Honda two-wheelers has finally started accepting bookings for the mid-range performance bike, the CBR650F, which is all set to be launched in July.
The CBR650F has been much-awaited by Honda fans in India. This bike’s launch has been on the anvil since a very long time but only now has the company finally geared up for the superbike’s debut in India. The Japanese manufacturer has started promotional activities for the bike and some dealers across the country have also got the bike. While the exact launch date is not clear, we expect Honda to launch the CBR650F in July itself. Honda two-wheeler dealerships have also started accepting bookings for the bike for an amount of Rs. 50,000/-.
The CBR650F is going to be the first performance bike to be assembled in India by Honda. It will be brought down via the CKD route and assembly has already begun at the company’s plant. Presently, localised content will only be 5% but Honda will later increase localisation to a higher extent. Powering the motorcycle is a 649cc, inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 86 HP of power and 63 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission and Honda will also offer ABS as a standard feature. The bike sprints from 0-100 km/hr in less than 4 seconds while top speed is rated at 225 km/hr.
Honda has confirmed the bike will cost around Rs. 8 lakhs (ex-showroom) which is quite a lot. The CBR650F will compete with the Benelli TNT600 GT and Kawasaki Ninja 650, both of which are priced considerably lower. The CBR’s price will match the Kawasaki Z800’s price, the latter being much more powerful. Honda has captured a huge share in the two-wheeler market in India but majority of this share consists of mass-market two-wheelers like the Activa and CB Shine. However, the company hasn’t forgotten enthusiasts and hence is also shifting focus to performance bikes but the CBR250R continues to be ignored.
