Honda CRF300L and CRF300L Rally Review

Honda one of the great Motorcycle brands has announced that the 2021 Honda CRF300L and CRF300L Rally will be coming to Vietnam soon. Not only delivering more power but less weight and several chassis upgrades.

The CRF 250L was launched in 2012 to offer a road-legal that wasn’t a hyper-aggressive competition bike. It became a sleeper hit as people warmed to its easy-going nature and realized its potential. It soon drew attention for its long-distance and round-the-world mini-adventure capabilities and it’s here where Honda has made the biggest improvements for 2021.

Let’s take a quick tour of the new brand Honda CRF300L and CRF300L Rally.

First of all, bikes that can ride in Vietnam have to make it compliant with Euro 5 emissions standards. To  gain more power and flexibility in the process, Honda upgraded the CRF300L platform is a larger DOHC single-cylinder engine and bumped it up from 36.4cc to 286cc by increasing the stroke from 55mm to 63mm; while the bore is unchanged at 76mm. The longer stroke netted a respectable boost in peak horsepower, gaining 2.5 points to 27.3 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and a 2.9 lb-ft bump in torque to 19 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm. This will surely benefit riders that need to extract the most out of their dual sports on the highway or when hitting the trail. The whole torque curve is substantially improved and is much flatter from 2,000 rpm up. The Compression ratio is unchanged at 10.7:1, while cam and injection timing has been adjusted to the new internal configuration to extract the full benefits of performance, fuel consumption, and exhaust cleanliness. The transmission has also been upgraded with the adoption of an assist-slipper clutch. 

The six-speed gearbox utilizes shorter ratios in 1st-5th gears to improve acceleration, while the 6th gear is lengthened and acts as an overdrive gear for highway use. Moreover, the CRF300L 2021 motorcycles are equipped with an assist-and-slipper clutch, which eliminates unwanted wheel-hop when downshifting.

Fuel capacity on the CRF300L is reduced to 2.1 gallons. Meanwhile, the CRF300L Rally features a larger 3.4-gallon fuel tank to accommodate a greater range.

All in all, both models are 4kg lighter than their predecessors, with the CRF300L coming in at 142kg and the CRF300 Rally at 153kg (wet). Therefore Both models get new bodywork, too. Engineers optimized the steel frame’s tube thickness and redesigned the cast aluminum swingarm that Honda says provides superior lateral flexibility and feedback. Weight reduction is always desirable, especially when it comes to a substantial improvement in chassis quality and performance. The frame structure remains unchanged in design, featuring twin main diagonal spars and a single downtube that splits into a double-cradle under the engine; very solid.

So solid that the Honda chassis specialists have reduced the size of both the front downtube (by 30mm) and the diameter of the lower cradle tubes (by 3mm), and the width of the upper cross tube (by 20mm). Not only is the frame lighter, but it’s also better tuned in terms of lateral flexibility, which increases by 25 percent. The incorporation of a new cast aluminum swingarm completes the reduction of both weight and the overall rigidity of the chassis. These changes bode well for dual-sport riders looking for better grip and feel when riding off-road.

Ergonomics have an eye for comfort, with the handlebar featuring increased sweep, while the footpegs are relocated further back and lower. The CRF300L also allows increased movement while on its 34.7-inch saddle, thanks to a slimmer seat profile. However, the Rally seat height comes in at 35.2 inches due to additional padding, meant for longer rides. Both machines use a new LCD instrument panel.

The chassis geometry is updated as well, with the wheelbase growing half an inch to 57.2 inches. Rake and trail are marginally tightened up to 27.5 degrees and 4.3 inches, respectively. In a boon for off-road riders, ground clearance is increased over an inch to 11.2 inches on the CRF300L and 10.9 inches on the Rally by mounting the engine higher in the frame. Not only that but the non-adjustable 43mm Showa fork and preload-adjustable Pro-Link shock feature 10.2 inches of travel at each end (up 0.4 and 0.8 inches, respectively)… Both bikes ride on 21- and 18-inch wheels.

Braking equipment varies between CRF300L and Rally models. The standard dual-sport uses a single 256mm front rotor and two-piston caliper, accompanied by a single 220mm rotor and single-piston floating caliper in the rear. The CRF300 Rally uses a larger 296mm front disc brake teamed with the same two-piston caliper. A two-channel ABS system manages to brake

The photos’ similarities between the CRF300L and CRF300L Rally are evident as they share all critical components. The CRF300L borrows much of its stylistic cues from the CRF450RL, giving it a much more aggressive motocross vibe. Unlike the Rally, the standard dual-sport uses a conventional bulb headlight.

CRF specification comparison

Why does the Honda CRF 300L & CRF 300 Rally  win the heart of motorcycle enthusiasts in Vietnam  Top 9 Honda Adventure Bikes For You To Conquer Any Routes In Vietnam?

Carrying the typical terrain of a Southeast Asian country, Vietnam has the third quarter of the area covered with hills and mountains. For this reason, dirt bikes or naked bikes are the ideal choices for you to experience the rough lands in Vietnam. In particular, with four distinct seasons, the weather in  North Vietnam  is hot, humid, and rainy, while there are a lot of off-road tracks. Truthfully, motor scooters can go through these areas as long as their wheels have to be wrapped around by the chains when moving, especially on rainy days. But with the CRF 300, you can easily pass these uneven lands without preparing anything.

For travelers who want to explore Vietnam or other countries in Indochina, the Honda CRF 300L  will be the number one choice due to the reasons below:                       

• Honda CRF 300L features a high level of durability and suffers from a low risk of being damaged. Even in case it breaks down, you can easily repair it. In fact, you can find Honda Dealers  in any small town in Vietnam because this type of motorcycle is trendy here.
• If you are passionate about enduro motorcycles, want to conquer off-road paths, and prefer going on an off-road tour, this dirt bike will give you maximum satisfaction. The Upside Down fork and the middle fork are cooled by the radiator, thus making you feel as if you were riding a super enduro motorbike in the Vietnamese forests.
• The advantages of enduro and super enduro motorcycles are going through the jungles and crossing over the mountains. And the Honda CRF 300L will give you the same feeling.
• Have you ever thought about going on an enduro tour while carrying both your girlfriend and some belongings behind you? Then, the CRF 300L can help you do it in a flash.

Vietnam Motorbike Tours Club is the only company offering high-quality enduro  bikes that are routinely inspected and serviced to make your off-road enduro tour the best it can be. We are currently using  HONDA CRF 250L, HONDA XR150, HONDA CRF150L, SUZUKI DRZ400, HUSQVARNA 701, HUSQVARNA FC450, TRIUMPH TIGER, BMW GS1200…  for the off-road enduro tours within Vietnam and to neighboring countries. Power will never be an issue with our range of 150cc to 1200cc bikes for one hell of a ride. We understand the importance of maintaining our fleet to the highest standards. Vietnam motorcycle tours are more and more popular with tourists therefore,  Vietnam Motorbike Tours Club has to upgrade all bikes we have recently to CRF 300L  and CRF300 Rally for our tours come over next level. With lighter, more powerful, our BM team’s capacity  will make your holiday in Vietnam above perfection. We also regularly replace our entire fleet of bikes and riding gear, always ensuring the best enduro and motocross experience guaranteed.