The new Honda CB300F is the least powerful here, but is only bike here with Traction Control.
The Honda CB300F is the company’s brand new 300cc motorcycle that retails through the premium Big Wing network. While it is a 300cc machine, its specifications and price place it in between the sporty Gixxer 250 and KTM 250 Duke, while the BMW G 310 R isn’t priced too far off. Here is a quick specification comparison between the Honda CB300F and its rivals.
Honda CB300F vs rivals: engine and output
| Engine and output | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB300F | Suzuki Gixxer 250 | KTM 250 Duke | BMW G 310 R | |
| Engine | Air-and-oil cooled, 293.52cc,single-cylinder | Air-and-oil cooled, 249cc, single cylinder | Liquid-cooled, 248.76cc. single-cylinder | Liquid-cooled, 313cc, single-cylinder |
| Power | 24.4hp at 7,500rpm | 26.5hp at 9,300rpm | 30hp at 9,000rpm | 34hp at 9,250rpm |
| Torque | 25.6Nm at 5,500rpm | 22.2Nm at 7,300rpm | 24Nm at 7,500rpm | 28Nm at 7,500rpm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed |
While Honda’s brand new, air- and oil-cooled, 293.52cc engine has the second highest displacement in this test, it makes the least peak power. More importantly, these output figures peak at much lower rpms than the rest. Peak power, for example, arrives at 7,500rpm, while the engines in the KTM, Suzuki and BMW develop peak power at 9,000rpm and higher. The Honda’s peak torque, which is the second highest here, also arrives at 5,500rpm and that is significantly lower than the competition.
The BMW leads the pack here when it comes to displacement and power, and is the only other liquid-cooled engine here, other than the KTM 250 Duke. All bikes here are also equipped with six-speed gearboxes.
Honda CB300F vs rivals: suspension and brakes
| Suspension and brakes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB300F | Suzuki Gixxer 250 | KTM 250 Duke | BMW G 310 R | |
| Suspension (f) | USD fork | Telescopic fork | USD fork | USD fork |
| Suspension (r) | Monoshock | Monoshock | Monoshock | Monoshock |
| Brakes (f) | 276mm disc | 300mm Disc | 320mm disc | 300mm disc |
| Brakes (r) | 220mm disc | 220mm Disc | 230mm disc | 240mm disc |
| Tyres (f) | 110/70-R17 | 110/70-R17 | 110/70-R17 | 110/70-R17 |
| Tyres (r) | 150/60-R17 | 150/60-R17 | 150/60-R17 | 150/60-R17 |
When it comes to suspension components, the Suzuki Gixxer is the only bike here with a telescopic fork. The rest have a non-adjustable USD fork, while all bikes have a monoshock.
The KTM has the biggest brakes in the test – 320mm disc at the front – followed by the BMW and Gixxer that have an equal sized front disc. The Honda has the smallest front disc, and, like the Suzuki, has axially mounted calipers. The BMW and KTM, on the other hand, have a radially mounted caliper. All bikes run on 17-inch alloy wheels and are shod with radial tyres.
Honda CB300F vs rivals: weights and dimensions
| Weight and dimensions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB300F | Suzuki Gixxer 250 | KTM 250 Duke | BMW G 310 R | |
| Kerb weight | 153kg | 156kg | 170kg | 164kg |
| Seat height | 789mm | 800mm | 823mm | 785mm |
| Wheelbase | 1390mm | 1340mm | 1357mm | 1380mm |
| Fuel capacity | 14.1-litres | 12-litres | 13.4-litres | 11-litres |
| Ground clearance | 177mm | 165mm | 151mm | 165mm |
The Honda CB300F has the least powerful engine, but it also has the lowest kerb weight among this quartet at 153kg. The KTM 250 Duke is weighs the most at 170kg.
Those with a short height will appreciate the BMW’s 785mm seat height, the least in this test. The Honda’s perch is only 4mm taller than the G 310 R at 789mm, followed by the Gixxer and Duke.
The Gixxer’s flickable nature is also a result of its wheelbase, which is the shortest here at 1,340mm. In comparison, the CB300F has the longest wheelbase at 1,390mm.
Honda CB300F vs rivals: features
The CB300F is the feature rich bike here with Bluetooth connectivity, incoming call, SMS and navigation notifications on offer in the Deluxe Pro variant. It is also the only bike here to feature a traction control system.
All bikes get full-digital LCD displays and barring the Gixxer, each bike gets all-LED lights.
Honda CB300F vs rivals: price
Prices for the Honda CB300F begin at Rs 2.26 lakh and go up to Rs 2.29 lakh. The Suzuki Gixxer is the cheapest at Rs 1.8 lakh, while the KTM 250 Duke is roughly Rs 9,000 more than the Honda. The BMW G 310 R is the most expensive bike here at Rs 2.70 lakh.
*All prices, ex-showroom, Delhi
Of the aforementioned bikes, which one would be your pick? Let us know in the comments section below.