It seems like small-displacement bikes are making a slow but steady comeback in The States. A good mix of rideability, mild road manners, and fuel-sipping efficiency, make bikes in the 300cc to 500cc pretty attractive to younger and hipper buyers. At EICMA this year, Honda unveiled their newest entry into the small bike market – the CB300R.

READ MORE: Check Out All of RideApart's EICMA 2017 Coverage

Honda is touting the new CB300R as an altogether wonderful step up for beginners and young novices who learned to ride on a 125. With a claimed 31 horsepower on tap and a wet weight of 322 pounds, it probably is. Make no mistake, this little puppy will likely become a favorite sporty for riders of any age or experience level.

Honda’s CB300R Stylin’ Lightweight Arrives

READ MORE: Honda Design Shows CB4 Interceptor Concept

This new 300 has a liquid-cooled 286cc engine, six speed gearbox, and a new hybrid tubular/pressed steel frame. The 41mm USD fork gets a radial-mount 4-piston caliper and floating disc, and a preload adjustable monoshock in back.

Honda says the new mixed media frame provides, “a tuned rigidity balance that gives great feedback. The swingarm is manufactured from steel plate, irregularly shaped in cross-section. Both are designed to achieve high longitudinal rigidity and control torsion from wheel deflection without excess rigidity or weight.”

The front 296mm hubless floating disc has a radial-mount Nissin 4-piston caliper; the rear 220mm disc a single piston caliper. Both are modulated by 2-channel ABS that works through an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) to give precise front to rear distribution of ABS operation.

Honda’s CB300R Stylin’ Lightweight Arrives

READ MORE: Honda’s Neo Sports Cafe Revealed as CB1000R

The LCD instrument display provides speed, engine rpm, fuel level, and gear position, with warning lights across the top. As befits a shiny new bike, the CB300R has full LED lighting – including indicators – and the headlight uses a dual bar light signature, upper for low beam and lower for high beam.

No word yet on price or time frame for US availability, but we expect the sporty lightweight will show up by summer.

Top comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
Comment!
Got a tip for us? Email: tips@rideapart.com