A Guide to Honda CRF300 Rally Accessories: Tailor Your Ride for Adventures

Light, easy to throw around, and equally capable on the trails and the tarmac. Throw in low purchase and maintenance costs, decent comfort and range, and unadulterated fun each time you straddle the seat, and you can see why dual-sport bikes are selling in droves. They may lack the sheer presence or power figures of larger adventure bikes, or the dune-carving prowess of barebones enduro machines, but dual sports will get you smiling in more ways than one. They’re snapped up by both new and experienced riders, used in daily commutes or that adventure you’ve been planning for years, and are a reliable and inexpensive way to get around. 
The category is populated by dozens of LAMS bikes, with the Honds CRF300L and the CRF300 Rally topping the lists. These are the bikes that will get you with both feet in the motorcycle adventuring world. They may be entry-level offerings, but score high on addiction. The 286cc single throws up just 27 horsepower, and while low on paper, this is just about right to get you up mountains and across streams with a decent dose of speed. The engine is paired to a smooth-shifting six-speed gearbox and quick gear changes. The 21-inch tyres make light work of obstacles, aided by the high ground clearance and more than ten inches of travel in the front suspension. 
The Rally steps things up by giving you a bigger tank, good for a quoted 350 kilometres, more bite with the bigger Nissin callipers at the front, and for riding at speed on the highway, a fully-adjustable windscreen. The bike is also more off-road focussed with slightly stiffer suspension and better handling in ruts and bumps, a firmer and wider seat than the standard bike, and more pull-back in the handlebars and pegs ideally positioned for standing. You don’t get any rider aides in either bike, but the switchable ABS will keep the back wheel from slipping. As basic as the bikes are, there’s a healthy list of CRF300 Rally accessories and those for the standard version, considering how popular the bikes are. 

Packing All You Need for that Big Adventure

Packing for a week-long trip around any part of Australia will be different from the day trip to the beach. You’ll need basic supplies like food and water for the length of your stay, essentials like sleeping bags, hand warmers and swags, extra clothing, and a first aid kit. Also, be prepared to do roadside repairs. Bring a tool kit with all the basics, a tyre-repair kit, and a torch. 

Rack Systems

Getting your gear organised can be done in a few different ways. You can use a rack system to secure all luggage safely to either bike and manage how weight is distributed. Go for a rear top rack if you’ve decided you need tail bags or top cases, and side racks if opting for saddle bags. You’ll find different types of both rear and side racks. The first can be either a plate rack when going with hard luggage, or top rack bars that are usually for soft luggage. Both are easy to get on the bike.
Universal tracks are inexpensive and easy to find, and designed to fit more models of dual sport bikes (so older racks fitted to the CRF250L should go snugly on both CRF300 models as well). Look for a quality build, with thicker aluminium that can handle quite a bit of weight (some top racks are rated for 25 kilos or more) and should last against impacts on falls, and abrasions when coming up against rocks or branches. 
Side racks are designed to keep bags clear of the exhaust and rear wheel. Most riders will use these on longer journeys when carrying more gear. While there are different designs (most based around rectangular frames), the most robust side racks are those that fit into the same mounting points as the top rack, as this can handle more weight. Often, you’ll find a combo top and side rack that won’t look out of place on a smaller bike like the CRF300 pair but can still provide enough carrying capacity and strength to carry all that you need on different types of terrain. 

Tank Bags

These are good for storing necessities that you’ll need to be accessed quickly. This includes things like personal documents, phones, wallets, gloves, cameras, keys and the like, as well as snacks or waterproofs. A tank bag can be optioned in a bigger size on the standard CRF300L as it won’t obstruct reading the info on the dash. Go for a bag that’s waterproof, has enough capacity to fit necessities, has some form of internal storage (separate pockets and compartments) and is quick and easy to get on and off without risking scratches to the tank. 

Protecting Your Bike and Yourself

Protecting the engine, transmission and chain is necessary on a bike that is meant to be ridden on and off-road. On trails, you’ll encounter rocks, gravel, tree roots and other nasties that will easily damage your bike if it isn’t equipped with the right protective gear. Here there are a few CRF300 Rally accessories worth their asking price. Bash plates or engine guards keep the engine, gearbox and header pipes protected from dents, scratches or major damage that can leave you with expensive repair bills, or even worse, helpless and in the middle of nowhere. 
Bash plates are usually made of high-grade aluminium that is more than tough enough to endure the usual tortures of trail riding. This ensures they’ll last no matter what they come up against. Look for bash plates with included foam insulation to reduce rubbing and vibrations, and one that fits snugly to the bike’s underside without eating into the ground clearance. 
Another necessity is a chain guard. This has several purposes. It protects the chain by keeping the usual suspects in trail rides from damaging the chain. But it also keeps the rider protected if the chain snaps and does the same for the bike. A snapped chain can act as a whip and cause severe injuries or wreak major damage to the engine. These are the protective and safety uses. A chain guard additionally keeps your bike clear of oil. Look for guards made of machined aluminium to replace the stock plastic guard on your Honda. 
Related to chain guards are front sprocket case savers. These keep the engine case secure in the event of a chain derailment and also prevent the buildup of road debris. Like chain guards, these too are made of machined aluminium.

Final Word

These are just a few necessary and inexpensive accessories to get for your CRF300L and CRF300 Rally. Both are capable bikes that will take you in any direction you point them. Fitting a few additional cheap extras, like heated grips, hand guards, trail pegs with foam inserts, and phone or GPS mounts will help with comfort and convenience on longer rides.