Honda could be planning to launch the CRF 300L and 300 Rally motorcycles in the Indian market. According to a media report, the brand is currently testing customer insights for the middleweight adventure motorcycle in India. Reports reveal that the brand is currently conducting a customer clinic at the Big Rock Dirt Park in Bengaluru. In addition to the CRF 300L and CRF 300 Rally, the brand is also conducting a customer clinic for the Honda Sahara 300 which replaces the Honda XRE 300 in the Latin American markets.
According to reports, officials and engineers from Honda Japan have already wrapped up the off-road clinic in Bengaluru. It is also expected that the company could bring the customer clinic to other cities. Post which Honda is likely to check the feasibility of the motorcycles which could arrive in India via the CKD route. Three motorcycles built on one platform is also likely to balance the economies of scale for the company, and Honda is also likely to produce the motorcycles locally.
The Honda CRF 300L, CRF 300 Rally and the Sahara all come with a 293.5cc single-cylinder air-cooled single-OHC engine. The four-stroke engine develops 24.8 Hp of power and 26.5 Nm of torque matched to a 6-speed gearbox. The engine is the same which powers the Honda CB300F in India. This leads us to believe that Honda already has the ingredients ready for a new launch.
In the Brazilian market Honda also retails the 100% Ethanol version of the engine. With Ethanol fuel the engine produces 25.2 Hp of power and 26.9 Nm of torque. Recently, at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2024, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) also showcased the CB300F streetfighter tuned to run on E85 fuel, which is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The CB300F FFV (Flex-Fuel Vehicle) uses the same 293.5cc motor which is used on the Sahara.
While this does not confirm if Honda will launch the adventure motorcycles in India or not. However, it at least gives us a hint that the brand could be thinking of taking the booming segment seriously to compete with the KTM Adventure 390 and BMW G 310 GS. But only time will tell if the Japanese manufacturer will bring the CRF 300 L and Rally to India.
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