Re: Honda to make a middleweight motorcycle in India to take on Royal Enfield

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https://www.xbhp.com/honda-plans-to-compete-with-royal-enfield-in-india/

Re: Honda to make a middleweight motorcycle in India to take on Royal Enfield

I do not have much hope from honda.

God knows why they are putting a team of Japanese & Thai Engg on this when they need to add Indian engg into it as they know the local conditions better.

Having said above, by the time they will finish the development , testing et all ... market would have moved on. Almost everybody is trying to move into 250 cc -500 cc segment & honda is still investing in the segment...Didn't they have this range covered already in japan.. why invent the wheel again.... Only honda can answer perhaps...

Honda plans to compete with Royal Enfield in India

Honda Motor, Japan has deployed a team of engineers in India to develop a global middleweight motorcycle. Honda sees a potential growth & business in the middleweight motorcycles falls between 250cc to 750cc after observing a successful growth rate achieved by Eicher Motors's Royal Enfield in India. Particularly for the last 5 years and still, Royal Enfield's sales rate graph is towards a phenomenal upward growth. Honda considers Royal Enfield as its rival on middleweight motorcycles in India. To start with, hoping Honda would plan to develop a 500cc engine in India.

Previously, Rajiv Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Auto has given an indirect statement in his media interviews that Bajaj Dominar 400 was launched to compete in the middleweight motorcycle segment, especially with Royal Enfield motorcycles. Now Honda is also getting into the game on middleweight segment motorcycles in India.

Speaking on this Noriaki Abe, president and chief executive officer (CEO) at Asian Honda Motor Co. Ltd said,

Source: Hindustan Times

Re: Honda plans to compete with Royal Enfield in India

The CX-02 concept is said to be a CB500X in Indian clothes. Having said that, the more I look at the Rebel 500, the more I think its aimed at targeting the Harley Street 500/750 and the 500 Bullets. The RE/HD sales are growing and only fools would sit back and let other manufacturers take up the pie.

Re: Honda to make a middleweight motorcycle in India to take on Royal Enfield

So they are going to make the bike in India. Hmm, that would be nice. What would be your guesstimate on the pricing of the rebels? [MENTION=5491]nitesh[/MENTION]

Re: Honda plans to compete with Royal Enfield in India

There are two Rebels. One is based on CBR300R engine, other based on CBR500R engine. if the CX-02 concept turns into a CB500X bike then its more likely that a Rebel will accompany it. From what I know the Rebel 300 is for very limited markets but the 500 will be exported to many countries.

Dont know if they will think about locally manufacturing Rebel 500 here but it might be a CKD at around or a little more than the Street 750's price.

Re: Honda plans to compete with Royal Enfield in India

Perhaps this point is exactly what made Honda finally wake up and hear the exhaust roars from our Indian soil.

What could work for them is the Rs. 2-4L pricing range (if they ever get around to it, that is).

Models could purely be along the lines of the cruisers like the Rebel (400cc/500cc) or the sports tourers like the CX-02 concept. More options for tourers that don't have any dependability or bone-rattle issues always welcome.

But I'm thinking that they really, really should be looking at something thats Clean, Mean and Naked... Like the Honda CB1100 in an 400cc or 500cc avatar. Why? Because of the huge untapped potential in our country for bikes that are neutral in stance and ride posture. Affordable yet fast enough to smile through the highway miles. And with a visor attachment provision please.





It'll fit right in with the other pricier nakeds - the Bonnevilles, the Street series from HD. All this only if they can nail it with the pricing vs. VFM strategy like Bajaj did with the Dominar (though the sub-2L Rs. pricing would be unrealistic for Honda). They'll need to get that right if they're thinking of taking any bites out the mid-segment pie.

It's been great decade so far with more and more bikers deciding to happily plonk down Rs. 2-4L in the mid-segment. This is evident by the success of the smaller bikes from the Benelli stable or the huge interest in the 2017 Duke 390.

There's lots of room still left for Honda to make us happy. Should they? Yes, of course. Will they?

Re: Honda plans to compete with Royal Enfield in India

<sup>Every manufacturer wants to have a piece of the pie of Royal Enfield, not a loss. Opens up a wide array of options with even better technology and better performing machines. RE's are over priced for what they offer and fancy color schemes aren't going to pave the way for any betterment in the long run. RE needs to up their ante especially when it comes to offering reliable technology. But I think the current status quo wouldn't worry RE in any significant way.

Cheers!
VJ</sup>

Re: Honda plans to compete with Royal Enfield in India

Honda? The company that makes amazing bikes of all kinds in all segments and sizes everywhere else in the world, but only sells the same commuter bikes and scooters in India, despite the likes of KTM / Benelli / etc setting up shop here and actually flourishing for several years now, with no signs of slowing down?


Honda already makes several amazing cruisers, even in the small / midsize range from 300cc up to the liter; yet steadfastly refuses to sell them here. They're still ignoring the now-obvious fact that there is indeed a hungry market for the mid-size motorcycle segment. Still, their attitude is that all us Indians want are affordable, simple, cheap-as-dirt commuter machines and nothing else. Apparently, to them, no one in India wants to have any actual fun on two wheels.


So forgive me but I'm not holding my breath in anticipation here.

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I would give my left nut for a Honda Rebel. It seems, in every possible way, to be the perfect bike for all my needs. But this is Honda we're talking about, so there's no point in waiting for something that will never come.


Of course, I hope I'm wrong. But I'm probably not.

Re: Honda plans to compete with Royal Enfield in India

Somebody high up in Honda has announced it, as per the article.

Prepare your sack.

[emoji14]

Re: Honda plans to compete with Royal Enfield in India

Would you pay Harley Street750 money for a Rebel 500 though? On paper there's not much of a difference. 7 less ponies but weighs like 40kg less I think.

Re: Honda plans to compete with Royal Enfield in India

"compete with RE" means single cylinder engine with as much detuning as possible.

So, IMO, Honda will find some ~500 cc single cylinder engine in their portfolio (for example, the XBR500), detune the sh** out of it (the XBR500 made ~44 hp, lets say after detuning it will make 27) and plonk that into an ancient steel frame with rear drum brakes and retro styling, price that at 2.xx lakh (can't price it less, its a Honda) and hope that it will sell.

Can't wait for it to be launched

Re: Honda to make a middleweight motorcycle in India to take on Royal Enfield

A 500cc Honda? It will costs above 3 lakhs..
Won't be a surprise if it goes above 4 too.

Re: Honda to make a middleweight motorcycle in India to take on Royal Enfield

If they make the rebel 500 in India, and price it around ₹3.5L on road, it could find takers. The rebel 300 must be around ₹2 lakh to poach the RE customer.