I have the 300R and have had it since 2018 and it is amazing. I've been riding on it for just shy of 4 years now and I can't find a reason to upgrade. It is an outstanding bike. It is also incredibly forgiving and the safety features have, I believe, saved my life more than once. I've ridden it through torrential rain, strong winds, up mountains and on rough roads and it does it all just fine. Can't praise the bike high enough. And it's a beauty as well, even years later people ask me constantly if it's brand new and what kind of bike it is. Edit: Also the upgrades on the bike seem to fix basically every single shortcoming. The lack of gear indicator was a serious oversight for a beginner bike. The seat on the original can be a bit hard so fixing that is nice too. Damn. I'd almost trade in just to get this new one.
alright look, everyone is all so obsessed with power in the low cc class and I gotta say, yall are definitely missing the point. I mean, fact is, the cb300r has enough power to do anything you could possibly require it to do on city streets. Full stop. Even on the highway it is just fine. yea, its topped out on the highway, but unless you're spending all of your time there, it wont matter, and even if you do what I did, and take a 1200 mile cross country trip on the cb300r, it will also handle that just fine. Keep it topped on oil and it will happily eat miles all day long. That low weight makes a hell of a lot more of an impact than you would expect. below 50 this thing changes direction like a bicycle, you can dart from lane to lane with little to no effort, and the single cylinder engine has enough power low down to rocket off the line and startle any street racers you might encounter. If you want power, fair enough, but frankly I think people sweat it way too much.
I've been riding my 500 for a good 4 years now and I have never managed to hit anywhere near the limiter on 3nd gear without being illegal fast outside the Autobahn. Which only means that >48hp cannot be used on the streets to the fullest. And I bet anyone would hardly be able to fully use a 300 to it's limit. The only thing missing on the 500 tbh is a 270° crank, if honda drops that I'd trade my bike in for a cbr500r and call it a day
I will choose this bike over any of the others since it's 20kg lighter. That makes a big difference when you're throwing it around heavy traffic downtown. Very impressive bike.
The CB300R is an underrated bike! I’ve had a Duke 390 and a Husky 401 and both rattle way more than the smooth Honda. I’ve also had the CB1000R which is lovely but the 300 just has that super light feel that makes up for the power. It’s like a grown up grom. Great looks, punchy, frugal, fast enough and economical to run. Cheap to service and maintain too. I’ve ordered the Matt black 2022 model and I look forward to it. The mt03/R3 also have a heavy clutch lever and that affects comfort on longer rides. This little 300 is a perfect B road blast. In skilled hands it will out manoeuvre a lot of bigger bikes! It is a shame Honda didn’t make it a full 300cc but the engine is well proven and super reliable.
I am very excited to see some tech and high-spec parts trickling down to the this class of bikes! Particularly in the US, the 300ish class has always been pretty boring, but in the past few years, these bike have been getting more appealing.
I had the 2020 version of this bike. I didn’t like how ridiculously small first gear was (you’d have to shift at about 5mph from a light), and I also wish its top gear were larger. It could go highway speeds, no problem, but it felt like it was screaming at 65mph -fine for twenty minute rides, but not ideal for long days on the highway (not was this was designed for, anyway). Otherwise, I adored this motorcycle. It felt very light, indeed, got incredible gas mileage, and was beautiful.
5mph? I can get that with just the clutch alone. 😅 I've had the 2020 CB300R for knocking two years and can comfortably get up to 15mph in 1st before having to shift. (Though I can still squeeze another few mph if I really want to push it.) And though it runs high in the rev's, it can comfortable cruise at 70mph without decimating the engine.. Managed to get 95mph out the bike on a flat with no backwind. (Though at that point the engine was giving all it possibly could.)
IM(American)O Honda would be served well by killing off the 500F and 500R and replacing them with a CB500R. The styling and design is worlds better on the CB-XxxR models than the F models. As someone that started on a Cbr500r the engine is plenty potent enough for American roads. It wasn’t good enough to deserve a CBR designation, but would primo for a CB neo cafe model
The CB500F and CBR500R should be discontinued in North America. They were designed to meet European regulations that don't exist over here, and therefore are superfluous. They're heavy, underpowered and fill an awkward niche between the beginner friendly CB300R/CBR300R and the middleweight "real motorcycles" the CB650R/CBR650R.
@@andrewmiller407 unfortunately that engine has been a staple stepping stone for the Rebel crowd. With the Rebel 1100 out now there is zero need to have both the 300 and 500 engine in any American model, including the CB-F, CB-R and CBR-R. I’d say just kill off the 300s, leave us a CB500R neo retro, and keep it at that. That engine is docile enough for beginners and plenty for at least the first riding season. Set MSRP for a CB500R between $4,999-5,499 and they would sell amazingly.
One of the few bikes I regret selling over the years was my 1975 cb550four that I owned in the early 90’s and was simply indestructible as it was reliable and personally I would not hesitate to purchase a new cb500r. The f model does nothing for me and the CBR designation on that 500 engine seems misplaced
@@bfarm44 there isn’t a single person that has ridden one that would argue that point. It’s not a CBR, it’s a CB-F in a skirt. The only true CBRs exist in 650, 600, and 1000 badging and the 650 only gets in by I-4 default. If I didn’t find the 2016 cbr I had for $4k I wouldn’t have bought it. It was cheaper than a ninja 400 or 650 in my area and half the price of an FZ/MT07 without including super sketchy examples
@@Otterplus I agree on killing the 300 and keeping the 500 or killing both and making a 400. The 500 is hella fun, sure they weig abit more but they make more torque.
This bike can hit nearly 80 mpg, I think its a good looking super commuter really. Light and nimble and great reliability is what a commuter or urban delivery rider needs.
Delivery drivers nowadays use cheap reliable scooters with low fuel consumption and space for luggage and a delivery box rack like pcx 125 or nmax 125 because they are also comfortable to sit all day , you can stretch your legs, you have protection against wind and rain and first of all they are automatic. Commuters can get whatever they want, i am a commuter and i have a scooter too , i also used a smaller displacement motorcycles and more sporty ones like nc750x and f900xr but it was a pain in the ass to drive around the city especially during summer with the engine heating your soul and you having to go up and down the gears all the time, knees bent can't really stretch them out, minimal protection against wind/rain not a good time for a commuter but each to his own people commute on turbo busas and live through hell everyday since they like their motorcycle so much.
My guess is that the engine didn't need updated for euro 5, so there was no desire to redesign the looks and update the bike. don't quote me though, that's just my guess
I had one when it first came out, the 2018 CB300R and....it is an awesome bike, it's the best looking bike on the market by far. I did a 9 hour day across England on it, I did 80k of the TET on it. You don't spend any time in traffic, you sail straight through it all. Loads of people have this bike as a second bike also. because it's just amazing. The only thing is on a 400 mile trip I had to keep filling up loads as you are running the engine at max. This bike is awesome, I really wish they hadn't just recycled the CB650R and actually approached it to be a real CB...R, it's a fake to me which is why I didn't buy one. IF they had have done a CB500R that would have been great, even a real CB650R would be nice. Such a beautiful bike.
I live in Thailand and just bought this new 2022 Honda CB300R in Candy Red as it was just released last week in Thailand. It was not cheap at 167,000 baht (£3,900 or $4,910 ) on the road. I have read and watched so many reviews of this motorbike where they say it is underrated and more fun to ride than the bigger CB500's. I hope that it is ideal for pottering to 7-11 shop and commuting and filtering in city traffic (Bangkok) as well as a monthly journey, once a month, of 170 kms (105 miles).
Time to update the CB500F to this styling, or better yet, give us an old-school naked 500 that copies the look of the H’ness. I’d be first in line for one. 👍
Nice little bike & at the age of 85 I love the idea of the low weight, but unfortunately for me (coming down from bigger bikes) it's somewhat lacking in grunt. So, for my money (& yes, I've recently purchased one) it has to be the Yamaha MT-03......
They should have improved the engine performance... that's really the only thing holding this bike back... I owned one and absolutely loved the feel of the clutch and how nimble it was... I understand you would give up some of its light weight with a bigger engine... but it would be nice as say a 400cc bike.... say 40HP or so and it would be perfect
@@OlllOHD Yes just a upgrade to the engine would have been the final touch... I rode my 300R and loved it... but the engine would max out a lot... feathering the clutch helps and its fun... but get it to 41HP
Totally agree get it to 40hp so it can ride safely on the highway. I live in the states the cruising speeds are 70-75mph. The r3/mt03 and ninja/z400 can do it. I wouldn't ride any less power than those bikes.
I'm stateside so not sure if we'll ever see this,, but, its so much more attractive than the Rebel model. A great starter machine for sure. Of the 4 bikes mentioned I would definitely choose the Yamaha.. 💯.
Also suggest you look at CF MOTO 300NK, I bought one. 28bhp, 18 ft/lbs torque plenty for normal road use, £2999 OTR price. Downsides, no centre stand, no dealer in Wales 100 mile round trip for servicing. Otherwise fantastic bike for the money
I almost bought a CB300R in 2020 in Thailand, then a friend's 2018 KTM 390 Duke came on the market. I bought that. It blows the 300 away. The 300 looks quite good, though. You see a lot of the 150 variant in Thailand.
@@user-sw2lv3zp6o You found a second hand KTM390 from a farang friend. I prefer the Honda CB300R for spare parts and reliability and quality and intend to keep it 20 years.
@@johntheaccountant5594 The KTM has been totally reliable in almost 23,000 km. The build quality is first class. As good as any bike I've owned. Parts are cheap and easily found. Remember, it is made in India. The CB300R is made in Thailand. Not the quality of a Japan-made bike. But decent, all the same.
MOTOBOB, I sure hope you get your hands on one and give it a proper test. There haven't been many and they seem to be left out of the discussion. Yes, it's down on power but the motor is feistier than the numbers imply. The 2022 CB500F is nice but it weighs 100 lbs more and it's not as attractive. Adam Waheed of MC Commute gave it a very favorable review 3 years ago.
I regularly have people straight up not believe me when I tell them the bikes specs for power. The thing rockets off the line fast enough to raise the front wheel a healthy amount; it is anything but slow.
I can’t see any reason, other than Honda brand loyalty, as to why one would buy this new 300 over KTM’s 390 Duke. The little Honda is beaten in just about every dynamic regard save, perhaps, build quality and possibly reliability. Thanks for posting.
Yamaha has come in on top for minimum mfg defects for a few years now. Honda has slipped to 3rd with all the outsourcing. The MT03 is less money too for a stronger bike with the same basic build. The Duke is the best design. This is a 280cc so 31hp out of 280 ain't bad when India bikes like RE are only making 20 out of 349cc. So brand loyalty is likely the reason for sales. This motor would be great if they wanted to reintroduce the Hawk retro standard bikes to compete with the RE Meteor or Classic 350. It'd blow them off the road for much less weight and 4500 quid.
Hi Nigel, I bought my CB300R over the KTM390 after a test ride. The KTM does offer great value for the money, but I found the engine rough with unpleasant vibration, a more compact riding position, and a tall hard seat. My impression was the KTM was a great bike for an hours all-out blast, but the Honda for every day riding. It illustrated to me how important a test ride is. The KTM is a faster machine, but because of the vibration, I'd just buy a bigger machine if I wanted more power. Cheers.
@@pauldavies6999 Hondas are typically Swiss watch smooth...make that Seiko Smooth. I have an old Honda twin that is still smooth and quiet...but slow to the power band.
@@STho205Hi S Tho. I agree. The CB300R is incredibly smooth for a single, and it red lines at 10500 rpm ! I too was hoping for a new Hawk. Honda recently increased the 300 Forza scooter (279cc) to the 350 Forza (330cc) and I was hoping some of this development had been transferred to make a new CB350R. Cheers.
In the U.S. (excluding freight) the CB300 and the Husqvarna 401's are only $250 different. So as much as I like the CB line and Honda reliability I'd have to go Svartpilen 401.
Go for Honda if u want peace of mind and hassle free ownership...401 definitely a powerful motorcycle but no way near to Honda when it comes to reliability
When are we going to stop calling them upside down forks and just accept that upside down forks are the actual right way to do it, and prior forks were upside down the whole time.
Curious you didn’t mention the vitpilen/svartpilen 401 bikes as competitors? They are the most direct in terms of styling, although they do command a bit of a premium.
Interesting how people report on bikes like the CB300R. The bike is said to be entertaining reliable, cheap, does highway riding quite well and is attractive. Great. But it is not the most powerful in class and this is made a big issue even though it's designed to operate on public roads at lawful speeds, not a race track, and is totally competent at that level. Seriously who cares if another bike is faster if your bike is fast enough for what you need? However enter the the Royal Enfield 350 beloved by commentators and testers. It is an entire 30% less powerful than the criticized weak Honda and struggles to reach highway speeds. It is often said to be "most comfortable" at 50 or 55 and this is never held against it. But testers make excuses for that and say it's about lifestyle changes..... Why bring the RE350 up? Well the RE is too slow and has just barely adequate brakes but if that bothers you it is your fault , you are not riding it slow enough with the correct attitude. The Honda is way faster and entirely fine for it's intended purpose with way better brakes and can potter around as slow as you want on your zen Sunday ride. Yet its slower than the RC390 and the Z400 and is spurned in comparo testing because of that????? In comparison testing the Honda gets usually relegated to near last place because the MT03, Z400 and RC390 are faster. Single issue much? And probably the least important as well. The Honda has an outstanding very long term reliability record while RE has a past record of issues that Honda fixed in the early 60's. We hope that is mostly behind RE now but we know Honda is rock solid and perhaps as good or better in reliability than almost any mass produced small bike ever. Price in my country Australia actually favors the Honda. So what is it? Styling? Cool retro name? Probably. The RE 350s have glaring issues particularly in being unable to maintain highway speeds and brakes that would see another brand criticized not excused. However, testers and commentators gloss over these issues by saying that it's for people who are more interested in cruising slowly and enjoying scenery. Really this is a massive cop out. I like doing both and you would need a highway bike as well as the RE to do that. An expensive option. I would really like it if the Honda had great retro styling instead of a star wars look but it's still a great choice to ride and own and flexible enough to do most anything legal in comfort. I would only consider a bike I can take on a highway and all the good styling in the world can't change that. BTW I would prob buy the Z400 but that still does not explain the hypocrisy of the RE350 excuse making while talking down the much faster and more flexible Honda for not being race track oriented.
maybe not the quickest of the competition but also not the slowest. And with some chip tuning, you can easily boost it up to 35hp and that paired with the 20kg less...
Truth. The Vitpilen 401 is vastly superior for only $450 more. I owned a CB300R for 15k miles and sold it to get a Vit 401. Nonetheless, the Honda is a good motorcycle. The motor punches way above it's weight. The guy who bought it from me was quite surprised by that.
@@clickbaitpro I now have 2500 trouble free miles on the Vit. I don't think the CB got twice the mileage. It doesn't matter that much to me, I only ride for pleasure and it's pretty cheap pleasure. Cheers!
It might be down on outright power but that single cylinder is going to give you dirtbike-like grunt down low. Let me tell you newbies out there, a dirt bike is one of the most fun things to ride on the street!!!!
If Honda thinks this will sell over here then why won’t they release the CB350 H’ness and the CB350 RS? I’d love to have a small lightweight bike like this. I had a Suzuki Van Van 125 and love how easy it was to wheel in and out the garage and nip around town. The disadvantage was the lack of power. 30hp is plenty for round town and a quick run on quiet lanes. I can see that it probably doesn’t stack up very well to other 300s when you’re younger and want to get the biggest bike your license will allow.
because 1 out of 10 people would get a full retro bike over something modern. And maybe 1 from 50 young people, who are actually looking at 300's would get one.
@@Daniel-dj7fh fair point. Don’t get me wrong, I like the look of the Honda Neo range and I’d be tempted to try the CB300R if there was one for sale close by. I think I’m just apart of a market that is so small it’s not worth bothering about. If Honda thought they’d sell I’m sure they’d already be on the market here
That doesn't really have cafe lines... it has riser bars and no seat cowl... But, I love how you can buy a regular looking , dare I say a standard motorcycle. That has a normal seat and headlight, with minimal plastics.
These bikes don't seem to have less go than an early 70s Kawasaki S1 S2 which handled extremely well, I'm glad my motorcycle year's were in the 70s and 80s we didn't have the brakes but we certainly had the go. My favourite bikes were all 2 strokes, favourite 4 stroke ZXR 400.
Back when Japan over engineered everything and made some truly incredible machines that didn't even break the bank. The car world was the same, 80s and early 90s were the peak for anyone who liked to go fast on two or four wheels.
*edit - as for which bike in this class I would buy (if I had to): my opinion is that the BMW and the KTM ($5,799 usd!) are not the models for comparison shopping as much as the Kawasaki Z400, and Suzuki GSX250R. Simply because where I live a motorcycle license is all you need, whether ya want a Venom 125cc X22 or a Kawasaki H2R (just 998cc but...supercharged). If you can buy it and register it, you can ride away with it, regardless of skill and experience. NOT a great idea in my opinion, but... I digress. What I meant is that I think the models I referenced are more of a "newer rider skills" kind of bike. Less $ for parts, maintenance, and more forgiving for slow motion drops, and other such boo-boos. Well, at least for all but the Suzuki, since they don't make a naked bike in this class, so you have more pretty stuff to break if it falls over. That all being said, my kid bought this bike. Less than 700 miles in, cold start no starts, low idle/stalling at normal engine operating temps, and after a longer ride, he discovered it was over a quart low on oil! I hope dealership does him right.
I appreciate what you are doing but would it be better if you can check your mic setup because there is audible electric static noise. I meant no insult just advice 🙏
I appreciate the constructive comments. There’s a problem in the studio space I moved into and I can’t figure it out. At first I thought it was a grounding problem but I’ve tried a lot of different setups. Waiting for a Zoom H6 to arrive to see if it helps just having something battery powered cos I’m not sure what’s going on with the circuits in this place. Either way - I’m working on it!
Malaysian here, we got the updated 2022 CB250R variant today, and sadly its a CBU model meaning its fully imported from Indonesia. and its the most expensive (MYR23.9k) 250cc naked bike in 2022 thx to its CBU status. beating KTM Duke 250 (MYR 21.5k), Yamaha's MT-25 (MYR21.5k) and Kawasaki Z250 (MYR 19.5k) CB250R is the only 250cc naked in Malaysia to have CBU status which results in sadly, overpriced in its class.
I'm currently using RS 150. I praise Honda for their engine technology, and they never/rarely change the style of each model (e.g. 150, 300, 650) all look similar in style !! Not with other brands.
I've ridden the previous model, nice riding position and good torque, couldn't match my Ninja 250r at top end though. Do like this one in yellow, definitely not enough yellow bikes available for sale in the UK these days.
Ninja250r is a sport bike,cb300r is a neo cafe so in terms of speed of course a sport bike will win due to its design but in terms of comfortable when driving a long distance,naked and classic bike can give u that feeling and for the record,a naked bike is made for touring and relaxing,not made for speed like sports
@@irisvdb5639 Are you planning on getting a faster bike? if not I don't think you'd regret it, you'd be going from an older solid bike to a new solid bike with just abit more punch. Ah and it also depends what your riding style is, if you crave hitting the limiter all the then you might not want the cb300r, maybe a cbr250rr (if you can get your hands on one) could be nicer, or maybe honda revives the cbr300r
Interesting that the Kawasaki Z400 was not considered as option as the KTM is mentioned. At a cost of 5% more and getting at least 20% more bike, without comparing looks, I can assume the Z is the real contender compared to the Honda?
When it comes to the A2 naked segment, the only three contenders in my opinion are the CB300r, the Kawasaki Z400, and the KTM Duke 390. The Honda is the most agile due to it's inverted fork and light weight, and the highest build quality and most durable (because Honda). The Z400 is the overall best value, with the most power and more than adequate Kawasaki build quality. The KTM is almost powerful as the Kawi, and almost as nimble as the Honda (inverted fork), but it's the least reliable.
Why not the r3/mt03 it has 10hp more? Atleast that bike has enough power you won't get killed on the highway in my state. The ninja/z400 is good. Personally I would choose the cb500f/cbr500r.
@@zig_zag____1265 I've (and many others) have ridden 125cc bikes on the Autobahn. I don't want to sound dumb but if that's possible, complaining about anything 250cc and up not being able to take a highway is just an excuse. 125cc on the Autobahn is not fun, but you can do it. People also drive 60ish hp cars on the Autobahn, you don't need 200+hp for that.
Really big fan of this little bike and I'm happy to hear its getting a few nice updates which make it even better. IMO puts the 500F naked completly out of contention with almost no benifets over this 300R. Even if they update the 500 it still wouldn't be enough to justify over the 300R especially when the 650R is just a bit more.
Hi Daniel. I've owned the CB500F and currently own a CB300R. I have to say, on paper, the performance to weight figures say one thing but in practice the CB500F is a much stronger engine, that produces it's power at half the revs than the 300, so their is instant go. On the motorway, the engine is a lot more relaxed. I found the 500 to be more comfortable, more stable (due to it's extra weight) and more practical, in that you can fit hard luggage easily and a centre stand. The CB500F costs £1000 more to buy but I feel your getting a lot more bike. I swopped because I liked the idea of a bike 45 Kgs lighter. I may go back to the new CB500F as I've realised the loss of 45 Kgs in weight does not compensate for the loss of the qualities mentioned above. Both are great machines I'd recommend to anyone. The CB650R is in a different class completely with tremendous performance, but at £7400. Cheers.
If the weight difference does not bother you it's CB500f any day, why? Because the 471cc parallel twin is more flexible engine in general than on the 300r. If you intend to use it on highways or longer rides at higher speeds the 300r might feel tired and consume more fuel due to higher rpms at let's say 70mph. Realibility wise I think they should more equal as long as it's serviced regularly.
The 300 is only 31hp the 500 is 49hp. The 300 is severely underpowered. The 500 weighs more but still noticeably more power and speed. 10-15hp more would make this a great bike and more competitive in the 300/400 class.
@@zig_zag____1265 The 500 series has 47 bhp, not fast but the torque is amazing. It will however sit at 90mph all day on a highway and still returns over 50mpg, ride like a granny then 90mpg is achievable lol.
@Jim Bird The old adage of "its more fun to go fast on a slow bike than it is to go slow in a fast bike" is very true, one can't deny the appeal of more torque. Can't blame a salesman for trying to sell a bigger bike, lol 🙂
Do your research when you review. This motorcycle does not have cornering ABS. A couple of cheaper Honda motorcycles, the 2018+ CB125R and CB300R and the 2020+ CBR300R, have an IMU but not cornering ABS. Their ABS just detects pitch, and modulates brake balance under dive conditions - it’s not quite cornering ABS.
Personally I’ll never understand the need of a slipper assist clutch on something this small or a gear indicator on anything anywhere outside of a race track. Never had one always knew what gear I was in. Once I had one never found a need for it. You should spend every second concentrating on riding not concentrating on a screen to figure out where you are. Put some tape over it till your brain automatically counts gears. It will. You don’t need another thing to take your eyes away from paying attention to your surroundings. So many drivers on their phones, you need every second
I'm glad to see this announced, it was the bike I was planning to get once I passed my test but due to covid, I have had to sit my CBT again so I'm staying on L plates 1 more year to get my money out of the CBT and bought myself the new Grom. I'm hoping to be able to sit my test later this year then will get the CB300R next year.
Hi Bob, another good video 👍 Do you know if it's possible to upgrade a CB500F 2022 model with a rounded frontlight and a seat as this CB300R has? It would be perfect for me. Thank you ✌️
If I was buying a 300cc, I would buy this CB300R or maybe the Honda Rebel 300. I have become a loyal Honda rider so would not consider the other models as I live in Thailand and Honda have 72% of the motor bike market and nearly all Honda motorbikes under 750cc are manufactured in Thailand for the world market.
I am going to wait for the Honda CL300 and CL500 Scrambler to come out as it has twin rear shocks. I don't like the new style of motorbikes with mono rear shock and stepped seat being an oldie.
I think it's a very good motorcycle, but in Japan, there is a vehicle inspection system for displacements of 250cc or more, so I'm wondering if it will be released as it is with 300cc or with a bore down.
Honda is doing some very weird very frustrating things as of late. The 500 class SHOULD make its 300 class obsolete except it's slow, heavy, and uninspiring to the point of being forgettable. The 300 class is fun light and flickable perfect for city riding but is outshined by the MT-03/R3 and Ninja/Z 400 in terms of power. The KTM 390 twins and the Husky 401 twins outshine the Honda in every category but availability. Honda's only claim to fame, its reliability is only good for resale value and comes at the cost of HP. They are making seemingly no attempt whatsoever to be competitive in the beginner market. If they merged their two beginner classes, they could cut R&D and actually be more competitive with the stiff competition.
I ride a 500, it's a blast, sounds great with a slipon (even with the baffle in) and handles like a dream. I don't have anything to complain about the bike. Oh wait the stock tires I have on are kinda crappy, but thats it
I have the 300R and have had it since 2018 and it is amazing. I've been riding on it for just shy of 4 years now and I can't find a reason to upgrade. It is an outstanding bike. It is also incredibly forgiving and the safety features have, I believe, saved my life more than once. I've ridden it through torrential rain, strong winds, up mountains and on rough roads and it does it all just fine. Can't praise the bike high enough. And it's a beauty as well, even years later people ask me constantly if it's brand new and what kind of bike it is. Edit: Also the upgrades on the bike seem to fix basically every single shortcoming. The lack of gear indicator was a serious oversight for a beginner bike. The seat on the original can be a bit hard so fixing that is nice too. Damn. I'd almost trade in just to get this new one.
2018 with Wet gluch?
What is the fuel consumption
alright look, everyone is all so obsessed with power in the low cc class and I gotta say, yall are definitely missing the point. I mean, fact is, the cb300r has enough power to do anything you could possibly require it to do on city streets. Full stop. Even on the highway it is just fine. yea, its topped out on the highway, but unless you're spending all of your time there, it wont matter, and even if you do what I did, and take a 1200 mile cross country trip on the cb300r, it will also handle that just fine. Keep it topped on oil and it will happily eat miles all day long. That low weight makes a hell of a lot more of an impact than you would expect. below 50 this thing changes direction like a bicycle, you can dart from lane to lane with little to no effort, and the single cylinder engine has enough power low down to rocket off the line and startle any street racers you might encounter.
If you want power, fair enough, but frankly I think people sweat it way too much.
I've been riding my 500 for a good 4 years now and I have never managed to hit anywhere near the limiter on 3nd gear without being illegal fast outside the Autobahn. Which only means that >48hp cannot be used on the streets to the fullest.
And I bet anyone would hardly be able to fully use a 300 to it's limit.
The only thing missing on the 500 tbh is a 270° crank, if honda drops that I'd trade my bike in for a cbr500r and call it a day
I will choose this bike over any of the others since it's 20kg lighter. That makes a big difference when you're throwing it around heavy traffic downtown. Very impressive bike.
The CB300R is an underrated bike! I’ve had a Duke 390 and a Husky 401 and both rattle way more than the smooth Honda. I’ve also had the CB1000R which is lovely but the 300 just has that super light feel that makes up for the power. It’s like a grown up grom. Great looks, punchy, frugal, fast enough and economical to run. Cheap to service and maintain too.
I’ve ordered the Matt black 2022 model and I look forward to it.
The mt03/R3 also have a heavy clutch lever and that affects comfort on longer rides.
This little 300 is a perfect B road blast. In skilled hands it will out manoeuvre a lot of bigger bikes! It is a shame Honda didn’t make it a full 300cc but the engine is well proven and super reliable.
For gods sake Honda make it a full 300cc or bump it to 350cc as a single a 350 would be a great improvement
Very unlikely for Honda to do so as there is the CB400SF, affectionately the Super Four, since, well pretty much forever..
@@zakhey that's not on sale outside of asia. so getting something for europe and NA would make sense
@@zakhey I always wanted the Super Four in the West, I blame a certain anime that made me like the bike.
Doing so would make it a very attractive prospect and put it up there with the top beginner bikes; Ninja / Z 400, R3, Duke 390.
Why? If you need more, go for a 500. 286cc is fine, 300 would not make any difference on the wheel.
I am very excited to see some tech and high-spec parts trickling down to the this class of bikes! Particularly in the US, the 300ish class has always been pretty boring, but in the past few years, these bike have been getting more appealing.
Had mine for 2 years, great fun,even toured on it with soft luggage,been riding 46 years and this is a great light bike
Thanks for sharing your ownership review. How does it perform on off-road and mud?
Test rode this bike, it felt like a 150cc, it was so light. Peppy engine and handles great.
I had the 2020 version of this bike. I didn’t like how ridiculously small first gear was (you’d have to shift at about 5mph from a light), and I also wish its top gear were larger. It could go highway speeds, no problem, but it felt like it was screaming at 65mph -fine for twenty minute rides, but not ideal for long days on the highway (not was this was designed for, anyway). Otherwise, I adored this motorcycle. It felt very light, indeed, got incredible gas mileage, and was beautiful.
5mph? I can get that with just the clutch alone. 😅
I've had the 2020 CB300R for knocking two years and can comfortably get up to 15mph in 1st before having to shift. (Though I can still squeeze another few mph if I really want to push it.)
And though it runs high in the rev's, it can comfortable cruise at 70mph without decimating the engine.. Managed to get 95mph out the bike on a flat with no backwind. (Though at that point the engine was giving all it possibly could.)
IM(American)O Honda would be served well by killing off the 500F and 500R and replacing them with a CB500R. The styling and design is worlds better on the CB-XxxR models than the F models. As someone that started on a Cbr500r the engine is plenty potent enough for American roads. It wasn’t good enough to deserve a CBR designation, but would primo for a CB neo cafe model
The CB500F and CBR500R should be discontinued in North America. They were designed to meet European regulations that don't exist over here, and therefore are superfluous. They're heavy, underpowered and fill an awkward niche between the beginner friendly CB300R/CBR300R and the middleweight "real motorcycles" the CB650R/CBR650R.
@@andrewmiller407 unfortunately that engine has been a staple stepping stone for the Rebel crowd. With the Rebel 1100 out now there is zero need to have both the 300 and 500 engine in any American model, including the CB-F, CB-R and CBR-R. I’d say just kill off the 300s, leave us a CB500R neo retro, and keep it at that. That engine is docile enough for beginners and plenty for at least the first riding season. Set MSRP for a CB500R between $4,999-5,499 and they would sell amazingly.
One of the few bikes I regret selling over the years was my 1975 cb550four that I owned in the early 90’s and was simply indestructible as it was reliable and personally I would not hesitate to purchase a new cb500r. The f model does nothing for me and the CBR designation on that 500 engine seems misplaced
@@bfarm44 there isn’t a single person that has ridden one that would argue that point. It’s not a CBR, it’s a CB-F in a skirt. The only true CBRs exist in 650, 600, and 1000 badging and the 650 only gets in by I-4 default. If I didn’t find the 2016 cbr I had for $4k I wouldn’t have bought it. It was cheaper than a ninja 400 or 650 in my area and half the price of an FZ/MT07 without including super sketchy examples
@@Otterplus I agree on killing the 300 and keeping the 500 or killing both and making a 400.
The 500 is hella fun, sure they weig abit more but they make more torque.
This bike can hit nearly 80 mpg, I think its a good looking super commuter really. Light and nimble and great reliability is what a commuter or urban delivery rider needs.
Delivery drivers nowadays use cheap reliable scooters with low fuel consumption and space for luggage and a delivery box rack like pcx 125 or nmax 125 because they are also comfortable to sit all day , you can stretch your legs, you have protection against wind and rain and first of all they are automatic. Commuters can get whatever they want, i am a commuter and i have a scooter too , i also used a smaller displacement motorcycles and more sporty ones like nc750x and f900xr but it was a pain in the ass to drive around the city especially during summer with the engine heating your soul and you having to go up and down the gears all the time, knees bent can't really stretch them out, minimal protection against wind/rain not a good time for a commuter but each to his own people commute on turbo busas and live through hell everyday since they like their motorcycle so much.
@@silotx yeah ok, i'm considering a pcx 125 but no fun on weekends
Mine gets 72mpg and I Cain it. In comparison the 500x I owned hit 65, and the NC hit 60
@@peterd3215 you're talking about cb or pcx?
@@maestri240z cb300r mate. Def wouldn't buy one of these if I was a delivery driver, it would suck. Scooters are perfect for that role
Why the heck did Honda NOT give the NeoCafé treatment to the CB500F ?
true
I swear, but maybe because the 500 is on the pricier side of the segment (assuming you don't go for a 650 restricted)
My guess is that the engine didn't need updated for euro 5, so there was no desire to redesign the looks and update the bike. don't quote me though, that's just my guess
Because the cb650r
@@andorszen you know there was a cb650f right?
I had one when it first came out, the 2018 CB300R and....it is an awesome bike, it's the best looking bike on the market by far. I did a 9 hour day across England on it, I did 80k of the TET on it. You don't spend any time in traffic, you sail straight through it all. Loads of people have this bike as a second bike also. because it's just amazing. The only thing is on a 400 mile trip I had to keep filling up loads as you are running the engine at max.
This bike is awesome, I really wish they hadn't just recycled the CB650R and actually approached it to be a real CB...R, it's a fake to me which is why I didn't buy one. IF they had have done a CB500R that would have been great, even a real CB650R would be nice. Such a beautiful bike.
I think the CB650R with that great 4 cylinder engine and nice style is a great bike and this CB300R looks like a small version of it.
The cb150r is even better looking
I live in Thailand and just bought this new 2022 Honda CB300R in Candy Red as it was just released last week in Thailand.
It was not cheap at 167,000 baht (£3,900 or $4,910 ) on the road.
I have read and watched so many reviews of this motorbike where they say it is underrated and more fun to ride than the bigger CB500's.
I hope that it is ideal for pottering to 7-11 shop and commuting and filtering in city traffic (Bangkok) as well as a monthly journey, once a month, of 170 kms (105 miles).
What is the fuel consumption
@@xuyan3377 I have never checked. Petrol is 37 baht => 82p a litre and for what it costs and the kilometres it does doesn't concern me.
Time to update the CB500F to this styling, or better yet, give us an old-school naked 500 that copies the look of the H’ness. I’d be first in line for one. 👍
the cb500f isn't a neo cafe. It's a naked/streetfighter and supposed to represent the hornet
Nice little bike & at the age of 85 I love the idea of the low weight, but unfortunately for me (coming down from bigger bikes) it's somewhat lacking in grunt. So, for my money (& yes, I've recently purchased one) it has to be the Yamaha MT-03......
riding a street bike at 85 years of age😮
It would look nice in a matte green colorway 😍
They should have improved the engine performance... that's really the only thing holding this bike back... I owned one and absolutely loved the feel of the clutch and how nimble it was... I understand you would give up some of its light weight with a bigger engine... but it would be nice as say a 400cc bike.... say 40HP or so and it would be perfect
Can’t agree more.
Then buy the KTM duke 390...
They could have done it with a 350 single.
@@OlllOHD Yes just a upgrade to the engine would have been the final touch... I rode my 300R and loved it... but the engine would max out a lot... feathering the clutch helps and its fun... but get it to 41HP
Totally agree get it to 40hp so it can ride safely on the highway. I live in the states the cruising speeds are 70-75mph. The r3/mt03 and ninja/z400 can do it. I wouldn't ride any less power than those bikes.
Hmm the CB range has two singles and two four cylinders, wonder why the 500 twin hasn't been given the CB styling treatment?!?
CB250R still exist in some countries so it makes 3 single cylinder models
@@DersNoNem i mean if you wanna talk that, they probably also have a 150 somewhere.
Because it recently got the updated hornet look
i have the 2020 version its a great first bike top speed 95 it goes for a little bike for me anyway
I bought a yellow one and I am very happy.
I'm thinking about getting this bike. I sat on it when I went to the dealer. It felt so good.
I'm stateside so not sure if we'll ever see this,, but, its so much more attractive than the Rebel model. A great starter machine for sure.
Of the 4 bikes mentioned I would definitely choose the Yamaha.. 💯.
Also suggest you look at CF MOTO 300NK, I bought one. 28bhp, 18 ft/lbs torque plenty for normal road use, £2999 OTR price. Downsides, no centre stand, no dealer in Wales 100 mile round trip for servicing. Otherwise fantastic bike for the money
I love my 2016 cb300f, the updates to the suspension were definitely needed.
I wish they had increased the size of the gas tank and still dropped a few more pounds from the wet weight.
I almost bought a CB300R in 2020 in Thailand, then a friend's 2018 KTM 390 Duke came on the market. I bought that. It blows the 300 away. The 300 looks quite good, though. You see a lot of the 150 variant in Thailand.
AP Honda factory in Thailand means cheaper parts and more availability for all the Hondas.
I also live in Thailand and looking at buying a new or second hand CB300R.
@@johntheaccountant5594 I ended up buying a two-year-old KTM 390 Duke. It's been brilliant. Much quicker than the CB300R.
Soory. Just repeated myself.
@@user-sw2lv3zp6o You found a second hand KTM390 from a farang friend. I prefer the Honda CB300R for spare parts and reliability and quality and intend to keep it 20 years.
@@johntheaccountant5594 The KTM has been totally reliable in almost 23,000 km. The build quality is first class. As good as any bike I've owned. Parts are cheap and easily found. Remember, it is made in India. The CB300R is made in Thailand. Not the quality of a Japan-made bike. But decent, all the same.
I want power and style together. That's why I chose svartpilen 401.
I got the Fantic Caballero, but we are in the same page ⚡
I'd consider getting one of those if ktm put a parallel twin in there
I am short and small so I went for the cb300r 😂
@@knightryder4021 The KTM 490 and vitpilen are small bikes
I think you can mention as well the cb150r in the line up, as it is sold to more people than the cb125r.
MOTOBOB, I sure hope you get your hands on one and give it a proper test. There haven't been many and they seem to be left out of the discussion. Yes, it's down on power but the motor is feistier than the numbers imply. The 2022 CB500F is nice but it weighs 100 lbs more and it's not as attractive. Adam Waheed of MC Commute gave it a very favorable review 3 years ago.
I regularly have people straight up not believe me when I tell them the bikes specs for power. The thing rockets off the line fast enough to raise the front wheel a healthy amount; it is anything but slow.
As a 5ft rider this bike is actually perfect
I have a 2019 and I love it. Plenty of torque around town and very nimble. Also best looking out of the competition.
What is the fuel consumption
I can’t see any reason, other than Honda brand loyalty, as to why one would buy this new 300 over KTM’s 390 Duke. The little Honda is beaten in just about every dynamic regard save, perhaps, build quality and possibly reliability. Thanks for posting.
For me it was availability, no ktm dealer around but there is a honda dealer and the cb300r fit what what i wanted.
Yamaha has come in on top for minimum mfg defects for a few years now. Honda has slipped to 3rd with all the outsourcing. The MT03 is less money too for a stronger bike with the same basic build. The Duke is the best design.
This is a 280cc so 31hp out of 280 ain't bad when India bikes like RE are only making 20 out of 349cc.
So brand loyalty is likely the reason for sales.
This motor would be great if they wanted to reintroduce the Hawk retro standard bikes to compete with the RE Meteor or Classic 350. It'd blow them off the road for much less weight and 4500 quid.
Hi Nigel, I bought my CB300R over the KTM390 after a test ride. The KTM does offer great value for the money, but I found the engine rough with unpleasant vibration, a more compact riding position, and a tall hard seat. My impression was the KTM was a great bike for an hours all-out blast, but the Honda for every day riding. It illustrated to me how important a test ride is. The KTM is a faster machine, but because of the vibration, I'd just buy a bigger machine if I wanted more power. Cheers.
@@pauldavies6999 Hondas are typically Swiss watch smooth...make that Seiko Smooth.
I have an old Honda twin that is still smooth and quiet...but slow to the power band.
@@STho205Hi S Tho. I agree. The CB300R is incredibly smooth for a single, and it red lines at 10500 rpm ! I too was hoping for a new Hawk. Honda recently increased the 300 Forza scooter (279cc) to the 350 Forza (330cc) and I was hoping some of this development had been transferred to make a new CB350R. Cheers.
In the U.S. (excluding freight) the CB300 and the Husqvarna 401's are only $250 different. So as much as I like the CB line and Honda reliability I'd have to go Svartpilen 401.
Go for Honda if u want peace of mind and hassle free ownership...401 definitely a powerful motorcycle but no way near to Honda when it comes to reliability
... then the fly wheel falls off the 390, oops I mean the 401, no wait.. the 373?
(Svartpilen in english means Black Arrow) ;)
Lol, here in Europe the 401's cost about the same like a cb500f
whch is about 1k more than the 300's
When are we going to stop calling them upside down forks and just accept that upside down forks are the actual right way to do it, and prior forks were upside down the whole time.
Because they are upside down
Curious you didn’t mention the vitpilen/svartpilen 401 bikes as competitors? They are the most direct in terms of styling, although they do command a bit of a premium.
and cost as much as the cb500f if i remember correctly
Interesting how people report on bikes like the CB300R. The bike is said to be entertaining reliable, cheap, does highway riding quite well and is attractive. Great. But it is not the most powerful in class and this is made a big issue even though it's designed to operate on public roads at lawful speeds, not a race track, and is totally competent at that level. Seriously who cares if another bike is faster if your bike is fast enough for what you need? However enter the the Royal Enfield 350 beloved by commentators and testers. It is an entire 30% less powerful than the criticized weak Honda and struggles to reach highway speeds. It is often said to be "most comfortable" at 50 or 55 and this is never held against it. But testers make excuses for that and say it's about lifestyle changes.....
Why bring the RE350 up? Well the RE is too slow and has just barely adequate brakes but if that bothers you it is your fault , you are not riding it slow enough with the correct attitude. The Honda is way faster and entirely fine for it's intended purpose with way better brakes and can potter around as slow as you want on your zen Sunday ride. Yet its slower than the RC390 and the Z400 and is spurned in comparo testing because of that????? In comparison testing the Honda gets usually relegated to near last place because the MT03, Z400 and RC390 are faster. Single issue much? And probably the least important as well.
The Honda has an outstanding very long term reliability record while RE has a past record of issues that Honda fixed in the early 60's. We hope that is mostly behind RE now but we know Honda is rock solid and perhaps as good or better in reliability than almost any mass produced small bike ever. Price in my country Australia actually favors the Honda. So what is it? Styling? Cool retro name? Probably.
The RE 350s have glaring issues particularly in being unable to maintain highway speeds and brakes that would see another brand criticized not excused. However, testers and commentators gloss over these issues by saying that it's for people who are more interested in cruising slowly and enjoying scenery. Really this is a massive cop out. I like doing both and you would need a highway bike as well as the RE to do that. An expensive option. I would really like it if the Honda had great retro styling instead of a star wars look but it's still a great choice to ride and own and flexible enough to do most anything legal in comfort. I would only consider a bike I can take on a highway and all the good styling in the world can't change that. BTW I would prob buy the Z400 but that still does not explain the hypocrisy of the RE350 excuse making while talking down the much faster and more flexible Honda for not being race track oriented.
Exactly!
maybe not the quickest of the competition but also not the slowest. And with some chip tuning, you can easily boost it up to 35hp and that paired with the 20kg less...
Truth. The Vitpilen 401 is vastly superior for only $450 more. I owned a CB300R for 15k miles and sold it to get a Vit 401. Nonetheless, the Honda is a good motorcycle. The motor punches way above it's weight. The guy who bought it from me was quite surprised by that.
Unfortunately Vitpilens are not as reliable and cb300r almost returns twice the milage per litre
@@clickbaitpro I now have 2500 trouble free miles on the Vit. I don't think the CB got twice the mileage. It doesn't matter that much to me, I only ride for pleasure and it's pretty cheap pleasure. Cheers!
It might be down on outright power but that single cylinder is going to give you dirtbike-like grunt down low. Let me tell you newbies out there, a dirt bike is one of the most fun things to ride on the street!!!!
If Honda thinks this will sell over here then why won’t they release the CB350 H’ness and the CB350 RS?
I’d love to have a small lightweight bike like this. I had a Suzuki Van Van 125 and love how easy it was to wheel in and out the garage and nip around town. The disadvantage was the lack of power. 30hp is plenty for round town and a quick run on quiet lanes. I can see that it probably doesn’t stack up very well to other 300s when you’re younger and want to get the biggest bike your license will allow.
H'ness is heavier with only 20 horses
@@OlllOHD hmm, just have to buy both I guess 😆
because 1 out of 10 people would get a full retro bike over something modern. And maybe 1 from 50 young people, who are actually looking at 300's would get one.
@@Daniel-dj7fh fair point. Don’t get me wrong, I like the look of the Honda Neo range and I’d be tempted to try the CB300R if there was one for sale close by. I think I’m just apart of a market that is so small it’s not worth bothering about. If Honda thought they’d sell I’m sure they’d already be on the market here
I just went to the London motorcycle show today. Loved the bmw 310r, rival to this honda (which was not there)
That doesn't really have cafe lines... it has riser bars and no seat cowl... But, I love how you can buy a regular looking , dare I say a standard motorcycle. That has a normal seat and headlight, with minimal plastics.
neo-cafe, there is a reason why they call it that because it's not a cafe haha
my gf not happy seeing this small pillion seat. I own cb650r and it still small for her
Yes. My 2019 CB300R pillion seat is worst. She can't even sit there for half an hour comfortably.
Time to get a new girlfriend with a smaller bum.
These bikes don't seem to have less go than an early 70s Kawasaki S1 S2 which handled extremely well, I'm glad my motorcycle year's were in the 70s and 80s we didn't have the brakes but we certainly had the go. My favourite bikes were all 2 strokes, favourite 4 stroke ZXR 400.
You just reminded me of Kawasakis gold bike the zx25r (and maybe zx4r, dont know if it exists) which half the world doesn't get
Back when Japan over engineered everything and made some truly incredible machines that didn't even break the bank. The car world was the same, 80s and early 90s were the peak for anyone who liked to go fast on two or four wheels.
On 2 stroke motorcycle did u have 2 mix the fuel n oil yourself then put it in the tank ?
@@wepsychoit2002 No, oil was in a separate tank and metered into the motor as needed by an injection pump.
*edit - as for which bike in this class I would buy (if I had to): my opinion is that the BMW and the KTM ($5,799 usd!)
are not the models for comparison shopping as much as the Kawasaki Z400, and Suzuki GSX250R. Simply because where I live a motorcycle license is all you need, whether ya want a Venom 125cc X22 or a Kawasaki H2R (just 998cc but...supercharged). If you can buy it and register it, you can ride away with it, regardless of skill and experience. NOT a great idea in my opinion, but... I digress. What I meant is that I think the models I referenced are more of a "newer rider skills" kind of bike. Less $ for parts, maintenance, and more forgiving for slow motion drops, and other such boo-boos. Well, at least for all but the Suzuki, since they don't make a naked bike in this class, so you have more pretty stuff to break if it falls over.
That all being said, my kid bought this bike. Less than 700 miles in, cold start no starts, low idle/stalling at normal engine operating temps, and after a longer ride, he discovered it was over a quart low on oil! I hope dealership does him right.
Looks great and will be well built being a Honda
I wish they put out a CB500R lol
True. The F variant looks hideous.
We got the CL500 for that retro look now but I'm still not sold with that exhaust.
It beat the BMW in power to weight. You didn't mention mpg but it probably beats the other bikes here
I appreciate what you are doing but would it be better if you can check your mic setup because there is audible electric static noise. I meant no insult just advice 🙏
I appreciate the constructive comments. There’s a problem in the studio space I moved into and I can’t figure it out. At first I thought it was a grounding problem but I’ve tried a lot of different setups. Waiting for a Zoom H6 to arrive to see if it helps just having something battery powered cos I’m not sure what’s going on with the circuits in this place. Either way - I’m working on it!
@@motobob great to hear you sorting it out. Hope it goes well
Thank you for a great update - good journalism.
Honda has 399cc fantastic engine (45HP) which they use for CBR400R and CB400X. I can only guess why we will never see it in Europe :)
Emissions, the only reason. If they have to lower it to 40hp I would still get it in a cbr body
Malaysian here, we got the updated 2022 CB250R variant today, and sadly its a CBU model meaning its fully imported from Indonesia. and its the most expensive (MYR23.9k) 250cc naked bike in 2022 thx to its CBU status. beating KTM Duke 250 (MYR 21.5k), Yamaha's MT-25 (MYR21.5k) and Kawasaki Z250 (MYR 19.5k) CB250R is the only 250cc naked in Malaysia to have CBU status which results in sadly, overpriced in its class.
I'm currently using RS 150. I praise Honda for their engine technology, and they never/rarely change the style of each model (e.g. 150, 300, 650) all look similar in style !! Not with other brands.
I think I will still get the Honda 350adv scooter. So much easier in city where I do most of my riding.
$600 more, KTM 390 Duke 43 horsepower, stability control with TC/cornering abs, TFT, LED HEADLIGHT
Finally we can see you. Cheers!
I've ridden the previous model, nice riding position and good torque, couldn't match my Ninja 250r at top end though. Do like this one in yellow, definitely not enough yellow bikes available for sale in the UK these days.
Lol, so a full fairing sport bike is more slippery on the top end, then a naked bike. Shocking.
I love the looks of this little honda but I am afraid that I regret it when I sell the Ninja 250r.
Ninja250r is a sport bike,cb300r is a neo cafe so in terms of speed of course a sport bike will win due to its design but in terms of comfortable when driving a long distance,naked and classic bike can give u that feeling and for the record,a naked bike is made for touring and relaxing,not made for speed like sports
Yeah you can't have both torque and top speed unless you get a bigger engine.
@@irisvdb5639 Are you planning on getting a faster bike? if not I don't think you'd regret it, you'd be going from an older solid bike to a new solid bike with just abit more punch.
Ah and it also depends what your riding style is, if you crave hitting the limiter all the then you might not want the cb300r, maybe a cbr250rr (if you can get your hands on one) could be nicer, or maybe honda revives the cbr300r
Interesting that the Kawasaki Z400 was not considered as option as the KTM is mentioned. At a cost of 5% more and getting at least 20% more bike, without comparing looks, I can assume the Z is the real contender compared to the Honda?
If it was my cash, I would opt for the Honda, considering my age & the wait I would have to work with !!
When it comes to the A2 naked segment, the only three contenders in my opinion are the CB300r, the Kawasaki Z400, and the KTM Duke 390. The Honda is the most agile due to it's inverted fork and light weight, and the highest build quality and most durable (because Honda). The Z400 is the overall best value, with the most power and more than adequate Kawasaki build quality. The KTM is almost powerful as the Kawi, and almost as nimble as the Honda (inverted fork), but it's the least reliable.
Why not the cb500 instead?
Why not the r3/mt03 it has 10hp more? Atleast that bike has enough power you won't get killed on the highway in my state. The ninja/z400 is good. Personally I would choose the cb500f/cbr500r.
@@Gnerko123 because that's more expensive and would make most people realise that it's all they need
@@zig_zag____1265 I've (and many others) have ridden 125cc bikes on the Autobahn. I don't want to sound dumb but if that's possible, complaining about anything 250cc and up not being able to take a highway is just an excuse.
125cc on the Autobahn is not fun, but you can do it. People also drive 60ish hp cars on the Autobahn, you don't need 200+hp for that.
Zero point zero bikes in this class are fast. I like the light weight for pushing it around on poor surfaces. ( Dirt and gravel parking lot)
Bring it here in Philippines 😊
Pah you have the zx25r (and zx4r if I heard correctly), why would anyone want anything else.
I wish they did a Honda CB500R twin in the same style (round headlight) as this CB300R. I don't like the look of the 500F or X.
Honda, why don’t you bring that model here in Philippines, we are looking for it, as well as the cb150r exmotion model.
Really big fan of this little bike and I'm happy to hear its getting a few nice updates which make it even better. IMO puts the 500F naked completly out of contention with almost no benifets over this 300R. Even if they update the 500 it still wouldn't be enough to justify over the 300R especially when the 650R is just a bit more.
It’s a very good bike but a CB500F would be my choice due to the stronger engine.
Hi Daniel. I've owned the CB500F and currently own a CB300R. I have to say, on paper, the performance to weight figures say one thing but in practice the CB500F is a much stronger engine, that produces it's power at half the revs than the 300, so their is instant go. On the motorway, the engine is a lot more relaxed. I found the 500 to be more comfortable, more stable (due to it's extra weight) and more practical, in that you can fit hard luggage easily and a centre stand. The CB500F costs £1000 more to buy but I feel your getting a lot more bike. I swopped because I liked the idea of a bike 45 Kgs lighter. I may go back to the new CB500F as I've realised the loss of 45 Kgs in weight does not compensate for the loss of the qualities mentioned above. Both are great machines I'd recommend to anyone. The CB650R is in a different class completely with tremendous performance, but at £7400. Cheers.
If the weight difference does not bother you it's CB500f any day, why? Because the 471cc parallel twin is more flexible engine in general than on the 300r. If you intend to use it on highways or longer rides at higher speeds the 300r might feel tired and consume more fuel due to higher rpms at let's say 70mph. Realibility wise I think they should more equal as long as it's serviced regularly.
The 300 is only 31hp the 500 is 49hp. The 300 is severely underpowered. The 500 weighs more but still noticeably more power and speed. 10-15hp more would make this a great bike and more competitive in the 300/400 class.
@@zig_zag____1265 The 500 series has 47 bhp, not fast but the torque is amazing. It will however sit at 90mph all day on a highway and still returns over 50mpg, ride like a granny then 90mpg is achievable lol.
Excellent summary.
Ok I'm mostly just excited about those yellow side panels. I'm def buying those for my us 2022 bike. GIVE ME YELLOW
I think the only US color is blue...
Nice bike. Light, good mpg, like yellow or red, some improved tech in the inverted fork, good dash cluster. The naming convention is confusing to me.
I LOVE THE LOOKS BUT WISH IT HAD MORE POWER COMPARED TO THE KTM DUKE WHICH I CAN GET 600$ CHEAPER
The lonely z400 sits ignored in the class.🙁
@@christga100 euro 5 is the new plague.
@@christga100 that does make sense over there. Here, most start on the 400 or 650 (I did).
@Jim Bird The old adage of "its more fun to go fast on a slow bike than it is to go slow in a fast bike" is very true, one can't deny the appeal of more torque.
Can't blame a salesman for trying to sell a bigger bike, lol 🙂
Do your research when you review. This motorcycle does not have cornering ABS.
A couple of cheaper Honda motorcycles, the 2018+ CB125R and CB300R and the 2020+ CBR300R, have an IMU but not cornering ABS. Their ABS just detects pitch, and modulates brake balance under dive conditions - it’s not quite cornering ABS.
Personally I’ll never understand the need of a slipper assist clutch on something this small or a gear indicator on anything anywhere outside of a race track. Never had one always knew what gear I was in. Once I had one never found a need for it. You should spend every second concentrating on riding not concentrating on a screen to figure out where you are. Put some tape over it till your brain automatically counts gears. It will. You don’t need another thing to take your eyes away from paying attention to your surroundings. So many drivers on their phones, you need every second
I got it as my first bike and within a couple months I wanted to upgrade.
Have you been riding for a couple of months in general or was it a stepup from something smaller?
Well done , no bull review .
I'm glad to see this announced, it was the bike I was planning to get once I passed my test but due to covid, I have had to sit my CBT again so I'm staying on L plates 1 more year to get my money out of the CBT and bought myself the new Grom. I'm hoping to be able to sit my test later this year then will get the CB300R next year.
They only offer mate black in canada🥺
Mat black is a crap colour.
I got one in yellow in portugal.
Utterly fantastic motorbike.
Great video, thanks
Looks nice. I will have a look at my Honda dealer 👍
Wonder will they upgrade the engine to the on in the CB/CB350 that's coming out?
I hear that there is a lot of chain noise, whats up with that?
Can anyone tell me if it's possible to restrict the cb300r to ride once passed a CBT
Really wish they did a cb500r
Bring that cb300r here Philippines so that we can have it.
Thanks for using kg, we use kg in France 😆
Hi Bob, another good video 👍 Do you know if it's possible to upgrade a CB500F 2022 model with a rounded frontlight and a seat as this CB300R has? It would be perfect for me. Thank you ✌️
Doubt it I'm afraid! Very few parts on modern bikes are interchangeable like that...
make video about zontes 350 gk . which is the best bike in this segment also is lesser price than this big dog
No yellow for Australia😢. What the?!
The the 21 dosent have a gear indicator but the 22 does? 🤔
Everytime i watch reviews i want to take mine 4 a ride .....
If I was buying a 300cc, I would buy this CB300R or maybe the Honda Rebel 300.
I have become a loyal Honda rider so would not consider the other models as I live in Thailand and Honda have 72% of the motor bike market and nearly all Honda motorbikes under 750cc are manufactured in Thailand for the world market.
I guess it is only in south east asian country the CB150R exmotion
This engine looks/specs like the new CRF300L/Rally, so a better, closer comparison is the Kawasaki KLX300sm. (138kg/304lbs wet.)
I am going to wait for the Honda CL300 and CL500 Scrambler to come out as it has twin rear shocks.
I don't like the new style of motorbikes with mono rear shock and stepped seat being an oldie.
Update: I ended up buying a Honda CB300R and it is a great motorbike.
Like a more powerful Honda Grom.
Great for communicating and city filtering.
Best reviews are when you have actually riden them though yeah
If twin clinder more better
Im looking to get this as my first bike I'm 5ft 6.. thoughts?
I think it's a very good motorcycle, but in Japan, there is a vehicle inspection system for displacements of 250cc or more, so I'm wondering if it will be released as it is with 300cc or with a bore down.
Do you not have the cb125r?
But I know that honda has a 250cc engine they could put in there
Honda is doing some very weird very frustrating things as of late. The 500 class SHOULD make its 300 class obsolete except it's slow, heavy, and uninspiring to the point of being forgettable. The 300 class is fun light and flickable perfect for city riding but is outshined by the MT-03/R3 and Ninja/Z 400 in terms of power. The KTM 390 twins and the Husky 401 twins outshine the Honda in every category but availability. Honda's only claim to fame, its reliability is only good for resale value and comes at the cost of HP. They are making seemingly no attempt whatsoever to be competitive in the beginner market. If they merged their two beginner classes, they could cut R&D and actually be more competitive with the stiff competition.
I ride a 500, it's a blast, sounds great with a slipon (even with the baffle in) and handles like a dream. I don't have anything to complain about the bike.
Oh wait the stock tires I have on are kinda crappy, but thats it