Haojue DR300 (Suzuki GSX-S300) vs Honda CB300R: Spec Comparison

Can this Chinese streetfighter hold its own against a pukka Japanese rival?

Suzuki’s Chinese partner Haojue is on the verge of rolling out the DR300 naked streetfighter, and this is important because the same bike will be sold as the Suzuki GSX-S300 overseas. Specs of the new bike have recently emerged, so the natural thing to do is compare it to some of its competition. In this case, we’ll be taking a look at how the DR300 stacks up against the Honda CB300R on paper.

Powertrain

The Haojue is off to a rather disappointing start, because despite a sizeable displacement advantage and an extra cylinder, it actually produces less peak power than its Japanese rival, AND it does so higher in the rev range. On the upside, it has a slight advantage when it comes to torque, and the slightly undersquare cylinder dimensions should make this a tractable and usable motor in the urban jungle.

Underpinnings

The Honda's supremacy seems to continue in this department too, though by a smaller margin. The CB gets a slightly fatter rear tyre and a slightly bigger front brake, though the DR300 claws back some ground with a larger rear disc. Both bikes get dual-channel ABS but Honda ups things a notch by incorporating an IMU to measure weight distribution.

Dimensions

Both bikes have their strengths and weaknesses in this area, so it’s up to what you’re looking for. With it’s significantly larger fuel tank and longer wheelbase, the DR300 should make for a better long-distance tourer. But at just 147kg kerb, the CB300R is a massive 30kg lighter than the Haojue, which should make it a lot more manageable, even if it perches the rider 15mm higher.