[AJ Nin]

I have about 600 miles on the CB300F now so I thought it would be helpful to mention a couple of issues with the new bike. These aren't really problems as much as annoyances, but I don't know if it is just my bike or all the CB300Fs


1. First, that chain stretched very quickly. By 40 miles mine was sagging and way out of specs. I did do a hard break-in so I'm sure that contributed. The good news is that since I adjusted the chain, it has stayed in specs for over 500 miles now. I think you can expect the chain to stretch early.


2. It's hard to get into 1st from N when you are stopped. This is a fairly common issue with bikes. The good news is, the bike is so light you can just roll it forward or backward a couple of inches and it will slip into first.


3. The kickstand keeps the bike more upright than with other motorcycles. I might even worry about parking in a strong wind. It helps to turn the bike to the left as you would do to lock the bike. That gives it a little more lean, but the issue I have is that I always get on and off a bike with the kickstand down. Getting on is no problem since the seat is low, but getting off is harder than any other bike I have ever owned because instead of just sliding off on the left side, you have to work at both scooting off and not allowing the bike to get even more upright. Hard to explain any better than that and I am getting used to it. I think this will be a bigger issue with shorter riders.


4. One other issue has to do with riding in 1st gear as you would around a gas station or parking lot. First gear is really jumpy. As an experienced rider, I have no problem since I know how to handle the throttle and clutch, but I can see a new rider losing balance as the bike jumps. I would call this issue poor throttle control in 1st gear.


5. When I ride aggressively and completely let off the throttle, I get this rattling sound. It doesn't do it if I slowly release the throttle or if I am shifting gears at the lower range. If you don't ride like I do, you might never even notice it. Or it might not be present on your bike. I can do it in any gear. I see there is a rattling noise some have reported with the CBR250R at about 5000 rpms, but I don't think this is the same thing since I can make it occur in any gear at all higher rpms.


Does anyone else have any of these issues? If not do you have any other issues.

 

[Ortega]

Have you had the chance to contact the dealer about these to see what they have to say and can do about it??

 

[AJ Nin]

No, but I already know the answer to that. Nothing. Nothing is actually wrong with the bike. These are quirks of the bike itself...the design and manufacture.... and many people will have these same issues, If the rider is a new rider, they wouldn't even notice them as anything out of the ordinary, probably. Well, maybe the rattling would get their attention, but new riders don't ride like I ride anyway and so may not expose the rattle. Once we get a few more bike owners, they will have these same issues. It's a mass produced bike. All the kickstands will be too upright. All the chains will stretch quickly. All the bikes will run jerky in 1st gear. All will be a little hard to get into 1st gear from neutral from a stop.

 

[Buck]

Im a new rider, but i have the R. I have noticed the rattle a few times and never could figure out what it was. First gear is very jerky and not smooth at all, it aggravates me the most going down my driveway which is gravel, i usually get into seconcd so im more comfortable going slower. Or sometimes i just let the bike idle in first because it will still roll without giving it gas but it is definately annoying that its not smooth at all if you want to turn the throttle some.

 

[Jkilla71]

I recommend the 15T front sprocket. For less than $20 it greatly improved my whole my riding experience plus it makes 1st gear usable.




PBI - 382-15 - Steel Front Sprocket, 15T

 

[nayr14]

I've noticed the same issues with rattling/vibrations and, as a new rider, I've had some trouble with 1st gear. I've adapted though, it's jumpy initially but I'm ready and will feather the clutch if I'm worried.

Sometimes with the clutch all the way in, I get a grinding noise when down shifting into first above 12MPH, is that typical? Sometimes I miss neutral and hit first and hear it. Not sure what causes it.

 

[AJ Nin]

Not sure, but if you hit neutral instead of 1st when downshifting, and coast, then try to go either into 2nd or 1st you get a loud clunk. Not sure why, but that has been the case in every bike I've owned. If you actually miss a gear and go in between gears (not neutral) there will be a grinding noise as the gear teeth slide against each other. I have managed not to do that so far with the CB300F. Other than getting into 1st from N when stopped, the bike seems to shift smoothly. New riders seem to grind gears when they don't use the gear shift foot lever with enough force. I owned a Triumph Street Triple r that was a fantastic bike, but about once a month, I would miss a gear. I don't think it was me, but it was always when I tried to shift quickly. Eventually, that will wear out the gear.

 

[Bkkthumper]

Similar things to you in 1-4 but don't have issue 5.

Regarding the hard to get into first from neutral..try releasing the clutch a bit. Works for me. If its all the way in makes it hard to engage 1st.. release and it will go straight in.

 

[ShedFarm]

So, it's NOT just me, who thinks this bike is too upright on the kickstand! Thanks for confirming it for me, AJ Nin (Ninja). I had the opposite problem on my CTX700N, so I'm hoping there will be a kickstand from another Honda model out there, that's just a tad shorter than this one, that I can swap out for the one that came with my CB300F.

 

[mike]

So, it's NOT just me, who thinks this bike is too upright on the kickstand! Thanks for confirming it for me, AJ Nin (Ninja). I had the opposite problem on my CTX700N, so I'm hoping there will be a kickstand from another Honda model out there, that's just a tad shorter than this one, that I can swap out for the one that came with my CB300F.

Keep us posted on when you do get one.

 

[SailorCBR300]

I definitely have the rattling and strong vibrations noise and feeling. I get it right after 5k rpms. It worries me at times because I think my engine is going to explode. lol. I haven't even driven on the highway yet honestly because the bike engine screams when at just 50mph... Has anyone taken their bike on the highway yet, or whats the top speed anyone has his? And what did the bike feel like and what rpms were you at?

I have the 300R btw.

 

[Gdaddy197]

I personally have not had any issues at all with my bike. Runs perfect without any odd noises. I would bring it back to the dealer and see what's up.

 

[Buck]

I drive about 15 miles to work everyday on four lane and have cruised around 75 sometimes 80 MPH and the bike does fine. After a while you will get used to it, the fastest I have gotten it up to is 86 on straight flat road. I don't remember what the rpms were at though.

 

[AJ Nin]

Shifting up at 12 mph is fine, but downshifting from 2nd to 1st at 12 mph will cause a clunk for sure along with a little skipping of the rear tire if you let off the clutch quickly since there is no slipper clutch. There shouldn't be any grinding noise though. 1st gear is really short. I don't downshift into first until under 10 mph or so. The clunk won't really hurt anything. New riders need to be very careful downshifting since there is no gear indicator. If you downshift into 1st going 20 mph (by mistake thinking you are downshifting from 3rd to 2nd) you could lose control as the rear tire locks up. So that clunk is a red flag. If you do hear it, it means you have just dropped into 1st gear and if you happen to be going 20 mph, don't let the clutch out. Slow down first, then ease out with the clutch. In short order you learn what gear you are in by the sound of the engine.


I'm worried about the kickstand in windy weather. I have a friend who rides a Gixxer that he has had lowered since he's 5'4" or something like that. Anyway, when you do that, you have to adjust the kickstand too or the bike sits upright too much. His bike stood too upright cause he never changed the kick stand. The other day, his bike blew over to the right (away from the kickstand). Unfortunately, there is no easy fix for this. Suggestions include either cutting, then re-welding the kickstand to make it shorter, or bending it. I don't like either of those options so I think I'll just take my chances. It will probably be OK.

 

[AJ Nin]

Snapfish: Share:Registration


This photo shows the CB300F on the right and the FZ07 on the left. Both sets of handle bars are turned completely to the left. The FZ07 leans normally. You can see how upright the CB300F is.

 

[OrangeBullet]

I don't have any of these issues except for the kickstand keeping the bike very upright. I got a flat tire on the way home from the dealer. The way I discovered this is I woke up the next morning to my bike tipped over against my car in the garage. It seems without tire pressure in the rear tire the bike may tip over to the right. At least we never have to worry about not noticing a flat. I make sure to have the front wheel pointed left and locked to ensure it stays up.

BTW the instructions on the CBR250 fourm for how to remove the back wheel without a stand work great for our bikes too.

 

[SailorCBR300]

Well I finally said screw it and took it on the highway to see how the bike felt. I was cruising at about 70-75 at about 7-8k. It feels pretty good, vibrates but got used to it after my first run on the highway. One thing is i can definitely feel how light the bike is on the highway with some wind. But I think if i can I'll stick to the highway rather than cruising main roads and the "city" just because it felt better and like less wear on the bike with starting and stopping and changing speeds, etc.

 

[Brent Boschetto]

I have a 20 mile commute to work and its all interstate. I cruise at around 70 at about 6-7k rpms. It seems pretty quiet at that speed/rpms. The fastest when I pin the throttle is 95-96. That is with a little tucking in, but I'm also light at 130lbs. If anyone can specify any other significant changes when swapping front sprocket to 15T, thanks.

 

[greensailor88]

chain

Had not realized my chain was so loose. had not messed with it and am already at 1800 miles. i got her tightened up today. any other things i should be looking at on this new bike? Anybody know of good shorty exhausts and fender eliminators?

 

[Berk Engin]

Anyone solved this rattling sound? It keeps getting higher and higher and I think that it comes from front...

I also started to have this rear brake light sensor coming loose... Even my rear brake paddle may be sitting a bit high, that may be the cause too...