Honda CBR250RR launch in India unlikely

The quarter-litre offering from Honda, the CBR250RR will not be launched in India, the Japanese automaker has repeatedly confirmed the same. However, the motorcycle has been patented in India, as manufacturers always resort to global patent filing.

There are reasons why Honda is not intending to bring the CBR250RR to India. One, Honda at present is concentrating on volume-generating models, two, it currently is focused on bringing two new scooters as well as two new motorcycles by this year end.

The third is the most crucial of all the above reasons, Honda is offering a host of features on this quarter-litre machine which if brought to India, will raise its prices significantly, even if it comes via the CKD route. Honda says a price tag of close to Rs 4 lakh for a 250cc bike will be too much for an asking price.

Honda will be commencing sales of the CBR250RR in Japan on 12th May. The motorcycle is powered by a 249cc in-line twin cylinder engine, mated to a six-speed gearbox that churns out 38 HP of power and 23 Nm of torque.

What’s interesting is that Honda is offering selectable riding modes (Sport, Comfort and Sport Plus) and throttle by wire on the CBR250RR. Back at home, Honda has removed the CBR250R and CBR150R from their website and is expected to bring back the updated BS4 versions of the same in the near future.