CBR 300 R

The Honda CBR 300 is a 286 cc single cylinder, fuel injected, dual overhead cams (DOHC) sportbike with a counterbalanced engine to keep things smooth. The Honda CBR 300 was reengineered from the original CBR 250 and features increased engine stroke, fairing and gas tank designs.

 

 

The fuel tank of the Honda CBR 300 is also slender and provides a good range of movement and control over the bike when entering corners. The Honda CBR 300 has comfortable and relaxed ergonomics, but still offers the ability to be ridden hard and be aggressive as well. The Honda CBR 300 has a very smooth running engine and has loads of low end power and a smooth top end. The Honda CBR 300 is a bike that can be ridden for commutes to work as well as having fun on the weekends. The powerband of the Honda CBR 300 is very tame and easily controlled, but can also be pushed for faster speeds while feeling confident in the corners. All together the Honda CBR 300 is an all around great bike and one that will have a loyal following for years to come.

 

CBR 300 vs CBR 250 Top Speed Test

So how does the CBR 300 top speed compare to the earlier released CBR 250 top speed you may ask? Well the CBR 300 has a higher top speed of 169kph sitting upright (180ish kph crouched) and offers 31 horsepower. Thats up from the CBR 250's 155kph upright top speed (165kph crouched) with 26 horsepower. The CBR 300 and CBR 250 both feel very similar in ergonomics, but Honda has given the new CBR 300 a nice boost in power to compete with the Ninja 300 and the upcoming Yamaha R3 which is also a 300 cc bike soon to be released. In the video below you can see the increased top speed of the CBR 300 at 169 kph. Note that the rider is sitting straight up and fully geared with a total weight of 98 kilos. If riding in a crouched position and not fully geared up, top speed should be about 10 kph higher and acceleration would also be increased.

CBR 300 Dyno

The dyno chart below is a comparison between the CBR 300 and CBR 250. The dyno readings are straight from Honda Thailand.

CBR 300 Hp & Torque

The chart list Horsepower in Kw, when converted 22.8kw = 30.575 Hp

The chart list torque in Nm, when converted 26.2 = 19.324 Lbft

 

Honda CBR 300 vs Ninja 300 Top Speed Test

In the CBR 300 vs Ninja 300 acceleration and top speed test video below, the CBR 300 is about 10kph slower than the Ninja 300. This really isn't too bad. The Ninja 300 has a claimed 39 hp vs the 31 hp for the CBR 300, in a real world situation the CBR 300 rider simply has to crouch down too keep toe to toe with the Ninja 300 (but what if the Ninja 300 rider crouches down too). With minor modifications like freer flowing exhaust, air filter, roller chain and lighter tires the CBR 300 should be able to keep the same pace with the Ninja 300, also when you remove the rear fender of the CBR 250 acceleration is greatly increased, the rear fender is like an airscoop. With these observations, the CBR 300 is indeed a serious threat to the Ninja 300 with simple modifications.

If you observe the speed of the CBR 300 around 145kph, the ninja starts to climb away, but then the CBR 300 starts to regain speed, where the Ninja 300 starts to fall off around 165kph, this is absolutely a partial fault of the rear fender adding wind resistance (tail tidy!). The test rider on the CBR 300 also appears to be holding the RPM's too long in fifth gear when he shouldve shifted up. The CBR 300 rider also appears to be fully geared up, there is no indication whether the Ninja 300 rider is geared up. On the track though, the CBR 300 should be able to out manuever the Ninja 300, like its older 250 sibling....So if you are concerned about top speed of the CBR 300 vs the Ninja 300 : DONT BE ;)

In the real world if a CBR 300 came flying past a Ninja 300 in a crouched position running at top speed, the Ninja 300 would take miles to catch up and would probably give up before catching the CBR 300.

Honda CBR 300 R Performance

No doubt Honda has reengineered the CBR 300 to compete with its main competitor the Ninja 300. In comparisons between the old CBR 250 and Ninja 250 the difference between the two in absolute performance was so little it boiled down to rider preference. The new CBR 300, however is a pretty big upgrade although it may not seem like it by merely looking at the upgrade in displacement, with its lighter weight while retaining the same on track flickability of the CBR 250. The CBR 300 is a contender not to be taken lightly with the extra torque and horsepower.

There are many ways to improve the performance of your CBR 300. From exhaust for the CBR 300, specially designed air filters that flow more air that utilize different filter designs from cotton gauze to foam and oiled paper. A fuel controller is also recommended to adjust fuel in accordance with higher intake airflow and higher exhaust velocities. But probably one of the best performance options for the CBR 300 is to get better tires. Honda has chosen time and time again to use the IRC Road Winners, these tires are ok for slow riding, but they have a tendency to just let loose all of a sudden with no warning when they reach their limits.

A good tire will slowly let you know your reaching it's limit by subtle sliding or skipping while breaking traction, but nope the IRC Road Winners (should be called 'Road Killers') give you no warning and just let go, with no time to react. Ive been a victim to these IRC Road Killers myself. I usually use track tires or Pirellis on my old CBR 250, when I sold my old CBR 250 to trade it in on a new model, I had forgotten about the IRC Road Killers and was riding it like I was on my old track tires, not as bad as I thought I thought to myself. BUT THEN it happened, a turn I had taken literally close to a hundred times. I was totally under control not pushing the CBR at all, then all of a sudden the front tire just lets loose. I mean, I have taken this sharp 90 degree hairpin soooo many times, it didn't even occur to me to slow down with the IRC Road Killers, and so I proceeded on , then slam the front tire just let loose and I had wrecked my 5 day old bike. Change the tires !