Honda XR300L at Rs 1.83 Lakh: Worth the Hype?

Honda has finally come up with a motorcycle in the dual-sport segment for India, with the release of the new XR300L at Rs 1.83 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The pricing puts it right next to the likes of Hero XPulse 210 and Kawasaki KLX230, but there is something different about the XR300L from Honda's BigWing range. The motorcycle comes with a 293.5cc engine, long travel suspension, 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoke wheels, and switchable rear ABS. The interesting thing is that Honda has positioned it as an off-roader without increasing its prices too much.

Honda has announced the release of the XR300L in India at the price point of INR 1.83 lakh (excluding Delhi showrooms). It marks the beginning of a whole new category for the Honda, that of the dual sport motorcycle category for India. Booking for the bike has commenced at Honda BigWing outlets all over India. It features a slimmed down body and a beak-like front fender with a taller stance along with elevated exhaust. As against a regular street going machine, the Honda XR300L can easily negotiate both roads.


The Honda XR300L has an air-and-oil-cooled engine that is 293.5 cc in capacity. Honda hasn’t yet put up the figures for the engine output on its website. The good news is that the engine is similar to that of the Honda CB300F, which has a power output of about 24.5bhp and a torque figure of 25.9Nm. This gives an idea of what to expect from the Honda XR300L once the official specifications become available. With regard to performance of an off-road motorcycle, torque may sometimes be as important as horsepower.


The most significant variation between the Honda XR300L and a standard road motorcycle is the type of equipment fitted to the bike. The Honda XR300L has long travel suspension on both ends and is fitted with a 21-inch front and an 18-inch rear spoke wheel configuration. This kind of configuration is quite common in motorcycles made for rough terrains since the big front wheel can help tackle any bumps and obstacles that come along the way.


And here comes the more interesting part regarding the Honda XR300L. In the XR300L, riders have an option to disable the ABS function of the rear wheel, which helps gain more control while performing some off-road maneuvers. This would be helpful in case of riding on loose surfaces when experienced riders would want the rear wheel to be more free. Moreover, the motorcycle has gained traction control as well. All this shows that Honda has not merely lifted a road motorcycle and put spoke wheels on it.

Honda XR300L adds another choice for customers in India from the fast-growing segment of dual-sport motorcycles. Priced at Rs 1.83 lakh, it is priced between the Hero XPulse 210 line-up and the Kawasaki KLX230 with a larger 293.5 cc engine, long travel suspension, spoked wheels, traction control and rear ABS. The biggest mystery right now would be the power and torque output specifications, which Honda has not yet disclosed. Once these numbers are revealed, the position of the XR300L would become clear. For now, Honda has certainly taken the plunge into the segment with a worthy contender.

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Is there ABS available on the Honda XR300L?

Yes. Dual-channel ABS is available with an option to disable rear ABS for off-road rides.

Does the Honda XR300L have a traction control system?

Yes. The Honda XR300L is available with a traction control system.

What are the wheel sizes for the Honda XR300L?

The XR300L has a front wheel of 21 inches and rear wheel of 18 inches, both having spoke rims.

Where do I book the Honda XR300L?

Bookings for the XR300L have commenced from Honda BigWing showrooms in India.