Honda Bikes

2023 Honda CBR250RR patentedHonda CBR250RR will take on the likes of Yamaha R3 and Kawasaki Ninja 300 once launched in IndiaHonda Motorcycle and Scooter India has announced plans to launch larger capacity motorcycles, especially in the above 150cc segment. Later this year, a new 350cc cruiser is planned for launch, based on the CB350 platform. Honda has also patented the CL250 / CL300 scrambler in India.Apart from that, they could also be launching the CBR250RR. Yes. The same has now been patented in India. Motorcyclists upgrading from a single-cylinder offering are increasing by the day and a multi-cylinder offering in the quarter-liter segment makes a lot of sense in India. Motorcycles coming close are Kawasaki Ninja 300 (displacement-wise) and Royal Enfield 650cc offerings (price-wise).2023 Honda CBR250RR Patented in IndiaIf you think CBR250RR has a lot of ‘R’ in its name, it is still one less R than Honda’s flagship CBR1000RR-R Fireblade. In Honda’s books, more R is probably more performance or something of that sort. Speaking of CBR1000RR-R Fireblade that’s where CBR250RR draws most of its design inspirations.There is a sharp fairing that screams a lot of aggression. LED DRLs accompany twin headlights that make CBR250RR’s face. These LED DRLs look like snarly eyebrows for its eye-like LED headlights. The handsome fairing covers almost all of the engine bay. An aerodynamic windscreen and fairing-mounted ORVMs. India is likely to get turn indicators separate from their LED DRLs as seen in the patent.2023 Honda CBR250RR patentedCBR250RR badging above and large Honda badging below lends a sporty flair. The gold Showa SFF-BP USD front forks grab a lot of attention. Clip-on handlebars offer a committed riding posture and a lot of front-end feel. Other notable elements include a steep subframe with split and stepped seats, a dual-barrel exhaust and a fully digital Blue-backlit instrument cluster.This is not a TFT panel, something which KTM RC 390 offers. It shows various basic functionalities and readouts of the motorcycle. Componentry includes rear mono-shock, single petal disc at both ends, dual-channel ABS, three riding modes (Comfort, Sport, Sport+), 110/70-17 front and 140/70-17 rear tyres wrapped to 17” alloys and 14.5L fuel tank. All this combined, Honda CBR250RR weighs 168 kg.Parallel-twin motor, unlike CB300RA 249cc, parallel twin, liquid-cooled engine powers Honda CBR250RR. Honda will offer two states of tune. Base Standard variant will generate 38.2 bhp of power and 23.3 Nm of torque, while the SP variant makes 42 bhp of power and 25 Nm of torque. A 6-speed transmission, a slip and assist clutch along with a quick shifter are notable elements.With Yamaha getting ready to launch R3 in India later this year, timing seems to be right for Honda to finally launch the CBR250RR. If launched, expect Honda CBR250RR to be priced around Rs 3.5 lakh. More

Honda CL250 / CL300 ScramblerLaunched in China earlier this year, the new Honda 250cc-300cc scrambler has now been patented in IndiaWe know Honda hasn’t made a CL motorcycle since the 70s. That will change soon as Honda is reviving its CL brand. There are talks of 250cc, 300cc and 500cc models. CL500 made its debut first, while CL300 debuted earlier this year. Now Honda has patented the design of this new Scrambler motorcycle in India.But is it the CL300 or the upcoming new CL250. This is not clear yet. Honda has already unveiled the CL300 in China, while the CL250 is reportedly getting unveiled very soon. The one patented in India, could be the CL250 scrambler or the CL300 scrambler. Honda’s patent papers don’t reveal the model name. Both 249cc and 286cc engines have the same block and casing with differences in bore and stroke on the inside.Honda 250cc-300cc Scrambler Patented In IndiaBoth CL250 and CL300 will have similar design. Both motorcycles are derivatives of Honda’s Rebel cruiser bike. Except for the engine, CL250, CL300 and CL500 bear identical design. This way, Honda is establishing a product identity that runs across that model line.KTM employs a similar strategy too. Duke, RC and Adventure range have identical frames and bodies, with differences in their powertrains. Speaking of powertrains, Honda CL250 Scrambler comes equipped with a 249cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine with a DOHC setup. This is the same engine as the Rebel 250. But, power is slightly decreased at 24 PS and torque is slightly increased at 22.55 Nm. In contrast, Honda offers the same 286cc engine from CBR300R with CL300. This single-cylinder engine generates 27 PS of power, which is 5 PS less than Rebel 300 cruiser.Honda CL250 / CL300 Scrambler patented in IndiaWhat does it pack as opposed to Rebel cruiser counterpartOther changes in componentry from Rebel 250 include a new subframe, fuel tank, wheels, tyres and an upswept exhaust. The new subframe allows for a flat seat and takes the seat height to 790mm, 100mm higher than Rebel’s. CL250 gets an upswept twin-tip exhaust that not only looks substantial but aids water wading ability as well.New Honda 300cc Scrambler – CL300This exhaust ends that typical Scrambler look. Fuel tank can take 12L, which is 1L more than on the Rebel 250. Both Rebel 250 and Rebel 300 get 16” alloys at both ends, but Honda is offering 19” front and 17” rear alloys with CL250 and CL300. Other notable elements include single disc setup at both ends with single channel ABS.Circular quad projector LED headlights, tail lights and circular turn indicators along with a tear-drop fuel tank lend it a neo-retro look. Colours are likely to be similar to CL300’s. Candy Energy Orange, Pearl Cadet Grey and Pearl Himalayas White are likely. Cross Style and Tour Style accessory line is likely to be similar to CL300 too.Honda 250cc-300cc ScramblerCross Style accessories include, knuckle guards, headlight cowl, a front beak and more. Tour Style accessories include a 38L top box, heated grips, accessory socket, saddle bags, center tank pad, and more. Launch is possible by the end of 2023. We hope India is a recipient as well. When launched in India, this new Honda Scrambler motorcycle will be a decent rival to the Royal Enfield Hunter 350. More

2023 Honda EM1 Electric ScooterThe Honda Power Pack e swappable battery on 2023 Honda EM1 weighs 10.3 kg and AC charger compatibility is present tooHonda’s first electric 2W for Europe is 2023 EM1. It features a Honda Mobile Power Pack-e removable battery too. The company styled it distinctly to establish a slight departure from design languages used on their ICE scooters. Honda is targeting young audiences and short commuters in Europe.The company first announced Honda EM1 e in September last year as part of 10 or more electric 2W vehicles by 2025. Honda even intends to go carbon neutral by 2040 and this is a strategic first step towards that future. Buyers can lease, rent, or subscribe to, scooter, battery and charger depending on their country. Battery disposal and recycling are on Honda too.2023 Honda EM1 Electric ScooterThe company is pitting EM1 as high-quality urban mobility for shorter commutes and makes use of Honda Power Pack e swappable battery network. Pearl Sunbeam White, Digital Silver Metallic, and Matte Ballistic Black Metallic are its colour choices. Honda EM1 e 23YM doesn’t feature pedals, despite having “Electric Moped” (EM) in its name.The Li-ion battery weighs 10.3 kg and measures 298mm (L) x 177mm (D) x 156mm (H) in size. 50.3V and 29.4 Ah account for a battery capacity of 1.47 kWh. The optional 270W AC charger will take it from 0-100% in 6 hours, and 25-75% in 2 hours 40 minutes. The brushless hub motor is rated for 0.58 kW (0.77 bhp) and peaks out at 1.7 kW (2.27 bhp). Top speed is 45 km/h.Colour OptionsThis powertrain combo promises a range of 41.3 km in normal mode and up to 48 km in ECON mode. Honda promises durability too with 2,500 charge cycles. All this is mounted on an underbone chassis and the whole product weighs 95 kg (including battery). 2023 Honda EM1 measures 1860mm x 680mm x 1080mm (LXWXH).Ground clearance is 130 mm, seat height is 740 mm and wheelbase is 1300 mm. Other componentry include telescopic suspension up front, twin shock absorbers at the rear, front disc and rear drum braking with Combi Braking, 12” front wheel with 90/90-12 tyres and 10” rear wheel with 100/90-10 tyre.Design and appealThere is an LCD instrument panel and LED lighting all around. Front LED signature DRL lends a modern and sophisticated look for the design. Long seat, pillion grab rail, sleek and slender design, optional 35L top box, flush foot pegs are notable elements. The under seat storage is just 3.3L and front luggage provisions can hold a 500ml PET bottle and a USB Type-A port charging port as well.Front storage and USB chargerOwners can charge Honda EM1 e with an AC charger at home or use Honda Power Pack e swapping stations too, depending upon the purchase type. In other news, India-spec Activa recently ditched its 6G suffix. Honda will launch Activa electric in India next year. More

Honda removes 6g suffix from Activa nameThe 109.51 cc single cylinder engine on Honda Activa generates same numbers as before and boasts identical pricing tooHMSI is the No 1 scooter brand in India. Activa has been the primary volume generator for many years now. So much so, that people often default on an Activa when buying a scooter. In FY 2023, Honda manufactured 21.5 lakh Activa, most of which were sold in India alone.Honda has, surprisingly, decided to change the name of its bread and butter scooter in May 2023. Before you ask, no. The Activa name is not going anywhere. Instead, Honda is dropping the 6G tag from the name. HMSI has not quoted a reason, but Activa is just an Activa now and the 6G suffix is dropped.Honda Activa Ditches 6G Name – Why though?Why? This is the million-dollar question. As HMSI has not quoted a reason, it can be anyone’s guess. Maybe Honda is doing this as Activa didn’t really get six generations of upgrades. Three at best along with the major powertrain upgrade in 2020 as part of the Indian Government’s push for fewer tailpipe carbon emissions through BS6 emission standard.But, Honda already knew this. So, why the change in name now in May 2023? This might be a part of Honda’s strategic product positioning exercise. Where Honda might bring in variations of its Activa lineup in the future.Honda removes 6g suffix from Activa nameNeed for more variety in the Activa brand is likely to be a necessity in the future. Lastly, Honda is introducing its maiden electric scooter for India in the near future. It will feature swappable battery tech as well. Maybe Honda’s future EV’s name might create a convoluted reception for its current ICE scooter’s name. Anticipation of this might be one of the reasons as well.What next for future Activa updates? No 7G?Long story short, no. There won’t be an Activa 7G or an 8G. Instead, incremental updates for Activa lineup are likely to be recognised with the subsequent year when they were implemented. For example, Honda is likely to recognise updates in 2023 as MY2023 Activa and so forth.Honda Activa’s name is the only change that the company is implementing. No mechanical updates. This means Activa’s tried and tested 109.51cc single-cylinder engine is still on offer. This engine generates 7.73 bhp of power and 8.9 Nm of torque and is mated to a CVT. Honda offers a silent starter, LED headlights, DRL, external fuel filler cap and other features.Honda Activa 2023 specsIndia’s largest scooter maker has not hiked the prices of Activa as well. So the Rs. 75,347 price tag is the same as before too. It’s only the name that Honda has changed and nothing else. Goodbye 6G suffix! More

Honda Shine 100cc Production StartsHonda Shine 100cc will rival commuter bikes such as Hero Splendor, Hero HF100, HF Deluxe and Bajaj Platina 100
Hero Splendor that had positioned itself at No.1 on sales charts in India is set to get a new rival in the form of the Honda Shine 100cc. This new commuter bike has been launched at Rs 64,900 (ex-showroom). This is an introductory price which is set to be increased in due course.
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has reported a YoY growth of 6.14 percent in domestic sales in Apr 2023. There was also a 71.28 percent MoM growth in sales. With the new Shine 100cc, Honda can now hope for increased sales in coming months.
Honda Shine 100cc Production Starts
Honda has announced the start of production of Shine 100cc. First batch has rolled out the company plant in Narasapura (Karnataka). Dispatch to dealers across India has also started. Deliveries to customers will commence in a few days.
The new Honda Shine 100 is being offered in 5 colours of Black with Red Stripes, Black with Blue Stripes, Black with Green Stripes, Black with Gold Stripes and Black with Grey Stripes. Where ergonomics are concerned, the new Shine gets a long seat of 677mm, low ride height of 786mm, ground clearance of 168mm and wheelbase of 1,245mm.
New Honda Shine 100cc – Brochure
It commands a turning radius of 1.9 meters. On board features also include aluminum grab handles, attractive front cowl, uniquely designed fuel tank, halogen headlamp and distinctive tail lamp. It rides on black finished alloy wheels while other features include side stand with engine inhibitor and Combi-Brake System (CBS) with equalizer. It also sports an analogue instrument cluster with speedometer, odometer and fuel gauge.
Honda Shine 100 – Engine
The Honda Shine gets a 99.7 cc, air cooled, single cylinder engine that offers 7.6 hp power and 8.05 Nm torque mated to a 4 speed constant mesh gearbox. Power offered by its arch rival Hero Splendor is marginally higher at 8 hp while torque figure remains the same. Honda confirms that performance and fuel efficiency will be the best in the segment. Though mileage figures are not yet revealed, expected mileage could be in the 60-70 km/l range.
The 100cc engine gets fuel injection and Solenoid which allows for a smoother start in any type of weather conditions while it also prevents the engine from starting if the side stand is engaged. The engine is OBD – 2 compliant and is capable of running on E20 fuel which is petrol with 20 percent ethanol blend.
Honda Shine 100 which is based on a new diamond-type frame, gets telescopic forks in the front and dual spring-loaded shock absorbers at the rear. Braking is via drum brakes at the front and rear with combined braking system as standard. Honda is also offering the new Shine 100 with a special 6 year warranty pack of 3 years standard and 3 years optional. Besides rivaling Hero Splendor, the new Honda Shine 100, which is offered in a single variant will also compete with the Hero HF Deluxe and HF 100 and also with the Bajaj Platina 100. More

Honda Shine 100In addition to Hero Splendor Plus, Honda Shine 100 will also rival other 100cc bikes such as HF Deluxe and Bajaj Platina 100
For several years, Hero Splendor Plus has dominated the entry-level 100cc commuter motorcycle segment. Platina 100 has also been there all along, but its sales are no match for Splendor Plus. Now, there’s a new challenger in the form of Honda Shine 100. Whether it can dethrone Splendor Plus remains to be seen.
Honda Shine 100 was launched in March 2023 at a starting price of Rs 64,900. At this price point, it is positioned between HF Deluxe and Splendor Plus. Bookings are currently open for Shine 100 and deliveries are expected to commence from May 2023. Ahead of that, some new details about the bike have been revealed via type approval certificate.
Honda Shine 100 homologated – specs leak
Powering Honda Shine 100 is a 98.98 cc motor that generates 5.43 kw or 7.28 hp of peak power. In comparison, Splendor Plus has a 97.2 cc engine that makes 5.9 kW or 7.91 hp. While Shine 100 has slightly less power output, it remains to be seen how much difference it makes in real driving conditions.
The type approval certificate does not reveal torque numbers. It is likely to be close to that of Splendor that churns out 8.05 Nm of peak torque at 6,000 rpm. One of the key reasons why Splendor is popular is that the bike offers a near-perfect combination of fuel efficiency and agile performance. Honda will probably be looking to achieve something similar with Shine 100.
Honda Shine 100 Specs Leak
Based on teasers, it is clear that fuel efficiency is one of the focus areas for Shine 100. The bike could deliver a mileage of around 65 kmpl, which is almost the same as that of Splendor Plus. Many consider Bajaj Platina 100 as the most fuel efficient 100cc bike, delivering around 70-75 kmpl. However, results will vary based on driving conditions, age and condition of bike, riding style, etc.
Honda Shine 100 has GVW (gross vehicle weight) of 269 kg. The bike is 1,955 mm long, 754 mm wide and 1,050 mm tall. Wheelbase is 1,245 mm. These numbers are quite close to that of Splendor, which measures 2000 X 720 X 1052 mm (Length X Width X height) and has a wheelbase of 1,236 mm. Shine 100 has ground clearance of 168 mm, as compared to 165 mm of Splendor Plus. Seat height is almost the same at 786 mm for Shine 100 and 785 mm for Splendor.
Can Shine 100 become the top selling commuter bike?
In terms of pricing, Shine 100 has a clear advantage over Splendor Plus. Earlier, people who could not afford Splendor would usually consider HF Deluxe, Platina 100 or HF 100. Perceptually, quite a few consumers may now look at Shine 100 as the next best alternative to Splendor.
And based on its performance and fuel efficiency, Shine 100 can even emerge as the most preferred 100cc commuter. It will be interesting to see how the 100cc commuter segment shapes up after the arrival of Honda Shine 100. More

To be based on the existing CB350, new Honda 350cc Cruiser is likely to come with different engine tuningHonda Rebel Cruiser – Image for illustration purpose onlyIf there is one brand that is dominating the 350cc segment, it is Royal Enfield. It is at the peak of this segment, enjoying a huge market share of over 85%. Rival manufacturers have tried to eat into this market share, but have not found much success yet. Classic Legends Jawa and Yezdi, Honda CB350 and CB350 RS, Bajaj Dominar are some examples.That does not mean rivals have given up. Honda for example, is getting ready to launch a new 350cc motorcycle later this year, which is rumoured to be a cruiser that will take on the Royal Enfield Meteor 350. As of now, Meteor 350 is enjoying a niche in this segment. Now, Honda intends to crash Meteor 350’s party by launching a new cruiser based on its CB350.What To Expect From Upcoming Honda 350cc Cruiser?A new variant of CB350 by the end of this year was hinted by Honda while revealing its EV roadmap for India. They have not yet confirmed that it will be a cruiser. There was just a new variant mentioned based on CB350, which could be an ADV as well. One to take on Royal Enfield Himalayan. Or it can be an even more trail-worthy CB350 RS based scrambler with wire-spoked wheels, longer travel suspension and A/T tyres.Rumours in the industry claim that it is more likely to be a cruiser. Because Meteor 350 has more sales volume when compared to Himalayan. For reference, Meteor 350 sales avg about 8k units a month, while Himalayan sales are in the 3k range per month. If trying to cut into an established pie, why not shoot for a larger pie, right?Honda Rebel cruiser image for referenceRecently, Honda announced six custom kits with CB350. Out of these, Tourer custom was a tempting proposition for a cruiser. It had knuckle guards, a windscreen, and a luggage rack behind its pillion seats. But there was a missed opportunity for Honda as it should have offered revised rider geometry to suit that of a cruiser motorcycle.That is exactly what Honda might be offering with this upcoming variant of CB350. New Honda 350cc cruiser might offer a lower seat height, extended wheelbase, a longer and more relaxed handlebar, front set foot pegs, a larger fuel tank, smaller wheels and more. This would transform CB350 into a cruiser with a lot more appeal. Something inspired by their Rebel range of motorcycles on offer in the international market would be great.Honda 350cc Cruiser Engine SpecsHonda will very likely retain its 348.36cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine. But, there might be a different engine tune to suit a cruiser’s character by offering more bottom-end torque. Revised gearing and sprockets might be possible too. For reference, on H’ness CB350, this engine makes 20.78 bhp of power and 30 Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed gearbox.While at it, we hope Honda throws in a 20L or even 21L fuel tank to get an impeccable tank range. Even Meteor 350 doesn’t get a large fuel tank, which its predecessor Thunderbird 350 did. Other features like LED lighting and retro styling will be retained. Launch will happen by Diwali 2023. Prices of Honda 350cc cruiser will be more that of the existing CB350 range. More

Honda has posted one of their lowest ever monthly sales in March 2023 – They are no longer No 2 two wheeler brand of IndiaHonda ActivaThe country’s largest scooter maker, Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI), has closed its account for FY2022 – 23 (April 2022 – March 2023) on a positive note. With a lot of products planned in the pipeline, we expect HMSI to register even better numbers in the coming months and all the way along FY 2023 – 24.But YoY, MoM and QoQ analysis reveal that Honda is bleeding numbers in the Indian automotive market. With domination in scooters set in place, Honda seems to aim for the budget commuter motorcycle space where Hero MotoCorp is dominant. The CB Shine 100 will be directly against Hero Splendor, which is currently the highest-selling motorcycle in India by a very significant margin.Honda 2W sales March 2023 and Q1 2023Honda 2W Sales For March 2023 – One of their lowest ever monthly domestic salesIn the domestic market, Honda sold around 1,97,512 units last month. This doesn’t bode well when compared to 3,09,549 units sold a year ago in March 2022. Honda saw a decline of 36.19% YoY in its numbers. Volume loss YoY in the domestic market alone is a staggering 1,12,037 units.Honda 2W sales in March 2023 is probably one of their lowest ever monthly sales recorded, excluding the months when lockdown was implemented due to Covid-19. TVS has now beaten Honda 2W in domestic sales. TVS sold 2.4 lakh two wheelers in the domestic market last month.When compared to 2,27,064 units sold in February 2023, Honda registered a 13.01% MoM decline. This directly led to a volume loss accounting for 29,552 units MoM. Exports stood at 14,466 units. In Honda’s total sales, exports account for just 6.82%. As opposed to 11,794 units shipped in March 2022, Honda’s exports is the only saving grace for the brand as it registered a 22.66% YoY growth, gaining 2,672 units in volume YoY.Honda shipped 20,111 units in February 2023 and hence a 28.07% MoM decline was observed. In the process, Honda lost 5,645 units in volume MoM. In total, Honda’s sales stood at 2,11,978 units, which was not enough to beat 3,21,343 units sold in March 2022 and 2,47,175 units sold in February 2023. A 34.03% YoY decline and 14.24% MoM decline was registered.Honda 2W Loses No 2 Spot, falls behind TVS MotorNow that the first quarter of 2023 is past us, Honda has sold 7,02,719 units in that time period. This was significantly lower, when compared to 9,10,422 units sold in Q1 2022 and 10,12,696 units sold in Q4 2022. Hence, a 22.81% YoY decline was registered with 2,07,703 units lost in volume.QoQ decline was even worse, standing at 30.61% with a loss of 3,09,977 units in volume. In total, HMSI’s sales between April 2022 to March 2023 was around 43,50,943 units. Out of this, domestic sales were 40,25,486 units and 3,25,457 units were exported. Honda’s YTD growth stood at 14% in FY 2022 – 23.February 2023 sales were considered to be a brutal blow for HMSI as the company saw YoY growth only with Activa. In comparison, March 2023 numbers seem to be even worse for the Japanese brand. We hope Honda turns the table with the new Shine 100. More