For the past many years, we have been hoping that the guys at Honda would finally update the CBR250R in a massive way. But what we finally got is its naked avatar and that too as a CKD. At this price point there are a lot of machines that dominate with their power to price ratio, so how does the CB300R stack up?
The first thing that surprises you when you see this motorcycle in the flesh is the fact that how compact this machine is. That said, the motorcycle has a very commanding presence and has that big bike feel.
The massive front forks, the classic round headlights, the beautifully sculpted tank and the prominent tank shrouds give it a very old school macho look. But enough about its looks lets see how it rides.
When you start this machine, if you have ever ridden a CBR250R you will immediately feel and hear the similarity. But get going and you are greeted by a slightly louder exhaust note and an engine that loves to be revved.
All the magic happens after the 5k RPM mark and it goes past the 100 in just about 7 seconds and will do a 120 cruise around the 7k RPM mark and top speed is easily in excess of 150.
We really would have loved to see more torque available at lower RPMs, in its current form the gearbox will keep you busy in low speed urban conditions. And speaking of slow urban conditions, the engine always ran cool and we did not have any heating issues.
Interestingly the Honda CB300R returned a really impressive mileage of around 30 quite consistently making it the one of the most efficient in this segment.
While the engine is a refined and robust strong point of the CB300R, its real highlight is its easy to ride nature. With a kerb weight of just 147 kgs, the CB300R is just a joy to ride around town.
Add to this, its steep rake and a short turning radius it’s about as nimble as a regular commuter bike. And when you are in the mood for some spirited riding this light nature again comes to your aid.
It feels incredibly light during the fast direction changes and surprisingly planted on the long fast corners. The riding position easily allows you to free up your elbows making the ride quite stress free and the suspensions are also on the softer side.
Coming to the braking department, things are kept in check by a 300 mm petal disc with a radially mounted 4 pot Nissin caliper that scrubs off speed progressively at the front.
The dual channel ABS is also supported by an IMU which evenly distributes the application of the brakes depending on wheel speed and lean angles, minimizing the chance of a slide in pretty much any condition.
The build quality all across the machine is quite good and the blue backlit meters up front look especially good. We just wish it came with a gear indicator. The ground clearance of 151 mm seemed to be enough for the most bit when it’s a solo ride, that said the pillion seat is not the CB300Rs strong point either.
So, coming back to the question of power to price ratio, is the Honda CB300R worth it? Well, on paper it might lose the battle.
But what you realize is that when it comes to real world usability where focus is on ease of use, comfort, efficiency and still having that capability to power out of a situation, the Honda CB300R checks all the boxes.
