Honda CRF 300 Rally 550performance review 

Thanks for that mate, I reckon a great video would be going through all the mods, their costs, their importance and your thoughts about them would be great, especially from an Australian perspective.

@@KJD1984 Great idea. I'll do it... Better clean up my shed for filming!

@@ShonkyProductions Awesome can't wait to see it! And a review of the MOTOX exhaust would also be cool as they are WAAAAYYY cheaper than the FMFs and Yoshi's of the world.

@@KJD1984 A review of the MOTO-X exhaust is coming soon in the next few weeks. I hope to test some other exhausts too.

Hi, great vids and great info! Are you still able to ride with the baffle in the Moto X silencer with the ECU stage 1? I mean can you still feel the extra power or that will completely nullify the ECU and the exhaust full system upgrade? Thanks

Good to hear that the Stock Improved is working well too.

Excellent, glad you liked it. I hope your rally come soon.

Great work Garth, let me know what you think of the 38t rear sprocket. Sean

Hi Kevin, great to hear that you are enjoying the 300 Rally as well. The 550performance ECU has a lot of advantages over the EJC so I think you will find it suits the 300 Rally better. I'm also on the Central Coast and it would be great to catch up sometime for a ride and compare bikes and setups. If you are interested, please contact me via my email: sst.adventure@gmail.com I'll be making lots more videos and look forward to hopefully meeting you. Sean

Good to hear. I went for the 38t rear sprocket and ECU after reading good reviews on ADVrider. I'm happy to report, they were right... it works great with the taller gearing.

@@ShonkyProductions Right on, I also ordered the 38t rear after reading the same reviews but haven't installed it yet. Glad to hear you like it, too.

Hi Kent, Congratulations on getting the new bike. It's funny, I thought my bike didn't have the 4K rattle but then one day when I was just cruising to the shops, I could hear it. I have only heard it a couple of times now, a muffler will defiantly fix that!

Thanks Michael, I've just finish shooting a video where I compare stock V modified, so keep an eye out for that soon.

You will love it. Depending on what type of riding you do, you may like to try a 38t rear sprocket.

... Please post back after the changes. I'm going to look at your channel. It is 10-20-2023 today.

@@240LTS I like the mods. The full racetech suspension made the most drastic change. I road in the Rockies with and without and can't believe how much better the bike performed.

@@marcusleestudios7612 ... I have the Level 1 Rally Raid front and back. Considering the 550 and a full exhaust system. What one? I do not know with reading so many mixed reviews. Want to do this only once. $$$$$$$

No worries, glad you enjoyed it.

Yes, the added torque from the ECU upgrade is nice. But, it sounds like your 300L is doing just fine. It's a shame that the Euro ECU is different.

I hope yours comes soon. I had a 6-8 week wait. I actually lost track of when I ordered it. I was really wanting it for my 2 day adventure ride, but of course it turned up the day I got back It's worth the wait 👍

What sort of exhaust did you fit. I;ve ordered a 300L, about to order the 550 ECU and looking at Moto x exhaust, At $360 Delivered to Australia so much cheaper but not sure if there is any performance uplift apart from weight

@@andrewo5138 i have the MotoX with version 1 muffler and no spark arrestor or baffle…it is dirtbike loud so beware (i have always worn earplugs anyway)…and with the wire screen removed from the airfilter, I noticed the bike able to pull a little better from low to midrange…. Just like all the other bikes i’ve had over the decades (think Honda XRs)…they responded to breathing in/out mods… The stock muffler has at least one catalytic converter which looks like a honeycomb maze when viewed from the inlet end…no wonder the bike can’t breathe…along with the header pipe which is 10mm smaller than the MotoX header… The motor is choked from factory and feels like a scooter…but just the same all these changes don’t make it a crf450…just a healthy modern 300 👍

UPS = useless parcel service 😂

Sounds like you have a great set-up on your bike too. And, you're correct 6th gear is just an overdrive but so much more usable now with the ECU upgrade.

Thanks for watching

Hi Roger, thanks for your kind words. As you can see, 110kph is easy. Hope your bike comes soon. Sean

@@ShonkyProductions yes I was impressed how it went,im looking forward to more vids,April so far away 😀

Hi, thanks for your comments. I have the full Moto-X exhaust and run it without the baffle. It is louder than stock, but not offensive. I understand about wanting to keep it quiet and I may do some testing with the baffle in on another video to document what effect it has on performance.

My pleasure

Great to know it works well on the 250. Let me know what you think of it on the 300.

Spent a few hours in the woods on my standard 300 with the 550 tune and the difference is more even more pronounced than I feel on the 300 Rally. Planning to do the 38 tooth on the Rally and a 42 on the standard in keeping with each bikes primary role

@@RedC63AMG Sounds like you will have the perfect setup for both then 👍

Thanks, I'm glad you thought so.

Thanks Kiwi Adv, I really appreciate your comments. You really need to do something to the shock no matter what type of riding you want to do. at a minimum you need to wind up the spring pre-load as much as possible, but most will need a new spring. Once you do that the valving is not ideal. Best opting is a YSS shock or get you standard on rebuilt like mine has. The bike is great value, so in my opinion, spending money on suspension is acceptable. Plus, you get a bike set-up for your exact weight and riding style.

Hi Jeff, thanks for watching... that's a great idea for a video and I will definitely do it when I'm back home in about a week. I'm running the full Moto-X exhaust and it's a great system for the money. I'm thinking about doing a review of a few different exhaust systems with a bit of back-to-back testing in a future video. If I make it to 1000 subscribers I will spend the money to buy a few different exhaust systems for a full review/test.

Thanks, and I will do (Once I figure out how to pin a comment). It's stayed about the same at 3.8l/100km. With the taller gearing and 38t rear sprocket I'm using 6th sooner and more ofter which keeps the revs down.

Hi Rob, it's for their Stage 1 tune, but I know someone who has the standard exhaust and is very happy with their Stock Improved tune.

They do a couple for the 250 as well. The screen is just a cheap one off eBay. If you do a search, you will find plenty of them.

Yes, I have a new video detailing all my mods coming out in the next few days. Stay tuned.

I did have to wait a while for shipping, maybe 6-8 weeks but it was during covid lockdown. Mine is a 2021 model.

Only a very slight difference in gearing, but the main thing for me was that I couldn't get a 15t front at the time.

Hi Peter, as I also have changed the gearing from 14/40 to 14/38 I find the fuel economy about the same. the 38 rear sprocket and this ECU lets you use 6th gear more so you can keep the revs down. I will be installing some CBR300 cams and trying the Stage 2 tune next for a little extra top end power.

Is that the speedo reading, or the actual GPS confirmed speeds?

@@ShonkyProductions reading from the speedo yes

@@Andriesdemotorrijder the stock Speedo is a little optimistic to say the least. I have changed the bikes gearing with different sprocket and tyre sizes to make the speedo accurate (confirmed by GPS). You may be surprised, and a little disappointed by your actual speeds.

No, not at all. As I have changed to a 38t rear sprocket and with the increased torque, I can use 6th gear more and the fuel consumption is about the same. 3.8L/100.

Hi Anthony, thanks for your kind words. I am running the stock air filter, but with the backfire screen removed. I'll be upgrading to a foam filter soon.

@@ShonkyProductions do you have the MotoX baffle or spark arrestor installed

@@H3avyHaul3r Good question, I forgot to mention that. I tested with and without and I'm running without any baffle or spark arrestor at the moment. It is a bit louder on acceleration but when cruising, it's fine.

@@ShonkyProductions who makes the foam filter??

Hi Barry, Fuel consumption stayed about the same... around 3.8L/100km and that's at 110kph. Because I run the 14/38 gearing and now with the new ECU, I can use 6th gear more so it helps keep the revs down.

Hi Tomas, really I don't notice any power loss. I do have it geared up with my 14/38, so I lost a little low-end power with that. I'm going to do a gearing comparison video soon and list the Pro's and Con's of each. Stay tuned. Sean

Thanks for your comment. I can get more out of it, just in that video 120 was all I did. Our speed limit is 110kph. I can sit on 128kph/80mph at around 8000rpm. I have added an extra baffle to my bike as I like a quiet exhaust. Without baffles, it has a little bit more top speed. If you are wanting more than 80mph out of this bike, it's probably the wrong bike for you. It's only 286cc, so you must keep that in mind. The 550 Performance ECU richens the stock lean fueling and adds torque more than outright power.

I think you missed the information sticker on the ECU. The check engine light will be on for the first three engine cycles regardless of what you do. I just jumped on mine and rode it normal. Let me know what you think of the ECU and gearing.

@@ShonkyProductions Yeah I did see that. But I had a feeling that the engine light was the TPS being unset. If you do the TPS set when you instal it it not only makes the engine light go away, but means the TPS is synced with the ECU when you start riding it. It should run smoother straight away.

@@gregjetnikoff7124 Good to know. Thanks.

I'm not sure they do a tune specifically for the road bikes. Best send Maverick a message and ask his opinion.

Stay tuned as I'll be doing a full review of the mods done to my bike in the coming weeks. There is a list in the description of this video.

No, I haven't removed the PAIR system. Just added the exhaust and ECU.

@@ShonkyProductions ok thanks. I already have an exhaust similar to your. I'll add the ECU after a rear shock update. Thanks.

No, it's not necessary to upgrade the exhaust. 550 performance has an ECU tune called Stock Improved that is for the standard exhaust.

@@ShonkyProductions cheers. It looks really worthwhile.

I'm now running the Uni Filter. I like having the easily replaceable pre filter

Hi Jeff, thanks for your comments. With my 14/38 gearing, Full Moto-X exhaust and the Stage 1 ECU I'm getting about 3.8L/100km. Look out for a full review on mileage with 14/38 and 14/40 gearing. I'll also be doing a review of all my mods and a SUBSCRIBER GIVAWAY ( New Yamoto Bash plate) Stay tuned.

@@ShonkyProductions Interesting regarding the fuel economy. With my stock 300L I get about 3.1L/100km (not going easy on the throttle in mountainous terrain) so It seems the new ECU causes you to use quite a bit more gas. I notice in your mods list you haven't installed an aftermarket air filter to compliment your exhaust. That may help a bit. The stage one ECU is designed for modded intake and exhaust, so you may be running a tad rich at the moment especially in open loop mode. Just some thoughts :-)

@@Scoottoots Good thinking, I took the backfire screen off my air filter but I will be getting a foam filter soon. My economy without the ECU was still around 3.6L/100km so it's not too far off. The Rally with the screen extender is pushing a bigger size through the air over your 300L also. Maybe that pushes the fuel economy up a bit too.

@@ShonkyProductions That's a good point regarding the windscreen and air resistance affecting economy. Removing the backfire screen on the filter does make a noticeable difference. The air flows pretty good with that removed. A small risk I guess, but...? I haven't decided if I will do any performance mods. I did a fair bit on my former CRF250L but got tired of the loud Yoshi system. What foam filter are you contemplating purchasing? I'm not aware of one available. I imagine K & N will get a filter going for the 300's. I used a K & N for the 250L and it was good. I tried some Uni Filter (Australian branch) foam filters on the 250L but was dissatisfied. They allowed air to bypass the outer filter layer at the edges where it overlapped the inner filter. The K & N was tight and I never found any dust in the intake tube to throttle body. DNA make a filter for the 300's but it's way more expensive than the K & N will likely be. Anyway, cheers. I enjoyed your video and will be checking in for more down the line:-)

@@Scoottoots As Uni Filter is just down the road from me, I'll see what their 300 filter looks like but may use the K&N.

I would love to hear how it goes low down on tight stuff too. Has it lost any tractability in hill starts and idling along speeds? Looks like it would by the graph………

Hi Tony, thanks for watching and your kind comments. I'm going to do another video and test the exhaust with the baffle in and a few other mods. I will document fuel economy at different speeds when I do. I have zero regrets with the 38t rear, even in the steep trails. I can still start off in 2nd gear on the flat and probably on slight inclines. To also answer Shaun Johnston's question, it went fine in the tight stuff and has lost no traceability in the hills and tight going. I haven't tested idle speeds yet but you just gave me an idea for another video just on the changes the 38t rear made and what it can still do. Please keep in mind that I am an experienced enduro rider and still race the occasional Extreme Enduro event so I know how to use the clutch and find traction in steep and slippery conditions. A novice might be better suited to the 40t rear sprocket... but only in tight, steep going which hopefully they shouldn't be taking the rally into! Hope that answers your questions and please keep them coming. I'm happy to answer them and get some ideas for more videos. Sean

@@theoriginalEmuman Hi Shaun, please see the above answer.

@@ShonkyProductions 😂 yes Sean we can easily tell you are very experienced simply by the way you keep up with Nugget and company. Great stuff mate can’t waited. Thanks again Cheers Tony

Thanks Sean. Look forward to the future videos. Love your work. So long as you can continue to own those Huskies I’ll be happy.

My factory suspension has been re-valved and re-sprung by a local suspension shop. It's great.

Please remember that I have changed the standard gearing to 14/38 and that robs the bike of a little power and torque. If you have a look at my first couple of CRF 300 videos, I am running the taller gearing and standard ECU. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-a1mzdnXjrIE.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0b2uYVpjtVU.html But, yes it is still only a 286cc motor. I haven't ridden the Versys-X but believe that it is great bike on the road. I had always planned on spending the extra $2000 to set up the CRF 300 Rally into my ultimate lightweight adventure bike and I am very happy with the results.

This makes the fueling richer which is better for the engine and makes the engine runs cooler. If you're running an aftermarket exhaust or muffler without fixing the fueling, you are making a lean running engine even leaner. I can see no negatives for adding the 550 Performance ECU. What are your concerns re engine life?

@@ShonkyProductions Ah; my concern was about running at higher cylinder pressures, with the assumption; more power = more stress, but if it’s going from leaner to richer then perhaps I’m wrong.

Hi Tim, I do now... haha. Thanks for watching and letting me know. It's good to learn something new.

@@ShonkyProductions we use ron and they use mon. Confusing, but once you know the difference it's easy.

Yes, the american 91 is equivalent to 95 in many other contries in the world. The american octane is PON(pump octane number) witch is the avg of RON(reserch octane number) & MON(motor octane number)

@@Wanna_be_strong82 yep, I've got it now. I'm running our 95 and it's working well with the 550 performance ECU.

Great to know that! I actually ride with 98 octane only, if I upgrade de ECU to the 550, should I start filling up with 95 or keep 98? Thanks for the video and Information . Really helpful! 🙌🙌🙌🙌

Because I also swapped the 40t rear sprocket to a 38t rear sprocket, the mpgs stayed about the same. It has more torque so you don't need to rev it as hard.

Hi Graham, Google 550 Performance. They have a website where you can order it from.

Thanks but I don’t think they do Uk Or European models I have sent them a e mail thanks for your reply.love the videos

With everything I've done it's probably cost another $2k on top of purchase price. But that's full suspension, exhaust, ECU and seat. Things a lot of us do to even the top price bikes. At the end of the day I've spent around $11,500 Aussie dollars and have the perfect lightweight adventure bike for ME. It's already proved itself as a do it all bike that will keep up with the big bikes.

@@ShonkyProductions Can I just do ECU without exhaust? I want to use this bike to go touring and some light trails.

@@jimmymok5943 Maverick does another ECU for the stock exhaust, that would be the best one to use if you want to keep the standard exhaust. The Stage 1 ECU needs intake and exhaust mods to work best.

Hi Sputnik, No, it hasn't. Because I run the 14/38 gearing, and with the new ECU, I can use 6th gear more. It still returns around 3.8L/100km.

Hi LT, I can't remember off hand but I'll check some other footage and report back.... might be tomorrow though.

L T, I just looked at some footage and it's around 5,800-6000rpm at 100kph. Hope that helps. Sean

@@ShonkyProductions thanks heaps for that.

That's a good question. Being a Honda, I doubt I'll have to worry about that though...

Definitely and engine lifespan decreased...

If you have a look at my Mods video, there is a link in the description . ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Rh6TvaNyFuI.html

Thank you!

Excellent, what gearing are you running? Let me know what you think. Sean

I been running everything stock besides the ecu and i did air box mod

@@zahidmeza151 Should pull harder than mine then as I've got 14/38 gearing.

Was thinking the same. One of the big pluses for this bike for adventure riding in it's range because of the economy ( and OK size of the tank ...I won't say big)

Really, it's about the same. I ride my bike hard but with the 14/38 gearing and the new ECU I can put it in 6th sooner and drop the revs when cruising the highway. It stayed about the same at 3.9L/100km.

@@ShonkyProductions Good 👍 to know thanks

That is correct. just un-plug the original and plug in the new one. Very easy.

I think it stay about the same because I put the 38t rear sprocket on and with the 550 ECU I can use 6th gear more.

@@ShonkyProductions I got the 550 ECU and the performance is very good. The fuel economy went down about 10%. I think it's worth the trade off.

@@georgecook5120 Great work George. I found I was riding the bike harder/faster just because I liked the new performance. Perhaps, like me, you might settle down in a few rides and the economy may improve.

There may be an option for the Euro UCU's coming soon.

Sorry, I haven't heard of a solution for EU bikes yet.

Use a Dynojet Power Vision 3 instead. It does the same (ign/fuel timings). Use a dynojet center to map your bike and your done. It is more expensive...

Hi Ray, I was trying not to get the police involved! There is usually a police officer with a radar gun on that bit of road.

Sorry, now watched that video until the end abd while 28HP aren't much, the performance on highway and in the twisties with ECU seems sufficient. Thanks for the video!

@@ChristophLeitl 22rwhp. Gain a couple now 24rwhp at 330+ lbs…