It is not known whether the bike will also be marketed in Europe in Europe, but in China last month Honda launched a smaller version of the CL500 scrambler unveiled at this year’s EICMA in Milan: the CL300, which comes in two versions are available.
At about the same time as the launch of the CL500, the street scrambler version of the Rebel 500 whose arrival had long been leaked in patents and trade marks, the CL300 was unveiled in China.
Honda now also has a Rebel 300 in its range in China, so the arrival of a CL300 in the Chinese People’s Republic is a logical step in that respect. The CL300 is powered by the same 286cc single-cylinder we already know from the CB300R, which was quoted to us for a top power output of 31 hp at a curb weight of 144 kilos.
In the CL300, however, the single-cylinder has a peak horsepower of only 26 horsepower, which is equal to the claimed peak horsepower of the Rebel 300, which was remarkably marketed in the United States but not in Europe.
According to Honda, tuning the block back should have resulted in a stronger midrange torque. Honda claims a curb weight of 172 kilos, which is not only several kilos more than the CB300R, but also heavier than the 165 kilos curb weight for which the Rebel 300 is stated.
To convert the Rebel 300 into a CL300 scrambler, Honda has fitted a new subframe, just as it has done with the CL500 compared to the Rebel 500, with which the rear has been raised quite a bit. The seat height is the same as the CL500 at 790 mm, Honda has also replaced the 16″ wheels of the Rebel with a 19″ front wheel and 17″ rear wheel.
It is not known whether the CL300 will also be marketed in Europe, but given that the Rebel 300 is also not available here, we consider that chance small. Unless there is so much demand from the market that Honda would be stupid not to do it.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.