth, Thanks
You always keep it real. Obviously you could have edited the drop out, a lot of UA-camrs would have. Real and honest. That's why I keep coming back. Great job.
BRM good review. Appreciate the fact that you left the 'double drop" in and didn't edit it out. We have all goofed up like that sometime and actually it really demonstrates the bike is not fragile.
As an owner of a 300L this is a fair and good review . As someone that has been riding for 53 years ,I would say the best part of the bike is the transmission . It is so smooth. worst part on the strait L for me is the small gas tank, I only get 165 kilometers before the light is flashing . I will be following your suspension upgrades because I want to do it as well. I put the TUSK side racks on my bike and they work well . Thanks
Totally agree. That transmission is bang on. I really wish someone would come out with a tank for the L, it would really make this bike a great light adventure bike.
First thing I bought was a Rotopax 1.75(US) gallon tank. I ran the tank bone dry and this refilled it right back up to the bars! For$100(+-) I leave it on the bike all the time! Yes, there are others and one that fits where the tool box is but that’s @$500…and smaller capacity.
@@alesterpadua7884 I think that one is a subjective decision. Personally, I absolutely could. I don't find the seat to be too uncomfortable. I have definitely had worse!
You may want that but not everyone needs that. The bigger the engine the heavier and more expensive the bike gets & bigger petrol tank needed (added weight) for the range required for adventures. For female or light riders who need a lighter bike this bike is brilliant. Just wish they would bring them to South Africa.
I have owned a Rally 250 and 300 and I have almost 10K miles on my 300 Rally now and have ridden a variety of roads, trails, and the IDBDR on it. The suspension is all that you need to fix. Put high quality Rally Raid shock and fork upgrade on it, a GL Coyote on the back and it is good to go. Don't waste money on little stuff like handlebars, handguards, footpegs etc. Upgrade that stuff if you break it. If you fix the suspension and put some super light luggage on it, it is a great ADV lite bike that can do a lot of things very well. Just avoid the Freeways on it, everything else is good. With your proposed upgrade budget of $1500 I would spend it all on quality suspension first and then you will see what a great bike the rest of it is. Don't go cheap on suspension upgrades as that is the only real problem that this bike has from stock form. Don't add any weight to it.. it has just enough power as is. It doesn't need any side racks, heavy skid plates, etc. It has incredible ground clearance and the stock skid plate will take casual hits and glancing blows just fine. Thanks for leaving the drop test gone wrong in the final edit: I got a laugh from that and appreciate that you also mentioned putting it in gear before picking it up is the right way. Looking forward to the rest of the Rally series.
I’ve owned the Rally for 6 months now it’s a great all around bike even in stock form, although as mentioned on every review of this bike suspension is a problem for larger folks and cargo, I’m 5’10” 175lbs and take shorter trips with no cargo (other than small backpack) it’s not a problem for myself, Thanks for the review, I can’t wait to see future videos of this bike and it’s transformation
Got my Rally 3 weeks ago in New Zealand mainly for the fuel economy as a second vehicle / shopping cart. I changed to a 15T drive sprocket for lower RPM on the highway with extra power coming from a 550 Performance ECU and a Yoshimura full exhaust, the ECU helps with the jerky on off throttle response, crash bars and fixed the rear suspension so far with a Rally Raid system. Ventura rack with their quick to fit luggage.
@@ggs0605 i have a 550 tune with full yosh stock gearing my top speed is 86-90mph. With his sprocket setup I imagine you can hit 95-100, but highway speeds will keep the bike in much lower RPMs which is the annoying part of freeway riding, not the lack of top speed
@@ggs0605 I'm too frightened to go there ATM as that rear tire makes it all feel a bit like a greasy weasel / loose goose at speed until I get around to changing the tires. I am 95% road focused with this bike so I could make it look bizarre by doing the super-moto thing. I can only imagine it is close to 100mph. Yeah the sprocket change of one tooth is a tad under 7% change but I do notice that previously I could start from a standstill in 2nd gear if I wanted to so this change gives longer legs for my intended use, of course it would be no good without the extra power to make up for the torque loss.
My Rally showed better acceleration after about 2.000 miles noticably. I would never tune the engine, not even the exhaust. I´ve owned a lot of bikes over the years, this one brings most fun of them all. It´s not all about speed alone. Nice review!
You can change at what RPM the shift light comes on and also the look of the Tach by holding "SEL" button and turning on key. Use the SET button to toggle through the options. I love my Rally and have a lot of mods including YSS suspension, skid plate, bars, handguards, Outback Motortek crash bars, ECU reflash, seat concepts, pegs, tires, etc. Now that I have customized the bike for my weight and riding style, I feel I have me a unicorn.
I’ve had my 300L for 5000 miles now. Over lots of technical off road and mixed riding. And I would agree with pretty much all of your opinions on the bike. :) I will add, the bike (stock) really shines in slow, technical riding. When you HAVE to ride slow because the single track is so tricky or steep or very uneven, that is when the bike is a fantastic choice. (With better tyres) You can tackle difficult slow terrain for very long periods without getting tired. And the comically soft suspension is, in that circumstance actually a benefit. Harder taught suspension is CLEARLY better when you are going fast. But when going slow over very bad trails the soft suspension soaks up the bumps and stops you getting so tired and rattled. :)
The suspension was driving me nuts so I did a cheaper upgrade that's improved it for me. YSS spring upgrade in the front (for my weight of 85kg,) and replaced the rear shock with a YSS MZ456. Parts were ~$800 AUD. Made a big difference for the $$.
Awesome shoutout for Noraly. I'm a huge fan and can't wait to see what's next for her, probably cross the bottom of the Pacific Ocean ride to China...😃😃🤣😂
Great beginning! As mentioned, I'm glad you left the unintentional drop in the video...it shows that even the most experienced riders still make mistakes! As also mentioned, Noraly (Itchy Boots on UA-cam) has really put her 300L Rally to the test (and she did upgrade handguards, suspension, exhaust, etc.). IMHO, I think the suspension has too much squat and is too soft (a common stock Honda malady). As someone that grew up riding an '82 Honda XL250 (I bought new), this hits a very sweet spot with the weight, size, and large fuel tank. Looking forward to your future adventures on this one!
Glad you mentioned Noraly @ Itchy Boots! She has put this bike through its paces and gives a great idea of what it can handle. Nice to see what it looks like stock and considerations for improved riding.
Ian---nice drop! We've all been there, done that. In my dreams, I wish I could buy the CRF300L--it is a very sweet ride. Honda engineers did an amazing job to produce such a ride for the price point. Honda has excellent after-purchase parts suppliers. Everyone can mod their Honda the way they see fit. I'm 6'4" 250 lbs and am rebuilding my XR650L's engine now. Top end job---valves and new piston. Fun work. I hope you get to show how EASY it is to service and maintain any Honda. Such as dipstick check, grease zerks, Changing of the oil filter. Buying a magnetic drain plug. Air filter maintenance. How and when to change a sparkplug. On Honda's, very easy to service--- a tip of the cap to Honda's engineers. Currently I own 4 Hondas. My fave Honda is my 2009 fuel injected 125cc Honda Wave i. I get about 135 miles per gal or 61 kmpl. Bike is in storage in Thailand along with my sweet Kawasaki KLX DTrackerX 250 cc. With 17" Dunlop motard tyre. FUN STUFF. Great brakes, suspension and engine. Bikes are fun!
Great test, I have been looking to add this to bikes for a while. Thank you for leaving the drop test in, great to see even the pros drop bikes. Looking forward to the upgrades, thank you Ian.
I am coming up on 4,000 miles since I rolled it off the showroom floor in late May 2022. Its quickly becoming my favorite bike and I have ridden it every day since grabbing it, saving a ton in fuel. Adding Rally Raid front and rear totally transformed it. Their biggest issue seems to be the fact you cant find them. Running a Pirelli MT21 front and Tusk D-Sport rear. Helps a lot and they are wearing well. Stock tries are dog caca as well as the stock rear shock, im 260lbs and had it maxed out. Still wallowed a lot. Typical farkles. Acerbis hand guards. Rear rack. Tail Tidy. Very pleased. $10 gives me enough fuel to commute all week. worst tank 61mpg. Best tank 82mpg. Top speed after Thai ECU, pipe and snorkel removed is 82mph. Stock top speed was 85mph. Its fun and nimble for both traffic and narrow trails. Been riding since 2012 and I really enjoy this bike a lot. The fuel used option is indeed accurate. The Fuel gauge will start flashing when you still have over a gallon left so I would recommend using that fuel used feature to know how much you really have left.
The plastic bash plate on the rally is one of the best of any bike. Many have tested it and it's very durable. Many enduro bike come with plastic because it holds up better than aluminium.
Why!oh!Why! Did Honda produce an off road Rally bike with such soft suspension when even just stiffer springs would've made it a far better bike straight out of the box! It beggars belief,no one is light enough to appreciate such soft suspension🙄 Great video BTW,looking forward to the rest of the series,and the lift test proves sh*t happens,glad you left it in just to prove it😉
I bought a 2007 GasGas ec 250. With higher gearing, softer settings, adjusted carb for low-speed and two soft bikes it made a fair and fast trail/adv bike. It had new Michelin tyres and was freshly serviced with new piston and small end bearing. 103 kgs wet and about 48 hps, combined with two-stroke torque makes it a really fun bike to ride It already had öhlins and so on. Total cost now, about 17500 SEK, about 1600 USD. Cons: instable and wawy at higer speeds on tarmac. Sometimes difficult to start, carb and no electric starter or battery. I find it good value for money and would not trade it against an 8000 USD four-stroke which would be heavier and slower! It is so fun for me, an old man ith health issues, to be able to ride half difficult trails with ease as youngsters on expensiv, heavy, new bikes. In fact they are worn out faster than I. 150 kgs more kills you in even easy terrain....
15,500 miles on my rally, love it. The factory suspension it borderline dangerous. I've replaced the suspension to match my 230lbs,fully adjustable rear. Ended up with 9300 bucks in mine. Completely satisfied.
This should be a great series of videos; I'm looking forward to it! I would also find it very interesting if you would consider adding one more chapter (Part 5) to your current plans: Update to a stage 1 550 ECU along with a new exhaust so we can see how that affects highway performance and throttle smoothness, etc. Because of its light weight and off-road capabilities, I think this bike could practically be in it's own very worthy ADV category if it just had a little more HP and torque. And it's priced low enough that one could do significant updates and still spend less money than with most of the alternatives.
Just finished watching the latest Itchy Boots episode and this video was over to the right side. Good placement UA-cam. I have yet to actually see a Honda 300 Rally for sale.
I’ve tried to get a test ride and make a video with this bike for a long time, but they are completely sold out here in Norway. The 300L is available and I might buy one myself to trail ride on. Thanks for another excellent and informative video Ian!
Good review and good sense of humor Ian. Yes, you are not Noraly, but still cute:) You did get me laughing at the innocent drop in your driveway demonstrating how to lift the bike. We have all done something like that. Keep up the great work. Dave
I am one more CRF300L Rally owner here and I agree totally. I am 71 years old and weigh 153 lb and this suspension is still way to soft. I am looking forward to what you will upgrade the suspension with and how much it improves the ride. I have 2492 miles on this bike now and I love in every way except for the tires and the suspension. I live in WA state and have ridden on the free way here and was able to hold a steady 65 mph fairly comfortable with all my gear on and about 50 lb of luggage. Great review of this bike and I am also a big fan of Itchy Boots.
I have this bike. I got the first 2021 model available from my local Honda dealer here in Dallas. First off, this bike is not made for highway cruising, so your negative impressions of it in that respect is taken with a grain of salt. For my weight of 140 lbs. the suspension seems just fine. I ordered all the H2C parts available for this bike from Bikers Bitz in Thailand, where the bike is manufactured. They include rear luggage rack, metal bash plate, windshield rock guard, metal chain guard, metal front sprocket guard, metal rear brake cylinder guard, and Moto X full titanium exhaust. I added Zeta had guards from the parts department of Dallas Honda, and Doubletake mirrors. For around town and trail use, my CRF Rally is perfect. I even sometimes commute the fifty-two mile round trip to/from work on Dallas freeways without any negative issues. I have a KLR 650 that I use for the daily commute, as well. Looking forward to seeing what you get up to with your Rally. P.S. thanks for mentioning Itchy Boots. She and her channel are an inspiration.
Thanks for doing this. Your reviews are very good. Somewhere along the way I would be interested in a comparison to the KTM 390 Adventure. Arguably the foremost competitor to this bike.
300th like And I love my regular 300L minus the things you pointed out. But for $5500 the 300L with abs isn’t shabby for a do it all dual sport. Enjoy!
Rode home from the dealership on 8/30 and take it into the Ozark's every chance I get. I'll have 3K miles on her during my next adventure plus I'm using it for an everyday ride. Love how it handles in the twisties but I tend to keep her on dirt. No mods except Outback skid plate and I bought the Acerbis x Factory handguards but need a shorter clutch lever to complete the install. She has gone down twice coming up with only scratches. I'm 5'8" 160 lbs. and feel I'm right on the edge of who this bike was made for as it is. It will need a suspension upgrade as I push mine and its limits further and look forward to your upgrades as with time will upgrade mine. This bike is just what I was looking for being a dual sport while having the ability to travel the world if I choose to. It is the perfect bike for me.
I knew you had this bike. I decided to search for a video from you today but there was nothing yet. What a coincidence. Few hours later, here we are 😁😁 I'm loving my 300L,but I do also like the Rally
I think what most testers are missing with these bikes is that it's not the beginners that are buying them but older riders who have worked their way up to the big adventure bikes and are now working their way back down to the smaller bikes.At least that's my observation.
I have a 300 Rally and love it. It’s gonna be tough to keep the upgrades to 1500. Just the Rally Raid suspension was close to 1500. Then all the other stuff really ads up but to me it was all worth it after coming from an almost 500 lb ADV bike the Rally is a dream
Highly recommend gearing the front sprocket down to a 13. Gives a tad more grunt off road without really affecting the top end wierdly. Also 550 performance has ecu flashes that improve performance with 87/91 octane without the need to upgrade the intake or exhaust. I'm waiting for my motox exhaust and I got the stage 1 though. Can't wait!
I love my Rally. A seat concept seat was a must for me, and it made all the difference in the world. I couldn’t ride it for more than 2hrs before I needed to give my rear end a break. Now I can ride it for as long as I wish. And yes, i have over $1500 in other mods.
Big Rock Moto, you had me as a subscriber the moment the test of lifting up happened. Love your real world review. Less talking and more doing. big like.
High speed comes with high weight. The motorcycle is perferfect for what it was build. I don't understand why people complain about power, weight, price. There are faster motorcicles , more powerfull but bigger weight, heigheir fuel consumption, less reliable , less agiles , so in conclusion it is a very good motorcycle. I wish that the rest of the manufacturers follow .
I've really enjoyed learning about adventure/dual-sport motorcycles from your channel. Your various tutorials have helped me narrow down my choice for my first motorcycle in about 35 years. I've finally landed on the Honda CRF300L Rally. I'm probably going to acquire one sometime in the spring of 2023. I know I'll need to do things to the suspension (I'm 6'3" and 220 lbs.). Thus, I'm looking forward to seeing your mod's in your ADV/LITE Part 2. Do you have a projected release date at this time? No real pressure from my end, I've got plenty of time before I get the bike. Thanks again for all your great work!
I have a well sorted 2018 250 Rally with Olhins rear shock and RaceTech additional spring in the left fork tube. Put a small deflector screen on top of the windshield makes a huge difference on smoothing the airflow for touring. If you spend your budget carefully you will have an extremely competent light adventure bike. I live in Southern Illinois and I'm getting ready for a trip to Tellico Plains and the Smokey Mtns. for some Moto Therapy in early October.
Good video. You mentioned Noraly (ItchyBoots), she had to upgrade her suspension as well, I believe maybe two or three times, so I would guess that is something that either people or Honda (or b0th) need to update.
Honda may not allow you to swap ECU since it is a loaner, I don't know.. but the 550 ECU & Full Yoshimura exhaust gave me a lot on the top.. I can pull 85+ MPH where I was struggling to pull more than 70-75 before.. Thanks and look forward to seeing your build / mods.
I’ve had my rally for about 8 months and I’ve put 5k miles on it. Definitely love it, but it really became amazing when I upgraded ECU, tires, and suspension.
@@forestmotoadventures I did the 550 performance “stock improved”. While it only gives a tad more power, it really smooths out the choppy throttle and makes it more responsive all around.
Great review of the bike. I've only been riding since spring and this is my starter bike. Its been a perfect starting point for me while I develop my skills (I'm 90% off road). I look forward to your review of it for adventure riding. Hopefully I will be ready by next season to take that next step.
Great start to a series. My son in-law has deposits at several Honda dealers for that bike for months. Still hasn't been able to get one. He currently rides a well used DRZ 400.
Nice! Looking forward to this. My 300L has a few protection upgrades but not much else so far. If you haven't seen it, check out Shonky's absolute abuse of his 300 Rally (in an actual Rally). He finished second in class with a broken shoulder and a broken nav tower, not too shabby. Considering how much he has beaten on this bike already (crossed the Simpson Desert unsupported for example), it says something about the longevity.
I look forward to watching this series. I'm looking at buying a bike and am struggling between this bike and a 390 Adventure. It would be great to get your comments on how the 2 compare on the road, off road and weight feel? Thanks in advance.
Big Rock Moto---you give the best reviews, thank you! Oh yeah, how is your leg? You did a serious groin pull on your 300L ride a few weeks back. We've all been there, done that. NOT FUN!
I rode a 2019 CB300R (not CBR300R) for 3 1/2 years, 15k miles, and really liked the 286cc motor. In the CB it would go nearly 100mph, pulled hills really well, and got 78mpg over 15k miles. I recently sold the CB and got a 2022 Vitpilen 401.
Ok Ian, the the " drop/lift" test you could mention "for demonstration purposes only 😉 " i will admit I replayed that a few times. Like the Klim jacket also.
At the end of the series I’d love you to pick Honda / BMW / KTM as a starting point. That plus cost of mods means purchase price may not be the most important thing.
I have about 2500 miles on my Rally. Took it on the White Rim trail at Moab earlier this year. Even in stock form it was a blast. I have just added exhaust and a tune, suspension is next. Great video. 👍
Here 46.000 clicks on a 250 Rally now and counting (not much difference with a 300) and still completely stock even to the tires and really appreciate these bikes for what they are, and are not, i've ridden and raced mx, enduro and true old scool rally bikes, 80's era, this is made to enjoy and explore at a moderate speed and very moderate fuel consumption, 75 mpg for me, and it leaves budget to travel and the reliabilty to no bike will touch, i've blogged about this bike since early 2019 now, it doesn't get any better for the nihilist, my opinion.
IMO that's an accurate assessment of Western US interstate travel on a single cylinder DS bike. My 500cc DS bike relegated to the slow lane most of the time and I just make sure to stay a couple MPH ahead of the 18 Wheeler truck traffic . It's not always my bikes power limit, but the lack of wind protection that keeps me sub 75MPH. Another type of rider this bike might appeal to is the experienced long distance traveler who wants a reliable no drama ride that'll allow you to put in big days...day after day.
I love that you left the drop in there, on concrete...but as I'm watching this to educate myself on "is this bike right for me..." I would have loved a camera view of those "scratches". To be honest though, for the same reason already stated, I watched your KLX video and in that one you seemed tired. Thanks for upping your excitement level, or was the KLX not really as good as you said. Hmmm.
I wish Honda would make something very similar, but in the 330-390cc range, where it won't compete with their 450, but with better and fully adjustable suspension. That would be the perfect bike for me.
*STAY TUNED FOR PARTS 2,3 and 4 of THIS SERIES!*
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Thank you for keeping the drop in!
Please test the AJP PR7
A new sub here. Being a new rider with a height of 6ft4 and 210 lbs ive been researching which duel sport would be better suited for me without having to do a bunch of mods right off the bat, being on a budget has its limits, id be doing most of my riding off the pavement and have the choices narrowed down to three, the DR650, the DRZ400 and the 300 Rally. What would you recommend? there is so many choices to choose from and I keep flipping back and fourth, Thanks
I subbed just because you didnt edit the drop out.....I admire that
You always keep it real. Obviously you could have edited the drop out, a lot of UA-camrs would have. Real and honest. That's why I keep coming back. Great job.
I mean, he said it's a drop test... :D
I"m pretty sure I've seen him do that before, it's a great chuckle and a real life test.
There's a better way to pick up a bike than the technique shown even if the bike was in gear.
Honda is like....Umm, how long will he have it for?
@@lostwithasmile485 😂
I'm so glad you left the whole lift test in. You're just like the rest of us.
The lift test was hilarious ;-)
BRM good review. Appreciate the fact that you left the 'double drop" in and didn't edit it out. We have all goofed up like that sometime and actually it really demonstrates the bike is not fragile.
I appreciate the extra effort you put in to demonstrate the Drop & Lift test from both sides. Very thorough!
As an owner of a 300L this is a fair and good review . As someone that has been riding for 53 years ,I would say the best part of the bike is the transmission . It is so smooth. worst part on the strait L for me is the small gas tank, I only get 165 kilometers before the light is flashing . I will be following your suspension upgrades because I want to do it as well. I put the TUSK side racks on my bike and they work well . Thanks
Good info thanks
Totally agree. That transmission is bang on. I really wish someone would come out with a tank for the L, it would really make this bike a great light adventure bike.
First thing I bought was a Rotopax 1.75(US) gallon tank. I ran the tank bone dry and this refilled it right back up to the bars!
For$100(+-) I leave it on the bike all the time!
Yes, there are others and one that fits where the tool box is but that’s @$500…and smaller capacity.
How about the seats though? Can you do 2-3 hours ride with it without feeling any pain?
@@alesterpadua7884 I think that one is a subjective decision. Personally, I absolutely could. I don't find the seat to be too uncomfortable. I have definitely had worse!
Honda we want a 450L rally with long maintenance intervals. Make it happen!
And good suspension out of the box)
Definitely
You may want that but not everyone needs that. The bigger the engine the heavier and more expensive the bike gets & bigger petrol tank needed (added weight) for the range required for adventures. For female or light riders who need a lighter bike this bike is brilliant. Just wish they would bring them to South Africa.
Honda don't even listen Marc Marquez so not much chance they will listen to any of us.
@@tdunster2011 well they will just miss out on sales. Their problem in the end.
I have owned a Rally 250 and 300 and I have almost 10K miles on my 300 Rally now and have ridden a variety of roads, trails, and the IDBDR on it. The suspension is all that you need to fix. Put high quality Rally Raid shock and fork upgrade on it, a GL Coyote on the back and it is good to go. Don't waste money on little stuff like handlebars, handguards, footpegs etc. Upgrade that stuff if you break it. If you fix the suspension and put some super light luggage on it, it is a great ADV lite bike that can do a lot of things very well. Just avoid the Freeways on it, everything else is good. With your proposed upgrade budget of $1500 I would spend it all on quality suspension first and then you will see what a great bike the rest of it is. Don't go cheap on suspension upgrades as that is the only real problem that this bike has from stock form. Don't add any weight to it.. it has just enough power as is. It doesn't need any side racks, heavy skid plates, etc. It has incredible ground clearance and the stock skid plate will take casual hits and glancing blows just fine.
Thanks for leaving the drop test gone wrong in the final edit: I got a laugh from that and appreciate that you also mentioned putting it in gear before picking it up is the right way. Looking forward to the rest of the Rally series.
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I’ve owned the Rally for 6 months now it’s a great all around bike even in stock form, although as mentioned on every review of this bike suspension is a problem for larger folks and cargo, I’m 5’10” 175lbs and take shorter trips with no cargo (other than small backpack) it’s not a problem for myself, Thanks for the review, I can’t wait to see future videos of this bike and it’s transformation
You actually showed us what it’s like to lift it up from a drop on either side. Very realistic demonstration. Thank you!
Got my Rally 3 weeks ago in New Zealand mainly for the fuel economy as a second vehicle / shopping cart. I changed to a 15T drive sprocket for lower RPM on the highway with extra power coming from a 550 Performance ECU and a Yoshimura full exhaust, the ECU helps with the jerky on off throttle response, crash bars and fixed the rear suspension so far with a Rally Raid system. Ventura rack with their quick to fit luggage.
What is your top speed with your mods now?
@@ggs0605 i have a 550 tune with full yosh stock gearing my top speed is 86-90mph. With his sprocket setup I imagine you can hit 95-100, but highway speeds will keep the bike in much lower RPMs which is the annoying part of freeway riding, not the lack of top speed
@@ggs0605 I'm too frightened to go there ATM as that rear tire makes it all feel a bit like a greasy weasel / loose goose at speed until I get around to changing the tires. I am 95% road focused with this bike so I could make it look bizarre by doing the super-moto thing. I can only imagine it is close to 100mph. Yeah the sprocket change of one tooth is a tad under 7% change but I do notice that previously I could start from a standstill in 2nd gear if I wanted to so this change gives longer legs for my intended use, of course it would be no good without the extra power to make up for the torque loss.
Hi Allan,
Sounds like you have addressed the big issues regarding this bike. Would it be possible to get a costing on the upgrades? Thankyou!
I just bought a 2023 rally CRF 300, I’m 65 and I love this bike
58, on year 3 with my 250 rally...also love it , I barely use my car in the summers.
I just bought my Rally last week. It’s my first bike. I can’t wait to ride it!
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My Rally showed better acceleration after about 2.000 miles noticably. I would never tune the engine, not even the exhaust. I´ve owned a lot of bikes over the years, this one brings most fun of them all. It´s not all about speed alone. Nice review!
Yep. The crf300l's suspension is there so you can ride it to your local suspension shop and get a real shock.
It's the bike I want to buy and modify.
Same. Seems like the perfect base to me.
KLX ;p
KLX300 done
You can change at what RPM the shift light comes on and also the look of the Tach by holding "SEL" button and turning on key. Use the SET button to toggle through the options. I love my Rally and have a lot of mods including YSS suspension, skid plate, bars, handguards, Outback Motortek crash bars, ECU reflash, seat concepts, pegs, tires, etc. Now that I have customized the bike for my weight and riding style, I feel I have me a unicorn.
👍what is the freeway top speed?
@@congonguns7125 mine goes 81mph topped out in stock form.
@@airadaimagery692 Thank you!
Still rolling with the stock pipe?
I’ve had my 300L for 5000 miles now. Over lots of technical off road and mixed riding.
And I would agree with pretty much all of your opinions on the bike. :)
I will add, the bike (stock) really shines in slow, technical riding. When you HAVE to ride slow because the single track is so tricky or steep or very uneven, that is when the bike is a fantastic choice. (With better tyres)
You can tackle difficult slow terrain for very long periods without getting tired.
And the comically soft suspension is, in that circumstance actually a benefit.
Harder taught suspension is CLEARLY better when you are going fast.
But when going slow over very bad trails the soft suspension soaks up the bumps and stops you getting so tired and rattled. :)
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exact
The suspension was driving me nuts so I did a cheaper upgrade that's improved it for me. YSS spring upgrade in the front (for my weight of 85kg,) and replaced the rear shock with a YSS MZ456. Parts were ~$800 AUD. Made a big difference for the $$.
My 300 Rally is coming this week. Pretty excited and have plans to upgrade the suspension straight away.
Awesome shoutout for Noraly. I'm a huge fan and can't wait to see what's next for her, probably cross the bottom of the Pacific Ocean ride to China...😃😃🤣😂
Great beginning! As mentioned, I'm glad you left the unintentional drop in the video...it shows that even the most experienced riders still make mistakes! As also mentioned, Noraly (Itchy Boots on UA-cam) has really put her 300L Rally to the test (and she did upgrade handguards, suspension, exhaust, etc.). IMHO, I think the suspension has too much squat and is too soft (a common stock Honda malady). As someone that grew up riding an '82 Honda XL250 (I bought new), this hits a very sweet spot with the weight, size, and large fuel tank. Looking forward to your future adventures on this one!
I apologize for laughing my butt off at you and the bike when it fell over. Thanks for keeping that in for the rest of us newbs
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Glad you mentioned Noraly @ Itchy Boots! She has put this bike through its paces and gives a great idea of what it can handle. Nice to see what it looks like stock and considerations for improved riding.
These are the most complete reviews on youtube. Great job Ian. KEEP IT UP!
Oh shit! This is my most anticipated series of yours!
Ian---nice drop! We've all been there, done that. In my dreams, I wish I could buy the CRF300L--it is a very sweet ride. Honda engineers did an amazing job to produce such a ride for the price point. Honda has excellent after-purchase parts suppliers. Everyone can mod their Honda the way they see fit.
I'm 6'4" 250 lbs and am rebuilding my XR650L's engine now. Top end job---valves and new piston. Fun work. I hope you get to show how EASY it is to service and maintain any Honda. Such as dipstick check, grease zerks, Changing of the oil filter. Buying a magnetic drain plug. Air filter maintenance. How and when to change a sparkplug. On Honda's, very easy to service--- a tip of the cap to Honda's engineers. Currently I own 4 Hondas. My fave Honda is my 2009 fuel injected 125cc Honda Wave i. I get about 135 miles per gal or 61 kmpl. Bike is in storage in Thailand along with my sweet Kawasaki KLX DTrackerX 250 cc. With 17" Dunlop motard tyre. FUN STUFF. Great brakes, suspension and engine. Bikes are fun!
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Great test, I have been looking to add this to bikes for a while. Thank you for leaving the drop test in, great to see even the pros drop bikes. Looking forward to the upgrades, thank you Ian.
The beginning bike pick-up was epic! Love your sense of humor, my dude.
Your Honda rep at 3:03: 🥵
Much respect for NOT editing the unplanned drop test to the right side; I dub thee "Sir Honest Ian". Salute!
Love the drop! Just puts you in the real world with the rest of us! Keep up the good work!
Respect for not editing out the fall. That speaks testaments of your honesty.
Holy moly you left the drop in hahaha. That's awesome, been there, done that! :(
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I am coming up on 4,000 miles since I rolled it off the showroom floor in late May 2022. Its quickly becoming my favorite bike and I have ridden it every day since grabbing it, saving a ton in fuel. Adding Rally Raid front and rear totally transformed it.
Their biggest issue seems to be the fact you cant find them.
Running a Pirelli MT21 front and Tusk D-Sport rear. Helps a lot and they are wearing well.
Stock tries are dog caca as well as the stock rear shock, im 260lbs and had it maxed out. Still wallowed a lot.
Typical farkles. Acerbis hand guards. Rear rack. Tail Tidy. Very pleased.
$10 gives me enough fuel to commute all week. worst tank 61mpg. Best tank 82mpg.
Top speed after Thai ECU, pipe and snorkel removed is 82mph. Stock top speed was 85mph.
Its fun and nimble for both traffic and narrow trails.
Been riding since 2012 and I really enjoy this bike a lot.
The fuel used option is indeed accurate. The Fuel gauge will start flashing when you still have over a gallon left so I would recommend using that fuel used feature to know how much you really have left.
The plastic bash plate on the rally is one of the best of any bike. Many have tested it and it's very durable. Many enduro bike come with plastic because it holds up better than aluminium.
@Peter Alexander The plastic is way more durable than aluminium, but if you really brake it you can fix it with some tape.
Why!oh!Why! Did Honda produce an off road Rally bike with such soft suspension when even just stiffer springs would've made it a far better bike straight out of the box!
It beggars belief,no one is light enough to appreciate such soft suspension🙄
Great video BTW,looking forward to the rest of the series,and the lift test proves sh*t happens,glad you left it in just to prove it😉
I like the fact you kept the mishap in the video…good on you. Need an xr650l comparison!
so glad to see you're channel grow. You make great content. Keep going dude!!!
I bought a 2007 GasGas ec 250. With higher gearing, softer settings, adjusted carb for low-speed and two soft bikes it made a fair and fast trail/adv bike. It had new Michelin tyres and was freshly serviced with new piston and small end bearing. 103 kgs wet and about 48 hps, combined with two-stroke torque makes it a really fun bike to ride It already had öhlins and so on. Total cost now, about 17500 SEK, about 1600 USD. Cons: instable and wawy at higer speeds on tarmac. Sometimes difficult to start, carb and no electric starter or battery. I find it good value for money and would not trade it against an 8000 USD four-stroke which would be heavier and slower! It is so fun for me, an old man ith health issues, to be able to ride half difficult trails with ease as youngsters on expensiv, heavy, new bikes. In fact they are worn out faster than I. 150 kgs more kills you in even easy terrain....
15,500 miles on my rally, love it. The factory suspension it borderline dangerous. I've replaced the suspension to match my 230lbs,fully adjustable rear. Ended up with 9300 bucks in mine. Completely satisfied.
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Do I call ot text?
This should be a great series of videos; I'm looking forward to it! I would also find it very interesting if you would consider adding one more chapter (Part 5) to your current plans: Update to a stage 1 550 ECU along with a new exhaust so we can see how that affects highway performance and throttle smoothness, etc. Because of its light weight and off-road capabilities, I think this bike could practically be in it's own very worthy ADV category if it just had a little more HP and torque. And it's priced low enough that one could do significant updates and still spend less money than with most of the alternatives.
I am doubting he will do this as it is a loaner from Honda... unfortunately. The 550 ECU with exhaust really woke up my 300 Rally.
Good overview - i put a higher bar, and race tech suspension on mine. I weight the same as you..... This made a huge difference.
Just finished watching the latest Itchy Boots episode and this video was over to the right side. Good placement UA-cam. I have yet to actually see a Honda 300 Rally for sale.
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I subscribed purely because you dropped the bike and didn't edit it out, your an honest guy !
just commenting to say kudos for leaving the drop test mishap in the final edit :) enjoy your videos Ian.
I’ve tried to get a test ride and make a video with this bike for a long time, but they are completely sold out here in Norway. The 300L is available and I might buy one myself to trail ride on.
Thanks for another excellent and informative video Ian!
What about your 701?
It’s sold, I’m back on a T7 but looking for a budget trails bike to accompany the big T7 😁
Good review and good sense of humor Ian. Yes, you are not Noraly, but still cute:) You did get me laughing at the innocent drop in your driveway demonstrating how to lift the bike. We have all done something like that. Keep up the great work. Dave
Apparently, Itchy Boots likes her "Alaska" CRF quite a bit. If it's good enough for her, then it's probably good enough for most.
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I am one more CRF300L Rally owner here and I agree totally. I am 71 years old and weigh 153 lb and this suspension is still way to soft. I am looking forward to what you will upgrade the suspension with and how much it improves the ride. I have 2492 miles on this bike now and I love in every way except for the tires and the suspension. I live in WA state and have ridden on the free way here and was able to hold a steady 65 mph fairly comfortable with all my gear on and about 50 lb of luggage. Great review of this bike and I am also a big fan of Itchy Boots.
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I have this bike.
I got the first 2021 model available from my local Honda dealer here in Dallas.
First off, this bike is not made for highway cruising, so your negative impressions of it in that respect is taken with a grain of salt.
For my weight of 140 lbs. the suspension seems just fine.
I ordered all the H2C parts available for this bike from Bikers Bitz in Thailand, where the bike is manufactured.
They include rear luggage rack, metal bash plate, windshield rock guard, metal chain guard, metal front sprocket guard, metal rear brake cylinder guard, and Moto X full titanium exhaust. I added Zeta had guards from the parts department of Dallas Honda, and Doubletake mirrors.
For around town and trail use, my CRF Rally is perfect. I even sometimes commute the fifty-two mile round trip to/from work on Dallas freeways without any negative issues. I have a KLR 650 that I use for the daily commute, as well.
Looking forward to seeing what you get up to with your Rally.
P.S. thanks for mentioning Itchy Boots. She and her channel are an inspiration.
Dirt bike magazine doesn't get as real and thorough as this. A+ again. Thanks.
Thanks for doing this. Your reviews are very good. Somewhere along the way I would be interested in a comparison to the KTM 390 Adventure. Arguably the foremost competitor to this bike.
Huger respect for you leaving the drop in. Looking forward to the rest of the Itchy Boots bike review.
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300th like
And I love my regular 300L minus the things you pointed out. But for $5500 the 300L with abs isn’t shabby for a do it all dual sport.
Enjoy!
Rode home from the dealership on 8/30 and take it into the Ozark's every chance I get. I'll have 3K miles on her during my next adventure plus I'm using it for an everyday ride. Love how it handles in the twisties but I tend to keep her on dirt. No mods except Outback skid plate and I bought the Acerbis x Factory handguards but need a shorter clutch lever to complete the install. She has gone down twice coming up with only scratches. I'm 5'8" 160 lbs. and feel I'm right on the edge of who this bike was made for as it is. It will need a suspension upgrade as I push mine and its limits further and look forward to your upgrades as with time will upgrade mine. This bike is just what I was looking for being a dual sport while having the ability to travel the world if I choose to. It is the perfect bike for me.
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I knew you had this bike. I decided to search for a video from you today but there was nothing yet. What a coincidence. Few hours later, here we are 😁😁 I'm loving my 300L,but I do also like the Rally
10:04 Mentioning of itchyboots. Upvote granted.
I think what most testers are missing with these bikes is that it's not the beginners that are buying them but older riders who have worked their way up to the big adventure bikes and are now working their way back down to the smaller bikes.At least that's my observation.
I have a 300 Rally and love it. It’s gonna be tough to keep the upgrades to 1500. Just the Rally Raid suspension was close to 1500. Then all the other stuff really ads up but to me it was all worth it after coming from an almost 500 lb ADV bike the Rally is a dream
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This is your best video ever... Thanks for leaving the drop in! You are now way more relatable🤣
Highly recommend gearing the front sprocket down to a 13. Gives a tad more grunt off road without really affecting the top end wierdly. Also 550 performance has ecu flashes that improve performance with 87/91 octane without the need to upgrade the intake or exhaust. I'm waiting for my motox exhaust and I got the stage 1 though. Can't wait!
I love my Rally. A seat concept seat was a must for me, and it made all the difference in the world. I couldn’t ride it for more than 2hrs before I needed to give my rear end a break. Now I can ride it for as long as I wish. And yes, i have over $1500 in other mods.
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+1 for dropping the bike, that was funny
When you dropped the bike and kept it in the vid I hit subscribe. Top marks for authenticity.
Big Rock Moto, you had me as a subscriber the moment the test of lifting up happened. Love your real world review. Less talking and more doing. big like.
It's very impressive that you don't cut the bloopers like the Bike lift/drop.
Much respect for you for showing what the real world is like. :-)
High speed comes with high weight. The motorcycle is perferfect for what it was build. I don't understand why people complain about power, weight, price. There are faster motorcicles , more powerfull but bigger weight, heigheir fuel consumption, less reliable , less agiles , so in conclusion it is a very good motorcycle.
I wish that the rest of the manufacturers follow .
I've really enjoyed learning about adventure/dual-sport motorcycles from your channel. Your various tutorials have helped me narrow down my choice for my first motorcycle in about 35 years. I've finally landed on the Honda CRF300L Rally. I'm probably going to acquire one sometime in the spring of 2023. I know I'll need to do things to the suspension (I'm 6'3" and 220 lbs.). Thus, I'm looking forward to seeing your mod's in your ADV/LITE Part 2. Do you have a projected release date at this time? No real pressure from my end, I've got plenty of time before I get the bike. Thanks again for all your great work!
But when will they give us the 400-450? rally they make specially for dakar?
I am REALLY looking forward to this series! I think $1500 is a realistic budget for mods.
BRM is a good channel for honest & in depth reviews
I replayed that drop more times than I should have but thank you for that joy ahahhaha keeping it real.
May I suggest you start wearing your helmet during the drop / pickup testing? :)
I have a well sorted 2018 250 Rally with Olhins rear shock and RaceTech additional spring in the left fork tube. Put a small deflector screen on top of the windshield makes a huge difference on smoothing the airflow for touring. If you spend your budget carefully you will have an extremely competent light adventure bike. I live in Southern Illinois and I'm getting ready for a trip to Tellico Plains and the Smokey Mtns. for some Moto Therapy in early October.
I have the same bike. Does the Olhins rear shock worth the money? Was looking into it.
@@alelectric2767 Yes absolutely it was the first thing I bought. I’ve never regretted the decision.
Good video. You mentioned Noraly (ItchyBoots), she had to upgrade her suspension as well, I believe maybe two or three times, so I would guess that is something that either people or Honda (or b0th) need to update.
Honda may not allow you to swap ECU since it is a loaner, I don't know.. but the 550 ECU & Full Yoshimura exhaust gave me a lot on the top.. I can pull 85+ MPH where I was struggling to pull more than 70-75 before.. Thanks and look forward to seeing your build / mods.
I’ve had my rally for about 8 months and I’ve put 5k miles on it. Definitely love it, but it really became amazing when I upgraded ECU, tires, and suspension.
Which ECU package did you install?
@@forestmotoadventures I did the 550 performance “stock improved”. While it only gives a tad more power, it really smooths out the choppy throttle and makes it more responsive all around.
Travis Brown, so how much did it cost to get to "amazing" ?
@@captainamerica9353 about 1500
@@MotoVania , ok, that's not bad to get it where you want.
Wow good on you for not editing that little fall
Great review of the bike. I've only been riding since spring and this is my starter bike. Its been a perfect starting point for me while I develop my skills (I'm 90% off road). I look forward to your review of it for adventure riding. Hopefully I will be ready by next season to take that next step.
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like for that drop 👍
Itchy boot is awesome
Great start to a series. My son in-law has deposits at several Honda dealers for that bike for months. Still hasn't been able to get one. He currently rides a well used DRZ 400.
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Nice! Looking forward to this. My 300L has a few protection upgrades but not much else so far.
If you haven't seen it, check out Shonky's absolute abuse of his 300 Rally (in an actual Rally). He finished second in class with a broken shoulder and a broken nav tower, not too shabby. Considering how much he has beaten on this bike already (crossed the Simpson Desert unsupported for example), it says something about the longevity.
I look forward to watching this series. I'm looking at buying a bike and am struggling between this bike and a 390 Adventure. It would be great to get your comments on how the 2 compare on the road, off road and weight feel? Thanks in advance.
Big Rock Moto---you give the best reviews, thank you! Oh yeah, how is your leg? You did a serious groin pull on your 300L ride a few weeks back. We've all been there, done that. NOT FUN!
Thanks for mentioning Noraly. She's a great traveler and UA-camr.
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Quick visit because I missed this and saw your part2 came out.
Good on you for keeping it real.
I rode a 2019 CB300R (not CBR300R) for 3 1/2 years, 15k miles, and really liked the 286cc motor. In the CB it would go nearly 100mph, pulled hills really well, and got 78mpg over 15k miles. I recently sold the CB and got a 2022 Vitpilen 401.
Ok Ian, the the " drop/lift" test you could mention "for demonstration purposes only 😉 " i will admit I replayed that a few times.
Like the Klim jacket also.
At the end of the series I’d love you to pick Honda / BMW / KTM as a starting point. That plus cost of mods means purchase price may not be the most important thing.
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Really looking forward to this long term review and the upgrades. Thanks!
I have about 2500 miles on my Rally. Took it on the White Rim trail at Moab earlier this year. Even in stock form it was a blast. I have just added exhaust and a tune, suspension is next. Great video. 👍
The highway riding is the main reason I don't want this bike, but you can't expect that much out of a 300ish cc engine
Here 46.000 clicks on a 250 Rally now and counting (not much difference with a 300) and still completely stock even to the tires and really appreciate these bikes for what they are, and are not, i've ridden and raced mx, enduro and true old scool rally bikes, 80's era, this is made to enjoy and explore at a moderate speed and very moderate fuel consumption, 75 mpg for me, and it leaves budget to travel and the reliabilty to no bike will touch, i've blogged about this bike since early 2019 now, it doesn't get any better for the nihilist, my opinion.
IMO that's an accurate assessment of Western US interstate travel on a single cylinder DS bike. My 500cc DS bike relegated to the slow lane most of the time and I just make sure to stay a couple MPH ahead of the 18 Wheeler truck traffic . It's not always my bikes power limit, but the lack of wind protection that keeps me sub 75MPH. Another type of rider this bike might appeal to is the experienced long distance traveler who wants a reliable no drama ride that'll allow you to put in big days...day after day.
I love that you left the drop in there, on concrete...but as I'm watching this to educate myself on "is this bike right for me..." I would have loved a camera view of those "scratches". To be honest though, for the same reason already stated, I watched your KLX video and in that one you seemed tired. Thanks for upping your excitement level, or was the KLX not really as good as you said. Hmmm.
I've been seriously eyeballin' this bike for a while so am eager to see later tests and upgrades.
That bike costs €7,800 on the road in Ireland 🇮🇪! $6,000 is a massive difference, that's around €6,130!
Thanks for a great review.
I wish Honda would make something very similar, but in the 330-390cc range, where it won't compete with their 450, but with better and fully adjustable suspension. That would be the perfect bike for me.
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great reviews mate.you didnt edit out your whoopsy when lifting the bike well done.lol