Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India is set to reveal a new two-wheeler on August 8, 2022, and it is doing that under its BigWing line-up, hinting at a premium model in the company's line-up. According to sources, the new model will be a two-wheeler in the 350-500 cc displacement, but other than that there is no confirmation what is brewing at HMSI. While we recently brought you that news along with speculations that the upcoming model could be the Honda Forza 350 maxi scooter making its debut here in India, it could also very well be a different model. Now, the Honda CRF300L has been spotted at a Honda dealership in India, sparking rumours that it could be this model which is likely to be launched. Honda also registered a trademark for its dual-sport CRF300L in India towards the end of last year.
Also Read: Honda To Debut New BigWing Motorcycle On August 8
The Honda CRF300L uses the same engine as the CB300R, but the similarities pretty much end there. After all, the CRF300L is a very purposeful off-road tool. The Honda CRF300L is a dual-sport motorcycle, designed with its base as a pure enduro motorcycle, but with road-legal elements. The CRF300L is powered by a 286 cc, single-cylinder engine which makes 27 bhp at 8,500 rpm and 26.6 Nm of peak torque at 6,500 rpm. The bike also gets a slip and assist clutch, and the gearbox has been updated internationally with a taller sixth gear, and shorter ratios on all other gears. Honda claims a top speed of 132 kmph, which should be just enough for occasional highway duties to get to the nearest trails.
Also Read: Analysis: Will The Honda CRF300L Be Launched In India?
Should this motorcycle make its way to India, it would be a perfect machine for people looking to upgrade from something like the Hero XPulse 200 4V. But whether it does make it to India or not is something which we will only know for sure on August 8. Going by Honda's previous track record, several models have been patented and registered in India, but it's turned out to be purely for R&D purposes, with the final product pretty much completely different from what is already available in the international market. A 300 cc adventure bike certainly does make a solid business case, going by the popularity of this segment in India, with the KTM 390 Adventure, BMW G 310 GS, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Scram, as well as the Yezdi Adventure and Scrambler models offered on sale right now. TVS is also rumoured to be working on its own version of the G 310 GS which will likely be ready by the end of the year or in early 2023. The question is, will Honda gamble with a proper dual-sport like the CRF300L for India, will there be a more toned down “crossover” like the Honda CB200X? While the enthusiasts in us hope that an affordable dual-sport is indeed launched, it's more likely that the next product from HMSI will be launched keeping business compulsions in mind, to cater to a wider audience, rather than be a niche product.
Spy shot Image source: ZigWheels
