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    Hero Electric Scooters 5 Year Warranty For Lithium Ion Range – Best in Class

    Hero Electric Scooter
    5-year warranty announced for Hero lithium-ion electric scooter range

    Hero Electric has announced 5-year warranty for its lithium-ion electric scooter range. Comprehensive warranty covers the complete scooter. That is, except battery and the charger. The company says the convenience is on offer with no hidden conditions. And at no extra cost to customers. In the electric scooter segment, such long-ranging warranty is a first of its kind.
    Warranty is available to customers that purchase a lithium battery powered scooter between 1st January to 31st March 2021. The initiative, which runs through Q4 FY21 could help the manufacturer improve sales for the concerned quarter.
    And thereby, offer a final boost to FY21 sales. A period that’s been most uncertain, having gotten off to the slowest start possible. This was owing to Covid-19 pandemic related lockdown, and business limitations.
    Hero Electric lithium-ion scooters
    Based on response, and feedback for the ongoing warranty offer, Hero Electric will take further decisions. This includes making it a regular offering on all its Lithium-Ion battery powered scooters. Since beginning ops, Hero Electric has rolled out a multitude of offers. They’ve ranged from affordable pricing, to customized vehicles to cater to specific needs of retail and business consumers.
    Hero Electric Scooter
    5-year warranty initiative is aimed to further accelerate the shift to EVs. On the business front, measures and initiatives are curated with focus on increasing the number of footfalls at dealerships. This is possible on the back of multiple offers that make it worth the potential customers’ time.
    However, as the dialogue around EVs remains fragmented, and customer knowhow low, it’s up to EV manufacturers to be able to attract customers. For now, the onus lies on EV makers since customer knowhow isn’t up to scratch. With the expectation that EV infra will improve, manufacturers can hope for improved purchase conversions.
    Improved resale value of Hero electric scooters
    Sohinder Gill, CEO, Hero Electric said, “The comprehensive warranty is a confidence building measure that will eliminate the uncertainty about the trouble-free usage of Hero bikes as well as improve its resale value. This warranty comes on close heels of introducing a much-improved battery chemistry that ensure long life and great performance of Hero electric bikes even in the 50 degrees temperatures of the Rajasthan summers.”
    “At Hero, with our City Speed bikes offer ‘great value for money’ and we believe that with this latest offering, a prospective customer would be encouraged to buy an electric scooter over a much costlier, fuel guzzling bikes that are also high on running costs and repetitive maintenance.” More

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    TVS Jupiter, Ntorq, Scooty Prices Jan 2021 – New Jupiter Variant Rs 3,300 Cheaper Than Activa 6G

    Image for reference
    Scooty Pep Plus is the most affordable scooter in India currently with prices starting at Rs Rs 54,374 (ex-showroom)

    India’s third-largest two-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company has announced the price hike on each of its scooter models. The brand currently retails four scooters under its portfolio – Scooty Zest, Scooty Pep Plus, Jupiter and Ntorq. Along with increasing prices, the company has also added one new variant in each of Scooty Pep Plus and Jupiter’s lineup.
    Jupiter Sheet Metal Variant
    TVS has also introduced a base variant to its 110cc scooter Jupiter. The new sheet metal variant has been priced at Rs 63,497 making it the most affordable variant of Jupiter. This variant misses out on alloy wheels as offered in rest of its variants. This new base variant is Rs 3,302 cheaper than the base variant of Honda Activa 6G.
    TVS Jupiter vs Honda Activa 6g Price List
    Jupiter is powered by a 109.7cc, air-cooled engine which comes married to a CVT gearbox. This unit pushes out 7.3bhp at 7,000rpm and 8.4Nm at 5,500rpm. Suspension duties are taken care of by telescopic forks upfront and a mono-shock at rear. Braking duties, on the other hand, are handled by drum brakes on both ends as standard with the option of a disc brake upfront.
    Apart from this, rest of the lineup has faced a price hike in the range of Rs 1,645-2,770, depending on its variant. It rivals the likes of Hero Maestro Edge 110 and Honda Activa 6G. Ntorq prices have been increased by Rs 1,670. Below are the detailed prices of all TVS scooters for Jan 2021.
    TVS Scooters price list – Jan 2021
    Scooty Pep Plus ‘Mudhal Kadhal’ edition
    Ahead of the upcoming festival of Pongal which marks an important date in the Tamilian Calendar, TVS has now introduced a new variant of Scooty Pep Plus and calls it ‘Mudhal Kadhal’ edition which is Tamil for ‘First Love’. The new Mudhal Kadhal edition has been priced at Rs 56,085 (ex-showroom, Chennai).
    TVS Scooty has been one of the most popular underbone brands in India ever since it was first launched almost twenty-five years ago. It is one of the first models of the underbone segment in India which catered to the needs of daily commuting with added convenience of no gear shifts. Over the years, it has evolved with multiple updates incorporated in order to be relevant to the present.
    This new limited-run variant features a new colour scheme with special graphics and a 3D emblem and Logo on sides written in Tamil scripture. The new colour scheme features shades of brown, grey and black while the seat gets a dual-tone theme. The company has primarily targeted its Tamilian consumer base with this limited edition model of Scooty Pep Plus. Apart from the cosmetic update, there have been no changes made to the scooter.
    TVS Scooty Pep Plus First Love Edition
    It is powered by a BS6 compliant 87.8cc single-cylinder air-cooled motor with ET-Fi Ecothrust technology and produces 5.4 bhp and 6.5 Nm of torque while being paired to a CVT gearbox. The new ET-Fi technology claims to have increased the fuel efficiency of the scooter by 15 percent. Prices for Scooty Pep Plus start at Rs 54,475 (ex-showroom). More

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    KTM 390 Adv Owner Modifies His Motorcycle To Be More Off-Road Worthy

    KTM 390 ADV modified – Approx cost Rs 40k
    Since its launch last year, KTM 390 Adventure has become one of the best selling ADVs in the segment

    Adventure motorcycles have been the talk of the town over the last couple of years with the segment offering plenty of new and attractive options to consider. While Royal Enfield Himalayan and Hero Xpulse prove to be affordable offerings in this segment, people looking for premium features and looks, can opt for KTM 390 Adventure.
    KTM truly hit the nail on its head when it launched its premium adventure tourer about a year ago. The ADV has found the liking of many adventure enthusiasts. While two-wheelers generally have a limited scope of aftermarket modifications, adventure bikes do offer a wee bit more when it comes to customisation.
    The latest example of 390 Adventure modified with aftermarket accessories has surfaced online. KTM 390 ADV owner Karan Vazirani has uploaded a video of the same on his YouTube channel Silent biker Kv, in which he explains the modifications done on his bike. He has also listed the cost of each individual accessory fitted as part of the customisation.
    Modifications Done
    For starters, it gets customised body graphics that resemble brand Red Bull’s racing division. Hence, the owner calls it Red Bull Edition. The body wrap looks bright and sporty and it has been provided Wrap & Ride for a price of Rs 6,000.
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    Karan has also installed a windscreen adaptor from Root 95. At 18,500, the 390 Adventure gets new spoked wheels from Art of Motorcycles with dual-purpose tyres from Continental TKC 80. The front wheel is 19-inch spoked while the rear is a 17-incher.
    He has also made some additional changes to its hardware in order to improve its off-tarmac capabilities. Karan has installed a 47 teeth rear sprocket from Race Customs at Rs 2,800. It also receives a custom-made front fender worth Rs 1,250 from Universal Dirt bike.
    For enhanced touring purpose, the owner has installed a luggage carrying rack from Automel which is worth Rs 3,000. Most importantly, the owner has installed a GPR exhaust from his Triumph Street Triple R which surely makes a pleasant difference to its exhaust note.
    KTM 390 ADV modified – Approx cost Rs 40k
    Other notable highlights include a ram mount worth Rs 4,500; a Guardian Gear tank bag worth Rs 3,000 and a TFT protector from ADV Conquest worth Rs 1,000. It also receives auxiliary lights worth Rs 3,000; hand guards worth Rs 1,800 and a number plate bracket worth Rs 599.
    390 Adventure Details
    KTM 390 Adventure is powered by a 373.2cc single-cylinder air-cooled motor which pushes out 42.3 bhp and a peak torque of 37 Nm. This unit comes mated to a six-speed gearbox and is offered with a slip and assist clutch for smoother gear shifts. It is offered at a starting price of Rs 3.06 lakh (ex-showroom). More

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    Top 10 150cc To 200cc Motorcycles Nov 2020 – Apache, Pulsar, Unicorn, FZ, R15

    Image – The Bengal Rider
    TVS Apache has beaten Bajaj Pulsar the first time in many months

    Motorcycles in 150cc-200cc segment have registered impressive YoY gains in November 2020, even though MoM sales growth has turned negative. A total of 1,56,866 units were sold in November, which is YoY gain of 35.24%.
    Sales during the corresponding period last year stood at 1,15,993 units. MoM sales growth is down -22.85%, as compared to 2,03,326 units sold in October 2020. This is not unusual, as auto sales generally decline after the festive rush.
    Apache on top
    TVS Apache leads the pack with 41,557 units sold in November. It has registered a substantial YoY gain of 40.07%, as compared to 29,668 units sold in November last year.
    Apache is also among the few motorcycles in this space that have positive MoM growth. As compared to 40,943 units sold in October 2020, MoM sales are up by 1.50%. Apache’s market share in November was 26.49%.
    Top Selling 150cc-200cc Motorcycles Nov 2020 vs Nov 2019 (YoY)
    Next on the list is Bajaj Pulsar, which is just a few units short of segment leader Apache. Pulsar sales stood at 41,241 units in November, which is negative YoY growth of -2.80%. Sales during the corresponding period last year stood at 42,430 units.
    Pulsar MoM sales have taken a bigger hit, down by -36.87%. Sales in October 2020 were 65,332 units. This also reveals that Pulsar sales were the highest in this segment during the peak festive season. Pulsar market share in November was 26.29%.
    Other Top Performers
    At number three is Honda Unicorn 160, which has emerged as a popular choice in this space. A total of 21,796 units were sold in November, which is close to three times the sales in November last year. On the other hand, MoM sales are down -23.02%, as compared to 28,313 units sold in October 2020. Unicorn 160 market share in November was 13.89%.
    Top Selling 150cc-200cc Motorcycles Nov 2020 vs Oct 2020 (MoM)
    Yamaha FZ takes the fourth place with sales of 16,239 units in November. YoY sales are down -6.37%, as compared to 17,344 units sold in November last year. MoM sales are down -19.47%, as compared to 20,164 units sold in October 2020. Yamaha FZ market share in November was 10.35%.
    At number five is Yamaha R15 with sales of 5,848 units in November. YoY sales have grown by 52.93%, as compared to 3,824 units sold in November last year. MoM sales are negative at -6.57%, as compared to 6,259 units sold in October 2020. R15 market share in November was 3.73%.
    No
    150-200cc M’cycle Sales
    Nov-20
    Nov-19
    1
    TVS Apache (+40%)
    41,557
    29,668
    2
    Bajaj Pulsar (-3%)
    41,241
    42,430
    3
    Honda Unicorn 160 (+184%)
    21,796
    7,672
    4
    Yamaha FZ (-6%)
    16,239
    17,344
    5
    Yamaha R15 (+53%)
    5,848
    3,824
    6
    Hero Xtreme 160R
    5,460
    0
    7
    Yamaha MT 15 (+204%)
    4,608
    1,516
    8
    Honda HORNET 2.0
    4,035
    0
    9
    Bajaj Avenger (+6%)
    3,586
    3,374
    10
    Honda X Blade (+38%)
    2,591
    1,872
    11
    Suzuki GIXXER (-40%)
    2,145
    3,602
    12
    KTM 200 (+20%)
    2,115
    1,755
    13
    Hero XPULSE 200 (-53%)
    1,372
    2,936
    14
    Suzuki Intruder
    185
    0

    Total (+32%)
    1,52,778
    1,15,993
    MT15 registers max percentage gains
    Other motorcycles in top ten include Hero Xtreme 160R (5,460 units), Yamaha MT 15 (4,608), Honda HORNET 2.0 (4,035), and Bajaj Avenger (3,586). Of all motorcycles, max YoY gain in percentage terms is that of MT15 at 203.96%. MT 15 sales in November last year stood at 1,516 units. MT15 MoM growth is also positive at 11.41%. More

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    2021 Royal Enfield Classic 650 cc Twin Spied With New Gen 350 – Gets Alloys

    Royal Enfield Classic 650cc Twin
    The Royal Enfield Classic has an unassailable lead in the Indian medium displacement motorcycle segment and why not augment it with a 650 cc variant?

    If you are a Royal Enfield fan, there is a lot to be cheerful about in 2021 as the retro classic brand is gearing up for a new product launches in regular intervals. Royal Enfield has plans to launch one new motorcycle every 4 months in India.
    While things are going to start with model year refreshes and minor updates, quite a few next-generation thumpers are in the pipeline for later this year. We all know the new 650 cc cruiser is on its way but RE has surprised by testing another twin-cylinder prototype that we believe to be the Classic 650!
    2021 Royal Enfield Classic 650 spied
    A recent spyshot of accessorized 650 cruiser was actually wrongly identified. The prototype featured a conventional roadster riding posture compared to the previously spied cruiser test mule‘s feet-forward stance. Not just that, the accessorized test mule also featured considerably higher seat height.
    We have come across a new spy shot of the mystery Royal Enfield 650 roadster in question, parked alongside a new gen Classic 350 prototype. The image is credit to automotive enthusiast Ganesan.
    Royal Enfield Classic 650cc Twin with new gen Classic 350. Footpegs positioning on both motorcycles is similar. Pillion seat is larger as compared to the 650cc cruiser spied earlier.
    As you can see, they both share quite a lot in common in terms of basic design elements – circular headlamps, almond shaped fuel tank, split seats and roughly same seat height – and ergonomics. The motorcycle features black alloy wheels, front and rear discs, twin exhaust pipes, and an eccentrically mounted circular instrument dial.
    Royal Enfield KX650 Cruiser with footpegs in the front, lower seat height and smaller pillion seat
    Though the engine of the 650cc Classic is seen in black, it is likely that it is just a cover. As the spy shot shows that the cover is broken at one point, and one can clearly see the chrome / silver engine underneath.
    Why Classic 650 when you already have Interceptor 650?
    The Royal Enfield Classic 650 would be an ideal spiritual successor to the now defunct 500 cc variant which had a sizeable fan following. More powerful and refined twin-cylinder engine, the trademark retro design and a nameplate with huge brand recall make for a compelling combo.
    Royal Enfield KX650 Cruiser with footpegs in the front, lower seat height and smaller pillion seat
    To give you a perspective, more than half of RE’s sales volume is accounted for by the Classic 350; which is at the end of its life cycle and this shows how strong the Classic brand is. So, why not augment it with a 650 variant?
    While the Interceptor 650 already covers the medium displacement roadster niche for RE, the company appears to be confident that there is sufficient difference in the appeal of the Classic 650 to have it alongside. The inverted telescopic fork, split seats with removable pillion unit and an old-school body-coloured headlamp housing distance the Royal Enfield Classic 650 from its sibling.
    Powertrain
    In its existing state of tune, the motor produces 47 hp and 52 Nm of torque and is mated to a 6-speed transmission. We may see a minor tweak to the gear ratios to suite the Royal Enfield Classic 650’s relaxed mile-munching nature. With more variants being spun off the same platform, RE would be able to leverage the economies of scale to come up with very competitive pricing for its upcoming products. More

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    Ather Mumbai Experience Center Opens – First 450x Series1 Electric Scooter Delivered

    Prathamesh Sawant – one of the first owners of 450x Series 1 in Mumbai. Image – @the_hairmonster
    Ather currently has the 450x and the 450 Plus electric scooters on offer

    Ather Energy has opened their first experience centre in Mumbai today. Located at the popular Linking Road in Bandra, this state of the art showroom is called Ather Space. After Bangalore and Chennai, Mumbai is the 3rd city to get Ather Space.
    In the coming months, more cities in India will be getting their own Ather Space. Hyderabad and Ahmedabad Ather experience centres will soon open for public. Ahmedabad recently got one of its first Ather Grid electric charging station.
    Increasing Production
    Backed by Tiger Global, Hero MotoCorp and founders of Flipkart Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, Ather Energy was founded in 2013 and since then has raised $102.2 million. It has now been announced that Ather looks to intensify its production capacity.
    Ather Energy has shifted its production base to Hosur in Tamil Nadu from its current manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Recently, the last unit of Ather 450 rolled out of this facility.
    Ather Space in Mumbai
    By setting up this new manufacturing facility Ather will be ramping up its production which will help to manufacture 3,000 units in its initial stages and further expand to 8,000 units by the first half of this year. Ather has announced to expand its footprint beyond the 11 cities targeted for the first phase in November 2020. By March 2021, the company aims to have presence in 16 more cities – so total 27 cities will have Ather on offer by March 2021.
    Current Availability
    11 cities of 1st phase are Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Coimbatore, Chennai and Kozhikode. Previously Ather has managed to produce only 300 units of 450 per month on average.
    This modest number was mainly due to the restricted availability of the e-scooter in just 2 cities – Bengaluru and Chennai. Other factors such as lack of widespread charging infrastructure and premium pricing also led to slow sales volume.
    Ather Space in Mumbai
    Ather Energy entered the Indian market with the launch of the country’s first intelligent electric scooter in the form of Ather 450 in 2018. This was followed by the launch of 450X and 450 Plus, more powerful and premium version of the standard 450 in January last year.
    Ather Experience Center in Mumbai – Ather Space
    They also launched a limited-run Series-1 Collector’s Edition of the 450X exclusively available for those who had booked it even before the brand had officially launched it. It is this special e-scooter, that is now being delivered in Mumbai via the new Ather Space Experience Centers.
    Powertrain & Performance
    Ather 450X draws its power from a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) which is backed by a 2.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This powertrain is good enough to produce an output of 6kW (8 bhp) of power and 26 Nm of peak torque.
    Ather Experience Center in Mumbai – Ather Space
    It has a strong performance which can make it sprint from 0-40 kmph in just 3.3 seconds thus making it one of the quickest scooters in comparison to the 125cc segment of scooters. It is offered with three ride modes- Eco, Ride and Sport along with an additional high-performance ‘Warp’ mode. More

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    Aprilia Tuono 660 Officially Revealed – India Launch Later This Year

    2021 Aprilia Tuono
    At the time of its launch, Aprilia Tuono 660 will rival the likes of Kawasaki Z 650 and the upcoming Triumph Trident 660

    After a long wait, Aprilia has finally revealed its upcoming middleweight roadster Tuono 660 ahead of its India launch. The Italian bikemaker had first revealed a concept version of the new Touno 660 back at the EICMA in Milan in 2019. Interestingly, the final product is very similar to the concept showcased earlier.
    The naked street fighter is based on the same underpinnings as its faired sibling RS 660 which was also recently revealed. Tuono 660 was spotted testing on Italian roads on multiple occasions in recent past. Aprilia likes to call it a scaled-down version of its flagship naked superbike Tuono 1100.
    Design
    Starting with its design, it gets a signature three-pod headlight setup which is inspired by its fully faired sibling. These are nicely rounded by LED DRLs which accentuates its visual appeal.
    Despite being a naked motorcycle, it adopts a semi-faired design with the engine and other mechanical components exposed from sides even though it features a large underbelly cowl that leads to a short exhaust pipe. It also carries forward the same fuel tank and alloy wheels from RS 660.
    Aprilia Tuono 660
    It will be made available in three colour options- Iridium Grey, Concept Black and a new Acid Gold colour scheme which is also offered in RS 660. Seating position is noticeably aggressive with yoke mounted “Renthal” style clip-on handlebars and rear-set footpegs.
    As mentioned earlier mechanically, the naked Tuono 660 is similar to its faired sibling. It has the same suspension setup from Kayaba although with a slightly different tuning. It gets 41mm USD forks at front and a preload adjustable mono-shock at rear.
    Features on offer
    In terms of features, it gets a fully digital instrument cluster and a host of electronic aids under Aprilia’s Performance Ride Control system. This system consists of features such as multi-level traction control, cornering ABS, anti-wheelie control, cruise control, engine brake and five selectable engine maps.
    Aprilia Tuono 660
    Along with these, Tuono 660 comes with a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) which offers ride-by-wire technology and five riding modes- three road-based and two track-based.
    Mechanical Details
    Performance is the most crucial aspect, its 659cc parallel-twin engine with a 270-degree crank holds great value. This unit is also offered in RS 660 although it is slightly detuned in this naked motorcycle.
    Aprilia Tuono 660
    In Tuono 660, this unit cranks out 95 bhp which is 5 horses less than its fully-faired derivative and a torque output of 67 Nm. Even with the detuning, the naked roadster feels exhilarating to ride since it weighs only 183 kg which translates to an impressive power to weight ratio.
    In the USA, this naked motorcycle will be offered at USD 10,499 (INR 7.69 lakh) for the standard model and USD 10,699 (INR 7.84 lakh) for the trippy Acid Gold colour scheme. In the UK it will be retailed at £9700 (INR 9.65 lakh). Aprilia is also set to launch a product based on the same 660cc platform later this year named Tuareg 660. Aprilia Tuono 660 and RS 660 will be made available in India in the middle of this year after country-specific homologations are carried out. More

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    Royal Enfield Classic, Meteor, Honda CB 350 – Jan 2021 vs Old Price

    Image – MRD Vlogs
    Similar to trends witnessed in the past, most automakers have increased prices of their products at the beginning of new year

    In the two-wheeler segment, most products by Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj, KTM, Kawasaki, and others have undergone a price hike. Honda has also increased prices across the range including CB350 that was launched last year in September.
    Royal Enfield Meteor and Classic price hike – January 2021
    Talking about Royal Enfield Classic 350, its prices have been increased for all variants. The entry-level single-channel ABS version now costs Rs 1.63 lakh, an increase of Rs 1,873. The top-spec version that comes with dual-channel ABS along with other features is now available at Rs 1.88 lakh. This is an increase of Rs 2,045.
    Royal Enfield Classic 350 price list Jan 2021
    Classic 350 is currently the undisputed king in 200cc-500cc motorcycle segment, commanding a market share of around 50%. It will soon be launched in its next-gen avatar, wherein it will be getting an engine and platform upgrade, Tripper navigation and a host of other features. CB350 and Meteor 350 sales are also rising, but it remains to be seen if they can maintain the momentum.
    Royal Enfield has also increased prices of its products including Meteor 350 and Classic 350. Meteor 350 was launched in November last year and it came with a range of updates such as new engine, new chassis and first-in-segment Tripper navigation. Meteor is available in three variants, Fireball, Stellar and Supernova.
    Royal Enfield Meteor 350, Honda CB350 price list Jan 2021
    Meteor Fireball now costs Rs 1,78,744, an increase of Rs 2,927 over the earlier price. Stellar and Supernova variants now cost Rs 1,84,337 and Rs 1,93,656, an increase of Rs 3,010 and Rs 3,146, respectively. This makes Meteor Supernova variant costlier than top-spec DLX Pro variant of CB350.
    Honda CB350 new prices January 2021
    CB350 was launched at a starting price of Rs 1.85 lakh (ex-showroom), which made it expensive than rivals Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and Classic 350 right from start. Honda is not known to adopt an aggressive pricing policy for its premium products and the same has been the case with CB350. The motorcycle is offered in two variants, DLX and DLX Pro, both of which have undergone a price revision.
    Honda CB350 DLX new price is Rs 1,86,500, which is an increase of Rs 1.5k over the earlier price. The pro variant now costs Rs 1,92,500, an increase of Rs 2.5k. Although the price hike looks manageable, it may still prompt specific customers to think about relatively affordable options such as Meteor or Classic.
    Apart from higher pricing, Honda CB350 also faces the challenge of limited availability. The motorcycle is currently sold only through Honda BigWing dealerships, which are much fewer in numbers as compared to standard Honda dealerships. This makes CB350 inaccessible in large parts of the country. However, things may improve in the future, as Honda is working proactively to increase the number of BigWing dealerships. More