Honda recently unveiled the CL500 scrambler at the 2022 iteration of the EICMA trade show. Now, its smaller sibling, the Honda CL300 has made its debut and it shares its 286cc liquid-cooled engine with the CB300R but at 25.7hp, it makes 5hp less than its sporty cousin.
- CL300 gets upswept exhaust, flat seat
- Main frame shared with Rebel 300 but gets different subframe
- Offered in two variants – Standard and Premium
Honda CL300 scrambler: details
The Honda CL300 goes down the same route as the CL500, in that it uses its Rebel counterpart as a base for its main frame (and even the engine) but uses a taller subframe to accommodate the flat single-piece seat. The Honda Rebel 300 uses a different chassis to the CB300R and the CL is based on the Rebel platform, not the CB.
As a consequence of this, seat height and ground clearance stand at 790mm and 165mm, respectively. At 172 kg, it is nearly 19 kg lighter than the Rebel 300. The engine found here is the same liquid-cooled, 286cc single-cylinder unit as the Rebel 300, making 25.7hp, which is 5hp less than the CB300R. Like the other two, it gets a 6-speed gearbox.
Gone are the Rebel’s 16-inch wheels, replaced by a 19-inch front/17-inch rear setup, similiar to the Honda CB500X. The tyres’ tread pattern is mildly off-road focused, but this is more aesthetic enhancement rather than actual off road performance. A telescopic fork and monoshock handle suspension duties and the CL300 gets a single disc brake at either end, mated to dual-channel ABS.
At the moment, the CL300 is sold only in China in two variants – Standard and Premium. The latter gets a higher beak-like front fender, colour-matched knuckle guards, a bikini fairing and a tan leather seat. As of now, the CL300 isn’t sold in major international markets such as Europe or the Americas, and as of now the manufacturer hasn’t given any indications whether the CL300 will make its way to India.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
