HMSI set to entice the youth; Launches ‘CBF Stunner’ – A new Sporty Bike by Honda

Bike to hit the market in third week of July.

Introduces first-of-its-kind features in the mass market segment – Integrated front body cowl, Sporty split seats, Wider Tubeless tyres & Sporty foot step holder , High performance Honda engine with 5 speed transmission

HMSI, after the success of its 2 Motorcycles – Unicorn and Shine is all set to charm the Indian youth with its high performance, sporty, stylish motorcycle at an affordable price.

With increased choices, today’s Indian youth is actively on a look out for brands that have a high ‘style & attitude’ quotient. ‘CBF Stunner’ inspired by CBR 1000 from Europe aptly fits into the category with its design, high performance and style. The bike with its ‘high-on-style’ features promises to provide its customers an ultimate experience of a true Honda bike.

HMSI has since inception developed products that have set new benchmarks in technology, performance, and styling to address the diversified needs of its customers. Honda’s all round quality has been a source of enjoyment for its customers and the new offering CBF Stunner with its style and performance is aimed at providing desired pleasure to young Indian customer.

CBF Stunner will be available in three variants viz. Self Disc Alloy, Self Drum Alloy & Kick Drum Alloy. Self Drum Alloy & Self Disc Alloy will be available in four colours Sports Red, Pearl Sports Yellow, Space Silver Metallic and Black while Kick Drum Alloy will be available in two colours Sports Red & Black.

CBF Stunner would be available in the Indian market from third week of July. The ex-showroom price of CBF Stunner in INR is as follows:
Cities Kick Drum Alloy Self Drum Alloy Self Disc Alloy
Delhi 47,070 49,820 51,655
Pune 48,720 51,525 53,390
Banglore 48,395 51,545 52,980
Kolkata 48,410 51,160 52,990

Salient features of CBF Stunner

Styling

Integrated Front Body Cowl:
An integrated front body cowl & voluminous fuel tank makes stunner look muscular & sporty. It also enhances aero dynamism, thus providing an unhindered moving stance to the rider.
Sporty Split Seat & Two Panel Sporty Rear Cowl
First of its kind in this category, sporty split seat not only adds to the riding comfort but also enhances the overall appeal. Two panel sharp rear cowl makes it look sporty.
Sporty Foot Step Holders
Sporty foot step holders reflecting Honda’s racing bike DNA are positioned in a way to give rider a sporty riding posture.

Performance

High Performance Honda Engine with 5 Speed Transmission
A new advanced and high performance 11 bhp Honda engine with 5 speed transmission ensures an absolutely sensational ride. It gives an excellent power at all speed ranges and provides superior initial acceleration & overtaking pick up.

Wider Tubeless Tyres with Black Alloy Wheels.

First Time in its category, Tubeless tyres in front as well rear. This enhances performance, better cornering & chances of sudden deflation of tyres on punctures are reduced. 100/90 Wider tubeless tyre in rear adds to the appeal. The 17” Black alloy wheels adds on to the sports character of the bike.

Diamond Frame with Rectangular Box type Swing Arm

It adapts light weight diamond frame proven with high reliability on Indian roads. The tough and flexible frame provides good stability in harsh and daily use conditions. It is also equipped with harder and stronger rectangular box type swing arm which helps in achieving high stability, sporty performance and constant ground touch feeling.
240mm Front Disc Brake
Efficient Hydraulic 240mm front disc brake provides efficient braking performance in all weather conditions and ensures stability at high speeds.

Sporty
The riding posture of the bike is sporty yet comfortable. The shoulders and elbows are more inclined than the competition to give the rider a perfect sporty posture. The folding step placed slightly backwards provides sporty posture. Pillion’s leg position is nearer to rider’s bottom which is more comfortable.

Convenience
The bike has small storage space under the seat which can be used for storing small items such as gloves. The stylish console with trip meter also provides convenience of keeping a track on the distance traveled and mileage.

Present at launch were Mr. Kenji kawaguchi, Operating Officer General Manager, Planning Division Honda Motorcycle R&D Centre Japan, Mr. Shinji Aoyama, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt Ltd, Mr. Nobuhiko Takizawa, President, Honda R&D (India), Mr. Atsuhiko Takahashi, Large Project Leader (CBF Stunner) Honda Motorcycle R&D Centre Japan, Mr. Yuji Mizumoto, Assistant LPL, Honda Motorcycle R&D Centre, Japan along Mr. N K Rattan Head Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd.

Excepts from Company officials-
Mr. S Aoyama, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt Ltd.,“Honda believes and practices the philosophy of 3 joys that is being demonstrated through our “I enjoy” campaign to deliver utmost customer satisfaction. HMSI is committed to provide unique experience through its innovative products and quality in every aspect of business. The new bike being unveiled today is one of the steps to provide exciting products at an affordable price. The bike is a reflection of Honda’s worldwide sports bikes and we hope that Indian youngster can now enjoy Honda’s sports DNA. In India we will continue to bring exciting products and be a full line company by 2010 starting with 100cc motorcycles and fun bikes.”

Mr. Kenji Kawaguchi, Operating Officer General Manager, Planning Division Honda Motorcycle R&D centre, Japan,“Honda is today the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer and one of the leading automakers. India is an important market for Honda Motor Co. Honda is committed to the Indian market and will go all out in providing exciting products to the Indian market. Honda has always been in forefront in strengthening technologies for environment conservation, safety riding and enhancing product attributes. The newer technologies like Honda’s Programmed Fuel injection – PGM-F1 and ABS (Antilock Brake System) will soon be installed on all Honda Motorcycles worldwide soon.”

Mr. N.K Rattan, Head Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt Ltd.,.,” CBF Stunner is Honda’s answer to Youngsters desire to own a affordable sports bike. This new bike carries Honda’s Sports DNA with Sharp, Muscular style & high performance 11 bhp Honda engine that Indian youth expect from Honda. This bike will be available at all dealers by third week of July for sales. Along with this new bike, HMSI ‘s all model sales shall touch 10 lac units in 2008-09.”

About HMSI
Honda is the world”s largest manufacturer of 2-wheelers. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI), is a 100% owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Company Ltd., Japan. Current HMSI products include Honda Aviator, Activa, Dio, Eterno in Scooters and Unicorn, Shine in Motorcycles. All products have been well received in the market and have created new benchmarks in their respective categories. For more information visit www.honda2wheelersindia.com

New Delhi, June 30 (IANS) Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) will introduce an 800cc bike by the end of this financial year, a senior executive of the company told reporters here Monday while unveiling a new model.

HSMI president and chief executive S. Aoyama said the 800cc bike would be one of the two models planned for launch later this year; the other could be either a bike or a scooter.

These would be in addition to the Aviator scooter and the 125cc motorcycle CBF Stunner launched at the Auto Expo 2008 here Monday.

When we introduced motorcycles in India, we started with smaller engine sizes to cater to the masses. We have been exploring launching bigger motorcycles and this year an 800cc bike will be launched for the Indian market, he said.

HMSI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., entered India with its Active scooter in 2000.

‘The 800cc bike will be imported from the parent company,’ Aoyama told IANS.

Company executives refused to divulge details about the second product to be launched this financial year.

‘It is too early to disclose if the other product will be a scooter or a bike,’ HMSI sales and marketing head N.K. Rattan said.

The company is also planning to introduce a 100cc motorcycle, which Aoyama said will be in the market by 2010.

Prior to HMSI, Honda had its presence in the country through the join ventures Hero Honda, Honda Siel Cars India, and the erstwhile Kinetic Honda company.

The company sold 907,000 units in the financial year 2007-08, clocking a growth of 27 percent over the 715,000 units sold in 2006-07.

It has now targeted sales of one million scooters and bikes this fiscal. The HMSI plant in Manesar, Gurgaon, has a capacity of 1.1 million units annually ,which Aoyama said goes up to 1.3-1.4 million with enhanced productivity.

We have a target of one million units in sales this year with a split of 700,000 scooters and 300,000 motorcycles, he said.

Although we have reached our capacity in the existing plant, we have not made any plans for expansion or setting up a new facility yet, Aoyama added.

The new bike – ‘CBF Stunner’ – is a 125cc offering from Honda complementing its existing model ‘Shine’ in the same category. The bike will be targeted at the 18-25 age group.

The USP of the CBF is its looks and styling combined with affordability and a great mileage, Rattan said.

The motorcycle will have integrated front body cowl and will run on an 11 bhp engine with five-speed transmission. The bike will sport tubeless tyres for both front and back wheels and buyers will have the option to go for 240 mm hydraulic front disc brakes as well drum brakes.

The kick-start model with drum brakes will cost Rs.47,070 ex-showroom in Delhi, and the high-end model with disc brakes and self-start will be priced Rs.51.655.
Source: http://news.smashits.com