Honda has been trying to make a big difference in the 150cc premium commuter segment since a few years now. It started with the CB Dazzler in 2010, and then again with the CB Trigger in 2013. Both these bikes didn’t do well for the company for various reasons. The most important one of these was the styling. The bikes looked a bit bland and didn’t have much aspirational value. But things changed when Honda launched the CB Hornet 160R a few years later. This motorcycle checked the right boxes. It looked great, had good performance and Honda managed to position it quite well in the market too. But what’s next for Honda?
Most of the other Indian brands like TVS, Yamaha, Suzuki and Bajaj have launched motorcycles with higher displacements so that when the times comes, these customers don’t need to switch to other brands for an upgrade. Unfortunately, with Honda, there’s a huge gap between the CB Hornet 160R and the CB300R and this is why I think the company should bring the CB190R to India. I'll also give you more reasons why.
Firstly, if you closely look at the pictures of the CB190R, which currently is sold in markets like Columbia, you will notice that the bike is a head turner. The overall design language follows an aggressive theme, something that is widely accepted in India. The sharp lines, the strong-looking headlamp and the muscular fuel tank make it quite enticing. In fact, if you look at the CB190R from the dead front, you might possibly say it has the best fascia in the segment.
Then there are other cycle parts like fatter tyres, large seat and premium-looking foot-pegs that make the CB190R a perfect candidate in the segment which is currently dominated by the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. There’s also the upside-down front forks which I think isn’t necessary for a motorcycle this size. Honda can get the traditional forks to keep costs in check. The instrument cluster looks quite good too.
The only place Honda India will have a problem with the 190R is with the engine. This air-cooled motor makes just 15.8bhp of peak power. There are 150cc motorcycles in India that make more than that. So the only way this motorcycle will work in India is if it gets a 200cc engine. And according to our sources, the Japanese firm is developing a new 200cc platform for the Indian market that will see many motorcycles, including an off-road version. So if Honda plans to introduce the CB190R in India, it will definitely get the bigger 200cc engine. And when it does that with good pricing, Honda can get a big piece of the 200cc segment.
