5 things we liked about the Honda CB300R

We recently rode Honda’s premium 300cc offering, the CB300R and came back impressed. Here is what our review revealed about the motorcycle.  

It is a head turner

It follows Honda’s Neo Sports Café design which essentially mixes retro styling with modern cues. And that is what makes the CB300R stand out. Furthermore, it also looks strikingly similar to its bigger sibling, the CB1000R although with a smaller engine inside the tubular trellis frame. 

It loves the city

One of CB300R’s strongest points is its handling abilities. It has compact dimensions and wide handlebars which make it a breeze through tight traffic situations. The CB300R’s ergonomics are spot-on for city riding and it also gets a well-cushioned seat.

The engine offers good grunt

Since we are talking about how much the CB300R loves the city, we can’t miss the character of the 286cc, single-cylinder engine. It is quick off the line and has strong mid-range grunt making overtakes seem like a cakewalk. Additionally, the bike's 147kg kerb weight further helps its cause. 

Has top-spec hardware

Honda has thrown in all it possibly could in a sub- Rs 3 lakh motorcycle. So the CB300R sports top-spec braking and suspension hardware. While the inverted forks have been sourced from Showa, the braking setup comes from Nissin. To top it all, the CB300R also boasts of an IMU-based ABS; a first for the segment.

Size matters

As we mentioned earlier, the CB300R has compact dimensions which makes it a boon to ride in the city. However, the bike can be a bit of a squeeze for larger riders. And considering that the CB300R is a global product, we wonder what Honda was thinking here.