Honda unveiled its motorcycle line-up for 2020 at the EICMA Motorcycle Show here on Tuesday. The launches span across all biking segments — commuter, roadster, adventure and racing.

The refreshed models showcased include SH125i and SH150i in the commuter segment; CMX500 Rebel and CBR1000R roadsters; the Africa Twin and the Africa Twin Adventure Sports in the adventure biking space and racing bikes — CBR1000RR-R Fireblade and Fireblade SP. Of these, the CB1000R, the Africa Twin Adventure Sports and the Fireblade racing bikes will be available in India, although the exact time of launch and the prices are yet to be revealed.

Powered by a lighter and more powerful 1100 cc parallel twin engine, both versions of the 2020 Africa Twin use a lighter, narrower frame, improving both agility and comfort. The all-new racing bikes — CBR1000RR-R Fireblade and Fireblade SP — come with a new frame and engine and draw strongly on Honda’s RC213V MotoGP technology. Both bikes will be available in two colour schemes: a Grand Prix Red and a Matte Pearl Black.

 

Make in India focus

These launches come at a time Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India is making big plans for its exclusive premium motorcycle business under the ‘Honda BigWing’ vertical. With new focus on ‘Make in India for the World’, Honda plans to foray into mass production of select big bikes from India, from the existing CKD/CBU operations. While the existing model of the Africa Twin is assembled in India, the CB1000R is being imported as a fully built unit. The modalities for these 2020 models are still being worked out and whether they will be manufactured, assembled or imported cannot be ascertained immediately, said Prabhu Nagaraj, Vice-President, Brand and Communications, Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India.

The company plans to nearly double its BigWing portfolio from the current seven to 13 models by next fiscal. Nagaraj hopes that the focus on ‘Make in India’ will improve the export potential for the company, especially after the implementation of BS-VI emission norms (Euro V equivalent) from April 1, 2020.

 

The writer is in Milan at the invitation of Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India

 

 

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