You read it first on MotorBeam. Honda will launch the CBR500R in India in early 2014. The Japanese automaker will showcase the Honda CBR500R at the upcoming Auto Expo in February 2014. Our sources inform us that training of service technicians has already commenced in India. Honda has decided to launch a new product every quarter but the company seems to have missed its schedule in this quarter, which saw no launch. The company has been working on bringing in a range of game changing bikes next year.
The Honda CBR500R was unveiled in November 2012. The motorcycle also has street-fighter and adventure siblings which utilise the same engine and underpinnings. The Honda CBR500R is powered by a 500cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine, producing 47 BHP of power and 43 Nm of torque. However this CBR isn’t light and weighs a hefty 194 kgs. 0-100 km/hr takes 5.7 seconds while top speed is 185 km/hr. The bike is offered with ABS as an option but we expect only the ABS model to be sold in India. Braking duties are taken care by 320 mm and 240 mm petal discs at the front and rear respectively.
Globally the Honda CBR500R competes with the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and KTM Duke 390 but the CBR has an upper hand when it comes to displacement and output. The US price of the CBR500R with ABS is Rs. 3.6 lakhs and we expect the motorcycle to be priced around Rs. 4 lakhs in India (on-road) which might not appear as strong value for money. With the KTM RC 390 coming, many will be lured to the ‘Ready To Race’ brand due to the aggressive pricing. No doubt, the Honda CBR500R looks the part and will be an excellent motorcycle for long distances and touring.
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