Hi Jenny hope you are keeping well,

Thanks for taking the time to reply great help as was your reply to your build thread on the other adv site I wholeheartedly agree with what you said about your friend preferring the Honda 300 to the himmy, it took me a few miles to get my head back into gear but even though i'm running it in an not using all the revs the difference is marked between the two off them even jumped on the motorway and it was nice which is a relief as quite a bit of my riding involves that as I'm trying to decide whether to move to Scotland or to Devon

I'll make sure not to fit crash bars Jenny and just stick with the bark busters I'm gonna buy the fitments to convert my Himmy barkbusters to the Rally an the next thing I'm thinking off is a set of bars just gotta decide between the Renthalls or the Pro Taper as you say.

Do you know Jenny with the level 1 if the seat height remains the same as it's current static sag or is it -40mm as though the rider is sat on it and it stays at that height?

I'll make sure to get it with the Hydraulic preload adjuster, just fitted the Rally Raid Nav mount for my Zumo XT just looks so good I'm a geek for engineering stuff always appreciate a well made part.

I'll have a look into some skid plates, I wouldn't mind getting something that doesn't mean me cutting the fairings quite liked the b&b one in the Adventure dirt bike TV videos.

Always happy to help!

Regarding the LEVEL 1 (vs. their LEVEL 2) option - again, I trust this info will also prove useful for anyone else reading too who might have similar considerations/questions... The LEVEL 1 suspension is 40mm shorter travel than the OEM specification (210mm travel vs 250mm travel), however, because the OEM shock (and forks) are so softly sprung, the standard bike typically sags at least two inches the moment you pull it off the side stand and sit on it - and remains soft for the remainder of the travel. Once you've got a more suitable spring rate fitted with the RR shock, it doesn't waste that first two inches of travel, so the seat height is pretty much the same as the standard bike is when you sit on it, just with more support for the remaining travel.

Put simply, if you like the seat height the way it is when you're sitting on the bike with the stock shock, fit the LEVEL 1 and it will be essentially the same, just better sprung (and a bit easier to get on and off too, since the seat doesn't spring up when the bike is on the side stand).

Conversely, their LEVEL 2 (250mm) suspension essentially raises the seat by 30-40mm compared to the stock bike, since that initial travel isn't wasted the moment you take it off the side-stand.

I trust that makes sense?!

As for skid plates - its a tough call, although I can appreciate you might not want to cut any of the plastics of a brand new bike of course... That said, if this bike is going to be a travel tool - you could consider removing your original fairing side panels and the lower 'belly' bodywork panels, and just buy a second set of fairing side panels to cut/fit in conjunction with any number of metal skid plates for the L model?

fwiw. A number of people who have cut/removed the lower fairing portion say they prefer the air-flow and additional cooling for the engine (particularly if you're travelling in hotter climates), and less vulnerability of what are essentially cosmetic panels to replicate the factory rally-bike lower fuel tanks.

Something to consider I trust?

Let me know here or over there if there is anything else I can help you with!

Jenny x

Hi Jenny thank you again for such a great reply massive help and it's got my head round the suspension now. I'll go for the level 1 as it should help dad have a few goes as well so he can decide if he's following suite he's really enjoyed Austin Vince's stuff and his thought's on one of the podcast as did I about lighter bikes an I feel like it's such a huge difference in weight from the Himmy to the CRF300 Rally just so noticeable. The performance difference surprised me to considering I'm still running it in the engine is so peppy and wants to go already just feels like you don't have to force it at all an I'm only using half the revs at the moment.

One thing I did notice is the 5k rattle thing everyone goes on about from the clutch but coming from Norton's I'm used to rattly engines lol a tappy Norton is a happy Norton as they say.

That's a good point about the fairings Jenny they do look good cut as you say for the hotter countries that could be a good idea certainly something to consider x

Thought's on the CRF in the Smileys =

Its a great little bike !
done 8000 miles on my bike .... top tips..........
1 change oil every 2000 miles
2 use high octane petrol
3 fit an after market exhaust ( i used a leo vince )
4 keep the chain very well oiled !!
5 all these little things make it a lot more "peppy "
K

Thanks for the tips yep I always see oil like a tank of fresh petrol something I've done often on the Nortons an it's kept them really reliable, the life blood of an engine Reay

First ride on the Honda CRF 300 Rally really interesting riding it on my usual test route.


I got out on the Rally yesterday its given me quite a content feeling I'd say not overly giddy or excited like some bikes I've ridden (gsxrs and vstrom 650xt etc) or stirring emotions like the Himalayan did with it making me think to my Nortons.


Much more refined than the Himalayan though in many ways and I was going round the roads at a much quicker pace both cornering and on straights than the himmy which was nice for when on faster roads.


It's got such a nice package though good chassis(apart from the awful suspension) good level of comfort (apart from the seat) so same things the Himalayan needed sorting.


It gives that real content feeling that Hondas always seem go have like my fireblade which is good an why I've still got that nearly 13 years on.


Weirdly the best comparison that kept popping into my head was an rd250lc, very responsive to the slightest touch and just so so easy to push around.


A good chassis you can feel the potential in and the engine is very smooth even at motorway speeds.* which made a change from the Himmy just being able to jump on an do that while not using all the revs in 6th.


I'm obviously taking it easy with the engine not overly revving it an no full throttle but it feels like it's a fun bike to ride when you grab the horns so to speak, bit like an elsie which is what it put me in mind off, as they are around the same weight.


So easy pushing it around thats for sure.*


First job will be the much needed rear shock and a seat doesn't really need much more, forks eventually when funds allow.


Dads absolutely obsessed with how light the clutch is so up to now it looks like we could just be ending up with two 300 rallys dependant on how the run in period goes over the next week or so.


Plan is then to go straight up to Scotland on it.




Can see it being a great partner for my adventures.*

Sounds good. You may want to hang fire on the aluminium plate.

I have a plastic bashplate on my KTM 690 in Spain which I use extensively in Morocco. I bought an aluminium plate with the intention of fitting it, three years later it was still in the shipping box, so I sold it on. Most of my riding is on pistes (dirt tracks maintained by locals) so I've only bottomed the bike once and the plastic plate is still solid, ten years on.

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)