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Honda CBF Stunner
125CC, 11Bhp
Kerb Weight: 129 Kg
Wheelbase: 1271mm
Fuel Tank Capacity: 10 Litres
Tubeless tryes
Front 80/100-17 and Rear: 100/90-77
Front Brakes: 240mm Disc or 130mm Drum
Rear Brake: 130mm drum
Starting system: Kick/Electric
5 speed transmission
Trip meter
For whom the bike is developed and on sale?
Not for performance enthusiasts like me and you. This bike is for the innumerable college going crowd who would like their first motorcycle to be stylish, high quality, fuel efficient and affordable off the showrooms. This also takes care of the fear the parents have when giving their kids the first bike, a 125CC wont break the bank and wont be too fast - and now, after the release of the Stunner, wont be an unassuming pathetic anorexic looking metal rod frame draped in skimpy plastic and gory graphics.
So now that we have put our i-am-a-performance-biker-icant-appreciate-a-125cc-commuter-bike we go ahead.
The finish and quality of the bike has to bee seen under the sun to be believed. Specially the Yellow, which looks smashing. The bike doesnt look anywhere near like a 125CC and would pass to be a 150CC very easily. In fact from certain angles it looks bigger than the Karizma, which again as you know is based off Honda's design (Hero<--->Honda). I also loved the console assemble, two simple round dials with a matte black handlebar and the silver winged Honda logo give it a very good feel, especially, when you see the very wide bikini fairing giving you the psychological advantage as the rider.
I rode it a couple of time on the 200metres odd track Honda had very smartly provided at the launch venue itself. 125CC and 11Bhp is nothing for us get excited about but it could mean a lot to a first timer student buying his first bike. The engine felt very smooth and gear shifts were very precise. I did a lot of clutch less shifting without any problems. The front brake felt good without that spongy feel, couldnt really test the bike flat out, but again thats what its not made for.
The Stunning looks + fuel efficiency of a 125CC + the Honda reliability + the correct price tag (51,655 ex in Delhi for the fully loaded version and 47,070 ex for the version without disc and self and side graphics) = a perfect bike for the youngster and a perfect weapon to decimate the 125Cc sad competition which is will get right now.
So this was not just another pathetic bike launch, it will create a whole new set of expectations, much like the R15 did with the 150CC. People just wont accept 150CCs and 125CCs after these two trendsetters have been launched in their own domains.
Unless until just you know, maybee, the R125 is launched, with more than a double of the price tag.
And yes people (also those who are sleeping and snoring ) : I have confirmed from the top Honda officials that Honda will have a 800+ CC bike in this financial year (by February 2009), or in other words the Fireblade 1000RR with be launched by February 2009!
After that we can most probably also see a series of other high performance . bikes from Honda.
MG's first impression of the bike
I won't repeat what Sunny already mentioned.Here is my intial impression about the bike.
Looks:
The Bike looks absolutely stunning for its segment.Look at it from the front,side or rear it will bring a smile on your face.You can take it anywhere without feeling inferior from other bigger bikes. I dare to say that its much better looking than our classic Karizma.They have designed it beautifully.It looks flawless and in the meantime doesn't looks too flashy.
Switchgears are good for this segment.
The rear tail light(I had already seen it closely in Auto Expo) though not LED's looks very good both from rear and side.
The dials are fine for 125cc but for this Bike would have loved to see a digital speedo and odo.The plastics around the dials looks average as compared to perfect all round fit and finish of the bike.
Ride Impression:
Honda had made a makeshift small stretch where the bike's were given for test rides.To be precise the stretch of road was 170mt in lenght.I rode the Bike for 170*2*6=2040mt(2.04km)
The starter is perfect like any other Honda.The Bike feels a bit sluggish at the first gear but makes up well in 2nd and 3rd.I managed a maximum of 68(Speedo indicated) on 4th gear in that stretch.The gears felt a bit hard as compared to other Hondas but that may be because its a new(test) bike.
I though was impressed by its pulling power.The Bike pulled easily from 30 on 5th gear.Brakes performed well but its too early to judge the tyre performance based on this short ride.
The wheel base is quite long and with the addition of 5th gear this Bike can actually be used for short touring rides.Need to see what will be the ideal cruising speed and air turbulence on highways.
Seating position though not sporty is perfect and you actually feels that you are riding a Karizma.
The turning radius is a bit big as compared to other 125cc but didn't faced any problem in the short turning diameter in the stretch provided.
There is some useful storage space below the rear seat.
Final Analysis
With this product Honda had done everything right and surely they have winner at hand.I feel their initial sales expectation of 80000 units in 9 months can be easily achieved.
Photos(Sunny):
125CC, 11Bhp
Kerb Weight: 129 Kg
Wheelbase: 1271mm
Fuel Tank Capacity: 10 Litres
Tubeless tryes
Front 80/100-17 and Rear: 100/90-77
Front Brakes: 240mm Disc or 130mm Drum
Rear Brake: 130mm drum
Starting system: Kick/Electric
5 speed transmission
Trip meter
For whom the bike is developed and on sale?
Not for performance enthusiasts like me and you. This bike is for the innumerable college going crowd who would like their first motorcycle to be stylish, high quality, fuel efficient and affordable off the showrooms. This also takes care of the fear the parents have when giving their kids the first bike, a 125CC wont break the bank and wont be too fast - and now, after the release of the Stunner, wont be an unassuming pathetic anorexic looking metal rod frame draped in skimpy plastic and gory graphics.
So now that we have put our i-am-a-performance-biker-icant-appreciate-a-125cc-commuter-bike we go ahead.
The finish and quality of the bike has to bee seen under the sun to be believed. Specially the Yellow, which looks smashing. The bike doesnt look anywhere near like a 125CC and would pass to be a 150CC very easily. In fact from certain angles it looks bigger than the Karizma, which again as you know is based off Honda's design (Hero<--->Honda). I also loved the console assemble, two simple round dials with a matte black handlebar and the silver winged Honda logo give it a very good feel, especially, when you see the very wide bikini fairing giving you the psychological advantage as the rider.
I rode it a couple of time on the 200metres odd track Honda had very smartly provided at the launch venue itself. 125CC and 11Bhp is nothing for us get excited about but it could mean a lot to a first timer student buying his first bike. The engine felt very smooth and gear shifts were very precise. I did a lot of clutch less shifting without any problems. The front brake felt good without that spongy feel, couldnt really test the bike flat out, but again thats what its not made for.
The Stunning looks + fuel efficiency of a 125CC + the Honda reliability + the correct price tag (51,655 ex in Delhi for the fully loaded version and 47,070 ex for the version without disc and self and side graphics) = a perfect bike for the youngster and a perfect weapon to decimate the 125Cc sad competition which is will get right now.
So this was not just another pathetic bike launch, it will create a whole new set of expectations, much like the R15 did with the 150CC. People just wont accept 150CCs and 125CCs after these two trendsetters have been launched in their own domains.
Unless until just you know, maybee, the R125 is launched, with more than a double of the price tag.
And yes people (also those who are sleeping and snoring ) : I have confirmed from the top Honda officials that Honda will have a 800+ CC bike in this financial year (by February 2009), or in other words the Fireblade 1000RR with be launched by February 2009!
After that we can most probably also see a series of other high performance . bikes from Honda.
MG's first impression of the bike
I won't repeat what Sunny already mentioned.Here is my intial impression about the bike.
Looks:
The Bike looks absolutely stunning for its segment.Look at it from the front,side or rear it will bring a smile on your face.You can take it anywhere without feeling inferior from other bigger bikes. I dare to say that its much better looking than our classic Karizma.They have designed it beautifully.It looks flawless and in the meantime doesn't looks too flashy.
Switchgears are good for this segment.
The rear tail light(I had already seen it closely in Auto Expo) though not LED's looks very good both from rear and side.
The dials are fine for 125cc but for this Bike would have loved to see a digital speedo and odo.The plastics around the dials looks average as compared to perfect all round fit and finish of the bike.
Ride Impression:
Honda had made a makeshift small stretch where the bike's were given for test rides.To be precise the stretch of road was 170mt in lenght.I rode the Bike for 170*2*6=2040mt(2.04km)
The starter is perfect like any other Honda.The Bike feels a bit sluggish at the first gear but makes up well in 2nd and 3rd.I managed a maximum of 68(Speedo indicated) on 4th gear in that stretch.The gears felt a bit hard as compared to other Hondas but that may be because its a new(test) bike.
I though was impressed by its pulling power.The Bike pulled easily from 30 on 5th gear.Brakes performed well but its too early to judge the tyre performance based on this short ride.
The wheel base is quite long and with the addition of 5th gear this Bike can actually be used for short touring rides.Need to see what will be the ideal cruising speed and air turbulence on highways.
Seating position though not sporty is perfect and you actually feels that you are riding a Karizma.
The turning radius is a bit big as compared to other 125cc but didn't faced any problem in the short turning diameter in the stretch provided.
There is some useful storage space below the rear seat.
Final Analysis
With this product Honda had done everything right and surely they have winner at hand.I feel their initial sales expectation of 80000 units in 9 months can be easily achieved.
Photos(Sunny):
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