Noraly of Itchy Boots fame is smashing this bike all over South America. And she's a loyal customer of Honda, I think she has done more for the brand than the brand has done itself. In my opinion Honda need to sit up and take notice of the KZfaq Vloggers as they are the ones reaching a wider audience and influencing peoples choices on motor bike sales and branding.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I absolutely love this series, just honest, humble, no BS stuff and packed full of useful information that you just can’t get from a 30 minute to an hour test ride. Can’t wait for the next one. 👍😎🇦🇺

Itchy Boots is putting this bike to a real test. So far it is holding up really well.

I retired to Wales 6 years ago and came with a 1290 SAS & Z1000SX, I now ride a 250L, a 500F and just bought a 300 Rally, which has only done 500 miles, a great bike, at 65, I no longer have the need for speed, but want the ability to go off and explore this great environment I live in and my 2 trailies are great for this, I agree with Simon on most counts, this is a very good bike !!

Using Itchy Boot's riding alone on back roads in South Africa using a CRF-250L in exploring the country on back roads and racing in a five day rally that she completed. She's back in South America on back roads on a CRF-300 Rally continuing her journey to Alaska. Her biggest advanced with the bike is they are light and she can pick them up if she drops it.

This video made me smile, seeing how enthusiastic Simon is about the bike. I've got no real need for it but I kind of want one now!

seems a genuine guy, no BS

Dang, keeping every bike since the first! That’s everyone’s dream! Love my Crf300l rally, I’ve parked my 690 enduro since purchasing.

These are the best reviews. Truly informative and no melodramatic music and crap. Good stuff.

Picking mine up on Saturday- 1st ever new bike!

Simon is perfectly correct. I had the 250 changed to a 300 Rally last May. The 300 is just so much better in so many ways. More mid range power and better spaced gearing. I’ve taken my 300 to Spain as well as doing parts of the TET. It’s a great all round bike ans so much fun. I changed the silencer on my 250, yes it sounds good but the noise gets wearing after a while,so kept the standard on the 300. Getting a K-tech shock fitted next week, the standard spring is too soft.

ItchyBoots likes hers

Simon's mention if his XL250S brought back nostalgic memories of touring Central Oz back in the day. Wonderful bike too. Next for my shed will be this Rally.

I've got the 2018 - 250cc version and still loving it. Next year 2023 I will likely sell or trade it for a 300 Rally. It truly is so much better than my previous heavy adventure bike. When I purchased my 250 I wanted the power of the Yamaha WR250 but the bigger bike roominess feel without the excessive weight penalty of the CRF250 Rally. It won me over. Still happy with my purchase.

I´m actually in the verge of trading my WR450 2004 for the L version. I´ve seen the maintenance cost and I´m sold to say goodbye to the powerhouse 450 and go slower but further with one these. Thank you for the take MCN!

Loving these real life reviews guys. More please

I have the 300L and I think the best way to describe it is a bike that is not very street worthy, but sufficient to get to dirt, but when it hits the dirt, if you "get on it" you can have fun for a 286cc. I love 4th gear in the dirt bc I can't wind it too high in 3rd which is a fun gear to ride. But again, you have to get on this bike if you want any rush.

Genuinely one of the nicest guys I know. What he doesn’t know about bikes, ain’t worth knowing.

Ive had mine 3 weeks Love it Suspension needed badly but im enjoying it in stock form

Really like this sort of down to earth stuff from people with real experience! Would have liked to hear if there were any niggles not sorted by the mods already made as well as a disclosure on who's paid for the mods. I believe transparency in such regards brings it up a level or two, my 2 cents. Thank you! 👍

You can tell he loves it can't blame him it's a cracking bike. I was going to get one but the 300cc wasn't available back then and I find banana seats don't pair well with my derrière. 👍

Had a 250L myself a few years ago that I then replaced with a Bmw G310GS, bit more poke than the 250 at 34 bhp, but even that, could have done with a touch more. The seat and tank capacity were also improved. , Sounds like the 300 Rally is a good improvement over the old 250L..and it looks great. Loving these videos! 👌👍

Really really enjoyed this, got to be one of the most informative videos on the Rally thanks for doing it :)

I think one of these is my next bike purchase!

Im still riding an XL250SB. Hard to imagine spending 6 times the price just for some better brakes and suspension. Will be interesting to see how the frames hold up over the next 20 years.

"It will dig its way out", that's what other reviews don't talk about, thanks

Great stuff, I’m waiting for the long termer who absolutely hated their bike and had to suffer for a bit, as you all see to have way too much fun.

What an inspiring interview and infectious, he made it an irresistible machine to have. Best one so far 😺👍

can say after years of supersports 600s and 120mph b roads I needed a slower bike and just brought a cb500x and what a great bike. and looking at this I might add this to my to buy list. looks the part and with honda stickers we know it will last a very long time.

I have a T7 love it but I really like going off-road and at 57 it is getting harder to pick the bike up because every drop is different. I feel a lighter bike to go for light off-road would be better for me. I just can't decide between the 300L or the 300L Rally, I plan on keeping the T7.

This is like a perfect all rounder bike.

I am always amazed how the Long way round made the GS so popular. To me it looked like the worst advert for a bike ever. Ridiculously heavy, frames that snap, suspension that fails, too complicated oh and too heavy. Even after that some people say to Itchy Boots, 'Why not take something like the GS or the Africa Twin 😂 I mean she couldn't pick it up once, never mind every 5 minutes riding through energy sapping sand. In South East Asia the only people you see on a big bike is white tourists. If I went around the world I'd probably choose a this Honda or similar. Oh, I ride a 1200 GS! Just not off road.

im here because of itchy boots

As the man said, the singlets biggest improvement for these bikes is to sort the suspension, as the existing gear is nothing short of dreadful, with an experience to match. That way, you'll find it will actually steer into and around corners. I'd go so far as to say that if you have limited budget, better buying a 250 and doing the upgrade rather than simply buying a new bike and not being able to afford the upgrade.

I love this guy. I was hanging onto every word he said.

Need to try one of these. Love it so much. Love a small capacity bike as I need a new XL until I can fix my XL 😂

Excellent video! I have the Rally too and I love it.

that or the 250 its looking more likely to become my next motorbike for the great mpg commuting and also the ability to go on little weekend adventures as and when

Sat on one last weekend. I did feel like at 6'3", it was still a little too cramped with my knees.

This is a really interesting bike category. It's taken decades for manufacturers to achieve what they did in the 90's with 2t trailies. I appreciate the progress in refinement, suspension and the like but the 4t's are still behind when it comes to ooomph. I know these bikes are selling like hot cakes in Aus. I have a DT 230 and CRM 250, might make an effort to compare with the CRF. Great review, cheers

So, the guy changed the whole suspension, changed the tires, installed an expensive exhaust and makes a review of the bike? I mean - it's pretty much a different bike like that lol

There's a aluminium plate attached to the air filter, if you remove that then you might like it. I did to my crf250LR 2019 with delkevic exhaust/with no spark arrestor, my bike loves it like my dog love me. 🌻

Itchy boots has one these bikes which she is currently travelling to alaska Look on youtube for her adventures

I've one coming in July. Will have all the extras ready to throw on. Suspension options. Will have to wait and see.

All we need now is the 450 version.

Brilliant video, great upgrades!

Buy one you'll love it.

why dont honda make their suspension catered for the EU market? always too soft and bottoms out. I would love a CRF300 but with crap suspension out the box i wont touch it

I hate (not) this series - every bike they speak about I want! Seem like a pleasant bunch of chaps and chappettes @ MCN who genuinely like and know know bikes. Thanks.

Love the look of it. Might buy one to put in the lounge. 😉

What size Dunlops did you go for? And which rear spring rating did you get? Many thanks!

An inch makes a big difference! 😂

What is the brand/model of the GPS mount? Great video. Stirs the wander lust adventure spirit!

appears that spending around a grand on suspension is vital

Still on hill hold, my 2018 GS was as you say quite reluctant to disengage and as others have said it was best switched off by dabbing the brake, but my 2020 GS is much much better and unless the hill is really steep you don't seem to have to give it any more revs than when pulling away without using it.

I've got the 300l great bike

13/42 sprockets and fmf exhaust and ejk makes the 250l more pokey 😇

Itchy Boots bike😇🤩...

Such a pity we can't have a long-term review every week. Or can we?

The best real world long term review of this bike is currently being run by Itchy Boots [check her on KZfaq, currently about to cross the Darien Gap]

Oh wow a 'light weight' adv bike that is only 200kg instead of 225+kg, nope that ain't it. Definitely need more bikes like these.

Especially with respect to suspension, how does the Honda compare with Kawasaki KLX 300?

hi what Garmin do you use and what bracket do I need ,just orderd one thanks

I'd be tempted but don't want a bright red thief magnet. I wish Honda would offer this in more colours. And the grey version is still a 'please steal me' colour... 🙄

After putting the pipe on did you have to get ecu controller?

Though it is not his cup of tea, riding impressions from Michael Neeves would be interesting.

Great bike. But gosh that blurb: Honda feeling, Honda engineering... wtf :)

They didn't stroke the 250. It's a street bike engine

A warter cooled XR,I'd rather go quick on a smaller than slow on a big bike

Which Garmin model?

like so many of these bikes, when i taller person buys it a whole lot of money is spent reconfiguring it to suit the rider.

@9:28 - "Let us sell crap suspension that will be thrown away rather than giving the choise between different levels of quality" - motorcycle manufacturers motto.

Thanks much for this review. May I ask what the seat height is with that new suspension? And also…..might there be a possibility to lower the bike with a custom suspension rather than just using lowering links (by up to 2”)? Thanks again.

Std tyres are IRC. Truely aweful...everywhere. Completely vague. This bike is really something!!!!! Not perfect but actually perfectable...

Did they ever pry his hands off the bike? LOL

Looks like a great bike but with all of the additional gear that was replaced, wouldn't it be better to just look for something you wouldn't have to upgrade so much?

Please get subtitles

81 forever!

Somehow the headlight make me think of “The Beagle boys” . Scrooge MC Duck be aware of this bike!!

I'm really tired of hearing about the awesome 300L that isnt available anywhere.

Is it better than the WR250R though?

OMG! Look at the state of the chain!

Compare against KTM 390 Adventure. The lighter the bike more fun in the dirt

“The 250 Honda CRF didn’t have enough power.” This isn’t much better! It’s not the power that gets criticism, it’s the weight. 147Kg About 40 kg more than a KTM EXC 🤔

Hmm I need to be able to cruise at 90mph, living in Utah USA. Dang it! Otherwise I’d get this bike.

How did you go getting those handguards on without it hitting the front screen?

i want one, should i go to honda chiswick ? they give apalling customer service - maybe as im brown :~)

I'm in love with Itchy Boots - *sigh*

讚!!

🤘🏻

Itchy boots seems to like hers . . . 8 mins 17, hello Mr Rusty as fk chain :)

I am a big dude... I wonder if it would struggle with me on it.

50% of people say its a better street bike, 50% of people say its a better dirt bike. So what is it really? I can only buy one bike and I'd like a Honda. I have to many hobbies that demand a lot of $. I want to be able to drive on road mostly and just hit a trail, and dirt when I feel the want to.

Sorry , can't stay awake. But , I'm still gonna get a new 300 and keep my '18 250 .

did your guy just put some of his onw money on suspension and exhaust on a long term bike he will give back to honda ? really ?

Manufacturers need to bring back the 600cc thumpers. This is a nice bike, but with a modern 600cc thumper I'm convinced this would smoke the tenere 700 in sales.

I'm sorry to have to point this out but that chain is in a sorry state. The level of rust on that chain would make it un-rideable for me.

If you like this bike you will LOVE a KZfaq channel called ITCHY BOOTS, watch from the start n u will be hooked. Trust me!!!

Very interesting, but putting 2000 miles on a bike is nothing

Better then review of brand new 100km'sh motorcycle.