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Honda CRF300L and Rally and LS

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Gravel Guy said:
Almost 400 miles on the little 300; maybe I have a better feel for what it is and what it is not.
Without getting too windy, for the way I use a motorcycle (as a tool that makes me .65 cents a mile for real estate) I think the pros outweigh the cons. It is slow off the line, but not too bad. I ran up 49 north today at 65 with no problems. My magnetic tank bag works to help with carrying stuff, and I’ve got some old pannier racks that will get butchered for a new rear rack. Someday maybe a better seat (will cut off that stupid strap handle this weekend) And I’m still sitting at or just above 70MPG. Rode about 40 miles of gravel this week, and the Rally handled everything just fine, just mind your gears and she will pull. I think it is a keeper! 😎. @Windmill you should ride one of these, if you haven’t. BTW, after about 150 miles, my fuel gauge is showing 1 little bar left……is that how they all are? First gas gauge I’ve ever had on a bike. Thanks folks…
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Gravel Guy said:
Almost 400 miles on the little 300; maybe I have a better feel for what it is and what it is not.
Without getting too windy, for the way I use a motorcycle (as a tool that makes me .65 cents a mile for real estate) I think the pros outweigh the cons. It is slow off the line, but not too bad. I ran up 49 north today at 65 with no problems. My magnetic tank bag works to help with carrying stuff, and I’ve got some old pannier racks that will get butchered for a new rear rack. Someday maybe a better seat (will cut off that stupid strap handle this weekend) And I’m still sitting at or just above 70MPG. Rode about 40 miles of gravel this week, and the Rally handled everything just fine, just mind your gears and she will pull. I think it is a keeper! 😎. @Windmill you should ride one of these, if you haven’t. BTW, after about 150 miles, my fuel gauge is showing 1 little bar left……is that how they all are? First gas gauge I’ve ever had on a bike. Thanks folks…
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Good looking bike. Did you trade in the KLR?
 
@WoodButcher, Changed the oil yesterday, pretty easy to get to everything. Kinda wish that Honda had followed the KLR system of sealing the oil filter with an o-ring. They get you for a filter AND a gasket, but oh well.... The clutch cable needed a bit of adjustment (bedding in, I'm sure). We'll see how long all of that bodywork lasts, but I do like the minimalist windscreen and the headlight(s). Little bugger is a fun bike! :) :sun:
 
@ nearly 1000 miles, got to ride a few higher speed sweepers lately and I also like the stability of the USD front forks. Without a fork brace the flex can be felt on my KLR (for example) but I can't imagine needing a fork brace on this Honda. Back suspension will need an upgrade at some point, and the seat. :thumb:
 
Gravel Guy said:
@ nearly 1000 miles, got to ride a few higher speed sweepers lately and I also like the stability of the USD front forks. Without a fork brace the flex can be felt on my KLR (for example) but I can't imagine needing a fork brace on this Honda. Back suspension will need an upgrade at some point, and the seat. :thumb:
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Mark,

What do you think of the bike so far?
 
Rock solid, economical, probably the easiest bike to ride I’ve ever owned. Getting spoiled by the gear indicator, gas gauge and clock on the dash and the 75 mpg. The red seat looks funny to me, but it works. Rode it at night a couple days ago and the headlight is good! @Trail Boss thanks for asking!
 
@Trail Boss I have concerns about a lack of a cush drive, and may look into getting one wired up for this bike. Because I keep bikes a long time; maximizing that longevity is key. Many times that question about this bike is blown off with a) It doesn't have enough power to worry about it. or b) It's a Honda, everything will be fine.
While the power is certainly down from larger thumpers, the bike is still carrying my butt and gear up and down the same hills, down the same tarmac and gravel roads that my larger bikes have, and we know the trouble that Honda has had with countershafts and the XR650L.
 
Gravel Guy said:
@Trail Boss I have concerns about a lack of a cush drive, and may look into getting one wired up for this bike. Because I keep bikes a long time; maximizing that longevity is key. Many times that question about this bike is blown off with a) It doesn't have enough power to worry about it. or b) It's a Honda, everything will be fine.
While the power is certainly down from larger thumpers, the bike is still carrying my butt and gear up and down the same hills, down the same tarmac and gravel roads that my larger bikes have, and we know the trouble that Honda has had with countershafts and the XR650L.
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Candidly, I haven't given any thought to a cush hub but you bring up an important point.

As I am sitting here reflecting on your point, it occurs to me that the 250L was first introduced in 2012. The 250 Rally came out in 2017. The 250 series was updated to the 300 series in 2021. To my way of thinking this motor & transmission has a 12-year track record with enough units being sold and ridden to develop an understanding of the weak points. Do you happen to know if it is reported that this bike suffers countershaft problems like the XR650L?

The only weak point I'm aware of (and, candidly, I have not been paying close attention) was a weak sub-frame on the 250. Itchy Boots broke her sub-frame while racing in Africa. I believe I heard that Honda beefed up the sub-frame as part of the 300 upgrade.
 
Trail Boss said:
Candidly, I haven't given any thought to a cush hub but you bring up an important point.

As I am sitting here reflecting on your point, it occurs to me that the 250L was first introduced in 2012. The 250 Rally came out in 2017. The 250 series was updated to the 300 series in 2021. To my way of thinking this motor & transmission has a 12-year track record with enough units being sold and ridden to develop an understanding of the weak points. Do you happen to know if it is reported that this bike suffers countershaft problems like the XR650L?

The only weak point I'm aware of (and, candidly, I have not been paying close attention) was a weak sub-frame on the 250. Itchy Boots broke her sub-frame while racing in Africa. I believe I heard that Honda beefed up the sub-frame as part of the 300 upgrade.
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I don't really know that any countershafts have failed or are having problems. I also haven't found that many high mileage 250's or 300's here either?
Found a Thumpertalk thread where a 250L went 120,000KM's with only a cam chain tensioner failure. BUT, he admittedly rode mostly off-road in Thailand. I worry more about the shocks and transitions on and off gravel roads here in the good ole USA. Like you, I'm convinced that this bike ought to be near bulletproof.
I'd just like to make it (more) bulletproof.
And, philosophically, I always wondered why Honda never put a cush hub on the XR650....but that's for another thread. ;-)
 
Well I obviously haven't done enough research. I could've sworn that these bikes had a cush hub. That makes them too expensive to get into long term usability and reliability for me. I'd already have to do a major overhaul on the suspension. Thanks for removing any remaining interest I had in it!
 
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Gravel Guy said:
I don't really know that any countershafts have failed or are having problems. I also haven't found that many high mileage 250's or 300's here either?
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Me either, but, then again, I'm not paying close attention to the collective. The only long-distance 300 rider I am aware of is Itchy Boots and she had to change her worn countershaft at around 43,000 kilometers.
 
Took a ride after lunch today. There were a couple of gravel roads I wanted to out. Fun afternoon. One was down by Morgan Mill that came out on I-20, road 144, really scenic. Then one close to the Stawn exit going south, Tudor road or 495 that had several small water crossing, a little mud in places and one water crossing that a little deeper than I expected. This road came back out in Thurber on I-20. Took the Hwy 4 exit for a cup of coffee in Santo then up to Palo Pinto and back to M. Wells. I was checking out some downloads from a site, Gravel Routes inTexas. The site has routes listed by counties. Today was 138.9 miles.

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1.53 liters of oil doesn’t seem like enough….🧐
 
Time for an upgrade. While I do enjoy the 300 Rally in stock condition, I would enjoy it more if it had a little more umph at highway speeds. I recently got to ride Tony L's modified 300L back-to-back with my 300 Rally in the Gila national forest of SW New Mexico and could tell the difference in power between our two bikes. That comparison convinced me to make a few mods to my bike in order to get a bit more performance from it. My plan is an ECU flash, aftermarket exhaust, and some airbox mods. I'll run this setup for a while and then make a decision on other mods (CBR camshafts, high flow velocity stack, and/or big bore kit).

I will report back after I have evaluated the changes. In the meantime, here's some pics from the Gila.

Me on my rally
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Tony on his 300L
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Impromptu, non-official gas stop at Beaverhead work center, Gila National Forest
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Trail Boss said:
convinced me to make a few mods to my bike in order to get a bit more performance from it. My plan is an ECU flash, aftermarket exhaust, and some airbox mods. I'll run this setup for a while and then make a decision on other mods (CBR camshafts, high flow velocity stack, and/or big bore kit).
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Yep a deep an slippery rabbit hole... The quest for just a meer bit more speed... We feel your pain...
Nice pics, beautiful countryside...
😎
 
They aren't fast. I haven't rode mine with all the gear on it yet. Had it to 80 -81 a few times. 70 -75, it runs fine. Be interesting to see what does with gear. But, I am happy with 65 - 70. Probably try it out this weekend with gear on some more gravel roads. So far, it is a keeper for me.
 
Rigid said:
How much power is enough; just a little more.
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Ha! It's always just a little more.

I once owned a blindingly fast Yamaha FZ1 which I believe had a top speed north of 130 mph. I was amazed at how many FZ1 owners wanted just a little more power...

I would love a lot more power. Hey, Honda, if you're listening, put a 400 or 450 in the 300 Rally chassis so you can compete directly with the Kove 450. In the meantime, I will take the little more that is available for the 300 and do my best to accept it.
 
I'll be interested to see your opinions long term.

I found with my WR250R that the juice wasn't worth the extra squeeze in terms of additional noise that the aftermarket exhaust produced. I wound up much happier with the stock can at the expense of a little less performance.
 
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