On the ODO: 36.000 kilometers

After buying a new Honda CRF300L Rally in November 2021, I've now clocked 36.000 kilometers so it's time to talk about the motorcycle! This number may seem a little random, but 36.000 kilometers is what I rode on my first Royal Enfield Himalayan 'Basanti'. That means, that my Honda is now surpassing that number and is holding the title of 'Highest Mileage clocked on one motorcycle'. I've never ridden further on any other motorcycle. 

General

My general feeling about riding this motorcycle for long distance is that it's the best ADV bike I've owned. That seems like a big statement, but don't forget that I haven't owned/ridden that many different motorcycles. But out of the RE Himalayan, the CB500x and CRF250L, this bike is without a doubt the best one so far. 

Its main advantage compared to the Royal Enfield is that it's so much lighter, more nimble and more powerful. The Honda also requires less maintenance than the Enfield. Compared to the 250L, it's got a bit more power and a much, much better fuel range! The CB500x is a great adventure bike for Europe, where it's mainly tar but it will never compete with the 300L Rally when it gets more technical off-roading. 

So, it is the best bike that I've had so far for the type of riding that I enjoy most. By now, my off-roading skills have been steadily increasing (or, at least I like to think so!) and I've noticed that I am ready for a bigger engine. For example, riding the sandy tracks in Baja, Mexico, I was flat out on the throttle and still felt that my skill allowed for it to go faster. 

But those situations are relatively rare. I always have in the back of my mind that I'm on my own and there is no help. That means I'm not racing and I'm not riding above my limits, simply because the risks are too high. More so, the reason why I like the 300cc engine is that it's not a race engine. It's very smooth and comfortable to spend 10 hours a day on. And that is ultimately more important for me, as a long-distance rider. 

Upgrading to a smooth, big engine motorcycle is also not an option for me because I find the big ADV bikes are simply too heavy. I want to be able to ride small, difficult tracks, knowing that I can pick up my bike 10 times if I have to, without getting too tired. As a solo rider, you must always keep this in mind. Forget the smooth-sailing times but think about when it really gets tough and you have to manhandle your motorcycle. Can you do that on your own?

Fuel Economy

Another large advantage of this motorcycle is the big tank and fuel economy. Fuel range always depends hugely on your speed, wind speed and terrain but in general, it's around 350-400 kilometers. Not bad for a little bike! That's also the reason why I haven't been carrying extra fuel with me the entire season so far. When I reach the northern part of Alaska, I will have to bring some extra fuel. Riding all the way from Ecuador until the South of Alaska, it can easily be done without bringing more fuel.  

Suspension

The stock suspension of the CRF300L Rally is known to be very soft. I realized this as soon as I purchased the motorcycle. But as I was in such a rush to get the bike ready to ship to South America and resume my travels to Alaska, I didn't have time to upgrade the suspension then. On top of that, a suspension upgrade is costly and spending all this money on a brand-new bike felt wrong too. I decided to give the stock suspension a chance and upgrade it along the way if necessary. 

Well, it was necessary. Especially with the luggage strapped on the back, the bike was very bouncy on rougher terrain. Having a completely new suspension shipped to me in Central America wasn't easy logistics wise so I had a complete Rally Raid suspension sent to me in San Diego. Having both rear and front suspension changed in the USA was not a cheap venture but I figured it was going to be worth it. 

Being inexperienced with suspension upgrades (this was the first one I did), I didn't realize I should have checked the static (or free) sag, rider sag and pre-load. All terms I didn't even know at the time or why they were important. As I left San Diego going North, the suspension did feel better than stock so I was happy in the beginning. But quite soon after, I started noticing it wasn't performing how I expected it to be. 

The lack of setting it up properly was an issue. When I tried to ride up a rocky incline, my bike bucked so much it just kicked me right off and I injured my ankle. In the motorcycle shop in Moab, the mechanics there showed me that the suspension was not set up properly. They adjusted both the front forks and the rear suspension as much as possible, but even then, I still needed stiffer springs for the rear shock. 

Organizing all these things while constantly moving places and not knowing where I might pop up a few weeks later was not easy. So, it took a while before I finally received the stiffer springs for the rear shock in Canada. Having tested these springs for a while now, I can finally say I am very happy with my new, upgraded suspension! Lessons learned: have the suspension properly set up before taking off and don't try doing major upgrades on your motorcycle while being on the move on a daily basis! 

Conclusion

I could touch on many more subjects regarding the motorcycle, but this blog was never meant as a full review! Hopefully, it will answer some of the most asked questions about how I feel about the motorcycle and the suspension. Before I forget - I absolutely love the way this motorcycle looks. They say looks aren't important, but real bikers know that you want your heart to race a little when you quickly glance at your motorcycle! For me, it does that every time. And that to me, says enough!