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      New Bajaj Pulsar 160 NS Spied Testing – Launch Likely In 2021

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      Image – Jupiter Lobo
      The new Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 gets significant cosmetic revision while the hardware appear to be retained

      The Bajaj Pulsar NS family of street fighters aged rather well. Started its innings with a 200 cc variant almost a decade ago, the NS nameplate later spawned a popular 160 variant with identical styling. The competition has come up with modern and better equipped compact displacement naked motorcycles, prompting Bajaj Auto to revisit the drawing board.
      New Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 spotted testing
      A prototype of what appears to be the next generation Bajaj Pulsar NS has been spotted testing on the public road for the first time. The air-cooling fins on the engine block strongly indicate that this is a 160 cc variant. The tyre sizes, thin front telescopic forks and box section swing arm also point towards the smaller engined variant.
      The revised bodywork appears to be production ready but the finer details are concealed by the camouflage. The most significant visual change is the fuel tank which now features longer extensions. The headlamp is also completely new with a compact projector unit and a redesigned casing.
      The tailpiece continues to retain familiarity but we expect the taillight to undergo revision. It is reasonable to assume that the new Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 will receive an updated fully digital instrument console. Spy images are credit to automotive enthusiast Jupiter Logo.
      Image – Jupiter Lobo
      Specifications
      The time proven 160.3 cc air / oil-cooled single-cylinder motor is expected to be carried forward. The underbelly exhaust has been done away with in favour of a conventional canister in a bid to meet the stricter emission standards. In its current avatar, the motor produces a healthy 17.2 hp and 14.6 Nm of torque, and is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Changes, if any, are likely to be nominal.
      The perimeter frame, suspension and braking setup appear to have been carried forward without any changes. The sporty compact displacement naked motorcycle is equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear discs with single-channel ABS.
      Bigger engined variant on its way?
      It is only a matter of time before the Pulsar NS 200 receives a successor and it is expected to adopt the bigger 250 cc liquid-cooled motor from the Dominar. A bigger engine would help create a sufficient distance from its 160 cc sibling in terms of market positioning and pricing, while also strengthening the brand’s quarter liter lineup.
      Rivals
      The new Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 will be pitted against the TVS Apache RTR 160, Hero Xtreme 160R and Yamaha FZS-FI. The brand pull and a modern design should give the new naked Pulsar an edge over its rivals. We expect the new motorcycle to be ready for the market sometime in the second half of this year to take advantage of the festive season. Expect a marginal increase in the price from current INR 1.10 lakh (Ex-showroom). More

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      2021 Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Adventure – Production Spec Unveiled

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      2021 Harley Davidson Pan America
      The new Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 locks its horns with BMW R1250 GS, KTM 1290 Adventure and BMW Multistrada

      Harley Davidson has officially revealed its flagship adventure motorcycle Pan America 1250. A direct rival to BMW R1250GS, Pan America 1250 was first announced three years ago and is part of the manufacturer’s new product expansion strategy.
      Available in two variants standard and Special, Pan America 1250 is a completely new bike that has been designed and developed from scratch. The engineering team of H-D has crafted this bike keeping in mind the utility and ability of iconic American adventure motorcycles.
      Design
      Speaking of its design, Pan America sports a design that is completely unique to contemporary adventure tourers. The most attractive highlight being the flat LED headlight beam which can cover a very wide aperture of what’s ahead.
      Two-piece split seats, upswept muffler and exhaust pipes finished in gold are other attractive highlights. The bike has been predominantly covered in matte finishes.
      2021 Harley Davidson Pan America
      Mechanical Configurations
      The ADV is underpinned by an exposed frame with a bolt-on rear subframe and a cast-aluminium swingarm that shrinks unsprung weight. The suspension setup is a fully adjustable one from Showa that has been tuned for preload, compression and rebound damping at both, front and rear ends.
      At front it gets 47mm USD forks while the rear gets a mono-shock, both having an impressive travel of 190mm. Special variant is equipped with a semi-active unit that automatically adjusts the damping and riding style in accordance with road conditions.
      Braking power is received from Brembo radial monobloc four-piston calipers which are chewed down by twin 320mm discs at front and a single 280mm disc at rear. It rides on 17-inch front and 19-inch rear 5-spoke alloy wheels that are wrapped around by tubeless tyres of 120/70 and 170/60 profiles respectively.
      2021 Harley Davidson Pan America
      Underneath that sturdy frame is an all-new 1250cc V-Twin DOHC engine that spits out 150 bhp at 8750rpm and a peak torque 128 Nm at 6750 rpm. It is mated to a six-speed gearbox with a slipper which unlike its BMW nemesis, sends power to the rear wheels rather than front.
      The engine also performs more duties than just producing energy. It has been integrated as a stressed member of the chassis and has been bolted to the front frame, mid-frame and tail sections.
      2021 Harley Davidson Pan America
      Features on offer
      Being a flagship, it comes with a bunch of electronic aids to enhance its off-road and ride capabilities. These include ride-by-wire, cornering ABS, traction control system and multiple riding modes namely- sport, rain, road, off-road and off-road plus. Riders also get the option to customise an off-road mode for themselves that lets them configure TCS, ABS, torque delivery, throttle response and suspension settings as per their preference.
      These can be selected through the bike’s 6.8-inch TFT touchscreen unit which is compatible with navigation, Bluetooth connectivity for calls and music. However, the touchscreen gets disabled once the bike starts moving and then it needs to be toggled through the switchgear. Other features on offer include an adaptive LED headlight, cruise control as standard and heated grips on the Special trim.
      2021 Harley Davidson Pan America
      Even though the American bikemaker has quite independent operations in India, this new adventure tourer is expected to make it to Indian shores at a later stage and retailed by Hero MotoCorp. Harley has priced this new beast at £14,000 ( equivalent to INR 14.27 lakh) for the base variant and £15,500 (Rs 15.80 lakh) for the Special variant. More

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      Honda CB350RS Road Sailing 350cc Motorcycle Launch Price Rs 1.96 Lakhs

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      2021 Honda CB350RS
      Aiming to add more options in 350cc segment, Honda has launched CB350RS Cafe Racer in India – RS stands for Road Sailing

      With its sporty profile, Honda CB350RS will appeal to the young generation and folks looking for quick sprints across city streets. The motorcycle can also add a lot more agility and power to everyday commutes. Price of Honda CB350RS starts from Rs 1.96 lakhs, ex-sh. Two variants are on offer, one in monotone red colour and the other in yellow / black dual tone colour.
      Honda CB350RS design
      As compared to CB350 that makes liberal use of chrome elements, CB350RS has a largely blacked-out profile. This is evident in the front forks, front and rear fenders, rear shock absorber springs and exhaust canister. CB350RS is also sleeker, as compared to its roadster sibling.
      2021 Honda CB350RS
      Another key difference is the slightly aggressive riding stance. Other key features of CB350RS include round headlamp, misses out on clip-on handlebar, sculpted fuel tank, semi-digital instrument console, single-piece seat, and upswept exhaust. Both single-tone and dual-tone colour options are available for Honda CB350RS.
      Honda CB350RS powertrain
      CB350RS utilizes the same engine as that of HNess CB350. The 348cc air cooled, single cylinder engine is capable of generating 21 bhp of max power and 30 Nm of max torque. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
      2021 Honda CB350RS
      CB350RS borrows other hardware as well such as half duplex cradle with telescopic front forks and twin hydraulic rear suspension. Braking duties are performed by 310 mm disc at the front and 240 mm disc at the rear. Dual-channel ABS is offered as standard.
      2021 Honda CB350RS
      Honda CB350RS features
      Talking about features, the list is largely the same as that of CB350. The cafe racer gets Honda Smartphone Voice Control system (HSVCS), Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), assist and slipper clutch, side stand with engine inhibitor, turn-by-turn navigation, hazard switch and engine start/stop switch. The instrument console displays a range of information such as gear position indicator, battery voltage meter, average mileage, real time mileage and distance to empty.
      Honda will be hopeful that CB350RS turns out to be just as successful as CB350 classic roadster. While CB350 may still be far behind its primary rival Royal Enfield Classic 350, its market response has been pretty decent. As may be recalled, CB350 recently achieved the 10k sales milestone. It is now the primary volume generator for Honda BigWing dealerships.
      2021 Honda CB350RS
      Together, CB350 and CB350RS can further boost sales numbers. Honda is continuously working to expand its BigWing dealerships, which will be a positive factor for these motorcycles. Royal Enfield may command 85% market share in this segment (200cc-350cc), but that doesn’t seem to make any difference to Honda’s ambitious plans. In the future, it is possible that Honda may introduce other new products in 350cc space such as a scrambler, special editions, etc. More

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      Honda CB350RS Scrambler Rendered In 4 New Colours – Black, Red, Yellow, Blue

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      2021 Honda CB350RS Black – Render
      Honda BigWing might expand this range of India-made classic motorcycles with different engine configurations in future

      Honda teased the upcoming iteration of Honda H’Ness CB350. This version of CB350 will likely be called CB350RS. It is likely to be a scrambler derivative based on CB350 classic roadster. This bike is slated to be launched on February 16 and ahead of its launch, a digital rendering of the same has been created by Pratyush Rout.
      This digitally rendered image of CB350RS as a scrambler gives an idea of what this upcoming bike could look like. It has been imagined in four production-spec colours of Black, Red, Yellow and Blue. A bit of the inspiration has been carried forward from the CB1100RS as well as the officially revealed teasers by the company.
      Design Highlights
      Other parts of it have been curated very realistically. This includes a slimmer seat at rear for the pillion just as revealed in the teaser. Apart from this, other design highlights from this digitally imagined render include a chopped off fender at front, a horizontal tail section, engine assembly cowl and a clip-on handlebar.
      Rest of the details are very similar to the current retro-styled classic roadster. Since it is expected to be a sportier version of H’Ness CB350, it is expected to feature an aggressive seating position thanks to clip-on handlebars. USD forks in the front and rear-set footpegs as shown in this rendered image.
      2021 Honda CB350RS Red – Render
      In the final production model, we could expect it to receive a black treatment instead of chrome accents. Instead of a single-piece of grab rails, it gets side bolted pillion grab rails. The teasers show a new cantilevered tailpiece with a compact LED taillight and mudguard mounted license plate and indicators.
      Engine Specs & Features
      Mechanically, this iteration of CB350 will be identical to its classic roadster sibling although suspension setup might be slightly tweaked for sportier performance. It will be powered by a 348cc unit single-cylinder, air-cooled unit which cranks out 21 bhp and 30 Nm of peak torque.
      This unit will be mated to a 5-speed gearbox with an assist and slipper clutch. It will be built on a half-duplex cradle frame suspended on a telescopic front fork and twin rear shock absorbers.
      2021 Honda CB350RS Yellow – Render
      In terms of features as well, this bike is expected to offer the same equipment as offered in H;Ness CB350. This includes an all-LED lighting setup, a semi-digital instrument cluster, USB charging, Bluetooth connectivity, Navigation, dual-channel ABS and a first-in-segment Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC).
      We expect prices of the new CB350RS roadster to hover around Rs 2.00 lakh (ex-showroom) and will exclusively be sold through the brand’s BigWing dealerships. Honda 2Wheelers India is currently looking to expand its BigWing network in the country and we expect to see an expansion of the India-made BigWing lineup of motorcycles in the near future.
      2021 Honda CB350RS Blue – Render More

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      Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Instrument Cluster Spied – Tripper Navigation Missing

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      Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Spied
      The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 employs an eccentrically placed digi-analog instrument console

      A camouflaged prototype Royal Enfield Hunter with some accessories was spied up close while stationary. The test mule appears to be not fully production ready but not far from it either. The latest spy shots give us a clear idea on how the motorcycle’s instrument panel looks like.
      Royal Enfield Hunter 350
      Royal Enfield is currently working on building a strong and eclectic range of 350 cc motorcycles based on its new generation J platform. The Meteor 350 which replaced the Thunderbird was the first of many new RE’s to come. While the loyalists are eagerly waiting for the next generation Classic 350, Royal Enfield threw a surprise in the form of another retro-classic Roadster.
      The Eicher-owned two wheeler brand has registered Hunter as a trademark, leading us to believe that the new 350 cc roadster will carry this moniker. To be positioned alongside the new Classic 350 as a sportier alternative to lure younger audience, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 will feature a sleek fuel tank, circular headlamp, possibly with LED elements, single-piece seat, LED taillight and a simple tailpiece.
      Going by the prototype, the Hunter 350 is most likely to be equipped with alloy wheels and black finished engine and exhaust pipe. The prototype was wearing chrome finished headlamp cowl but we expect the final production version to feature a black unit.
      Production version is expected to offer Tripper Navigation as well
      The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 employs a unique digi analog instrument console with a rectangular MID. While this particular mule does not feature an additional dial for Tripper Navigation system (Smartphone enabled turn-by-turn navigation), it is reasonable to assume the motorcycle to be offered with it at the time of launch.
      Specifications
      The Royal Enfield Hunter 350, as the spyshot shows, borrows its 349 cc air-cooled engine from the Meteor 350. Widely acclaimed for being much more refined than its predecessor, the new mill dishes out 20.2 hp and 27 Nm of torque. Gearbox is a conventional 5-speed unit.
      There is nothing particularly interesting about the suspension or braking system. The roadster employs traditional telescopic front forks covered with rubber gaiters, and twin-rear shock absorbers. Like all modern Royal Enfields, the Hunter is equipped with front and rear disc brakes with dual-channel ABS.
      Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Instrument Cluster – Analog Speedometer, Digital MID
      On board the Royal Enfield Hunter, the speedometer is analog and is seen with markings in kmph as well as mph. The speedo is listed till max speed of 160 kmph / 100 mph – just like the new Meteor 350. Other details like fuel level, trip meters, etc are expected to be listed in the digital MID.
      Market positioning
      With the Royal Enfield Hunter 350, the company would be aiming to fend off fresh competition like the Honda CB350. Royal Enfield’s leadership in the Indian medium displacement segment continues to be strong even during the challenging year that was 2020.
      The Classic 350 continues to be a cash cow for the brand and with the new gen model coming later this year, things are only going to get stronger. The Hunter will be playing a consolidating role.
      Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Spied More

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      2021 Jawa 42 Launched – More Power, New Colours, Higher Price

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      2021 Jawa 42 Red
      The updates are mostly concentrated on the aesthetics department but it also involves a change in exhaust downtube design

      The Honda CB350 and Royal Enfield Meteor 350 set off what is turning out to be a action packed competition in the 350 cc segment. Jawa can’t afford to stay indifferent for long and hence the update.
      The 2021 Jawa 42 with quite a few updates has been launched at INR 1.84 lakh (ex-showroom). This is about Rs 12k expensive than the current Jawa 42 dual ABS variant (Rs 1.72 lakh) and Rs 21k expensive than the single ABS Jawa 42 (Rs 1.63 lakh).
      2021 Jawa 42 – What’s new?
      The first thing you notice are the alloy wheels and replacement of chrome elements with black finish. While the shiny treatment was widely preferred for retro-classic motorcycles, the customer preference seems to be shifting towards black finish which is easier to maintain and has a sportier appeal.
      The updated Jawa 42 also receives two new colour options in the form of matte red and matte black. The existing colour options have been carried forward as well. There is a new wider eccentric decal strip on the fuel tank and tailpiece.
      2021 Jawa 42 Black
      The 2021 Jawa 42 also comes with a range of new optional accessories including a compact windshield, headlamp grille, handlebar end-mounted rear view mirrors, white rim stripes and so on. Tyres are now tubeless.
      Specifications
      Given that Jawa Motorcycles upgraded its product portfolio to BS6 emission standards last year, it is surprising that the engine has been carried forward with changes. To recap, the Jawa 42 is powered by Mahindra Mojo-derived single-cylinder, liquid-cooled 295 cc engine which is tuned to develop 26.51 hp and 27 Nm of torque. Transmission is a 6-speed unit. The new Jawa 42 gets a more refined version of the same unit, which now delivers 0.8 hp more power.
      The retro-classic roadster continues to be equipped with regular telescopic front forks and twin rear shock absorber. While both front and rear wheels are retarded by a disc each, the base version makes do with a single-channel ABS as standard. Buyers can also opt for dual-channel system for around INR 9,000 more.
      2021 Jawa 42 White
      In the new colour scheme with black treatment, you can only buy the dual ABS as single ABS option is not available. Existing range of Jawa 42 will continue to be on sale as is, with the same pricing as before.
      Rivals
      The 2021 Jawa 42 will continue to lock horns with Honda H’ness CB350 and Royal Enfield Classic 350 which is due for replacement shortly. The CB350 has managed to clock 10,000 unit sales in just 3 months despite being sold only through Honda’s BigWing premium outlets whose territorial coverage is much smaller compared to Jawa’s dealership network.
      With a new CB350 RS variant scheduled to be launched next week, the model’s prospects are expected to get even brighter. So, the Jawa 42 has got its work cut out but the updates are a step in the right direction.

      2021 Jawa 42 Black decals

      2021 Jawa 42 Matte Red

      Jawa Forty Two Black Edition

      Jawa Forty Two Black Edition

      Jawa Forty Two Black Edition More

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      in Electric Cars

      Tata Nexon Electric Owner Files Complaint In Transport Dept Over Low Range

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      Image for reference. Credit – Hemank.
      Tata Motors has been issued with a show cause notice by the Delhi Transport Department following a complaint filed by a Delhi resident

      The complaint states that the Tata Nexon Electric failed to perform as per standard. The vehicle owner, a resident of Najafgarh, purchased the Tata Nexon EV XZ+ variant and noted that while the company claimed a range of 312 km per charge, his vehicle was not offering more than 200 kms. This was despite the fact that he complied with every advice issued by the dealer.
      The Nexon EV was purchased from an authorized company dealership in Safarjung Enclave. It was registered on 3rd Dec 2020 and it was immediately noted to fail in meeting the required range as indicated. Though the owner stringently followed all directions, there was no improvement in the range and nowhere close to 312 kms per charge.
      Complaint Filed, Show Cause Notice Issued
      A complaint was filed by the owner of the Tata Nexon EV with Delhi Transport Department and a notice has been sent to the automaker. Tata Motors has been instructed to depute a representative to attend the office of the said department on 5th Feb 2021 at 12 noon.
      The notice also adds that the Delhi Government could consider removing the subsidy offered under the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2020, on the Tata Nexon EV, if it is proved that this contention is proved to be true.
      File Photo. Credit – AutoTown
      Under this Policy, a purchase incentive of Rs.10,000 per kWh battery capacity is offered on the purchase of an electric 4 wheeler with a cap of Rs.1.50 lakhs. Also, the owners of the first 1000 electric cars registered in Delhi, following the issuance of the policy, would be eligible for the incentive. The Nexon EV is an approved vehicle under these conditions of the EV policy.
      Tata Motors, on their part, have taken cognizance of the show cause notice and are taking measures to address the concerns of the owner. The range of 312 kms per charge is based on certification received from Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).
      ARAI is an apex body to test and certify vehicles under various standard test conditions prior to the vehicles going on sale. Tests conducted by ARAI are under special and ideal conditions and hence range are always on the higher side as compared to real world conditions.
      As is also seen in the case of conventional vehicles, electric vehicle range is also derived depending on certain factors. These include use of air conditioning, individual style of driving and real world conditions present at the time the vehicle is being driven. The range is also achieved according to familiarity with the new technology and customers report a marked improvement by around 10 percent in a time frame of 4-6 weeks once they are familiar with the vehicle.
      Tata Nexon EV Sales
      Tata Nexon EV is the best-selling electric SUV in India and most affordable car in its segment currently commanding a market share of 63.2 percent. Launched on 28th Jan 2020, sales have touched the 3,000 unit mark in the past one year while its affordable price tag allows it compete efficiently with its rivals such as the MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona Electric.
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      New Honda CB350 Cafe Racer Name CB350RS – Leaked In New Teaser?

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      Honda CB350RS Cafe Racer Teaser
      The styling tweaks include black accents instead of chrome, a new tailpiece, and colour themes

      Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) took its time to develop a Royal Enfield challenger in the form of H’ness CB350 but is now already gearing up to spawn a variant extension. The Honda CB350 Cafe Racer has been teased once again in a build up to its unveil on February 16th.
      Honda CB350 Cafe Racer
      The H’ness CB350’s simple roadster body style with minimalist styling is a perfect to spawn an array of variants to cater to different tastes. The Cafe Racer with design tweaks would be targeting younger audience with a sportier appeal.
      From what can be seen from the teasers, the upcoming variant of the medium displacement retro-classic motorcycle features a new cantilevered tailpiece with compact LED taillight and mudguard mounted license plate and indicators.
      While the regular Honda CB350 embraces chrome appointments, Cafe Racer adopts black finish for the front and rear fenders, exhaust canister, rear shock absorber springs and the front fork. The new handlebar makes for a slightly sportier riding posture to suit the Cafe Racer styling. All other elements are shared with the regular model.
      Link to the teaser image reveals the name CB350RS
      The Name – Honda CB350RS
      Honda has revealed a new teaser today, and also launched a dedicated web-page on their official website of Big Wing. After taking a look at the page source of this new teaser website, you will notice that the name CB350RS is seen multiple times in the site’s coding as well as in the URL.
      Honda CB350RS name appears in the official website coding
      This indicates that the name of the CB350 based new motorcycle is likely going to be christened as CB350RS or CB 350 RS or CB350 RS. Whatever is the official name, it will be revealed on 16th Feb 2021, at the time of launch.
      Honda CB350RS Specifications
      The Honda CB350RS is powered by a 348 cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine which is expected to be carried forward without any changes. The motor produces 21 hp and 30 Nm of torque, and is paired with a 5-speed gearbox. The frame and suspension setup, wheels and braking system remain the same but the tyres adopt different buttons to suit the new variant’s character. To recap, the motorcycle is equipped with front and rear disc brakes with standard dual-channel ABS system.
      Honda CB350RS Website
      The digi-analog instrument panel has been retained, and just like its sibling, the Honda CB350RS Cafe Racer will sport turn-by-turn navigation, music and telephone control supported by Bluetooth connectivity, and Honda Selectable Torque Control. Other noteworthy features include smartphone voice control, side stand engine cut-off, and battery health indicator.
      Honda BigWing
      The Honda CB350 RS Cafe Racer will be retailed exclusively through the brand’s BigWing premium dealership network. While this approach restricts its territorial coverage when compared to Royal Enfield motorcycles, Honda is working on significantly expanding its BigWing network across the country. Premium ownership experience is a part of the motorcycle’s appeal and BigWing goes a long way in ensuring that.
      More India-specific models on the way?
      At the time of launching the CB350, Honda hinted that a bigger thump is coming. While there are no specifics as of now, it is rumoured that a CB500 could be in the works. With heavy localization, a bigger engined Honda motorcycle with retro-classic styling would emerge as a compelling alternative to Royal Enfield’s ever-expanding twin-cylinder portfolio. More