300cc Honda Cruiser Bike to Launch in India Soon: Putting an end to all the speculations, Honda has officially announced that they would be launching an all-new premium motorcycle in the Indian markets on September 30, 2020.
Previously, it was being speculated that the new bike could be a 300cc cruiser or the 2021 model of the CBR500R sportbike. But as per the exhaust sound teaser video released by Honda 2-Wheelers India, it is now confirmed that the upcoming product is a cruiser motorcycle and it would be competing with the likes of Royal Enfield Classic 350 series and the Jawa Classic 300.
Expected to be launched as Honda Rebel 300, the cruiser bike would be priced somewhere around INR 2 lakhs (ex-showroom). The 300cc premium motorcycle would be retailed through the Honda Big Wing chain of dealerships.
As of now, it is not clear if Honda would be launching the international-spec Rebel 300 in India or we will be getting a different design with an all-new branding. We are expecting Honda to release another teaser video in the coming days to make the things clear.
The brand officially made an announcement in October last year regarding the new range of 300cc-500cc motorcycles but the launch got delayed due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Here is an old statement by Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Sr VP, sales and marketing at Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India:
“We are approaching the premium bike business with the new energy and zeal than ever before, not to be mixed with a mass-market approach. We know that pricing is going to be a key consideration for increasing the volumes and viability of our dealers. There has to be a model that is locally produced to make it viable,”
“We have been maintaining that the middleweight category has good potential in terms of volumes. The study is on to understand exactly what kind of portfolio we need. There will be a different kind of body styles in the mid-size space that will be introduced to cater to a larger audience”.
If we talk about the international-spec model of the Honda Rebel 300, in terms of looks, the bike features an all-LED headlight cluster which is aligned towards the handlebar while the parallel LED units placed inside adds to its modern outlook. Coming to the rear tail light, the brand has placed a smart LED unit while all the four turn indicators also feature a retro round design.
The single-seat saddle on the Honda Rebel 300 has been padded well for additional comfort while the seat height stands at 690mm. The all-digital LCD instrument console is also round in shape and has been recently updated in the international markets to display the fuel consumption stats in addition to displaying the gear position.
Mechanically, the US-spec model of the Honda Rebel 300 is powered by a 286cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine which is good for a maximum power of 30.4 HP along with a peak torque of 27.4 Nm. The engine has been further mated with a 6-speed transmission. Here are the official photos of the 2021 Honda Rebel 300 (international-spec model):
