Honda CRF 300L Adventure Bike
I have been on a quest for a motorcycle that is well-rounded and balanced, allowing me to ride on the road and explore dirt tracks with equal ease. My previous motorcycle was a BMW F800GS and while it thrived on the road, it was extremely heavy and cumbersome when the trails got tight. This led me to the little Honda CRF300L. While the CRF300L doesn’t have the power of the BMW, it is equally as comfortable for me on the road, and it is wildly more capable off-road.
I traded straight across for my 2023 Honda CRF300L with a few modifications already done. I will highlight the mods in a bit, including some of my own additions to make it more comfortable for me. Stock, the CRF300L boasts some great specs for most riders, especially beginners. It features a 286cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine tuned for smooth, controllable performance, paired with a six-speed transmission and a comfortable upright riding position. The bike is equipped with suspension that is a big soggy, a sturdy frame, and reliable braking, making it capable on trails while still street-legal. With modern fuel injection, LED lighting, and a slim, nimble design, the CRF300L offers an approachable entry point for beginners while remaining fun and competent for experienced riders seeking an adventure-ready, low-maintenance dual-sport machine.
The Build
The ultimate goal of the CRF300 build is to have an efficient bike (>60 miles per gallon or 3.9L/100km) and capable enough to tackle forest trails and BDR routes around the Western United States. That means it needs 200+ miles (322km) of range plus the ability to carry camping gear and extra fuel if needed. It also needs to be comfortable enough for long days in the saddle, both on road and off-road. The stock CRF300L ticks most of those boxes without any modifications, but it is more fun to ride a modded bike than a stock one.
Ergonomics
As a taller rider, the CRF300 was setup from the factory a little short for me. I felt cramped and compact on the stock bike and knew that changes needed to be made. The easiest area to improve the standing position for me was by raising the bars. This is a fairly straightforward procedure that involves changing the handlebars, bar mounts, and grips. I upgraded the bars to Tusk Chub 1 1/8″ Big Bar (CR High Bend) and used the Tusk Universal Big Bar Clamp Kit. The grips had to be changed to aftermarket grips, Pro-Taper Pillow Top Grips, which worked well since the original grips were fairly uncomfortable.
The stock fuel tank on the CRF300L is a measly 2.1 gallons (7.9L), equating to less than 150 miles of range, which isn’t great. The previous owner installed an Acerbis 3.6-gallon (13.6L) tank, which greatly increases the range to well over 200 miles. With an attached Rotopax 1-gallon fuel cell I have ridden over 300 miles without refueling. I have attached the fuel cell using the Rotopax Pack Mount.
The seat ultimately needs to be swapped for something a bit taller, but in the meantime, an Alaskan Leather Dualsport Buttpad in Natural Longhair works for the time being to make long rides more comfortable. Also, it looks unbelievable. The pegs were replaced before I took possession, and I am glad. The stock pegs are awful, and the ProTaper pegs are extremely well-built.
Plans for the ergonomics of the bike are fairly simple. I will eventually add a windscreen or rally tower of some kind to deflect some wind and rain. I also plan to upgrade the stock seat when funds allow. I typically can’t ride a full tank of gas without needed to get off the bike and stretch a bit.
Luggage
Arguably, the most important aspect of any adventure motorcycle is the ability to add luggage and carry camping gear. The staple piece of luggage that will be on every motorcycle I travel on is a Giant Loop Fandango Tank Bag. This tank bag is burly, looks good, and keeps all of my essentials in one place. I have been extremely satisfied with the performance of this piece of kit. In addition to the Fandango, I also run a Giant Loop Zigzag Handlebar Bag on the front side of the handlebars for essentials like a tourniquet, Chapstick, and miscellaneous things that i need easy access to.
When I am bopping around town or hauling the bike to a location on the hitch rack, I have the Tusk Traverse Rackless Saddle Bags to carry my tools, water, toiletries, and spare parts on all of my rides. The Tusk bags leave all of the space on the rear rack for mounting my Rotopax and even a Dryspec D38 Duffel for longer rides or bare-essentials weekend trips.
When the trips get a bit longer and require more gear, I opt to run the Giant Loop Great Basin Saddlebag. The Great Basin is a cavernous 68 liters of storage in one huge bag that drapes over the sides of each side of the rear rack. The Giant Loop Hot Springs Heat Shield keeps the heat off the luggage. I can’t say enough good things about Giant Loop products.
Future Plans
The only real complaint that I have with the Honda CRF300L is the suspension. I am 6’3″ tall and 210lbs and the rear suspension is constantly bottoming out on rough trails. I have considered a few options but the most appealing is the Rally Raid Stage 2. Once the dirt tires are cooked, I will replace them with better meat. If I get bored, I will likely throw some extra horsepower at it through a new air filter and a tune.