if its as cheap as you are making it to be, will I be able to buy it with pocket change

on a serious note, Indian public is starved for options, especially in its category. duke 390 is great but considering bajaj's strategy of as low variables in its bikes( all 125-200-390 are exactly same, except different engines), I doubt we will see more faired or more practical version. for touring crowd, this is obvious choice over duke or even R4 or something. if its priced within 1 lac of duke 390 (which is highly unlikely in India), and has half decent dynamics like cbr150r, i bet it will get more takers, including me.

Ignoring the let's increase the font size as a rebuttal in an argument, let's just address the multitude of points here.

First, all of us have different expectations from our bikes. Actually we want one perfect bike when we have different expectations. Now ideally, if i was abroad, i would either have a bike that is true to that brief or I would have been able to afford two bikes for myself. But, due to lots of stupidity, i can't. So i have to wait for that perfect bike. Now inspite of the chagrin of many here, am not pro any manufacturer, am pro my-perfect bike. KTM has its share of problems, a puny fuel tank being one of them, but they are offering you a better product. Like Yamaha did with R15 or Rx100 or RD350. Or to some extent RE with the classic series. Or Bajaj with pulsar. Am not saying these were perfect bikes. But they somehow were pushing the envelope. Which is what any product should do. Which is what biking to an extent is all about. Why are we, as bikers, attempting to go to god forsaken places, attempting iron butt or just leaning into a corner a little harder on our favourite set of twisties? Because we are pushing the envelope. Because biking is about that. Because it is one of the few cheap ways left to get the thrill stone age men called life.

so while we are doing that much, the bike manufacturers are taking their own sweet time to get out of their warm beds.

So, let's assume majority of us want a tourer, and a good tourer. And let's say it is being made keeping in mind the majority of us, how come it is missing a projector lamp then? Aren't the forums here filled with people complaining about in adequate lights. Or for that matter the cbr250r having the horn that talks in the language and at volume of Manmohan Singh ( I know another joke on him, must stahp!). Or tyres that are really fcuk all in the wet. And this is nothing but cost cutting. And that pisses me off, more than anything.

If you care to read international magazines, you will find they are overtly critical of some new bikes from Honda. The journalists here, like us, are just too happy that there is a little better and little bigger machine coming, to subjectively analyse the bikes. One of the magazines, here, for example, complains, that the only thing wrong with the ninja 650R is that the gear lever is a bit short. Which if you think about it is rather strange.

I have a cbr 250R and i have spent a lot of money to get it better. Change tyres. Changes front suspension. Fiddled with rear. And over a period of time it gets better at some things, remains the same in others. Is not the perfect bike, will never be. I love it for some reasons, feels short changed at some. But the thing is if I, can try to get it better why can't Honda give me a better product to begin with. I can't believe it has the suspension that everyone loves in the corner. It bounces at undulation, gets a tad naughty under heavy braking, you are always reminded of its girth and so on. I agree lots of its problems are because the roads and riders are varied but and that is my point here, why don't they put adjustable suspension then? But they don't. Because they are a bit expensive. And maybe no one is ready to point it out to them.

Hero's off road bike could have been much better with a 225cc karizma's engine. Anyways it is a niche market, but no.

We will eventually end up making compromises, as we do with everything in life, but i want a better compromise. None of you will be ok with a 80's motorola handset when you have the latest touch screens around, so why settle for bikes which are just peddling old tech. Why isn't the sporty 500 different in weight and suspension and brakes than its off roading version. Aren't they just doing what Hero Honda has done for so long? And we all are pretty critical of Hero for that. We all know Honda is capable of so much more but they choose to make stuff that is just not what they owe bikers of this country. I am sick and tired of being treated like a commuter, maybe you are not, and you can have your point of view, in a bigger font size too, but that does not change my expectation from them. I deserve, and will demand, better bikes.

happy biking.

If we have no choice we have to buy something. Right now world have little to choose in 500cc class. So anything is sellable. We have seen that Ninja 250 remained a bit outdated until CBR 250 showed up. Something better (or at least a competition) should take birth for any most manufacturer to up standards. There is reasons for having regular fork etc. We have the same type of them on Ninja 650. There is no denying that CBR 500 line up is not blessed with modern stuff. but the motor will be good. Very relaxed for that tuning.

Inheritance and reuse helps KTM/Bajaj to sell their products cheper while offering stuffs like Great chassis suspension bits. If honda is trying to do that we will have a 5+L bike on offer. And that one may not succeed. CBR 250 became a success with Conti rubber and spongy forks. that supports hondas current strategy too.

Duke cannot force Honda to bring better equipment since Its a pure street bike. And simply no match for the coming honda in many ways. For that to happen an indigenous Twin (a 400 will do) with a semi fairing should take birth. And we need to wait for that. Until then we can buy this offering and we can build a decent bike like many did with CBR 250 that will add 10k to infinity to suit the taste.

SAD BUT REALITY

Re: Honda launches 6 new bikes including CBR500R, CB500X, and CB500F

\M/



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Saurabh, agree with you on every sentence. But it seems Honda does want to treat us like commuters (not just us actually!). More or less, this has been there approach in all markets/countries. Honda's design philosophy of "anyone-can-ride-it-easily" often works against the outlook of bikers who are primarily looking for maximum performance from their ride (irrespective of CCs). They want even our grand-daddies to ride their motorcycles. These 500s will probably be easier to master than a low capacity v-twin cruiser. Also, make it easy on the eyes! It sucks to think like that, I know. But Honda's marketing, most of the times, works like magic just like Apple. They will make you believe that they have made the best product for you!

Their suspension problem with CBR250R seems strange considering their experience in motorcycle history. But their similar non adjustable suspension in CBR150R offers better stability where the 250 seems to shake a bit. Probably because CBR150R also has a perimeter frame but I have still read and heard that 150's suspension is slightly harder making it suitable around corners. I do not own either of the two so can't comment any more than this.

This issue has been discussed in very detailed in CBR 250R ownership thread; CBR 250R is more tourer friendly & 150R for more on track. For the kind of sizes of potholes that I run over at unmentionable speeds with my CBR 250R, if I'd the so called "stable cornering speed" suspension types, I would've been permanently booked a room in a hospital!!! As such there's no problem with CBR 250R's suspension!!!

And you're bang right on the point Honda's design philosophy of "anyone-can-ride-it-easily" + forty6's point on Projector headlamps. The headlamps cannot be categorized under "inadequate" but Honda could've better made use of technologies, which is bang true.

Anyway, I only wanted to clear out this confusion. Over & out to 500 RXF discussions...

My guess, the 500 cc Honda's are not headed to India.. at least not very soon.

These are Thai made models. Unless they are made in India, Honda can't price them "India friendly".

Honda's India "Dream" is a "Yuga" which makes it the number one 2 wheeler company (in sales). And anyway the "Chillar" numbers that a Rs. 3-5 lakh machine would generate is not going to interest the Honda top management. As for the statement that Honda needs to make in India, has already been made with the CBR 150R/250R.

I had always wished for something between cbr250r and 600RR, which came true!

But the above post seems quite true, as honda India is more interested in sales figures than making a statement. Let's see when it comes to India and at what price. I have almost made my mind to buy if its lower than 4 lacs.

CBR600RR also got updated -->>

EICMA 2012 - Honda CBR600RR 2013 - Overdrive Magazine

Yes, If you had seen the first post, you would've known that long before!

oops........

This is why Honda 500R has 47bhp output
First Look at the Honda CBR500R Race Bike

And here is the launch video
Jonathan Rea launches Honda CBR500R - YouTube

And Honda has replaced Duke 690 for the European Junior Cup.

To whoever was conversating with me about power to weight ratio for the A2 license in this thread.. (i think it was antz.bin)? The news going around is that the Duke 390 could be limited to 40hp to meet the A2 license power to weight requirements. Ive already posted the link to the thread that has been locked but il post the link here aswell.

Restricted KTM 390 Duke for A2 licence holders? - | Motorbike reviews | Latest Bike Videos | MCN

This is why the Honda is on the heavier side, and it appears to be the only explanation for the weight. And makes sense if there is a 54bhp version for the US market

CB500 prices

UK prices announced....

On-road prices, except insurance

CB500F = 4650GBP
CBR500R = 4950GBP
CB500X = 4950GBP

All models, ABS as standard for UK

It should cost starting at sub-4lakh for the naked bike...if Honda decides to launches these in India...

Those are Visordown prices. Not announced on the Honda worldwide or even the UK website.

Not saying that it definitely is the wrong price, but I think the X will be priced a bit higher than the R!