[NoSugarNoSpice]

Few years between models, Japanese "Localized" 300CC bikes

Kawasaki Ninja 300 2017 - 2019 3.64 Lakh to 2.99 Lakh
Honda CB300R 2019 - 2022 2.41 Lakh to 2.77 Lakh

As a CB300R owner, I would have happily recommended it to Duke 250 buyers if it were priced at 2.5 Lakh. But at 2.77, it's just 10k less than the 390. Even IF the Duke goes wrong more often, it's cheaper to fix over and over. The hipster svartpilen is also 66k cheaper.

This was the same issue in 2019. The only grace being it's badge and cheapest CKD tag. Priced 4k less than the 390, 47k away from the 250, while product IMO is in the Goldilocks zone between them. It blended the frugality and ease of the 250 with the fire and grunt of the 390 all the while infusing the fill it and forget it Japanese flavour remixed in a fantastically designed retro bottle. Alas, history can only repeat itself. This being the street bike, I guess it's more enthusiast oriented CRF cousins will cross 3 Lakh ex-showroom.

CB300R On road Bangalore will be a little less than 3.5 Lakh. I guess Honda really wants to keep this bike "Younique". Maybe a few co-owners can enjoy the increased resale value

[SoumenD]

Guess pricing is on expected lines. Bang in between BMW 310R(2.6L ex-showroom) & Duke 390(2.87L ex-showroom). Should be around 3.5L OTR Bangalore.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by NoSugarNoSpice

Few years between models, Japanese "Localized" 300CC bikes

Kawasaki Ninja 300 2017 - 2019 3.64 Lakh to 2.99 Lakh
Honda CB300R 2019 - 2022 2.41 Lakh to 2.77 Lakh

As a CB300R owner, I would have happily recommended it to Duke 250 buyers if it were priced at 2.5 Lakh. But at 2.77, it's just 10k less than the 390. Even IF the Duke goes wrong more often, it's cheaper to fix over and over. The hipster svartpilen is also 66k cheaper.

This was the same issue in 2019. The only grace being it's badge and cheapest CKD tag. Priced 4k less than the 390, 47k away from the 250, while product IMO is in the Goldilocks zone between them. It blended the frugality and ease of the 250 with the fire and grunt of the 390 all the while infusing the fill it and forget it Japanese flavour remixed in a fantastically designed retro bottle. Alas, history can only repeat itself. This being the street bike, I guess it's more enthusiast oriented CRF cousins will cross 3 Lakh ex-showroom.

CB300R On road Bangalore will be a little less than 3.5 Lakh. I guess Honda really wants to keep this bike "Younique". Maybe a few co-owners can enjoy the increased resale value

The Honda 300 is closer to the KTM 250 than it is to the 390 which frankly is in another class. So I don't understand the pricing.

Honda badge? It's made in India. Like the KTM is.

Similar to how the baby BMW is a TVS-made Indian bike. With the BMW badge.

Cheers, Doc

[Sudarshan42]

Three words- dead on arrival. Hook me up with an RR310 instead.

[drt_rdr]

Made in India and it's still 2.77L? These guys think they're hotter than BMW.

I was waiting to get my hands on the CB. But Honda made the decision for me. They're saying "Go buy Suzuki."

[rarkit]

Originally Posted by ebonho

The Honda 300 is closer to the KTM 250 than it is to the 390 which frankly is in another class. So I don't understand the pricing.

Honda badge? It's made in India. Like the KTM is.

Similar to how the baby BMW is a TVS-made Indian bike. With the BMW badge.

Cheers, Doc

Honda makes its own bikes and has been doing so for a while in India unlike KTM and BMW that are made by Bajaj and TVS. So it is a lot more than just a badge. Nonetheless, in a super price sensitive market like India it is few thousand rupees too many for most people to justify the reliability of Hondas.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by rarkit

Honda makes its own bikes and has been doing so for a while in India unlike KTM and BMW that are made by Bajaj and TVS. So it is a lot more than just a badge. Nonetheless, in a super price sensitive market like India it is few thousand rupees too many for most people to justify the reliability of Hondas.

Honda India run and staffed by Indians.

Honda Japan by Japanese.

You need to have worked and dealt with the Japanese to appreciate the difference.

Ditto the Germans. BMW. Mercedes.

Behind the brand and management and SOPs and systems are the people.

Cheers, Doc

[drt_rdr]

Originally Posted by rarkit

few thousand rupees too many for most people to justify the reliability of Hondas.

I feel like this "Honda reliability" thing is just an overblown tale. What exactly is this reliability? Is it in regard to durability and consistent performance of all parts under normal usage for longer than other manufacturers? Is it the ability to withstand hard use and harsh conditions? What exactly is it that Honda does that other manufacturers don't or can't do?

I do appreciate the Japs for usually getting a product right the first time and it usually oozes quality, as compared to the iterative approach of our local manufacturers, and even a Gen1 Jap bike is a eyes-closed good buy. But the difference among the Japs themselves is not that much from what I've seen. What exactly does honda do to deserve this tag of "supreme reliability" that other japs don't?

My theory is, people who get this exceptional reliability from Honda are usually the conservative types and don't run their bikes hard very often, and it just so happens that they are a large number, and hence this perception.

Keeping this "Honda reliability" stuff aside, the bike is kitted out nicely and the specs are mouthwatering. For that, I was ready to choose the blue pill even upto 2.6L. But at a whole 17k more, I'm red-pilling myself out of this one.

Considering price to performance among similar bikes, Suzuki beats it, TVS\BMW beats it, and KTM just destroys it.

Just what is the difference between Honda importing the bike and Honda manufacturing it locally if they price it the same way? If they don't bring the costs down, just what is the advantage of local manufacturing?