The Honda Motorcycle That Quietly Outclasses Its Competition

Luke started working as a Freelance Writer for HotCars in 2020. After three years, he moved to a more permanent role with the TopSpeed motorcycle content team as a Journalist.

While there is still a big demand for adventure bikes of all shapes and sizes, many riders have begun to realize the limitations of ADVs. As a result, the humble dual-sport has seen something of a resurgence of late. Lighter and more effective off-road, dual-sport bikes appeal to anyone looking to spend more time off the beaten path than on it. Some riders have even taken them across the globe, proving that you simply do not need a big, expensive ADV to get out and travel on a motorcycle.

Honda Offers A Dual-Sport For Every Occasion

Honda Powersports

Aside from a few capable adventure bikes, Honda has actually got a wide selection of dual-sport bikes to choose from. The little XR150L is arguably one of the best beginner bikes money can buy these days, offering a simple, air-cooled single and approachable everything. There are also a couple of dedicated off-roaders that are excellent training tools, but are obviously not street legal.

Honda Powersports

At the other end of the spectrum, we have the CRF450RL, a bike that is arguably more suited to hard enduro than any form of travel. The XR650L would be a better bet if you want to use a big thumper for motorcycle travel, but with a 37-inch seat height it isn’t the most accessible motorcycle in the world. The bike in question splits the difference, offering enough power to get up to highway speed, and enough capability to handle pretty much any terrain you throw at it.

The Honda CRF300L Rally Is The Best Dual-Sport-Style ADV For Travel

MSRP: $6,499

Honda Powersports

While the class has certainly grown over the past few years, the CRF300L Rally is by some margin the best option if you plan on doing some adventure riding. It is still the only bike in this space that offers a little wind protection and long-distance comfort. This small but significant point of difference has helped Honda pretty much capture the market and left other manufacturers trying to play catch-up.

The CRF300L Rally Is In A Class Of One (Mostly)

Honda

The CRF300L Rally is based on the already-capable CRF300L, which is among the best small-displacement dual sports you can buy today. Owners report that the bike is more comfortable, smoother, and softer-sprung than the KLX300, making it easier to ride. At the same time, it’s lighter and more dependable than the KTM 390 Enduro R. Compared to the DR-Z4S, it’s a whole lot cheaper. And Honda also offers the CRF300LS with a lower seat height.

Honda

The CRF300L Rally builds on that basic platform with a larger fuel tank and a frame-mounted fairing with a windscreen. Yes, the added bodywork adds some pounds to the CRF, but it also makes the CRF300L Rally ready for adventure, blurring the lines between dual sports and adventure bikes. And very few motorcycles like these exist. Perhaps the best example is the current-generation Kawasaki KLR 650, a 650-class dual-sport that’s built to be an ADV.

Honda

However, the KLR is expensive, heavy, and outdated. In the small-displacement class, the CRF300L Rally lacks a real rival. You can compare it to small-displacement single-cylinder ADVs, such as the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and the KTM 390 Adventure. While it makes more power and should feel more comfortable on the highway, the CRF300L Rally takes the cake with its low weight and dirt-bike underpinnings, making it an ideal choice for when you want a dual-sport you can ride a bit farther.

Powered By A Modern Single-Cylinder Engine Honed Over The Years

Power: 27 Horsepower

Honda

If you are looking for an all-conquering off-road beast, then you might be shopping in the wrong aisle. This is designed to be a reliable, approachable motorcycle, and its power output reflects this fact. This powertrain is still relatively modern compared to some of the other air-cooled bikes within Honda’s lineup, with it being a DOHC lump with liquid cooling and fuel injection. Yes, the simple fact that it has fuel injection makes it more advanced than the XR650L!

Rugged Simplicity Takes You Further

Honda

This is not to say that the CRF300L Rally is particularly advanced by any other measure. In fact, if anything, the opposite is true. It is a simple, rugged powertrain, and that is what makes it so appealing. For those inclined, it is relatively easy to maintain yourself, but even if you are not, it is equally easy to find a Honda dealership. These engines have proven to be capable of accumulating higher mileages than just about any other single-cylinder motorcycle.

The CRF300L Rally Proves That Bigger Isn’t Always Better

Honda Powersports

With motorcycles of all shapes and sizes getting ever more complicated, the CRF300L Rally is refreshingly simple. The only features you get are an LCD dash and switchable ABS. The inclusion of an easy-to-find dedicated ABS off button is a nice touch. This leaves the bike with very few failure points and a pretty clear indication that it is built to last, unlike some modern bikes that get lumbered with tech that will become obsolete long before the motorcycle itself.

In terms of physical features, you get wind protection, a 21-inch wheel at the front and an 18-inch wheel at the rear. It also got a much-needed suspension upgrade last year. One of the frequent complaints directed at it was the fact that its rear shock was ridiculously soft and would bottom out far too easily. This has since been addressed and is no longer an issue, and you get almost 11 inches of ground clearance along with over 10 inches of suspension travel.

Honda

Its 35-inch seat height makes it relatively tall, but if that is a dealbreaker, it might be worth considering the LS model with a lower seat; you will also lose the wind protection and some ground clearance. Like any good dual-sport, the Rally is relatively light at 333 pounds and will happily handle the daily commute thanks to how fuel-efficient its single is.

The Price You Pay For All That Versatility

Honda Powersports

The CRF300L Rally is arguably one of the most versatile motorcycles money can buy right now. It can handle the daily commute, hit the highway, and take on your local trails. Unfortunately, there is always a price to pay for this sort of versatility. While it certainly can get up to highway speed, that doesn’t mean it is comfortable in any way, shape, or form at highway speed. The wind protection helps, but only to a point, and the vibrations through the bars and pegs will numb your hands and feet if you dare stay in the saddle for too long.

With 27 horsepower, it has enough power to handle most off-road work, but it is also important to understand its limitations. It certainly is not a hard enduro machine, and if you try and ride it like one, all you will end up doing is bottoming out the suspension everywhere until something eventually breaks. Most likely the fender, which is the only relatively expensive thing on the bike.

For most, these compromises are hardly an issue. For the high-quality motorcycle you get in return for your money, it is something of a bargain. This versatile dual-sport has proven well and truly up to the task of crossing continents, and has quite literally been everywhere. It proves that you simply don’t need a big, expensive motorcycle to get out and have an adventure.

Source: Honda Powersports