KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Honda Rebel 300 targets Royal Enfield's 350cc dominance.
- Expected price under Rs. 3 lakh for competitiveness.
- 160cc maxi scooter rivals Yamaha Aerox and Xoom 160.
- Proven 157cc engine with 16 bhp and 14.7 Nm.
- Pricing strategy will decide market success for both.
Honda Rebel 300 and ADV 160: Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India seems to have planned something BIG for the Indian market this year. A few days ago, I covered the design patent of the new 300cc cafe racer motorcycle by Honda and now a new inside has arrived that the Japanese auto giant will launch a new bobber-style bike and an Adv 160 scooter in India soon. The 160cc ADV will take on other 160cc options in the respective segment such as the Hero Xoom 160 and Yamaha Aerox 160.
Here are all the details you need to know about the upcoming Rebel 300 and the new 160cc beast coming to India from the house of Honda. Before moving ahead, join our 91Wheels WhatsApp Community to stay versed on the latest automotive news.
Read more: India's Best-Selling Superbikes for 2024: Check out the List
Honda Rebel 300: Bobber Style Beast Coming Soon!
Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India is set to make its premium lineup stronger this year by adding some new 300cc Cafe racer, Rebel 300 Bobber and maybe it has planned some others with the same powerhouse. The auto giant sells its premium motorcycles via the BigWing dealerships. The Premium motorcycle portfolio of Honda currently has some of the best 200cc, 350cc and 500cc options. These include CB300F, CB300R, CB200X, H'ness CB350 RS, CB650R and NX500. The company also sells top-notch products such as Transalp and the Goldwing in our region.
Honda Rebel 300: Price Expectations
Like its other sub-400cc offerings, the Rebel 300 is expected to be priced competitively to tick the 'Value for Money' right box that Indian customers need. I'm expecting this bobber-inspired beast to be priced under Rs. 3.0 lakh and it is because our market already has some sub-400cc options such as Jawa 42 Bobber which are priced even under 2.5 lakh (ex-showroom). So, here the pricing game for Honda would be harder, but this is what works in the most dynamic and value-for-money-centric auto market in the world (the Indian market).
Honda Rebel 300: Powerhouse On Duty
Well, there are not many details available about the specs of this 300cc bobber, but I'm expecting the Rebel 300cc to use a similar engine which does its job well on the CB300R. For the unversed, it is a 286cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. The company might retune this powerhouse to suit the bobber character of this one which may result in a slightly better performance and higher power figures as well.
Other Know Facts About the Rebel 300
Already on sale in the International market, we can expect some specs to remain similar for the India-spec version as well. These include a low seat height of 690mm and a kerb weight of 170 kg. The Honda Rebel 300 seems to be a much more capable and better replacement for some well-established 350cc motorcycles we have in India- Yes you guessed right! I am talking about the 350cc Royal Enfield motorcycles.
160cc ADV Scooter: Honda's Answer to Xoom 160 and Aerox Rival
The upcoming 160cc maxi by Honda will be positioned as a straight rival against the Yamaha Aerox and the all-new Hero Xoom 160. Honda has the sole powerhouse for its 160cc bikes or two-wheelers as a whole. If you are not aware of it, it is a 157cc engine that churns out 16 bhp of power and 14.7 Nm of torque. Other things we know about the upcoming 160cc ADV are the usage of 14-inch (front) and 13-inch (rear) wheels and a fuel tank with a capacity of 8.1 litres.
Judging by the available specs, this seems to be a strong contender in the respective segment, but again the mainstay to get sales in our market remains the pricing factor. This 160cc maxi will only be able to compete with the Xoom 160 and Yamaha Aerox if the two-wheeler giant keeps its pricing strategy aggressive.
Read more: Honda Patents a New Retro Cafe Racer Motorcycle Design: Key Details Inside
Verdict
Honda's Rebel 300 and 160cc maxi scooter have the potential to shake up their segments, but pricing will be key. The Rebel 300 could rival Royal Enfield if priced under Rs. 3 lakh, while the 160cc maxi must be aggressive to compete with the Aerox and Xoom 160. Execution and affordability will determine their success.
