This is Honda’s low cost bike and will be the company’s most affordable offering with prices starting at around Rs. 37,000/-. Cost cutting is evident in this first image of this motorcycle.

The Honda low-cost bike gets flat panels, elongated seat, spoke wheels & skinny tyres

Honda Motorcycle is the second largest two-wheeler seller in India after Hero MotoCorp and is aggressively eyeing that pole position that its erstwhile partner currently commands. On the sidelines of the launch of the CB Unicorn 160 in late December last year, Honda spoke about bringing a new low-cost motorcycle in the country that will be positioned below the CD 110 Dream and will be the automaker’s most affordable offering in the country. Now, we have got hold of the first image of the Honda bike which is the first glimpse of the manufacturer’s low-cost offering.

As seen in the image, the upcoming Honda low-cost bike hasn’t strayed too far away from the company’s current commuter offerings and appears similar to the current Dream series. However, look closer and you can see the flat body panels, spoke wheels, elongated single seat and skinny tyres. An engine kill switch won’t be offered. The motorcycle is current being developed at the company’s R&D facility at Manesar with inputs coming from its Japanese headquarters, Honda had stated earlier.

Earlier reports suggested that the new Honda low-cost motorcycle will be powered by a 110cc engine tuned to produce around 7.37 BHP, paired to a 4-speed gearbox. Honda also clarified earlier that while the motorcycle will be a low-cost unit, it won’t be cheap and will see more of local content going on to the bike for effective cost control. Low on pricing, expect the bike to return a fuel efficiency figure of around 70 km/l. In the development stage right now, expect the upcoming offering to go on sale in another year’s time with the price starting at around Rs. 37,000/- (ex-showroom).

Honda’s current most affordable bike is the CD 110 Dream, priced at Rs. 43,000/-

The post This Is Honda’s Upcoming Low Cost Motorcycle [Scoop] appeared first on MotorBeam - Indian Car Bike News & Reviews.

The Beat 110cc scooter is a popular offering in Indonesia and could be produced as an export only model at Honda’s upcoming facility in Gujarat.

The Honda Beat 110 scooter gets a light frame & is powered by a 108cc engine producing 8.28 HP

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has imported the Beat 110cc scooter in the country from Indonesia for research purposes. A sporty scooter, the Beat 110 is a popular offering in the South East Asian country with its sporty looks, light weight and spirited performance targeted at young customers and is powered by the 108cc 4-stroke, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine, belting out 8.28 HP of power at 8000 RPM and 8.27 Nm of torque at 6000 RPM, paired to a CVT automatic transmission.

Available in fuel-injected and carbureted versions internationally, Honda India has brought in the carbureted version in the country that makes a lot of sense considering the cost effective factor. It also comes with telescopic forks and a monoshock suspension setup while a kerb weight of 90 kgs makes it easy to flick around the city. Moreover, the Beat rides on large wheels that ensures higher ground clearance. That said, it still needs to be seen if the manufacturer will launch the scooter in the Indian market.

The leader of the scooter segment in the country, the Activa maker is building the world’s largest scooter only facility in Vithalapur, Gujarat and the Beat scooter could be manufactured there but for the export markets alone. The new facility will have a total installed capacity of 1.2 million units annually and will be the largest scooter factory in the world. The Japanese manufacturer has been importing a host of European and South East Asian scooters for R&D purposes and it will be interesting to see where the Beat fits into all of this. With Honda yet to launch a chunk of its offerings in the second half of the year, expect more details to be revealed around then.

There is no confirmation as yet if Honda will launch the Beat 110cc scooter in India

Source – Zauba.com

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Honda could be mulling to add an entry-level scooter to its lineup that will be rivalling the TVS Scooty Zest as it appears from this exclusive image of a low-cost scooter.

Honda is possibly developing a 100cc scooter that could be targeted at female buyers

We really don’t need to say much to establish the relationship between Honda India and automatic scooters. With the Activa been given a cult status in the Indian market, the company’s strong lineup of scooters falls short when it comes to offering a 100cc scooter. With no presence as yet, it now seems that the Japanese manufacturer is developing a 100cc entry-level automatic scooter that will rival the TVS Scooty in the segment as per this image which we got hold off.

This image though is very similar to the Honda SCR100 scooter that is sold in China and Korea. The SCR100 is one of the automaker’s entry-level offerings and is popular among mainland consumers of several coastal cities in the People’s Republic. The scooter comes with a fairly simple design with flat body panels, handle-mounted turn indicators and a single-piece headlight cluster while the instrument cluster is extremely old school and the same appears for the switchgear as well. The rear features a three-piece tail light unit and is reminiscent of the previous generation Activa.

In terms of power, the Honda SCR100 comes with a 100cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that makes around 7.1 PS of power and 8 Nm of torque. The scooter comes with telescopic front forks while there are front and rear disc brakes available as optional. Measuring similar to the TVS Scooty in terms of dimensions, Honda could tweak the SCR100 for the Indian market and could share several parts with its existing offerings. The automaker had also imported the scooter in September last year, hinting that there is indeed something going on behind closed doors.

The Honda SCR100 seems to be inspiration for Honda’s 100cc scooter

The post Honda To Launch TVS Scooty Rival, Positioned Below Activa [Scoop] appeared first on MotorBeam - Indian Car Bike News & Reviews.

Honda is likely to bring the CG Dream entry-level motorcycle to the Indian market with extensive localisation and will be retailing it as its most affordable offering in the country.

The CG Dream seems practical with localisation keeping the price low

We at MotorBeam recently shared the first image of Honda’s upcoming low-cost motorcycle that will be the company’s most affordable offering in the country targeted at rural markets. The leaked image showcased a simply build bike void of all the bells and whistles and it now turns out that this motorcycle is none other than the CG Dream entry-level commuter that is currently on sale in Pakistan. The CG Dream is a no frills offering from the Japanese bike maker and costs an Indian equivalent of Rs. 66,000/- in the neighbouring country.

For that kind of money, the Honda CG Dream is powered by a 125cc 4-stroke, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine paired to a 4-speed gearbox and comes with flat body panels, elongated single seat, slimmer tyres wrapped around spoke wheels. With the Dream moniker, the styling too takes inspiration from the Dream series. The bike is offered in red and black colour options and also comes with a warranty period of two years. With a dry weight of 99 kgs, the CG Dream apparently offers an impressive fuel efficiency in Pakistan.

Honda India is likely to use the CG Dream as a donor model and will probably employ a de-tuned 110cc engine under the belly for enhanced fuel efficiency. The automaker had made a statement earlier that its low-cost offering will be extensively localised to keep costs in check and the bike could be priced below the Rs. 40,000/- mark when launched. As the company’s most affordable offering in India, the CG Dream (Honda could retain the name) will be locking horns with the Hero HF Dawn, Bajaj CT100 as well as Yamaha’s upcoming low-cost bike codenamed Indra.

While the CG Dream comes with a 125cc motor, Honda India is likely to employ the 110cc engine

The post Honda’s Low Cost Bike For India Is CG Dream Of Pakistan appeared first on MotorBeam - Indian Car Bike News & Reviews.

Honda might just get the first mover advantage with the PCX150 in the nascent 150cc automatic scooter segment that is yet to see any offerings from two-wheeler manufacturers.

The Honda PCX 150 uses a 153cc with FI motor producing 13.4 BHP and 14 Nm of torque

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) was quick to assess the automatic scooter market’s potential way before the competition even took notice, and the super success of the Activa today stands as testimony to it. Such is the brand’s following in the country that almost every product thereafter has been doing well on the sales front and now the Japanese auto giant plans to take a head start in the 150cc scooter segment as well as it plans to launch the PCX150 power scooter in the country.

In a press release, Honda India spoke about its plans for the financial year 2015-16 and how the company plans to “retain, expand and create” in the coming months. The manufacturer stated that it will be bringing a revolutionary new model creating a new segment in the Indian industry and we reckon this can’t be anything else apart from the 150cc space. Hence, the PCX150 sits well here as the company’s latest offering and will be launched at the 2016 Auto Expo in February.

The Honda PCX150 is a popular power scooter in Europe and comes with an angular design language with some aggressive performance from the 153cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine with fuel injection that produces 13.4 BHP of power and 14 Nm of torque, paired to a V-Matic automatic transmission. The scooter gets telescopic forks, alloy wheels, disc brakes, step up seat and a lot more. The scooter is quite large in dimensions but comes with a light kerb weight of around 130 kgs.

The Honda PCX150 was imported for R&D in January this year and will certainly be the first-of-its-kind offering unless other two-wheeler makers have a 150cc scooter planned for launch in the second half of 2015. When launched though, the power scooter is likely to be priced around the Rs. 90,000/- (ex-showroom) range as the company looks to commence operations at the upcoming scooter only production facility in Gujarat next January, where the PCX150 will most likely be made.

The PCX150 is likely to be the only 150cc offering in its class when launched next February

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The leaked images show Honda developing a Metropolitan like electric scooter for the Indian market that will rival the Hero Leap electric scooter.

The electric scooter takes design cues from the Metropolitan scooter sold internationally

The electric scooter segment is yet to take off in India and at present has a handful of players with low capacity two-wheelers on offer. However, auto giant Honda that understands the domestic scooter market very well seems to see a huge potential in the same and is planning to introduce an electric scooter in India with work already begun on the same, as these leaked images indicate. The upcoming electric scooter is apparently based on the Honda Metropolitan scooter that is currently sold in developed markets.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) most recently submitted the patents for the upcoming electric scooter and the drawings resemble the Metropolitan in design. Featuring a retro themed styling similar to the Piaggio Vespa, the Honda Metropolitan uses a 49cc four-stroke, single-cylinder motor with fuel injection and is paired to a V-Matic automatic transmission. The scooter gets a twin downtube forks at the front and single shock suspension at the rear. The Metropolitan also gets Combi-Braking System (CBS) and uses alloy wheels.

It is still unclear as to what exactly does Honda have in store with these design patents. If the company is indeed working on an electric scooter for India, the manufacturer could showcase the same at the 2016 Auto Expo next February. In fact, Honda had mentioned earlier this year that it plans to showcase a new scooter in an all-new segment at the Auto Expo and while we considered the PCX150 scooter to be scheduled for the reveal, it just might be this electric scooter that the company is working on.

The electric scooter is certainly an interesting proposition from Honda and will rival the Hero Leap hybrid scooter that is also under development and gets a petrol-electric powertrain along with a rechargeable battery management system. The Leap was showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo while the production ready model was unveiled at the 2014 Auto Expo. With the scooter already under development, Hero could launch the Leap next year itself making sure that Honda does not have the monopoly in the segment.

Details on the electric scooter are scarce at present

The Metropolitan uses a 49cc single-cylinder engine under its belly

Spy Pictures Source – Gaadiwaadi.com

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Honda will be internationally launching the MotoGP championship’s RC213V model in a street legal avatar, which has been named as RC213V-S.

The Honda RC213V will attract pure enthusiasts only

Honda is one of the leading motorcycle manufacturers when it comes to racing, right from the Isle of Man TT to the MotoGP championship. The company’s RC213V model is used in the MotoGP and recently won two consecutive world championships in 2013 and 2014 with rider Marc Marquez. Honda has decided to make changes to the specifications of the RC213V and introduce it in a street legal avatar as the RC213V-S. The Japanese manufacturer is already ready with the new superbike and will be launching the same on 13th July 2015.

The Honda RC213V-S will be one of the richest bikes when it comes to racing technology, as it invokes all the company’s learnings from the races it has competed in. To win world championship races, the motorcycle must be the fastest in the world, but according to Honda it must also be an easy machine to maneuver as well. Ever since the company started competing in the Isle of Man TT races, they have constantly developed bikes exclusively for racing and have also created the easiest handling motorcycles as well.

The RC213V-S inherits all of the features and technologies used on the RC213V. The road going version carries minimum amount of changes and additions as compared to the RC213V, it weighs a mere 160 kgs. Changes include the introduction of a coil spring system instead of the pneumatic valve and the seamless racing transmission has been replaced by a conventional system. The additions made for riding the bike on public roads include a headlight, tail light, license plate with lamps, front and rear turn signals, rear view mirrors, instrument cluster, horn, self starter, side stand, a Honda smart key and others.

The Honda RC213V-S will continue to remain a single-seater and will be powered by a 999cc, liquid-cooled 4-stroke engine that generates 159 PS of power at 11,000 RPM and 102 Nm of torque at 10,500 RPM and will have a fuel tank capacity of 16.3 litres. The superbike will be priced at €188,000 (around Rs. 1.3 crores) inclusive of all taxes in Europe. The pricing is very steep to say the least, but the money gets you a bike derived directly from MotoGP characteristics, further adding to its exclusivity.

It carries typical racing characteristics that will make it one hell of a track performer

Only a select few will be able to afford the motorcycle

The post Honda To Launch RC213V-S MotoGP Bike, Priced At Rs. 1.3 Crore appeared first on MotorBeam - Indian Car Bike News & Reviews.

Honda is planning to enter the low end 150cc bike segment with the CBX. It has recently trademarked the CBX name and filed patent images.

Patent image is fairly detailed and shows major elements

With the commuter series bikes doing well and the scooter range performing extremely well, Honda is now looking to tap the lower spectrum of the 150cc bike segment by launching a bike in the segment. To be based on the CB Unicorn platform, the bike will feature some cost-cutting elements along with the older 150cc engine which will help keep costs low. Also, other 150cc/160cc bikes based on the same platform are under development. With a slew of products in the segment with different fortes, customers will get more choices to choose from.

Looking at the patent images, one can clearly see elements like the double sided rear suspension instead of the monoshock unit of the Unicorn 160 and split grab rails which look el-cheapo. However, the tail light, rear mudguard, fuel tank, exhaust and the seat remain the same as the model it is based on. Another element for cutting costs is the round headlamp which is not even seen on most commuter segment bikes today but it features because it has been an element specific to the CBX series. High set handlebars will give an upright seating position making it a very comfortable bike to ride daily.

Braking performance is expected to be spot on even after the deletion of a rear disc brake due to the presence of Honda’s CBS (Combi-Braking System). Overall the CBX will be getting many elements from the CB Unicorn and the other parts would be lifted off from other bikes in the portfolio. This would help achieve economies of scale and come up with new product(s) without much of an investment. We expect the Japanese giant to also launch a bike to combat the Hero Impulse since it is one segment which has no options for customers and the first mover is always at an advantage.

Rendering shows many elements lifted from the Unicorn 160

Source – GaadiWaadi.com

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Honda’s two-wheeler operations in India is the second largest in the company’s global sales with 1 out of 4 two-wheelers sold by the automaker worldwide coming from India.

Honda two-wheelers’ growth will be fuelled by scooters in the Indian market

Earlier this month, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) introduced the refreshed versions of the Activa-i and Aviator scooters for the 2015 model year, launching a total of eight models for the first six months of 2015. On the sidelines of the launch, Honda spoke about its future plans for the Indian market, which is a significant contributor to the Japanese auto giant’s global sales. The automaker conveyed that India is the second largest contributor to Honda’s sales globally at present and will be company’s largest market by 2018.

Currently, one in every four two-wheelers sold by Honda worldwide is from India. The automaker has been steadily growing in the domestic market posting strong demand for its scooters, while motorcycles including the Dream series, CB Shine and CB Unicorn have been consistent sellers as well. In the past years, the manufacturer sold 1.2 million units in the 2009-10 fiscal, which grew up to 4.45 million two-wheelers in the 2014-15 financial year. The company is now aiming to achieve a sales target of 4.7 million two-wheelers this financial year.

Honda India’s strong growth will be fuelled further by its upcoming scooter manufacturing facility located in Gujarat. The plant is expected to commence operations by early 2016 and will help the manufacturer reach a total production capacity of 5.8 million units, once full capacity is achieved. Honda still has seven more launches pending for the year and the list includes the highly awaited CBR650F, Livo 110cc (CB Twister replacement), as well as the refreshed versions of the CBR150R and CBR250R, among others.

Honda will also introduce a new low-cost commuter motorcycles to gain volumes

The post India Will Be Honda 2-Wheelers’ Biggest Market By 2018 appeared first on MotorBeam - Indian Car Bike News & Reviews.

The 2016 Honda RC213V-S has been tuned to produce only 101 HP on the US spec version while power can be increased to 215 PS courtesy of an upgrade kit on the Europe and Australian versions.

Honda says the RC213V-S is the closest bike you can get today to riding a MotoGP bike

First unveiled at the EICMA last year, Honda has officially showcased the RC213V-S street-legal MotoGP replica and the bike will be going on sale in the US, Europe and Australia later this year as the automaker’s race ready offering. The RC213V is based on the machine that Marc Marquez rode to the last two MotoGP world championship title and comes complete with the ‘HRC’ tri-colour paint scheme and bar-end mirrors. The bike also gets several legal parts like lights, catalytic converters, mufflers among other bits. Honda says that the superbike is the closest road legal MotoGP machine to be offered ever for public use.

The 2016 Honda RC213V-S is built in an exclusive workshop in the Kumamoto factory and is powered by a 90-degree 999cc V4 engine with titanium connecting rods. The bike is available in different power outputs, depending upon the market. For the US spec model, Honda has restricted the power output to 101 PS at 8000 RPM and 90 Nm of torque at 8000 RPM in order to pass the country’s emission norms. In comparison, the European and Australian versions are tuned for higher power output, making 159 PS at 11,000 RPM and 102 Nm of torque at 10,500 RPM in stock guise. However in Japan, the bike produces just 70 HP.

America also does not get the optional ‘Sports Kit’ on the RC213V-S that replaces several parts on the MotoGP replica with race-spec versions. The Sports Kit includes a new ECU, upgraded front ram-air duct, new full race exhaust, quickshifter, data logger, rear cushion connecting road, thermostat set, sprocket set, harness modification set, CFRP clutch guard and much more that helps in belting out way higher power output of 215 PS at 13,000 RPM and 118 Nm of torque at 10,500 RPM. However, the upgrade does make the bike limited for track use only.

Other mechanical details on the 2016 Honda RC213V-S include the fully adjustable Öhlins TTX suspension components with a gas charged TTX25 fork up front and TTX36 shock at the back. Braking performance comes from front 320 mm dual discs with Brembo monoblock callipers and 220 mm single disc at the rear. With a compact wheelbase of 57.7-inches, the RC213V-S rides on 7-spoke forged magnesium Marchesini wheels shod with 120/70/17 front and 190/55/17 rear Bridgestone RS10 tyres. This is also the first Honda superbike to come with a ride-by-wire throttle system, selectable power modes, engine braking levels and traction control settings.

The bike weighs 170 kgs against the 158 kgs weight of the MotoGP bike. With the Sports Kit, the weight reduces to 160 kgs. Given the exclusivity and the abundance of technology onboard, Honda will be assembling only one RC213V-S every day at its plant in Japan. The company will be closing on the bike by the end of 2016 with production limited to around 400 units for global distribution. The Japanese auto giant will be opening its order books for the RC213V-S in July this year and has priced the MotoGP replica at a whopping $1,84,000 (Rs. 1,17,50,240/-).

The 2016 Honda RC213V-S also comes with the HRC paint option to look the part

The Honda RC213V-S will have a limited production run of 400 units

Power output on the US spec version is restricted to 101 PS to meet emission norms

The post Rs. 1.17 Crore Honda RC213V-S Produces Just 70 HP In Japan appeared first on MotorBeam - Indian Car Bike News & Reviews.

The new 125cc motorcycle which was spotted will be replacing the ageing CB Shine in Honda India’s lineup, even though the latter is a segment leader in terms of sales.

It isn’t certain if Honda will retain the CB Shine moniker on the new model as well

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has been aggressive about its operations in India, especially in the mass market segments. With the automaker’s concentration on building volumes, it has been working extremely hard to churn out more products in the 100-150cc space over the recent years and even has a low cost motorcycle under development that will be launched sometime next year. Now, these new spy shot emerged online, further showcasing Honda’s aggressive nature in the domestic market, as the company is readying up a new 125cc offering that could be launched as early as this year itself as a replacement of the CB Shine.

As the spy shots indicate, the upcoming Honda 125cc motorcycle gets a reworked headlight cluster that is similar to the one found on the Hero Hunk; new tail section with revised tail lamp design and all-new side panels. The bike also gets completely new 5-spoke alloy wheels, full chain cover, elongated seat, clear lens turn indicators, a full sized exhaust and a rear mud guard. Suspension duties come from telescopic forks up front and shock absorbers at the rear. The bike will also get a front disc brake. Given the novel features on new 125cc offerings, it is highly likely that the new model will completely replace the CB Shine in Honda’s lineup.

Launched in 2006, the Honda CB Shine is almost a decade old now but continues to be a top-seller in the segment. Known for its extremely refined motor, Honda is likely to retain all the positives from the Shine while giving the design and engine a new lease of life. The new 125cc motor will also be more fuel efficient sporting Honda Eco Technology (HET) and can be expected to return over 70 km/l. While details are scarce as of now, more inputs on the new 125cc bike will be available in the following weeks and a launch around the festive season would be likely.

The headlight cowl is similar to the Hero Hunk, the chassis will be from the existing version

The 125cc bike won’t be radically different but will sport a completely new look

Source – GaadiWaadi.com

The post New Honda 125cc Bike (CB Shine Replacement) Caught Testing appeared first on MotorBeam - Indian Car Bike News & Reviews.

Honda has really got its head down in the Indian scooter market and they recently imported the ‘futuristic’ Click 125i scooter for research and development purposes from Thailand.

The Click 125i has a futuristic design language with sharp creases all around

Honda’s performance in our country’s two-wheeler market sadly does not pay any tribute to any of the company’s portfolio of global products. It is rather the Activa range of scooters that has recently put the Japanese major at the number one spot last month when it comes to scooter sales. Honda is looking to capitalise on their scooter’s rise in popularity and bring in a few more models with better technologies as well. In line with this, the company has just imported the Click 125i scooter to our country for research and development purposes and might even consider launching it in the future.

For those of you who don’t know about this scooter, the Honda Click 125i is actually dubbed as a “scooter of the future”. Developed for markets like Thailand and Indonesia, the sleek and sharp looking scooter is very striking to look at. Powered by a 124.8cc, four-stroke liquid-cooled, PGM-Fi engine which includes Honda’s new Enhanced Smart Power (or ESP) system. The engine is very refined with reduced levels of harshness, vibrations and noise. Putting out 11.4 PS of power and 11.16 Nm or torque, the Click 125i is very fuel efficient thanks to the idling stop feature which turns off the engine when the scooter is idling (like the i3S of Hero).

In addition, on board is a Combined Braking System (CBS) which helps in distributing the braking load evenly to the front and rear wheel, thereby enforcing accurate braking. The brakes can be locked when the scooter is parked on an incline to prevent any movement whatsoever. The front headlights are done up in LEDs for much brighter illumination while consuming lesser energy. A massive compartment is also present underneath the seat and the Click 125i is in every way a very efficient vehicle. We hope that Honda considers launching it in India soon even though the scooter seems to be imported for its technologies only.

Honda India can introduce a lot of this scooter’s features on Indian models

Source – Zauba.com

The post Honda Imports Click 125i Scooter For R&D Purpose appeared first on MotorBeam - Indian Car Bike News & Reviews.

The new 125cc motorcycle in Honda’s stable could co-exist with the CB Shine in the company’s lineup but will be positioned at a slight premium boasting of a new styling.

The headlight cowl & star shaped alloys are reminiscent of parts from Hero motorcycles

While the CB Shine may be the best selling 125cc motorcycle globally, Honda India is not taking things casually in the growing executive motorcycle space and is readying up an all new 125cc offering that is likely to go on sale around the festive season. Spotted a few days ago, new spy shots have now emerged online revealing the bike completely in these undisguised test mules. While the name and power output still remain under wraps, here are the other basics that you need to know about.

Starting with the styling, Honda is opting for a tad bit more premium appeal for the 125cc motorcycle with completely new parts and design language. The bike gets a Hero Hunk inspired headlight cowl, while the side panels have a gentle curve and look good. The tail light cluster is new and gets a sharp looking grab handle. The bike also features reflectors on the front forks, a first for any Honda commuter, whereas the exhaust muffler is shared with the new Livo. The star shaped alloy wheels are similar to that of the Hero Xtreme Sport. The very cool saree guard design that made its debut on the CB Unicorn 160 is seen here too.

Under the skin, a host of changes are expected from the new Honda 125cc offering. The bike will get a new and lighter chassis sporting a smaller wheelbase thereby keeping the overall weight low. The 125cc motorcycle will also get a revised suspension setup, while Brakes should be new as well continuing with the front disc and rear drum setup. In addition, the new 125cc motorcycle will use a tubular swingarm and elongated seat for improved comfort for the rider and pillion. Coming to the engine, the new 125cc motor will be equipped with the automaker’s HET system for improved fuel efficiency. So expect mileage figures to be marginally better than the CB Shine.

In terms of competition, the new Honda 125cc bike will be rivalling against the Bajaj Discover 125M, Yamaha SS 125, TVS Phoenix and the likes in the segment. Prices are expected to be slightly higher than the CB Shine and will most likely start at around Rs. 63,000/- (ex-showroom). Given the brand value the Shine has built in the segment, things should be smooth for the new Honda in this space. With the launch of this motorcycle still some time away, Honda is readying up the highly awaited CBR650F that will hit showrooms on 4th August, along with a few more products.

The new 125cc bike gets a completely new styling and gets reflectors on the front forks

The new bike will get a lighter chassis while the engine will come with HET system

Spy Pictures Source – GaadiWaadi.com

The post Honda’s New 125cc Bike Spotted Undisguised appeared first on MotorBeam - Indian Car Bike News & Reviews.

The CBR650F has been confirmed for launch at the RevFest and could also see Honda introduce the updated CBR250R and CBR150R models in India.

The new Honda CBR250R gets Fireblade inspired styling & improved powertrain

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) is gearing up for a massive pan-India event ‘RevFest’ scheduled on the 4th of August that will see the company launch the much awaited CBR650F in the country. Making the day even more fruitful, the automaker has made an official announcement stating that the event will witness ‘multiple introductions in a single day’ hinting towards more launches on the same day. The company had adopted a similar strategy earlier this year when introducing its updated commuter lineup.

Honda’s magnum opus event will be held simultaneously in eight cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Indore. Apart from the CBR650F, the company could introduce updated versions of its other performance offerings including the CBR250R and CBR150R. Both the models are due for a major upgrade since last year and are in dire need for updates given the slumping sales. The RevFest emerges as the perfect platform for the company to launch its updated models receiving the right kind of attention.

Honda has also confirmed that the CBR650F will be sold through its premium dealership channel called elite ‘Wing World’ that will be established in 12 metro cities while bookings are now open at the company owned Wing World dealership in Andheri East, Mumbai. Being conducted in 8 cities, the RevFest will see close to 15,000 individuals participate in the event on an ‘invite only’ basis and will see performances by music bands apart from the presence of brand ambassadors Akshay Kumar (motorcycles) and Taapsee Pannu (scooters).

A price correction will be appreciated on the new CBR150R improving sales

The post Honda To Launch A Slew Of Bikes At RevFest, New CBR250R Likely appeared first on MotorBeam - Indian Car Bike News & Reviews.

The new Honda 125cc motorcycle will be going on sale in the country by the end of this year and rounds off the 15 launches the automaker planned to introduce throughout 2015.

The new 125cc motorcycle is likely to be positioned above the CB Shine 125

The recent spy shots from Honda’s facility in Manesar showcased the automaker testing a new 125cc bike that is likely to be sold alongside the CB Shine 125. Still a mystery offering with the name under wraps, Honda India teased its upcoming 125cc executive motorcycle at the RevFest event today showcasing some vital details ahead of the launch scheduled for later this year. Honda further confirmed that the new motorcycle will be the 15th new model to be launched by the company this year in the country, with a majority of the launches being sticker jobs!

While we have a fair idea of how the bike looks like, the teaser shots show a front disc brake and an analog-digital instrument console. The test mules were spotted with drum brakes at the front and rear. The new Honda motorcycle looks a lot more stylish than the CB Shine with curvier lines and a neatly contoured fuel tank. The headlight cowl is similar to the Hero Hunk while the star-shaped alloy wheels are similar to the ones seen on the Hero Xtreme. The 125cc offering gets telescopic front forks, twin shock absorbers at the rear and a tubular swingarm.

In terms of power, we could expect to see an all-new 125cc single-cylinder motor on the upcoming Honda offering or the outgoing unit from the CB Shine could be tweaked for improved performance and refinement. The automaker’s HET system will be equipped on the bike as well for improved fuel economy figures. Details on the new motorcycle are still pretty scarce, but one can expect the model to hit the dealerships by the end of the year, priced around Rs. 65,000/- (ex-showroom).

The new motorcycle is a lot more stylish and could get an all-new motor

The new 125cc bike will get a front disc brake as optional

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Honda’s operations in the American market has taken a major hit just recently after the company recalled 45,00 bikes in the country for fixing a faulty starter switch.

The faulty starter switch can lead to a loss in electrical power

Honda’s two-wheeler division is known to manufacture some of the world’s most famous and fast performance motorcycles. The company is one of the world’s top most brands and has a large fan following as well. However, there has been a lot of negativity revolving around the company’s international and Indian operations. While the company has not been able to become a crowd favorite in our country, Honda is having troubled times in the international market as well with a recent recall in Japan affecting 30,000 bikes.

For the second time this year, the Japanese giant has issued another recall but in the United States of America this time around. The recall affects more than 45,000 motorcycles in total including models like the CRF250L, CBR300, 2015 CB300F, NSS300, CBR500, 2014-2015 CB500, CBR600, CBR650, 2014-2016 NC700, CTX700, VT750, 2013-2015 ST1300PA and VT1300 bikes. According to Honda, these models have been recalled because a sealant might have been incorrectly applied to the starter relay switch, as a result of which the electrical system can lose power.

If the electrical system loses power, then the engine will eventually end up stalling while the motorcycle is being ridden. Sudden stalling of the bike is very dangerous and might result in a crash as well. Therefore, Honda will be notifying owners of the affected models and the company’s dealers will replace the affected starter relay switch free of charge. However, the manufacturer is yet to provide a notification schedule regarding this issue. Honda really needs to pull up its socks and provide customers a more satisfactory service quality.

This recall affects the more recent Honda performance motorcycles

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The RC213V showcases Honda’s technological prowess and was a visual treat for the enthusiasts, but its street-legal version won’t be launched in India anytime soon.

If sold in India, the street-legal RC213V will command a price tag of Rs. 2.5 crores (on-road)

Honda’s RevFest marks the beginning of the Japanese auto giant’s beginning of an aggressive strategy in the premium motorcycle space. At least that’s what Honda Two-Wheelers wanted to convey with the grand event that by its own admission was a way to connect with the youth of the country. The RevFest saw the arrival of the CBR650F in India along with the showcase of the CB Hornet 160R and the updated CBR150R and CBR250R models. However, gauging the enthusiast’s attention at the RevFest was a surprise showcase of the RC213V with its head turning stance.

Just to summarise how special the Honda RC213V is, the MotoGP race bike helped rider Marc Marquez win the 2013 and 2014 championship titles while also winning the Constructors Championship during the same period. A massive showcase of the automaker’s technical prowess and wizardry, the MotoGP winning bike is a track spec bike and is not street legal in any part of the world harnessing some overwhelming levels of power that are best handled in trained hands.

Power on the Honda RC213V comes from a 1000cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, 16-valve, V4 engine that is capable of belting out 228 BHP of power. Weighing just 160 kgs, the bike boasts of an impressive power-to-weight ratio and uses Ohlins telescopic forks at the front and a Pro-Link arm at the rear. The bike rides on the 16.5-inch Bridgestone sourced tyres. Select markets do get a street-legal version of the RC213V but with power detuned to 159 PS (only 70 PS in Japan) and 102 Nm of torque, and gets additions like lights, license plate, turn indicators, rear view mirrors, instrument cluster, horn among other bits.

The RC213V has won the MotoGP championship in 2013 & 2014 with rider Marc Marquez

The RC213V makes 228 BHP of power in its MotoGP avatar using a 1000cc V4 engine

The RC213V is constantly improved with inputs from Honda’s MotoGP riders

The Honda RC213V boasts of extremely advanced tech wizardry

Honda also offers a track package on the street-legal RC213V to bump power to 215 BHP

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Honda new ‘only scooter’ plant in Vithalapur (Gujarat) will commence production in the first quarter of 2016. It required an investment of Rs. 1100 crores and is all set to become the world’s largest scooter manufacturing plant.

The Activa scooter is the company’s volume seller in India at present

Honda is betting big on the scooter segment in India and has just announced that they will be setting up a separate manufacturing facility in Vithalapur, Mandal taluka just for the production of scooters. Development and construction of the plant is on schedule and the factory will be fully operational by the last quarter of the current financial year (early 2016). The factory’s foundation event took place last year and since then, Honda has invested Rs. 1100 crores for developing what will soon become the largest scooter manufacturing facility in the world.

At present, Honda enjoys a two-wheeler market share of 26 percent in India, accounting for 59 percent of the overall scooter sales in the country. The new plant is spread across an area of 250 acres and will manufacture 12 lakh units per annum. This factory will become the first two-wheeler production unit in the state of Gujarat and operations will begin in two phases. The first assembly line with a capacity of 6 lakh units will commence three months prior to the second assembly line, having the same annual capacity. The upcoming facility will reportedly hire around 3000 people within the first two years.

Last year, the Japanese manufacturer experienced a growth of 20 percent in the scooter segment as against the overall segment growth of just 7 percent. With demand for two-wheelers in India growing by 10 percent next year, Honda is hoping to make things better in order to get most number of sales as possible. For the new plant, the company will be locally sourcing 97 percent of all raw materials thanks to 22 vendors and suppliers who will be setting up their base camps close to the manufacturing plant by collectively investing around Rs. 900 crores.

Activa is solely responsible for Honda’s growth in the country, it is one of the best selling two-wheelers

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Honda’s next four launches for the year will include the cosmetically updated CBR250R and CBR150R, CB Hornet 160R and a mystery 125cc motorcycle that will help achieve a higher cumulative sales figure.

The new CBR250R/300R sold internationally won’t be coming to India this year.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) made a grandiose arrival in the premium space with the much talked about RevFest event that happened in 8 cities simultaneously. While the automaker may have only launched the new flagship CBR650F at the event in the country, it will be introducing four new products over the next four months by end of the calendar year including the CBR150R and CBR250R with just new colour options, CB Hornet 160R and a mystery 125cc motorcycle that was teased at the event.

Starting with the dud selling CBR models, Honda has surprisingly opted to not get the new CBR150R and CBR250R model range in India that has been on sale internationally since last year. The new CBR model range feature genuine CBR styling instead of the VFR influence complete with twin headlamps, chiselled fairing and much more. The motor has been improved as well for better response and efficiency on both the models. The company has also refrained itself from launching the better performing CBR300R in India that would replace the current 250R altogether and offer better value for the price.

In addition to the entry-level CBR models, Honda won’t be launching the CBR500R either despite the middleweight segment doing well. This parallel-twin offering would indeed find a market, with a competitive price tag of course. That said, the CB Hornet 160R is the new premium bike in the 150cc space that we look forward to from the company and gets sharper styling while power will come from the new Unicorn’s 160cc motor that is likely to be tuned for higher power output. The new mystery 125cc motorcycle is expected to arrive towards the end of the year and could replace the CB Shine in the company’s lineup or be positioned above the best-selling model.

Honda is running on full capacity fuelled by growth from its commuter and scooter range and is looking at an auspicious festive season this year. The company is hoping to clock a 4-5 percent year-on-year growth during the festive season and expects motorcycle sales to get a major push from rural areas. The new launches will certainly help the company achieve a better sales figure that will push the automaker further towards the numero uno spot in the country, which the company has been eyeing for a long time now.

The CB Hornet 160R is a good looking bike that looks very promising

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Honda could take a second shot at the off-roader segment with the NXR 160 Bros that shares its underpinnings with the Hero Impulse, but gets a bigger 160cc motor.

A NXR 160 Bros has just been patented in India, no plans of launch yet

Honda India is extremely aggressive about its Indian operations and while its concentration has been more on the commuter segment in the past, the future will see more performance and niche products coming to the market, if the RevFest was anything to go by. The automaker has promised to launch more performance and niche motorcycles in the country in the coming year and keeping up with its promise, Honda recently patented the NXR 160 Bros in the country, hinting towards a possible launch in the future.

The Honda NXR 160 Bros is better known in the Indian market as the Hero Impulse that was launched in 2011 and was the first-of-its-kind dual-sport motorcycle to go on sale. Sadly though, the market did not fancy such a product then and the primarily underpowered Impulse has been sidelined pretty much in Hero MotoCorp’s lineup ever since. Nonetheless, Honda knows a thing or two about the Indian market and could introduce the NXR 160 Bros in here with the relatively larger 163cc engine (compared to a 149cc unit found on the Impulse). Power was a major issue with the Impulse that will stand slightly corrected with a 163cc motor.

It is quite clear that the Honda NXR 160 Bros won’t be coming to India this year. The dual-sport segment is yet to open up but given the quick appreciation of adventure tourers in the country, it won’t be surprising to see the right dual-sport motorcycle making it big. Currently, Honda sells the NXR 160 Bros in South America where the bike uses a 163cc single-cylinder, air-cooled motor producing 14.5 HP at 8500 RPM and 14.3 Nm of torque at 5500 RPM, paired to a 5-speed gearbox. The bike gets 180 mm telescopic front forks and 150.3 mm rear monoshock suspension along with front and rear disc brakes. The motorcycle comes with a high ground clearance of 247 mm.

The Honda NXR 160 Bros will be appealing to a niche set of buyers

A popular offering in Latin America, the NXR comes with ethanol or petrol options

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