4 Common Failures Of The Honda CB300F: Problems And Breakdowns

The CB300F is a variation on the basic sports bike, the CBR300R. The two bikes share one engine, a small single-cylinder with 31 horsepower and 20 pound-feet of torque, powered by redesigned pistons, crankshafts, and connecting rods. However, it has some problems and in this post we will talk about the most common failures of the Honda CB300F.

The 300F is lighter than the R model, with a more upright seating position; It is a transport motorcycle, but this does not make it perfect and that is why we bring you this post, keep reading and discover the problems that the CB300F has presented.

Common failures of the Honda CB300F

An entry-level touring bike with a small sport engine seems reliable, but what are the common problems with a Honda CB300F? Read on to discover some tips for dealing with common failures on your Honda.

1. It does not find the neutral point

One of the most recurring problems with the 300F is finding and shifting into neutral. You often tend to shift into neutral when at a stop light, allowing you to take your hand off the clutch lever and relax for a while.

CB300F owners claim that when they try to shift into neutral, the bike gets stuck in first gear. However, when it’s time to accelerate out of his lane, the bike starts up and shifts into second gear like a dream. Then, at the next red light, he refuses to coast again.

Truth is, while the 300F can be a bit more difficult to shift than other bikes, the trend online seems to indicate that it’s often new riders who don’t know it’s a bad idea to put the 300F in neutral in a temporary stop.

We are going to explain why:

• When you pull up from idle, you don’t want to go from neutral to first gear.
• Your CB300F has what we call a sequential gearbox.
• A sequential gearbox is designed to shift from first to second, not neutral to first then second.
• Staying in first gear at the light with your hand on the clutch lever and the clutch disengaged is the correct way to drive, and not idling in neutral.
• Thus, throttle response and clutch actuation are more agile and the transition to driving smoother.
• Keeping first gear at stops is part of defensive driving. If a car enters your road space without seeing you or runs a traffic light, etc., you have an advantage if you can hit the accelerator, avoid oncoming traffic, and continue on your way.
• Waiting at the red light with your hand on the clutch and the bike in first gear is part of responsible riding. The gearboxes are not intended to idle in neutral when stopped.

The CB 300F is a favored option for new riders. If you’re a first-time motorcycle owner reading this, we’re not messing with you.

It is common for new riders to rest in neutral at stops and for the hand to come off the clutch lever.

The best antidote is to build hand muscle while driving; it will happen faster than you think. Hold the clutch in at stops and push it in to brake the engine, and you’ll build the muscles you need to clutch on command with the best.

• Motorcycling demands both cognitive power and physical strength. Will your fingers have the stamina to hold the clutch until the light changes, without over-squeezing and therefore tiring out faster?
• They will do it. Challenge yourself to keep the clutch lever on your CB300F as smooth as possible while maintaining the clutch release. You already have it.
• Arrive at your stops slowly, power walking your 300F for the last few yards. This not only builds clutch hand strength to ride a motorcycle, but it also builds the leg strength you’ll need to jump into something bigger if that’s something you’re into.
• Ease the tension when your hands rest on the handlebars of your CB300F, giving your wrists a flow. In this way, the muscles in your wrists take some of the weight off your fingers.
• Think of each red light as an opportunity to develop the physical and cognitive skills necessary to master the Honda CB300F.

2. The bike stalls out of nowhere

One of the most problematic issues encountered during the investigation on the CB300F forums was that of riders who claimed that their bikes stalled out of nowhere.

And just to be clear, some of these riders bought their all-new Honda CB300F; the bikes would stall before they got any noteworthy mileage on it.

There are more than a few reasons why a 300F might stall. Let’s see the most common causes why this happens.

The problem could be related to the ECU fuel map. An ECU flash/fuel system remap at the Honda dealer has fixed the problem for more than one CB300F owner.

The Honda CB300F is a reliable standard motorcycle with a simple but efficient single cylinder engine. If your Honda CB300F is experiencing stalls and you’re sure you’re hitting the friction zone on your clutch correctly, the next place to check is fuel, air, battery, or spark.

3. Buzz vibration

The first criticism we found on the forums about the 300F was more of a complaint than a problem. The CB300F makes a hum, in some cases described as a rattle, especially in the higher RPM range. Some of the frustrated 300F owners even claimed to hear it over the sound of the exhaust.

There were riders who spent their spare time tightening every bolt on the 300F, loosening them all, and furiously retightening them to prevent the rattle from resurfacing. Even that didn’t work.

After reading one incorrect theory after another, we finally found a few people who got rid of the vibration on the Honda 300F.

• A rider discovered a fairing bolt he had never noticed before under the fairing towards the bottom of the bike.
• The best way to get rid of rattling noise on the Honda 300F is to tighten the fairing bolt on the bottom right of the fairing.

But is this a solution for the annoying noise? Because we found another biker who claims that he got rid of the vibration with a totally different approach:

• A troubleshooter on another Honda 300F deduced that on his bike the rattling was coming from the gas cap.
• The next time they heard the obnoxious vibration, the friend applied a little pressure on the fuel cap, and before their ears, the noise disappeared!
• When they got home, this 300F owner removed the gas cap and installed it with more pressure. He later claimed that the noise was gone forever.

In the end, we assume that two different rattling sounds are being described, with two other culprits behind them; the gas cap and the screw of the lower fairing. Perhaps it is due to two separate causes that it is so difficult for 300F owners to troubleshoot. You can try both solutions to see which one works for you.

The good news is that regardless of whether it’s the gas cap or the fairing bolt that’s causing that obnoxious vibration hum in your Honda CB300F, it’s not indicative of engine or transmission issues.

4. The side stand makes the bike too high

This is another fault on the list that at first glance may seem like a complaint, but knowing it could prevent some damage or even an injury; We thought we’d share the details.

The side stand on the Honda CB300F keeps the bike more upright than other touring bikes. This catches some motorists off guard. Here we have the testimony of a real owner of the Honda CB 300F, who says the following:

The kickstand keeps the bike more upright than with other bikes. I’m even worried about parking in strong wind. Helps turn the bike to the left when locked. That gives it more lean, but the problem I have is that I always get on and off the bike with the kickstand down. Getting on is no problem, as the seat is low, but getting off is more difficult than on any other bike I’ve ever owned, because instead of just sliding down the left side, you have to work as hard to get down as not to let the bike gets even more upright. It’s hard to explain better than that, and I’m getting used to it.

There you have it. It’s not like it’s a huge glitch or huge bike issue affecting you while riding, which makes it a quirky item on our list this time around. That said, being aware that the 300F is taller than its contemporaries gives you the foresight to be vigilant during mounting, dismounting, and parking.

Beware of inclines that can counteract the high stand and cause your bike to fall in the opposite direction.

The good and the bad of the Honda CB 300F

After reading about the common faults of the Honda CB300F, it is good that you also read about the pros and cons of this motorcycle.

What do the reviews say?

The CB300F is a great bike for commuting in light traffic, especially if you can legally split lanes on the highway. The bike’s small stature allows you to squeeze through tight spaces left by careless riders staring at their mobile phones, but you’ll need to be very vigilant. It’s much easier to be overlooked, no one is going to hear the quiet bike coming, and you can’t get out of danger as quickly as you can on a mid-size bike.

Despite its small displacement, the CB300F is a very capable bike. The liquid-cooled DOHC engine is moderately oversized and has a rev limit of 10,500 rpm . Novice riders will appreciate the ease of getting the bike moving with the useful low-end torque, and everyone will enjoy the healthy midrange and upper-midrange power where the CB300F really shines.

Power delivery is ample, from a good 4,000rpm pull, through 6,500 where it flexes its 286cc of muscles, all the way to around 8,000rpm, at which point it starts to level off. The CB300F’s response and willingness, along with its ease of handling, encourage enthusiastic riding.