Honda CB300R BS6 India Launch: ZigWheels Opinion

The Honda CB300R has been listed in the SIAM sales data for April 2021, leading to speculation about the launch of its BS6 iteration in the country. But does it really make sense for Honda to launch it here? We weigh in and analyse the possibilities:

A Perfect Japanese Retro-modern Naked

The 300-400cc naked bike segment only has two offerings at the moment: KTM 390 Duke and BMW G 310 R. Sure we have the Bajaj Dominar 400 but that’s more of a performance-oriented cruiser. So, for riders looking for something quintessentially Japanese, the BS6 Honda CB300R would make perfect sense. 

The BS4 Honda CB300R weighed just 147kg kerb. On the other hand, the BS6 BMW G 310 R tips the scales at 164kg kerb and the KTM 390 Duke at 167kg dry. So even with the additional emission restrictive equipment, it’s safe to assume the Honda CB300R will still be lighter than its rivals by a considerable margin. We reckon the performance levels will be more or less the same as the BS4 version, should Honda upgrade the bike to comply with the BS6 emission norms. 

So, the Honda CB300R’s light kerb weight, reasonable performance, and properly premium retro-modern looks should make the bike an excellent choice for riders looking for something that can handle both daily commutes as well as weekend jaunts on the highway. 

A Family Dispute

Honda currently has the H’Ness CB350 in the 350cc retro segment and the CB350RS catering to those who want something with a little bit of a modern flair in the same space. The new 350cc duo may not make as much power as the BS4 CB300R (21.07PS vs 30.45PS), but they are slightly torquier (30Nm vs 27.4Nm), making them a better fit in the retro segment. Hence, it doesn’t really make sense for Honda to launch another motorcycle in an already crowded space. While the Euro 5-spec version hasn’t been unveiled internationally, making a BS6-compliant model specifically for India doesn’t look like a wise decision. Even in its BS4 avatar, Honda had brought a restricted amount of units to our market. 

Price Perspective 

Moreover, if you look at the pricing of Honda’s recent slew of CKD products, such as the Honda CB500X, CB650R, and the CBR650R, you’ll realise none of the bikes are priced competitively for their respective segments. And if Honda decides to bring the CB300R BS6 via the CKD route, it may not be able to price it as competitively as its rivals. For perspective, back in 2019, the BS4 model retailed at Rs 2.41 lakh, and the new updates are likely to push the ex-showroom price close to Rs 2.70 lakh.

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With all these aspects into consideration, Honda is unlikely to bring the BS6 CB300R to India. What do you guys think? Let us know in the comments below.

BS4-compliant iteration used for representation.