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Over the winter I decided to do something I’d been debating on for a few months now. I decided to say goodbye to my 2016 Honda Cb300f, the bike that I learned how to ride on and the bike that took me from a beginner to where I’m at now. I’m a sentimental guy and selling the bike that I started on wasn’t an easy decision for me. There are a lot of good memories ingrained in that bike that I won’t have with a different bike. Truth be told, I bought the bike to replace it (a 2010 WR250X) and I’ve still been riding it around town because it just feels so natural now. The plan was never to stay on my  300. I originally wanted a 600cc sportbike and after a lot of googling and internal debate, I decided those weren’t the best bikes for me to start on. So, how did I go from wanting a 600 to not wanting to sell my 300?

When I was starting out the 300’s just didn’t look “cool” to me. The R6’s and the CBR600RR’s, now those looked cool. Those were the bikes I set my sights on and really considered trying to buy as my first bike. I found quite a number of people that disagreed over whether or not a 600 was a good bike for a beginner. A few years ago, I fixed up a beat up 636 to flip and after I was done fixing it up and cleaning it up I took it for a ride. It was the most fun I’ve had on two wheels, but it also scared me. I knew that a few rookie mistakes on a 300 would be forgivable but on the 636? I flipped the bike a month later and used the cash to pick up my Cb300f, it was a pretty good looking bike and I was set on Honda’s for the time being because of how reliable I heard they were.

I made every stupid mistake you could make on that bike. Twist the throttle on accident? Yep. Try to start with the kickstand down? Yep. Kicked it into Neutral instead of 2nd gear? Yep. Dropped it in the driveway? Yep. Killed the engine at a stoplight? Yep. Every stupid, beginner mistake I made on that bike and it made me a better rider. I finally feel like I’m ready to get on a 600 and I’ve been drooling over the selection in my local Craigslist. I think a CBR600RR is in my future, but I’ve still got to part ways with my 300 (and my wr eventually). I’m writing this article sort of as a final goodbye to the ol’ girl and to show people (beginners and experts) the importance of the beginner bike.

So this one’s for you Cb300f. You got me where I needed to go in one piece and we both came out better for it. You let me make my mistakes and kept on keeping on. We had some good times you and I. You started when I stalled you so many times and you did everything I asked of you and more. You put up with me and made me improve my skills and helped me along the way. You were forgiving for both a beginner rider and his wallet. I hope your next rider has as much fun and learns as much from you as I did. You did so much for me and all I have left to say is, thank you.