Motorcycles

Honda sneaks IMU-linked brakes onto snazzy new CB300R

Honda sneaks IMU-linked brakes onto snazzy new CB300R
Honda puts a bit of style into its small-capacity streetbike line with the new CB300R
Honda puts a bit of style into its small-capacity streetbike line with the new CB300R
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Honda CB300R: LCD dash looks terrific
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Honda CB300R: LCD dash looks terrific
Honda CB300R: neo-retro styling is a nice break from the CB300F's very Japanese lines
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Honda CB300R: neo-retro styling is a nice break from the CB300F's very Japanese lines
Honda CB300R: available in grey and red
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Honda CB300R: available in grey and red
Honda CB300R: inverted forks
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Honda CB300R: inverted forks
Honda CB300R: IMU-integrated ABS system available
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Honda CB300R: IMU-integrated ABS system available
Honda;s CB300R is slim and svelte
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Honda;s CB300R is slim and svelte
Honda puts a bit of style into its small-capacity streetbike line with the new CB300R
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Honda puts a bit of style into its small-capacity streetbike line with the new CB300R
View gallery - 7 images

Fans of Honda's Euro-style Neo Sports Cafe concept and CB1000R might enjoy the new CB300R announced today. A stylish little getabout with capabilities beyond the urban jungle, the new bike gets an LCD dash, LED lights and IMU-connected ABS brakes.

Honda's CB300F is a capable and fun little single cylinder bike. But, as the saying goes, it tumbled out of the top of the ugly tree and got hit by every branch on the way down. Bits of it are also starting to look pretty old-school next to the competition as well; it's about time the little Hondas got themselves some upside-down forks, for example.

Honda CB300R: LCD dash looks terrific
Honda CB300R: LCD dash looks terrific

With today's release of the CB300R, Honda puts a decent contender back on the field. It doesn't rise to the retro-futurist looks of last year's Neo Sports Cafe concept, but it certainly takes things in that direction, much like the big CB1000R. A clean circular LED headlight, a flash of color along the tank, and a nice tidy tail section (once that giant fender finds its way into the bin) round out a handsome enough profile.

The frame and swingarm are new, the forks are inverted, there's a natty LCD dash, and Honda's trusty 286cc single cylinder engine receives a new intake and exhaust design to improve what was already a Honda-linear throttle response. It'll be light and fun and throwable at a curb weight of 313 lb (142 kg).

Honda;s CB300R is slim and svelte
Honda;s CB300R is slim and svelte

It's available from July in the US with pricing set at US$4,649, or you can add $300 to upgrade to the ABS version.

That upgrade might well be worthwhile as the 300R runs an inertial measurement unit that talks to the ABS system. Honda isn't calling it cornering ABS, but that's kind of what it sounds like might be happening, and if that's the case, this bike could be about the cheapest ride ever with that kind of technology built in.

Source: Honda

View gallery - 7 images
4 comments
4 comments
JimFox
Very nice! Apart from the obese silencer/muffler, that is.
DavidRogerBrown
I agree. The fender and oversized exhaust has to go.
Johannes
Why are so many bikes encumbered by a fat silencer, when designers seem to have been doing everything possible to lighten up the rear end? Doesn't make sense.
MarkStorcz
The muffler is a catalytic converter / muffler. My daughter has a cbr250r, we removed it to install an aftermarket muffler, that thing is HEAVY, like 20 lbs heavy!