Honda is releasing 2 new 2015 bikes in the US...anytime now. The CBR300r has the same thumper as the 250r but a longer stroke. This, after Ninja 300 sales pretty much decimated sales of the CBR250r. Honda will also release a naked version of the bike...a CB300f with a list price of $3999. That's the one I'm interested in. Why? Low weight. Wet weight of the CB300f is 348 lbs. compared to the Ninja 300 weight of 386 lbs. 38 lbs. makes a lot of difference in a small bike like this. Seat ht. is favorable for someone of modest height as well at 30.7 in. compared to the Ninja 300 seat ht. of 30.9 inches, so the CB300f is geared toward new, shorter riders. What I do not like about the new bike (at least I think I don't like it) will be the valve clearance check. Like many bikes it has the bucket and shim style valves like the FZ-07. I am anticipating the CB300s will have a valve check scheduled for 600 miles, just like the 250r. The FZ-07 scheduled valve check is at 23,600 miles. Thing is, this is an expensive service, and if you buy a new Honda, in a week or two, you get to shell out another $500 for the oil change/valve check. That's just wrong! If the valves need adjusting at 600 miles, they were off to begin with. That aside, the bike should be a great little all-around motorcycle. If I bought one, I would try to get the first service included in the purchase. Then I wouldn't let the dealer tell me it doesn't need a valve check, provided the manual lists a valve check. That is a common situation...mechanics telling you to ignore early valve checks. So what happens if your engine blows and you didn't check the valves?
CB300f
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I owned a CB500F for about six months before I got the FZ. She was a great bike. I just traded to the FZ for more power, but got a lot more. I hope the 300 works out for you. As for the valves I don't have a clue, sorry.
Yes, I know the 300 will be slower but it won't be to replace my FZ-07. I like a variety of bikes. I owned a 2014 Ninja 300 and the Honda CB300f will be very close to that in performance. The fact it is almost 40 pounds lighter than the Ninja is the part that interests me. I see the CB500f is 23 lbs. heavier than the FZ-07 at 420 lbs vs. 397 lbs. for the FZ-07. I don't mind more weight, but I want a lot more power for it. I owned a Gixxer 1000 until last year and put 11,000 miles on it in just under a year. It was a 2011 model and had a curb weight of 450 lbs. but the outstanding performance justified the additional weight. The lighter weight of the FZ-07 is one on the specs that got me interested in it to begin with. This is also why I like electric bikes. Depending on battery size, they can make those with very high power to weight ratios. My Zero S weighs 367 and delivers 68 ft. lbs. of tire spinning instant off-the-line torque at zero rpms. Again power to weight ratio is outstanding. To me that ratio is one of the main things to look at for fun factor. It's also why a little bike like the Grom at 225 lbs. wet, with a 125 cc engine is one of the most fun bikes to ride. High power to weight ratio again.
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Ahhhh... got ya! Quite the bike connoisseur you are. 
I sat on a Grom the other day. I would love to ride one of those! They look so fun!
I sat on a Grom the other day. I would love to ride one of those! They look so fun!I picked up the CB300f today. Bought it in San Antonio and it is being delivered right now. As I was leaving Alamo Cycle Plex, I saw the mechanic test riding it. I'm looking forward to comparing it to the Ninja 300. Looks wise, it is very similar to the FZ-07. 2 red bikes that look similar. Think I'll not mention it to anyone and see who notices I have two bikes that look similar.
I am having trouble posting pictures. Sorry. It's red and looks like all the other CB300Fs though. It's the only color they come in for the US.
I rode it today. Very nice bike, in part due to the very light weight. Slightly more vibration than the FZ-07. The sound is a little better I think. It is certainly louder. I think it accelerates a little faster than the Ninja 300 up to 60 mph or so, at least it is easy to accelerate faster. In part I think that is cause 1st gear in the Ninja is very short. At highway speeds though, the Ninja has the advantage. I noted the Honda was pulling 7200 rpms at 70 mph and 8300 rpms at 80 mph. Redline is 10,500. At 85 mph, the Honda was working pretty hard...a lot harder than the Ninja 300 works at 85 mph, so the Ninja 300 is the better bike at faster speeds, but at 70-75 mph the Honda does just fine. There is a faired version too, the CB300r and that one might be the better one to compare to the Ninja at highway speeds. Price is $4000 for the CB300F. I paid $4500 out the door...bike, tax, title, shipping...etc. and they threw in 2 oil filters and delivered the bike 50 miles one way. It's not an FZ-07, but it performs like the FZ-07s little brother. The only issue I have with the bike is that with the kickstand down it is almost upright. I need to adjust that so it leans a little more to the left.
I rode it today. Very nice bike, in part due to the very light weight. Slightly more vibration than the FZ-07. The sound is a little better I think. It is certainly louder. I think it accelerates a little faster than the Ninja 300 up to 60 mph or so, at least it is easy to accelerate faster. In part I think that is cause 1st gear in the Ninja is very short. At highway speeds though, the Ninja has the advantage. I noted the Honda was pulling 7200 rpms at 70 mph and 8300 rpms at 80 mph. Redline is 10,500. At 85 mph, the Honda was working pretty hard...a lot harder than the Ninja 300 works at 85 mph, so the Ninja 300 is the better bike at faster speeds, but at 70-75 mph the Honda does just fine. There is a faired version too, the CB300r and that one might be the better one to compare to the Ninja at highway speeds. Price is $4000 for the CB300F. I paid $4500 out the door...bike, tax, title, shipping...etc. and they threw in 2 oil filters and delivered the bike 50 miles one way. It's not an FZ-07, but it performs like the FZ-07s little brother. The only issue I have with the bike is that with the kickstand down it is almost upright. I need to adjust that so it leans a little more to the left.
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I think the cb300f if a good little bike for commuting and great on gas but for longer trips the fz07 with a bigger engine is always better. One cool thing i did really like on the cb300f is they come if ABS standard in the city ride ABS is awesome.
The ABS CB300f is available in Canada but not the US. We only have one color in the US...red. I just got back from an 80-mile interstate ride. The 300f is not as planted as the FZ-07 for sure at 80 mph, so I think that wind buffeting might freak out new riders. I'm used to it myself so I just head over to the passing lane and go 75-80 mph which the little bike does very nicely for having 286cc. You can't dive into an opening like you would with the FZ-07 and the CB300F is working pretty hard at 80 mph, but you could ride like that all day if you wanted. Or you could use it as a starter bike which is how most people will use the bike. I really can't compare the FZ-07 to the CB300f except they do look alike from a distance...red and naked. I like the CB300f more than the Ninja 300 though, mostly based on the 30-38 lbs. lighter weight (depending on if the Ninja has ABS) which is huge. It wouldn't surprise me if Kawasaki comes out with a 300cc naked bike next year. The CB300F is going to be popular with female riders I think because of the light weight and low seat ht. There is even a shorter seat option. I think if husbands buy the bike for their wives the men are the ones who will ride the bike though. It's that much fun.
I've had just a couple of bikes with ABS and have never activated it, but I believe in an emergency stopping situation you would want ABS. I think in the near future it will be standard on all bikes in the US. I heard that anyway.
I've had just a couple of bikes with ABS and have never activated it, but I believe in an emergency stopping situation you would want ABS. I think in the near future it will be standard on all bikes in the US. I heard that anyway.
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But have you ever tried them it is a life saver for new riders i played with them with my brother bike on the nc700x in a parking lot going full stop from 50 to 0 and press and hold front and rear brakes not skidding no locking and not even jerking it was cool. For a new rider or wet ground and if its a everyday commuter ABS is a great option.
Now on race track and some canyons carving not needed
Now on race track and some canyons carving not needed
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So damn we got yip again like the fz07 no abs version i think os because they think we are better rider here in the US lol
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I love these new R3's. If I were into such bikes, or beginning again, a R3 us where I'd be for sure!
I like it, but I would prefer a naked version, so it could lose 20 lbs. Weight isn't bad at 368 lbs. wet...same as the Ninja 300, but I can tell you 20-30 lbs. of weight reduction is very noticeable in a small bike like this. My Honda CB300f weighs in at 348 wet and it feels so much lighter than a Ninja 300. Still, I will look into the R3. Seat ht. is 30.7 which works for me too. Competition is good for us consumers. Only thing I don't like about my CB300f is that it vibrates like all thumpers do. An in-line twin should be a smoother ride. The R3 has the potential to be noticeably faster both in acceleration and top speed than the competition too. And again Canada gets the ABS version, but no ABS for the US. Color choices are red white and black. Due out in Jan. in the US. I have 1300 miles on the FZ-07 and 960 miles on the CB300F. The good riding weather is just beginning. There is an R3 Forum if anyone wants to follow chatter about the new bike.
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