Honda CB300R spotted in India ahead of February 8 launch

The upcoming Honda CB300R was spotted in India for the first time. Honda seems to have been busy creating a promotional video for the CB300R when the motorcycle was photographed. The mandatory saree guard was not seen on the CB300R although the front number plate, with DL registration, confirmed that the bike was indeed spotted in India. The spy photographs also reveal that the India-spec CB300R will use Michelin Pilot Street Radial tyres.

Also read: Listen to the India-bound Honda CB300R's exhaust note [Video]

The motorcycle will arrive in the country via the CKD route and yet carry a competitive price tag. Honda had announced earlier in this month that the CB300R would come below the INR 2.5 lakh price range. For comparison, the Made-in-India BMW G 310 R cost INR 2.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The direct threat to the CB300R is the KTM 390 Duke that retails for INR 2.44 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and carries better performance numbers. The Indo-Austrian motorcycle also packs more features than the Honda as it comes equipped with a ride-by-wire throttle and a Bluetooth enabled instrument console.

The Honda CB300R uses a 286cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, single cylinder fuel-injected motor that put out 30.9 bhp of power at 8,500 rpm and 27.5 Nm of peak torque at 7,500 rpm. In comparison, the KTM 390 Duke’s 373.2cc liquid-cooled, single cylinder engine makes 42 bhp of power at 9,000 rpm and 37 Nm of peak torque at 7,000 rpm.

Another threat to the motorcycle would be the Royal Enfield 650 Twins. The Interceptor INT 650 and the Continental GT 650 were launched in India at INR 2.5 lakh and INR 2.65 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) respectively.

Bookings for the CB300R have commenced at Honda Super Bike stores for a token amount of INR 5,000 while the deliveries would begin after the India launch that is scheduled to take place on February 8, 2019.

Also read: Honda motorcycles to get steering assist system; patent leaked

In other updates about Honda’s performance motorcycles, the CBR650F has gone missing from the company’s India website, and thus it’s only a matter of time before the CBR650R makes it to the country. We could also see Honda’s middleweight naked roadster, the CB650R arrive in India.

[Source: Rushlane.com]