Honda Bikes

This fancy number plate cost the bidder Rs 15.4 lakhs which is Rs 14,69,000 more than the cost of the new Honda ActivaNew Honda Activa 6G. File Photo.Buying a vehicle could become news. Recently, a man from Tamil Nadu purchased a Bajaj Dominar at Rs 2.67 lakhs with Rs 1 coins. He was saving money for 3 years to buy his dream motorcycle. This news was all over the internet, even Bajaj Auto had shared it on their social media.Now comes a story where a man who spent more than Rs 15 lakhs for a fancy number plate. Yes, Rs 15 lakhs, and that too on a scooter. Usually, fancy numbers are bought for expensive cars or bikes. But this one here, is for a Honda Activa. The no is CH01- CJ-0001.Honda Activa Fancy Number Plate at 21:1 RatioIn a recent auction held by the Chandigarh Registering and Licensing Authority, 378 fancy registration numbers and leftovers were sold for Rs. 1.5 crore. Among these was the fancy number plate which was picked up at Rs 15.44 lakhs for a Honda Activa that cost the buyer Rs 71,000.This was against a reserve price of Rs 50,000. This is a ratio of 21:1 and something rarely seen as fancy number plates are usually purchased for luxury cars in the sedan or SUV segments, which cost many times over. This was earlier the case with a 0001 number plate for which an owner of a Mercedes Benz S-Class had bid Rs 26.05 lakhs in 2012.Honda Activa 0001 NoBrij Mohan, the bidder of the fancy number plate from Chandigarh, runs an advertising agency. He states that initially this no will be seen on his Honda Activa, but it will be migrated to his new car, which he plans to purchase during the upcoming Diwali festival. 0001 number plates are the most favoured and often auctioned at exorbitant prices. CH01CH had fetched Rs 24.40 lakhs in an earlier auction, while in 2012, the CH01 AP series was picked up by a bidder at Rs 26.05 lakhs.This auction comes at a time when Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar opened up fancy number plates to the general public for numbers such as ‘0001’ for their vehicles. This announcement was made by Khattar, at a Cabinet meeting held in Chandigarh. Such numbers are allotted via e-auction.As on date, there are 179 state government vehicles using the 0001 number plate in Haryana and the aim was to generate added revenue from the e-auction with bidding starting from Rs 5 lakhs. As per estimates, revenue of Rs 18 crores could be collected via e-auctioning of these fancy number plates.Honda Activa Price HikeHonda has recently hiked prices of the Activa range from 1st April 2022. Both the Activa 6G and Activa 125 get priced higher by Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 respectively and now carry price tags of Rs 71,432 and Rs 74,898. Apart from this price hike, the company has not introduced any other visual changes while it continues to be powered by the same engine lineup. Honda Activa 125 competes with the Suzuki Access 125 and TVS Jupiter 125. More

Internationally, Honda Click 160 would lock horns with its Japanese counterparts like Suzuki Burgman, Yamaha NMAX and Aerox 155New Honda Vario 160Honda has taken the covers off its new scooter called Click 160 at the ongoing Bangkok Motor Show in Thailand. Not to be confused with the underwhelming Cliq 110 that was available in India between June 2017 and April 2020, this scooter is a successor to Click 150.Unlike Click 110, Click 160 is touted to offer a very strong performance on pulling the throttle. It gets a new and more powerful engine and a few more features in comparison to its predecessor. The power scooter also receives some notable design updates which make it look sharper than before.Honda Click 160 – HighlightsThe most striking highlight of Click’s design is a sharp front fascia featuring a faired body with cuts and creases. It receives a twin LED headlamp setup mounted on the front apron that enhances its aggressive appeal while indicators are mounted above on the side fairing. The angry-looking face of the scooter is reminiscent of Honda’s flagship sports bikes in the CBR range.Click 160 rides on redesigned alloy wheels finished in matte black or gold, thus lending the scooter a sportier appearance. It features a single-piece saddle with a step-up pillion seat which looks spacious and comfortable. Offered in multiple colour options like white, black and red, sportiness of Click 160 gets accentuated thanks to matte gray bodywork on the fairing, side panels and floorboard.New Honda Vario 160Other styling highlights include a large front fender, a compact rear profile with an LED taillamp cluster and sleek turn indicators, a single-piece grab rail and ‘Click’ badging on the sides. While its overall design takes inspiration from contemporary Maxi-style scooters, unlike the latter, it gets a flat floorboard which should enhance practicality.Speaking of practicality, Click 160 gets spacious under-seat storage to go with a cubbyhole with a USB charging port and a smart key ignition. Instrumentation on Click 160 is fully digital that should provide a wide range of information.Specs & PricesPowering Click is a new 156.9cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine linked to a traditional CVT gearbox. This powertrain returns an output of 15 bhp and a peak torque of 13.8 Nm. Underpinnings on the new Click 160 are basic consisting of conventional telescopic forks up front and a preload-adjustable mono-shock at rear. Braking duties are handled by single disc brakes at both ends aided by optional ABS.Honda Click 160 has been priced at THB 63,500 in Thailand which roughly translates to INR 1.44 lakh. This scooter is unlikely to reach Indian shores anytime soon, however, the Japanese brand may introduce the PCX scooter in the country. Moreover, PCX could employ the same heart and underpinnings as Click 160. If and when launched, it will be a worthy rival to Yamaha Aerox 155. More

Honda has announced a price hike across some models in its motorcycle and scooter lineup from April 2022New Honda Activa 6GHonda Motorcycle and Scooter India Private Limited (HMSI) has announced a price hike across its lineup in the domestic market. The company cites a steep hike in prices of raw material and escalating fuel prices as reasons for this increase in prices. The price hike is effective from April 2022 and is from Rs 741 to Rs 1,371 depending on model.HMSI was the second best selling two wheeler maker in March 2022 after Hero MotoCorp. Sales stood at 3,09,549 units in the past month relating to a YoY de-growth of 21.64 percent over 3,95,037 units sold in March 2021. The Honda Activa contributed efficiently to these sales along with the CB Shine.Honda Activa Prices April 2022Starting with the Honda Activa 6G and Activa 125, price of the Activa 6G range is now available from Rs 71,432 onwards. Activa 125 is now priced from Rs 74,989 onwards. Activa 6G Standard, priced earlier at Rs 70,599 is now at Rs 71,432, a difference of Rs 833 or 1.187 percent.Honda Activa 6G Deluxe now sports a higher price tag of Rs 72,345, up from Rs 73,177 while Activa 125 Drum is higher by Rs 741 to Rs 74,898. Honda Activa 125 Drum Alloy now gets a higher price tag of Rs 78,657 while the Disc variant is at Rs 82,162, higher by Rs 822 over the earlier price of Rs 81,280.Honda Prices April 2022There is also the Activa 125 LE Drum and LE Disc variants which are now priced at Rs 79,657 and Rs 83,162 respectively. This price hike does not bring with it any styling or mechanical changes. The Activa 6G continues to be offered in the same 6 colour options while there are 5 colours being offered on the Activa 125. Honda had also filed a patent for a new scooter called Scoopy. Honda Shine, SP 125, Livo, and CD110 DreamWith effect from April 2022, Honda Shine, SP 125, Livo, and CD110 Dream also get price hikes. The CD 110 Dream Deluxe is now at Rs 69,251, higher by Rs 764 or 1.12 percent over an earlier pricing of Rs 68,487. The Honda Livo Drum variant gets its price increased by Rs 764 to Rs 73,938 while the Disc variant is now at Rs 77,938 as against an earlier price of Rs 77,174.Honda Shine Drum price has been increased by Rs 1,371 or 1.83 percent, the highest price hike for April 2022. The earlier pricing of Rs 74,943 has been increased to Rs 76,314 while the Disc variant is higher by 971 to Rs 80,314 from Rs 79,343. Honda SP125 Drum and Disc variants pricing has also been increased by Rs 820 and Rs 819 to Rs 81,407 and Rs 85,407 respectively.On the other hand, Honda has reduced the price of its Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade by Rs 10 lakhs. Launched at Rs 33 lakhs in 2021, the CBR1000RR-R now costs Rs 23.56 lakhs for the Black colour following the recent price reduction while Grand Prix Red is priced at Rs 24 lakhs. This reduced pricing allows the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade to compete equitably with rivals such as the Ducati Panigale V4 which is price at Rs 23.50 lakhs as well as with the Aprilia RSV4 that carries a price tag of Rs 23.69 lakhs. More

Primary volume generators for Honda in motorcycle segment include CB Shine and Unicorn 160Hero Splendor Electric Motorcycle Render By Vinay Raj SomashekarWhile Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) leads in scooters, its ex-partner Hero dominates the commuter motorcycle segment. Hero bikes like Splendor and HF Deluxe are currently the preferred options in commuter segment. Things could change in future, as Honda is planning to launch an affordable commuter bike that will primarily rival Hero Splendor. This has been confirmed by Atsushi Ogata, President of HMSI in a recent interaction with ET Auto.Honda new commuter bikeHonda’s existing commuter motorcycle range has CD110 Dream and Livo. However, none of these are comparable to the high sale volumes generated by Hero Splendor. Ogata has also mentioned that CD110 hasn’t been able to match customer expectations in commuter segment. CD110 Dream is currently the most affordable Honda bike, available at a starting price of around Rs 63k (ex-showroom, Delhi). This works out cheaper than Splendor Plus that starts at around Rs 69k.One option for Honda is to focus on fuel efficiency, which is one of the key factors that has made Splendor so popular. Honda must be well-aware of this, as the Hero-Honda combine had started out the journey with their ‘Fill it, shut it, forget it’ campaign. Launched in 1984, Hero-Honda partnership had lasted for around 26 years. They decided to part ways in 2010 due to growing friction in terms of business objectives.Being a global player and with a much longer history, Honda surely has the technological edge. It has the capabilities to come up with a formidable rival to Hero Splendor. Or it can improve existing CD110 by introducing some new features such as engine start-stop system. Honda could also perform some tweaks to make CD110 just as nimble as Splendor.Honda CB Shine. Image – Ryt To KnowIt will be interesting to see Honda aggressively targeting the entry-level commuter segment. While Suzuki and Yamaha have decided to stay away, Honda will continue to face competition from Bajaj and TVS in addition to Hero MotorCorp.Honda sales analysisAs of now, close to 50% of HMSI sales come from its Activa scooter. Second bestseller is CB Shine, followed by Unicorn 160. In 200cc to 500cc segment, Honda’s offerings are fairly limited. Honda H’ness CB350 has registered consistent numbers every month, but it trails behind rivals by a significant margin.Honda also has limited presence in sport biking segment, which is dominated by Bajaj, KTM, and Yamaha. Honda could target these segments as well in future. Earlier this year in January, the company had expanded its middleweight portfolio to include CB300R. The bike was launched at an introductory price of Rs 2.77 lakh. It was available earlier in BS4 format and was quite popular.The bike has a sporty profile and comes with features such as golden USD forks, all-LED lighting, smartphone connectivity, USB charging port and assist and slipper clutch. CB300R can help Honda strengthen its position in 200cc-500cc motorcycle segment. More

Honda Scoopy has been in pipeline for the Indian market for a long time, it was even spied testing in the country a few years agoHonda Scoopy Scooter 110ccIn recent times, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has filed quite a few patents, indicating that the Japanese brand is planning to launch multiple new models in the country. Though the latest one to come to light is not very recent, it is an addition to the growing list of upcoming two-wheelers from Honda.The company has filed patents for a new scooter called Scoopy in India which were actually filed back in March last year. While filing a mere patent doesn’t guarantee a market launch, Scoopy does make a lot of sense for the Indian market. The scooter was spotted testing in India back in 2017, however, it did not get launched after all.Honda Scoopy Patented in India- DesignsHonda Scoopy is a true modern classic scooter with a retro styling that appeals to both young as well as mature riders. It surely stands apart as far as design is concerned when compared to its segment rivals like Hero Pleasure Plus, Maestro Edge and TVS Jupiter as well as its Indian peers Honda Dio and Activa 6G.It gets an oval-shaped headlamp cluster mounted on the front apron flanked by bean-shaped turn indicators thus lending the scooter a unique appearance. It gets sweeping lines on smooth body panels usually seen on European scooters. It gets a single-piece saddle that looks large and cushiony and should be comfortable in long-distance commutes as well.Honda Scoopy Scooter Patent Filed In IndiaFeatures & Hardware SpecsSpeaking of convenience, Scoopy gets a large 15.4-litre under-seat storage in addition to a USB charging port inside the front glove box. It also gets a wide floorboard on which carrying luggage should be relatively easier. Other key features on offer include a semi-digital instrument cluster, keyless ignition, a projector LED headlight, a multi-function hook at the front and a side stand indicator.In terms of safety & security, the new Scoopy has been equipped with smart keys that offer an answer-back feature and anti-theft alarm. Coming to its hardware setup, it is underpinned by an eSAF frame which is suspended on telescopic forks up front and a mono-shock at rear. It rolls on 12-inch alloy wheels at both ends while anchorage is taken care of by a disc brake in front and a drum at rear which are aided by CBS.Powertrain DetailsPowering Scoopy is the same 109.51cc single-cylinder, air-cooled, SOHC engine that propels Activa and Dio in India. While this motor churns out 7.76 PS of power and 9 Nm of peak torque in the India-spec models, it kicks out 9 PS and 9.3 Nm in the Indonesia-spec Scoopy. It comes with eSP (enhanced Smart Power) which not only boosts performance but also improves fuel efficiency.Honda Scoopy 110cc scooterThe scooter also gets an ACG starter, which ensures smooth engine starts without the usual sputtering sound. Whether or not this scooter will see daylight in the Indian market only time and Honda can tell us. If it is to be launched in India, it has to be priced very competitively against other 110cc scooters. More

Honda currently retails four scooters in India- Acitva 6G and Dio in the 110cc category and Activa 125 and Grazia in the 125cc categoryImage for reference.Honda’s two wheeler business has suffered in recent months. Sales declined by more than 30% last month. Honda has plans to launch new scooters and motorcycles in India, to boost sales. They also have plans to launch electric scooters.Honda has filed design patents for 3 new scooters in India, images of which have now leaked online. In the past, Honda had brought scooters with slightly unconventional looks like Cliq and Navi. However, both models failed miserably in the Indian market.New Honda Scooter Design PatentsHence, this time Honda has opted for a more conventional yet distinct design that fulfills the demands of a commuter scooter. The styling has been kept simple and by the looks of it, the scooter will be targeted at a mass section of buyers. It could be either a 110cc or 125cc offering since the design looks too sober for a power scooter of the 150cc category.We already have spoken about the Honda X-ADV scooter, that has been patented in India. Apart from that, two more scooters have been patented. One of the patents was filed on 19th Feb 2021, other on 18th Oct 2021.  Honda files new scooter design patents in IndiaThe patent images display an IC engine-powered scooter. The headlamp is mounted at the centre of the front apron whereas turn indicators are positioned on the front side panel. The floorboard looks flat and spacious thus indicating that it would be a practical offering.It gets a single-piece saddle with a raised pillion seat and a flat tail section with a single-piece grab rail. The exhaust muffler is side-slung and flat whereas the tail lamp seems to be high mounted. Apart from under-seat storage, it appears that the scooter will also offer some storage in the front compartment with an open aperture.Since one of these new Honda scooters is expected to be a budget offering, we don’t expect it to be loaded with all tech and gizmos. However, it is likely to cover all basic features including LED headlights, an under-seat charging point, a semi-digital instrument console and an integrated self-start and engine kill switch. Bluetooth connectivity is unlikely to be part of this package.2022 Honda X-ADV Scooter trademarked in IndiaExpected Engine SpecsIf introduced in the 110cc guise it will be powered by a 109.5cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine which pushes out 7.6 bhp and 8.8 Nm of peak torque. This unit is paired with a CVT gearbox and propels Honda Activa 6G and Dio. The other option is with a 125cc engine which kicks out 8.1 bhp at 6,500rpm and 10.3 Nm of peak torque at 5,000rpm. This motor performs duties on Activa 125 and Grazia.At the moment, there are no specific details regarding this patent filed by Honda. It isn’t yet confirmed if at all this model will reach production. However, this isn’t the only trademark filed by the company. Recently, it was reported that Honda has filed a trademark for CBR150R in India. More

Honda 2Wheelers reports over 30 percent decline in domestic sales in February 2022, exports fall 13.33 percentImage – Bike RockersFebruary 2022 saw most two-wheeler manufacturers report a dip in sales. Domestic Honda two wheeler sales fell to 2,85,706 units, down from 4,11,622 units. Volume loss is 1,25,916 units at 30.59 percent decline.Honda Sales Breakup Feb 2022 – Activa No 1Honda Activa sales are down to 1,45,317 units from 2,09,389 units. Volume loss is reported at 64k units at 30.60 percent decline. CB Shine sales declined to a similar extent, down at 81,700 units from 1,15,970 units. Volume loss stood at 34,270 units.Dio sales fell 45 percent at volume loss of 12,684 units. Sales were down to 15,487 units from 28,171 units. Dream sales however improved. The only motorcycle to be reported at growth, up at 44.15 percent at volume gain of 4,740 units. Sales were up at 15,476 units from 10,736 units.Unicorn 160 sales decline is 42.50 percent. Sales are down at 12,812 units from 22,281 units at 9,469 units volume loss. Livo sales declined 12.41 percent at volume loss of 1,047 units. Sales fell to 7,392 units from 8,439 units. Hness 350 sales stood at 3.1k units, marginally down from 3,268 units. Sales decline stood at 5.17 percent at volume loss of 169 units.Honda Sales Breakup Feb 2022Grazia sales decline was steep at 64.02 percent. Volume loss stood at over 5k units, down at 2,846 units from about 8k units. CB200X sales are reported at 538 units, and CB300R at 429 units. Hornet 2.0 sales decline is at over 88 percent, down at 422 units from about 3.6k units. X-Blade sales fell to 150 units from 1,844 units at a 91.87 percent decline. CB650 and CB500 sales are reported at 19 units each.Honda Exports Breakup Feb 2022Honda exports volume is much less in comparison to domestic sales. Even so, Honda reported a decline of 13.33 percent. Sales fell to 26,944 units, down from 31,088 units. Volume loss stood at 4,144 units. While Navi sales have been stopped in India, in export markets, it’s a top seller.Navi export is up at 7,767 units from 6,398 units. Volume gain stood at 1,369 units at 21.40 percent gain. Dio numbers fell marginally to 5,423 units, down from 5,695 units. Volume loss stands at 272 units, at 4.78 percent decline. In 21 years, Honda has exported 30 lakh units, and Dio has played an important role.Honda Exports Breakup Feb 2022X-Blade export is up at 3,844 units from 3,252 units. Volume gain stood at 592 units at 18.20 percent growth. Dream numbers fell by 7.78 percent, down to 3,128 units from 3,392 units. CB Shine exports fell to 2,518 units from 4,794 units at 47.48 percent decline. Hornet 160R export fell to 1.6k units, down from about 1.9k units at 16 percent decline.Honda CB350 export is up at 1,200 units from 300 units. Unicorn 160 numbers more than doubled at 576 units, up from 240 units. Grazia’s decline was steep, down at 320 units from 1,480 units. Activa, Aviator and Unicorn 150 exports are reported at a decline. More