Honda Bikes

2021 Honda CBR 150R
The new CBR150R will be offered in two variants- ABS and non-ABS and will rival Yamaha R15 V3

Honda has launched the updated 2021 CBR150R in Indonesia. The bike was recently given an update in Thailand a month ago. However, don’t let that bike fool you as this iteration of Honda’s entry-level faired motorcycle has a lot of updates up its sleeve. It has been priced at 40 million rupiahs which translate to INR 2.10 lakh.
The CBR150R which was launched in Thailand back in December 2020 was just a minor update with added new colour schemes. However, the Indonesia-spec model is a whole lot different in terms of its design and mechanicals.
2021 Honda CBR 150R
Updated Design
For starters, one might mistake it for CBR250RR at the first glance because that is CBR150R’s major source of inspiration when it comes to styling. It gets a funky twin-beam LED headlight setup, a sharper fairing and a neater section that mimic its bigger quarter-litre sibling. Overall, the motorcycle looks more aggressive than before.
While we were disappointed not to find a USD fork suspension setup at the Thai-spec model, this derivative of CBR150R does not disappoint as it gets gold-finished upside down USD forks sourced from Showa.
2021 Honda CBR 150R
Similar gold-finished forks are also present in Hornet 2.0 in India, however, CBR150 has been equipped with Showa’s premium SFF-BP separate function big-piston forks that are also found in Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R.
Additional features
Another major piece of update is the addition of a slipper clutch which not only reduces rear-wheel locking and hopping during aggressive downshifts but also brings down lever effort by 15 percent.
To make it a more modern affair, Honda has also thrown in a new well laid out LCD instrument cluster. Apart from usual information, this unit also reads out information from the gear position indicator and fuel consumption meter.
2021 Honda CBR 150R
Powertrain & Transmission
In terms of powertrain, Honda has not tinkered much with it. The updated CBR150R is powered by a 149 cc liquid-cooled 4-valve single-cylinder engine which pushes out 17.1 bhp at 9000 rpm and 14.4 Nm of peak torque at 7000 rpm. While its power output is less than its immediate rival Yamaha R15 V3 but produces more torque than its Japanese counterpart. This unit comes equipped with Honda’s PGM-Fi fuel-injection system and eSP technology. It is mated to a six-speed gearbox.
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The faired sports bike was always a tempting option back when it was on sale in India. However, it is not expected to make a return to India anytime soon. Honda instead is looking to introduce the updated 2021 CB300R in the country sometime later this year. The bike is expected to arrive in India as a CKD unit and could be priced around Rs 2.50 lakh (ex-showroom). More

Image – Riyas
2021 brought with it a revised price list for MY21 Honda two-wheelers

Honda scooter sales has long overshadowed its motorcycle sales. As a matter of fact, Activa scooter has shaped the brand, and is a flagship model the manufacturer is renowned for. It’s no surprise, Activa variant range is most detailed.
Price revision for MY21 product range has come into effect. Dio STD is pricier by 259 bucks at Rs 62,229. Dio DLX costs Rs 65,627, up 307 bucks from Rs 65,320. Repsol Dio variant bears the same increase as DLX at Rs 68,127, up from Rs 67,820.
Honda Grazia duo are HMSI’s costliest scooters. Grazia 125 drum now costs Rs 74,815 following a price revision of 903 bucks from Rs 73,912. The disc variant costs Rs 82,140. Now, costlier by Rs 1,162 from Rs 80,978 last week. Since then, a lot has changed.
Honda Activa, Scooters Price List Jan 2021
Entry vehicle, Activa 6G STD is costlier by 1,380 bucks. The entry level price point for Activa is now revised to Rs 66,799, up from Rs 65,419. 6G DLX price hike is Rs 1,625. MY21 price is listed at Rs 68,544, up from Rs 66,919.
Honda Scooter Prices Jan 2021
But of course, the recently launched 20 year anniversary editions too are part of the process. Although only just introduced at Rs 68,299, 20th AE STD variant now costs Rs 68,299. It was launched at a price of Rs 67,392 in the last week of November 2020. Price is revised by 907 bucks. The 20th AE DLX variant is costlier by a little over 1.1k. MY21 price is revised to just over 70 grands, at Rs 70,044, up from Rs 68,892.
In addition, there are the drum, alloy, and disc variants. Activa 125 drum now costs Rs 70,629. Price revision stands at Rs 1,632, up from Rs 68,997. MY21 125 alloy variant costs Rs 74,198. Price has been increased by Rs 1,701 from Rs 72,497. The costliest of the lot is the 125 disc variant at just under 78k.
Its highest base price means its price increase is steepest at Rs 1,755. New price reflected is Rs 77,752, up from Rs 75,997. Not surprisingly, there’s an Activa for everyone considering the variant range makes for a long price list. Between the entry level scooter, and the range topper, there’s a noticeable price difference. As much as 11 grands.
Honda Motorcycle Prices Jan 2021
Honda Motorcycles Jan 2021 Price List
In general, such price hikes spare a few products. In this case, entry level Dream range and Livo variants are pretty much available at the same price point having warranted a hike of only 3 bucks. CD110 Dream STD now costs Rs 64,508, and DLX variant costs Rs 65,508. Livo drum variant costs Rs 70,059, and the disc variant is priced at Rs 74,259. But that’s where the price revision restraint ended.
Also, CB Shine and SP125 witnessed a similar price hike for its drum and disc variants. CB Shine drum variant now costs Rs 70,478. Price is hiked by Rs 1,666, up from Rs Rs 68,812. The disc variant is costlier by Rs 1,762. New price is Rs 75,274, revised from Rs 73,512. SP125 Drum variant is costlier by Rs 1,667 at Rs 76,074, up from a listed price of Rs 74,407 last week. The disc variant retails for more than 80k following a price revision of Rs 1,762. New updated price is Rs 80,369, up from Rs 78,607.
Honda Scooters
Jan-21
Old Price
Diff
Dio STD
62,229
61,970
259
Dio DLX
65,627
65,320
307
Dio Repsol
68,127
67,820
307
Activa 6G STD
66,799
65,419
1,380
Activa 6G DLX
68,544
66,919
1,625
Activa 6G 20th AE STD
68,299
67,392
907
Activa 6G 20th AE DLX
70,044
68,892
1,152
Activa 125 Drum
70,629
68,997
1,632
Activa 125 Alloy
74,198
72,497
1,701
Activa 125 Disc
77,752
75,997
1,755
Grazia 125 Drum
74,815
73,912
903
Grazia 125 Disc
82,140
80,978
1,162

Ex-Delhi
In Rs

Honda Motorcycles
Jan-21
Old Price
Diff
CD110 Dream STD
64,508
64,505
3
CD110 Dream DLX
65,508
65,505
3
Livo Drum
70,059
70,056
3
Livo Disc
74,259
74,256
3
CB Shine Drum
70,478
68,812
1,666
CB Shine Disc
75,274
73,512
1,762
SP125 Drum
76,074
74,407
1,667
SP 125 Disc
80,369
78,607
1,762
Unicorn
95,738
95,152
586
X-Blade Disc
1,07,851
1,06,687
1,164
X-Blade Rear Disc
1,12,241
1,10,968
1,273
Hornet
1,28,195
1,26,000
2,195
Hornet Repsol
130195
128000
2,195
CB 350 DLX
186500
185000
1,500
CB 350 DLX PRO
192500
190000
2,500
Honda Unicorn is costlier by 586 bucks at Rs 95,738, up from Rs 95,152. Then there are the motorcycles that retail for over a lakh. X-Blade disc variant is pricier by Rs 1,164. It now costs Rs 1.07,851, up from Rs 1,06,687. The rear disc variant is listed at Rs 1,12,241 following a revision of Rs 1,273 from Rs 1,10,968. Both, Hornet, and Hornet Repsol is costlier by 2,195 bucks at Rs 1,28,195, and Rs 1,30,195, respectively. Bigger displacement Honda motorcycles sold through Bigwing stores aren’t listed here. More

Honda Activa 6G
Honda 2Wheelers India reports domestic wholesales growth in December 2020, and in total sales in Q3 FY21

With December 2020, done and dusted, Honda 2Wheelers India has reported 5 percent growth in domestic sales. Total (domestic and exports) sales for December grew by three percent YoY. At the same time, MoM sales have declined by almost 40%. In all Q3 FY21 sales is reported at 5 percent YoY growth.
Domestic sales is up at five percent at 2,42,046 units in December 2020 up from 2,30,197 units YoY. Exports are at a decline of 19.56 percent at 20,981 units, down from 25,086 units. Total sales in December 2020 stood at 2,63,027 units up from 2,55,283 units. Wholesales for the quarter ended in December swelled to 11,49,101 units from 10,91,299 units.
Short term outlook for HMSI
Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “After the positive retail and wholesale traction in December’20, we enter 2021 with a new hope. The 3rd quarter marked the first quarter of positive sales after a long time.”
About 50% of the total sales are thanks to Activa scooters. Other strong performers for Honda are CB Shine, Dio, Unicorn, Livo, Grazia, Hornet and newly launched CB350. Below is the company’s sales performance for Dec 2020.
Honda Two Wheeler Sales Dec 2020
HMSI foresees growth in the next 2 quarters too. This is on account of low base sales at the start of 2020. First quarter of 2020 started as any other. But the growing risks of Covid-19 pandemic meant the country went into an indefinite lockdown towards the end of March 2020.
With catastrophic effects on manufacturing and sales. This was also an important period to sell all BS4 stock that manufacturers had as BS6 emission norms were mandated from April 1, 2020. Honda of course had initiated transition well in advance.
April went down in history with all auto manufacturers reporting no sales. Q2 of 2020 took a real beating with manufacturing starting in a phased manner through May 2020. A smooth business run was still weeks away as folks grappled with stealing supply chains and logistics. While Q3 saw activity pick up, it was in Q4 that Honda was sprightly. Traditionally, the festive season has over time proven to be one of planned purchases wherein demand peaks.
Honda Motorcycle Scooter India 20th Anniversary
HMSI says ‘positive growth and market expansion may take some time’. In the meantime, there’s much to look forward to at Honda. 2021 marks the manufacturer’s two decade long presence in India, and 20th Anniversary celebrations will be on. This apart, a range of product launches are scheduled across varied segments.
A wide ranging product portfolio means, Honda has that many opportunities to receive a segment and product. In 2020 alone, manufacturer was able to introduce a dozen products, most of which were BS6 transition models. It did launch the all new Hornet 2.0 and Hness 350 to improve its market reach further by widening the segments it does business in. More

New Honda Activa
Honda reported growth in domestic dispatches on decline in Exports in November 2020

As always, HMSI continued it’s strong run in November 2020. Domestic wholesale dispatches grew at 7.87 percent, up at 4,02,640 units, up from 3,73,262 units at volume gain just under 30k. This was a grand performance keeping in mind the slow start to FY21 on account of Covid-19 pandemic related national lockdown.
One that gives Honda a fighting chance to report decent Q4 2020 numbers. All the more necessary, owing to numbers reported in previous quarters. Notably, Honda’s presence continues to rely heavily on its flagship Activa scooter. Especially since it accounts for more than 50 percent of company sales in the domestic market. And the scooter delivered last month too. Just like every other month.
Honda Activa wholesales was up 6.44 percent at 2,25,822 units, up from 2,12,164 units. Volume gain was reported at 13,658 units. Its share of total dispatches was at 56.09 percent. Granted that the scooter in its successive avatars has already had a successful run of over 2 decades, there’s little to stop its progress. In the said scooter segment, there’s hardly another product that’s in demand at all times.
HMSI domestic wholesales for November 2020
Honda CB Shine continued its top motorcycle run. At 84,413 units, dispatches grew 12.33 percent from 75,144 units for a share of 20.96 percent. In fact, both top runners accounted for upward of 75 percent of brand wholesales. Though the top order found things to be smooth sailing, Honda Dio sales dipped 18.05 percent. Numbers declined to 34,812 units from 42,481 units. Unicorn 160 units were reported at 21,796 units.
Honda Two Wheelers Domestic Sales – Nov 2020. Top 4 registers over 91% of total sales for HMSI.
Honda Dream wholesales grew by a quarter at 10,875 units from 8,748 units. At the same time, Livo sales dipped by almost a quarter. Numbers contracted to 9,554 units, down from 12,537 units. Decline for Grazia was even steeper at 42.76 percent. Wholesales fell to 4,675 units from 8,167 units.
Its newest launch, Hness 350 saw numbers at 4,067 units. Remarkable, considering the motorcycle is only sold through a handful of dealerships . Numbers reported for Hornet 2.0, launched just prior to Hness stood at 4,067 units. X-Blade put in a positive showing at 38.41 percent growth. Numbers grew to 2,591 units from 1,872 units.
Honda Two Wheelers Exports – Nov 2020
Honda exports for November 2020
Once expected to generate customer interest and help Honda further growth, Navi sales in India was lacklustre. While the product is now history here, last month it was the topmost Honda export from India. Exports grew 77.69 percent for Navi, up at 4,684 units. Livo exports grew substantially at 3.3k units, up from a grand. To repeat, Livo domestic sales is higher. X-Blade exports were higher than numbers generated back home. Numbers swelled to 2,796 units, up from 576 units.
CB Shine exports fell by 44.52 percent. Numbers contracted to 2,505 units from 4,515 units. Though at the top of the list a year earlier, Honda Dio numbers failed miserably. Down at 2,248 units from 8,818 units. Exports for Dream were up at 1,588 units, up from 520. Unicorn 160 units were just lower at 1,248 units. Hornet 160R decline was at more than half, down at 696 units from 1,457 units.
Decline for Grazia was steep at 640 units from 1,904 units, Down by more than a third. Aviator exports were reported at 520. The magic of Activa wasn’t;’t reflected overseas at a mere 2028 units. The all new Hness 350 is already being exported. Numbers were reported at 92 units. 40 units of Unicorn 150 were exported. To sum up, exports fell by 11.04 percent at 20,565 units, down from 23,115 units. More

Image – Gajanan
Along with domestic sales, new Honda CB350 exports are also on the rise

Honda H’ness CB350, launched in India in October 2020, has shown impressive start in the 350cc motorcycle segment. Sales got off to a fairly good start with the Honda H’Ness CB350 registering a sale of 1,290 units in the first month of sales. 2nd month, Nov 2020 saw sales increase to 4,067 units.
No other motorcycle launched in the past to Royal Enfield 350cc range, has shown this good jump in sales. Be it Jawa or Benelli or the Dominar to an extent – who went all out against the REs with the Hathi Mat Paalo campaign.
Sales and Exports Grow
Honda CB350 posted 215% increase in sales, and that too when they are not even on offer at their entire dealer network across India. Honda CB350 is only on sale at select dealers in select cities as of now. Next year will see more cities get the new Honda motorcycle.
Along with domestic sales, Honda has also been increasing export numbers of the CB350. After exported their first batch of 30 units in Oct 2020, Nov 2020 saw Honda export 92 units of the CB350. It is not clear as to which countries are getting this made in India 350cc motorcycle from Honda.
350cc Motorcycle Sales and Exports – Nov 2020
Both, domestic and exports of CB350 has grown by more than 200% in Nov 2020. But it still has a far way to go, in order to make a dent in the Royal Enfield camp – which continues to enjoy an elephant’s share, thanks to Classic and Meteor 350.
Honda BigWing Dealers To Be Expanded
At the time of launch, there were only 5 BigWing dealerships in India which the company is now in the process of expanding. This would ensure a shorter waiting period especially when compared to its prime rival RE Meteor 350, which commands a waiting period of upto 4 months in many cities.
By the end of December, Honda expects to open 25 more BigWing outlets across different regions in India. Over the next two years plans are on to inaugurate around 250-300 BigWing dealerships so as to reach out to more customers with a constantly expanding product portfolio.
Yes, this will help increase sales. But it is also likely to increase waiting period. Honda H’ness CB350 currently commands a waiting period of around 1 month specially where the dual tone blue colour option of the DLX Pro variant is concerned.
One of the biggest two wheeler launches of 2020
Honda H’Ness CB350 is offered in two variants of DLX and DLX Pro and priced at Rs.1.85 lakhs and Rs.1.90 lakhs respectively. It borrows much of its styling from the earlier CB350 but with modern touches of full LED lighting, Selectable Torque Control and Bluetooth enabled instrument. Honda is also offering an entire list of accessories that come in at an affordable price tag giving customers a host of options to choose from.
Engine specifications include a 348cc, single cylinder, air cooled engine offering 21 hp power at 5,500 rpm and 30 Nm torque at 3,000 rpm mated to a 5 speed gearbox with assist and slipper clutch. It receives telescopic front fork and twin rear shock absorbers while braking is via 310mm front and 240mm rear disc with dual channel ABS as standard. More

Honda CB350 Owners Brotherhood Ride – Gurgaon
Apart from getting a top notch motorcycle, in order to beat Royal Enfield – Honda will also need a cult following

Launched earlier this year in September, Honda CB350 has emerged as a popular choice in its class. Sales are on the rise, from 1,290 units in October to 4,067 units in November. This is MoM gain of more than 200%. However, when compared to segment leader Classic 350, sales of CB350 are still a fraction. In November, sales of Classic 350 stood at 39,391 units.
CB350 brotherhood ride
To boost sales further, Honda is actively working on a number of strategies. If we talk about things that are working great for CB350, it can be said that the motorcycle has the looks, a powerful engine, hi-tech features, throaty exhaust note and offers optimal rider comfort.
However, the one thing that seems to be lacking is the cult-like fan following enjoyed by rivals such as Classic 350. This usually works as a significant influencing factor when a new customer starts looking for a 350 cc motorcycle.
To build a sense of community around CB350, Honda recently organized a brotherhood ride for CB350 owners in multiple cities across India. The idea was to thank customers who have put their trust in a new product and also allow them to interact with other like-minded folks. Hopefully, such events will set the stage for further collaborations among CB350 owners, eventually leading to the creation of a dedicated community.
Honda CB350 Brotherhood Ride
The brotherhood event organized by Honda in Delhi, started at Honda BigWing Topline dealership in Gurugram. Participants were briefed about the ride and they also had the chance to interact with RJ Khurafati Nitin of Big FM. The ride was from the dealership to Throttle Shrottle, a popular eatery located on Gurgaon Faridabad Expressway. The distance is approximately 50 km.
At the restaurant, CB350 owners were treated with a sumptuous breakfast. A photo session was also organized. At the end, participants received a gift as well from Honda. The event was properly planned and well-managed. It is expected that Honda will be organizing more such events in other cities to build an active community of CB350 users.
Honda offers gift to CB350 owners at the brotherhood ride. Image – NH08 / Team-BHP
CB350 cafe racer
To give more options to customers, Honda might launch a new motorcycle next year based on CB350 architecture. This will be a cafe racer that will be sleeker and sportier, but will retain its retro character.
Talking a bit about rival Royal Enfield, the company has plans to launch several new products in the coming years. The first of Royal Enfield’s next-gen products, Meteor 350, has already gotten off to a good start. In November, sales stood at 7,031 units, making it the second bestselling 350 cc motorcycle in the country. A 350 cc version of Interceptor 650 is also being tested and could be launched soon.
So, even though CB350 has got a good initial response, it has a tough road ahead of it. It will be interesting to see how this space evolves over the next few years. More

Image – Sunil Bhat
The Honda H’ness is currently being sold exclusively through BigWing premium outlets in select cities

The 350 cc niche has long been Royal Enfield’s forte and there have been several attempts by rivals to break the monopoly, but none was successful. The likes of Bajaj attempted to lure the prospective customers with modern and more powerful alternatives but in vain.
Jawa Motorcycles imitated RE’s recipe and enjoyed a promising start but Classic Legends dropped the ball with poor execution. Most recent attack on RE territory comes from Honda in the form on H’ness CB350. Will it make an impact?
Honda CB350 November 2020 sales
The Honda CB350 retro classic roadster seems to have the right blend to take on Royal Enfield’s 350 cc range of products. Last month, the new arrival clocked sales of 4,067 units, a MoM increase of 215%. This indicates that the CB350 has been having a strong start and HMSI has ramped up its production to meet the demand.
The sales number doesn’t mean anything against RE but it is impressive anyway given the motorcycle is retailed only through Honda’s BigWing premium bike outlets of which there aren’t many to mount a proper assault on the incumbent. In case Honda were to make the CB350 available through their entire two wheeler network, sales would hugely increase.
Honda CB350 vs Royal Enfield 350 – Nov 2020 Sales
In comparison, the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, also a new arrival, managed to reach a tally of 7,031 units in November 2020. The good old Classic 350 which is approaching the end of its life cycle found 39,391 units last month, underscoring the company’s sheer dominance of this niche yet lucrative segment.
As things stand now, the attractively priced CB350 will be used as an entry card into the brand’s premium bike ownership experience. The planned expansion of BigWing outlets in tier-II cities is expected to bring incremental volumes. Honda is also developing a 250 cc version as revealed by recent patent leaks.
Honda CB350 at a glance
The Honda H’ness CB350 is powered by a single-cylinder 348 cc engine which is tuned to deliver 21 hp and 30 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 5-speed gearbox by means of an assist and slipper clutch. Just like the RE 350 family, the latest Honda is meant for relaxed and comfortable commutes and occasional touring.
The equipment highlights include an LED headlamp and taillight, digi-analog instrument console, smartphone voice control system, front and rear disc brakes with dual-channel ABS, side stand indicator with engine cut-off, alloy wheels, Honda Selectable Torque Control and so on. If Honda CB350 continues its strong growth rate, it will become a spot of bother for Royal Enfield at some point in the not-so-distant future. More

2021 Honda CBR250RR
Honda CBR250RR is not likely to make its way to India anytime soon

Honda has introduced the latest avatar of its entry-level faired sports bike CBR250RR in Malaysia. The bike has been priced at MYR 25,999 which roughly translates to INR 4.73 lakh. It is available in two colour options Winning Red and Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic.
Powertrain Specs
The faired speedster from the Japanese auto giant is powered by a two-cylinder, 249.7cc which returns a staggering output of 40.23 hp at 13,000 rpm and 25 Nm of torque at 11,000 rpm.
This unit is a liquid-cooled unit which features a DOHC setup and 8 valves and is paired to a six-speed gearbox with a slip and assist clutch and transmits power to the ground via chain final drive.
Design & Features on offer
In terms of its design, it is identical to the Indonesian-spec model which is already on sale. The primary attractions are dual-LED headlights upfront which lends an extremely aggressive and sporty look to the faired monster. Along with the LED headlights, the LED DRL units complement the front look and provide a premium look to the bike.
2021 Honda CBR250RR
2021 Honda CBR250RR’s faring makes it look bigger than usual. The gold plated front forks accentuates CBR250RR’s sporty appeal. It gets a sculpted fuel tank which makes it easier for riders to grip the motorcycle with their thighs plus also enhances its aerodynamic part of the bike as well.
As far as features are concerned, it is offered with several advanced gizmos such as a Quickshifter, Throttle-by-wire technology and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) technology. Throttle-by-wire also means that this bike gets multiple riding modes namely- Sport, Sport + and Comfort. The Japanese brand has also provided the motorcycle with a very intuitive and new fully-digital instrument cluster.

Hardware and Dimensions
Suspension duties at front are handled by upside-down USD front forks while at rear it is held up by a five-step preload adjustable mono-shock. Anchorage duties are taken care of by dual-piston callipers at front and a single-piston calliper at rear which are assisted with a dual-channel ABS. the bike rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels warped around by tyres of 110/70 and 140/70 profile at front and rear respectively.
Speaking of its dimensions, the new 2021 Honda CBR250RR offers a wheelbase of 1,389 mm along with a ground clearance of 145mm. It tips the weighing scales at 168 kg and can carry fuel up to 14.5-litres. The motorbike gets a rather low saddle height at 780mm which makes it comfortable for shorter as well as taller riders.
2021 Honda CBR250RR
The new Honda CBR250RR directly locks horns with new Yamaha R25 which has been priced at MYR 19,998 (INR 3.64 lakh). Although the Yamaha is much more affordable than Honda, it does have limitations in its power output and also misses out on ABS. Yamaha R25 is powered by a twin-cylinder mill which returns an output of 35.5 bhp at 12,000 rpm and 22.6 Nm of torque at 10,000 rpm.
2021 Honda CBR250RR More