Honda CB300R

[roadster]

I have just bought one of these and the first impression is that Honda have pulled off the trick of making a small engine both reasonably willing to rev and yet torquey in the lower part of the rev range. It also sounds quite throaty in response to the throttle. Many previous Hondas I have owned performed well but lacked character in the way that power was delivered, but not so this engine. I'll get some pictures when the weather improves.

Extras so far:-
Indicator warning beeper.
Givi carrier brackets with Shad top box platform.
Pyramid fender extender.

On the way:-
Givi small windscreen.
EBC HH front brake pads.
Fused battery connector socket. ( Battery is ridiculously inaccessible)

Watch this space!

[Bigjawa]

The only Honda engine they haven't done the 'CB n R' thing to is the 500 twin but surely it wild sell bucket loads

Dunno, the benchmark for 500 twins was the GPZ500 and it was never a huge seller, and comparatively speaking the Honda 500 engine is a plodder whereas the GPZ was a wee rocket.

[Skub]

It's okay, a bit to angular for my taste, if it's making 31bhp it's pretty impressive for a 300cc 4 stroke single.

An Sh300 scooter makes 26bhp,but it's a fair bit heavier.

Manufacturers now make cans that never see the road they are so fugly,so tidy that up and it'll look ok,if a tad unremarkable.

Probably goes better than it looks,ie very Honda.

[MyLittleStudPony]

I know it's down the the way the market works, Japanese licence laws and all the rest of it, but modern singles don't feel as special to me as the old IL4, V4 and V2 400cc bikes of yesteryear. I dunno, a single always feels poverty spec in a way a multi just doesn't.

I'm under no illusions that bike is, objectively speaking, probably loads better than my 1989 400 was though

I know what you mean, it makes my KTM feel a bit budget. Although modern fuel injection helps.

This is not a bad watch:

[Skub]

I know what you mean, it makes my KTM feel a bit budget. Although modern fuel injection helps.

This is not a bad watch:

Did that old G5 variant clanker make it through the video without needing a cam chain?

[mangocrazy]

I'm surprised that F9 found a CB360 that a) hadn't dissolved into a pile of ferric and aluminium oxide b) still had an engine that wasn't in a million pieces. The CB360 was a 3-legged dog with scabies. Couldn't they have found a more believable oldie to use as a comparison?

[A_morti]

I fitted an old school Quill stainless steel oval silencer to mine, but with the carbon end cap to fit the bike a little better. It's long for the size of the bike, but reduces the overall width as viewed from behind by a noticeable amount. I bunged the catalyst from a KTM 250exc between the link pipe and the silencer, which both knocks a good few decibels off and deletes that smell of fuel you get out the exhaust if you remove the cat.

Also fitted a Givi topbox, but other than that I just rode it. Past tense because it's for the chop: the engine is good, brakes are excellent, I love how light it is... but the suspension is just too firm for the roads around here. It has quite a short travel geometry at the rear, which means you couldn't really get a much softer shock anyway.

If anyone is bored of the rattling chain (they all do that sir) then change the rear sprocket to an aftermarket JT sprocket. The original has a chain catcher ring, which makes the noise. You can drill out the rivets and delete it, but the sprocket is also slightly too narrow for the chain allowing it to move side to side and so you still get some noise from it. It's better just to replace the sprocket.

[A_morti]

I took mine for a wash, gave it a good wipe down, and listed it on marketplace this morning.

Cost 4,950€ plus plates (5,163€) in November 2020, listed it for 4,250 with 3,750 in mind as the bottom line, and have just accepted an offer of 3,700€.

Great little bike, but just not the right chassis for this island's roads.

[roadster]

Just a comment on the new CB300R now that I have done a couple of spannering jobs. Whoever screwed the bike together didn't possess a torque wrench and several bolts and screws were grossly overtightened. I had to use a full size mains electric impact wrench on the 24mm rear axle nut and it still took two attempt before it was free. A double length ring spanner just would not shift it. Other smaller fasteners did give way to brute force but were horribly overtightened.

[Supermofo]

I find that with loads of bike stuff being too tight. Having said that Suzuki reckon 20nm for the oil filter which sounds well overkill.

[A_morti]

Just a comment on the new CB300R now that I have done a couple of spannering jobs. Whoever screwed the bike together didn't possess a torque wrench and several bolts and screws were grossly overtightened. I had to use a full size mains electric impact wrench on the 24mm rear axle nut and it still took two attempt before it was free. A double length ring spanner just would not shift it. Other smaller fasteners did give way to brute force but were horribly overtightened.

Mine was delivered with the battery terminals and every screw you'd touch to access the battery all finger tight. I put that down to the monkey who did the PDI though, not the factory worker in Thailand.

I daresay checking torque on the rear axle nut is on the PDI checklist, so maybe that's how that got overtightened.

[The Spin Doctor]

The only Honda engine they haven't done the 'CB n R' thing to is the 500 twin but surely it wild sell bucket loads

I think you'll find they did...

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/ran ... rview.html

[A_morti]

I think you'll find they did...

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/ran ... rview.html

That's a CBR 'n' R, not a CB 'n' R

[Cousin Jack]

Makes no difference, its a CB500F wearing a posh frock.

[The Spin Doctor]

I think you'll find they did...

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/ran ... rview.html

That's a CBR 'n' R, not a CB 'n' R

OK, see what you mean.

[roadster]

At last a dry morning here are a couple of pictures.

DSCF5172.jpg (483.73 KiB) Viewed 243 times

DSCF5173.jpg (571.4 KiB) Viewed 243 times

Running in is going well and can't wait to explore the 10,500 rpm red line.

[A_morti]

Did you already lose a heat shield off the exhaust?

[roadster]

Did you already lose a heat shield off the exhaust?

There are a few things which I take off such as the heat shield, american style side reflectors, strap over the seat, pillion rests where possible. I would get rid of the false tank panels if I could but the actual petrol tank has all the charm of a lavatory cistern!