Honda CRF300 Rally Unveiled In Europe

The 300cc ADV also comes in a more affordable variant, called the CRF300L

• The Honda CRF300 range is lighter and more powerful than its 250cc predecessor.
• Apart from the CB300R-derived powerplant, the motorcycle also gets a redesigned frame.
• Claimed mileage of 32.3kmpl.

The all-new Honda CRF300L and the Honda CRF300 Rally have been unveiled in Europe. While both these motorcycles look pretty much the same externally, the changes made under the skin are pretty comprehensive. For starters, it gets a Honda CB300R-derived Euro 5-compliant 286cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled powerplant.

This motor churns out 27.3PS at 8500rpm and 26.6Nm at 6500rpm, making it 10 percent more powerful and 18 percent torquier than the CRF250 range (which makes 24.7PS and 22.6Nm). The engine is paired to a 6-speed transmission with assist and slipper clutch. To make the motorcycle friendlier off the road, the ratios of the first five gears have been shortened whereas the sixth gear has been made taller to aid highway cruising. There’s a revised intake and exhaust system along with a redesigned inlet cam timing too. The engine is linked to an assist and slipper clutch, which offers 20 percent lesser lever effort compared to its quarter-litre predecessor.

Apart from the new engine, Honda has also tinkered with the frame. The semi-double cradle steel frame has been redesigned to ensure a 4kg overall weight reduction. That’s not all, the frame has also been tuned to offer more lateral flex, which Honda says ensures better feedback and feel. Honda has also adjusted the steering geometry to go with the revised frame. The bike is suspended on a 43mm inverted front fork and a Prolink rear monoshock. Compared to the quarter-litre CRF, this one gets an increased 10mm front and 20mm rear travel for the CRF300L and 10mm extra front travel for the CRF300 Rally. Both bikes ride on a 21-inch front and an 18-inch rear spoke wheel shod with 80-section front and 120-section rear off-road friendly tyres. Braking is via a 256mm front petal disc for the L variant and a bigger 296mm unit for the Rally variant, whereas the rear uses the same 220mm petal disc on both bikes. For better safety, the two bikes get a dual-channel ABS as standard.

The Honda CRF300L gets a slimmer 7.8-litre fuel tank, whereas the CRF300L Rally gets a bigger 12.8-litre tank (up by 2.7 litres). The L variant also gets slightly pulled-back handlebars and lowered, rear-set footpegs to ensure a more comfortable riding stance. Sadly, the longer travel suspension has resulted in a 5mm seat height increase, to 880mm in the CRF300L. The Rally variant gets an even taller 885mm seat. 

Feature list includes an all-LCD instrument cluster, halogen headlamp in the L variant, and dual LED units in the Rally version. The Rally variant also gets a windscreen, knuckle guards, and engine cowl for extra protection.

While the possibility of Honda bringing these bikes to India sounds really alluring, the seat height alone will play a major spoilsport in making the bikes accessible to shorter riders. Moreover, the bike will be too expensive for the Indian market considering its equipment levels, and may not be able to compete with the likes of the BMW G 310 GS and the KTM 390 Adventure, price-wise.