[Fanatic]

Now, I normally don't feel comfortable starting negative topics, but when I think about it, this can be more positive than anything else.

I think we can agree that our 300 is a superb bike overall, especially if one can appreciate it for what it is. It has tons more to like about it than to dislike.

Just to share our views and opinions as to what we can find to nitpick about, what do you not like about your 300R/F?

Few things that I can think of:

1) When I fuel up the bike to full, it shows a max of 6 bars. The 6th bar comes & goes off / on... And then disappears very quickly after a few miles of riding... So I'm left with 5 bars most of the time. I suppose the bike doesn't fuel up to the absolute max because it's tilted on the stand while at the fuel up. Also, the decrease and increase of a bar happens frequently as I progress with riding throughout the tank's fuel range.

2) The exhaust canister is prone to attracting stains from the rubber soles on my shoes... Especially since the canister is large in size, and gets so hot and attracts to melting the rubber with even the slightest touch or rub from the sole.

3) The bike's motor takes a very long time to warm up, especially when it's below 30 - 40 degrees outside (less than comfortable, I know ). I let the bike idle for a couple of minutes or so, and then I ride at the lowest RPM's to give the motor some more time to build heat. It takes a while... And actually, everything takes a long time to warm up when it's very cold outside. The shifting is always a bit harder and harsher... When I'm at the red light or when I'm trying to shift the bike to neutral, the bike keeps going to 1st or 2nd... Very difficult to land on neutral. I'm having all this happen only when it's very cold outside. I suppose motorcycles are more sensitive to the weather, and we can read the bike's behavior better than a car because we're more connected to the machine... And plus the bike's motor and components are more open to the weather compared to everything being enclosed and covered like it is in a car.


Just nitpicking... Some of these are just the nature of how motorcycles are, so probably no biggie. If I think of anything else, I'll be sure to post it up here.

* FYI, I have about 1,500 miles at the time of forming this thread.

 

[Gdaddy197]

Nothing.......The best bang for your buck. Period. Oh......and its a Honda........

 

[Fanatic]

Nothing.......The best bang for your buck. Period. Oh......and its a Honda........

Come on, there has gotta' be some kind of critique you can share from your bike's experience thus far...

(If anything, this will help Honda make the bike perfect-er) :laugh:

 

[Mike N Kelly Hall]

I have not riden mine as much as you have, but I would say the mirrors for me. I am 6' 4' so to see around my arms. The exhaust issue I can see since my boots almost touch it. I don't like the back where the license plate goes, that huge tail. Other then that I like it for a beginner bike and just to get around a military base and town.

 

[KevinPinneo]

1) When I fuel up the bike to full, it shows a max of 6 bars...

2) The exhaust canister is prone to attracting stains from the rubber soles on my shoes...

3) The bike's motor takes a very long time to warm up, especially when it's below 30 - 40 degrees outside...

(1) My bars jump up and down pretty easy- haven't had the issue getting it all the way full though. The sensor seems pretty sensitive, you'd think it would wait a little longer before reporting for such a small bike/tank. The MPG seems pretty reliable though, so combining the finiky gas indicator with the trip mileage is pretty solid

(2) Same here, and I can't figure out WHERE the marks came from. My pants and shoes both don't have any melt marks. Part of me think it's imaginary and my subconscious is asking for a carbon fiber slip-on

(3) 90% of my rides are in the 30-40 area. I haven't noticed the gears acting any different, but the only time I use neutral is when I'm pulling into the garage. Does take a few minutes for the idle to stabilize before riding though

 

[kiwi rider]

I got 2500 mile on odo.
@Fanatic The trick with getting the 6th bar to stay on is to fill the bike whilst sitting on it. Sounds awkward but you get used to it. Put the cap back on before dismounting tho! You will then get around 20 - 25 miles before dropping to 5 bars. I got 253 miles out of one tank the other day.
@Mike N Kelly Hall Yes, the mirrors suck and the tail end is ugly, that's my blunt opinion! Various options for changing them tho, do a thread search if interested.

I'm finding the gearbox a bit more finicky and not as slick as my 250R was, which is odd as they should be identical. Esp finding neutral once stopped.

Another comparison with the 250 would be the increased engine vibration of the 300, not a deal breaker but annoying all the same.

A proper key operated helmet lock would be a nice feature to have.

It would also be good to have clear access to the oil filter cover without having to remove fairings. Would make oil changes real snappy.

None of these are big issues tho, great bike as we all know

 

[jmerod58]

1) When I fuel up the bike to full, it shows a max of 6 bars. The 6th bar comes & goes off / on...

I have not noticed, nor have I paid too much attention. Ill keep an eye out tho (once its freakin nice enough to ride out)

2) The exhaust canister is prone to attracting stains from the rubber soles on my shoes...

I have had no issues with marks from my shoes. you guys using the rear pegs a lot or something? Maybe im just lucky at avoiding that issue. Ya know, Fanatic, you could get a new slip on

3) The bike's motor takes a very long time to warm up, especially when it's below 30 - 40 degrees outside (less than comfortable, I know ).

Good Lord, you ride in 30-40 degree weather?! I tried that and hated it. Its cold enough outside for me. Although, I haven't spent any cash on heated gear and I don't plan too. I used that money to get stuff to winterize the bike.

For me, what I have not liked is the engine vibration that we have all talked about already in another post. Other than that, I love the dang thing! I mean, there are always some cool aftermarket mods and upgrades that can be done to enhance our preferences, but for a stock bike, I don't think you can beat it.
I also feel, from a novice riders perspective, that we may not know what we like about sport bikes and it takes having little things like the handlebars being too high, or the mirrors being awkward for some riders, or amount of engine vibration we can stand, before we actually know our personal pref's. Its all about the experience and I know we all agree that this CBR300R/F is a great bike and Honda pretty much hit the nail on the head. I mean, nothings perfect, right?

 

[MotoMike]

I have not riden mine as much as you have, but I would say the mirrors for me. I am 6' 4' so to see around my arms. The exhaust issue I can see since my boots almost touch it. I don't like the back where the license plate goes, that huge tail. Other then that I like it for a beginner bike and just to get around a military base and town.

If you find yourself riding in the rain, or even just on a wet road after a rain, you'll come to appreciate that rear fender/tail for its ability to keep the wet road grim off your back.

Of course you can get a rear fender eliminator kit like so many CBR250R/300R owners do, who are more concerned about cosmetic looks than practical functionality. For myself, I much prefer to have a dry backside when riding in the rain.

 

[KevinPinneo]

If you find yourself riding in the rain, or even just on a wet road after a rain, you'll come to appreciate that rear fender/tail for its ability to keep the wet road grim off your back.

Of course you can get a rear fender eliminator kit like so many CBR250R/300R owners do, who are more concerned about cosmetic looks than practical functionality. For myself, I much prefer to have a dry backside when riding in the rain.

Agreed

I was shocked at how dirty my bike gets, and so quickly. As much as I dislike it cosmetically, that fender is my best friend (and even then the back/bottom of my backpack gets a tad grimy some days)

 

[needa916]

This will be a very short list:

1. I HATE all the rattling due to vibration. It sounds like my old 1986 Ninja 250. I don't hear much complaining from others, so it may be just mine, but I've checked all the bolts/nuts.

2. ???

One of the best bike's ever owned.

 

[kiwi rider]

I HATE all the rattling due to vibration. It sounds like my old 1986 Ninja 250. I don't hear much complaining from others, so it may be just mine, but I've checked all the bolts/nuts.

I could complain more but dont want to bore others:laugh:

I'm waiting to ride another 300 to compare encase my bike was just assembled hastily last thing on a Friday!

 

[Fanatic]

I could complain more but dont want to bore others:laugh:

I'm waiting to ride another 300 to compare encase my bike was just assembled hastily last thing on a Friday!

I got bored of hearing so much good, hence my reasoning for popping up this thread, lol. :laugh:

 

[Fredneck45]

i wish for slightly larger tires. to increase stability. I have Ridden dual sport with knobby tires that are more stable.

 

[ShedFarm]

1) I don't like the fact that Honda has gone with a soft bag accessory, that straps onto the rear seat, instead of giving us the option of mounting a hard topcase and saddle bags, like on the CB500F. This is my commuter bike, and I have "stuff" to carry!

2) I wish the kickstand leaned the bike over, just a bit more. Twice now, the wind has almost blown my bike over onto its right side, even with it parked on level ground, and the handlebars turned and locked, to the left.

I may come up with more items, once the weather warms back up, and I'm able to get more seat time on my CB300F.

 

[snackjack]

The lug on the sidestand is 110mm wide but when the stand is up only sticks out 8mm.It is right under the gear change shaft and hard to find with bike boots on.

 

[Joels_rody]

Bike needed a few more ponys from factory for a quick safe overtake seems to take forever once over 100km/h to get going ... And I agree with the comments bike could lean a lot more for piece of mind I find myself being very picky about were I park it for that reason

 

[Itsme]

I hate the side stand. My parking area is on a hill and it's fallen over once (the bike, not the hill). I had to have the side stand lowered. It's better but I still have to be very careful where I park it. You would think that fundamental would have been tested by Honda!

 

[MotoMike]

I hate the side stand. My parking area is on a hill and it's fallen over once (the bike, not the hill). I had to have the side stand lowered. It's better but I still have to be very careful where I park it. You would think that fundamental would have been tested by Honda!

We had a thread discussing the length of the side stand over on the CBR250.net site awhile back... the OP of that thread had the same complaint as yours.

Motorcycle manufacturers determine the proper length for a side stand based on the bike being parked on a level surface, give or take a degree or two of incline. There is no way they could make a side stand of a fixed length that will work in more extreme non-level parking situations, particularly on side hills or sloping roads. It's up to the owner/rider to park the bike in a location and in a way that it won't fall over on its own. For example, when parking a bike on a sloping road, you would want to have the front of the bike pointing mostly up the hill, and not perpendicular to the slope.

Bottom line, Honda did not screw up the length of the side stand... you just need to choose better locations to park the bike so it won't fall over.

 

[OrangeBullet]

I'm shocked that anyone would complain about this motorcycle in the cold. Coming from an air cooled bike the computer controlled water radiator in the CBR seems to allow this thing to get up to temperature in an amazingly brisk pace.

It also starts pretty much instantly in weather as low as 12F if you give it a little throttle when you turn it over. I have commuted in sub freezing weather to work (sub 3mi) for several weeks and this is a big improvement over my last air cooled V twin ride.

My only nit pick would be with the angle of the kickstand as others have mentioned. I just park with the stand side facing down hill whenever possible.

 

[Fanatic]

I'm shocked that anyone would complain about this motorcycle in the cold. Coming from an air cooled bike the computer controlled water radiator in the CBR seems to allow this thing to get up to temperature in an amazingly brisk pace.

It also starts pretty much instantly in weather as low as 12F if you give it a little throttle when you turn it over. I have commuted in sub freezing weather to work (sub 3mi) for several weeks and this is a big improvement over my last air cooled V twin ride.

My only nit pick would be with the angle of the kickstand as others have mentioned. I just park with the stand side facing down hill whenever possible.

I should consider myself spoiled... First bike in combination with being a noob, what can I say? :laugh: