- Being tested in India with selected riders
- Could be launched in India
- Currently on sale in the international market only
Honda could consider the CRF 300 and the CRF 300L for the Indian market. The brand recently conducted a ride event where it invited selected riders to test multiple bikes including the aforementioned two.
For reference, the Honda CRF 300 Rally and the CRF 300L are the Japanese brand’s 300cc off-road bikes. The duo offers proper dirt-riding hardware and a rugged build that includes a tall stance, a bench seat, an upswept exhaust, and a high front fender.
The Honda CRF 300 Rally and the CRF 300L get the most basic features like a halogen headlight and an LCD. So, if these can be priced aggressively in India, then the existing bikes in the 300-400cc off-road range would get worthy competition.
Powering the Honda twins is a 286cc single-cylinder engine that makes 26.9bhp and 26.6Nm. It is linked to a six-speed gearbox and the overall hardware is too quite purposeful. The CRF 300 L and the CRF 300 Rally ride on 43mm USD front forks and a linked rear shock.
The 300cc motorcycle market in India is growing at quite a pace. For reference, Bajaj itself has 10 bikes in this segment when you consider its JVs, then there is Royal Enfield, BMW and a few other brands. But the off-road category only has the KTM 390 Adventure, Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, and Yezdi Adventure, among the popular ones. Then, KTM is also working on a completely revamped platform for its 390 Adventure which is due next year. Even Kawasaki has been testing the Versys X-300 while it already has the KLX and MX bikes on sale. So, it could be a good time for Honda to bring the CRF range which appears to be a much more potent in the dirt.
The asking price for the 2024 Honda CRF 300L is set at USD 5,449 (approximately Rs. 4.55 lakh sans taxes) whereas the CRF 300 Rally costs Rs.6,199 (approximately Rs. 5.17 lakh sans taxes). However, the brand will have to price them around the Rs. 3 lakh mark to penetrate the mark since the current hot sellers retail around the said price range.
