Honda CRF300 Rally

What is the CRF300 Rally?

The CRF300 Rally is the rally-raid version of the lightweight CRF300L trail bike. Honda adds a tall screen and fairing derived from the Dakar CRF450 Rally, an asymmetric twin LED headlight, knuckle guards, a skid plate, a 12.8-litre tank and longer-travel suspension. It replaced the CRF250 Rally in 2021. The 2025 model year brings Euro 5+ compliance, firmer damping front and rear, LED indicators, a redesigned side cover to better direct hot air from the fan and an optional USB-C socket.

How much does it cost in France?

Honda France sells it for €7,199 as a 2025 model, in a single Red (R-292) colour, €1,000 more than the CRF300L. It has no page of its own on the Honda France website: it is reached through the model selector on the CRF300L page. In the UK it costs £6,599; in the United States, the 2026 CRF300L Rally starts at $6,499.

How good is the engine?

The liquid-cooled 286 cc single (76 x 63 mm) produces 27.3 hp (20.1 kW) at 8,500 rpm and 26.6 Nm at 6,500 rpm. The first five gears are short, sixth is tall for the road, and the clutch is an assist/slipper unit. Honda quotes a top speed of 135 km/h. MCN finds it lively and frugal: the bike sits happily at 70 mph and the bar weights keep vibrations in check. The British weekly nonetheless finds its 27 hp a little marginal for road use.

How does it ride?

The steel semi-double cradle frame is paired with a cast aluminium swingarm. The non-adjustable 43 mm Showa inverted fork and the preload-adjustable Pro-Link shock both have 260 mm of stroke. Ground clearance is 275 mm and the 21- and 18-inch spoked wheels wear IRC dual-purpose tyres with inner tubes. MCN finds the package comfortable on the road but too soft and underdamped for serious off-road riding on the 2021-2024 models; Honda firmed up the damping in 2025, a version MCN has not yet ridden. The front brake (single 296 mm disc) lacks bite on the road, and ABS can only be switched off at the rear.

What equipment?

Electronics are kept to a minimum: no riding modes, traction control, cruise control or connectivity. The positive LCD screen shows the rev counter, gear position, fuel consumption, average speed and a stopwatch. Honda’s accessory range includes a 38-litre top box, wider footpegs, heated grips and a USB-C charger.

Who is it for?

The CRF300 Rally is aimed at A2 licence holders looking for a light trail bike for dirt roads and long-distance travel, rather than motorway commuters. At 153 kg kerb weight, it is 22 to 43 kg lighter than the KTM 390 Adventure X, Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, CFMOTO 450MT and Kawasaki KLE500 SE, but gives away 13 to 18 hp to them. Its 885 mm seat height calls for some confidence, even though the bike sags once you are seated.

Where does it come from?

The line began in 2017 with the CRF250 Rally (250 cc, 24.7 hp, 22.6 Nm, 157 kg kerb). In 2021, the CRF300 Rally gained 36 cc, 18% more torque, a slipper clutch, a lighter frame, a seat lowered by 10 mm (885 mm) and a tank enlarged from 10.1 to 12.8 litres. The CRF250 Rally was subject to a recall in 2019 (A12/0904/19) for a gearbox main shaft circlip, on part of the 2018 production.

Fuel consumption, maintenance and recalls

Honda quotes 3.1 L/100 km on the WMTC cycle (73 g/km CO2), for a range of 413 km. MCN recorded under 4.1 L/100 km even when ridden hard and a real-world range of almost 200 miles (about 320 km). The manual calls for an oil change every 12,000 km or every year and a valve clearance check every 24,000 km. A 2023 European recall covers CRF300 Rally bikes built between February 2022 and January 2023 (oil plugs in the right crankcase cover that may come out).

Errors on the Honda France website

Honda France’s “Specifications and price” page carries over several CRF300L figures for the Rally: a 7.8-litre tank (actually 12.8 litres), an 880 mm seat (885 mm) and a 256 mm front disc (296 mm). This page uses the figures from Honda Europe’s press kits.