2015–2020 · Scooter · Buyer's Guide
Scooter Body, Motorcycle Sharpness
The SH300i is Honda's big-wheel scooter for people who actually ride every day. Its 279 cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected single makes 25 hp and 19 lb-ft, sends it through a belt drive and sits in a steel tube frame rolling on 16-inch wheels. That wheel size is the whole point: it gives the SH a stability that feels closer to a motorcycle than a scooter. ABS, a keyless system and an LED headlight come standard, and at 368 lb (167 kg) wet it stays light enough to shove around a parking spot. In the premium scooter class, this is the sober choice that turns out to be quick. Typical Honda.
On the road it does the daily job with almost no effort from you: light steering, easy controls and solid weather protection. It's cheap to run at 75 mpg, it's built to last, and with a 90 mph (145 km/h) top speed it isn't trapped in town. This is a scooter for commuters who want one vehicle that handles the work week and a country road on Sunday. The honest caveat: attack a corner really hard and it gets nervous sooner than a proper motorcycle would. The suspension has no adjustment at either end, either. Know that, and you'll be happy.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 25 hp (18 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 19 lb-ft (26 Nm) |
| Displacement | 279 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Front tire | 110/70-16 |
| Rear tire | 130/70-16 |
| Seat height | 31.7 in (805 mm) |
| Wet weight | 368 lb (167 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.4 gal (9 L) |
| Top speed | 90 mph (145 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 75 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Comfort
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
For years I've listened to what riders tell me about their bikes: in the paddock, at club nights, in owner chats, and in the emails and messages that land in my inbox. For the SH300i the picture is lopsided. There's a lot of praise for how it goes and how it carries you, and one quiet grumble about how it looks.
The point owners raise most often is pace: strong acceleration and a top speed that puts it among the quickest big-wheel scooters. Right behind that comes comfort. Riders describe an upright position, compliant suspension and a well-padded seat that still works on longer days. Just as many talk about the handling: they call the chassis sorted, say it gives them confidence in corners and that it's fun to ride. A smaller group brings up the practical side. They mention low fuel use with a range of around 200 miles (320 km), generous underseat storage, the available ABS and keyless ignition from 2016. Convenient urban transport, they say.
The only criticism I hear is about styling, and it comes up rarely. Some owners find the design functional but staid, without the flair of some Italian rivals. That's the whole list.
Where this Honda SH300i pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the SH300i is actually built for.
This is your scooter. It turns around in one move, sips fuel at 75 mpg, shrugs off weather and starts every morning. For short, dense city trips it's about as easy as two wheels get.
Made for Austin · Los Angeles · Miami Beach / Miami
It'll handle your weekday commute perfectly and still be fun on a twisty road at the weekend. Just know the limit comes sooner than on a motorcycle, and there's no connectivity or TFT for tech fans.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2011–2014
City Traffic's Best Friend
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
