Honda CB300R (2018+)
Honda CB300R naked model
was introduced in 2021 as a successor to the Honda CB300F and a junior version in the new Neo Sports Café line of road bikes, where the Honda CB1000R model acted as the flagship model. This line is distinguished by a general classic style with a round headlight, but in a modern interpretation - LED optics, inverted forks, LCD instrument panel, etc. Thus, by 2021, Honda replaced the CB-F series road motorcycles with the new CB-R, calling it Neo Sports Café.
Unlike the CB300F, the new CB300R model has a number of differences:
- Appearance
. Much in common with the Honda CB1000R. Same for the entire Neo Sports Café line. - Pendant
. The classic 37mm fork has been replaced with a 41mm inverted fork. - Brakes
. The simple 2-piston caliper was replaced with a 4-piston radial mount. Additionally, versions without ABS are no longer produced. - Fuel tank
. Was significantly reduced (from 13 to 10 l). - Wheel size
. The rear tire is 10 mm wider (150 mm, instead of 140 mm) and 10 mm lower (60 mm profile, instead of 70 mm).
The Honda CB300R was based on a 1-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with a volume of 286 cm³ and producing 31 hp. power and 27.5 Nm of torque. This engine is practically no different from what was installed on other 300 cc models - Honda CBR300R, Honda CB300F.
The Honda CB300R is currently available in all major markets - Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. In the domestic Japanese market and some other countries (Malaysia, Turkey), a 250 cc version of the motorcycle is presented - the Honda CB250R.
The model is also known as Honda CBF300N
.
The main competitors of the Honda CB300R in the class:
- Kawasaki Z300
- Yamaha MT-03 2016
Bike features
Here are the main features of the Honda SBR 300 R:
- stylish design;
- light weight relative to the engine;
- comfortable fit.
The model does not try to grab stars from the sky, while being an excellent motorcycle within its training niche. However, not everyone loves sports motorcycles for their enormous performance. Some people like the design and the feel of the ride and landing, but speed is generally in the background for them. For such people, the Honda CBR 300 R is likely to be a very attractive bike.
Brief history of the model
- 2018 - start of production and sales.
Model
: Honda CB300R (CBF300N) (Europe, Asia).
Factory designation
: CBF300NAJ, CB300RAJ.
- 2019 - no significant changes.
Model
: Honda CB300R (CBF300N) (North America, Australia, Europe, Asia).
Factory designation
: CBF300NAK, CB300RAK.
- 2020 - no significant changes.
Model
: Honda CB300R (CBF300N) (North America, Australia, Europe, Asia).
Factory designation
: CBF300NAL, CB300RAL.
- 2021 - no significant changes.
Model
: Honda CB300R (CBF300N) (North America, Australia, Europe, Asia).
Factory designation
: CBF300NAM, CB300RAM.
- 2022 - no significant changes.
Model
: Honda CB300R (CBF300N) (North America, Australia, Asia).
Factory designation
: CB300RAN.
Dimensions and weight
The car has average dimensions: the seat height is 780 mm, the wheelbase is 1380 mm, it is 2035 mm long, 720 mm wide, and 1125 mm high. The dry weight of this motorcycle is about 160 kg. The CBR 300 R has a tank of only 13 liters, but the average fuel consumption is low - 3.31 liters per hundred.
Chassis and brakes
The frame of the model is diagonal, made of durable steel. Together with alloy wheels and a sleek handlebar, it gives the motorcycle a classic, sporty look that many will recognize a mile away. The exterior is quite bright, which cannot but be an advantage for a representative of this class.
The suspension is typical: at the rear there is a pendulum version with a monoshock absorber, and at the front there is a 37 mm telescopic fork. The brakes are provided at the rear with a single 220 mm disc along with a single-piston caliper, and at the front with a 296 mm disc complete with a two-piston caliper.
TEST DRIVE: Honda CB300R Neo Sports Cafe (2019) – First contact
The motorcycle that was expected back in 2021 has finally arrived in Russia! It will arrive in showrooms just the other day, but until then we managed to touch it and even disassemble/assemble it: the machine turned out to be simple, but sophisticated.
MOTOGONKI.RU, February 21, 2021 - Now the Russian model range includes almost the entire Honda Neo Sports Café line - CB300R, CB650R and CB1000R. The only thing missing is the 125 cc model, but given the “sophistication” of the motorcycle, the price is unlikely to attract our client when there are so many Chinese and all sorts of other “junk” nearby. Honda thought that the CB300R would be perfect for the role of the first motorcycle, well, the A2 category has not been canceled!
Honda Candy Red corporate color - the same as the flagship models
In the price range, the Honda CB300R is roughly on par with the 2021 Yamaha MT-03 and KTM 390 Duke. - this is 400-420 thousand rubles. for now. They say that on April 1, the price tags for motorcycles with a 2019 title from all manufacturers will rise by another five percent, so there is a chance now to buy a motorcycle at “last year’s” RRP.
Like the MT-03 and Duke, the Honda CB300R is based on modified chassis and engines from the entry-level sportsbikes, respectively the YZF-R3, RC390 and CBR300R, but the Honda's equipment is the richest and highest quality of the three.
Brothers in spirit, but not in blood: Honda CB1000R (left) and CB300R Neo Sports Cafe
No credit can be given to Honda's designers, but from afar it's easy to confuse the CB1000R, CB650R and CB300R side by side. Just by looking closely, you can see who is who, and how different they really are!.. After all, each of the three CBs is based on completely different chassis and engines.
A special feature of Neo Sports Cafe is a bright and visible LED headlight - on all CB 2019
The common details that create the image of the Neo Sports Cafe are the exposed engine and frame, as well as the characteristic silver “polished aluminum” trim covering the radiators, upside-down forks, variable-section handlebars, high and sharp “tails” with separate seats for pilot and passenger, high seating position and cool looking sculpted gas tanks. And, of course, round LED headlights!
Honda CB300R: Nissin radial 4-piston caliper with 296mm hubless rotor
The first thing you'll notice about the CB300R is the Nissin 4-piston radial caliper on a 41mm Showa upside-down fork and 296mm hubless rotor.
The stopping power of the front brake is such that Honda had to install a special device on the bike to prevent a sudden front-flip, that is, somersaulting over the handlebars after braking too hard in a stoppie.
Honda CB300R: 2-channel ABS actuator
A 2-axis inertial platform controls the behavior of the motorcycle and monitors the moment the rear wheel leaves the ground, preventing it from rising too high - through ABS. This technology came into mass production from MotoGP, and was fully embodied in the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP with Ohlins electronic suspension: Rear Wheel Lift Mitigation System
Mounted on the Fireblade and linked to a 6-axis IMU, it opens or tightens the suspension while playing with brake pressure via C-ABS.
Honda CB300R: rear 220mm brake disc
The purpose of RWLMS is to prevent the motorcycle from flipping over the front wheel and to maximize braking optimization. Only a third of the features have migrated from the Fireblade to the CB300R, but this should be enough for beginning riders to avoid a 1-O′clock Stoppie. This is not found in any other motorcycle in the 300 cc class, even sportbikes!
Honda CB300R: frame
The chassis design of the Honda CB300R is slightly modified relative to the CBR300RR, since the CB is still a nimble city naked: its wheelbase is almost 30 mm less than that of a sportbike, and the ground clearance is 151 mm. A chain guide is installed on the pendulum of the rear wheel, covered with a protective plastic cover, and the star has a special shape with a border (but it was not possible to find out why this was done).
After riding a little around the Honda Moto RUS test site, I really came to the conclusion that this is an extremely nimble and agile motorcycle with simply phenomenal cornering! And it’s completely safe to tilt it even at the lowest speeds; you can cut circles in the narrowest space without taking your feet off the pegs and holding the steering wheel with two fingers - gymkhana fans will appreciate it.
Honda CB300R direct injection engine
Among Yamaha and KTM, the Honda CB300R occupies an intermediate position in terms of saddle height - 799 mm: the Duke will be the highest (830), and the lowest MT-03 (780). In terms of engine performance, the CB engine, on the contrary, takes 3rd place: the 286 cc 1-cylinder engine produces 32 hp. at 8500 rpm. But this is enough to easily accelerate to 160 km/h. Nobody expects more from the city's Neo Sports Cafe, but the Honda engine is superior to the KTM in terms of efficiency: with a 10-liter tank, the power reserve should be enough for 320 km (but we'll check this on a test drive).
One of the design features of the CB300R's engine and power system is direct intake, which flattens the power curve and makes the rise smooth and even throughout the entire rev range - another plus for the motorcycle's controllability at any speed, for example in a city traffic jam.
Honda CB300R: Half the bike can be disassembled with just one hex socket from the tool kit
The CB300R's gas tank is hidden under a massive plastic casing that is secured at four points and quickly removed using a hex wrench from the included tool kit.
Aviation style fuel filler neck
The aviation-style fuel filler neck looks simply cool, and Honda designers put special emphasis on these Neo Sports Cafe mules.
Honda CB300R without shirt (gas tank guard)
The tank has a clever system of protection against clogging of the fuel pump and PGM-FI, which is relevant for the regions. In general, this system was developed for Asia and India, where the problem of dirt is acute. The point of the trick is that for uniform operation of the engine, the same operating pressure must always be maintained in the injector. When the fine filter becomes clogged, it usually blocks the flow of gasoline into the injector - that’s all. But on Honda, in this case, the valve opens and gasoline begins to flow through the upper breather. Thus, if you fill up with some dirty waste and realize it in time, you can easily return back or drive to the nearest service station.
The battery is hidden under the tank
Everything was removed from under the seat. The ABS actuator is located at the very bottom, under the swingarm, so it doesn't take up any space or get in the way. The battery was moved to the very top, under the tank, to the fork, thus creating additional pressure on the front-end. Still, the motorcycle weighs only 143 kg in running order!
What else should I add?
Double seat Honda CB300R
The seat seemed quite stiff even in comparison with the CB1000R. But in general, the driving position is comfortable even for a height of 176 cm.
The plow is purely decorative, but it looks good
The plastic “plough” under the engine is a purely decorative element, but I’m sure that given the CB300R’s focus on the mass market, aftermarket catalogs are already full of inexpensive and more functional replacement parts. Moreover, in Thailand the CB300R has been available for a whole year already. The plow fits perfectly into the design, and although it is not necessary for a motorcycle with a power of 30 horses and a cruising speed of 120-130 km/h (the front-end provides very good downforce), it would not be superfluous.
ABS works smartly and very precisely: apparently, the IMU is used not only to prevent stoppies. Wide wheels 110/70-R17 and 140/70-R17 give confidence.
The key under the tail opens the passenger seat, and under it - the glove compartment.
Under the passenger seat there is a fairly spacious glove box that can fit a stack of 6-8 smartphones.
A! You can't go past the high-tech color and customizable toolbar.
The timing of the gear shift blinker can be adjusted to suit you in steps of 250 rpm.
One of the main features that new recruits will appreciate is the adjustable blinker, which signals the need to shift up gears - you can set its brightness and timing from 4,000 to 10,000 rpm. in increments of 250 rpm. This is an important thing: some, for reasons of economy or some other considerations, start shifting up gears immediately after the start, which is not true (and is not good for the motorcycle). We must remember that this must be done no earlier than 4000 rpm. (which is stated in the instructions) - this is why there is such a signal.
Timer! Natural timer, counts seconds, minutes and hours as you please
Everything on the dashboard is digital, colorful and easy to read in any light - but everyone does. But here’s something few people have: a built-in “paw timer”! This is, or rather, not a paw timer as such, but a time counter - just a timer that starts counting the seconds immediately after pressing.
The panel shows many parameters, including instantaneous and average fuel consumption. The low level light begins to blink when there are 1.9 liters of gasoline left in the tank: with this reserve you can drive almost 60 km at a relaxed pace or 45 in the “without denying yourself anything” mode. But we will clarify this, as well as other parameters, during the test drive, which will take place as soon as spring arrives.
By the way, this year Honda dealerships will actively provide almost the entire model range for customer test drives.
