Honda to Launch New 350cc Cruiser Bike in India, Takes on Royal Enfield Lineup.

Honda is set to launch a new cruiser bike in India by the end of 2023, which will be based on the CB350 platform. This move is part of Honda's strategy to take on the popular Royal Enfield 350cc lineup in the country. While the CB350RS was marketed as a scrambler and the H'ness was designed to rival the Classic 350, the upcoming bike will be a cruiser similar to the Meteor 350.

Design and Features of the New Cruiser Bike

The new cruiser bike will likely retain the 348cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine and main frame of the CB350 platform. However, the styling will be modified to reflect cruiser aesthetics, and the suspension set-up may be tweaked to provide a more raked-out front end and a lower ride height. The gearing and sprockets may also be adjusted to provide more bottom-end grunt, a common feature of cruiser bikes.

Pricing and Launch Date

To compete with the popular Meteor 350, Honda will need to price the new cruiser bike competitively, which could mean a price point of around Rs 2 lakh to 2.2 lakh (ex-showroom). The bike will launch before November, just in time for the festive season.

Other Plans by Honda

Besides the new cruiser bike, Honda also plans two other petrol-powered vehicles in FY24. The first is a 125cc scooter that could share its underpinnings with the Activa 125, while the second is a 160cc motorcycle that could borrow its engine from the X-Blade and Unicorn. There is no word yet on what direction Honda will take with the latter bike, but some industry insiders speculate that it may adopt an adventure bike look, similar to the CB200X based on the Hornet 2.0.

Conclusion

Honda's decision to launch a cruiser bike in India is an interesting move, given that this segment is relatively small. However, with the Meteor 350 doing well in the market, Honda hopes to grab a share of this niche. While it remains to be seen whether Honda's new cruiser bike will be able to compete with the popular Royal Enfield bikes, the competition is certainly heating up in the 350cc segment.