Honda CB300R Review
Bike Tested: Honda CB300R; Road Test No. 1149; Test Location: Mumbai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 2,81,147/-
The CB300R is the latest quarter-litre street-fighter motorcycle from Honda
The Honda CBR250R has been on sale in the Indian market since 2011. We were expecting that HMSI would launch its successor the CBR300R but instead, the CBR250R continued to be on sale. However, to keep things interesting Honda launched the CB300R instead. The Honda CB300R is a naked street-fighter that plans to take on the KTM Duke 390 along with the BMW G 310R. We can consider this bike to be a dialled-down version of the Honda’s flagship street-fighter, the CB1000R.
Motor Quest: Honda was the first company to bring out the CBR250R in the quarter-litre segment. The CB300R, however, comes under the CB category and was debuted at the 2017 EICMA. Later on, it went on sale in Asia in 2017 itself and in the US in 2018, although, India welcomed it in 2019. It is one of the Neo Sports Cafe inspired bike.
The CB300R is quite compact and stays true to its street fighter roots
Styling – The Honda CB300R is not any motorcycle but a youngling to the CB600R and a straight descendant of the CB1000R iteration and I state this based on the looks of it. Though it’s a 300cc motorcycle, but the visuals make a clear statement. The CB300R is a dialled-down version of the aforementioned models in terms of power, weight and size as well. The bike appears pretty compact when compared to the rivals in its segment. But we cannot unsee the fact that the compactness bites back when we talk about the 10-litre fuel tank. The bikini fairing pumps the aesthetics a bit higher and also leaves the radiator less exposed. How on earth could I miss out on the round headlamp? The bike’s identity and the essence of a neo-sports cafe motorcycle are perfectly balanced by the headlamp and the styling of the bike as a whole. The Honda CB300R gets an all-LED treatment, the headlight, the turn indicators and the tail light, all of these are LEDs.
This Honda gets an all LED setup along with a round LED headlamp
The CB300R borrows its design from the CB1000R & adds its own retro touch
The chassis exposure is adequate like any other 300-400cc bike out there. The rear end is kept pretty clean, not too is much going around the LED tail-light, rear fender, under-seat reflectors and a short exhaust canister. The tyre hugger has been kept of adequate size as well. The only bothersome part about at the rear end is the saree guard present only on the Indian-spec Honda CB300R. The saree guard is removable so it’s more of nitpicking for the appearance. In conclusion for the looks, there’s not too much to complain about.
The all digital instrument cluster shows a plethora of information
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – It is equipped with an all-digital LCD instrument cluster, with plenty of information – twin trip metres, odometer, speedometer, tachometer, fuel-meter, and even provides you with real-time fuel economy while you cruise down the roads. However, it misses out on 3 basic indicators – gear position, range and side-stand indicator. The cluster looks premium with a black surround, however, the bezels are quite thick. Similarly, the switchgear is quite premium for its segment, with a supreme fit and finish. The additional bonus here is an engine-kill switch. There is a minor catch to the switchgear, the irregular placement of the indicator switch in place of the horn is going to take some time getting used to.
The split seat setup hardly leaves any room for the pillion
Ergonomics – As soon as you jump on the seat, you get acquainted with the compactness of this bike. The seat height is at 800 mm which means that no matter the rider’s height, the bike will fully accommodate the rider. The foot-pegs on this motorcycle are centre-set. Alongside this, the handlebar’s setting leads to an upright position for the rider. However, the cushioning is on the harder side and the space for the pillion rider is almost negligible. 41mm USD forks at the front and a preload-adjustable monoshock at the rear render many alternatives for the rider, while the swingarm is a steel-plate unit. Conclusively, the bike is set up towards a firmer side.
The single cylinder engine sounds throaty and has a good mid-range
Performance – The Honda CB300R is powered by a 286cc, DOHC, single-cylinder engine churning out 30.9 BHP of power at 8000 RPM and 27.4 Nm of torque at 6000 RPM. The CB300R isn’t boastful in any sense for its power figure, however, the torque shows a massive increase by almost 7 Nm over the CBR250R. The engine is extremely refined in its performance. Additionally, the bike packs a great low-end punch with a reasonable mid-range. It struggles a lot in its high-end and redlines at almost 10,500 RPM with a top speed of 150 Km/hr. Another shortcoming is that the on and off throttle transition is quite choppy for Indian conditions.
The slick gearbox allows one to extract good mileage from the CB300R
The motor is exceptionally refined and has a fantastic low-end punch
As evident as it is, the street-fighter manages very well in the heating department. The exhaust sounds quite throaty for a single-cylinder engine. The power mill couples with a smooth and slick-shifting 6-speed gearbox. But, the clutch is on the heavier side and the missing out of a slipper clutch is such a sigh! Furthermore, the bike’s low-end punch also adds up for its plausible mileage which is going to range between 25-30 Km/l.
The firm suspension setup leads to a harsh ride
Riding Dynamics – The bike’s overall setup is really harsh for our bumpy roads. On the flip side, the front-end weight combining with the nimble character of this bike ensures that for one, the bike is fun to handle around twisty corners. The bike faces no issue whatsoever while reaching triple-digit speeds but we have to keep in mind the actual capability of a bike in this segment. A major breakthrough for the bike is its kerb weight at 147 kgs, which is precisely the reason for its agile nature.
Dual-channel ABS ensures sure-footed stopping power
The light and compact nature of the CB300R allows it to perform pretty good around the twisties
Braking is sure-footed with Nissin brake callipers, having a 296 mm disc at the front and a 220 disc at the rear and it offers dual-channel ABS as well. The Showa USDs at the front get a 7-step pre-loaded adjustment and even the monoshock at the rear is adjustable.
You get a lot of hardware for your money with the CB300R
Verdict – The CB300R potential buyers will face a big dilemma when they see the expensive pricing in comparison to its competitors and the performance it offers. Although, if we overlook this, the bike is full with top-quality touches and features for its segment, let alone the other Honda motorcycles. The engine is full of vigour and zest and struggles only in its top-end. It is extremely agile and fun to ride if you’re ready to forego a comfortable experience. The reliability is almost never a concern for this brand and the same echoes in here. If you’re into some touring, the bike’s small 10-litre tank capacity is going to be highly disappointing. The ones who are not into the dramatization that the KTM Duke 390 comes with, this sleek machine may be well of an option for you.
Honda has equipped the CB300R with top-notch hardware including Showa USDs and Nissin brake callipers
What’s Cool
* Full of high-quality touches
* Quite compact yet accommodates all kind of riders
* The engine is refined and provides a great low-end punch
What’s Not So Cool
* Barbeque grille is an eye-sore
* There is no slipper clutch, even as an option
* The cluster misses out on range, gear position and side-stand indicator
Would you consider the CB300R over the Duke 390?
Honda CB300R Specifications
* Engine: 286cc, Liquid-Cooled, Single-Cylinder
* Power: 30.9 BHP @ 8000 RPM
* Torque: 27.4 Nm @ 6500 RPM
* Transmission: 6-Speed
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Fuel Consumption: 25-30 km/l
* Frame: Diamond Type
* Tyres: 110/70/17 (Front), 150/60/17 (Rear), Michelin Tyres
* Suspension: 41mm USD Telescopic Forks (Front), Adjustable Monoshock (Rear)
* Brakes: 296 mm Disc (Front), 220 mm Disc (Rear), Dual-Channel ABS
Honda CB300R Dimensions
* Length x Width x Height: 2028 mm x 888 mm x 1053mm
* Wheelbase: 1344 mm
* Seat Height: 800 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 10-litres
* Kerb weight: 147 kgs (dry)
Testers’ Note:
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