Honda Bikes

Honda 2Wheelers India started its journey in India in late 2000 with the launch of its scooter Activa
Image – Shivam

Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) completed twenty years in the country this year. In these twenty years, the company has come leaps and bounds ahead and is one of the most sought after two-wheeler brands in the country.
While it is still behind Hero MotoCorp, which is by far the largest seller of two-wheelers in the world, it definitely enjoys a large loyal fan base in the country. However, there is one state where Honda trumps Hero. The Japanese bike maker recently announced that it has crossed cumulative sales of 25 lakh units in Kerala.
Honda has revealed that it currently holds 33 percent of the two-wheelers market share in the southern state. This means one out of every three two-wheelers in Kerala is a Honda. What makes this achievement more praiseworthy is that the first 10 lakh sales took fourteen years and the next 15 lakh sales took only six years. This shows that the manufacturer has witnessed unprecedented growth in the past six years.
This growth could be credited to the company’s strategy to expand its sales and service outlets in the state. Honda currently has 256 such outlets in Kerala. The dominance of Honda is more felt in the scooter segment which accounts for 64 percent of all scooters in the state much higher than the brand’s national average of 29 percent market share.
Activa is the highest selling two wheeler in Kerala
Super 6 Benefit
In order to mark this occasion and to thank its loyal customers in Kerala, Honda 2Wheelers India has announced a “Super 6” offer ahead of the upcoming festive season. This offer will be limited to consumers in Kerala only.
Under this scheme, the Japanese brand is allowing customers to enjoy benefits of up to Rs 11,000 on any Honda two-wheeler. The offer lasts till November-end 2020.
Honda is offering up to 100 percent financing schemes with low-interest rates. Customers can choose from a 50 percent discount on EMI scheme and get cashback up to Rs 5,000 on a debit card or credit card EMI. Additionally, customers can avail cashback worth up to Rs 2,500 on transactions through Paytm.
Recent Launches from Honda
Honda has been marketing its products very aggressively off late. It has also launched two very tempting motorcycles in the past couple of months- Hornet 2.0 and H’Ness CB350. While Hornet 2.0 is a naked streetfighter, H’Ness Cb350 is a retro-styled classic motorcycle. Hornet 2.0 rivals the likes of TVS Apache RTR 200 4V and Bajaj Pulsar NS200 whereas CB350 directly locks horns with Royal Enfield Classic 350. More

While Honda Two-wheelers is still contemplating on bringing the Forza range in India it has launched its flagship Forza 750 in Europe

Maxi-scooters are a big rage in international markets, especially in Western countries. Convenient to ride and big in power delivery, these scooters cater to a wide range of enthusiasts. Honda has now announced the launch of a new high-displacement maxi-scooter.
Dubbed as Forza 750, the new Honda scooter replaces Integra as its flagship scooter in its portfolio. It is basically a revamped mixture of Integra and X-ADV both of which utilised the same powertrain. It has been renamed Forza since the Forza 125 and Forza 300 have been very popular in recent times and the Japanese brand would love to cash in on this. Take a look at the detailed feature presentation below.
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Powertrain & Transmission
The powertrain has been updated to comply with Euro 5 emission norms and in process has added a few horses of power. The Forza 750 is powered by the same 745cc parallel-twin motor from the NC range of motorcycles and generates 58 bhp at 6750rpm which is 5 bhp more than its predecessor. Peak torque has also increased from 68 Nm to 69 Nm available at 4750 rpm. Transmission duties are carried out by a six-speed DCT gearbox.
2021 Honda Forza 750 Specs
This DCT gearbox offers many possibilities. It gives you the option of letting the gear shifts take place automatically or taking control into your hands and selecting the gear ratios by flicking the switches on the left side of the handlebar. The ride by wire technology makes the shifts even smoother. The DCT gearbox has got four levels of shifts with Level 1 being the most relaxed and shifts early while Level 2 being the most aggressive.
Dynamics
It is underpinned by the same platform which also underpins X-ADV and the outgoing Integra. However, the new Honda Forza 750 is more similar in its cycle part architecture to X-ADV than to Integra. An aluminum swingarm with Pro-link rear suspension and 41mm inverted fork is anchored to a steel tube frame. Both suspension units offer 120mm of travel. It uses dual 310mm front discs with radially mounted Nissin four-piston calipers and 17-inch front and 15-inch rear alloy wheels. It also gets dual-channel ABS.

Features on offer
Being a flagship product, it has an exhaustive list of features. The Honda Forza 750 is equipped with an electronic throttle which comes in handy when implementing three riding modes- Standard, Sport and Rain. Additionally, there is a fourth mode which is user configurable. Each of the modes establishes a way of delivering power, engine brake level plus ABS intrusion level and traction control.
It is equipped with a TFT screen with a new voice interface system and Bluetooth connectivity. Other notable attributes of Forza 750 are an all-LED lighting setup, 22-litre of space underneath the seat which has a USB charger, plus a glove box on the right side. It also gets a proximity key that controls the ignition and locks or unlocks the optional rear trunk. More

Just before the start of festive season of Navratri and Diwali, Honda Two Wheelers has announced exciting discount offers
Image – Shibam

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India noted outstanding demand in September 2020 allowing the company to report sales at 5 lakh units. Sales stood at 5,00,887 units in the past month, up 9.87 percent as against 4,55,896 units sold in September 2019, thus gaining 44,991 unit volumes.
This sales target comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has caused havoc in the industry. Hence crossing the 5 lakh unit mark for the first time since September 2018 was a commendable feat.
Honda had recently announced two new launches of the H’ness CB350 in the 350cc segment and Hornet 2.0 and looks ahead to the festive season with as much optimism. The company has also revealed that it is working on a new entry level motorcycle which will be positioned below the CD 110 range.
Honda H’ness CB350 launch was timed just ahead of the festive season. It is offered in two variants of DLX and DLX Pro and priced at Rs.1.85 lakhs and Rs.1.90 lakhs respectively. The Honda Hornet 2.0 was recently launched as a replacement to the CB Hornet 160R and is priced at Rs.1.27 lakhs.
Honda Discount Offers Oct 2020
Honda’s Super 6 Festive Offer
As the Navratri, Dusshera and Diwali festive period in India draws closer, HMSI expects to see increased sales. Besides the fact that the auspicious period is around the corner, the buyer sentiments have also improved especially with the emphasis on personal means of transport in view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country.
However, assessing the shortage of finances even to optimistic buyers, Honda has introduced a Super 6 Offer. This will include savings upto Rs.11,000, 100 percent finance, low ROI at 7.99 percent onwards and 50 percent EMI offers along with cash back offer upto Rs.50,000 on use of debit and credit cards and special Paytm offers.
For these benefits, the company has tied up with financial companies such as IndusInd Bank, Muthoot Finance, Chola and Tata Capital and is being offered on all models in the company lineup, which will allow the company to see healthy sales level during this period.
Honda Activa 6G
Honda Activa Prices Oct 2020
The new discount offers announced by Honda, is applicable on all its popular two wheelers in India, including the best selling scooter – Activa. Currently, the Activa range consists of Activa 6G as well as Activa 125. Prices of the Activa 6G start from about Rs 65k while that of the Activa 125 starts from about Rs 69k. All prices are ex-sh. With the above mentioned new offers, customers can save up to Rs 11k on purchase of new Activa. More

The new Honda H’ness CB 350 marks the company’s entry into the retro cruiser segment
Image – MRD Vlogs

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has launched the new H’Ness CB350 retro roadster motorcycle in India. It is a rival to Royal Enfield and Jawa. Bookings are now open at dealers, as well as online for Rs 5,000.
Honda H’ness CB 350 Prices
Honda will retail the new H’Ness CB350 via its Big Wing dealerships across India. In the first phase, only Big Wing dealers in Gurugram, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi and Bhilai will sell the bike. By end of this fiscal, Honda aims to cover lot more cities across India. Price for base DLX variant is Rs 1.85 lakhs and for the top DLX PRO variant is Rs 1.9 lakhs. All prices are ex-sh.
New Design Language and Colour Options
Honda H’ness CB 350, which will be presented in two variants of Deluxe and Deluxe Pro.True to its roadster stance, it receives a rounded headlamp design, tall handlebars, a long saddle and tear drop shaped fuel tank with the Honda badging. Chrome accents are seen across the mirror surrounds, exhaust and crank case. The CB 350 also gets a raised tail section and LED tail lamps while it rides on alloy wheels. Colour options are in three monotones of Black, Red and Green and in dual tones of Black and Grey, Blue and White and Black and White.
First in Segment Features
Honda has given the H’Ness CB350 a single pod instrument panel with an analog speedometer and digital readout. The Deluxe Pro variant receives Bluetooth enabled turn by turn navigation, music and telephone controls. It also gets battery health indicator, side stand engine cut off system and Honda smartphone voice controls.
Honda CB 350 DLX Pro, Image – Sameer
Among its first in segment features are Selectable Torque Control to prevents rear wheel from moving out of line during acceleration, Honda Smartphone Voice Control System (HSVCS), Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) and assist and slipper clutch.
Engine
Honda H’ness CB350 is powered by a 348.36cc single cylinder, air cooled engine. This engine will offer 20.8 hp power at 5,500 rpm and 30 Nm torque at 3,000 rpm. It will be mated to a 5 speed gearbox and receive assist and slipper clutch as standard. The cruiser will get 310mm front and 240mm rear disc brake respectively, with dual channel ABS. Suspension will be via telescopic fork at the front and twin shock absorbers at the rear.
Honda H’ness CB 350 Dimensions
The Honda roadster measures 2,163mm in length, 800mm in width and 1,107mm in height while wheelbase stands at 1,441mm. Ground clearance is at 166mm, fuel tank is of 15 liter capacity and kerb weight is at 181 kgs.
Management Speak
Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Truly bringing in the festivities, we are happy to announce the attractive starting price of H’ness-CB350. The excellent response since the global premiere of this model is very encouraging and customers can look forward to the ultimate fun of riding the “Made in India” CB legacy this festival. With a special introductory price of INR 1.85 lac (ex-showroom, Gurugram), we are confident that H’ness-CB350 will attract the mid-size motorcycle enthusiasts.” More

Honda currently retails the bigger Africa Twin 1100 in India at a starting price of Rs 15.35 lakh (ex-showroom)
Honda Two-Wheelers India has adopted an aggressive marketing approach this year post transition from BS4 to BS6 emission norms. Apart from launching two new bikes recently- Hornet 2.0 and H’Ness CB350, the Japanese brand is looking to expand its range of motorcycles further in the country.

As we all know, Honda retails its bikes through two dealership networks- one general and the other Honda Big Wing which conducts business in only the premium range of motorcycles. Honda Big Wing currently retails six models under its portfolio but as mentioned in our previous reports, the company has a serious intention of expanding its premium range in India.
The popularity of ADVs and quarter-litre bikes
As per some reports, Honda is planning to develop a scaled-down version of the Africa Twin with a smaller displacement of 250cc. Many Indian consumers, especially biking enthusiasts, have also found a liking to the recent crop of ADVs.
Honda CRF250L Rally
With quarter-litre segments making inroads into the Indian market, it makes sense to add a proper adventure tourer of similar capacity. The other motive for Honda to develop a quarter-litre ADV is to take on Suzuki V-Strom 250, BMW 310GS, or the upcoming KTM 250 / 390 ADV.
Reports suggest that this expected Africa Twin 250 is not going to be an all-new motorcycle but it will be based on the upgraded Honda CRF250L Rally. In other words, Honda might be working towards developing a new generation of CRF250L Rally. It might be more than just a rebadged CRF250L Rally since it is an out and out dirt bike. Therefore, giving it the moniker of Africa Twin might not just be a naming exercise but also a task to make it a reliable adventure and touring machine.
Expected Design
Since it is going to be part of the Africa Twin range of motorcycles, we can expect it to adopt a similar design philosophy. A rendering based on the updated CRF250L Rally showcases what the Africa Twin 250 could look like. However, it gets a bigger fuel tank and more fairing than the former. Although it will carry forward many similar elements from Africa Twin 1110 like its headlight, front cowl, etc. the rendering evidently suggests that it will be a lot lighter.
Powertrain
Also, the name Africa Twin has to be altered slightly since the engine utilised by CRF250L Rally is a 249cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled unit which generates an output of 25 bhp. As of now, details are very little and mostly speculative. However, if it indeed goes into production, there are high chances of it coming to India. Apart from this, Honda is also developing an 850cc bike for the same range which is almost confirmed for production.
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New Honda CB350 is a challenger to the Royal Enfield Classic 350, as well as the Benelli Imperiale 400
With plans to challenge the supremacy of Royal Enfield, Honda India has launched the CB350 roadster motorcycle, also known as the H’ness. Honda CB350 will also take on other rivals such as Jawa and Benelli Imperiale 400.

Talking about the latter, the bike was launched in 2019 and initial response was quite good. BS6 variant of Benelli Imperiale 400 was launched earlier this year in July. To understand how they matchup, here’s a quick comparison between Honda CB350 vs Benelli Imperiale 400.
Design and styling
Both CB350 and Imperiale 400 have retro styling, as is evident in the round headlamp, teardrop-shaped indicators, broad fenders and chrome bits. However, if we talk about overall design, it’s apparent that Imperiale 400 is a lot more expressive as compared to the relatively sober-looking CB350. Both bikes are available in attractive colour options.
Benelli Imperiale 400
Engine
While Honda CB350 is equipped with a 348cc engine, Imperiale utilizes a 374 cc motor. Even though CB350 has a lower capacity engine, its max power output of 21 bhp is the same as that of Imperiale. Talking about torque, it is actually higher in case of CB350, although marginally. While CB350 generates 30 Nm of max torque at 3,000 rpm, Imperiale churns out 29 Nm at 3,500 rpm. Both engines come mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
Honda CB350 vs Benelli Imperiale 400
Coming to the structural aspects, CB350 utilizes a half-duplex cradle whereas Imperiale 400 rides on a double cradle frame. While both motorcycles have telescopic suspension at the front, the rear units are twin hydraulic for CB350 and pre load adjustable system for Imperiale. Braking system of CB350 comprises 310 mm disc at the front and 240 mm disc at the rear. Imperiale has the same setup with the exception of front disc that is 300 mm. Both motorcycles offer dual-channel ABS as standard.
One key difference between CB350 and Imperiale is that the former utilizes alloy wheels whereas the latter has spoke wheels. While spoke wheels enhance the retro look, alloy wheels are more practical, as they can be shod with tubeless tyres. Talking about the rubber, both motorcycles have 100/90 – R19 front tyres. At the rear, CB350 has 130/70 – R18 tyres whereas Imperiale is equipped with 130/80 – R18 tyres.
In dimensional aspects, both motorcycles are largely the same. There’s only marginal difference in length, width, height, wheelbase, seat height and ground clearance. The only significant difference is in kerb weight, with CB350 being 24 kg lighter than Imperiale that weighs 205 kg.
Features
Honda CB350 vs Benelli Imperiale 400
Honda CB350 is definitely ahead of Imperiale 400 in terms of features. That’s because CB350 packs in a range of first-in-segment features such as LED headlamp, Bluetooth connectivity, assist and slipper clutch, selectable torque control, turn-by-turn navigation, engine start/stop switch, and side stand indicator with engine cut-off. Warranty for CB350 is 3 years standard + 3 years extended whereas Imperiale 400 offers 3 years unlimited km warranty.
In terms of pricing, CB350 is slightly more affordable. It is expected to be offered at a starting price of Rs 1.90 lakh. In comparison, Imperiale 400 BS6 is priced at Rs 1.99 lakh. All prices are ex-sh. More

Believe it or not, one of the biggest reason behind Royal Enfield’s success, is its thump – in addition to its looks / design
One of the features that have made Royal Enfield motorcycles such as Classic 350 popular is the thumping exhaust note. On the streets, it highlights your presence and indicates what you are riding. For many users, Royal Enfield’s thumping exhaust note is an essential component of their overall ride experience. As of now, it’s almost impossible to imagine RE motorcycles without their signature exhaust note.

The latest entrant to challenge the supremacy of Royal Enfield appears to be well aware about the importance of having a powerful aural experience. This is why Honda Highness CB350 has been launched with its own distinctive throaty exhaust note.
In fact, at the launch event of HNESS CB350, Honda had given the most focus to the exhaust note of CB350. Of all the features, maximum time spent during the launch, was about the THUMP of CB350. They even had a Thump Show, during the launch, where famous percussionist Sivamani played. This shows how important Thump of a motorcycle is, when you are planning to eat into market share of Royal Enfield. Below is a video posted by YouTube channel MRD Vlogs, which compares the exhaust note of Royal Enfield Classic 350 Thump vs Honda CB350 Exhaust Note.
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Die-hard Royal Enfield fans are unlikely to vote for CB350’s exhaust note. But, we are sure there are many folks out there with an open mind who would appreciate Honda’s efforts in this department.
Which has a bigger THUMP?
While the aural experience of both motorcycles is comparable, it does appear that Classic 350’s exhaust note has a lot more raw power. The sound also appears to vary drastically when the bike is revved up. In comparison, CB350’s exhaust note comes across as more refined. Variations in exhaust note is relatively less when the throttle is increased. If we consider a noisy street with heavy traffic, Classic 350 would obviously be more noticeable with its exhaust note.
However, aural experience is a matter of personal tastes and preferences. So, it’s difficult to say which motorcycle has the best exhaust note. Honda has done a commendable job, but Royal Enfield will continue to be preferred by folks who want their rides to be extra loud.
CB350 vs. Classic 350 – engine & specs
Talking about the engines, CB350 is equipped with a 348 cc motor that generates 21 bhp of max power at 5500 rpm and 30 Nm of max torque at 3000 rpm. In comparison, RE Classic 350 is powered by a 346 cc engine, generating 19.1 bhp / 28 Nm. Both engines are coupled with 5-speed gearbox.
Royal Enfield Classic 350 vs Honda CB350 Specs
With more power and torque and being 14 kg lighter than Classic 350 (195 kg), Honda CB350 will have a higher power to weight ratio. It is likely to make the motorcycle more agile, which would be useful in city conditions.
To make the decision easier for customers, Honda has also equipped CB350 with a range of first-in-segment features. Some of these include LED headlight and LED tail lamp with ring type winkers, assist and slipper clutch, selectable torque control, Bluetooth connectivity suite, hazard switch, engine start/stop switch, and side stand indicator with engine cut-off. More