VOL. 51 ISSUE 34 AUGUST 26, 2014 P83
excellent clutch with
the motor's increased
torque and crisp on/
off throttle fueling, be-
ginners will master
launches in no time on
the CBR300R.
Our first, and so far
only, taste of riding the
CBR300R took place
during an introductory
ride hosted by Honda
that was conducted
on mostly low-speed roads with
some gentle curvy sections, and
there were plenty of stop-and-
go sections in between. Overall,
the little CBR300R was fun to
ride. Its relaxed seating position
makes city riding very tolerable
yet is still aggressive enough to
make more spirited rides com-
fortable, as well.
We made a detour onto the
freeway for a short run in top gear
and it held its own just fine. It
doesn't scream quite as much as
the CBR250R at 65 mph and ac-
celerates a little better at speed.
Again, the difference between
the CBR300R and CBR250R on
the freeway isn't night and day
but every little bit—in this case,
power—helps.
The CBR300R's suspen-
sion isn't anything to write home
about, but it gets the job done
well enough. It's not plush by
any means; it's actually a little on
the stiff side and you feel every
bump in the road. Unfortunately,
but not unexpectedly, the CBR's
suspension is not adjustable ex-
cept for shock preload. Still, the
CBR300R is a very good han-
dling machine that rides well and
can be ridden fairly hard through
the S-turns with excellent results.
Like with any small-bore motor-
cycle, though, momentum—no
mistakes—is the key for maintain-
ing a good clip through the twist-
ies on the CBR300R. Luckily,
The CBR300R is just as
easy and enjoyable to
ride than the previous
CBR250R but with more
torque and a hint more
power.
Honda also offers a naked version
of the CBR300R—the CB300F.
It's the same bike but without all
the plastic and with taller and
wider handlebars. It's a steal at just
$3999.
