Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has expanded its premium motorcycle segment with the introduction of the CB300R. The new Honda CB300R is the latest street-fighter from the manufacturer and carries over the Neo-Sports Cafe design language that was first introduced on the CB1000R. The CB300R is being sold via the Japanese manufacturer's premium Wing World dealerships across the country. Bookings for the new Honda CB300R are already open for a token amount of Rs. 5,000 and the bike takes on a host of offerings including the motorcycles from KTM, BMW and the likes. The street-fighter is brought to India as a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) route and is locally assembled at the company's domestic facility.
Honda CB300R Design
Modern and edgy, the Honda CB300R gets a cafe racer styling with a sporty appeal The bike gets blacked out hardware including the engine and casings that add to the aggressive look, while bringing a sharp contrast to this are the brushed aluminium radiator shroud. The bike is underpinned by a steel tabular frame with contrast black and chrome underslung dual chamber exhaust. The CB300R gets a round metal rim headlamp with its built-in horseshoe come armed with the signature two-bar light feature. The bike gets LED indicators and a thin taillight, the thinnest ever on a Honda motorcycle. The bike rides on cast aluminium alloy wheels that add to the lightweight of the motorcycle.
The bike sports an upright yet aggressive riding position coupled with the step-up seat, which makes for an overall sport-roadster look on the motorcycle. The overall design language mimics the litre-class Honda CB1000R, which makes it stand apart from other offerings in the 300 cc segment. The new Honda CB300R comes in two rich colours - Matte Axis Gray Metallic & Candy Chromosphere Red.
Honda CB300R Features
The Honda CB300R gets a fully digital instrument console with an LCD meter display that packs in a host of information including speed, engine rpm, fuel level and gear position indicator along with warning lights arrayed across the top. The bike is also the lightest motorcycle in its class at 147 kg and uses pressed and tabular steel, anchored by pressed steel swingarm pivot plates and swingarm that deliver agile handling with stability. Honda claims the CB300R gets the best-in-class power-to-weight ratio. The bike does get a rather compact fuel tank with a capacity of 10 litres, while the fuel efficiency figure is rated at around 30 kmpl.
Honda CB300R Engine
Power on the Honda CB300R comes from the 286 cc DOHC, 4-valve, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine with PGM-FI technology that produces 30.9 bhp at 8,500 rpm and 27.5 Nm of peak torque available at 7,500 rpm. The motor is paired with a 6-speed transmission. Honda says the 2-room structure in engine’s interior increases acceleration efficiency while producing a powerful & aggressive engine sound.
Honda Suspension & Brakes
Making the Honda CB300R suitable for Indian roads are the fat bar-style handlebars with 41 mm Upside Down (USD) forks up front and a monoshock unit at the rear with 5-step spring pre-load adjustment. The wheelbase is compact at 1344 mm, which makes it an agile motorcycle while giving it a turning radius of 2.3 metres. With respect to braking, the CB300R uses a 296 mm petal-type disc up front with four-piston calipers, while the rear gets a 220 mm disc with a two-piston caliper. The bike comes with dual-channel ABS as standard alon with the an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU).
Honda CB300R Prices
The new Honda CB300R is priced at Rs. 2.41 lakh (ex-showroom), which is on par with the other offerings in the segment. That said, Honda does claim lower maintenance costs on the CB300R. The engine has been designed with the minimum number of moving parts with low-friction piston rings, high-density core radiator and the iridium spark plugs that help increase fuel efficiency.
Honda CB300R Competition
Priced at Rs. 2.41 lakh (ex-showroom), the Honda CB300R needs to take on an established offering such as the KTM 390 Duke, while also locking horns against the highly-lucrative BMW G 310 R in the segment. The sports cafe naked motorcycle also locks horns against the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 for the same price tag.
