[blackwasp]

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India is looking at a revival of the ‘CL’ range of motorcycles, which makes its way back to the 1970s. Now, after launching the CL300 in China, Honda has patented the CL range in India. This means that the Japanese bike maker is considering this product line for India.

The CL range of bikes will spawn multiple engine options. These include the CL250, CL300 and the CL500. While the CL500 was launched earlier, the CL300 made its debut earlier this year.

Honda has patented the 250-300cc range of CL bikes in India. The 250 gets a 249cc engine while the CL300 will come with a 286cc motor. Interestingly, both the engines are derived from the same block, with changes in the bore and stroke. The CL250 is likely to develop 23.6 BHP and 22.55 Nm while the CL300 could be rated at 26.6 BHP.

The CL range is nothing but the Scrambler siblings of the Honda Rebel. As such, they are likely to share engines, transmission and other mechanical bits. In terms of changes between the CL250, CL300 and the CL500, there are no changes apart from the engine. Visually, the bikes are pretty much identical.

The Scrambler design of the bike is likely to appeal to a wide range of customers. In comparison with the Honda Rebel, the bike gets a new frame, fuel tank design while the wheels, tyres and exhaust are different as well. The exhaust gets an upswept design with dual tips. The seat height is set at 790 mm, which is 100 mm more than the cruiser-oriented Rebel. Honda is likely to offer larger 19-inch front wheels on the Scrambler derivatives. Braking hardware includes single discs at both ends with single channel ABS.

Honda could also offer a range of accessories with the CL bikes to offer unique customization options to the owners. We can expect Honda to launch the bike sometime later in the year. The Honda CL could take on the likes of the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and others.





Source : RushLane

Link to the Team-BHP News

[RT13]

Bah! Honda isn’t even doing anything about the 500 platform for which there is a queue. The new CL500 scrambler in particular looks like a real hoot, let alone the 500X which has been hanging fire for a while. Instead they’ll announce this then introduce them at idiotic prices and beat the brand down some more.

[Senotrius]

Hope they don't release this here, as it will be ridiculously priced.

[ICE_Swift]

Originally Posted by Senotrius

Hope they don't release this here, as it will be ridiculously priced.

It might not be if Honda chooses to localise the Engine.CB300R is localised partially but is still priced high.

If Honda chooses to localise the Engine it can help with Localising the 500 twin engine as well.
I don't understand Honda's logic though as they already missed a chance to introduce the CB line back in the 90s.
If they had introduced them back then they might be actually competing with RE in a better position now or RE would have been out of business by now.


Triumph,Harley are now competing and tying up with Indian manufacturers to get into the Indian 300cc+ space but Honda is happy as it is and there's no news nothing regarding any new bikes planned to be launched.
Looks like they're waiting to be left behind and then they will struggle against established competitors later the way they are struggling against Royal Enfield now.

[RT13]

Originally Posted by ICE_Swift

It might not be if Honda chooses to localise the Engine.CB300R is localised partially but is still priced high.

The CB300R is an absolute treat of a bike with a wonderful gearbox to go with a heckuva’n engine that performs so much better than its 32 horses would indicate. That power to weight ratio and flickability and refinement are just perfect for city riding and sweet for the highway, if it weren’t for its street ergonomics. IF Honda were to put this engine and gearbox in the CL Scrambler frame and setup, it would be an absolute blast of a bike in my opinion. In fact, I slept on my last comment and realised that when I test rode the CB300R, it was my exact wish - that combo in an Adv/Scrambler setup. That would be a true do-it-all bike with its great low down torque and gearing being matched with a pretty decent top end. It would fill the only holes in the KTM 390s performance.

BUT the report is confusing, claiming the same displacement as the 300R block but with figures closer to the 300F. And knowing Honda the final thing will turn out closer to the F than the R. It’s unfortunate but I think every time they put out a product that’s great quality but priced awfully, the have to pull it and then replace it with something rather apologetic in comparison. Sort of a knee jerk.

It is what it is I guess, but one can dream.

[shrvenkataraman]

How are they going to please the pillion riders with such a design? It doesn't look like a design that people sitting on the back are going to like, unless they sit one sided.