With Royal Enfield dominating the 300 – 500 cc space and given the kind of volumes the segment generates along with the growth potential; it is understandable why other manufacturers would want a slice of the pie. And this is where Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India is keen to have more and more options in the said segment. With the H’ness and the CB 350 RS modern classics already on sale and the CB300R neo-retro café racer as well, Honda figured, it wouldn’t hurt to have a 300 cc naked streetfighter in its BigWing portfolio.
Also Read: Honda CB300F Launched In India
Honda CB300F: Design
Meet the all-new Honda Hornet 3.0. Wait a second! I think I made a mistake! No, this is not the Honda Hornet 3.0. It is in fact, the Honda CB300F. yes, it does look like a bigger sibling of the Hornet 2.0. It has sharp, streetfighter style muscular design, oodles of road presence. And bits like the bronze engine covers, gold-coloured upside-down forks, all these things coming together, make the motorcycle look premium. But, had the design been slightly different than the Honda Hornet 2.0, things would have been much better. But the rationale that Honda is giving us that the Hornet 2.0 and the CB300F share the same design language, which is why the similarity in the design.
Yes, the design is busy, but it has a certain appeal to it and will sit well with the youth. Adding to that is the fact that the ergonomics on the motorcycle are very comfy, a straight up riding position and the wide stepped seat adds to the comfort. In typical Honda style, the fit and finish is quite nice.
Also Read: Honda CB300F vs Rivals: Price Comparison
Honda CB300F: Performance
Like we said, the CB300F is NOT based on the CB300R and gets a different engine. The numbers on paper look decent, with 24.1 horses fully breaking out at 7,500 rpm along with 25.6 newton metres of torque coming in fully at 5,500 rpm. Then, there’s a 6-speed gearbox, with a slip and assist clutch on offer.
The performance on the CB300F is quite likeable. Sure, it doesn’t have the aggression and the punch of the CB300R if that’s what your benchmark is, but apart from that, the motorcycle, the characteristics of the engine, especially the mid-range, is quite punchy and will be very helpful when you are riding in the city, on traffic laden roads Overall, the performance, the power delivery is very, very linear and the engine has a likeable character, which will be suited for daily riding. We like the 6-speed gearbox, it isn’t the slickest 6-speed unit, but there is decent tractability on offer and even if you are in a situation where you must work it a lot, the slip and assist clutch makes it easier.
The overall appeal of the motorcycle and the engine is quite nice, but you do have some vibrations when you are riding the bike at around 80 kmph, then you do feel the vibrations on the handlebar. But the top-end itself is slightly lacking in character so if you really want to wring the throttle and make those quick overtakes, especially on the highway, you will have to plan your manoeuvres.
Honda CB300F: Ride & Handling
We had ample opportunity to ride the CB300F on wet roads and we were pleasantly surprised by the grip that the MRF Revz tyres had to offer. Secondly, the handling of the motorcycle, especially on wet surfaces. So, there was a lot of traction going on and Honda’s selectable torque control, it does fire in, it does maintain traction when you are almost on the verge of losing it. But the grouse that we have is the fact that the ABS is a little more intrusive than we would have liked it to be. As far as handling is concerned, it is quite sublime, not as aggressive as the CB300R but it does the job well. 
We also liked the balanced tune of the suspension. It isn’t overly stiff and manages to iron out undulations on the road. There is no drama even when you lean into a corner or brake hard. The 5-step adjustability of the rear suspension will further better the performance once you do make the effort to adjust it. Oh! And the brakes are decent too. Maybe could have had more bite, but it isn’t a deal breaker.
Honda CB300F: Features
Honda has done well to offer features like full LED lighting, dual-channel ABS, disc brakes at both ends and a fully digital instrument console with adjustable brightness. While the negative display is cool to look at, looking at it in bright sunshine could be a problem. At 153 kg, the kerb weight of the CB300F is manageable, even for newer riders.
Honda CB300F: Pricing & Rivals
Offered in two variants – DLX and DLX Pro, they are priced at Rs. 2.26 lakh and Rs. 2.29 lakh respectively. Keeping the pricing and specifications in mind, the Honda CB300F goes up against the KTM 250 Duke, Suzuki Gixxer 250 and the Dominar 250. It is significantly more affordable than the Honda CB300R, filling the gap between Honda’s modern classic range and the CB300R, if there was ever a gap!
Honda CB300F: Verdict
The CB300F makes for an attractive overall package. The pricing could have been at least 15,000 to 20,000 rupees less but even if you discount that, the performance is nice and likeable. Think of it as a 300 cc commuter, which looks good and has great road presence and the styling is really sharp. Yes! It does feel a lot similar in terms of styling to the Hornet 2.0 but that is not a bad thing, coming to think of it. The overall performance, ride and handling and all these elements put together, make this a really nice purchase in the two to two point five lakh rupees segment.
