On paper at least, the CB1300 might not sound like it's not got too much in the way of sporty performance. Specs like 114bhp and 224kgs hardly give the impression of a scratcher. Get on one though, and you'll be amazed at just how much progress you can make.
It's one of the best examples of bikes in the big-bore naked class. And because it's so well-balanced and so damned easy to ride, getting the best from the engine and chassis is an absolute doddle. The Honda almost rides itself. All that weight just fades away as soon as the wheels start turning and, combined with the massive leverage offered by the sit-up-and-beg styled bars, flicking the CB around feels as easy as it does on a bike half the size. And that applies to both U-turns done at walking pace, or chicanes dispatched at over the ton.
The Honda's chassis architecture is quite old hat, but what appears to be an outdated design does in fact work a treat. Steel double cradle frame and twin shocks or not, the CB1300 can boogey in corners and knee-down action is never very far away. And nor is a bit of short and sharp speed-killing with the ex-FireBlade-spec brakes, as they're more than man enough for the job.
Seeming a bit less than man enough for the task is the motor's claimed and, on the face of it quite lame-sounding 114bhp. But forget the horses, it's the torque of the CB's motor which is far more important………and effective. It's got grunt everywhere meaning getting cracking quickly is just a twist and go affair the majority of the time. It might have a half decent six-speed box but it's a fair bet the Honda would get away with half that number of ratios and still be useful. The fuel-injected four-cylinder mill is one of the most real world engines on the market and getting big numbers indicated on its speedo is a totally relaxed deal. It's very smooth and linear with its delivery of stomp too, which just adds to the easy style of life you can have on this bike.
The only thing you might knock it for is what JP described as “a slight lack of soul.” Though he probably summed the Honda up better when he added, “but it's hard to worry about that when a bike as big and powerful performs as well as the CB1300 does.”