How Long Do Honda CB300Fs Last? (3 Examples)

In 2015, Honda dropped a 286cc, single-cylinder naked version of the CBR300R sportbike to its CB lineup—the Honda CB300F.

The CB300F is lighter than the sportbike it was based on, but other than being stripped down standard, its specs were almost identical to its older sibling.

Its straightforward design and ergonomic riding position make it a great starter bike, but just how long does a Honda CB300F last?

Find out in this article.

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Here’s how long a Honda CB300F lasts:

A Honda CB300F can last for well over 60,000 miles, provided the owner services it per Honda’s recommended maintenance schedule, stores it away from corrosive elements, and rides it regularly. Within the limits of its intended purpose, a CB300F could provide ten years of riding.

How Many Miles Do You Get on a Honda CB300F?

A Honda CB300F can give you over 60,000 miles if it’s maintained, stored, and ridden correctly. The successor to the 250R has only been around since 2015, but there are myriad examples of its predecessor lasting over 100,000 miles without a problem.

Don’t take our word for it; below are a few examples of high mile Honda CB300Fs:

One CB300F rider we heard from in the forums claimed they put 15,000 miles a year on the naked bike, as it’s their daily commuter to an out-of-town job. Their clock is right at 60,000 miles, and they’ve never even had to make valve adjustments, albeit they inspect their valves in the intervals Honda suggests in the owner’s manual. They’re confident, they say, that they’ll hit 100,000 miles before they need engine work.
I encountered another stoked CB300F owner who couldn’t wait to talk about the 98,000 miles they clocked on their standard little ripper. That’s 98k without a single issue, they reiterated. They noted that they replace the bike’s tires about every 12,000 miles, but only because they like that new, grippy tire action while sweeping through the more technical curves in their region.
And finally, another CB300F rider I encountered had about 62,000 miles on their bike when we spoke. He reported replacing his chain at about 17,000 miles when he realized it was all kinked up. This rider noted he hadn’t been keen on maintaining his chain until that point. He took it as a wake-up call, though, and since that 17,000-mile mark, he’s been more proactive with the maintenance. The rider hasn’t had a problem since and anticipates another 50,000 miles before he has another issue.

What Is Considered High Mileage for These Models?

Forty thousand miles is considered high mileage for a Honda CB300F. The used market bases its consideration on the Blue Book resale value, not on the bike’s longevity. A well-kept 300F will last well over 60,000 miles, but the used market assumes all starter bikes are ridden rough and worn by 40,000 miles.

High mileage only matters if the CB300F you’re considering is missing service records or if the little Honda starter bike has been passed around from novice to novice. High mileage bike that’s been the first bike of multiple new riders; chances are various newbies rode it rough for miles and miles.

And let’s distinguish a CB300F that’s considered high mileage from one that has a short lifespan.

The longevity of a Honda CB300F has more to do with factors like how the bike was broken in than how many miles it’s been ridden.

The used market may consider a Honda CB300F with 50k on the clock to be high mileage. But if it’s been serviced regularly and stored and appropriately ridden, that “high mileage” 300F has more life left than one with 20,000 miles that was dropped, redlined, stalled, and rode hard by four different novices.

How Many Years Does a Honda CB 300F Typically Last?

A Honda CB300F can last for 15 years if maintained per the Honda Service schedule in the owner’s manual and stored away from corrosive elements. The CB300F is a naked commuter. The average commuter is ridden 4,000 miles a year, and there are CB300Fs on the road with over 60,000 miles.

To reiterate, many factors impact the lifespan of a CB300F in both positive and negative ways.

Some of the indicators of a Honda CB300F with a shorter lifespan are:

The bike was stored or ridden in extreme weather like snow, humidity, scorching heat, and cold.
The owner failed to adhere to Honda’s CB300F-specific service schedule
The bike was dropped or redlined often or ridden rough during its break-in period.

As you can see, many of these factors are owner influenced.

You may not cause the weather, but if you’re exposing your CB300F to extreme climate conditions like storing it in the snow or idling it in traffic for long periods on sweltering hot days, you’re causing rapid wear on critical components.

You might see the damage like melted hand grips or sun spots/moisture damage on your paint, but you’re also wearing your gaskets and impeding the engine’s life if you continuously store your bike outside uncovered.

Sticking to the suggested maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual and caring for your engine is an excellent way to extend the number of years your CB300 will last. Not only does routine maintenance keep the engine lubricated and cooled, part of the service is inspection, and you can replace weather-worn components before they pose a threat to your bike’s longevity.

Keeping up with regular engine services, either on your own or through the Honda dealership technicians, is a great way to keep your CB on the road for a decade of stress-free riding.

The first regular maintenance step is an oil and oil filter change, but a dedicated service doesn’t stop there.
Inspecting, cleaning, or replacing your CB300F’s air filter is the next important step, and it’s a simple task to do yourself that can help extend your bike’s life past a decade.
Topping up your coolant levels and keeping your coolant fresh with Honda recommended liquid is essential to keep your 300F around for years.
Unfortunately, some CB300F owners think bike maintenance stops there. The owner’s manual outlines critical parts that need to be serviced and inspected to keep your bike on the road for years.

Is the Honda CB300F Reliable?

The Honda CB300F is reliable as long as it’s taken care of. Its 286cc single-cylinder is a simple, efficient design borrowed from the CBR300R sportbike, which is heavier. Since its engine is designed for pushing a more severe bike around, it’s hardly overworked in the CB300F commuter setup.

The CB300F is a reliable ride, and not just due to the smooth suspension.

From engine performance to braking power to clutch action, the CB300F is a bike that proves consistent with a low rate of failure.

The secret to the Honda CB300F’s reliability is its 286cc, single-cylinder engine. The little beast features a counterbalanced crankshaft that does its job at reducing motor vibrations.

Less rattling means minor trauma to the wiring harness, seals, and other components, increasing the bike’s reliability and keeping it on the road.

As we mentioned in a few places earlier, the CB300F’s engine is torn straight out of the CBR300R, a sportbike.

The mini-monster of a motor equips a close-ratio 6-speed transmission that tones down the revs on the daily commuter, keeping it nice and low below the redline.

Low revving performance is an essential contribution to the reliability of the CB300F, and you’ll find that the engine’s overqualification is reflected in the bike’s gas mileage as well.

Does a Honda CB300F Last Longer Than Other Motorcycles?

The Honda CB300F lasts longer than other naked bikes because of its engine. Its single-cylinder, 286cc engine, and close-ratio 6-speed suspension are pulled off of a sports bike and intended for hard riding; their overqualification gave the CB300F an edge over the competition in longevity.

Ride a 300F, and you can feel the advantage over other motorcycles in its class immediately.

The power delivery in the 300F is more readily available than that in a Ninja 300, for example.

A punch-packing power delivery means the CB300F’s motor isn’t working as hard to power the bike as the competition, strengthening its ability to last longer.

The CB300F isn’t a top-end performer like its competition, and while that hinders its performance on the open freeway, its low-end baked design keeps its RPMs in the safe zone.

A lower-revving motor wears less rapidly than a motor that peak-performs at the redline.
Hondas aren’t known as high-revving torque monsters; they’re known for reliability and efficiency.

The efficient and reliable nature of the Honda CB300F’s engine helps it last longer than other motorcycles in the 300cc naked bike class.

What Typically Breaks First on a Honda CB300F?

The first thing to break on a Honda CB300F is its chain. Reason for this are that chains on the 300F can kink or damage:

If the rear axle isn’t tightened enough
If the chain wasn’t appropriately adjusted or lubed adequately
If your CB300F’s chain isn’t being serviced regularly.

The elements corrode chains as well.

5 Great Tips to Make Sure Your Honda CB300F Will Last Long

Here are tips to ensure your CB300F lasts longer:

1. Adjust Valves Regularly

The Honda CB300F’s single-cylinder banger of a motor can last a long time if you adjust its valves during every service, according to the bike’s maintenance schedule. Sometimes, they’ll need to be changed.

Failure to adapt your CB300F valves will reduce the bike’s performance, burn your valves, and cause engine failure.

2. Replace Oil & Filter Often

Extend your CB300F’s life well past the high-mile mark by changing your oil and oil filter per the maintenance schedule in the bike’s owner’s manual. Change your oil even more often if you ride in dusty weather, sit in traffic, or ride short distances where the bike doesn’t have time to heat up before you kill the engine.

3. Clean the Air Filter Regularly

Keeping your air filter fresh, clean, and working does more for your CB300F that gives it a snappy throttle response; it keeps dirt, grit, and grime out of your engine and keeps the bike on the road for years.

4. Check and Freshen Coolant

The CB300F is a liquid-cooled motorcycle, and its coolant contains chemicals that expire and become corrosive in time. Old coolant can rust and corrode the metal in the bike’s cooling system and engine. This can cause the engine to overheat and can reduce the bike’s lifespan by years.

Keep your Honda CB300F lasting long by keeping its coolant up to level and fresh per the owner’s manual specs.

5. Keep Tires Full and Replace Before Worn

Tires are critical to more than just rider safety. The tires on your CB300F need to be inflated to proper spec for your bike to perform as it’s engineered to. Tires wear from use and deteriorate in time, and riding them past the wear bar affects engine life similarly to riding the bike at improper PSI.

Carry a tire gauge and keep your CB300F’s tires inflated to spec, replacing them before they’re worn past the bar, to keep your CB300F running properly, and extending its life.

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