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      New Honda Electric Scooter Launch In 2023 – Futuristic Activa Confirmed

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      Honda is currently the leader in ICE scooter segment with Activa smashing sales records like clockworkImage for illustration purpose.Honda electric scooters were thought to be a distant possibility as Honda had mentioned before. The Japanese company had even started development of flex-fuel technology for low-cost Indian commuter motorcycle segment. Right now, Honda is the undisputed leader in ICE scooters in India.We were all under the impression that Honda would probably step its foot into electric scooter segment in 2025 or later. But, this is a big but, Honda has now revealed that they have considered electric scooters and will launch their product in early 2023. This decision was revealed by Atsushi Ogata, MD, President and CEO, HMSI.This decision was made right after the company launched a street fighter CB300F which we were all hoping to be a Forza 350 maxi-scooter. So, there is finally something good that followed the CB300F launch, huh? This is big news and let’s break it down.Honda Electric ScooterBeing a mainstream manufacturer like TVS and Bajaj, we can expect Honda’s electric scooters to be safe and impervious to EV fire hazards that some EV startups are prone to. Honda has already initiated a new vertical named Honda Power Pack Energy India. Its task is to locally produce swappable batteries for two and three-wheeled EVs in India.New Honda Activa 7G TeasedHonda conducted a thorough pilot study in 2021 at Thane, Maharashtra. It clocked 2,00,000 km and 7,000 battery swaps in total. Honda has partnered up with HPCL and Bengaluru Metro to establish swapping stations, starting from Bengaluru. It was expected to start operating in May of 2022. That might be the reason for Honda Benly e electric scooter that we spotted in India.For development of its first electric scooter, HMSI is formulating a team of engineers from Honda Motorcycles, Japan. Ogata also said that HMSI had been in touch with Honda Japan for six months where they already have expertise in electric scooters. Ogata also mentioned that HMSI is creating a “futuristic Activa” hinting that Honda’s maiden EV in India might have the name Activa in it. This is different from Activa 7G which was teased recently.It makes sense too. As Activa is already the de facto choice in scooters. A maiden EV with this legend’s name might make it a de facto choice in electric scooters. Millions of Indians already associate themselves with Activa brand. Like Bolero Neo, because TUV300 name was the drag. Okay, Mahindra has a weird naming strategy by using letters and numbers instead of words.Honda Activa Electric – What To Expect?For starters, Honda’s first EV might adopt the swappable battery tech mentioned above. This basically means that a user is not owning the battery and just renting it. So, the initial high costs that are associated with EVs might be negated this way. Hence drawing more and more people towards EVs.Familiarity seems to be Honda’s priority and hence the hints of a “Futuristic Activa”. It is likely to get the Activa name. Honda will also make sure that it has decent performance and range needn’t be very high as the battery can be swapped to a fully charged one in a jiffy, hence reducing range anxiety and slow battery charging hassles. When launched, Activa electric will compete with TVS iQube, Ola S1 Pro, Ather 450X, Simple One and a lot more.According to industry experts, the Indian EV market is likely to expand at a CAGR of 77% by value sometime within 2017 and 2025. Honda may have bought the ticket late, but catching this EV train is paramount. Yamaha, you next?Source More

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      2023 Hero 300cc XPulse, XPulse T, Xtreme S – 3 New Motorcycles Spied

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      With mid-size segment registering strong growth, Hero MotoCorp is getting ready to tap this space with two new 300cc bikes2023 Hero 300cc Motorcycles – XPulse 300, XPulse 300T and Xtreme 300SWhile it’s the country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp has a fairly lopsided portfolio, maxing out at 200cc range. As consumer preferences are evolving, Hero will be looking to diversify its portfolio. It could start with mid-size segment that has been witnessing strong growth, with multiple new products launched in recent years.In the earlier set of spy shots, only two motorcycles of Hero were spied. As revealed in latest spy shots by Sarathi of KALKI, Hero MotoCorp is working on three new bikes, an ADV, an ADV tourer and a fully-faired sportsbike. These are likely to have a 300cc motor and could be named XPulse 300, XPulse 300T and Xtreme 300S. Launch is expected in 2023. While engine will be same, power and torque output may be adjusted for each of these 300cc bikes.The Three New Hero Motorcycles – Xtreme 300S, Xpulse 300T and Xpulse 300.Hero XPulse 300 and Xpulse 300 TXPulse 300 ADVs and its faired sibling will be using a trellis frame, which will be a first for Hero MotoCorp. Hero’s 450RR Dakar Rally motorcycle does have a trellis frame, but that bike is not commercially produced. XPulse 300 concept was showcased at Hero World 2020 event with a new motor and trellis frame. It is possible that launch of Hero 300cc bikes could have been delayed due to the pandemic.Some of the key features of Hero XPulse 300 include raised front fender, aggressive headlamp cowl with compact windscreen, trendy rear view mirrors, skeletal body and rugged engine bash plate. The bike is likely to get a full-digital instrument console with Bluetooth-based connectivity features. XPulse 300 has wire-spoke wheels with knobby tyres, which highlight its off-roading capabilities.New Hero XPulse 300T and Xpulse 300Wheel size could be similar to Himalayan that has 21-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel. Braking setup comprises disc brakes at both ends and dual-channel ABS could be offered as standard. The bike has USD front forks and monoshock suspension at rear.New Hero Xpulse 300 cc RangeXpulse 300T can be seen with a different styling, more suited for being an adnture tourer. Upon launch, XPulse 300 range will take on rivals such as Royal Enfield Himalayan, Yezdi Adventure, KTM 390 Adventure and BMW G310GS.Hero Xtreme 300SOverall silhouette of Xtreme 300S appears familiar to Xtreme 200S. Some key features include alloy wheels, aggressive front fascia, front cowl mounted rear view mirrors and prominent fairing.New Hero Xtreme 300S Fully FairedRiding stance is fairly committed with low-set handlebar and rear-set footpegs. Things like brakes and suspension will be the same as that of XPulse 300. However, suspension will be stiffer and with less travel on the faired bike.[embedded content][embedded content]Powering Hero’s 300cc bikes will be a new liquid cooled motor that should be capable of generating around 30 bhp of max power and 25 Nm of peak torque. It is likely to get a 6-speed gearbox. Hero Xtreme 300S will compete with rivals such as Apache RR310, KTM RC 390 and BMW G310RR. Hero is likely to offer its 300cc bikes at an affordable price point, making them accessible to a wider customer base. More

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      Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Side View Detailed – New Spy Shots

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      Himalayan 450 will get a larger 450cc engine which will make more power and torque to compete with the 390 AdventureRoyal Enfield Himalayan 450 Side View. Image – Motorcycle NewsRoyal Enfield has been developing the Himalayan 450 for quite some time now. New motorcycle will stay true to the precedent set by its 411cc sibling. It will be marketed as an adventure tourer in India competing with BMW G310GS and KTM 390 Adventure. After the exhaust design was spied a few days back, new spy shots reveal side view.The updates expected on the Himalayan 450 will make it even more capable off-road and even more relaxed on-road. In latest spy shots from the UK by Motorcycle News, we can see that the new motorcycle gets significantly broader seats to accommodate riders of all frames and sizes.Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 – New Spy ShotsIt is also expected to get comfier cushioning to give riders more support and comfort. This will also make sure that riders can ride farther on one stretch before needing to take a break further aiding Himalayan 450’s touring abilities.Rider’s triangle also seems to be better than Himalayan 411. This will aid the rider in daily commutes and as well as highway runs. Pillion seat looks like an upgrade too as it looks broader and better cushioned in comparison to Himalayan 411. The pillion will also appreciate the placement of the rear footpegs and big grab handle beneath them.Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Spied in the UKHimalayan will get a bigger 450cc single-cylinder petrol engine with an overhead camshaft. It will get oil cooling. It is expected to make more power and more torque than Himalayan 411. This will make it an even worthy opponent to the likes of KTM 390 Adventure and BMW G310GS. The engine might be coupled to a brand new 6-speed transmission instead of the 5-speed unit on Himalayan 411.The motorcycle will get spoked wheels at the front and rear. Wheels are expected to be 21” at front and 17” at the rear like Himalayan 411. Ground clearance on the newer model seems to be higher. This might be due to beefier forks with longer suspension travel. Final production version of Himalayan 450 will be slightly bigger than the outgoing Himalayan 411 and is also expected to weigh a little more due to the bigger engine.Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 FeaturesHimalayan 450 will get tubular frames at front and rear to hold luggage, panniers and jerry cans. It will also get a new vertically mounted instrument cluster which will easily fall in rider’s peripheral vision. Other expected features on the bigger Himalayan include, dual-channel switchable ABS, slip and assist clutch, some kind of riding modes with different throttle maps, GPS navigation on the instrumentation and maybe even ride-by-wire to make the throttle response better. In the video below, we can see the Himalayan 450 on test in India.[embedded content][embedded content]The Himalayan will come with off-road specific features too. Even though Royal Enfield hasn’t made it official, we can expect a robust suspension, capable engine, stiff chassis and durable components. Royal Enfield might even consider more off-road friendly components as an option at least as Hero does with its Xpulse 200 in the form of the Rally Kit. When launched, it will be a worthy competitor to the more road-biased KTM 390 Adventure, BMW G310GS and the upcoming Hero Xpulse 300. More

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      New Kawasaki Electric Motorcycle Based On Z250 – Hybrid Z650 Spotted

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      By 2035, Kawasaki plans to have a fully electrified portfolio that will include pure EV and hybrid electric vehiclesNew Kawasaki Electric Motorcycle Based On Z250Providing a glimpse of what the future would look like at Kawasaki, two new bikes, one electric (EV) and one hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) recently raced the tracks at Suzuka Circuit. Widely popular Suzuka 8 Hours endurance racing event was purposefully chosen to ensure maximum reach for Kawasaki’s all-new electrified bikes.In addition to the visual treat, enthusiasts also got to listen to the aural notes of these bikes. EV bike had the typical hum of an electric motor whereas the HEV sounded more like a conventional ICE-based bike.As Kawasaki’s electrification plans have been delayed due to the pandemic, it is likely that things are being expedited in a proactive manner. While official timelines have not been announced, launch in markets like America can happen by the end of this year.Kawasaki electric bike featuresKawasaki’s pure-EV bike appears to borrow styling bits from Z range motorcycles. Some key features include an aggressive front fascia, sinewy fuel tank design, step-up split seats, prominent tail section, standard telescopic front forks and rear swingarm. The bike has a fairly committed riding stance with low-set handlebar and slightly rear-set footpegs.New Kawasaki Electric Motorcycle Based On Z250With close to zero body panelling, Kawasaki’s new all-electric bike should be able to extract more miles from the battery. It is not clear at this point of time if the battery is a fixed or removable unit. It looks completely packed from the sides, although there could be an opening in the fuel tank casing to reach the battery from top. VIN information shows that Kawasaki’s all-electric bike generates 15 PS of max power. It is likely to be slotted between Z125 and Z250.Kawasaki HEV bike featuresIn comparison to the naked EV, Kawasaki HEV bike is a fully-faired model. It appears to have design bits similar to that of the Kawasaki Ninja range. Some key features include sharp dual headlamps, compact windscreen, sharp panels, step-up seat and upswept exhaust. It is evident that the bike has a twin-cylinder motor and exhaust is quite similar to that of Ninja 250. Multiple air intakes can be seen, which will work to cool the motor and battery system.Other key equipment in use are conventional telescopic forks at front and monoshock rear suspension. Braking setup has dual discs at front, which looks impressive and should help manage the additional bulk of the hybrid system.Kawasaki Hybrid Motorcycle Based On Z650Considering India’s growing appetite for electric two-wheelers, Kawasaki should not take too long to launch its electric range here. Sooner the better, as rivals like Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and KTM are planning their respective electric two-wheelers for India. Kawasaki will also have to work on pricing to be able to play the volume game. More

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      2023 Bajaj Triumph Motorcycle New Spy Shots – Royal Enfield Rival

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      Bajaj has been trying to target the middleweight segment for quite some time now, but is yet to make any significant gains2023 Bajaj Triumph Motorcycle – New Spy Shots by MCNWhile Bajaj had launched Dominar with great expectations, it didn’t create any major challenges for segment-leader Royal Enfield. The Chennai-based manufacturer continues to command a market share of more than 85% in the 350cc-500cc single cylinder motorcycle segment.The market share is likely to increase further, with the launch of new Royal Enfield Hunter 350. However, Bajaj seems far from giving up and will be making another attempt soon. It will come via the company’s collaboration with UK-based Triumph Motorcycles.Bajaj-Triumph motorcycle spiedAs evident in the images, the new Bajaj-Triumph bike looks production ready. It seems to derive design inspiration from Triumph Bonneville range of motorcycles. Retro theme is evident with features such as round headlamps and rear-view mirrors.Other key highlights include a compact design, sculpted fuel tank, single-piece seat, all-skeletal design, upswept exhaust and alloy wheels. Suspension system comprises USD forks at front and a monoshock unit at rear with pre-load adjustability. In comparison, Bonneville bikes such as Street Scrambler, Street Twin and Speed Twin are equipped with dual rear shock absorbers. Use of a monoshock unit at rear makes the bike better suited for tackling off-road terrains.2023 Bajaj Triumph Motorcycle – New Spy ShotsOff-roading capabilities are further enhanced with features such as dual-purpose Metzeler tyres. The bike has 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels. It also gets a rugged bash plate. Braking duties are performed by disc brakes at both ends. There’s a dedicated luggage rack at the rear and on the left side as well. Tank mounted bags could also be made available as an accessory.Other details include a rectangular digital instrument console, which looks similar to the one used on KTM bikes. This may not necessarily be the unit that will be used for the production variant. As the bike has a retro profile, a rounded instrument console will be a better match. Two versions are expected to be on offer, one a classic retro and the other adventure scrambler. The latter gets knobby tyres, scrambler style exhaust, knuckle guards, raised front fender, etc.Bajaj-Triumph motorcycle engineBased on the structure and size of the engine, it appears to be a 350cc to 500cc unit. Single exhaust vent indicates that the engine will be a single-cylinder unit. The engine utilizes liquid cooling and comes with vertically mounted radiator.2023 Bajaj Triumph Motorcycle – New Spy ShotsBajaj-Triumph motorcycle will be sold globally. It will allow Triumph to play the volumes game on a larger scale. As the bike will be manufactured in India, there will be significant reduction in production cost. Bajaj-Triumph motorcycle is expected to be launched at a competitive price point, somewhere around Rs 2 lakh. This is necessary since rivals like Royal Enfield motorcycles are among the most affordable in the country.Launch was earlier planned for 2022, but things have been delayed due to the pandemic. Bajaj-Triumph motorcycle could be unveiled around Diwali this year and launched in early 2023. Although Royal Enfield’s dominance seems unshakable, the company will still be following these developments closely.Source More

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      New Can-Am Electric Motorcycles Make Global Debut

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      Both electric motorcycles are futuristic and are expected to hit the roads in the year 2023 or 2024New Can-Am Electric MotorcycleMost of us might not be apt with the Canadian brand Can-Am producing off-road-ready products. It comes under another Canadian manufacturing giant BRP Inc (Bombardier Recreational Products). Headquartered in Quebec, Canada, BRP makes a slew of products like snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, personal watercraft, surfboards, and a lot more.Can-Am less known for electric 2-wheelers and is known more for its products like Ski-Doo, Can-Am ATV & Can-Am Spyder, Sea-Doo SportBoats, Lynx, Evinrude Outboard Motors, Johnson Outboards, and also the Austrian engineering firm Rotax. But recently, BRP is setting its foot in EVs and has revealed two electric motorcycles under Can-Am. Let’s take a look.New Can-Am Electric MotorcyclesBoth these electric motorcycles from Can-Am look like they came straight out of a CyberPunk world. They’re that futuristic. They both get sharp and edgy designs that are set to draw attention from a mile away. Exactly opposite to what upcoming Royal Enfield’s electric bikes will look like.Both these motorcycles are supposed to appeal to a new generation of riders as well as EV enthusiasts alike. Both get a large electric battery whose specs are not yet revealed. Also, catching the attention immediately, is the yellow trims. Both of them get clean body work with negligible cuts and creases. Body work also gets sandblasted aluminium finish to it that radiates industrial vibes. Both Origin and Pulse get a single seat layout. Production models might have different seats.New Can-Am Electric MotorcyclesAlso catching attention is the square-ish LED headlights with smart LED DRLs to complement the industrial vibe given by the bodywork. They also get a large screen neatly housed in a console for instrumentation and smartphone integration. The screen looks large and almost feels as large as an iPad screen.Specs & FeaturesOrigin is the off-roader and gets a lot of ADV-specific hardware like spoked wheels, block pattern tyres, single-sided swingarm, front USD forks with covers, large bash plate, large ground clearance, tall stance, rally-bike like fairing, and more. It looks visibly larger than its sibling Pulse when standing beside it. Origin is designed according to Can-Am’s Track n’ Trail heritage.The Pulse, however, is a street motorcycle that gets a balanced and agile stance to appeal to city dwellers looking for an ‘electric joyride’. Pulse’ USD forks are not covered and it also gets smaller alloy wheels shod with road-spec tyres. It also gets underbody protection but is not as substantial as Origin’s.Can-Am Electric Bike TaillightsPulse also gets a single-sided swingarm which makes the right side of both motorcycles photogenic. Can-Am is expected to launch these bikes in 2023 or 2024. Exact specifications will be released at that time. But another name that comes to the surface is Rotax. It is an Austrian engineering firm under BRP known to make IC engines. Powertrain for both Origin and Pulse is developed by Rotax and dubbed E-Power technology.This powertrain is said to be designed for plenty of performance including highway speeds. The company also claims that this power will be friendly to enthusiasts as well as newbie riders alike. Everyone can appreciate the smooth and vibe-free ride. Can-Am will not launch this product in India and will mostly be for the North American market. More

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      New Honda Activa 7G Scooter Teased Ahead Of Launch ?

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      Honda is the highest-selling scooter manufacturer in India whose sales charts are led by Activa seriesNew Honda Activa 7G Scooter Teased?Honda is currently a default choice when it comes to scooters as it is the highest-selling scooter brand in India. When scooter sales figures are analyzed, among all other scooters in India, Activa sells the most. It alone sells more than the immediate next 8 highest-selling scooters combined.Activa is currently offered in 6G guise and sells like hot cakes. My own family bought one without even giving it a second thought. Such is its popularity. Honda is synonymous with scooterization in India. So much so, that we wanted Forza 350 maxi-scooter to launch in India instead of the generic-looking CB300F street bike that was launched yesterday.New Honda Activa 7GHonda Activa range currently comprises Activa 6G and Activa 125. Activa 6G also has a sporty sibling in the form of Dio which recently got limited edition colour schemes to give more swag to an already swaggy scooter. Same idea is also implied on Activa 125 in the form of Grazia which comes off as its sportier alternative.Honda just dropped a new teaser on social media with a “Coming Soon” phrase slapped onto it. We can see the face of a scooter. The scooter is greyed out, but its face is distinguishable. It is of standard Activa and not the Activa 125. We can say for sure because Activa 125 doesn’t get its front turn indicators flanking the headlight.New Honda Activa 7G Scooter Teased?Instead, they’re found on a chrome beltline above the front mudguard. But standard Activa gets front turn indicators flanking its headlights as seen in the new teaser. So, Honda seems to be prepping Activa 7G for the festive season to boost already unrivaled sales. Not a lot is known about Activa 7G as info that could be extracted from the teaser is fairly meek. But in Honda fashion, we can expect more teasers soon.What To Expect?Honda 7G is unlikely to be a significant update over 6G like 6G was over 5G. Because Activa 6G was the one that brought BS6 transition and a host of new updates. Activa 7G is likely to get the same powertrain which is a 110cc motor making 7.68 bhp and 8.79 Nm. Activa 7G will get subtle changes over 6G.Honda Activa 7G will get all the strengths of 6G like, fuel efficiency, boot space, 692 mm seat height, low step-through floor board, silent starter motor, and a lot more. It will even get an external fuel filler cap that upcoming Hero sporty 125cc scooter miss out on. Honda could make the semi-digital instrument cluster and LED headlights as standard fitment on Activa 7G which was optional with Deluxe variant on Activa 6G.As it is a generation leap, Activa 7G can get some tweaks to 6G’s engine too to make it a little more fuel efficient. Yamaha offers a mild-hybrid tech on Fascino and Ray ZR and Honda could fit something similar on the highest-selling scooter in India. The Japanese brand is likely to raise the price too. Right now, Activa 6G costs Rs. 73K for Standard trim and 75K for Deluxe trim and competes with TVS Jupiter 110, Hero Pleasure+, Hero Maestro Edge 110, and Honda’s own Dio. More

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      Honda Formidable 300cc Motorcycle Launch Price Rs 2.26 L – New CB300F

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      Honda has launched the street naked CB300F today – Two variants are on offer, with prices starting from Rs 2.26 lakh, ex-shNew Honda CB300FHonda had been on the run of creating a lot of hype for a month teasing us multiple times with their new “Formidable” product. A product we all thought would be a Forza 350 maxi scooter is actually the CB300F, a naked street motorcycle. So, the F is what coined the term “Formidable”.Honda dubs CB300F as “Advanced Street Fighter”. Remember the CB650F? A faired motorcycle that was launched in India before CB650R? It had a sharp fairing based on its street counterpart. But this CB300F is not a faired version of CB300R that is already on offer in India.Honda CB300F DesignStarting from CB92, Honda’s CB series has always been one of the most successful for the Japanese brand. CB300F gets a masculine and toned fuel tank giving the bike an international streetfighter charisma. The rider’s triangle is a little committed and sporty. But it also gives a lot of aggression too.It also gets a split seat, and a compact muffler. Also, stylish V-shaped alloy wheels look good too. But the main attention is obviously drawn towards the gold USD forks at the front, though. Complementing the gold on USD forks are copper-colored engine head and clutch cover with a proud Honda branding. CB300F offers a lot of road presence within the mid-size street sports category.New Honda CB300FSpecs & FeaturesThe heart of the matter for this Honda CB300F is its pulsating heart. It displaces 293cc and gets a modern DOHC setup along with a 4V head. This engine makes 18 KW ( around 24 bhp) of peak power and 25.6 Nm of peak torque. This engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission and to take things a notch higher, it also gets a slipper clutch along with oil-cooling too.Honda has tried to provide a safety net for CB300F riders in the form of HSTC (Honda Selectable Torque Control) and Dual Channel ABS . HSTC is Honda’s proprietary tech and helps modulate the engine torque when slippage is detected. Sounds a lot like Traction Control, doesn’t it? Well, it is, but with a fancy name. That’s not all. Honda is claiming that there are 10 patented tech on CB300F too. Fancy, eh?In terms of features, Honda has made sure that CB300F is not left out to come out as bland. So, Honda offers smartphone connectivity along with a fully digital instrument console which gets five stages of brightness adjustment too. Honda has not mentioned exact functionalities of its Honda Smartphone Voice Control System (HSVCS), just yet. It gets LED lighting all around, rear mono-shock suspension, front USD forks, and a fat 150-section tyre at the rear ensuring massive presence along with optimal grip.New Honda CB300FPrice & CompetitionHonda CB300F is available in two variants – Deluxe & Deluxe Pro. Both these variants get three color options, Mat Axis Grey Metallic, Mat Marvel Blue Metallic and Sports Red. Prices start at Rs. 2,25,900 for Deluxe trim and Rs. 2,28,900 for Deluxe Pro trim (both prices ex-showroom, New Delhi). If you want to, you can book it at Honda’s Big Wing dealerships.CB300F falls in a weird category. Looking at its 24 bhp and 25.6 Nm torque, it is less powerful than 250 Duke, Dominar 250, and Gixxer 250. But in terms of pricing, it tries to dance with Bajaj Dominar 400 too which makes 39.2 bhp and 35 Nm. Heck, for around Rs. 50,000 more, one can buy Honda’s own CB300R, BMW G 310 R, and KTM 390 Duke too. More