[FlankerFury]

Autocar India| Honda CB200X rebranded to NX200

- gets dual channel ABS
- 4.2in TFT screen with bluetooth connectivity
- engine remains the same as before but is now OBD-2B compliant

[saikishor]

How hard is it for a company as big as Honda to launch the same bike with an engine from the CB300R or CB300F? That way it would have been a nice reliable, smooth Japanese alternative to the current crop of ADV's. Easy win if Honda does this but Honda being Honda will do only what they feel like doing.

This bike is honestly a potential wasted opportunity ever since it was launched. Only good things now are dual channel ABS and TFT screen. I want to see the rationale of those who would like to defend this product.

[DarthFader]

As a bike CB200x is a solid product in isolation, but comparing with other products in the same category, it looses its sheen. Even the Honda dealers in Bangalore have been telling customers who ask about it, to not pick up CB200x and pick Xpulse instead.

I agree with the above comment that the CB300R/F engine could easily be used on a 300 cc Honda ADV and it would definitely get traction from the users. But Honda being Honda will move at a snail speed, bet on wrong horses, not take risks and then eventually overprice their products in Indian market.

[SchumiFan]

Time to go and buy the bike. I booked it last year but couldn't complete the deal.
The single channel ABS was always bugging me. They kept adding features to the bike like slipper clutch. So I knew this was a matter of time.

Glad I waited.

[itisravi]

If they had retained the old pricing and just added dual channel ABS, it would have made a good purchase. With the current pricing, the CB300F is only 2000 rupees more and has much more power and torque and can practically do everything the NX200 can do with a lot more fun quotient. I suppose someone choosing NX200 over the 300F would have two main considerations:

1. An ADV look and riding posture.
2. Around 5 KMPL higher fuel economy.

Maybe it is a sign that Honda is going to increase the price of the 300F.

[Amrit@wheels]

I test rode this motorcycle last year when a friend was looking for a go-anywhere 2-wheeler for the hills and plains of Uttarakhand. The ride was pretty good but the 184cc engine was such a downer on the highways. Everything else seems to be great on this bike except for the motor. It is more of a sheep in wolve's clothing.

[parrys]

Honda has such brilliant products overseas.
In India, their strategy is just unbearable.

Sometimes I wonder, could a complete change of leadership improve this situation?

The CB200x, now NX200, is not a bad product.
But it is far from being the first choice.

[SchumiFan]

I just noticed that for 40K more, the Speed T4 is available.

The 200X was overpriced to begin with, now it has been hiked further without much additions to features.

The price gap between segments has been diminishing consistently with the bigger folks giving better VFM compared to the smaller bikes.

Will be a tough sell. Hopefully hornet will be available with dual channel ABS soon.

[buzzy_boy]

I'm in the market for an adventure tourer. I believe the 250 V-Strom is a more balanced product, and it is just ₹50,000 more on the road.

An adventure tourer deserves better than a 200cc engine mated to a 5-speed transmission. As it is, the 250cc mill on the V-Strom felt slightly busy for my liking at highway speeds; a 200cc one will be even busier.

[ss11011988]

Pass. I think for 30k more, the Speed T4 makes a better VFM proposition, now with the revised prices. I'm not sure what's wrong with Honda when it comes to launching bikes for the Indian market. At the very least, if they could plonk the motor from the CB300F in this one and price it competitively, it would have made more sense. I'm also not sure what stops them from launching a single cylinder 300cc dual sport bike, which would have been quite the pick for a good many as Xpulse have proved that there is a market for such bikes.

Peace,
NI

[Grimlock]

I had once rented the older version of it - the Cb200x that had done some 55k on the odo. Though it is underwhelming on paper, In real life, it was quite a joy to ride.

The best thing going for it is the posture, just sitting on it gives you the good feels. Then there's the ultra-tractable gearbox, that gives you the ability to cut through in traffic. i was surprised at how easy it is to get it off the stand too. It is a sweet bike.

Honda have just made it a bit more attractive by giving it the tft that looks similar to the one on the big NX. They have given it dual channel abs too. you can put in a luggage rack and it does not look out of place because of it's adv styling.

About it being underpowered - it can go up to at least a 90 kph with little to no vibration, which is what you need really, unless you are taking it on 6laners week in and week out. Ridden the old Xpulse 4v and it becomes vibey post 75kph. Rented a V-Strom SX and it too becomes vibey at 100kph, as most bikes at this category do.

Only cons on this one is the price & the suspension on the rear. It is unbearably stiff, though it can be adjusted. I wonder if Honda have worked on this part, rather than just rebranding it.

[saikishor]

Originally Posted by parrys

Honda has such brilliant products overseas.
In India, their strategy is just unbearable.

Sometimes I wonder, could a complete change of leadership improve this situation?

The CB200x, now NX200, is not a bad product.
But it is far from being the first choice.

Even I was thinking about the same. What if the whole old japanese management was replaced with young blooded passionate individuals like us bhpians

[asininite]

Originally Posted by SchumiFan

I just noticed that for 40K more, the Speed T4 is available.

The 200X was overpriced to begin with, now it has been hiked further without much additions to features.

The price gap between segments has been diminishing consistently with the bigger folks giving better VFM compared to the smaller bikes.

Will be a tough sell. Hopefully hornet will be available with dual channel ABS soon.

A dual-channel ABS Hornet does exist in the form of the CB300F, which costs 2000rs more than the NX200. Place the 300F and Hornet side-by-side and you'll have a tough time figuring out which is which. If I were you, the 300F is what I'd pick over any of the 183cc options.

[revhappy]

Originally Posted by DarthFader

As a bike CB200x is a solid product in isolation, but comparing with other products in the same category, it looses its sheen. Even the Honda dealers in Bangalore have been telling customers who ask about it, to not pick up CB200x and pick Xpulse instead.

I agree with the above comment that the CB300R/F engine could easily be used on a 300 cc Honda ADV and it would definitely get traction from the users. But Honda being Honda will move at a snail speed, bet on wrong horses, not take risks and then eventually overprice their products in Indian market.

Indeed, I am split between the cb200x and the xpulse, lol.