The updated Honda CB300R will be coming to Canada in 2018.
Honda unveiled the updated CB300R on the global stage at November’s EICMA show, with styling directly related to the new CB1000R, aka the “Neo Sports Cafe.” It’s powered by a liquid-cooled 286 cc single-cylinder motor, same as the previous version, and same as the CBR300 sportbike from which it’s derived—the power isn’t going to blow you away. However, the styling is a bold change in direction from the usual nondescript beginner-category naked bikes; it’s Blade Runner, not blah, and had a lot of people excited when it broke cover.
A naked beginner bike that noobies might actually prefer over a similar cc sport bike? Sounds crazy, but it just might work. Traditionally, there’s been a lot more interest from beginners in small-displacement sportbikes than their equivalent naked bikes. Is that because beginner sportbikes often carry heavy discounts, or do they carry heavy discounts because of the demand? Which comes first, a chicken or an egg? Either way, it will be interesting to see what MSRP this Honda carries when it shows up here. The CB300R will be a 2019 model when it comes to Canada sometime this spring.
The official Honda press release is below:
HONDA CANADA ANNOUNCES 2019 CB300R
MARKHAM, ON. (January 8, 2018) – Honda Canada is happy to announce that the recently unveiled all-new ‘sport naked’ CB300R will be coming to Canada as a 2019 model. This stylish, stripped-back 300 sport-naked is a great way for new riders to enter into motorcycling in style.
The styling of this bike is a deliberate reduction, putting the machine’s blacked-out hardware on display. It’s also brutally neat and brings a new hard-edged attitude to the naked bike scene. The cutaway tail unit is barely there, and supports separate rider and pillion seats plus the nylon rear mudguard mount. Both rider and pillion footpeg hangers are aluminum.
Fun to ride, a joy to own and representing a bold new direction for smaller displacement machines, the CB300R has many of the premium features found on its larger capacity 1000cc sibling. It injects a fresh new style, with a ‘Neo Sports Café’ minimalist, bare-boned attitude shared with its 1000 stablemate. Canada’s new 2019 CB300R sport-naked is the ideal machine for new riders to develop their riding skills and it is also a great introduction to Honda, with the brand’s engineering prowess, design philosophy and high build quality firmly on display.
The lightweight ‘Neo Sports Café’-styled CB300R weighs in at 143kg wet and features a responsive 286cc liquid-cooled engine, six speed gearbox, tubular/pressed steel frame chassis, upside-down (USD) fork, radial-mount 4-piston front caliper, hubless floating front disc and a preload adjustable monoshock. Rounding out this well-appointed, small-displacement motorcycle is a tapered rubber-mounted aluminum handlebar; full LED lighting, an LCD display and IMUbased ABS.
The chassis’ core strength is anchored by the pressed steel swingarm pivot plates and swingarm, allowing the tubular steel lattice frame to deliver agile handling with stability and feedback. The USD fork also complements the CB300R’s handling with compliant damping and a supple spring rate.
The single rear shock offers 5-step spring preload adjustment. A 49.6% front/50.4% rear weight bias provides a positive feel for front-end grip and easy steering, which is also helped by the low 143kg wet weight and compact 1352mm wheelbase.
The aluminum fat-bar-style handlebars turn through a 40° radius on each side, and the 2.3m turning radius guarantees easy passage in jammed city traffic. Seat height is 799mm. The front 296mm hubless floating disc is worked by a radial-mount Nissin 4-piston caliper; the rear 220mm disc sports a single-piston caliper. Both are modulated by 2-channel ABS. The high specification system works through an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to give precise front to rear distribution of ABS operation depending on the bike’s behavior.
A thin (23.5mm), lightweight (230g) full-function LCD instrument display provides speed, engine rpm, fuel level and gear position, with warning lights arrayed across the top. Full LED lighting – including indicators – adds a premium feel and contributes to mass centralization. The headlight uses a dual bar light signature (upper for low beam and lower for high beam) and the taillight is the thinnest ever mounted on a Honda motorcycle.
The 10L fuel cell is hidden underneath an angular cover, and houses an aircraft-style filler cap. The CB300R delivers great fuel economy and will travel up to 300km on a single tank.
The CB300R’s compact 286cc DOHC 4-valve liquid-cooled single cylinder engine – shared with the CBR300R – is a diminutive jewel that has won many fans for its freerevving and responsive nature. And while that free-spinning character can get the adrenaline pumping as revs rise, it’s also an engine that works well in ‘real-world’ road riding conditions. Peak power arrives @ 8,500rpm, with peak torque delivered @ 7,500rpm. The 6-speed gearbox offers an even spread of gears for strong acceleration.
Bore and stroke is set at 76 x 63mm, with compression ratio of 10.7:1. PGM-FI fuel injection – with 38mm throttle bore and straight-shot intake path – delivers crisp throttle response across the rev range. The exhaust is underslung and exits on the right side through a dual-chamber muffler.
To reduce maintenance costs – an important factor for many riders – the engine is also designed with the minimum number of moving parts. Details like the low-friction piston rings, high-density core radiator and iridium spark plug help increase fuel efficiency.
This all-new CB300R is a great addition to the Honda Canada family of small-cc bikes, furthering Honda’s commitment to new riders as well as existing riders who are simply looking for a stylish and fun commuter.
Colour: Red Chromosphere Red; Matte Axis Gray Metallic\
Price: TBD
Availability: Spring 2018
Info: http://motorcycle.honda.ca/category/naked
The ever shrinking fuel tank strikes again.
The R is 40 pounds less than the F (both wet)! That is significant. Should be an increase in performance even though the motor specs are the same.
If Honda knows what’s good for them, they’ll restyle the Honda CB500f just like that instead of that dated street fighter look.
yes please. and i’d still go further and clean the lines up on the cb300r as it still looks too ‘insect-like’ for my tastes. spec-wise though it looks perfect!
I wonder if we’ll be seeing this model in the USA, too? Hope so.