The CB300R can handle
longer trips but will
let you know that it is
being punished if you
choose to spend much
time over 125km/h
SECOND OPINION
The Honda CB300R is the kind of bike that I
would pay up the difference in price for my
18-year-old as a first bike. There are other
cheaper bikes that I’d consider, but it’s the ABS
on each of these that put them in the running.
For the Honda to get the nod it comes down to
what spins your wheels.
The Honda is a 286cc twin camshaft single
cylinder. This means the bike pulls pretty hard
down low in the revs, perfect in traffic. It’s fairly
short (read: manoeuvrable), light and has a
sweet shifting six-speed transmission.
I owned a Honda single cylinder four-stroke
early in my motorcycling life, and, I promise
you, the fuel economy is insanely good. I didn’t
50 KIWI RIDER
get a chance to verify an actual figure on the
CB300R but it will literally just sip the fuel.
Honda claims 30.2km from each of the 10 litres
in the fuel tank.
Like my old CBX250, the CB300R can handle
longer trips, but will let you know that it is being
punished if you choose to spend much time
over 125km/h. Of course, that’s not what it’s
designed for, but one thing the CB300R does
very well is gobble up city life. The look and
finish are a typically good Honda standard,
and the riding position is capable of suiting a
range of riders from short (read: normal) right
through to six foot or so.