Cute retro-neo CB300R freshened for MY22

The CB300R has been updated for 2022, now using 41mm Showa big piston forks up front, and cornering ABS brake control thanks to the addition of an inertial measurement unit (IMU).

The twin-cam single-cylinder engine is unchanged but gets an assist and slipper clutch while for this year there are four new colours, including a yellow and a blue finish.

As part of the Neo Sports cafe range, Honda’s retro-neo line-up, the CB300R comes in third in line from the top, behind the 1000R, 650R and ahead of the 125R.

Like before it scales up at 144kg ready to ride and is powered by a Euro5-compliant four-valve 286cc liquid-cooled single, good for 23kW and 28Nm. Its new clutch should be lighter in action while the slipper function prevents rear wheel hopping during rapid downshifting and hard braking.

The pressed tubular steel frame beneath the skin is unchanged but better big piston forks from Showa are said to offer increased sensitivity, and improved bump absorption and control.

Brakes are the same as before, featuring a radial-mount four-piston caliper up front but there’s now cornering ABS thanks to the fitting of an IMU. Other features include a tapered steel handlebar, fresh LCD instrument display and full LED lighting.

For this year, the new yellow and blue colours for the CB300R will be complemented by the existing black and red hues.

Design of the Neo Sports Cafe range was undertaken in Honda’s R&D facility in Rome. Another new variant emerged last year in the form of the CB1000R Black Edition featuring a Deep Graphite Black paint scheme and blacked out headlight bezel, fly-screen, fork stanchions, radiator shrouds, airbox covers, exhaust and muffler details.

For 2022, the four-pot CB650R gets a new Sword Silver Metallic paint scheme.

Whether or not the updated CB300R makes it here is unclear at present, but Kiwi learner riders prefer to spend a bit extra and buy one of the twin-cylinder CB500 LAMS models instead.