Honda CB300F

An initially steep price tag followed the Honda CB300F’s launch, but the Japanese brand did some revisions over time to make it more attractive against the Suzuki Gixxer 250 and KTM 250 Duke. For those who have had enough of 150 cc motorcycles, this one’s current pricing is very reasonable.

From Honda’s side, they have kept the bike’s variants simple as well: a standard model and a flex-fuel alternative, with the latter being fully equipped to face India’s ethanol drive over the coming years. On both variants, you get dual-channel ABS and dual disc brakes; no compromises on that front.

Expect reasonable mileage figures from this bike, even though it actively maintains its punchy urban performance. During typical city riding, the bike sticks to minimal fuel consumption if you ride calmly, and the 14.1-litre fuel tank has some decent riding range on standby before you need a refill.

Honda equips this streetfighter with a lot of functional and rider-focused features.

Instrumentation & Connectivity

• The motorcycle has a fully digital instrument console.
• You get five levels of brightness adjustability for this console, which helps with visibility.
• It displays your speed, engine rpm, gear position, and two trip meters.
• The higher DLX Pro variant also gives Bluetooth connectivity within the package.

Kingshuk notes,

"The negative display looks cool, though it can be a bit difficult to read in direct, bright sunshine."

Practical Technology & Storage Integration

• Keeping your smartphone charged on the road is simple, with the USB Type-C charging port given on the console.
• As is expected with a naked streetfighter, storage is essentially non-existent. You will only find enough room under the seat to tuck in a small toolkit and basic documents.

Safety Technology

• The dual-channel ABS offers a strong safety net for panic braking situations.
• Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) is present, preventing the rear wheel from slipping up on loose surfaces.
• A side-stand engine cut-off sensor is also there, making sure you never ride off with the stand down.

This motorcycle feels incredibly natural and confident to take out on the road; its chassis puts stability first ahead of aggressive, track-focused sharpness.

City Handling

Navigating through dense traffic on this bike is fun, we admit. The lightweight 153 kg kerb weight keeps the bike feeling nimble at the slowest of speeds, and you can flick it through most gaps. The wide handlebars also give you great leverage for the most extreme manoeuvres.

Highway Stability

On uninterrupted stretches, the motorcycle’s planted and predictable personality shines. The 150-section rear tyre has excellent grip to keep the rear end anchored during high-speed runs. However, as we said earlier, you will feel some vibrations creeping into the handlebars once you push past 80 kmph.

Suspension Behaviour

The golden upside-down front forks and five-step adjustable rear monoshock work brilliantly together.

Kingshuk mentions its real-world performance,

"As for the suspension, it’s a sublime, balanced tune. It isn't overly stiff and manages to iron out undulations in the road."

Rider & Pillion Comfort

• The upright riding posture means that your back stays relaxed during long spells in the saddle.
• The wide, stepped seat has excellent support for both the rider and the pillion.
• Pillion riders also get sturdy rear grab rails for holding on tight during bumpy stretches.

Recent price cuts after GST 2.0 implementation have made this 300 cc machine a compelling bike to check out in the Indian market. You get to select the variant based on whether you want to keep challenging India’s evolving fuel norms or you want to embrace them instead.

Which Honda CB300F Should You Buy?

• DLX Pro Variant: This is arguably the most popular choice at the moment, keeping the topic of fuel consumption aside. It costs around Rs. 1.55 lakh (ex-showroom) and has immense value to add with all the essential features onboard, such as the digital console and the highly useful Bluetooth connectivity module.
• Flex-Fuel Variant: Look at the recent addition if you think ethanol is truly the future. Priced at roughly Rs. 1.70 lakh, it runs on ethanol-blended petrol up to E85. While it delivers the same power figures and aggressive styling, this variant supposedly helps reduce your carbon footprint over time.

The Honda CB300F faces heat from many rivals in its space, all of them satiating different riding tastes. Its most direct challengers are no doubt the Suzuki Gixxer 250 and the Bajaj Pulsar N250.

The Suzuki is more about sporty dynamics and high-revving performance, and the Pulsar focuses on providing a very raw, torque-heavy streetfighter experience. The Honda, with Japanese refinement at its core, gives a punchy mid-range and fantastic city usability at an aggressive price point.

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