[antz.bin]

Originally Posted by loki

Why don't they just get this one here?

Because they are both Lazy AND Risk Averse. And this will be their downfall.

If they launch their ADV with the CB350 H'Ness engine, it will be one of the least powerful ADV sold in India (roughly at par with the XPulse 200 4V) but with much more weight. Even a company as slow as Royal Enfield of 2016 was smart enough to not use the 350cc engine in its first ADV, the Himalayan 411.

Using a 20hp 350cc engine on a brand new ADV in a HOTLY contested segment is not how you put your best foot forward in a market that also includes the following that are more powerful.

• Royal Enfield Scram 411
• Suzuki VStorm 250
• KTM 250 ADV
• Yezdi Adventure
• BMW GS310
• Triumph Scrambler 400X
• RE Himalayan 450
• KTM 390 ADV

The motorcycle game in India has moved on. Hero sold more 440cc Harleys in the past couple of month than they did their entire range of 160-210cc bikes COMBINED!!

There have been SO MANY Royal Enfield 350cc motorcycles sold in the past 10 years, that now everyone who wants to stay on 2-wheels, wants something bigger and faster. This is apart from the bunch of people riding 150-223cc bikes for the past decade.

There is an entire buffet of 25-47 BHP motorcycles made in India to cater to this huge market of upgraders. Honda can stay out of it at its own peril.

[GUDURUHARISH]

Frankly, there was no need for this. All they needed to do was to bring the NX500 through the CKD route which would have brought down the price by atleast a lakh, making it a very good value proposition. People would have happily lapped it up.

[sukiwa]

Honda is working on a new adventure bike that could rival the Royal Enfield Himalayan. A design patent filed by the company suggests that the new model will be based on the CB350.

How does a manufacturer benefit from a bike design patent?
Had Royal Enfield or Classic Legends filed a design patent for 1st gen Himalayan and Yezdi Adventure respectively?

[windiesel]

Originally Posted by Sebring

RE made a mistake by moving away from the cult OG Himalayan design. It is a worldwide hit

Absolutely! Honda made a Honda ki Bullet with the CB350, now RE has made an Enfield ki KTM with the Himalayan450! Complete with a short stroke engine, ride by wire and all!

[Rennjit]

Yay, Honda ki Himalayan . Couldn't resist saying this out of sheer disappointment that Honda is. This can be their habitual arrogance as well.

The tank profile is just so Himalayan. Why cant honda bring some original design if its not being adamant about improving existing designs like they started with decades ago in Japan. Anyways It'd be better If the engine is in different bore x stroke & tune, atleast 25hp. Cb350 is unbelievably smooth for a single but the low rev behavior was a bit weird (for me). It felt like an automatic scooter where in you need to rev & manage clutch snap to get it going. Cbr250 (engine wise) felt better as an everyday bike.
It isn't easy for makers these days with the wide variation in customer expectations, May be the reason why Honda prefers to clone what is already successful.

[V0rtex]

If Honda is gonna compete with every single bike RE is gonna make I just hope that they bring an affordable twin to compete against the 650 twins.

[amyntor]

This only proves that HMSI is being run by a bunch of clueless MBAs who have no idea how to increase sales other than coming up with RE copycats and slogans like "BABT". As someone who appreciates Honda's offerings aboard, it makes me very sad.

[windiesel]

Originally Posted by amyntor

"BABT"

LOL...BA BT used to be a qualification for teachers IIRC, like JBT.