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Honda rolls the CBR300R, its spunky little sport bike, over from 2022 with no changes—not even the cursory BNG treatment. That's okay, because the CBR300R has little room for improvement when it's already so rider- and budget-friendly. Agile handling is definitely one of its hallmarks, even if the engine lacks the brute power of its larger-displacement siblings. We consider that tractable power a selling point, because keeps newer riders from pulling a moonshot the first time they roll on good and hard, and makes this a good choice as someone's first sport bike (of first bike in general).
You aren't going to take this Honda to the track right out of the box, but you could after some race-ification. Instead, the CBR300R's forte is controllable power and an agile chassis that can serve as a commuter for riders on a budget who don't feel the need to stunt a wheelie for three miles. For a lot of people, this should be a destination bike, not just a stepping stone training machine.
Honda's unmistakable bodywork completes the package with rider comfort and waste-heat ventilation baked right in. Not only is it inexpensive to buy, but it's also cheap to operate as it positively sips gasoline and has a rather undemanding maintenance schedule.
2023 Honda CBR300R
The Honda CBR300R redefines the entry-level sportbike experience with tractable power from its 286 cc thumper and agile handling from its lightweight, compact design. Maneuverable and nimble, the CBR300R combines form and function into a bike with aerodynamic lines and budget-friendly economy.
- Model
- CBR300R
- Engine:
- 286 cc Single-cylinder
- Power Output
- 30.4 HP
- Torque
- 20-lbs.ft.
- Transmission
- Six-speed manual
- Driveline
- #520 chain; 14T/36T
- MSRP
- $4,899
- Tractable, non-threatening power
- Compact to fit younger riders
- Good trainer for larger-displacement sportbikes
- ABS should be stock
- A slipper clutch would be nice
- Pillion pad is not user friendly
2023 Honda CBR300R Performance And Capability
A liquid-cooled thumper powers the CBR300R and gives it good thermal stamina, and it can handle slow traffic in hot weather without putting you over on the shoulder for a little cool down. It's a bit oversquare with a 76 mm bore and 63 mm stroke, and a middling 10.7-to-1 compression ratio that's forgiving enough at the pump to take mid-grade pusholine just fine.
A dual overhead cam times the quartet of poppets in the top end, which really open up the combustion chamber and let the engine breathe. Thumpers tend to vibrate a lot, but Honda anticipated that with a counter-balancer shaft that takes a lot of the sting out of the engine vibrations. Plus, it rocks fuel injection for easy, positive starts regardless of ambient temperature.
The Honda CBR300R produces 30.4 horsepower and 20 pound-feet of torque. That's plenty of power for the CBR300R's 354-pound wet weight for the non-ABS version or 364 pounds for the ABS model. For an automotive comparison, that's a power-to-weight ratio equivalent to about 260hp in a Honda Civic. Owners tout how quick and nimble it is, and now with the 286 cc engine, we can add “interstate capable” to the list.
The CBR300R's top speed is around 98 MPH, so not only is it fast enough for the superslab, it's plenty fast enough to get in a heap of trouble with the authorities. Power flows through a six-speed transmission for plenty of control over your operating RPM range with a chain-and-sprocket final drive. The powerplant leaves you with options: Ride around with plenty of power reserve and control, or get out there and get jiggy with it, the choice is yours. Plus it's forgiving of poor, or just new, throttle techniques as it lacks the power to rear up and drive out from under you.
One common thread with this bike is the owners largely agree that it is a lot of fun to ride: Nimble and fast on demand, with a generally docile nature the rest of the time. Some riders will outgrow it in fairly short order, but for others, fast enough is fast enough, and the bike also has a reputation for reliability, which is a great selling point.
Performance Specifications
Engine | Liquid-cooled DOHC single-cylinder four-stroke |
Displacement | 286 cc |
Bore x Stroke | 76 mm x 63 mm |
Compression | 10.7:1 |
Power | 30.4hp |
Torque | 20-lbs.ft. |
Fuel System | PGM-FI, 38 mm throttle body |
Final Drive | #520 Chain; 14T/36T |
Gearbox | Six-speed |
Fuel Economy | 71 MPG |
Top Speed | 98 MPH |
2023 Honda CBR300R Design
If there is a downside to the CBR300R, it's in the design. The bike is rather compact and scaled down for smaller and younger riders, so while medium-height adults fit fine, taller folks will feel cramped and perched. Try it on for size before you start talking money at the dealership. Seat height is reasonable for a sport bike at only 30.7 inches off the deck to accommodate the target buyer group and let them, hopefully, at least touch with both feet, even if on tiptoes.
To that end, the seat is rather narrow so as not to interfere with the deployment of your lamborfeeties, and to allow a good range of motion for padding around the parking lot. For those who fit the bike, you'll find the cockpit cozy but functional. There's just a skosh of lift in the handlebar, so you can push off for a more vertical, more comfortable riding posture; or you can still tuck in racebike-style and tear around like a madman if that's your thing.
Big-bike features are prominent, starting with the vented front fender and its spoiler-shaped uprights. The uprights guide the wind pressure away from the fork sliders and into laminar flow with the engine cowling that follows close behind, just like a racebike proper. A full, supersport-style cowling closes off the engine compartment with generous vents that pull the hot air out from under the cowl. The overall design is heavily influenced by Honda's CBR-RR family.
Dual headlights split the night with a small bubblescreen up top to plow a groove in the wind for your head, even if you have to almost put the chin on the tank to find it. A 3.4-gallon fuel tank gives the profile that distinctive sportbike hump ahead of a precipitous drop to the pilot's seat. This puts the rider in the bike as much as on it for good mankind-machine integration. The saddle rides 30.7 inches off the deck, which accommodates smaller riders just fine, plus the seat is heavily beveled, so your legs have a clearer path to the ground when you go to deploy your training wheels.
Fold-up, subframe-mount passenger footpegs join a rather small pillion pad that looks sporty but isn't comfortable for very long. There are some good grab rails for your passenger's security and peace of mind, though, which do double duty as an anchor point for your bungee net and some open-air cargo capacity, just not very much of it. The taillight rides in the tip of the tail with the rest of the gear in the rear mounted on the subframe-mount mudguard. A swingarm-mount hugger completes the fling coverage out back.
Specs & Dimensions
Length | 80.0 inches |
Width | 28.3 inches |
Height | 44.0 inches |
Seat Height | 30.7 inches |
Wheelbase | 54.3 inches |
Ground Clearance | 5.7 inches |
Fuel Capacity | 3.4 gallons |
Curb Weight | 364 pounds |
2023 Honda CBR300R Chassis
Owners tout the CBR300R's nimble and athletic nature in the corners with quick flicks and reversals due largely to its low, 354-pound curb weight. The steering geometry contributes as well with a 25.3-degree rake angle, which is just shy of as steep as it gets, and a shorter than usual 3.9-inch trail figure over a 54.3-inch wheelbase. These numbers point to a nimble ride on paper in support of the owner's sentiments.
Full bodywork conceals the frame and most of the engine, but if you peel it off, you'll find a tubular trellis frame with a stressed-engine arrangement that keeps weight down in the underpinnings. The suspension supplies a fairly plush ride with 4.65 inches of travel in the 37 mm front forks and 4.07 inches of travel out back. The rear shock has the only adjustment with the obligatory spring-preload, so you can at least dial in for changing passenger and cargo loads.
As for brakes, a twin-pot caliper bites a 296 mm front disc, while out back, a single-piston caliper and 220 mm disc take care of business. It comes without standard ABS, which is one of our least favorite things about a bike aimed at beginning riders. Lots of people have said over the years that good brakes make bad riders, but we know how that went for Lawrence of Arabia.
Cast-alloy, 17-inch wheels round out the rolling chassis and come shod in a 110/70 ahead of a 140/70 with a 112 MPH 'S' speed rating that will take everything you and the current engine can throw at it.
Chassis & Suspension
Frame | Steel |
Front Suspension / Travel | 37 mm telescopic fork / 4.65 inches |
Rear Suspension / Travel | Pro-Link® single shock with five positions of spring preload adjustability / 4.07 inches |
Rake | 25.3° |
Trail | 3.9 inches |
Front Wheel | Aluminum |
Rear Wheel | Aluminum |
Front Tire | IRC Road Winner: 110/70R-17 54S |
Rear Tire | IRC Road Winner: 140/70R-17 66S |
Front Brake | Single 296 mm disc (ABS model w/ ABS) |
Rear Brake | Single 220 mm disc (ABS model w/ ABS) |
2023 Honda CBR300R Price And Availability
The CBR300R rolls in a choice between the Grand Prix Red colorway and the dark, Matte Gray Metallic package for the same price. The difference lies in ABS. You can get the ABS protection on your Honda CBR300R for $5,099, but if you'd rather do without, the price drops to $4,899
Pricing & Features
Model ID | CBR300R (ABS: CBR300RA) |
Warranty | One-year transferable, unlimited-mileage limited warranty |
Colors | Grand Prix Red, Matte Gray Metallic |
Price | $4,899 (ABS: $5,099) |
The CBR300R Versus Its Competitors
Honda's CBR300R comes with plenty of native competition from the rest of the Big Four companies. We think the sport-tasticYamaha YZF-R3 and Suzuki GSX250R ABS are the most likely suspects. These marques compete both with Honda and each other, as these major manufacturers seek their slice of the bottom-displacement sportbike market.
How The CBR300R Compares To The Suzuki GSX250R
-
2023 Honda CBR300R
The Honda CBR300R redefines the entry-level sportbike experience with tractable power from its 286 cc thumper and agile handling from its lightweight, compact design. Maneuverable and nimble, the CBR300R combines form and function into a bike with aerodynamic lines and budget-friendly economy.
- Model
- CBR300R
- Engine:
- 286 cc Single-cylinder
- Power Output
- 30.4 HP
- Torque
- 20-lbs.ft.
- Transmission
- Six-speed manual
- MSRP
- $4,899
-
2023 Suzuki GSX250R
The 248 cc parallel-twin engine in the GSX250R delivers tractable power packaged in a sleek sportbike design. It offers nimble handling and comfortable ergonomics whether cruising through town or carving the twisties on your two-wheeled journeys.
- Model
- GSX250R
- Engine:
- 248 cc Parallel Twin
- Power Output
- 24.7 HP @ 8,000 RPM
- Torque
- 17.3-lbs.ft. @ 6,500 RPM
- Transmission
- Six-Speed Manual
- MSRP
- $4,999
The GSX250R has its own deep family roots on which to draw for design, power, and handling characteristics. Like the Honda, the Gixxer is compact with a 56.3-inch wheelbase with a slightly taller seat than the CBR at 31.1 inches off the ground. The seat is sculpted with a narrow front end where it meets the fuel tank and narrow waist to give your legs a break both at stops and underway.
Suzuki powers its entry-level entry with a 248 cc, parallel-twin engine that puts out 24 ponies and 17 pounds o' grunt against 30.4/20 from the Red Rider, for a significant power drop, and it outweighs the Honda, too. Top speed is 85 MPH, so it's also capable of interstate travel with a (very) small power reserve. ABS protection comes stock, however, and the starting price is $4,999 MSRP for a slight edge at the checkout.
How The CBR300R Compares To the Yamaha YZF-R3
-
2023 Honda CBR300R
The Honda CBR300R redefines the entry-level sportbike experience with tractable power from its 286 cc thumper and agile handling from its lightweight, compact design. Maneuverable and nimble, the CBR300R combines form and function into a bike with aerodynamic lines and budget-friendly economy.
- Model
- CBR300R
- Engine:
- 286 cc Single-cylinder
- Power Output
- 30.4 HP
- Torque
- 20-lbs.ft.
- Transmission
- Six-speed manual
- MSRP
- $4,899
-
2023 Yamaha YZF-R3
Rider-friendly ergonomics on the Yamaha YZF-R3 make for a comfortable journey whether in the city or out in the twisties. Ample power from the 321 cc engine combined with its MotoGP-inspired handling and onboard safety features open the opportunity for thrills in what is a stylish, aerodynamic design.
- Model
- YZF-R3
- Engine:
- 321 cc parallel-twin
- Power Output
- 42 HP
- Torque
- 21.8-lbs.ft.
- Transmission
- Six-speed manual
- MSRP
- $5,499
The Yamaha YZF-R3 also enjoys a long line of evolution that started in the '90s with the R1, and the R3 specifically since 2015. Loke the Honda, this bike was also designed with the new rider in mind. The 54.3-inch wheelbase and 30.7-inch seat height keep things nice and trim. Rake and trail measure 25 degrees and 3.7 inches respectively for a handling profile similar to the CBR's, making it eager in the corners and generally nimble.
It's a lighter bike by a few pounds, and Yamaha plugs in a 321 cc parallel twin for power with 42 horsepower and 21.8 pound-feet of torque on tap for a significant power advantage over the Honda's 30.4/20 mill. ABS comes stock so that's not an extra charge, but the YZF-R3 is still pricier at $5,499.
Our Take
He Said
“It may be worth the extra five bills for the extra performance that the Yammie brings to the table, but that does nothing to diminish the CBR300R's brilliance. In fact, you could argue that less power is actually better for the new riders, and I tend to agree. Honda occupies a good market position with its competitors as well, but they're going to have to start throwing the ABS on all the 300R bikes to keep up with industry standards.”
She Said
My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says,
“This is a hot little sportbike. It's a brilliant sportbike trainer and an “I just want to have fun” commuter. In my opinion, a bike like this is so much better than a liter bike because it's more fun to ride balls-to-the-wall on a small displacement ride than to have to keep yourself in check on a big bike. Maybe that's just me, but on a bike like this, I just can't stop smiling.”
“For a sportbike, seat height is low, which is confidence-building if you're a height-challenged rider like I am. As a commuter, fuel economy is a claimed 71 MPG from Honda, but real-world data is closer to 60 MPG. Your mileage varies depending on a whole host of factors, but it still shakes out as a fuel sipper.”