HONDA LAUNCHES CBR 1000RR AND CB1000R IN INDIA

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has had an aggressive growth path for itself in the fast-growing bike segment. It now plans to launch a 100cc bike by December and introduce five more models in three years with the objective of en cashing on the growing opportunities in the bike market. 

Talking about the proposed move and confirming the same Mr. Naresh Kumar Rattan, operating head, Sales & Marketing, HMSI, said, “The bike segment is a good business for us and we would be focusing on it. We expect to grow in the bike space by 25% by next year.” He declined to reveal the details of the new models and the segments they would be considered. “We cannot speak about our upcoming products now.” 

HMSI is renowned in India for the Honda Activa, its gearless scooter. The intention now is to have a significant presence in the bike segment where it is a marginal player. The company presently offers three bikes namely Unicorn, Shine and Stunner. In the year 2008-09, HMSI has sold over five lakh bikes which is up 40% from 2007-08. Overall, HMSI sold 10.7 lakh two-wheelers (bikes and scooters) during FY09. The company has now set itself a target to produce 12.5 lakh two wheelers for 2009-10. 

HMSI has very recently entered the fun bike segment with the launch of the CBR 1000RR Fireblade and CB1000R models which are at the higher end segment. These are in the Rs 9.5-12.5 lakh price range. The company also has plans to increase its dealership and branches. With the intention to grow in the bike segment, HMSI will be up against Hero Honda where Honda is a joint venture partner. 

Hero Honda is presently the biggest player in the bike segment with a 40% market share. Though HMSI officials say their existing models and those in the pipeline are not in the same segment as that of Hero Honda’s, they will compete for the same customer.  

According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), two wheelers constitute three-fourths of the total number of vehicles sold in the domestic market. Hero Honda is the market leader and is followed by Bajaj and TVS in the domestic market. HMSI is one of the major players in the automatic gear scooter segment. HMSI, on Tuesday, launched a 110cc variant of Honda Activa for the Western market.

Identification

Model Type Sport
BASE MSRP(US) $12,999.00
Dealers Honda Dealers
Warranty 12 mnths
 
Engine:
Engine Type Horizontal In-line
Cylinders 4
Engine Stroke 4-Stroke
Cooling Liquid
Valves 16
Valves Per Cylinder 4
Valve Configuration DOHC
Bore (mm/in) 76 / 2.99
Stroke (mm/in) 55.1 / 2.17
Displacement (cc/ci) 999 / 61
Compression Ratio 12.3:1
Starter Electric
Emissions Standards Standard Emissions
Ram Air Induction Yes
Fuel Type Gas
Carburetion Brand Denso
Fuel Injector Yes
Fuel Injector Size (mm) 46
Carburetor NoCarburetion Type Fuel Injected

Transmission:

Transmission Type Manual
Number Of Speeds 6
Primary Drive (Rear Wheel) Chain
Reverse No

Wheels & Tires:  
Wheels Composition Aluminum
Tube / Tubeless Tubeless
Front Wheel Width (in) 3.5
Rear Wheel Width (in) 6
Chromed No
Front Tire Width 120
Front Tire Aspect Ratio 70
Front Tire Speed Rating Z
Front Wheel Diameter 17
Rear Tire Width 190
Rear Tire Aspect Ratio 50
Rear Tire Speed Rating Z
Rear Wheel Diameter 17
Front Tire (Full Spec) 120/70 ZR17
Rear Tire (Full Spec) 190/50 ZR17

Brakes:  
Front Brake Type Dual Disc
Front Brake Diameter (in/mm) 12.6 / 320
Front Caliper Pistons 4
Rear Brake Type Disc
Rear Brake Diameter (in/mm) 8.7 / 220
Rear Caliper Pistons 1
Anti-Lock Brakes Standard

Suspension:  
Front Suspension Type Inverted Fork
Front Suspension Size (in/mm) 1.7 / 43
Front Travel (in/mm) 4.3 / 109.2
Front Adjustable Fork Pre-Load Yes
Front Adjustable Rebound Damping Yes
Front Central Suspension Strut No
Steering Damper Yes
Rear Suspension Type Twin Sided Swing Arm
Rear Travel (in/mm) 5.4 / 137.2
Rear Adjustable Shock / Spring Pre-Load Yes
Rear Adjustable Rebound Damping Yes
Number Rear Shock Absorbers 1
Rear Suspension Brand Name Unit Pro Link™
Rear Suspension Material Aluminum
Air Adjustable No

Steering:  
Steering Control Handlebar
Technical Specifications:  
Wheelbase (in/mm) 55.4 / 1407.2
Rake (degrees) 23.3
Trail (in/mm) 3.8 / 96.2
Wet Weight (lbs/kg) 461.7 / 209.4
Fuel Capacity (gal/l) 4.7 / 17.8
Fuel Capacity Reserve (gal/l) 1.06 / 4
Performance Standard

Seats:  
Seat Type Two-Piece
Adjustable No
Seat Material Vinyl
Seat Location Driver and Passenger
Folding No
Seat Height (in/mm) 32.3 / 820.4
Number Of Seats 2
Grab Rail or Strap Standard

Exterior:  
Frame Aluminum
Body Material Plastic
Hand Grip Material Rubber
Foot Peg Location Driver and Passenger
Drive Shaft Guard No
Fork Guards Yes
Saddle Bag Guard No
Belt Guard No
Hand Guards No
Brush Guard No
Light Guard No
Fuel Tank Cover Yes
Front Fender Material Plastic
Rear Fender Material Plastic
Top Crown Standard
Stand Type Kick
Lower Fairing Standard
Spoiler Standard
Handlebars Standard
Upper Fairing Standard
License Plate Standard

Instrumentation:  
Digital Instrumentation Standard
Clock Standard
Tachometer Standard
Trip Odometer Standard
Trip Computer Standard
Speedometer Standard
Temperature Warning Type Gauge
Fuel Level Warning Type Gauge

Pricing:  
Warranty (Condition) Limited
Zero Price Schema 0
NADA Value Average 0
NADA Value Low 0
NADA Value High 0
Identification:  
Generic Type (Primary) Sport
Manufacturer Country Japan
Introduction Year 2009
MIC Model Segment ON-HWY Sport Bike Over 750cc
NADATrimID 33111
CRS -> NADA Map 6200024339

Mounts:  
Windshield Mounts Standard
Paint & Finish:  
Paint Standard
Glass:  
Folding Yes
Windshield Lowers No
Height Adjustable No
Tinted Yes
Height Low

Storage:  
Underseat Storage Standard

Lights:  
Headlight Mounts Standard
Halogen Headlight (s) Standard

Convenience:  
Handlebar Lock Standard

CB 1000R

The CB1000R is a whole new bag for Honda. A bike designed with Europe in mind and one that uses a retuned version of the ‘07 CBR1000RR engine and runs ‘08 Fireblade forks, ‘08 Fireblade brakes, a beautiful single-sided swingarm and styling tailored to the decor of the very best designer cafes in Milan







Then there’s the short, stubby attitude of the CB1000R: the tiny seat unit designed as a token gesture to attract nubile young goddesses who may want to perch on your steed, so to speak. In reality no real human would want to sit on the back and you’d never get a tail pack on it, but Honda designed it that way. It’s all about being aggressive, minimal, and saying to everyone watching that hey, I’m a no-compromise kind of person who likes to ride fast and look good (well, as good as you can look when you resemble a Manatee!). 

The CB1000R weighs in wet at 217kg, which is just 18kg more than the super lightweight 2008 Blade, and most of that extra weight is in the heavily braced single-sided swingarm.

Scope out that swoopy four-spoke rear wheel, the LCD clocks that are claimed to be the most expensive Honda makes, the jagged lines of the bodywork and the aggressive ‘angry alien here to destroy’ stance, and you can tell this is no normal Japanese naked bike. It’s designed to give a sporty ride with the stylish looks of a naked, and believe me it more than delivers the goods.

The CB1000R is a serious bit of kit that aims to do a totally different job to that of the old Hornet 900, and out on the road the bike is gentle, easy and torquey. The fuelling is perfect, the grunt is huge. One hundred and thirty horsepower is heaps but it’s more about the torque and the way the power is delivered that impressed yours truly. It comes on clean and chunky to the point where sixth gear will pull 50kph with no quivers from the transmission; no rattles, just tidy, clean drive. Try that on most other nudes and you’ll be reaching for an inhaler to spray down its air intakes. Hit 8000rpm and there’s no noticeable switch in delivery but by then it’s pulling at its peak and doesn’t ease off till it hits the 10 thou mark.

Hitting the motorway and the CB1000R comes into its own. You can feel how agile it is when cutting through traffic. It steers quickly, yet the boffins behind the bike have managed to make it stable at speed – quite a feat when you consider how quickly it turns into a corner. Sit at 120kph and the Honda is surprisingly comfortable. You feel close to the headstock of the bike, yet deep enough in the seat to not feel the full force of the wind.

Where the CB1000R really comes into its own is on nice, tight, flowing roads and it’s here where it likes to live. The big Honda is so easy to ride fast that you really don’t have to think about what gear and when to get on the throttle. It seems to let you get away with riding the road and not thinking about the bike. The Honda fair leaps out of corners, putting all of its torque to the ground and is round the rev-counter before you know it. Shift at 10,000rpm and it feels like the perfect blend of power and torque for the road. 

The suspension is softer than the Triumph but, for me, gives the perfect blend of feel and comfort. I don’t want a bike that’s too hard, just one that lets me know what the wheels are doing and doesn’t pitch around under power or braking. The only thing the CB1000R lacks is a bit of soul and the noise that you get from the Brutale and the Speed Triple. But for the real world, where cops are hiding in bushes with speed guns and decibel counters, the roads are getting ever busier and a sizable portion of said roads resemble a patchwork quilt, Honda has come up with a brilliant naked bike.

Specifications

Engine type: Liquid-cooled four-stroke 16-valve DOHC inline-four
Displacement: 998cc
Bore x stroke: 75 x 56.5mm
Carburation: PGM-FI electronic fuel injection
Ignition: Computer-controlled digital transistorised with electronic advance
Suspension: Front: 43mm inverted HMAS cartridge-type telescopic fork with stepless preload, compression and rebound adjustment, 120mm cushion stroke
Suspension: Rear: Monoshock with gas-charged HMSA damper featuring 10-step preload and stepless rebound damping adjustment, 128mm axle travel
Front brakes: 310 x 4.5mm dual hydraulic disc with four-piston callipers, floating rotors and sintered metal pads
Rear brakes: 256 x 5mm hydraulic disc with dual-piston caliper and sintered metal pads
Front tyres: 120/70 R17
Rear tyres: 180/55 R17
Wheelbase: 1445mm
Seat height: 828mm
Ground clearance: 130mm
Fuel capacity: 17 litres (including four-litre LCD indicated reserve)
Dimensions: 2090 x 775 x 1090mm