Honda Bikes

Honda DioHonda has reported a de-growth both in terms of domestic sales and exports and on a YoY and MoM basisHonda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has not begun the New Year on a very optimistic note. Its sales figures have been steadily falling not only in domestic markets but also in terms of exports. The company’s best sellers continue to include Activa, CB Shine, Dio and Grazia while the CB350 continues to deliver about 3k units a month.Honda Motorcycle, Scooter Sales Feb 2022Total sales (domestic and exports) in February 2022 stood at 3,12,621 units, down 29.38 percent over 4,42,696 units sold in February 2021. Domestic sales dipped 30.59 percent to 2,85,677 units in February 2022 from 4,11,578 units sold in February 2021 with a share percentage of 91.38.Exports on the other hand dipped 13.41 percent to 26,944 units in the past month from 31,118 units shipped in February 2021. Exports commanded an 8.62 percent share.Comparing Honda’s two wheeler sales and exports on a MoM basis has also seen de-growth. Total sales (domestic and exports) dipped 11.74 percent to 3,12,621 units, down from 3,54,209 units sold in February 2021. Domestic sales dipped 9.37 percent from 3,15,196 units sold in January 2021 while exports fell 30.94 percent over 39,013 units shipped in February 2021.Honda Two Wheeler Sales Feb 2022Honda 2 Wheelers – Highlights through February 2022Honda Electric scooter is in the making with launch date set for 2023. This will be the company’s first electric two wheeler in India and is set to rival the likes of Ola S1, Bajaj Chetak, TVS iQube and upcoming Suzuki Burgman Electric. It will be offered with swappable batteries and will likely come in with standard ownership and subscription based plans.Honda has also filed a patent for NT1100, its flagship touring motorcycle which if launched in India will be sold via the company’s BigWing dealerships. It will be available in two variants of NT1100A and NT1100D and will sport distinctive adventure styling. Both variants get their power via a 1,084cc engine that also powers the CRF1100L. The engine offers 101 hp power at 7,250 rpm and 104 Nm torque at 6,250 rpm mated to 6 speed manual and 6 speed DCT automatic gearbox respectively.In January 2022, HMSI also introduced the CBR650R at Rs 9.35 lakhs. It is opened for bookings at all company’s premium BigWing Topline showrooms and will be brought into the country via the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) route. In its segment, it will rival the Kawasaki Ninja 650 that is priced at Rs 6.68 lakh.Honda is also keen to expand its BigWing dealership base. Following its new dealership in Mumbai, the company now has a new showroom of the BigWing in Pimpri, Pune. The company has also opened its BigWing outlets in Hoshiarpur (Punjab), Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh)and Belagavi (Karnataka). More

2023 Honda Hawk 11 Cafe Racer TeasedHonda will be introducing a new motorcycle named Hawk 11 which will sit on top of the brand’s global lineup along with Africa Twin, Rebel 1100 and NT1100Honda has confirmed the development of a new motorcycle by teasing it on the brand’s various social media handles. Called Hawk 11, this bike is a neo-retro cafe racer and is most likely to replace CB1100 which was recently discontinued from Honda’s lineup a few weeks ago.The motorcycle will be making its maiden appearance at the 2022 Osaka Motorcycle Show scheduled to be held from 19 to 21 March 2022. The brief teaser released by Honda gives glimpses of the bike’s design from its front end which gives a very distinctive first impression.Honda Hawk 11 – Styling highlightsUpfront, Hawk 11 gets a round LED headlight with a circular LED DRL encased within a fighter jet-inspired front fairing. The fairing comes integrated with a small visor and with the overall curvaceous shape of the faring, the motorcycle is set to offer excellent aerodynamics. This design harks back to the design of retro cafe racers in the 1960s and 70s.The other significant detail is a clip-on handlebar which is traditionally used in cafe racers. The round rearview mirrors further add to the bike’s retro appeal. It appears to get bulb turn indicators mounted on the side fairing. From the looks of the upcoming motorcycle is expected to offer sport riding dynamics. No other significant styling details are visible in the given teaser image.[embedded content][embedded content]Powertrain Specs & FeaturesPowering Hawk 11 is a familiar 1084cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled motor that features in flagship motorcycles from Honda including CRF1100L Africa Twin, Rebel 1100 and NT1100. However, in the upcoming cafe racer, this engine might be tuned slightly differently in order to suit its characteristics. In Africa Twin, this mill churns out 98 bhp and 103 Nm of peak torque.It could be mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed DCT automatic unit. When it comes to tech, Honda might offer some of the premium gizmos on offer in the flagship range of motorcycles including features like LED headlamps with cornering lights, a fully digital TFT instrument console, Bluetooth connectivity, traction control and more.Expected HardwareAs far as cycle parts are concerned, Hawk 11 should receive all premium hardware with adjustable front and rear suspensions. Braking is expected to be handled by dual-disc brakes on the front wheel and a single-disc brake at the rear. This will be aided by a dual-channel ABS.Upon its launch, Hawk 11 will take on the likes of flagship cafe racers like Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR, Yamaha XSR900 and Kawasaki Z900 RS. Unfortunately, this motorcycle is unlikely to head towards Indian shores anytime soon. More

New Honda CRF190LHonda CRF190L will be more adept in handling off-road challenges than its road-biased sibling CB200XHonda Motorcycle and Scooters India (HMSI) has been on a spree to file design patents in the country in recent times. The two-wheeler division of the Japanese auto giant has registered design patents for a couple of models including NT1100 and CBR 150R in India.The company has now filed patents for a new motorcycle in the country which by the looks of it seems to be CRF190L. The baby adventure bike made its global debut in September last year and is an entry-level model in Honda’s adventure lineup which is positioned above CB150X.Honda CRF190L Design Patents LeakStarting with its design, CRF190L draws major aesthetic cues from CRF1100L Africa Twin with rugged Dakar-a-like styling. The core silhouette and riding stance of CRF1100L is uncannily familiar to that of the flagship adventure bike.It gets a similar side fairing and a flat headlamp cowl with a tall visor mounted on top of it. Other visible highlights include a rectangular double-stacked headlamp and circular rearview mirrors.Honda CRF190L patented in IndiaCRF190L comes with a large single-piece seat and a pillion grab rail integrated with a luggage rack. Highlighting its ergonomics, CRF1100L comes with mid-set footpegs, an upright handlebar, and a commanding seating position which offer comfortable riding posture for both road-biased daily urban commutes as well as for off-road adventure weekends.Expected Powertrain, Hardware SpecsPowering CRF190L is a familiar 184cc single-cylinder, air-cooled motor that also propels Hornet 2.0 and CB200X in the Indian market. This motor is good enough to dish out 17 bhp at 8,500 rpm and a peak torque of 16.1 Nm at 6,000rp and comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox.Unlike CB200X, which is essentially a road-biased tourer with some additional clothing wrapped around it, the CRF190L is more adept at handling rough terrains. The bike is underpinned by a tubular steel cradle frame which is suspended on upright telescopic forks at front and a mono-shock at rear. While it does miss out on adjustable and upside-down forks as CB200X, the ones in CRF190L are expected to offer a higher travel of around 180mm.New Honda CRF190LFurther, it gets a ground clearance of a whopping 241mm which makes it pretty easy to overcome any obstacle. Weighing at just 145 kilos, it is lighter than all its nearest adversaries. The bike rides on 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wire-spoke wheels that are shod with knobby dual-purpose tyres.Chances of India launch?There are very high chances of CRF190L actually making it to the Indian market since the entry-level adventure touring segment has been gaining popularity over the past few years. Honda’s experiment by launching a road-biased tourer CB200X might not have worked in the company’s favour as the sales charts indicate very humble numbers. Therefore, CRF190L could become a worthy rival to Hero Xpulse 200. More

Image for reference.Activa electric scooter will rival the likes of Ola S1, Bajaj Chetak, TVS iQube and upcoming Suzuki Burgman ElectricAs electric two-wheeler segment starts to mature, mainstream manufacturers are stepping up focus in this space. In the next couple of years, we could see multiple EV products from Hero MotoCorp, Suzuki, Yamaha, KTM and Husqvarna. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) is also expected to launch its first EV in India.Honda Activa electric scooterActiva is the top selling scooter in the country and the top selling product in Honda’s India portfolio. Using the same nameplate to launch an electric scooter can work to the company’s advantage. It will be easier for users to connect with the brand’s USPs such as reliability, performance and long life.With Activa nameplate, breaking into the EV space and quickly establishing a strong presence will become easier for Honda. Atsushi Ogata, president at HMSI, has confirmed to ET Auto that the company will be readying its first EV for India by next financial year.It is not known if Honda will be developing an entirely new EV product for India or use a tweaked version of any of its existing electric two-wheelers currently available in international markets. Either way, not much can be said about what the product will look like and the features it will offer.Honda electric scooter with battery swap tech – Benly eTill now, the only Honda electric two-wheeler product seen in India is the Benly e scooter. It was spotted undergoing tests at Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). In its home market Japan, Honda offers different models including Benly e: I, Benly e: I Pro, Benly e: II and Benly e: II Pro. The company has other electric two-wheelers as well such as PCX Electric, Gyro e: and Gyro canopy e:Benly e: and its variants are primarily meant for last-mile deliveries in B2B and B2C space. However, things like powertrain and other hardware can easily be used to build a commuter electric scooter. As Benly e has already been spotted here, there’s a strong possibility that it could be used as a base for Activa electric scooter.Swappable batteryHonda Activa electric scooter is likely to be offered with swappable batteries. The strategy could be similar to EV players like Bounce that offer standard ownership plans as well as subscription based plans.Honda electric scooter with battery swap tech – Benly eUsers have the option to buy the scooter with battery or without battery. In the latter case, pricing is reduced significantly. Users will be required to pay monthly subscription along with a fee every time they swap a drained battery for a fully-charged one.Honda has big plans in EV space and it has already setup a new subsidiary to manufacture battery packs. Formed with a capital of Rs 135 crore, this new subsidiary is registered in Bengaluru. It will cater to battery requirements of electric two-wheelers and electric auto rickshaws. By manufacturing battery packs locally, Honda should be able to launch Activa electric scooter and other EVs at a competitive price point.Source More

2022 Honda CBR150RWith CBR150R, Honda will be looking to challenge Yamaha’s dominance in entry-level faired bike segmentPatent registration for CBR150R in India has fuelled speculations about the bike’s potential launch in the near future. It is to note that this will be the second time the bike will be launched here. Honda CBR150R was available in India from 2012 to 2017. It was later discontinued likely due to unsatisfactory sales numbers.2022 Honda CBR150R India LaunchIn a recent interview with ET Auto, President of Honda Motorcycles India, Atsushi Ogata stated that they are focusing on 150cc motorcycle segment. He said, “We need to focus more on the 150 cc line up. We are investigating this segment too and you will hear (from us) sooner or later.”It is likely that he was hinting at the launch of 2022 Honda CBR150R. If Honda is to successfully take on Yamaha in entry-level faired bike segment, it will have to launch CBR150R at a competitive price point. Its primary rival Yamaha R15 V4 is available at a starting price of Rs 1.73 lakh (Metallic Red). Dark Knight and Racing Blue variants are priced at Rs 1.74 lakh and Rs 1.78 lakh, respectively. All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.It is difficult to estimate the bike’s price in India. Most that can be done is to get a rough idea by comparing prices of Honda bikes available in India as well as international locations.New Honda CBR150R Patent Filed In IndiaFor instance, if we consider Honda CB300R, the starting price is THB 151,690. This is approximately Rs 3.50 lakh. In India, CB300R is priced at Rs 2.77 lakh. This makes it around 20% cheaper as compared to Thai-spec model. The India-spec bike is cheaper even though it is BS6 compliant, as compared to Thai-spec CB300R that continues in BS4 format. India-spec BS4 CB300R was available at a starting price of Rs 2.41 lakh.Coming to CBR150R, the bike is priced at THB 92,900 in Thailand. This is approximately Rs 2.14 lakh. If we apply the 20% ratio as applicable for CB300R, pricing for CBR150R in India comes at around Rs 1.71 lakh. This makes it even cheaper than R15 V4. However, this is just a rough estimate.Increased localizationTo be able to launch CBR150R at a competitive price point, Honda will have to increase localization. CB300R is perfect example, which has received a higher level of localization in its BS6 format. Localization for CB300R could increase further in future, as the company is developing the new BS6 engine at its Gujarat facility.2022 Honda CBR150RSomething similar needs to be done for CBR150R if the bike is to emerge as a viable option against R15 V4. Pricing is important in entry-level motorcycle segment, even though it may not be the sole factor that influences customer purchase decisions.In terms of styling, both Honda CBR150R and Yamaha R15 V4 are equally good looking. R15 V4 also offers a wide range of features including USD forks in golden finish, dual-channel ABS, assist and slipper clutch, variable valves actuation, traction control system and quick shifter. Bluetooth-based connectivity features have also been added, which can be accessed via Y-Connect app.While CBR150R has similar set of features, the challenge is about launching the bike at a competitive price point. It remains to be seen if Honda can achieve that goal.Source More

New Honda NT1100Specific details of Honda launching NT1100 in India isn’t available as of now – If launched, it will be retailed through the BigWing chain of dealershipsAfter filing patent for new CBR150R, Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) have filed design patents for its flagship touring motorcycle NT1100. The big touring machine from the Japanese auto giant made its global debut in October 2021 and is based on the CRF1100L Africa Twin. The patent application is dated around the same time as the international debut of NT1100.NT1100 is a premium Grand Tourer (GT) which is a road-biased derivative of the brand’s flagship adventure bike. The tourer borrows some of its styling and mechanical attributes from its ADV sibling. However, it has been specifically designed for munching long miles.Honda NT1100 Patented – DesignLike many other contemporary sports tourers, NT1100 shows shades of an ADV bike in its styling. Upfront, the motorcycle flaunts dual-pod headlamps on the apron with integrated LED DRLs and a heavily faired front end. On top of that, it features a large windscreen that is five-way adjustable for height and angle and it is aided by wind deflectors on either side.Underneath the front fairings, NT1100 features fog lights on either side. Other styling highlights include a large radiator shroud, split seats, a single-sided double-barrel exhaust muffler and a single-piece grab rail that extends to form a large luggage mounting rack at the tail section. The international-spec model gets side pannier boxes as standard fitment but the India-spec model could get them as official accessories.Honda NT1100 Patent Filed in IndiaFeatures on offerThe grand tourer packs all features one could ask for in a two-wheeler at this spectrum. These include amenities like a 6.5-inch TFT touchscreen display that offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity options.Apart from this, Honda offers a wide range of rider aided electronics including Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), Wheelie Control and multiple riding modes namely Urban, Rain, Tour and two other customisable modes.Hardware, Powertrain SpecsNT1100 is based on the same chassis that underpins the Africa Twin ADV and comprises a steel, semi-double cradle frame with a bolt-on aluminium subframe. This chassis is suspended on 43mm Showa USD forks at front and a Showa mono-shock at rear. However, in comparison to its adventure sibling, suspension travel has been lowered by 150mm on each end.2022 Honda NT1100Braking is handled by 310 mm twin discs with radially-mounted callipers at front and a single 256 mm disc at rear. The braking setup is aided by a dual-channel ABS. The sports tourer rolls on 17-inch front and rear wheels as opposed to 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels setup in its ADV sibling which results in a lowered saddle height of 820mm.Powering the NT1100 is the same 1,084cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine that also propels CRF1100L. This motor pumps out 101 bhp at 7,250rpm and a peak torque of 104 Nm at 6,250rpm. The sports tourer is available in two variants-NT1100A and NT1100D. The former is available with a 6-speed manual gearbox whereas the latter is equipped with a 6-speed DCT automatic gearbox.Source More

Honda CB500X Price CutHonda CB500X was launched in India via the completely knocked down (CKD) route in May 2021 at Rs 6.87 Lakh ex-shHonda expanded their premium bike range in India with the launch of the new CB500X. It has been brought in via the CKD route. The launch of Honda CB500X got many excited. But by the time the price was revealed, most of the excitement died down.It was launched at a staggering price tag of Rs 6.87 lakhs, ex-sh. Most bikers who were waiting for this machine, thought it was steeply priced. Some even opted to buy the 500X, while others bought something else in the range.Honda CB500X Price CutThere is finally good news for those who have been wanting to buy the CB500X. Honda BigWing dealers have confirmed to Rushlane that the price has been cut by Rs 1.07 lakh. The new price of Honda CB500X in India is Rs 5.8 lakh. All prices are ex-sh. Honda retails the CB500X via BigWing Topline and regular BigWing premium dealerships which are currently in limited numbers across India.Targeting a younger and more adventurous segment of buyers in the country, the CB500X parallel twin adventurer is open for bookings at the new price tag. It is offered in the mid size premium motorcycle segment and is ideally suited for both city and highway riding. Highlights include long travel suspension, tall windscreen, adventure styling and an engine that is high on power and torque.Honda CB500XHonda CB500X Design and Colour OptionsThe Honda CB500X is packed with features. It receives all LED lights, negative LCD display with gear shift indicator, engine temperature and ABD indicator while from the safety point of view it receives Honda’s Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) technology along with Honda’s Ignition Security System (HISS) theft deterrent.The new CB500X sits on a diamond shaped steel tube frame relating to better riding stability and handling while ground clearance is at 181 mm and kerb weight is at 119 kgs. Honda has also fitted the new CB500X with a comfortable seat and dual sport tyres and the new adventurer tourer is presented in two color options of Grand Prix Red and Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic.Honda CB500X Engine SpecsHonda CB500X is powered by a 471cc, parallel twin, liquid cooled engine that makes 47 hp power at 8,500 rpm and 43 Nm torque at 6,500 rpm mated to a six speed transmission with slip and assist clutch as standard. It gets a single 310mm disc in the front and 240mm disc at the rear with petal type disc brakes and dual channel ABS. The adventure tourer rides on 19 inch wheels in the front and 17 inch at the rear fitted with 110/80 – ZR19 and 160/60 – ZR17 tyres respectively.Suspension is via long stroke 41mm front and 9 stage spring preload at the rear offering a more comfortable ride on uneven terrain. Safety is further enhanced via ESS – Emergency Stop Signal that detects sudden braking and immediately activates front and rear hazard lights to warn other vehicles around.The new Honda CB500X boasts of rugged makeup. It borrows some styling from the Africa Twin. With its tough adventure styling, long travel suspension and a tall windscreen, the Honda CB500X competes with the likes of Suzuki V-Strom 650, Benelli TRK 502 and Kawasaki Versys 650. More