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Honda CRF300 Rally - Adventure Begins
Good morning everyone, The Himalayan got collected yesterday for a full refund under the consumer goods act stuff and hats off to the dealer from me speaking to them them apologising and agreeing within one week the Himmy was collected and I was paid same day so I was able to pick the Crf300 Rally up this weekend after getting lucky finding a canceled order.
About 6 hours driving to do now in the Rental Van to get her home. After what happened with the Himalayan's and the ktm 390s pdi or better to say lack of pdi I decided to van this one so I can go through it myself before jumping on and riding. This is my 2nd Honda as I currently own a CBR1000RR Fireblade which I've owned since new in 2010 back when superbikes were actually reasonable to buy. Adventure bike wise I've had so far a R1200gsa te, vstrom 1000xt, f800gs, suzuki vstrom 650xt (so darn good) ktm390 adv x2 one for me an one for dad both rejected with issues for a refund. Then a r1200gs te Rallye which was just to heavy for my shoulder, an finally the Himalayan which was rejected with issues for a full refund documented in previous posts if you are curious about that. Really looking forward to seeing what life on the Honda has to offer :) plan is to ride her to 600 miles then can assess if she suits me or not before I go putting bits on. Which will be rally raid suspension at level 1 first and a seat concepts seat. Plan is later on in the year to look at getting a Yamaha T7 to sit alongside it so dad and I can compare then we can decide whether to stick with the light is right approach or take heavier middleweight bikes on our trip for my shoulder though i can already tell moving the CRF300 Rally about and loading it it's so much easier like a Yamaha rd350lc :) Thanks to everyone for the help and advice over the past few weeks. https://i.ibb.co/t29WgCP/20230325-141158-02.jpg So the Honda Motorcycles CRF 300 Rally. First impressions, just so so light unbelievably light compared to the Himalayan an similar middleweight 200kg+ bikes or the heavyweight like my GS that I had. The engine is really good surprisingly punchy revvy and smooth it took me a few miles to get back into riding a short stroke engine after the longer stroke of the Himalayan then quickly my old two stroke riding style came back even though its a 4 stroke single the engine has a similar fun feel and you can really carry corner speed to much more than the Himalayan. Very much looking forward to being able to really wind it on after run in, it was also such a difference just being able to hop on the motorway an it surprised me just how smooth it is at 60-70 could sit on that all day long. Just the slightest tingle in the bars but the grips are hard and thin. It might not have the same emotional memory connection as the Long stroke but from a riding bike point of view I actually prefer it as I was riding quite a nice pace without feeling strained engine wise. Now let's talk about the two elephants in the room the suspension honda motorcycles honestly what were you thinking ������ you can really feel the potential in the bike, yep its great being able to flat foot and personally I would have preferred less travel on the spec sheet and more usable properly damped suspension motorcycleadventuredirtbiketv called it right with the oinga boinga test haha! Nasa don't need rockets any more could just buy one of these to launch into space of the seat lol. Oh an the seat ouch deffo needs a seatconcepts just gotta decide between comfort or comfort xl. Next step is to sell a few things and buy the Rally raid level 1 suspension then I can look at a lightweight luggage and camping setup its all looking positive so far an I really can't get over how light it is. First impressions though happy its a very different bike to the Himalayan an it's bringing out my older riding style in me from someone who used to do 2k Miles in a week on a 1984 rd250lc can see it's a bike I'm going to grow into riding. Speaking of which has anyone used the Kodama protection rather than the upper crash bars from an ultra light point of view. https://i.ibb.co/DG51BR9/20230326-100202-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/YDnkPpy/20230326-100155-03.jpg Here's the video from yesterday talking about the issues with the Himalayan and our thoughts the riding clip will be coming probably around Wednesday :) https://youtu.be/12vh5n6gZD4 Hopefully if it all works out I'll be going to Norway Iceland and Morocco with dad both on 300 Rallys. |
You removed your previous thread (although as a mod I can still read it) but I couldn't find the reason you returned the Himmy.
It would be useful to other HUBB readers for your previous thread to be reinstated so that others can learn from it. |
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Hi Tim that's a very good point of course I'll post about it bier I'd prefer for the thread to remain deleted though I just had to get the rejection done from my point of view an I pulled it down as my opinion very quickly changed once things started going wrong, now that's all said and done with the Himalayan I can post up about what happened
I pulled it down as I couldn't stand by my initial opinion of the bike and didn't want that to influence anyone who might have just read it in part I also removed my youtube vids for the same reason as a few reached out saying they had bought the vstrom 650xt off the back of my vids when I had one and agreed with the assessment of it as a road based overland bike :) I can also comment on the 390 adventure as well as we had x2 of those which got rejected due to issues again with the electronics at 147 and 269 miles which was the first time I'd ever had to do that which was very stressful on the Himalayan the dealer was much more professional understanding and apologised for the issues and within one week of me speaking to them i had a full refund, it's interesting to note that your contract when you buy the bike is with the dealer not the manufacturer. I just couldn't believe I had to go through it a second time round. Bike wise I've had the following bikes over the years https://i.ibb.co/X81d6Y2/Photo-2023-...3-17-PM-01.jpg Had quite a few problems with the Himalayan covered it more in detail on the video as there's quite a bit of back and forth with my dad about what happened and his views on it all as it transpired as he's trying to decide what to get himself, and also on the ktms. Let's start with the Himalayan. After the KTM Rejections I got an R1200GS TE but was struggling with the weight of it due to a shoulder injury I now struggle with so I was gutted when I had to trade that in for a lighter bike and based on online reviews I got the Himalayan aiming to just swap out the relays which I did the day I got it along with better bars and a seat as the original seat was no good. The swingarm was seized from the factory which wasn't sorted at PDI, miss aligned front yokes, Miss aligned headlight (this was missed at the first service at a different dealer headlight was next to useless on the night time ride back) brake light switch was mentioned but parts availability is very hard to get with them, brake switch failed then I fitted a new genuine brake switch after some hunting to find one at a dealer that failed within 30 mins and nearly lead me to getting rear ended on an emergency stop so I drew the line at that and pushed for rejection which the dealer accepted within two days and agreed with and apologised for what happened. They arnt a cheap bike any more at £5,050 (the Honda cost me 6,450 so not much of a jump any more) so decided to jump ship while I was able with all this happening some issues before and some post service Inc bits missed at pdi and first service that I rectified. I drew the line with it once it started to risk a safety issue as from a personal point of view I started to question what else might have been skimped on within the bike when I posted asking about the rally on my instagram which is still up post wise one person replied saying that there gearbox had let go at 1200 miles. It's a shame as I really enjoyed riding it but it seems Enfield are ignoring issues like the poor relays that should be fixed from the get go. Thats the Himalayan pretty much covered. Before that we had two Ktm 390 Adventures which had quite a few major issues dad sold his gsxr 750 2009 which he had owned since new to go to Iceland with my initially we planned on taking the 390s as they seemed according to the reviews to offer the right mix of what we needed. The biggest problem was finding one to buy let alone test ride at the time. Both 390s had issues with excessive condensation in the displays where it was beading down the entire display in mine and on a very cold day on the cat and fiddle I couldn't read it, dads had a stalling issue when changing down, his arrived with bad tyre valves which were going flat in 4 hours bikes had been pdi'd 3 days before. His had Corrosion on sections of the frame under the finish, on it from new, mine had a broken side panel, mine ran much rougher than dad's engine wise so we rejected them at 147 and 269 miles as ktm had no fix for the displays some people are on 3+ displays which are £800+ a pop. Dads bike wouldn't restart after a stall for a few mins an on one ride he was stranded in the outside lane of a dual carriageway with no hazard warning lights as ktm don't fit them and nearly got hit by a van so we sent them back for a full refund. Was a shame as they were quick bikes to ride. The displays also are not covered by the warranty in the UK and that's mentioned in the warranty book. Coming from the world of Japanese bikes it surprised me tbh as anyone knows I was absolutley in love with my vstrom 650xt but with the shoulder wanted to try something lighter especially after listening and watching Austin Vinces stuff I was unsure whether to post about the issues as I got a fair bit of backlash and sarcasm on some of the facebook groups when I mentioned the issues I was having. For me my motorcycles are my main form of transport and I don't have a car for the past 4 years I've used a Norton 650ss as a daily and through all the winters when I got the Himmy I took her off the road for a decoke so had to sort something fast when the Himmy started going wrong got insanely lucky finding the Rally as it was a cancelled order that got listed just as I got off the phone with the Enfield dealer. Obviously I know everyone else's experiences could completely differ but I think it's important to cover some off the issues that they seem to be ignoring on them. They also wont sell you a service manual for the Enfields, I've got the up to date one on the way for the Honda from the US as they still print them out there. Hopefully this will help anyone who's considering one of the three bikes I've bought I can't comment on the 310gs Chris Scott has some good posts up about that online though. If anyone want's to know anything else ask away and I'll try and cover it hopefully this gives a bit of info on what can go wrong with the Indian built options. I believe the crf is made out in Thailand now so that should be interesting my t100c was made out there though an that was nice :) |
Great lighter-weight travel bike there Steele - I'm sure you're going to have a lot of fun on it!
fwiw. I wouldn't bother with a climbing-frame of 'crash bar' tubes on that bike - they are not especially vulnerable unless you're a real clutz - I'd fit some strong back-bone hand-guards (Barkbusters are good, with their Storm shields for travelling), and perhaps consider replacing the OEM handlebars with a set of Fat-bars - either Renthal RC bend (#604), or some ProTapers to your preference*. *note the Renthal RC (Ricky Carmichael) bend profile has more space for the grips/switchgear/levers than ProTaper's CR bend. I'd also consider fitting some kind of strong (metal) skid plate instead of the plastic OEM panels if you're planing on riding in rocky terrain (Morocco etc) - some people simply chop the lower plastic fairing panels off the Rally model and fit an L skid plate, or there are metal 'over' plates for the Rally, but they do cost a lot more and reduce ground clearance further. Finally, as you surmise - if you're planning on carrying any amount of luggage on these bikes, then the stock rear shock really does need replacing with something better/more stiffly sprung and with better [adjustable] damping too - and similarly once you've done the rear end, it will highlight how little damping there is in the front end too. You mention you're considering the Rally-Raid LEVEL 1 set up, and I can wholeheartedly recommend that of course (I have it fitted to two of my own CRF300s) - not least as you surmise, there really isn't the need to have quite so much overall travel/high seat height if you're mainly all-terrain touring on this bike, but adjustable damping and preload are the two things which you will certainly appreciate, and in that regard I'd consider including their remote hydraulic preload adjuster on the rear shock too - it will pay dividends if you regularly swap between loaded and solo on these lighter weight bikes. Looking forward to hearing where you take this new bike! Jenny x ps. if you want a little more info. about fitting the RR suspension, plus some other suggestions regarding parts and accessories which do work well on these bikes, I have a thread over on ADVrider*: Preppa-Pig[let] - where I catalogued my two builds, together with some ride reports from last spring and summer (2022) proving just how versatile and capable these 300s are. (*I trust Grant will let a link to another forum slide in this instance, not least as all this content makes up many of my HU presentations of course ;o) |
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. |
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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:scooter::thumbup1::mchappy: Thought's on the CRF in the Smileys =:funmeteryes: |
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
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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. |
Thanks Tim appreciate the advice always good to learn from those more experienced than I we never stop learning in life :)
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Sorry to hear about your bad experience of the Himmie, sounds like the bike was just not put together right.
The 300 Rally is a great bike, I’ve ridden one on and off road. Personally I don’t think the two bikes can be compared - the Himmie is not, what the Americans would call, a dual sport. Just for balance my wife has ridden her Himmie from Canada to Patagonia, including 70% of the MABDR, plus well over a thousand miles of unpaved and very rough roads and the bike has been faultless. It may be heavier than the Rally but it carries it’s weight very low and has excellent traction for mud and sand - it’s low seat height is a big advantage in these conditions. If a dual sport is like a small rally car, the Himmie is like a tractor - very different but just as capable. Enjoy the Rally - I would definitely have one in my dream garage bier |
Thanks flipflop, I love how we all have different takes on motorcycles an what's comparable or not always makes for interesting reading.
Had a good day out today continuing the run in on the Honda CRF 300 Rally. All being well I should have it finished by the end of next week. Unfortunately no gopro footage from today as none of the audio came out the wind was pretty darn wild. A quick question for anyone who also has a rally and is 6'2" with a 32" leg what front screen have you found effective? At the moment I'm getting quite a bit of buffeting from it so wanna address that before it re does my neck injury. Overall still really content with the lil Rally fun engine on the road. A different experience to the Himalayan an 390 advs we had. An was a really nice partner in the rubbish conditions today. Once she's ran in I'll decide what other mods to do, I'm thinking seat concepts seat and a Rally raid level 1 suspension for the seat Height so dad can ride it to, while we decide what 2nd bike to buy for our big trip next year. Plan is to buy a t7 after the house move in the next 2 months then run them back to back and decide what to take. https://i.ibb.co/CKq5gts/20230331-133833-1-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/xGVf2jd/20230331-133752-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/WkwqSD2/20230331-133749-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/dWM5qr1/20230331-132231-1-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/qxtkq8R/20230331-133723-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/x229X3s/20230331-132213-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/Bfht0hj/20230331-132155-01.jpg |
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There are times when riding offroad fairly slowly in high temperatures when you will welcome all the airflow you can get, so my suggestion would be to install a clip-on deflector which in hot weather can either taken off, lowered or adjusted flat when needed. I've been using a Darkojak deflector for nine years on various bikes but there's loads of low-cost versions on eBay. |
Thanks Tim its funny you should mention a deflector I actually found an old one I'd bought for one of the GS's when I used to have an f800gs, gave it a whirl was quite handy today. That's a good point regarding the off road stuff.
Today was such a brilliant day on the honda CRF 300 Rally. Went out road riding continuing to run her in with the idea of going to Matlock Bath ended up flicking through adventure_bike_rider guide to green lanes while having some chips at Monyash an decided to give it a go ^_^ ended up on Houndkirk Moor doing the first of it an just through the 2nd gate. Was great seeing so many people out having fun. Gonna go back up it once I've got some better hand guards on. First Green lane on my CRF 300 Rally. Only my 3rd in my life once was on a 1200gsa te which got stuck í ½í¹ƒ then unstuck, other was a really easy muddy one on the Himalayan by accident. This was interesting never ridden on loose rocks before was a learning curve an lots of fun didn't drop her either woop so mission success, next step is to sort the seat and some handguards on. Quick mobile phone photograph on my old Samsung a70 https://i.ibb.co/0hCVGCq/20230401-160205-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/1TZ3kjL/20230401-160214-2-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/Tb8BkCG/20230401-160214-1-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/Ntzb79x/20230401-161851-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/VYQz6r6/20230401-161926-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/NKwPRvx/20230401-161934-1-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/60tX32K/20230401-161951-1-01.jpg |
Finally got the video edited from yesterday tried to cover my thoughts on the Honda CRF 300 Rally :) tried to cover my thoughts mainly from a road riding point of view till I had a complete change of plans while eating my chips at the old Smithy in Monyash and flicking through the adventure bike rider guide to green lanes and spotted houndkirk Moor and Did a bit of section 1-2 on the map.
Noticed it said not to do a-b on the map for beginners but that was all numbered would that be 7-8? It was really fun to give the Honda CRF 300 Rally a go on a green lane and im super looking forward to going on one again. Lots to learn and that's exciting as it's a new challenge, and great to learn as itl open up more possibilities for when we do the trip next year to Iceland Norway an Morocco :) lots to learn. |
Today was a beautiful day out on the Honda CRF 300 Rally after my first go at green laning on the Honda yesterday I really wanted to have another go.
I ended up back on Houndkirk Moor at first I pulled up just for a look at the other end as I was curious where it came out, what was weird was a big pack of bikes came down while I was just taking 5 an walking up the trail a bit and it actually made me a little doubtful of trail riding so I decided to head back to the foxhole end on the road an decided to have a go there as it seemed quieter the other night. At first I was a bit like am I capable of doing this an I had a few moments of self doubt it's amazing how it can creep up on you and grow and grow isn't it an it's something going a bit further on past the two gates, then all off a sudden things started to click from what I'd been watching on YouTube and I found myself at the viewpoint taking in the breathtaking scenery. An then I decided I'll just do a lil more an then a lil more an a lil more and before I knew it I'd completed my first full green lane. Each time I came across something stopping and thinking about which line to take then tackling it systematicly seemed to work. It was amazing just how capable the bike was considering the terrain I was going over, can't wait to get the Rally Raid Level 1 done when I'm able. There was some really interesting bits on it that challenged me and it is really exciting from that perspective. No drops an just kept a steady pace picking my line also found its much better to get the Rally into 2nd an modulate on the clutch It was nice doing it at my own pace just taking my time stopping when I needed to for a break actually amazing how hot I got as well. Didn't get any pics of the tricker bits but did have my gopro on so looking forward to learning watching it back to see where I can improve. Eventually all the tension (Although I was trying to keep loose) melted away and I was flowing much better on the Rally the pace picked up a little and things seemed easy that I'd struggled with and felt like I was flowing over stuff. Every day's a learning day and I'm learning alot :) feeling so much better about the trips we've got planned an once I get some off road training as well it's really gonna help at the moment though I'm just loving learning at my own pace. Was great seeing so many people out having fun. Today really convinced me on the Rally 100+ miles of b road riding and Houndkirk Moor green laning then back over the cat and fiddle in the dark. It also amazed me how much narrower the CRF is compared to the Himalayan I had when stood up (did a basic lane on that) gives such a nice feel. I ended up doing stuff today I could have only dreamed off yesterday :) can't wait to do the trip next year now. https://i.ibb.co/x7Gf11s/20230402-135635-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/4FYcJrM/20230402-171913-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/prJ3YsH/20230402-171905-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/znPJJJV/20230402-181604-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/wCSQHtP/20230402-181540-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/bNsd6FK/20230402-172931-1-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/q0KB9dL/20230402-175858-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/ZK4cTwB/20230402-192444-0-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/dbg9c5R/20230402-192351-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/JRWz0Mc/20230402-192419-01.jpg |
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If you are totally new to trail riding about the most important thing is to not focus on what's about to happen under your front tyre, but instead to keep your vision 50m or more in front. Secondly, the only thing that keeps you and the bike upright is the gyroscopic effect of the rotating wheels, the slower you go, the less they rotate, and the more likely you are to fall, so around 10mph should be your minimum. And if you want some light entertainment, have a look at 2mins 40 secs on the video below. Big Rock Moto: Honda CRF300L Rally Full Test |
Hi Tim as always really appreciate you taking the time to reply very helpful. bier
Yep I totally get what you meant now! I'll be looking onto layering gear once I start doing a lot more trail riding. Even with the vents open on the Badlands I was roasting. I can see me changing the kit. It's so fun learning. That's a really good tip on speed :) once I realised that yesterday I started going over things that were way more difficult alot easier once my confidence grew was a few points where i went nice and steady though an used the clutch to modulate the pace rather,than the first video where I was ping pinging off rocks it actually really surprised me just how capable the crf is, an it's light enough that if you need to push it it's easy enough to move about can understand why rtwpaul used the ktm 500 now it's amazing how things start to go aah! Funny you should mention Ian, Tim his videos and him showing that even though he's so experienced convinced me to film my experience learning to trail ride. Showing all the bits where I'm a bit nervous and stuff as it might help inspire a few others to have a go. Ians videos, Nathan Millward'a an Dave Darcys Motorcycle adventure dirt bike TV are excellent to watch on the Rally :) Looking forward to getting some training with dad once we've got our house move done to either North Cornwall or Dumfries and Galloway. |
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Hi everyone hope we are all well, in todays video I managed to complete my first Green lane on my Honda CRF 300 Rally :) I'm a total beginner at green laning an it's been really interesting having a go.
I went to Houndkirk Moor again where I'd tried a tiny section from Foxhole through the first 2 gates, everything in my mind was screaming what's this when the bike was moving about after years spent road riding. Firstly I rode to the other end of the trail on the road to have a little look and having a walk up a bit after two packs of enduro bikes came down I actually got a bit nervous to the point I thought is this even what I want to be doing, it's amazing how doubts and things can creep in. I decided to just relax for a bit and just collect myself then rode back to the foxhole end as I'd already muddled my way through the first bit of that the day before. After a few moments talking to myself in my mind I set off an did a bit more and a bit more doing a small section then having a break while having a little look at what line to take, so I didn't get to tired and completed another bit an another bit then I was at the view point an progressed a lil bit more an before I knew it with a little more pace I was going over things rather than ping ponging at slow speed. An before I knew it I was having amazing fun, occasionally the self doubt creeped back in and I'd have a break collect myself and then carry on :) often chatting with walkers and cyclists on the green lane as I was the only one up there by this point. By the end of it I'd managed my first Green lane not dropped the Rally and feel very optimistic about the future for this sort of riding as its opening up an entire new world of riding. Before the trip to Norway, Iceland and Morocco next year, I'll get some some 2-1 training with dad so we can learn some new skills. Hopefully doing this video series showing from being very nervous yesterday as your mind is screaming no when the bikes moving around to starting to really enjoy it :) exciting times and I'm looking forward to my next go on one. Gonna order some new barkbusters later on today. https://youtu.be/RUGejswdOsU |
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So I wear a silver Rev'it mesh jacket. Silver keeps the solar gain down, and the mesh lets air straight through. In winter days I ride with an electric jacket underneath, and on rainy days with a lightweight waterproof shell jacket on top. One of my favourite home videos featuring Rosie outpacing my KTM 690 Enduro. |
thanks for sharing Tim looks like Rosie is having the absolute time of her life in the clip :) looks a beautiful place to ride to.
Thanks for the tip as well that's a good idea regards brighter stuff, the badlands has got black shoulders and it was really catching the heat yesterday so could only imagine how hot it'd be over in Morocco least I can suss some of this stuff out now before next year:scooter:bier I wouldn't mind having a go at some classic trials one day Turbo could be a good way to gain some extra skills. |
Temperatures in Morocco can be extreme, I once experienced 43ºC in October! Once the temperature rises to around 40ºC you will find you'll have to close the helmet visor otherwise it's like having a powerful hairdryer playing into your face. So other ventilation is important and the best helmet I have found is the modular (convertible) Nolan N70-2 X.
It's the only helmet I'm aware of that you can switch from full face to open face, whilst still retaining the deep visor and the sun peak, and of course it also has an in-built sunvisor. Review. |
Thanks again Tim I'll check that helmet out sounds interesting :)
Good day today 300 miles :) to an around Llanberis 10 hours of riding very content with the Rally. All ran in now to 600 miles so there won't be an update till after the 15th. Was actually suprising just how smooth it was at 60-70. Overall very happy with the Rally and the more I'm riding it the more an more I'm enjoying it. https://i.ibb.co/Mccrrcx/20230404-152633-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/nLCFzH4/20230404-152634-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/7KJRWqN/20230404-135220-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/p3WnQgb/20230404-150814-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/P6YGXsf/20230404-150825-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/GCbSxq3/20230404-152614-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/YZs9Lh2/20230404-152620-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/T1w6nSt/20230404-135623-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/DDcY6sq/20230404-135624-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/KDtBM6s/20230404-135731-01.jpg |
Regarding jackets, I have a silver mesh jacket for regular summer. The mesh is quite heavy grade so it's pretty abrasion resistant. Then when it gets too hot for that I switch to my on/off road Alpinestars mesh jacket which is only rated to 30kmh on pavement because it's thinner and lighter (with white shoulders). Then when it gets too hot for that, I switch to a white long sleeved t-shirt and try to avoid crashing. Then when it gets too hot for that I switch to a textile jacket with all the vents closed and soak myself in water on the inside every 30-45 mins.
Obviously this is just for my commute, can't take all that stuff on a long trip - for that my best compromise has been the Alpinestars jacket, an army surplus goretex jacket to go over it, and a good wooly jumper to go under it when it's cold. Anyway, glad you're enjoying the Honda ... it's a good idea to clock up as many off road miles as you can now to get more relaxed. For riding guidance the trail riders' fellowship is very handy. |
Thanks Turbo yep thats the plan joining the TRF this week and gonna look at the ACT as well :)
I wanted to wait till I had the full run in miles done to post about what I'm liking and not liking on the Rally so here we go :) Yesterday marked the end of the run in period on CRF 300 Rally. To say I'm impressed is a huge understatement the more I've ridden it the more I understand why these have been such a huge success and why they are impossible in the UK and the world to lay your hands on. A bike that an experienced road/track rider like myself can enjoy riding like a two stroke in a sporting manner on the roads but without the vibes at UK legal speeds. Carrying corner speed and punching out of the bends to. A motorcycle that as a beginner at off road riding gave me the confidence to complete Houndkirk Moor on my first go an without any drops, riding to and from the green lane on her. It never felt out of its depth, bottomed out etc and built confidence. A adv that's light weight!!! Compared to the big GS and GSA I had in the past I found the weight difference very noticable to the Himalayan. A motorcycle that with low power can sit at uk motorways speeds in comfort due to the brilliance of the overdrive 6th A motorcycle that returns on average 94mpg no matter the riding conditions. A motorcycle that has a fun and sporting engine while being stunningly smooth for a single. A motorcycle that has in my opinion stunning looks and a brilliant headlight and a dash that doesn't fill with condensation. A motorcycle that did 300 miles and 10 hours of riding yesterday around Wales as a Road adv and never felt lacking and I feel fresh the next day. This was the final test ìn my mind to see if it would cover all the riding I like to do. A Honda with Honda reliability no issues to report so far. All in all a motorcycle that is the perfect partner for my current travel plans. What would I like to see Honda improve, a couple of things really that have been well covered from others I think if it came with a comfier seat more people would utterly fall in love with it as it's actually a nice road adv apart from that that in many senses is a true adventure bike in the fact it can go down any track you spot. Finally the suspension I'd keep the seat Height where it is with rider sag and its still got more than enough ground clearance etc and that would make it accessible to more people with better dampening would truly transform it for putting luggage on from the get go. My plan to address these things when I'm able is @rallyraidproducts Level one Suspension which does exactly as described. An with the seat a @seatconcepts Comfort or Comfort XL undecided on which one. In closing to say I'm impressed is an understatement, Content. I could only imagine how good a 350 would be still one of my favourite cc's They might not be for everyone but for me I'm very happy with it, am I curious about other bikes, yep the T7 but at the moment for my level of off road skills and especially with my shoulder injury the 300 Rally is the right partner as its so so manageable to ride and move around due to its light weight. |
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One final comment, get yourself down to North Cornwall not Bonnie Scotland, Scotland is amazing road riding but lifestyle wise Devon and Cornwall are where you need to be trust me.... Sent from my SM-G781B using Tapatalk |
Thanks Mez really appreciate you taking the time to comment bier
Should be interesting where I end up :) not quite sure which end yet. Been considering the borders for access into Keilder or near Holsworthy / Tintagel neck of the woods down Devon / Cornwall. Lot's to think about an not alot of time to decide lol soon as the service is done on the Honda this weekend I can get some trips done :scooter: an check the areas out again, all being well should be moved in the next two months or so. Pretty set on the RR setup John was good enough to give me some advice on the bike when I was trying to sort out what to get when everything started going wrong with the Himalayan so good to support our local companies. I really like the idea of the level 1 as well as that'l be a game changer for dad having a go as well as it looks like we might end up skipping the T7 as the weight or shall I say lack of it with the CRF 300 Rally compared to the last few adventure bikes is really ticking the boxes. |
Here's the video from last week's ride to Llanberis Pass in Wales there wasn't much of a plan apart from getting the 300 miles done in one day. Mix of country roads, Llanberis Pass in both directions one to music unfortunately thanks to my gopro audio not working then the other talking and riding while chatting about the Honda 300 Rally.
Recorded riding through Bala, Ruffin, Betws-y-Coed etc and I rode back on the motorway an did a few overtakes so everyone can judge what that's like on uk motorways with our smart motorway system. Hope you all enjoy the ramblings she will be having her first service on Saturday then it's back to hunting a few green lanes out been studying technique all week so looking forward to putting it into practice. Before that though will be some road trips up on the borders and Dumfries an Galloway house hunting. Overall really impressed with the bike, greenlaning on Houndkirk Moor, A 300 mile road ride to Llanberis a roads b roads motorway shes doing it all in her stride. Very content nearly got enough for a rear shock once I've flogged my Nav 6 then I can get the Rally Raid level 1 shock on and get some camping gear for some camping trips. Exciting times :) |
Hi everyone sorry for the lack of updates been a few crazy weeks all over the country as a passenger in dads car as we viewed a few houses good news is we now know that we are moving to either Dumfries an Galloway got a few areas picked out or Perthshire near Pitlochry / Blairgowrie going up there next week for a look at a few houses an more areas
Excited for that itl mean green laning will be weekend trips and on trips abroad which the Rally will be perfect for so happy overall that I've got the extra wind protection with the Rally for road touring in Scotland. very very exciting day today the Honda CRF 300 Rally @rallyraidproducts Level 1 rear shock and -20mm side stand. Super excited to give her the first test ride on the new shock the quality difference between the two shocks is clear to see and I've hit my sag measurements on it which is great nice that it's no longer a pogo stick to get on happy days :) looking forward to taking some green lanes in at some point an some road riding. Very close to going back up to Scotland with dad to view some houses so itl have to wait for now exciting times though! Big thanks to Adam and John for all the help question wise an advice on my purchase :) always like spending my money with the good British companies. https://i.ibb.co/JBdgfPb/20230504-111401-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/zfsdHR8/20230504-135512-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/vdQsqgs/20230504-160242-01.jpg |
Rally Raid Level 1 Rear suspension Just wow!
Bit of an overall update for anyone that's been following my Stuff on the CRF 300 Rally. Just got back from doing 3/4 of Macclesfield old Road from Macc then that in reverse then Sir William Hill Road in full was so much fun on that! Absolutely transformed the bike an I can confirm if you need to paddle its still easy to do :) Was really nice stood up as well and very confidence inspiring best I've rode on a green lane. Thanks to everyone that let on the two peeps on Ktms an the two 4x4s who were great with advice on Macc old Road. On a few bits where I had to sit down that's where you notice the difference the most as it's not booting you all over the place. A huge difference though as well is on the road transformed it no more squatting now handles as it should brakes well, goes well and handles well noticed the difference right away when I set off. I've not been brilliant over the past few days with a food allergy issue so was nice to get out even if just for an hour or so. Should have a new video coming providing the gopro played ball :) Kudos the team at Rally Raid stunning work! It really is how the bike should have been from Honda. Very happy with the money I spent on it. In other news it looks like I'm gonna be moving to either highland Perthshire up in Scotland around Blairgowrie ish or a bit more North or near Dumfries and Galloway (thornhill ish) so something may end up joining the Rally now my shoulder is better :) just trying to decide between the two areas. The Rally will be staying for trips to trickier bits an for Iceland but the nearest green lanes will be a good 5-6 hours away depending on which bit we end up in so thatl probably lean towards bringing a t7 in as planned or a Vstrom 650xt again or a GS mainly just for road use up there. Then keep the Rally for the odd weekend away to England. The only thing that slightly worries me with the T7 is the exhaust bracket anyone experienced one breaking? All being well we will have alot more space so the Rally can stay to an we can pick dad one of each up as he's bikeless at the moment. Gonna be an interesting few months and very full on with the move. We did about 4,000 miles up Scotland in dads car exploring so it's good to know where we are looking now for the next steps in life. Just the current thoughts really Rally is really ticking the boxes for a lightweight all roads bike :) happy days. It's a shame though Yamaha havnt got a Tenere 300 or 500 twin that'd be interesting to see. Was interesting green laning though still not sure what I quite make of it, the 2nd lane I really enjoyed the first I wasn't to mad on. Probably helped as well that I'd stuck some road miles on by the time I got to the 2nd lane as the bike was drastically different light and day in a better way. https://i.ibb.co/fDgqDFS/20230514-130340-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/GWz3FTj/20230514-130402-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/vkRxMC2/20230514-125958-0-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/Kqmt1WT/20230514-125943-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/TtwGjLC/20230514-132931-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/TKtdm1x/20230514-132927-0-01.jpg |
Thought this might be of interest to anyone thinking about the Rally Raid Level 1 rear shock with HPA and shorter side stand.
Been really impressed with it in the video I covered trail riding down two green lanes in the peaks trail riding is really new to me and I'm massively enjoying the learning process although I've done lots of road based adv, and track riding and ride year round + the absolute huge difference it made to road riding :) Very happy with it an can only imagine how good itd be with the forks to. It's coming along nice for our planned Iceland / Norway trip I've also had a bit of a chat about some exciting personal news with moving to Scotland in about 8 weeks an how that's gonna influence bike choice and what could possibly be coming to sit next to the Rally Anyway hope you all enjoy the video :) |
Hi everyone thought I'd do a lil video talking about why I'm considering letting my 300 Rally go and moving back to larger ADVs. This I'd supplemented by the text below.
Earlier in the year :) after selling my 1200gs te Rallye (personal reasons) for a Himalayan an some funds my way then the Himalayan being rejected with safety issues at 500 miles for a Refund I picked up a Honda CRF 300 Rally got so lucky finding it as it was a canceled order a friend of mine is still waiting for his 300 o.o with the intention of going green laning which I thought would be best to try on a lighter bike which was 100% the right move :) At the same time we were planning on moving to Devon which then changed very recently to Scotland which puts me about 7 hours away from any lanes, which also coinspired with the change in my thoughts on what I enjoy lane wise and riding wise realising I much prefer the travel aspect off my riding a little bit of light green laning on easy gravel trails which with dad an I both on bikes again we could do easily together an mainly crunching the big mile days and seeing new places on mainly Tarmac, as Trail riding isn't quite my thing. I think in life you never know what you like until you experience it, it's like looking at a map reading the names of the places but not really knowing what they are like :) Anyways I hope you enjoyed my little video on my thoughts while riding around the Peak District, if I was sticking with 50/50 riding would I stick with the Rally yes of course, really nice to get to the lanes on an will overtake at legal motorway speeds on the motorway (lil clip in the footage on a bypass) For me now though with the move to Scotland it's back to a BMW GSA again not everyone's idea of an adventure mount I know but they fit my needs wants an desires motorcycle wise an thats what it's all about ultimately having fun an riding what type of riding and motorcycles you enjoy no right or wrong for anyone. Thanks to everyone thats put input in on bike choice in the other thread :) |
Interesting how this thread has developed ;) but some good points coming up, which I'll comment on in no particular order.
On my 2019 790 Adventure, which I've had from new, it also has the instrument misting issue. I've had 3 changed under warranty, the last misted before it left the shop. KTM has now stopped giving warranty on these unless it's so bad it can't be read. Sounds like the 390 has the same issue. Very disappointing, and rather puts me off buying a KTM ever again. Klim do a "hot weather" version of the Badlands, the Carlsbad, all light colours, not such heavy material and with plenty of vents. Any GoreTex suit is going to get sweaty in 30+ degrees but against that have to balance the protection from a proper suit with body armour, and how much extra gear you want to cover all weather conditions. The 300 strikes me as ticking an awful lot of the boxes for a travel bike, especially if you're planning to do a fair bit of offroad, or will be travelling solo with the need to be able to pick the bike up. The only real shortcomings I can see with it are its ability to carry luggage for a long trip in such a small package, but maybe the suspension upgrades you mentioned help with that. The 300 also has a documented weakness, whereby if you drop it on the left side the gearchange lever can be pushed hard upwards, bending the selector mechanism on the right side of the engine inside the case. As regards larger bikes for travel, as someone with a 790 and a Tenere in the garage I think I can comment on this. The 790 has pretty good on- and off-road capabilities but in the end it's still rather heavy. Not a problem on the road, but off it this is a limiting factor. The Tenere even more so - with the fuel load carried above the engine this is one tall and heavy MF. It has many points in its favour (the engine is gorgeous) but being a good offroad bike isn't one of them. And as for going even heavier than these, as the BMW brigade do, my thoughts are clear: don't. |
Hi TomKat that's a real shame on the 790 yep they use the same display as our 390s had we managed to reject our bikes to the dealer because of the displays and Corrosion issues on dads 390. My display was that bad I couldn't read it at all. We got refunds at 147 an 269 miles after a battle I initially thought of a norden but decided against going back to ktm.
I just thought it best to be honest from memory I said in one of the videos if I stopped enjoying the green laning I'd nock it on the head an I've reached that point + 7+ hours away in Scotland an I won't have any time to go trail riding after the move. I totally agree with what you think off the 300 Rally I'd say its a perfect solo travel bike if I was sticking with the unsealed road riding I'd totally keep the Rally. It's been utterly perfect for what I bought it for. I'd just carry an extra shift mechanism an a gasket + a oil top up for that issue. Easy to slide a new one in, I was looking at it when someone posted it in one of the groups reminds me off the design in an rd350lc For the riding I'm going to be doing though is 90% road riding up Scotland in a few months when the move is done, I also need to start yoyoing a 8 hour drive back n forward viewing houses so the 300 Rally isn't the right bike for that task so funds wise it makes sense to sell the Rally an hunt for a different bike the logical choices being a vstrom 650xt or a beemer again having had them both for that task in the past. With regards to the beemer I've got something in mind that's a lil older than what I've had :) I've not overly enjoyed the green laning I guess that's the fun with motorcycles there's something for all of us: :) I just prefer crunching the miles on long days. At first I did but the more I did it I found myself turning round then going to put some road miles in. Another aspect is it minimises further causing issues with my neck injury that got caused by a health practitioner incorrectly administering an injection joys. I'd sooner stick to mainly road riding and be able to continue riding and seeing new places. I've asked dad if he wanted the 300 but he wants to take an identical bike on the trip to me When that comes round itl either be the 800de or a 1200gs lc or 1250gs lc as after the house move we can pick what we want which will be good :) I actually got dad the Carlsbad last year awesome suit. For now though in the mean time itl be get the 300 sold an get a bike that suits my immediate needs which is lots of miles crunching got a few ideas of what I'm fancying an got my eye on a couple of bikes dependant on when the Rally sells. |
Few will admit it, but a big bore scooter ticks those boxes.
:) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
For road touring a big bore scooter is in many ways the ultimate tool! I've considered it myself but like most riders, I guess, I just can't bring myself to do it :rofl: The choice of bike to ride depends not only on practicalities but also emotions. It's a very personal thing and often not very logical. ;)
Like you, I did a fair bit of trail riding but moved away from it. There are a lot of great lanes round here in Devon where I live and an active green laning scene, but if you're riding with company you need a proper dedicated trail bike or a lot of skill, and I have neither. But I'm aware that travel to interesting places is likely to involve some riding on dirt roads, and I do want a bike that can do that without tying itself in knots. So I've stuck with the 790 for now, warts and all, as a cracking road bike with some off road ability. I can see your change in plans prompts a different bike, it's horses for courses after all. But if you're just planning on road touring pretty much any bike will do that. You don't need to push the boat out on Starship Enterprise. Last thing, if you're planning to spend some time exploring the UK roads for now, I can strongly recommend the Round Britain Rally, a non-competitive event run every year, that will take you through the best roads and to some fascinating landmarks in England, Scotland and Wales. |
If I were to do lots and lots of on-road miles I'd be looking at an NC750X over any conventional motorbike ... it also still looks and feels like a motorbike compared to a mega-scooter. Also, manual handling is a lot easier than a VStrom.
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That was exactly my thought to Tim coming from the Norton's where it's so easy to fix stuff the tech on the Ktm's breaking so quickly was a shock. It's a real shame they just don't concentrate on the actual core of the bike.
I've actually got a bucket list bike that I'm thinking of ticking off the list when the rally is sold bier actually quite excited about it tbh as it's something I've dreamed off adv wise since I was a kid. Thats a good option Turbo, An I agree TomKat what I'm looking at is far removed from a Starship Enterprise like my last GS an I think it'l tick the boxes The older stuff I always tend to hold onto like the Nortons which are 12+ years an my 350lc which we got when I was a kid. I'll check that Rally out sounds like a brilliant idea thanks for the heads up on it. Just gotta get the Rally away next then I can go on the hunt :scooter::scooter: |
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Sadly I feel rather the same about KTM, even though I've had no real reliability problems with my bike and it's otherwise a joy to ride. |
I got the impression fairly early on that some of the clutch failures were down to riders sticking the traction control in one of the fancy rally settings, but then instead of letting the electronics sort everything out, slipping the clutch using the hand control as well.
With that in mind, although I have rally mode on my 790 'S' I have stayed well clear of it. So I was horrified to find the clutch slipping when I grabbed a handful of throttle on an overtake in Ireland. Tried it again a day later with the same result. And having said that... although the roads were lovely and dry the bike was actually in rain mode as I keep forgetting to take it out of that mode! |
Final update on the 300 Rally perfect for what I got her for bier now it's time for something that fit's my riding going forward now I'm not trail riding anymore.
Dropped the rally off at the dealer that bought it yesterday so sure she will find a good home. time for an 1150gsa next or back to a v-strom 650xt both should fit the bill nicely. |
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