I get this completely. After 25 years of not having a street bike, and I've owned a variety of sizes, up to a 1200 V4 Suzuki Madura, I decided to get a 2012 CBR250R. I was wanting a Grom, but realized it was just too small, and watched all the 250 videos, and decided on one. I bought it this April (2023), and have put 4500 kms on it already. I really like it. Light. Corners awesome, crazy good on gas, looks decent. I wanted this. I don't care about speed, I don't drive fast, I don't race anyone. I do some longer drives (4 hr drive last weekend), and this bike does what I want. I get looks from guys when I tell them what I got, you know, because it's a flea compared to their Road King, and obviously I'm not a real man because it's a small bike, blah blah blah.... I don't care. I got it for me, not them. And I certainly have as much fun on my small bike, as they can on their big, heavy, expensive, noisy bike.
tip for high mileage - low maintenance on honda's... change engine oil EVERY 3 thousand miles... dont hav to do filter every time..dont over maintain it..dont keep checking valves etc..just change that oil.. small amounts of wd40 sprayed where its needed.. wipe with oily rag in winter.. top of forklegs etc.. coppergrease the nuts when you change pads..wd40 the lower shock mount bolt .. sidestand.. keyholes etc.. she will last Forever..
Im glad you're enjoying your bike! I enjoy my BMW G310R and am happy with it for now. It is plenty of power for what i need: Getting around down, going to the gym, groceries, the occasional joy ride on a weekend etc. Ride safely!
Glad to hear you're liking it. I'm still looking at some of the mid sized BMW's along with their Triumph counterparts as future options. I like the idea of a better highway machine and accommodations for luggage without going full GS1250 or touring cruiser. I'm not likely to be doing many big road trips, but day trips are a thing for sure.
Still love mine, would love more instant power for overtakes, it does 80 mph+ which when on any naked bike is enough for me before the wind blast becomes uncomfortable.
Yup. I can't wait to try my buddy's MT07 to see if how it is different for both those aspects. On the other hand, I think that instant power is also how you get yourself in trouble when you use a bit more than you were prepared for. At least as a newer rider that's where I think I'd make mistakes, just like stupid positioning issues at low speed and when stopping.
Personally I like the sound of a single much more than a 180 degree twin. I also liked the ergos and looks of the CB300R better than just about all of the other options in the category; the only other one I considered was the Husqvarna Svart 401 but couldn't find one anywhere near me at the time of purchase.
Funny ... I have experience on larger bikes ( Bmw GS, BMW 1200 RS etc). About two months ago I bought a Road Glide 117 (2023) and rode it hard for 5,000 miles around South Florida. I ended up selling it because of the type of riding I normally do. If I were to go let's say from South Florida to Tennessee or Virginia it would be a stellar ride. But if your riding is 90% to your tennis club or groceries or just having a quick ride around town trust me you won't want to ride a Harley especially if your pulling a heavy clutch all the time. I ended up selling it and wanted to get the Honda 300 but there are literally no bikes in all of North America. I am trying to source a 2024 , good luck ! I did buy a PCX 160 and a Honda Cub and loving them both. I don't miss the Harley at all.
👍 Not enough cb300 videos. And you’re right, every time I have dropped my bike it’s has been at 0 mph. And I love my bike but it needs an aftermarket windshield.
I have a CB300R as my beginner bike and really enjoy it. I will likely sell it and get a Trident 660 which I think will be the sweet spot for me. Enjoy your bike!
That seems to be a popular upgrade lately. I looked at them as an option originally but decided to start smaller and less expensive to maintain. At this point I think the next bike will not be a naked. I want something more comfy in the cold and wind of highway use in what passes for winter here in south Texas. Also, I want to just put in time with different styles. Test rides and such are nice, but putting thousands of miles on through different conditions let’s you figure out what really suits you. I think what I like most about my bike is the light weight and that I can push the bike pretty hard on the street without easily winding up going way too fast. So buying a more powerful naked or sport bike would just get me in trouble. I want to try something more cruiser or adv oriented next I think. No rush though. Lots and lots to learn still on this guy.
Thanks for the real world review. I would probably choose the same for similar reasons. Having ridden it for a while, is there anything you would change or strongly dislike about this model?
I still think 4th through 6th are too tightly spaced. The bike has a decent power band, they just packed it in to get better emissions and MPG numbers. It wouldn't make the bike faster probably, but it would make cruising speeds happen at lower RPMs. The only other significant nit pick is the chain guard and swing arm setup. They make it a pain to clean and lube the chain. They make it a pain to be sure of your chain tension setting, and there's not much of an excuse for it. For someone who puts less miles on it, maybe those would be very minor, but for me I'm generally cleaning the chain every few weeks and checking tension at the same time. Certainly not a major issue, but for the most part it's an easily serviced machine, but they made the most basic part of upkeep more of a hassle than it needs to be.
@@Remymoto Thanks for explaining. Yeah, regular checks and maintenance should be as accessible as possible. Maybe a lot of it is dealer service fees, which the dealers rely on in a lot of cases to keep steady business. It sounds annoying but doable. Thanks again.
That'd be about the limit, it would depend on your torso to leg ratio. I am 5'10" and not cramped at all, but I'm not a particularly leggy person. Pretty average proportions, really. I feel way more cramped on most cruisers that have mid controls. It's the hip angle that gets me.
I'm 6' and am super comfortable on it. I preferred the ergos of the CB300R to those of the Z400, Duke 390 and just about all of the other options in the category.
I can see that. I know I felt more “sporty” on most of the others. It wasn’t bad, but wasn’t a benefit for me. Hehe, I went from an older R3 to the MT03 in the dealer and the R3 was only a bit more aggressive a position. The new ones are apparently more so.
Many people compare this bike to the Svartpilen 401. That bike is somewhat capable on gravel roads and light trails. I see the ground clearance is slightly higher on the 300r - would you advocate for taking this bike on these types of trails? (With different tires of course)
Not really. Certainly not trails. It feels sketchy enough on hard packed dirt just being ridden gently. Gravel, with proper tires, at low speed… you are gonna beat the hell out of your fenders and under the pillion seat. The bike is absolutely setup and intended for normal paved roads. Dealing with a little dirt, grass or gravel at parking lot speeds is one thing, trying to travel on that would be another.
lol. You definitely can. On good dry pavement you can get the front a bit light, but unless you're using your body it isn't gonna lift. I'm sure you can clutch it up, but that's a different story. Sure, power is fun, but it's also fun to get to actually use most of it. I'll be honest, about 12k in and lack of power still isn't on my list of complaints. The only power related annoyance is cruising on the highway here. I'd prefer to drop the RPMs a couple thousand, but on the other hand, the bike hasn't complained at all about it, and the CBR300R with the same setup is fully expected to spend most of its life in that RPM range.
I thought about it, but I don't want to mess with the front one, it requires some other work and I'd rather skip it. I'd do the back, but oddly enough going down a tooth in the back is REALLY hard to find. No idea why. It's just not a big enough deal for me to really stress over. If it was, the mod for the front sprocket is not THAT big a deal.
I get this completely. After 25 years of not having a street bike, and I've owned a variety of sizes, up to a 1200 V4 Suzuki Madura, I decided to get a 2012 CBR250R. I was wanting a Grom, but realized it was just too small, and watched all the 250 videos, and decided on one.
I bought it this April (2023), and have put 4500 kms on it already. I really like it.
Light. Corners awesome, crazy good on gas, looks decent.
I wanted this. I don't care about speed, I don't drive fast, I don't race anyone. I do some longer drives (4 hr drive last weekend), and this bike does what I want.
I get looks from guys when I tell them what I got, you know, because it's a flea compared to their Road King, and obviously I'm not a real man because it's a small bike, blah blah blah....
I don't care. I got it for me, not them. And I certainly have as much fun on my small bike, as they can on their big, heavy, expensive, noisy bike.
tip for high mileage - low maintenance on honda's... change engine oil EVERY 3 thousand miles... dont hav to do filter every time..dont over maintain it..dont keep checking valves etc..just change that oil.. small amounts of wd40 sprayed where its needed.. wipe with oily rag in winter.. top of forklegs etc.. coppergrease the nuts when you change pads..wd40 the lower shock mount bolt .. sidestand.. keyholes etc.. she will last Forever..
Im glad you're enjoying your bike! I enjoy my BMW G310R and am happy with it for now. It is plenty of power for what i need: Getting around down, going to the gym, groceries, the occasional joy ride on a weekend etc. Ride safely!
Glad to hear you're liking it. I'm still looking at some of the mid sized BMW's along with their Triumph counterparts as future options. I like the idea of a better highway machine and accommodations for luggage without going full GS1250 or touring cruiser. I'm not likely to be doing many big road trips, but day trips are a thing for sure.
@@Remymototriumph triples sound awesome and that company is known to have good build quality
Im getting my first cb300r on Thursday we should ride sometime
Still love mine, would love more instant power for overtakes, it does 80 mph+ which when on any naked bike is enough for me before the wind blast becomes uncomfortable.
Yup. I can't wait to try my buddy's MT07 to see if how it is different for both those aspects. On the other hand, I think that instant power is also how you get yourself in trouble when you use a bit more than you were prepared for. At least as a newer rider that's where I think I'd make mistakes, just like stupid positioning issues at low speed and when stopping.
Personally I like the sound of a single much more than a 180 degree twin. I also liked the ergos and looks of the CB300R better than just about all of the other options in the category; the only other one I considered was the Husqvarna Svart 401 but couldn't find one anywhere near me at the time of purchase.
Funny ... I have experience on larger bikes ( Bmw GS, BMW 1200 RS etc). About two months ago I bought a Road Glide 117 (2023) and rode it hard for 5,000 miles around South Florida. I ended up selling it because of the type of riding I normally do. If I were to go let's say from South Florida to Tennessee or Virginia it would be a stellar ride. But if your riding is 90% to your tennis club or groceries or just having a quick ride around town trust me you won't want to ride a Harley especially if your pulling a heavy clutch all the time. I ended up selling it and wanted to get the Honda 300 but there are literally no bikes in all of North America. I am trying to source a 2024 , good luck ! I did buy a PCX 160 and a Honda Cub and loving them both. I don't miss the Harley at all.
A great choice for beginner or experienced alike.
Hell Yeah. We're spoiled for choice these days, but the CB300R doesn't get the attention it deserves, at least here in the US.
👍 Not enough cb300 videos. And you’re right, every time I have dropped my bike it’s has been at 0 mph. And I love my bike but it needs an aftermarket windshield.
I got mines off wish
I have a CB300R as my beginner bike and really enjoy it. I will likely sell it and get a Trident 660 which I think will be the sweet spot for me. Enjoy your bike!
That seems to be a popular upgrade lately. I looked at them as an option originally but decided to start smaller and less expensive to maintain. At this point I think the next bike will not be a naked. I want something more comfy in the cold and wind of highway use in what passes for winter here in south Texas. Also, I want to just put in time with different styles. Test rides and such are nice, but putting thousands of miles on through different conditions let’s you figure out what really suits you. I think what I like most about my bike is the light weight and that I can push the bike pretty hard on the street without easily winding up going way too fast. So buying a more powerful naked or sport bike would just get me in trouble. I want to try something more cruiser or adv oriented next I think. No rush though. Lots and lots to learn still on this guy.
I'm at just over a year and 10K+ miles on mine. Ride every day all weather and it's a fantastic, comfy, reliable ride. And dirt cheap
Nice. I’m almost a year in and I have almost 4k miles. I love mine so much. Great commuter and a beautiful bike.
Man, how long was that traffic light? Took up one third of the video.
Thanks for the real world review. I would probably choose the same for similar reasons.
Having ridden it for a while, is there anything you would change or strongly dislike about this model?
I still think 4th through 6th are too tightly spaced. The bike has a decent power band, they just packed it in to get better emissions and MPG numbers. It wouldn't make the bike faster probably, but it would make cruising speeds happen at lower RPMs.
The only other significant nit pick is the chain guard and swing arm setup. They make it a pain to clean and lube the chain. They make it a pain to be sure of your chain tension setting, and there's not much of an excuse for it. For someone who puts less miles on it, maybe those would be very minor, but for me I'm generally cleaning the chain every few weeks and checking tension at the same time. Certainly not a major issue, but for the most part it's an easily serviced machine, but they made the most basic part of upkeep more of a hassle than it needs to be.
@@Remymoto Thanks for explaining. Yeah, regular checks and maintenance should be as accessible as possible. Maybe a lot of it is dealer service fees, which the dealers rely on in a lot of cases to keep steady business.
It sounds annoying but doable. Thanks again.
Would a 6 foot rider be comfortable on it?
That'd be about the limit, it would depend on your torso to leg ratio. I am 5'10" and not cramped at all, but I'm not a particularly leggy person. Pretty average proportions, really. I feel way more cramped on most cruisers that have mid controls. It's the hip angle that gets me.
I'm 6' and am super comfortable on it. I preferred the ergos of the CB300R to those of the Z400, Duke 390 and just about all of the other options in the category.
I can see that. I know I felt more “sporty” on most of the others. It wasn’t bad, but wasn’t a benefit for me. Hehe, I went from an older R3 to the MT03 in the dealer and the R3 was only a bit more aggressive a position. The new ones are apparently more so.
I think the same less tech for me too .never know when it fails
Many people compare this bike to the Svartpilen 401. That bike is somewhat capable on gravel roads and light trails. I see the ground clearance is slightly higher on the 300r - would you advocate for taking this bike on these types of trails? (With different tires of course)
Not really. Certainly not trails. It feels sketchy enough on hard packed dirt just being ridden gently. Gravel, with proper tires, at low speed… you are gonna beat the hell out of your fenders and under the pillion seat.
The bike is absolutely setup and intended for normal paved roads. Dealing with a little dirt, grass or gravel at parking lot speeds is one thing, trying to travel on that would be another.
Hey I am planning to buy cb300
Can you tell me traction control on this bike is required or not
Not available and not needed. If you don’t get crazy you won’t have traction issues.
i want a 300 so that i can go full throttle from a stop without the front wheel rising up ff the ground.
lol. You definitely can. On good dry pavement you can get the front a bit light, but unless you're using your body it isn't gonna lift. I'm sure you can clutch it up, but that's a different story.
Sure, power is fun, but it's also fun to get to actually use most of it.
I'll be honest, about 12k in and lack of power still isn't on my list of complaints. The only power related annoyance is cruising on the highway here. I'd prefer to drop the RPMs a couple thousand, but on the other hand, the bike hasn't complained at all about it, and the CBR300R with the same setup is fully expected to spend most of its life in that RPM range.
Have you considered a sprocket swap for better highway speed?@@Remymoto
I thought about it, but I don't want to mess with the front one, it requires some other work and I'd rather skip it. I'd do the back, but oddly enough going down a tooth in the back is REALLY hard to find. No idea why. It's just not a big enough deal for me to really stress over. If it was, the mod for the front sprocket is not THAT big a deal.
as long as the bike will do 65mph to 75mph easy will be fine with me
people who buy fast bikes commute in cars