Honda Bikes

Honda Airblade 160 is based on the same platform as Vario 160 and gets the same powertrain setup2022 Honda Airblade 160ccScooters in India are primarily seen as commuter machines rather than high-performance vehicles until now. With the launch of Yamaha Aerox 155 last year, the Indian market has started to come to terms with scooters being an efficient means of extracting performance.In other Asian markets, performance scooters already cater to a sizeable share of their respective markets. Honda has launched the sixth generation model of Airblade in Vietnam. The new gen Airblade 160 gets plenty of updates over its predecessor, the most prominent of those is a new heart borrowed from Honda Vario 160.Powering the sixth-gen Airblade 160 is a 160cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that replaces the older 150cc unit from its previous iteration. This 160cc mill kicks out 15 bhp and 14.2 Nm of peak torque. These figures are 0.2 bhp and 0.3 Nm more than what Yamaha Aerox 155 derives from its motor. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a belt-driven CVT automatic transmission.2022 Honda Airblade 160 DesignAs far as design goes, Honda has made subtle tweaks to its styling. This includes an updated headlight cluster and revised body panels with elegant lines running through them. Overall design is similar to its previous iteration with a thick front apron and side fairing. In sync with contemporary maxi-style scooters, Airblade gets a spine running through the floorboard.2022 Honda Airblade 160ccIt receives a single-piece seat with a slightly raised tail section. Components like alloy wheels, upswept exhaust muffler, footboard and suspension setup have been painted black which enhances the sporty appeal of the Maxi scooter. Ergonomics is well suited for a comfortable riding posture. More importantly, Airblade is now underpinned by a new and lighter chassis.Features & PriceIn terms of features, Airblade 160 is equipped with all-LED lighting, a fully digital instrument cluster and a smart key along with an underseat storage capacity of 23.2 litres. The underseat storage also gets a boot light as well as a USB charger. Hardware equipment consists of a suspension setup that comprises telescopic forks up front and twin shock absorbers at rear.Braking duties are handled by a disc brake in front and a drum brake at rear which are accompanied by a single-channel ABS. In Vietnam, Honda Airblade 160 has been priced at VND 55,990,000 (approx. INR 1.87 lakh). It will lock horns with Yamaha Aerox 155. Airblade 160 will most probably not reach Indian shores anytime in the near future.However, Honda has filed patents for as many as three scooters in India which could cater to its performance segment. The most prominent of those is the X-ADV scooter which is most likely to be based on the same 160cc platform as Airblade. More

Honda Two Wheeler YoY sales improved in April 2022 in domestic markets while exports dipped marginallyImage for reference.Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) ended the past month with sales growth in domestic markets to the extent of 32.74 percent. Exports on the other hand dipped 1.10 percent YoY. Total sales stood at 3,61,029 units out of which domestic sales were at 3,18,734 units, up 32.74 percent YoY over 2,40,122 units sold in April 2021. This was a 78,612 unit volume growth. Exports on the other hand dipped 1.10 percent to 42,295 units, down from 42,765 units shipped in April 2021.Honda Activa topped the list in domestic markets. Sales improved 48.94 percent YoY to 1,63,357 units up from 1,09,678 units sold in April 2021. This was a volume growth of 53,679 units while the Activa commands s a51.25 percent share in the company lineup. Honda Activa was also the No.1 in scooter sales and No. 2 in total two wheeler sales in April 2022.Honda Two Wheeler Domestic sales April 2022At No. 2 was the CB Shine with a YoY growth at 32.74 percent to 1,05,413 units sold in April 2022, up 25,997 units from 79,416 units sold in April 2021. The CB Shine holds a 33.07 percent share. Honda Activa and CB Shine were the only two models in the company lineup to garner sales above the 1 lakh unit mark. Honda Dio sales dipped 7.16 percent YoY to 16,033 units. This was down from 17,269 units sold in April 2021.Honda Two Wheelers noted outstanding increase in demand for the Dream which improved 152.62 percent YoY to 13,844 units in the past month, up from 5,502 units sold in April 2021. This was a volume growth of 8,342 units with a 4.34 percent share. Unicorn 160 found less demand in domestic markets down 20.65 percent YoY to 13,173 units while H’ness 350 sales increased 7.92 percent to 3,204 units.Honda sales breakup April 2022Honda also saw demand dip for the Grazia scooter by 69.76 percent to 1,391 units while X-Blade sales improved 398.69 percent to 763 units from 153 units sold in April 2021. There was also the Livo (650 units), Hornet 2.0 (584 units), CB200X (258 units) and CBR 650 (33 units) sold in the past month. Sales of the Africa Twin improved 1900 percent to 20 units from 1 unit sold in April 2021 and there was 1 unit of the CB500 also sold in the past month. CBR300R sales were down to 0 units from 8 units sold in April 2021.Honda Exports April 2022Honda Navi scooter topped sales charts in global markets. Sales increased 64.90 percent YoY to 12,126 units from 7,408 units sold in April 2021. The Navi commands a 28.88 percent share. Honda Dio was the 2nd best export with 7,032 units shipped in April 2022, down 16.87 percent over 8,459 units sold in April 2021. This was a 1,427 unit volume de-growth with a 16.63 percent share in the company’s export lineup.Honda Two Wheeler also noted de-growth in exports for the CB Shine and Dream down 10.48 percent and 8.73 percent respectively to 4,765 units and 3,720 units. Hornet 160R exports improved by 11.87 percent YoY to 3,280 while X-Blade dipped 42.44 percent and Live exports fell 55.77 percent YoY.Honda exports breakup April 2022Export growth was reported for the Unicorn by 56.77 percent to 2,256 units and for the CB350 by 164.40 percent to 2,221 units in April 2022. Honda Two Wheeler also had the Grazia (720 unit), Activa (548 units), Aviator (440 units) and Unicorn 150 (240 units) on its export list while there were 0 units of the Hornet 2.0 shipped in the past month down from 24 units exported in April 2021. More

Honda will be focussing on developing flex-fuel technologies for the Indian market in the near future instead of fully electric two-wheelersImage for referenceEarlier last month, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) officially shared its roadmap / details about its future plans for the Indian market. The company shared insights about upcoming developmental projects which involved adoption of new technologies like flex-fuel systems, etc. The Japanese brand has also set its eye on the electric mobility space.Honda’s Flex-Fuel PlansHonda is confident in flex-fuel technologies which it possesses and plans to implement them into our market phase-wise. Honda has gained a lot of experience in this field by selling flex-fuel vehicles in Brazil over the last decade. This is also in sync with the Government of India’s vision that has been pushing for adoption of flex-fuel technologies in recent times.That said, emissions norms for India are the toughest at BS6 / Euro 5 levels and whereas emission norms in Brazil are less than Euro 4 levels which makes it easier to implement flex-fuel technology in the South American country. Honda will be introducing its first flex-fuel model in India before the end of 2024.It is likely that Honda will work on extending flex-fuel gasoline engine applications beyond 2025. The Japanese brand will look to strengthen its product portfolio by gradually increasing the number of flex-fuel models in its lineup. Adoption of flex-fuel technologies is part of the Centre’s “energy strategy direction” to reduce oil imports and enhance the agricultural sector with sugarcane that allows biofuel conversion.Honda CG 160 Titan – Flex Fuel MotorcyclePlans for Electric Mobility SpaceComing to the topic of electrification, Honda currently has no product for India in the EV space. The Indian market in the recent past has seen a massive surge in battery-powered two-wheelers, a major portion of which has been contributed by new start-ups.Honda has gained expertise in manufacturing EVs in markets like China and Japan but conditions in India pose different challenges where climate is a lot hotter accompanied by more challenging road conditions. The company is currently studying the feasibility of how to make a sustainable business case for EVs in India. The Japanese auto giant is also mindful of importing EVs from China which seems a logical move.The company is clear in its vision that it wants to retail 100 percent make in India EVs which could take some time. Honda currently has no supply chain for electric motors, batteries and PCUs (power control units) in India since it has never produced EVs for this market.Partnerships with global firmsHonda has also formed multiple alliances with other manufacturers in various other markets. For instance, in Japan, it is part of a battery swapping consortium that includes Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha. In Europe, Honda and Yamaha are part of a consortium that includes KTM and Piaggio. In India, Honda has framed no such partnerships with any firm. However, it has created a battery swapping service company in Bengaluru with the name Honda Power Pack Energy India. The brand is hopeful of this entity paving the way for partnerships with other OEMs in future.Source More

From recent developments, it is clear that Honda is developing a mid-displacement as well as an entry-level adventure bike in the form of NX500 and NX200Image for reference.Honda recently filed trademarks for the names ‘NX’ and ‘NX500’ in the European Union in addition to another trademark filed by the company for ‘NX’ in New Zealand. This hints at the Japanese brand working on a new middleweight adventure bike. The NX moniker is usually associated with the Dominator range of Honda.The Dominator series comprised dual-sport adventure bikes popular in the 1980s and 90s. The most prominent of those was NX650 Dominator which was sold in international markets until 2003. In fact, the Honda Dominator range was one of the first proper adventure bikes on offer in global markets.Honda NX500 Adventure Bike In MakingWith the global motorcycle industry seeing an influx of mid-capacity ADVs in recent times, Honda seems to go back in time and revive one of its most popular name tags. The ‘Dominator’ moniker can’t be used since Norton already owns the trademark rights to it. Therefore, trademark applications only consist of the NX tag.The original NX500 was powered by a single-cylinder engine. The upcoming iteration of the middleweight ADV could be based on the underpinnings of Honda CB500X which itself is described as a road-biased adventure tourer. However, the upcoming NX500 is likely to be more capable off-road than its road-biased sibling with more suspension travel and dual-purpose tyres.Honda NX200 name registered in IndiaThis means it will be powered by the same 471cc eight-valve, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine as CB500X which kicks out 47 bhp at 8,500rpm and 43.2 Nm of peak torque at 6,500rpm. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed gearbox with a slipper and assist clutch. Honda might even opt for a bigger 21-inch front wheel in NX500 instead of a 19-inch unit offered in CB500. The rear wheel is likely to remain a 17-inch unit.Honda NX200 Also On CardsAs far as design goes, the new NX500 is expected to flaunt a similar styling as the flagship CRF 1100L Africa Twin. This can be proven through a series of design patents filed by Honda with the European Union Intellectual Property Office. However, there’s a big catch. These patents which were filed on 17 December 2021, showcase a smaller motorcycle.From the patent images, it can be seen that the bike features a smaller air-cooled, single-cylinder engine. This unit appears to be similar to a 184.4 cc, single-cylinder motor that powers CB200X and Hornet 2.0. In fact, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) had trademarked the NX200 name in India last year but chose to launch a road-biased tourer in the form of CB200X.Upcoming 2023 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 – RenderThis also suggests that apart from NX500, Honda is also developing an entry-level adventure bike that could take on Hero Xpulse 200. As mentioned earlier, it will be powered by a 184cc, single-cylinder motor that kicks out 17.03 bhp at 8,500rpm and 16.1 Nm of peak torque at 6,000rpm. This unit comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox.We expect at least one of these upcoming ADVs to reach Indian shores sometime. Upon launch in India, the NX200 could take on the likes of Hero Xpulse 200, while the NX200 could lock horns with the upcoming Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. More

Although modified CB350 uses the stock engine, performance will be better owing to reduced weight of the bikeHonda CB350 Modified. Image – Young MachineOne of the leading providers of high performance products and motorcycle accessories, Japan-based Moriwaki Engineering has undertaken several notable customization projects in the past. Their latest creation is a track-ready version of Honda H’ness CB350 nicknamed Tetsuba. Just for information, Tetsuba is a club-like weapon with spikes, probably used centuries earlier.Track-ready modified Honda CB350Unlike other customization projects that don’t have a specific end goal, this Tetsuba CB350 has been specially designed for the upcoming Tesuuma race. Much of the changes are not mere visual enhancements, but have been carried out to improve the bike’s performance in a track environment.Talking about the paint job, modified CB350 gets the signature Moriwaki blue and yellow theme. This colour scheme is part of their brand identity and can also be seen on the company’s logo. The blue shade is predominant, as evident on the front fender, fuel tank, full-size belly pan, side panels and seat section. The yellow bits work to create an interesting contrast.In terms of functional improvements, a number of parts have been removed or replaced to make the modified bike a lot lighter. For example, front mud guard has been replaced with a smaller unit whereas the rear mudguard has been completely removed.Honda CB350 ModifiedThe number board is placed on the side. Another key change is custom full-system upswept exhaust, which is compact and appears to be lightweight in comparison to the stock unit. The bike also gets NGK spark plugs for improved performance.Ride ergonomics has been completely transformed with a single piece seat, rear set footpegs and low-set clip-on handlebar. Other components like the round headlamp, instrument console and suspension system have been retained in their original form. It is possible that some changes may have been introduced in the suspension setup to make it stiffer. Parts like rear view mirrors and turn signals have been removed.Another performance boost comes from 17-inch front wheel, replacing the stock 19-inch unit. Rear wheel is the same size as stock variant. Both wheels get Pirelli SuperCorsa tyres, which are specially designed for tracks.Honda CB350 ModifiedNo engine tweaksMoriwaki Engineering has capabilities to retune the engine for improved performance, as needed for racing events. However, this has not been done, as per the regulations of the upcoming Tesuuma race. Modified CB350 will continue to deliver 21 PS of max power and 30 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. It is likely that the ECU has also been retained in its original form.While this is a race-specific customization project, it is possible that the same look and feel could be made available for enthusiasts via bolt-on kits. Such kits could soon be offered on Moriwaki’s official website. More

HMSI has reported a YoY and MoM growth in domestic sales while exports experienced significant MoM sales spurtNew Honda Activa 6G.The country has experienced a favourable harvest season. In addition, schools, colleges and offices have started to open up. All this has resulted in a more positive effect for two wheeler sales in India. This despite the fact that supply issues remain a constraint at a time when the global economic scene continues to face challenges.Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has seen positive sales in April 2022. There was an increase in domestic sales while exports dipped only marginally. Total sales in the past month stood at 3,61,027 units, up 27.55 percent over 2,83,045 units sold in April 2021.  In the scooter segment, Honda sells the likes of Activa, Dio, Grazia, etc. In motorcycles, they offer CB Shine, CB350, CB200X, Hornet, etc.Honda Sales April 2022 – Activa at topHonda domestic sales increased 32.75 percent to 3,18,732 units, up from 2,40,100 units sold in April 2021. This was a 78,632 unit volume growth while commanding an 88.28 percent share. Exports on the other hand dipped 1.51 percent YoY to 42,295 units, down from 42,945 units shipped in April 2021. Volume de-growth was at 650 units while share percentage stood at 11.72.MoM sales (domestic + exports) saw an increase of 12.35 percent over 3,21,343 units sold in March 2022. Domestic sales were up 2.97 percent from 3,09,549 units with a 9,183 unit volume growth and 96.33 percent share. Exports surged 258.61 percent from 11,794 units shipped in March 2022. This related to a 30,501 unit volume growth while share percentage was at 3.67.Honda Two Wheeler Sales April 2022HMSI Highlights in April 2022In the past month, Honda announced the launch of 2022 Gold Wing Tour in India. This is the brand’s flagship touring bike that comes in via the CBU route and priced at Rs. 39.20 lakh (ex-showroom). Gold Wing is powered by a 1,833cc, liquid cooled, 6 cylinder engine offering 124.7 hp power at 5,500 rpm and 170 Nm torque at 4,500 rpm mated to a 7 speed dual clutch transmission. The company also expanded its BigWing dealerships in India with new showrooms opened in Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh) and Ulhasnagar (Maharashtra) along with a BigWing Topline store in Kolkata (West Bengal).Honda Two Wheeler Future PlansHMSI has also announced plans to introduce flex fuel engine powered motorcycles in India. The bikes will be equipped with an engine that can run on both petrol and ethanol. Once launched, Honda will be the second two wheeler maker in India after TVS Motor Company to introduce flex fuel vehicles in India. The TVS Apache RTR 200 Fi E100 is powered by a flex-fuel engine. It was showcased back in 2019, but was never launched. Honda currently sells its flex-fuel motorcycle CG150 TITAN MIX along with the NXR 150 Bros Mix and BIZ 125 Flex exclusively in Brazilian markets.Considering the growing importance being shown towards electric two wheelers in the country, HMSI is conducting feasibility studies for electric vehicles and its development ahead of launch. Honda will also enter into the battery-swapping infrastructure with stations for electric two and three wheelers in Bengaluru. For this purpose, the company has tied up with Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum to set up stations at their premises.Honda is also planning to launch an affordable commuter bike that will rival Hero Splendor. Expansion plans are also underway for exports to a total of 40 countries this financial year as against current exports to 34 countries. More

Honda Activa scooter was the best-selling model in the company lineup in domestic markets while it featured at No.10 in terms of exportsImage – The Bengal RiderHonda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) has posted a 21.71 percent de-growth in terms of domestic sales in the past month. Exports on the other hand dipped 21.91 percent YoY. Total sales (domestic + exports) stood at 3,23,164 units in March 2022 from 4,12,816 units sold in March 2021.Honda sales in domestic markets dipped to 3,09,280 units last month. This was a 21.71 percent de-growth over 3,95,037 units sold in March 2021 leading to an 85,757 volume de-growth. Every model in the company lineup posted a YoY de-growth except for the Dream, CB650 and Africa Twin.Honda Sales Breakup March 2022 – Activa No 1Honda Activa scooter topped the sales charts with sales of 1,60,361 units last month, down 19.50 percent over 1,99,208 units sold in March 2021. The Activa commands a 51.85 percent share. No other model was able to see sales above the 1 lakh unit mark. Honda Activa 125 and 6G have recently received a price hike of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 respectively.At No. 2 was the Honda CB Shine. Sales dipped 19.29 percent to 95,197 units last month, down from 1,17,943 units sold in March 2021. This was a 22,746 volume de-growth while the CB Shine commands a 30.78 percent share. Honda Dio scooter sales fell 27.23 percent to 16,501 units from 22,677 units sold in March 2021. Honda Dio also got more expensive from 1st April 2022 and is now available from Rs 66,862.Honda Sales Breakup March 2022Honda Dream sales increased 83.30 percent YoY to 16,352 units from 8,921 units sold in March 2021. However, Unicorn 160 (12,889 units), Hness 350 (3,406 units) and Livo (2,731 units) suffered heavy YoY de-growth. Grazia sales dipped 94.21 percent to 398 units from 6,879 units sold in March 2021 while Hornet 2.0 sales fell to 368 units from 2,058 units sold in March 2021 leading to an 82.12 percent YoY de-growth. Honda noted increased demand for its CB650 and Africa Twin with sales increasing 170 percent and 88.89 percent to 27 units and 17 units respectively.Honda 2W Exports March 2022It was also a YoY de-growth in terms of exports that the company suffered in the past month. Exports fell to 13,884 units, down 21.91 percent over 17,779 units shipped in March 2021. The Honda Dio was the most exported model with 3,904 units shipped in March 2022, down 19.12 percent over 4,827 units sold in March 2021. The Dio commands a 28.12 percent share.Honda Navi exports increased 5.82 percent YoY to 3,548 units as compared to 3,353 units shipped in the same month last year. CB Shine saw lower exports to the extent of 47.74 percent to 1,790 units, down from 3,425 units shipped in March 2021 while X-Blade was the 4th highest export with 1,380 units shipped, up 34.24 percent YoY over 1,028 units exported in March 2021.Honda Exports Breakup March 2022Honda Dream exports fell 19 percent YoY to 1,040 units while the Unicorn 160 and CB350 saw demand in global markets increase 100 percent and 200 percent to 768 units and 450 units respectively in March 2022. Even as Livo (400 units) and Grazia (240 units) saw lower YoY exports, that of the Activa scooter increased 25.64 percent to 196 units. Aviator (160 units) and Hornet 160R (8 units) completed the export list while there were 0 units of Unicorn 150 and Hornet 2.0 exported last month. HMSI now plans an onslaught into the electric mobility space with new technologies such as flex-fuel, etc. The company plans a host of new EV offerings over the next couple of years. More

Honda aims to serve more than 40 overseas markets through its operations in IndiaImage for reference.Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has officially revealed their roadmap / details about their upcoming plans for the country. This involves entry into the electric mobility space as well as introduction of newer technologies like flex-fuel system, etc. The country’s second largest two-wheeler company will introduce multiple EVs in the next few years.Honda India Electric Vehicle PlansThe Japanese brand has said it aims to retail 10 lakh units of electric two-wheelers per annum by 2030. That is a huge number, considering they do not sell a single unit of EV today in 2022. In order to achieve this, Honda will be leveraging support from other Indian subsidiaries. These include the recently established Honda Power Pack Energy India Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru, which will provide battery-sharing service and technical support for EVs from next month.However, it is not yet clear if these models will be overseas products like PCX electric or ‘made-in-India’ models specifically targeted at the India market. Honda is currently studying the feasibility for readying its EV model line-up and developing the overall ecosystem in India. With a massive surge of EV brands in the country, sales volume in the electric two-wheeler space has witnessed a jump of 370 percent last fiscal year.The bikemaker is also working towards developing a battery swapping infrastructure. It has already teamed up with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) to set up swap stations across the country. Further, Honda is testing Benly e electric scooter on Indian roads for fleet and last mile service. The e-scooter features a battery swapping technology that could be used in future models for the two-wheeler segment.Honda electric scooter with battery swap tech – Benly eAlternate Fuel, Flex Fuel TechnologyThe Japanese auto giant is aggressively pursuing development of fuel-efficient products for the country. Honda also plans a phase-wise implementation and integration of flex fuel technology in its model range of scooters as well as motorcycles. This will not only reduce dependency on fossil fuels, but also make vehicles run cleaner thus adhering to future emission norms. Honda is confident of such transition since it already retails such flex fuel two-wheelers overseas.Honda CG 160 Titan – Flex Fuel Motorcycle. Image – La MotoFor example, Honda already retails CG 160 Titan motorcycle in Brazil which can run on both petrol and ethanol. Honda even claims that this was the world’s first ethanol fuel-based motorcycle. Off late, the Government of India has also been pushing towards adoption of alternate fuels and flex fuel technology.Entry-Level Motorcycle To Rival Hero SplendorHonda also plans to dive into the entry-level commuter segment with a new 100cc motorcycle which will rival the likes of Hero Splendor, TVS Sport and Bajaj Platina. Currently, the Japanese brand’s motorcycle portfolio starts with CD110 Dream Yuga which is priced at Rs 66,0033 (ex-showroom) and feels too expensive for an entry-level motorcycle that is barebones essentially.To supplement all these plans, Honda aims to further strengthen its Manesar-based plant in Haryana as a Global Resource Factory for ‘Making in India for the world’. Honda 2Wheelers India currently operates four manufacturing plants-one each in Manesar (Haryana), Tapukara (Rajasthan), Narsapura (Karnataka) and Vithalapur (Gujarat). More