Honda CB300R debuts

HONDA has just unveiled this, the CB300R, a new-rider-friendly smaller sibling to the CB1000R.

It closely mimics the retro-inspired styling of the new super-naked but is scaled down to 286cc to make a bike suitable for A2 licence holders.

If you’re anything like us, you’ll be thinking: ‘Brilliant, Honda’s bringing a bigger version of that parallel-twin CBR250RR engine to Europe.’

Sadly, no. The CB300R instead uses the single-cylinder engine from the existing CBR300R, making 31bhp and 20lbft.  

It’s got a new tubular steel frame, steel-plate swing-arm, 41mm upside-down fork, pre-load adjustable monoshock and four-piston brake caliper biting a 296mm floating front disc.

At the rear is a single-piston caliper on a 220mm disc and the model comes with ABS standard.

It’s also got an inertial measurement unit, more commonly the preserve of much higher-spec machines, to ‘give precise front to rear distribution of ABS operation depending on the vehicle behaviour’.

The CB300R was unveiled in Milan this evening, ahead of this week's Eicma motorcycle show, along with the similarly-styled CB1000R and CB125R, making a whole new family of retro-inspired Honda nakeds.

Scroll down for more pictures.

Here are the full specs, straight from Honda:

2018 Honda CB300R Technical Specifications