The CBR300R is a great low cost motorcycle for both novice and experienced sport-minded riders!

Honda realizes that it needs to focus on promoting motor sports to entry level and first time riders as the mean age of the average motorcycle enthusiast rises.

Unfortunately, most entry level riders, due to college debt or lower initial earnings, do not have the disposable income and cannot afford the 10 thousand dollar entry fee, which was the price of a new entry level motorcycle a few years ago, to get into the sport.

Honda also realizes that there is a market for fun, low-cost motorcycles for experienced riders that want to ditch their, expensive to insure and maintain, liter bikes in favor of a neat bike to scoot around town. I fall into this category.

To meet this challenge, Honda is pricing several of it's motorcycles under $8,000 and is offering low APR financing with 0 down if you have good credit. Honda realizes that these entry level riders will be back wanting a bigger or more powerful motorcycle in the near future and they might choose Honda if they have already had a good experience.

The Honda CBR is a series of Honda sport bikes which descended from the Honda CB series, models that end in "RR" are sold as "Race Replica" which indicates that the model sold to the public is close to what is used in Super Bike professional racing, while models ending in "R" are sold as "Replica" or just as a Sport Bike.

CBR models typically have inline engines with the cylinders oriented from left to right if you were sitting on the motorcycle. The CBR300R only has a single cylinder so that sort of breaks of mold of the CBR series.

The 1987 Honda CBR600F, known was the "Hurricane" in the United States, was the first to have the "CBR" designation. The original CBR600F (1987) was Honda's first inline four-cylinder sport bike with a full fairing.

It had a liquid cooled, 85 horsepower, DOHC, 16 valve four cylinder (four stroke) engine, coupled to a six speed transmission. This was the beginning of a line of CBR600F series. I owned a 1998 Honda CBR600F3 and it was a lot of bike for the money!

The CBR300R and the CB300F are new for 2015 in the US market.

Here is a comparison between these two motorcycles:

- CBR300R is a full fairing sport bike. while the CB300F is a naked "Street Fighter"

- Both share the same frame, wheels, brakes, tires, and suspension.

- Both share the same fuel injected, four valve, DOHC, 286cc, liquid cooled, four stroke, single cylinder, engine.

- The CBR300R is 9 pounds heavier than the naked CB300F, due to the fairing.

- The MSRP on the CBR300R is $400 more than the CB300F.

- The CBR300R has a sport stance rider position where the CB300F has a more neutral "standard" riding position.

The CBR300R is an entry level motorcycle sold by Honda Motorsports Division. Like the CBR250R it is manufactured in Thailand to rigid Honda specifications. The CBR300R sports clip-on handlebars and has an aggressive sport riding position.

The front wheel sports a 110/70-17 radial tire while the back wheel has a 140/70-17 radial tire. Stopping power is provided by a single 296mm disc in front and a single 220mm disc in back. The CBR00R sports a fuel injected 286cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke, engine capable of producing 26.2 horse power. While 26.2 horsepower is not earth shattering this it up from 22.5 horse power of the CBR250R and could propel you up to 90MPH on the open highway if the conditions are right!

The engine employs a counterbalance to keep engine vibration to a minimum and it is coupled to a six speed transmission which lets you get the most out of it. What is great about the single cylinder engine is that it gives the bike very narrow dimensions making it easily to maneuver in city traffic and on twisty roads. The 30.7 seat height gives new riders confidence by allowing them to firmly plant their feet on the ground when stopped.

The all new CBR300R can be had in most US markets for a little as $4,399. With good credit, Honda Financing should allow you to finance for $0 down with $90/month payments for five years.

While the CBR300R is billed as an entry level motorcycle, experienced riders will find it fun as well! While I don't own a CBR300R.....yet, I am an experience rider and own it's predecessor, the 2012 Honda CBR250R. It is my main motorcycle and I take it out just about every weekend, weather permitting. While I enjoy my CBR250R I can see where the added 4 horsepower of the CBR300R would be nice!