Honda CRF300L Adventure Setup

June 5, 2025

Pros & Cons of CRF300L

PROS

CONS

Why Choose CRF300L?

We choose our travel motorcycles based on 5 key criteria:

Reliability – A long-documented history of bulletproof reliability.
Weight – Lighter bikes are easier to handle & more fun off-road.
Affordability – Cheap to buy, run, and maintain.
Simplicity – Easy to fix, with minimal electronics.
Parts Availability– Spares are easy to find, almost anywhere.

You can read more about our reasoning behind these in this post ->.

After riding two CRF250Ls all around Japan, Yan decided to try the 300 to experience a few more HP and higher torque with a slightly lesser wait. We bought a 2022 second-hand in New Zealand.

Key issues

Our Honda CRF300L has been super reliable so far. With more than 35,000 km (about 21,700 miles) on the odometer, we haven’t had any real issues. That said, we strongly recommend upgrading the suspension and adding a solid radiator guard. Change the oil, air filter, and oil filter regularly, keep an eye on your chain, and this bike will take you just about anywhere.

CRF300L Adventure Setup

Below is a list of all the upgrades and modifications we did on our Honda CRF300L to transform it into a comfortable cruising and adventure machine. We’re travelling South America with the current setup.

Fuel Tank

14 l /3.7 gal Acerbis tank (link):
- A must for longer trips
- Increases range to around 400 km / 250 miles
- Sturdy

Protection

Barkbusters Handguards two-point mount (link)
- An absolute must!
- Protects your levers in case of a fall or from branches when off-roading
- Some wind protection when driving on the freeway
- Protects the side of your bike when you fall
Acerbis Skid Plate (link)
- A must also to protect the engine from rocks, etc.
- Recommend a hard plastic one over a metal one, to reduce weight & vibration
B&B Radiator Guard (link)
- CRF300L’s radiator is quite exposed, so an extra protection is recommended
Acerbis Frame Guard (link)
- Small extra protection for the frame
- Bought mainly to get a better grip on the bike when standing up
Front Headlight Screen Cover (link)
- Simple & cheap cover

Suspension

Moto SR Suspension (link)
- Better suspension is a must as the original one is too soft and you get a lot of pogo stick effect off-road, especially with luggage.
- Upgraded in New Zealand at Moto SR in Taupo (highly recommended).
- Other options include: Teknik (AUS), Rally Raid Products (UK/EU), RaceTech (US/Canada)

Wheels & Tyres

Rimlock
- Allows the tires to run on low pressure, useful in soft terrain
50/50 tyres
- There is much to be said about finding perfect travel tires, and we spent a lot of time testing different combinations. Check the ranking and reviews of all the tires we’ve used so far in this post ->.
- Front: We’re quite happy with the Bridgestone Battlax Adventruecross AX41 or Mitas E-07+.
- Rear: We like Mitas E-07+ or Michelin Anakee Wild.

Battery & Electronics

SAE USB charger
- Allows for easy charging of devices and powering a tire pump or trickle charger
Battery
- Still running the original one

Ergonomics & Comfort

Seat Concepts (link)
- Swapping the stock seat gives you much more comfort on long rides.
- Consider using a taller version of the seat if you are above 180cm tall (5.9 f).
Fatbar (1-1/8″ or 28.6mm)
- For more durability & less vibration
Protaper Mount Kit (link)
- To fit the fatbar
Pivot Pegz MK3 (link)
- Wider with a better grip
- Better control thanks to the backward/forward pivot
Foldable Mirrors (link)
Kickstand extension (link)
- For softer terrain
- To add just a big more height to the short stock side stand

Luggage System

Precision Motorcycle Racks: Side Luggage & Rear Rack (link)
- Very sturdy and well-built. Don’t bend in case of a fall.
- Provide adequate mounting points for our AndyStrapz side luggage (35L each) and the backcountry Mosko rear luggage (30L)