Honda Bikes

Honda Two Wheelers domestic sales continue to decline in Jan 2022 – Exports have registered 100% growthHonda CBR150R trademark filed in IndiaTwo wheeler sales took a dip in Jan 2022 – rising fuel prices being the primary reason. Taking top 6 two wheeler makers Hero, Honda, TVS, Bajaj, Suzuki and Royal Enfield, sales dipped 19.43 percent on a YoY basis with each of these automakers, except Suzuki, posting a decrease in sales.Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has seen a de-growth in terms of domestic sales to the tune of 24.36 percent. Sales which had stood at 4,16,716 units in the January 2021 period dipped to 3,15,216 units last month. Every product in the company lineup posted de-growth with the exception of Dream commuter bike.Honda Domestic Sales Jan 2022Honda Activa scooter claimed a top spot on the sales charts. Sales dipped 32.33 percent YoY to 1,43,234 units, down from 2,11,660 units sold in January 2021. The Activa currently commands a 45.44 percent share in the company lineup. Not only was the Activa the best-selling scooter in the company lineup but also in the country, finishing ahead of TVS Jupiter and Suzuki Access.Honda CB Shine was at a No. 2 spot with 1,05,159 units sold last month, down 9.52 percent over 1,16,222 units sold in January 2021. The CB Shine holds on to a 33.36 percent share. These were the only two models in the company lineup to see sales above the 1 lakh unit mark.Honda Sales Jan 2022A YoY volume decline was also seen in the case of Honda Dio scooter. Sales dipped 3.72 percent to 27,837 units in the past month, down from 28,914 units sold in January 2021. Sales growth was reported in the case of Honda Dream which increased 40.04 percent YoY to 13,021 units, up from 9,298 units sold in January 2021.Thereafter, sales of Unicorn 160 (11,349 units), Livo (5,408 units), Grazia (4,761 units) and CB350 (3,212 units) all posted a YoY de-growth. CB350 got new colour options. The recently launched CB200X and CB300R saw sales of 472 units and 252 units respectively while Hornet 2.0 (248 units) and X-Blade (225 units) also suffered a 94.73 percent and 86.79 percent YoY de-growth respectively. Honda also saw CB650 add 20 units to sales along with the CB500 of which 18 units were sold last month.Honda Exports Jan 2022Honda exports last month increased significantly. It was a 100 percent YoY increase to 39,013 units from 19,467 units shipped in January 2021. Unlike its domestic sales, Honda exports saw every two wheeler report positive YoY growth except for Grazia and Aviator.Honda Exports Jan 2022Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India launched the Navi in US markets at the end of last year. It is this Navi bike that made it to the top of the export list last month with 10,348 units exported, up 71.67 percent over 6,028 units shipped in January 2021. At No. 2, Honda Dio sales increased 70.87 percent to 7,069 units last month, up from 4,137 units sold in January 2021. Exports of Honda CB Shine also increased 102.62 percent YoY to 5,183 units while Dream exports were at 3,868 units.At No. 5 was Honda X-Blade with 3,104 units shipped last month, up 34.54 percent over 2,342 units sold in January 2021. Livo (2,600 units), Hornet 160R (2,040 units) and CB 350 (1,440 units) also posted YoY growth in terms of exports. Activa exports were at 1,080 units, up 196.70 percent over 364 units shipped in January 2021 while Unicorn 160 shipments were at 960 units in the past month along with 200 units of the Unicorn 150. Sales de-growth was seen in the case of Honda Grazia down 26.75 percent to 920 units and for the Aviator which was down to 200 units from 600 units shipped in January 2021. There was only 1 unit of Honda CB300R exported last month. More

2022 Honda CB 350 RS New ColourHonda offers same engine and cycle parts on both CB350 H’Ness and CB350RS, however, styling and riding ergonomics are slightly differentLaunch of the Honda CB350 range- H’Ness followed by RS, opened doors of the modern classic segment of motorcycles for the Japanese brand in India. The space which is largely dominated by Royal Enfield soon saw a worthy rival to bikes such as Bullet 350 and Classic 350.The CB350 range has been raking decent monthly volume on a regular basis despite its limited availability. It should be noted that both H’Ness and RS are retailed through Honda’s premium chain of dealerships called BigWing not available in every corner of the country. Meanwhile, Honda has recently made some updates to the CB350 lineup.Honda CB350 – New Colour OptionsHonda has launched one new colour option on H’Ness and RS each. Although these new paint schemes haven’t been listed on Honda’s official BigWing website for India, they have appeared on units dispatched to dealerships. For instance, H’Ness is now available in a new Matte Grey paint scheme as per the latest spy images.This new colour option joins pre-existing single-tone shades like pearl night-black metallic, precious red metallic and matte marshal green metallic. Other than these, H’Ness is also offered in dual-tone paint options like Matte Steel Black Metallic With Matte Massive Grey Metallic, Blue Metallic with Virtuous White and Night Star Black with Silver Metallic.2022 Honda CB 350 New ColourComing to CB350RS, the bike will be offered in a new monotone blue shade. It joins the pre-existing colour palette comprising colour options including Black with Pearl Sports Yellow and Radiant Red Metallic colour options. Apart from additional colour schemes, no other changes from either of the motorcycles have been reported.CB3050 Engine SpecsBoth H’Ness and RS share the same mechanicals and underpinnings. They are powered by the same 348.3cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel-injected engine that kicks out 20.8 bhp at 5500rpm and a peak torque of 30 Nm at 3000 rpm. This motor is paired with a 5-speed gearbox. Both bikes feature telescopic forks upfront and twin shock absorbers at rear.Recently, Honda announced that the CB350 range will now be available for sale in select Canteen Store Department (CSD) stores under the Ministry of Defence. The bikes will be priced Rs 26,000 less than their corresponding regular prices in the market. CSD beneficiaries will be able to purchase these Honda motorcycles by registering themselves on the official CSD website.Honda ScramblersIn other developments, it was recently reported that Honda will be developing two new entry-level scrambler motorcycles based on Rebel 250 and Rebel 500. It is yet to be confirmed if these bikes will be launching in India. If launched, these bikes will be positioned on either end of the upcoming Royal Enfield Hunter 350.Source More

Honda Scrambler 250cc RenderHonda new scrambler motorcycles will be based on Rebel platform and could borrow styling bits from CL Series bikesWith growing preference for scrambler motorcycles, Honda may be planning to aggressively target this space. It is rumoured that Honda may be working on at least two new scrambler motorcycles, a 250cc bike and its larger 500cc sibling. These will be based on Rebel 250 and Rebel 500, respectively.Honda 250cc, 500cc scrambler designHonda Rebel 250cc and 500cc were launched internationally in 2017. Since then, these have emerged as popular options in their respective segments. To reduce development and production cost, Honda may have plans to use the Rebel platform to launch its new scrambler motorcycles. These will be launched first in Honda’s home market Japan and other Asian countries.While the hardware for Honda 250cc / 500cc scrambler will come from Rebel bikes, design and styling will most likely be inspired from Honda CL Series bikes that were popular several decades earlier. CL Series styling has already been used with CB350 and CB350 RS. Some of the popular Honda CL series bikes launched during the 60s – 90s include Dream CL72 Scrambler, Dream CL250, Dream CL450 and CL400.Honda CL Series bikes were loved for their classic, minimalistic profile. Honda may be looking to recreate the magic once again with its new 250cc and 500cc scrambler motorcycles. Even when launched several years apart, Honda CL series bikes continued to have quite a few common features.Honda Scrambler 500cc RenderThese include round headlamp and rear view mirrors, twin pod instrument console, tear-drop shaped fuel tank, fork gaiters, tall and wide handlebar, flat seat design and wire spoke wheels. Honda CL series bikes made liberal use of chrome on the fenders, engine and exhaust. The dual under seat exhaust was a signature feature and its design continued to evolve over the years.Honda 250cc, 500cc scrambler specsEngine and most other hardware bits will be borrowed from Rebel 250 and Rebel 500. The smaller Rebel is powered by a 249cc DOHC, 4-valve, single cylinder motor that generates 26 ps of max power at 9,500 rpm and 22 Nm of peak torque at 7,750 rpm. It is mated to a constant mesh 6-speed transmission. Rebel 500 utilizes a 471cc motor that makes 46 ps at 8,500 rpm and 43 Nm at 6,500 rpm.Features common to both Rebel bikes include 4-eye LED headlamp, LED turn signals and taillamp and LCD instrument meter packed in retro casing. Both bikes have disc brakes at front and rear. Suspension system comprises telescopic forks at front and swingarm type rear suspension.Honda Scrambler 250cc RenderIf launched in India, Honda’s new 250cc and 500cc scrambler motorcycles will primarily rival upcoming Royal Enfield Hunter 350. Earlier, prior to launch of CB350 in India, it was being speculated that Honda will launch either Rebel 300 or Rebel 500 to take on Royal Enfield. However, the company surprised everyone with H’ness CB350. Later, its scrambler version CB350RS was also added.Source More

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