If you’re starting off in the motorcycle world, you usually get two different pieces of advice. Some people will tell you to buy a cheaper old bike and learn to maintain it yourself. And others will tell you to buy a brand-new bike, so you have no problems with the machine.

The first piece of advice is generally aimed at turning you into a well-rounded rider who is capable of solving moto-mechanical problems with more than just a credit card. The second piece of advice is aimed at getting you focused on learning to ride without being distracted by breakdowns. I think both pieces of advice have their merits, and are usually given so that the end user is a happy long-term rider.

But I am personally a fan of a third piece of advice: Buy a used bike, but buy a high-quality, low-mileage, low-displacement machine that will save you money while theoretically avoiding most mechanical problems while you’re a rookie rider. A machine like this basically-new 2015 Honda CB300F.

That liquid-cooled 286cc single-cylinder engine made about 26 horsepower and 17 lb-ft of torque. More horsepower can be found with careful tuning. Photo: Hawkeye Motorworks

Practicality first

The naked bikes that Honda sold in North America in the 2010s were sensible re-packaging of their sportbikes, not bare-knuckle backroad brawlers. The CBR650 begat the CB650F; the CBR500 begat the CB500F; and the CBR300 begat the CB300F. They did not have exciting styling; they were simply made to appeal to buyers who wanted to save money, whether on the initial MSRP or in the long-term insurance payments.

For that reason, the moto-press basically ignored them, which is really too bad, as they were solid bikes then, and are solid bikes now. The CB500F was called “bland” by every journo who rode it, I think. To be fair, that 471cc parallel twin was no Ducati L-twin. But it got good fuel economy, could take you well into extra-legal speed territory, and had a clever headlight design that took a lot of windblast off your chest and head. Whoever designed that headlight was an aerodynamic genius.

Ah, a stock exhaust pipe and a machine that is generally free of aftermarket add-ons. If you’re in this market segment, this is a very good sign. It means fewer ham-fisted rookie mistakes to repair. Photo: Hawkeye Motorworks

If they called the CB500F bland, imagine what the jaded writers would have said about the CB300F! This bike used the same liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that Honda used in the CBR250 originally, then the CRF250L, then receiving a big-bore job to 286cc and getting the optimistic “300” label. This engine still lives on in Honda’s lineup, and it certainly has no reputation of excitement.

However, it has a reputation for reliability, and frugality. And if you want, you can do a lot with this platform.

Curb weight is 348 pounds, very manageable for a rookie and a lot of fun for an experienced rider to fling around. And for a newbie, basically problem-free if maintained. Photo: Hawkeye Motorworks

The inmate perspective

As soon as Honda announced they would sell the naked 300 in North America, inmates were stoked. The Honda CB300F thread goes all the way back to 2014. Check it out—you’ll see lots of photos of ADVrider forum members who added luggage, windscreens, electro-farkles, engine guards and other useful bits to make the bike more usable as a commuter or tourer. There are a lot of experienced buyers who accept the bike isn’t perfect, but like it for the way it connects them to the basic challenges of motorcycling. And then there are comments from newcomers, like this post from City Rider back in 2015, which wraps up with this thought:

this bike gives me “in the zone” feeling that I did not sense since I was maxing out 75hp cars on German Autobahns. It’s the machine that gives me sense of freedom and which can take me away from daily problems. Perfect solitude machine.

Sounds like just the machine to start with.

The fork is non-adjustable; the shock is preload-adjustable. Motorcycle.com found the brakes a bit spongy in their test ride, but that system can be easily upgraded if you want to ride this bike hard. Photo: Hawkeye Motorworks

The experienced rider’s perspective

Motojournalism veteran Ari Henning is probably the big name that’s most-associated with this platform. Not the CB300F, but the CBR300, as he raced one rather successfully and his tuning concepts are still followed by hot-rod shops today. Since the CB300F and CBR300 use the same engine, you could view this little naked bike as an alternative way to scratch that itch to modify something small for speed.

Of course, our pals at MO rode this bike when it came out. They liked the engine, thinking it was pretty smooth for a single. They also liked the neutral handling, light clutch action, compact size and excellent fuel economy. They only panned the brakes, saying they were spongy and not as good as the CBR300… but that better pads and stainless steel pads would fix that. The review wrapped with this:

From practically the beginning of time, whenever we’ve been asked what bike a new rider should start on, we almost always side with the baby Ninja or CBR. However, those days might be coming to an end. With the CB300F, riders will get all the performance the fully-faired versions carry, with some added benefits.

First, handlebars instead of clip-ons are more comfortable for normal riding, and they make it slightly easier for riders to learn tight, slow-speed maneuvers. Second, the 300F costs less than the CBR (and Ninja 300). Third, and more importantly, the lack of bodywork means the inevitable tipover won’t have as severe a consequence. Factor in the ease of maintenance from the lack of bodywork, and the CB300F draws a strong case for itself as the prime starter bike.

Experienced riders will also find the 300F a fun bike. Its relative lack of power will keep them out of trouble while simultaneously serving as a great learning tool for instilling proper technique to maintain speed. Also, take into account the nearly 60 mpg we returned from our test unit, and riders of all experience levels should find the CB300F appealing for the daily grind.

Read the full write-up here.

This bike here

The machine seen here is for sale at Hawkeye Motorsports in Davenport, Iowa. They say there’s only 692 miles on the odometer, and for an asking price of $2,999, that’s about as cheap a deal as you can find on a basically brand-new Honda that will last you for a a long, long time if you just do basic maintenance.

Forget what I said about that V-Star 950 a couple of weeks back. This Honda is the fly-and-ride deal you need, if you’re looking for a really cheap ride to see America. All you’ll have to do is change oil and tires/chain/sprockets as they wear out. Add a tailbag like the Kriega US-30 Drypack or maybe a MotoFizz seat bag from Aerostich or something from SW-Motech or Ventura Racks—or just strap down an army surplus dry bag. You’re off on the adventure of a lifetime.

This motorcycle appears to be basically brand-new. Perfect for the experienced rider looking for cheap fun, perfect for the inexperienced rider who needs to save money but also doesn’t need to get bogged down with wrenching. Photo: Hawkeye Motorworks

You might think I’m being a smart alec, but I’m not. When I rode across the US a decade ago, I was sitting in a McDonald’s in Colorado feeling quite pleased with myself for making it all the way there from the East Coast on a Dyna. Then, in the parking lot, I saw a CBR250 (which has an even smaller version of the engine in this CB300F). The CBR had Quebec plates; he’d ridden basically as far as I had, on a bike with less than a quarter of the engine capacity. And I bet he’d gotten 60 mpg or better all the way, while I was burning through sawbucks trying to keep the thirsty Dyna in the lifestyle to which she’d become accustomed…

Or, if you’re just a noob to the motorcycle scene, looking for your first bike, I can’t guarantee this machine is trouble-free, but I can say this. If you find a well-made Japanese-designed bike like this with under 1,000 miles on the odometer and an asking price of $3,000? Don’t listen to anyone telling you that you’re better off starting on some horrid beater bike. Beg, borrow or steal three grand, and snap the deal up.

See more photos and find contact details at Hawkeye’s website here.