After Kawasaki Ninja, it is Honda CBR that is making its way into the 300cc segment as Honda launched the CBR300R at a price tag of USD 4,399 (approximately Rs 2.60 lakh). Honda was forced to scale up the engine, after the upgrade launched by Kawasaki, the Ninja 300, to stay in the business. The CBR300R does lag the extra cylinder that the Ninja 300 enjoys, but, it catches up in the fuel efficiency and pricing department.
The new CBR300R shares the same engine found in CBR250R but with a longer stroke. This has resulted in an increase in engine displacement by 37cc. This gives the CBR300R an engine capacity of 286cc. The 286cc engine churns out 29bhp and 27Nm of torque as oppose to CBR250R’s 25bhp and 22.9Nm of torque.
In terms of looks, unlike CBR250R’s single headlight unit, the CBR300R gets a dual headlight bringing its looks closer to its bigger 1000cc sibling, CBR1000RR. The silencer has also been reworked. But besides these two changes, there are no major differences on the CBR300R as compared to CBR250R.
Honda’s website has been updated with the new details and price tags with the non-ABS variant being priced at USD 4,399 (approximately Rs. 2.60 lakhs) and the ABS equipped version at USD 4,899 (approximately Rs. 2.90 lakh) and the motorcycle will go up for sale in August this year.
Exit of these two major players – Ninja 250R and CBR250R will make it easier for manufacturers like Yamaha and Triumph to introduce their respective quarter-litre motorcycles in this segment. However, CBR will face stiffer competition from KTM’s RC390. The RC390 dons a 375cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that produces 43bhp. The RC390 will also be priced very competitive just like its naked version, 390 Duke.
Honda will have to do something extraordinary to face such stiff competition in order to remain in this category. However, only time will tell the Honda tale.
