Honda Bikes

Honda NX500 LaunchedThe direct rivals of Honda NX500 launched, are Benelli 502 and 502X along with Kawasaki Versys 650 and to some extent Triumph Tiger Sport 660ADV segment is currently on the rise with more additions than before. However, within 300cc to 500cc segment, there are little to no multi-cylinder ADVs for sale. Honda is fixing that by launching NX500 in India, sold exclusively through their premium BigWing dealerships. Honda NX500 launched, costs Rs. 5.9 lakh (ex-sh). There are three colours – Grand Prix Red, Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic and Pearl Horizon White.Honda NX500 Launched In IndiaIt has to be noted that NX500 is CB500X’s replacement, considering brand positioning and pricing. At the end of its life-cycle, CB500X was priced at Rs. 5.8 lakh (ex-sh), down from its initial pricing of Rs. 6.87 lakh (ex-sh). We have to also note the fact that CB500X was a locally assembled CKD model and was initially priced close to Rs. 7 lakh (ex-sh).In contrast, Honda is importing NX500 as a CBU model, which costs less than CB500X CKD model, despite packing significantly more premium features and hardware. This is interesting to see, which shows that Honda is rethinking its pricing strategies for Indian market. The Rs. 5.9 lakh (ex-sh) pricing for NX500 is reasonably justified, being an import and packing all the extra features over CB500X.For the money, Honda is offering a crossover vehicle. The design theme for Honda NX500 launched, is called “Daily Crossover”, where the bike doesn’t look out of place, whether it is in the city, winding road, highway or gravel trail. A do-it-all proposition, if we may. The bike gets a compact adventure styling to have an imposing, yet nimble silhouette.Honda NX500 ConnectivityAll-LED headlights, tail lights and turn indicators look premium and perfectly accentuate bike’s overall styling. The fairing has a dual-tone effect with black elements to cut down on visual bulk. There is a non-offensive rear subframe with a single-piece seat. Seating posture is upright and there is a decently tall windscreen too.Specs and performanceHonda is even offering a 5-inch TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity along with IOS and Android compatibility. Switchgear is extensive with buttons to control instrument cluster. Honda RoadSync enables navigation, call and music controls from a connected phone. There is an emergency stop signal too.Componentry includes 19-inch front and 17-inch rear aluminium wheels wrapped with 110-section front and 160-section rear tyres, Showa 41mm SFF-BP USD telescopic front forks, Pro-Link mono-shock rear suspension, dual 296mm front disc and single 240mm rear disc, dual channel ABS and has a 17.5L fuel tank. All this is mounted on a steel diamond frame.Honda NX500 FasciaHonda NX500 launched, gets a 471cc parallel twin-cylinder engine with DOHC setup and liquid cooling that generates 47 bhp at 8,600 RPM and 43 Nm torque at 6,500 RPM. This engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox and gets a slip and assist clutch along with traction control. The Rs. 5.9 lakh (ex-sh) is introductory and can change at Honda’s discretion. More

Honda two wheeler’s 3rd Assembly Line at its Gujarat plantHonda Vithalapur Plant’s 3rd Assembly Line Boosts EfficiencyHonda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) propels its growth trajectory with the inauguration of the innovative 3rd Assembly Line at the Vithalapur plant in Gujarat. This state-of-the-art facility signifies a colossal leap forward. And augments annual production capacity by an impressive 6.5 lakh units.At the core of this expansion are key models such as the ever-popular Activa and Dio, alongside their 125cc variants. This strategic move at the Gujarat plant holds particular significance. Especially in the global engine production arena. This comes about through dedicated focus on the 250cc and above engine category to meet global market needs.Honda Empowers Female Workforce in Gujarat’s Manufacturing LandscapeHonda is unwaveringly committed to the development and empowerment of its female workforce. This proactive approach aligns with the company’s vision for accelerated and robust growth within the two-wheeler manufacturing sector. While also setting an exemplary standard for the industry.Sustainability takes centre stage at the Vithalapur facility. A remarkable 75 percent of the electrical power utilized is sourced from renewables, underscoring Honda’s dedication to environmentally friendly practices. The facility actively engages in rainwater harvesting. And contributes to zero liquid discharge and zero waste to landfill, solidifying its commitment to eco-conscious operations.Wheels of Change: Honda’s Visionary Road to Carbon Neutrality by 2030 in GujaratBeyond operational excellence, Honda integrates Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives seamlessly. These initiatives span healthcare, education, road safety, and gender equality, reflecting the company’s holistic commitment to societal welfare and empowerment.Looking towards the future, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India sets a visionary goal. Achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, with a specific focus on the Gujarat plant. This commitment resonates with the global call for sustainable practices and dovetails harmoniously with manufacturing excellence. In the process, cementing the plant’s role in this transformative journey.Scooter Revolution: Powers the Scooterisation Movement from the frontThe 3rd Assembly Line at the Vithalapur plant is not merely an expansion in capacity. It marks a significant stride towards a sustainable and efficient future. Honda’s dedication to innovation and environmental consciousness positions it at the vanguard of the two-wheeler manufacturing industry.With this accelerated expansion and steadfast commitment to sustainable practices, HMSI solidifies its position as a global leader. Alongside it underscores the transformative impact of the Vithalapur facility in shaping the future of the automotive industry. The significance of this expansion extends beyond quantitative measures. And etches a qualitative shift towards a greener, more inclusive, and technologically advanced future. More

New Honda ActivaHonda has posted a YoY growth but MoM drop in sales in December 2023 while CY 2023 sales ended with a 3.70 percent declineHonda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has released their sales results for December 2023. In the last month of the calendar year, total sales (domestic + exports) stood at 3,17,123 units, up 26.76 percent when compared to 2,50,171 units sold in December 2022. This was volume growth of 66,952 units. However, the company has seen a MoM decline by 29.19 percent from 4,47,849 units sold in November 2023.Honda 2W Sales and Exports December 2023Taking only domestic sales into account, HMSI sold 2,86,101 units in December 2023, up 22.71 percent YoY from 2,33,151 units sold in December 2022. MoM sales dipped by 31.99 percent from 4,20,677 units sold in November 2023. Exports on the other hand have seen both a YoY and MoM growth of 82.27 percent and 14.17 percent respectively to 31,022 units.Honda 2W Sales Dec 2023Honda 2W Sales in CY 2023In calendar year (CY) 2023, the company sold 40,76,673 units. This was a 3.70 percent decline over 42,33,205 units sold in CY 2022 relating to a volume de-growth of 1,56,532 units. Sales remained in the red through most months of the past year, closing the first quarter (Jan-Mar 2023) with 7,01,084 units sold, down 23 percent over 9,10,472 units sold in the same 3 months of 2022.Even as April 2023 sales ended on a positive note with a 6.14 percent YoY growth to 3,38,290 units, the Q2 period also ended with a 4.32 percent de-growth to 9,52,190 units sold down from 9,95,156 units sold in the same period of 2022. This saw the H1 2023 sales down 13.24 percent to 16,53,274 units.Honda 2W Sales CY 2023During the months of July to September 2023, sales dipped by 22.81 percent in July but were positive in the latter two months but ended the Q3 period down 4.64 percent to 12,53,874 units from 13,14,894 units sold in Q3 of 2022. The festive season brought in better results for the company with October to December 2023 seeing increased sales to end Q4 2023 with a 15.49 percent YoY growth to 11,69,525 units up from 10,12,683 units sold in the same period of 2022. This also contributed to better H2 2023 sales which showed an increase of 4.12 percent YoY to 24,23,399 units up from 23,27,577 units sold in the same period of 2022.Honda Special Editions and BigWing ExpansionIn the past calendar year, Honda 2W has introduced several products and undertaken a host of initiatives. The Activa H-Smart was launched along with the Shine 100, SP160 and Dio 120. Special editions such as Activa Limited Edition, SP125 Sports Edition, Repsol Editions of Hornet 2.0 and Dio 125 also made their entry into the company portfolio. Models were updated to OBD-2 compliance and BigWing dealerships were also expanded to 25 cities across the country.Honda celebrated an important milestone where the Activa scooter was concerned, marking 3 crore customers in 22 years while Honda Shine 125cc has seen sales cross the 30 lakh unit mark in western India. Special attention was also paid to road safety initiatives and Corporate Social Responsibility through the past year.The new Honda CB350, launched in November 2023, played a significant role in increasing total sales. Honda CB350, is sold via Big Wing dealerships. It is presented in two trim levels – DLX and DLX Pro and are priced at Rs. 1,99,900 and Rs. 2,17,800 respectively. More

Honda CB350 ClassicHonda’s strongest contender in Indian market is still the Activa with close to 2 lakh units sold in November 2023, followed by CB ShineHonda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) posted a strong 18.98% YoY growth in domestic market and an even stronger 33.70% YoY growth where exports to global markets are concerned. Honda 2W sales stood at 4,20,648 units in domestic market and 26,314 units in exports. This was a slight decrease in sales when compared to October 2023 charts.Honda 2W Sales Breakup November 2023 – Domestic marketIn domestic market, HMSI sold 4,20,648 units with 18.98% YoY growth. As opposed to 3,53,553 units sold in November 2022, volume growth was 67,095 units YoY. Primary contributor for Honda is Activa scooter with 1,96,055 units that took a 46.61% share of company’s total domestic sales. YoY growth with Activa lineup was 11.98% with 20,971 units gained in volume.CB Shine contributed 1,28,969 units accounting for 20.66% of Honda’s domestic sales. CB Shine 125 registered 12.18% YoY growth flexing 14,004 units gained in volume. Activa and CB Shine contribute to around 77% of Honda’s total sales in India. The new 100cc Shine 100 sold 26,974 with a 6.41% market share.Recently updated Dio saw 23,979 takers last month and registered 48.92% YoY growth and 7,877 units volume growth YoY. Honda Unicorn’s appeal has reduced YoY by 29.88% decline, losing 8,583 units in volume. The newly launched SP160 is the replacement for Honda’s X-Blade. SP160 saw 7,310 takers, which is significantly better than X-Blade’s 0 sales.Honda 2W Sales Breakup November 2023 – DomesticHonda Dream commuter sold 6,032 units with 30.76% YoY growth and 1,419 units volume growth. Livo and Hornet 2.0 sold 3,732 and 3,214 units respectively. Where Hornet’s numbers almost doubled at 94.2% YoY growth, Livo saw a 38.71% decline YoY. Best-selling Big Wing motorcycle, CB350, sold 2,466 units with 21.36% You growth.Honda’s pseudo ADV, CB200X, saw a sudden spike in sales registering 1,233% YoY growth with 1,240 units sold as opposed to 93 units sold in November 2022. CB300R showed a slight 1.09% YoY decline with 363 units sold last month. Despite the recent price revision, CB300 F has not been seeing many takers with just 164 last month. Honda’s big boy Goldwing sold 4 units last month, which is a 300% YoY growth as opposed to 1 unit sold last year.Honda 2W exportsWhere exports are concerned, Honda registered a solid 33.70% YoY growth by shipping 26,314 units last month as opposed to 19,681 units last year. This resulted in 6,633 units YoY volume growth. Surprisingly, it is the Navi that is the highest-shipped Honda 2W vehicle from India. Navi saw 10,942 buyers abroad accounting for 41.58% of Honda’s total shipments.Honda 2W Sales Breakup November 2023 – ActivaWhen compared to 7,345 units shipped last year, Navi registered 48.97% YoY growth and gained 3,597 units YoY in volume. Dio took 2nd place in company’s exports with 5,053 units, 38.25% YoY growth and 19.20% market share. Volume growth is 1,398 units YoY. Highest-seller in India, Activa has seen a significant rise in export charts too with 1,268.27% YoY growth and 16.22% market share.Honda shipped 4,269 Activa as opposed to 312 units shipped in November 2022. CB Shine and X-Blade shipped 1,542 and 1,320 units with 19.29% and 43.88% YoY decline respectively. Dream and CB350 shipments stood at 1,096 and 1,080 units respectively, with Dream registering 996% YoY growth.Unicorn 160, Livo and Hornet 160R saw a significant decline in sales with 384, 300 and 166 units shipped respectively. Aviator scooter might be long forgotten in India, but Honda shipped 160 units last month. More

File photo of CB350 at service. Image – Abhinav Bhatt.Honda will be providing free replacement of affected parts, irrespective of the bike’s warranty statusFor H’ness CB350 and CB350RS motorcycle users, Honda has announced a recall for issues related to the brake light and bank angle sensor. The recall is applicable on CB350 and CB350RS units manufactured within a specific timeframe. Repair and replacement work will commence from the second week of December. It will be carried out at BigWing dealerships.Honda CB350, CB350RS rear stop light switch recallThe rear stop light switch issue impacts CB350 and CB350RS units manufactured between the period October 2020 and January 2023. It has been noted that the issue is due to the rubber parts used in the rear stop light switch. It is linked to an improper manufacturing process being used for making the rubber parts. Due to the defect, the rubber parts become weak and develop cracks. This can lead to entry of water and moisture, resulting in corrosion inside the switch. Depending on the level of corrosion, the switch can start to malfunction.Honda CB350, CB350RS bank angle sensor recallThe bank angle sensor issue has been linked to improper sealing and subsequent entry of water into the sensor. It has been found that gaps were created in the sensor body sealing due to inappropriate moulding procedure. When water enters the sensor housing, it can lead to malfunction. In worst cases, the vehicle may stall unexpectedly. The bank angle sensor recall applies to CB350 and CB350RS units manufactured between October 2020 to December 2021.Honda’s recall for CB350 and CB350RS involving rear stop light switch and bank angle sensor has been issued as a precautionary measure. It is part of Honda’s endeavour to work proactively in the interest of its customers. The recall will ensure a hassle-free experience and help build trust and confidence among the customers.Inspection and replacement of the rear stop light switch and bank angle sensor will be done at Honda BigWing dealerships. The entire process will take around an hour’s time. It will be done free of cost, irrespective of whether the bike’s warranty is active or not. CB350 and CB350RS owners can visit Honda’s recall page to know if their bikes are covered under the recall. This can be done using the bike’s VIN number. Honda has requested users to take prior appointment for getting the faulty parts replaced.Second recall for CB350This is the second time a recall has been issued for Honda CB350. The earlier recall was in March 2021, around six months after the bike’s launch in October 2020. The earlier recall was linked to a defective transmission component. Units of CB350 manufactured between November 25th and December 12th 2020 were impacted by the issue. The defect was caused due to the use of a wrong grade of material during production. The problem was fixed free of cost for all affected units of CB350. More

New Honda ActivaHonda 2W sales last month touched 447,849 units, of which 420,677 units were domestic sales and 27,172 units were exportsHonda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has announced improved sales in November 2023. It was growth seen both in terms of domestic sales and exports. In November, the company also launched the new CB350. Honda CB350 is presented in two trim levels – DLX and DLX Pro and are priced at Rs. 1,99,900 and Rs. 2,17,800 respectively. Bookings have opened and deliveries have commenced.Honda 2W Sales November 2023Honda 2W sales (domestic + exports) in November 2023 stood at 4,47,849 units. This was a 20 percent YoY growth over 3,73,221 units sold in November 2022 relating to a 74,628 unit volume growth. Domestic sales improved by 18.99 percent from 3,53,540 units sold in November 2022 to 4,20,677 units in the past month showing off a 67,137 unit volume growth.Honda 2W sales Nov 2023Honda 2W exports also increased by an even higher percentage as compared to domestic sales. Exports grew by 38.06 percent to 27,172 units in November 2023 from 19,681 units shipped in November 2022.Taking into account MoM sales, Honda 2W suffered a setback both in terms of domestic sales and exports. Total sales dipped by 9.14 percent from 4,92,884 units sold in October 2023. There were lower domestic sales by 9.09 percent to 4,20,677 units last month from 4,62,747 units sold in October 2023 while exports dipped 9.84 percent from 30,137 units shipped in October 2023.Honda 2W Activities during November 2023In November 2023, Honda 2W undertook several activities. It was the new BigWing showrooms across Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Nagercoil (Tamil Nadu) which were inaugurated last month taking up the company’s #GoRidin spirit.Honda also undertook road safety programs in 12 cities across the country right from Bathinda (Punjab), Bagepalli (Karnataka), Kolhapur (Maharashtra), Tulungia (Assam), Chittorgarh (Rajasthan), Aizawl (Mizoram), Hubli (Karnataka), Hyderabad (Telangana), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Dewas (Madhya Pradesh) Nashik (Maharashtra) and Noida (Uttar Pradesh). The company also celebrated its 9th anniversary of Traffic Training Park in Delhi.In terms of its motorsports activities, the IDEMITSU Honda Racing India team earned 6 points in the Round 5 taking the total to 27 points in 2023 Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC). Honda Racing Corporation also announced the signing of Luca Marini for 2024 and 2025 MotoGP World Championship seasons. More

Honda Diabolus Custom CL300 Scrambler By K-SpeedThe Honda Diabolus custom CL300 Scrambler share its 286cc single-cylinder engine with CB300R that generates 31 bhp of power and 27.5 Nm of torqueRetro classic motorcycles are currently all the rage. Among this broad umbrella, scramblers have seen quite a bit more uproar among enthusiasts when compared to just classic motorcycles. Honda’s CL lineup caters to this demographic. Renowned motorcycle modder K-Speed has created Diabolus based on Honda CL300 Scrambler.Honda Diabolus Is A Customised CL300 ScramblerThailand-based K-Speed Customs has revealed Honda Diabolus, which is a customised CL300 Scrambler. K-Speed has envisioned a purpose-built authentic Scrambler style motorcycle that pays tribute to old legends. The kit is shown with CL300, but can also be implemented on the larger Honda CL500 as well.Said Honda CL300 has been patented in India too. There may be launch intentions, but can very well be just Honda’s standard patenting exercise. CL300 shares its engine with CB300R sold in India which recently got a significant price cut. With new pricing, CB300R is an apt rival to Triumph Speed 400.What K-Speed has done with CL300 is really commendable. It brings a culmination of raw, minimalistic and wild design language that looks better than what Honda had intended. Honda’s round headlight is replaced with a sleek square LED unit with a grill, situated slightly below its triple tree.Honda Diabolus Custom CL300 ScramblerStock front mudguard is replaced with a tall off-road style unit. Handlebar is different and features retro switchgear too. Standard bike’s frame, fuel tank and engine are unchanged. There is a substantial bash plate. Exhaust is now routed from the side into an up-swept twin end can design.Off-road ready retro scramblerIn standard bike, exhaust is routed below the engine and then goes up, ending in an upswept design. Seat has a similar pattern on upholstery, but is a custom single-seater unit. Rear fender is significantly smaller and lends a tidy appearance, displaying its substantial tyres proudly. Speaking of tyres, these are knobby ones that will perform much better on trails than stock ones.What is more attention-grabbing about this Honda Diabolus custom build is its wire-spoke wheels. For starters, these replace the alloy units on standard CL300. I have seen many wire-spoke wheels. However, these have been stylised quite a bit. Rear subframe and round-section swingarm are retained.Honda Diabolus Custom HandlebarOther components like RSU telescopic front forks with gaiters, rear dual-shock absorber setup, re-positioned round speedometer, custom bar-end ORVMs grab attention. This single-cylinder 286cc DOHC 4V engine generates 31 bhp and 27.5 Nm on CB300R. A 6-speed gearbox and slipper clutch are standard too.Ergonomics look upright and should allow rider to push the machine to its limits on an off-road trail. Honda Diabolus customised CL300 Scrambler by K-Speed is one of the best mods on Honda’s CL range ever. I wish more manufacturers brought back square headlights that look properly retro and nostalgic. More