Yes, I think you're right about that. Various rattles and chatter from the engine. For some, the main one is this, and others it's that. Mine is much better now :-)
Those Mechanix gloves are more abrasion resistant with maybe double the protection on the back and the palm than popular dirt biking gloves such as 'Dirt Paws' by Fox Racing (I've had a few of those and similar). They are quite tough. I currently have 4 pairs of motorcycle gloves apart from heated gloves and these.
You can also use a marble. Push an appropriate size marble into the tube, to achieve a seal and reattach the tube to the airbox. You can add a zip tie to prevent the marble from moving and additional sealing. Tuners refer to this fix, as the 'marble mod'.
@@ug9191 Yeah, it won't for everyone. It's a noisy engine by design. Different bikes of the same model can have different causes for the loudest most annoying noise. Just happens on mine, this improved it quite a bit.
I just picked up a 2024 and while riding around I do hear some unusual noises I'm not used to hearing, little cavitations or rattles. I stopped a couple times to see if something was loose but couldn't find anything. :D I'll ride for another month or so and break it in to see if I can identify what the various noises are before doing anything. So far though, a fun bike!
Yup, it is a fun bike, albeit a noisy engine. Some of that can be the PAIR valves and some may be piston slap. Single cylinder annoyances. The good part of that is, it'll probably do that for 100,000 miles :-)
I just got the '24 also and same thing was going on.. I am at 430 miles now and I can tell the noise is starting to fade out. The guys I talk to about it say it's mostly because of the brand new engine. It was fairly worrisome at first but now I don't worry so much about it.
@@THOTHvii Mine fairly quiet when new, then got noisy after the first 1000 kms or so, and got worse, then it quieted down to a fair degree after a few thousand kms more. Every bike is a bit different I guess.
Hey Scoot...been following your adventures for a while now. Got myself a 2023 CRF300L Rally last August and am really enjoying it...5K rattle notwithstanding. From what I've been reading, it's the PAIR system on these models that causes the ruckus. I am intrigued by your simple solution but I have to ask...does your CHECK ENGINE light ever come on as a result of your disabling the PAIR system? A lot of the videos I've been watching involve removing the reed valve itself, rerouting hoses and pinning-out connectors to avoid the CEL, but I wondered if this simpler approach would do the same.
No engine light comes on. The hose block that I did disables the PAIR system without all the fuss of removing it. It's the way to test if you want to delete it but you're not certain, as you can simply unblock and reconnect the hose to enable it again. Some people make the mistake of thinking they can just unplug the electrical PAIR switch/solonoid but that doesn't work, as the defualt position of the PAIR system is 'Open.' The PAIR solonoid functions to close the air off at appropriate times. Also, if you want to remove the system, sure, you can use block off kits, etc., but all you really need to do is remove the hoses and solonoid, then use 1/2" rubber vacuum caps with clamps to block off the outlet at the air box and the inlet on the engine. Note that blocking the PAIR or disabling it in any way while you have a CAT in the exhaust system is not ideal long-term, as the CAT can eventually become partially clogged impariing performance (takes a long time though). If you have an aftermarket exhaust without a CAT, then disabling or removing the PAIR is a good idea, as it will drastically reduce the resulting excessive popping on deceleration. Hope that helps 🙂
@@Scoottoots Thank you for your feedback. Going to try your "hack". Doesn't removing the CAT cause problems with the engine? Isn't the O2 sensor located in the CAT?
@@mr.q7943 Removing the CAT, which happens when installing most aftermarket full systems, does not impair the engine in the least. I would always be certain to tune for a richer mixture though when using a full system aftermarket exhaust. The O2 sensor is attached to the header prior to the CAT. In aftermarket systems they are drilled and tapped so you can install the stock O2 sensor in them. The O2 sensor trims the closed loop mixture which is primarily steady throttle.
I've had the CRF 300L Rally ABS for several months, have several thousand miles on it, and still I don't know what people are telling about when they discuss "the rattle". A 1971 Triumph rattles, and it's the valves, pushrods and rockers inside that air cooled head. My 2022 Honda 300 does not rattle in any way so obvious as an old triumph. Even after other people have claimed a rattle, I still don't notice it.
I am accustomed to a thumper, having the 250L for 7 years. When I first got the 300L, it had no odd noises; just the normal single cylinder sounds which include some minor rattle type noises, so it was not a concern at all. The loud rattles and knocks in my 300 started at about the 2,000 Km mark. The decibel level of those sounds were greater than any other engine noise or exhaust sound the bike produced. It was literally all I heard, It was at any rpm, and it increased as I rolled on the throttle. It was not the 5K rattle that everyone speaks of. Every bike is different really. Good that yours is not that way. Mine was disturbing the joy of riding and so it was worth trying to do something about it. Thanks for sharing your experience with the 300L. Glad to hear it's all good :-)
Wait until you ride a Harley if want to discover weird and annoying clatters, clicking, tickings and or any other rattling noises. All bikes make a noise. You are literally sitting on a motor when on a motorcycle.
Lol, yeah I'm familiar with motorcycles and the noises they make. The rattle and clack in this one at the time of this video was extreme; not audible on video. I had a similar issue with the 250L which shares the same engine though this one is stroked (by Honda). On the 250 that rattle lead to a complete failure of the cam chain tension. The chain ended up so loose it was slapping the engine casing on the forward side on decel. Any further and it would have jumped timing causing a major engine failure. So, sometimes paying close attention to sounds is vital.
@@FishyFelix I never had that common 5K rattle. Mine was everywhere in the rev range. I don't think the typical 5K rattle everyone talks about is a cause for concern. Everyone has their take on it though. The guy at 550 Performance feels it is a harmless piston slap. Enjoy your Rally. Awesome do it all (sort of) bikes.
Beautiful day up there Scoot. If you ever do cut out the cat please film that. I'd be interested to see how that goes. I love how quiet this exhaust is, especially since we use comms now. I had full FMF exhaust on my 250L and it was terribly loud.
Yeah it is. You can also remove the PAIR system hoses and valve completely and plug the two nipples with vacuum caps. That's how I did it on my 250L as I had a full Yoshi system on that bike so I knew I would not ever need the PAIR system.
Haha, well I hope it helps. Every bike is different, making various noises here and there. It's fun to try various fixes. Since this video I have reconnected the hose. The 550 Performance guy is convinced the rattle is caused by piston slap. He feels he can tune the ignition timing to reduce it considerably. So many theories. In the end, it's a noisy bike that changes over time. Mine is ridden fairly hard and the rattle has greatly reduced. Perhaps some wear in just the right spots :-)
My bike runs better and the main rattle is gone! I’m getting that rest of that junk off my bike. Good looking out, Scoot! (I tore up those liability papers)
scott ive found a rattle or sounds like if you had a leaf in the fan at high speeds turning left and i believe its the radiator guard its a tad loose and floppy im with you i don't want any noises that way i know something is not right when i hear one.
Yeah, perhaps that's it for some, but on mine the sound wasn't coming from that area at all. Much better now that the PAIR is blocked. I think the reed valves were rattling.
Mines now got maybe 100 miles in it. Wonder what that hose did? Luckily you didn't plug the crankcase vent. I put a bolt in one of those in an 80 Sportster once. Until I was told what that hose was. Thanks
that 5 k rattle is from the cam chain , is longer than the 250l , you can fix it by changing the spring with a stronger one on the cam chain tensioner but you will apply more friction on it , sow with that aer valve you did not fix the problem , you just put a plug from where the sound was coming out ! honda has this problem even on the speed bikes , but is not a problem they make it this way for the low friction
Not so fast. While it's true that the noise issues on many 300l is likely caused by the CCT, or as Honda calls it, the Cam Chain Lifter Assembly, that does not apply in my case. I am very familiar with the CCT on the Honda 250l and 300l, and of course the stroked engine may have a longer cam chain by one link. I swapped the stock unit on my 250l for a manual CCT after 3 OEM units failed completely (not just made noise). Turned out to be a casting issue in the casing causing the stock unit to sit too far back from the tension plate that contacts the chain. On my 300l however, the rattle that I was experiencing was not caused by the CCT, as the noise did not vanish when loading up the engine as you throttle on hard, as would always be the case with a loose CCT. The reed valves in the top of the engine can rattle in some bikes. The reed valves are part of the PAIR system. That's why I tested blocking it. The noise abated because those valves are not flapping about anymore. Unsure what you mean by saying I "just put a plug where the sound was coming out." The hose I plugged was attached to the airbox. No noise from a loose cct would emanate from there. A rattling cam chain is loud enough to hear as coming from the top right side of the engine while riding. You don't hear it through the airbox.
@@Scoottoots ok , i get it , thank you for having time to explain it ! i also have a crf300l and the 5k rattle ;) this is what my mechanic told me , but yes your theory make more sense !
I have since reconnected the hose, As I do not contemplate awapping to an aftermarket exhaust, the CAT would eventually become compromised by blocking the PAIR system. Good experiment though, and a cooler pipe is a good thing on this bike.
No, unplugging the electric connection just keeps the PAIR system open. The electric control closes it at appropriate times, but otherwise it is open by default. Blocking the air source hose or removing the system is the only way to disable it. I've plugged it back in for now however, just to see the difference after a good while with it disabled. Always experimenting I guess ;-)
That's bs. I put over 60,000 km on my crf250l which had the same engine with a shorter stroke and a different intake cam from factory. The rattle on that one almost caused severe engine damage. Three consecutive cct's failed completely, causing a hard knock. Honda found the cam chain was not tensioned and was about to jump teeth. They replaced all three under warrantee even though the warrantee was expired, as engine damage could have been catastrophic. Turns out the engine casting was defective causing the tension arm to be in the wrong position. An aftermarket cct solved the issue. In my 300L the cct is fine. The noise however was very loud and at all rpm, under load or not didn't matter. Knowing shit can happen as it did with my 250L, it's just smart to determine the cause, rather than blindly parroting the phrase, "every single has a rattle, get over it". Now I know it's nothing serious as it was on the 250, and I can actually hear my engine and exhaust note. Prior to this all I could hear was the loud rattle. Which sound sound would you prefer?
@@Scoottoots Sounds like you just had a defective engine. That isn't the same thing as a single's rattle though. There are dudes out there on FB claiming they fixed the rattle by changing the pressure in their tires and by using different final drive chains. It is ridiculous. They all have it. It is just too hard to perfectly balance a single.
@@someguy5035 I agree, there's a lot of unjustified hype among the new rider crowd, and yes, singles make more noise. Sometimes however, noises are a warning sign. My take on it is, if it seems excessive, it's best to determine the cause. And then there's the riding pleasure aspect. Some noises are annoying, while others are gratifying 🙂
It sounds like everyone's rattle comes from a different area. Glad you figured yours out. Great scenery as always ! 👍
Yes, I think you're right about that. Various rattles and chatter from the engine. For some, the main one is this, and others it's that. Mine is much better now :-)
Your gloves a mechanic glove and will rip on any real scraping on the road. I admire it. Gotta do what you gotta do.
Those Mechanix gloves are more abrasion resistant with maybe double the protection on the back and the palm than popular dirt biking gloves such as 'Dirt Paws' by Fox Racing (I've had a few of those and similar). They are quite tough. I currently have 4 pairs of motorcycle gloves apart from heated gloves and these.
You can also use a marble. Push an appropriate size marble into the tube, to achieve a seal and reattach the tube to the airbox. You can add a zip tie to prevent the marble from moving and additional sealing. Tuners refer to this fix, as the 'marble mod'.
Yeah I know. I didn't have a marble but I did have a bolt, a vacuum cap, and clamps ;-)
Greetings,
As always another brilliant detailed video 🇺🇸🍾🎉🇺🇸
Keep producing more videos about CRF.
Thank you. I appreciate that :-)
The reason this works is because it disables the reed valve at the top of the motor. It's the reed valve that causes the noise.
Yes, I know. That's why I did it.
I removed my reed valve and PAIR system, and the rattle has not changed, still there.
@@ug9191 Yeah, it won't for everyone. It's a noisy engine by design. Different bikes of the same model can have different causes for the loudest most annoying noise. Just happens on mine, this improved it quite a bit.
You never said Reed valve?
Beautiful country there.
I’m going to leave my rattle alone I think.
I get it at fairly high revs and it’s not too loud.
Thanks, and yeah, it's all subjective, plus, every bike is unique in these regards. It'll probably forever regardless. Enjoy :-)
I just picked up a 2024 and while riding around I do hear some unusual noises I'm not used to hearing, little cavitations or rattles. I stopped a couple times to see if something was loose but couldn't find anything. :D
I'll ride for another month or so and break it in to see if I can identify what the various noises are before doing anything. So far though, a fun bike!
Yup, it is a fun bike, albeit a noisy engine. Some of that can be the PAIR valves and some may be piston slap. Single cylinder annoyances. The good part of that is, it'll probably do that for 100,000 miles :-)
I just got the '24 also and same thing was going on.. I am at 430 miles now and I can tell the noise is starting to fade out. The guys I talk to about it say it's mostly because of the brand new engine. It was fairly worrisome at first but now I don't worry so much about it.
@@THOTHvii Mine fairly quiet when new, then got noisy after the first 1000 kms or so, and got worse, then it quieted down to a fair degree after a few thousand kms more. Every bike is a bit different I guess.
Hey Scoot...been following your adventures for a while now.
Got myself a 2023 CRF300L Rally last August and am really enjoying it...5K rattle notwithstanding. From what I've been reading, it's the PAIR system on these models that causes the ruckus. I am intrigued by your simple solution but I have to ask...does your CHECK ENGINE light ever come on as a result of your disabling the PAIR system? A lot of the videos I've been watching involve removing the reed valve itself, rerouting hoses and pinning-out connectors to avoid the CEL, but I wondered if this simpler approach would do the same.
No engine light comes on. The hose block that I did disables the PAIR system without all the fuss of removing it. It's the way to test if you want to delete it but you're not certain, as you can simply unblock and reconnect the hose to enable it again. Some people make the mistake of thinking they can just unplug the electrical PAIR switch/solonoid but that doesn't work, as the defualt position of the PAIR system is 'Open.' The PAIR solonoid functions to close the air off at appropriate times. Also, if you want to remove the system, sure, you can use block off kits, etc., but all you really need to do is remove the hoses and solonoid, then use 1/2" rubber vacuum caps with clamps to block off the outlet at the air box and the inlet on the engine. Note that blocking the PAIR or disabling it in any way while you have a CAT in the exhaust system is not ideal long-term, as the CAT can eventually become partially clogged impariing performance (takes a long time though). If you have an aftermarket exhaust without a CAT, then disabling or removing the PAIR is a good idea, as it will drastically reduce the resulting excessive popping on deceleration. Hope that helps 🙂
@@Scoottoots Thank you for your feedback. Going to try your "hack".
Doesn't removing the CAT cause problems with the engine? Isn't the O2 sensor located in the CAT?
@@mr.q7943 Removing the CAT, which happens when installing most aftermarket full systems, does not impair the engine in the least. I would always be certain to tune for a richer mixture though when using a full system aftermarket exhaust. The O2 sensor is attached to the header prior to the CAT. In aftermarket systems they are drilled and tapped so you can install the stock O2 sensor in them. The O2 sensor trims the closed loop mixture which is primarily steady throttle.
I've had the CRF 300L Rally ABS for several months, have several thousand miles on it, and still I don't know what people are telling about when they discuss "the rattle". A 1971 Triumph rattles, and it's the valves, pushrods and rockers inside that air cooled head. My 2022 Honda 300 does not rattle in any way so obvious as an old triumph. Even after other people have claimed a rattle, I still don't notice it.
I am accustomed to a thumper, having the 250L for 7 years. When I first got the 300L, it had no odd noises; just the normal single cylinder sounds which include some minor rattle type noises, so it was not a concern at all. The loud rattles and knocks in my 300 started at about the 2,000 Km mark. The decibel level of those sounds were greater than any other engine noise or exhaust sound the bike produced. It was literally all I heard, It was at any rpm, and it increased as I rolled on the throttle. It was not the 5K rattle that everyone speaks of. Every bike is different really. Good that yours is not that way. Mine was disturbing the joy of riding and so it was worth trying to do something about it. Thanks for sharing your experience with the 300L. Glad to hear it's all good :-)
Wait until you ride a Harley if want to discover weird and annoying clatters, clicking, tickings and or any other rattling noises. All bikes make a noise. You are literally sitting on a motor when on a motorcycle.
Lol, yeah I'm familiar with motorcycles and the noises they make. The rattle and clack in this one at the time of this video was extreme; not audible on video. I had a similar issue with the 250L which shares the same engine though this one is stroked (by Honda). On the 250 that rattle lead to a complete failure of the cam chain tension. The chain ended up so loose it was slapping the engine casing on the forward side on decel. Any further and it would have jumped timing causing a major engine failure. So, sometimes paying close attention to sounds is vital.
@@Scoottoots I'll find out soon when my rally arrives at the dealership. Curious if Honda did a silent fix for the 5k reed rattle on the 2024 model.
@@FishyFelix I never had that common 5K rattle. Mine was everywhere in the rev range. I don't think the typical 5K rattle everyone talks about is a cause for concern. Everyone has their take on it though. The guy at 550 Performance feels it is a harmless piston slap. Enjoy your Rally. Awesome do it all (sort of) bikes.
Beautiful day up there Scoot. If you ever do cut out the cat please film that. I'd be interested to see how that goes. I love how quiet this exhaust is, especially since we use comms now. I had full FMF exhaust on my 250L and it was terribly loud.
Someone stole my welder so I won't be doing that for a while, unless I get another. Maybe. I hear ya regarding the loud FMF. 🙂
I think 500Performance makes a block off plate and i bet it does what you did but yours is way cheaper.
Yeah it is. You can also remove the PAIR system hoses and valve completely and plug the two nipples with vacuum caps. That's how I did it on my 250L as I had a full Yoshi system on that bike so I knew I would not ever need the PAIR system.
I’ll try it but I’m holding you responsible for any problems that may arise for the lifetime of the bike.
Thanks!
Haha, well I hope it helps. Every bike is different, making various noises here and there. It's fun to try various fixes. Since this video I have reconnected the hose. The 550 Performance guy is convinced the rattle is caused by piston slap. He feels he can tune the ignition timing to reduce it considerably. So many theories. In the end, it's a noisy bike that changes over time. Mine is ridden fairly hard and the rattle has greatly reduced. Perhaps some wear in just the right spots :-)
My bike runs better and the main rattle is gone!
I’m getting that rest of that junk off my bike.
Good looking out, Scoot! (I tore up those liability papers)
@@Ride2Live420 Awesome. And what a relief regarding those papers!
The quirks of motorcycles are the life blood of moto-forums. Sort of community building. 😁
Hehehe, that is so true. Gives us something to do and of course to talk about. All part of the game :-)
scott ive found a rattle or sounds like if you had a leaf in the fan at high speeds turning left and i believe its the radiator guard its a tad loose and floppy im with you i don't want any noises that way i know something is not right when i hear one.
Good find. It may seem anal to some, but like you I prefer to quiet these peripheral noises if possible.
Saw a video where a guy heavily modded his 300l. Turns out the 5k rattle was coming from the slipper clutch.
Yeah, perhaps that's it for some, but on mine the sound wasn't coming from that area at all. Much better now that the PAIR is blocked. I think the reed valves were rattling.
Mines now got maybe 100 miles in it.
Wonder what that hose did?
Luckily you didn't plug the crankcase vent.
I put a bolt in one of those in an 80 Sportster once. Until I was told what that hose was.
Thanks
The hose I plugged was the air feed hose to the PAIR valve (air injection into the header).
Thanks very much!
Sounds pretty good!
that 5 k rattle is from the cam chain , is longer than the 250l , you can fix it by changing the spring with a stronger one on the cam chain tensioner but you will apply more friction on it , sow with that aer valve you did not fix the problem , you just put a plug from where the sound was coming out ! honda has this problem even on the speed bikes , but is not a problem they make it this way for the low friction
Not so fast. While it's true that the noise issues on many 300l is likely caused by the CCT, or as Honda calls it, the Cam Chain Lifter Assembly, that does not apply in my case. I am very familiar with the CCT on the Honda 250l and 300l, and of course the stroked engine may have a longer cam chain by one link. I swapped the stock unit on my 250l for a manual CCT after 3 OEM units failed completely (not just made noise). Turned out to be a casting issue in the casing causing the stock unit to sit too far back from the tension plate that contacts the chain. On my 300l however, the rattle that I was experiencing was not caused by the CCT, as the noise did not vanish when loading up the engine as you throttle on hard, as would always be the case with a loose CCT. The reed valves in the top of the engine can rattle in some bikes. The reed valves are part of the PAIR system. That's why I tested blocking it. The noise abated because those valves are not flapping about anymore. Unsure what you mean by saying I "just put a plug where the sound was coming out." The hose I plugged was attached to the airbox. No noise from a loose cct would emanate from there. A rattling cam chain is loud enough to hear as coming from the top right side of the engine while riding. You don't hear it through the airbox.
@@Scoottoots ok , i get it , thank you for having time to explain it ! i also have a crf300l and the 5k rattle ;) this is what my mechanic told me , but yes your theory make more sense !
After installing a 550 performance ECU my "5k" rattle went away.
I hear the latest versions of the 550 ecu's attempt to reduce piston slap by creative ignition timing. Good to hear it's working for you 🙂
Hey man does this mod throw any faults or does the ecu not care?
The ECU doesn't care. No code thrown.
Hec Guy!
What was it???
I got stuff to do!
Really?
Not only does it silence the pair valve in cools down the exhaust pipe.
I have since reconnected the hose, As I do not contemplate awapping to an aftermarket exhaust, the CAT would eventually become compromised by blocking the PAIR system. Good experiment though, and a cooler pipe is a good thing on this bike.
4600 rpm
Like cam tensioner?
It's not the CCT.
Thanks!
Where is this lake ? Beautifull
This is in Kelowna British Columbia :-)
@Scoottoots awesome thanks - I heard you say it at the end of the video but couldnt figure it out -
Killer riding area thanks
I finally got rid of the rattle my rally made..... I sold it 😉
Lol 🙂
Couldn't you also just unplug it at the sensor area? The system would still be sealed.
No, unplugging the electric connection just keeps the PAIR system open. The electric control closes it at appropriate times, but otherwise it is open by default. Blocking the air source hose or removing the system is the only way to disable it. I've plugged it back in for now however, just to see the difference after a good while with it disabled. Always experimenting I guess ;-)
For sure I have a small rattle that come from the front panel above the front light. I hear it around 4000 rpm.
Yes, most people say they only hear a rattle at around that rpm or a bit higher.
Hi Scott, how to fix this situation 😂(front panel
@@劉秋英-l6n I have no idea. I do not have that issue.
The is like 20th supposed solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
Every single has a rattle. Get over it.
That's bs. I put over 60,000 km on my crf250l which had the same engine with a shorter stroke and a different intake cam from factory. The rattle on that one almost caused severe engine damage. Three consecutive cct's failed completely, causing a hard knock. Honda found the cam chain was not tensioned and was about to jump teeth. They replaced all three under warrantee even though the warrantee was expired, as engine damage could have been catastrophic. Turns out the engine casting was defective causing the tension arm to be in the wrong position. An aftermarket cct solved the issue. In my 300L the cct is fine. The noise however was very loud and at all rpm, under load or not didn't matter. Knowing shit can happen as it did with my 250L, it's just smart to determine the cause, rather than blindly parroting the phrase, "every single has a rattle, get over it". Now I know it's nothing serious as it was on the 250, and I can actually hear my engine and exhaust note. Prior to this all I could hear was the loud rattle. Which sound sound would you prefer?
@@Scoottoots Sounds like you just had a defective engine.
That isn't the same thing as a single's rattle though.
There are dudes out there on FB claiming they fixed the rattle by changing the pressure in their tires and by using different final drive chains.
It is ridiculous. They all have it. It is just too hard to perfectly balance a single.
@@someguy5035 I agree, there's a lot of unjustified hype among the new rider crowd, and yes, singles make more noise. Sometimes however, noises are a warning sign. My take on it is, if it seems excessive, it's best to determine the cause. And then there's the riding pleasure aspect. Some noises are annoying, while others are gratifying 🙂
@@Scoottoots Yes to all. 👌
😂 Guess u got told! Now go lay down and curl up with your bone boy
Cool 😎
🙂
@@Scoottoots I got a 2023 rally 300 left over in June 2024. I have 400 miles on it. Love this bike
@@donbraham411 They are fun bikes to ride. Playful and not at all serious 🙂