2018 Honda CB300R

7th November 2017

286cc | 31-bhp | A2 licence friendly

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New for 2018 is this 286cc single cylinder CB300R roadster aimed squarely at the A2 licence category. Any similarity between this and Honda's imminent CB1000R is not coincidental.

The power output is quoted at a respectable enough 31bhp @ 8,500rpm. Torque is quoted as 20lb-ft (27Nm) @ 7,500rpm. The bore and stroke are, respectively, 76mm x 63mm. The compression ratio is 10.7:1. Transmission is 6-speed via a wet multi-plate clutch. Starting, as you'd expect, is electric.

The suspension is merely workaday rather than anything exciting. The inverted front fork has 37mm tubes with 130mm of travel. There's no adjustment, so one rate will have to suit all. At the rear is a monoshock spring/damper fitted to a Pro-Link swinging-arm with 107mm of travel. There's a 5-position pre-load on that.

Wheels are 17-inch front and rear. That should afford owners a decent choice of tyre. The front rubber is 110/70R17M/C 54H. The rear is 150/60R17M/C 65H.

The frame is a mix of budget-conscious tubular steel and pressed steel. The front brake is a single Nissin 4-pot operating on a 297mm disc. The rear brake is a single piston caliper. ABS is mandated, and this bike is so equipped with a twin channel system together with an IMU (Inertial Measuring Unit).

The weight of this bike is 321lbs (146kg) which is pretty typical for a roadster in this category. And that, according to Honda, is wet weight rather than dry.

The fuel tank capacity is 2.2 gallons (10 litres). The economy is a claimed 85mpg which seems credible enough. And the seat height in 31-inches (799mm).

Overall, this looks like a decent motorcycle that will fit a niche that isn't exactly over-populated at present. To our taste, it's a little over-styled. But that's pretty much the norm at present, and we can't imagine it will lose Honda many target customers.

Once again, we've had no word on price or delivery. But we're assuming that we'll see this early in 2018.

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