Honda SH300i (NF 02) 2007–2010: Specs & Facts

The Machine's Character

The SH300i sets out to be a city scooter that handles like a light motorcycle, and this NF 02 generation pulls it off. It runs a 279 cc liquid-cooled single making 27 hp and 19 lb-ft, mounts 16-inch wheels at both ends, and hangs it all on a steel tube frame. The wheels matter most. They give it a steadiness and a precision in the steering that small-wheeled scooters don't have. At 355 lb (161 kg) wet, it's still light enough to thread through traffic. Belt final drive, a standard center stand and 67 mpg complete a scooter that's built to be useful, not to show off.

In town it's about as easy as mid-size scooters get. The steering is light, the seat sits at 30.7 in (780 mm), the controls make sense and the weather protection is good enough for daily use. It tops out at 84 mph, which covers short freeway runs but doesn't make it a highway tourer. On a twisty back road the big wheels make it a lot of fun. It suits a rider who wants one vehicle for weekday commuting and the occasional weekend loop. There are three caveats. ABS was an option, not standard, so check whether the one you're looking at has it. The ignition coil is a known weak spot. And some high-mileage examples stall when coming to a stop.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

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Key specifications
Power	27 hp (20 kW)
Torque	19 lb-ft (26 Nm)
Displacement	279 cc
Engine	Single-cylinder
Cooling	Liquid-cooled
Final drive	Belt
Fork	Telescopic
Front brake	256 mm
Front tire	110/70-16
Rear tire	130/70-16
Wheelbase	56.7 in (1440 mm)
Seat height	30.7 in (780 mm)
Wet weight	355 lb (161 kg)
Fuel capacity	2.4 gal (9 L)
Top speed	84 mph (135 km/h)
Fuel economy	67 mpg (US)

Equipment check

Comfort

Heated Grips Optional
Luggage System Optional

Safety

ABS Optional

The Truth on the Street

I've heard a lot about this SH300i over the years: in paddocks, over coffee with owners, on club nights and in the messages riders send me directly. For the 2007–2010 generation the pattern is clear. Owners praise how it goes, corners and stops, and nearly all their complaints are about what it can carry.

Pace, poise and brakes owners trust

The praise riders repeat most is about the chassis and the engine. Owners describe firm suspension and a composure in corners that tempts even experienced riders to push hard. The single gets similar credit. It pulls away briskly, holds highway speeds without strain, and many owners say it outruns most rivals. The linked brakes come up often too, described as strong and reassuring, especially in the wet. Some owners note it was built in Italy and say it feels solidly put together, with examples holding up over high mileage. They're happy with what it spends on fuel as well.

No room for the helmet

The recurring gripe is storage. Owners consistently describe the underseat compartment as tiny, and most full-face helmets won't fit in it. Riders say this is where the SH300i falls behind many competing scooters.

Known issues

Ignition coil failure

electrics occasional

Several owners report intermittent no-start conditions and coil failures, requiring replacement of the ignition coil.
Intermittent stalling at stops

electrics occasional

Some high-mileage examples experience stalling when coming to a stop, often traced to a corroded connector at the HT coil or a failing oil pressure switch.

The Expert Benchmark

Where this Honda SH300i pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.

What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class

Urban Utility Score

Weatherproof Commute Comfort

Storage Without Thinking

Twist-and-Go Simplicity

Low-Cost Daily Mobility

Night-and-Rain Confidence

This bike Class average

Head-to-head: Honda SH300i vs. its rivals

Power

27 hp This bike 21 hp Vespa GTS 300 i.e. Super Sport 21 hp Yamaha X-City 250 20 hp Kymco People 250 22 hp Aprilia Sportcity 300 Cube

Torque

19 lb-ft This bike 16 lb-ft Vespa GTS 300 i.e. Super Sport 16 lb-ft Yamaha X-City 250 15 lb-ft Kymco People 250 16 lb-ft Aprilia Sportcity 300 Cube

Displacement

279 cc This bike 278 cc Vespa GTS 300 i.e. Super Sport 250 cc Yamaha X-City 250 251 cc Kymco People 250 280 cc Aprilia Sportcity 300 Cube

Wet weight

355 lb This bike 326 lb Vespa GTS 300 i.e. Super Sport 381 lb Yamaha X-City 250 331 lb Aprilia Sportcity 300 Cube

Top speed

84 mph This bike 80 mph Vespa GTS 300 i.e. Super Sport 70 mph Kymco People 250 75 mph Aprilia Sportcity 300 Cube

Seat height

30.7 in This bike 31.1 in Vespa GTS 300 i.e. Super Sport 31.1 in Yamaha X-City 250 31.9 in Kymco People 250 32.1 in Aprilia Sportcity 300 Cube

The 'Should I Buy It?' Score

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the SH300i is actually built for.

Aerial photograph of downtown Austin, Texas, showing modern high-rise buildings against a clear blue sky. Urban infrastructure, highways, and parking structures visible in the foreground. — Thomas Balabaud / Pexels

Best scooter for NYC?

This is your bike. It parks almost anywhere, gets around 67 mpg and steers so lightly that stop-and-go traffic stops being a chore. Just check the ignition coil on any used one.

Made for Austin · Los Angeles · Miami Beach / Miami

Best motorcycle for Bay Area?

It handles the city grind all week, and the big wheels make a ridge road fun on Saturday. With 27 hp, though, you'll be enjoying the corners rather than leading the group.

Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant