New Delhi: The Honda CB300F has created quite a stir since its launch in India. The same is evident in the sales figures, which almost begs the question of whether Honda should have introduced it in the first place.
To get rid of the stock, it also got dealer-level discounts. 50,000. It sits below the much more powerful and sportier Honda CB300R.
According to the recent reports, Honda can get more out of this platform. How? Naturally, by creating an ADV version of it. Honda has tried this approach before, with the CB200X, which is based on the Hornet 2.0, and it hasn't been very successful.
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Honda's stand for this has not been decided yet, but it can be introduced by the end of 2023.
As the popularity of the ADV grows manufacturers are tailoring their tough machines to serve this highly competitive market. Pseudo ADVs, like the Honda CB200X, sometimes appear on the road as ADVs but no real substance.
We're referring to things like the absence of long-travel suspension, wire-spoke wheels, the large front wheel and the like.
With the recently released CB300F naked street bike, Honda is looking to adopt a similar strategy. Based on our past experiences with the Honda ADV we'd guess that this vehicle will be merely a styling exercise and not trail- and off-road-worthy. While we are at it, let us hope that Honda bases this new motorbike on the CB300R instead of the CB300F.
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We say this because the 286cc engine in the Honda CB300R produces 30.7 bhp at 9000 RPM and 27.5 Nm at 7500 RPM. Whereas in CB300F the 293.52cc motor produces 25.6 Nm at 5500 RPM and 24.13 bhp at 7500 RPM. With the CB300R, Honda can compete with similarly performing ADVs like the KTM 390 Adventure, BMW G 310 GS, and others.
Nevertheless, the CB300F's performance numbers will only allow it to compete against the Suzuki V-Strom SX and the KTM 250 Adventure in the unpopular segment. The CB300R's platform is not only more thrilling, but also lighter.
Going by Honda's past marketing strategy, we can assume that the CB300F-based new Honda ADV will feature a stylish fairing and a different seating position.
This guarantees an upright seating position, unlike the ergonomics on a street bike. It will likely be called the CB300X and will take design cues from its predecessor, the Honda CB500X.
It will feature the same engine and similar components, including USD front forks, a rear monoshock, single disc setup at both ends and a headlight assembly that could be integrated into the bikini fairing. It will also be powered by the same engine.
However, Honda can still surprise us by providing longer travel suspension, a bigger front wheel, and even rims with wire spokes.
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Also, given that the CB300X is based on a street bike, we expect Honda to tune it to suit the ADV's features. Honda provided a stylish and advanced product without the off-road-worthy hardware with the CB200X, and a price hike of around Rs. 12,000 for this. We speculate that the bigger CB300X will be priced between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 25,000 more than the CB300F.
