2021 Honda CB400F Rolls Into China

The mid-displacement naked arrives in the same state of tune as the Japanese model

Months after showcasing the bike at the Shanghai Auto Show 2021, Honda has launched the CB400F naked in China. This is the same bike that Honda builds for its domestic market as Japanese learners licensing laws restrict the engine cubic capacity to just 400cc. 

Honda has tweaked certain elements of the CB400F for 2021. A new LED face, a bikini fairing and muscular tank extensions with faux air vents and a neat compact tail. In fact, its slim midsection should fare well for smaller built riders.

By displacing 399 cee cees from two cylinders, you get 46PS and 37Nm, which is roughly the same as what you get on a KTM 390 Duke. Hence, it is a good call that Honda will not be bringing this bike to India and ride in the larger CB500F instead. 

The Honda mid-displacement bikes are known for their simplicity. It has a fairly traditional tubular steel diamond frame, telescopic fork, box-section swingarm and preload-adjustable monoshock. Even though it gets petal brake rotors at both ends, the front caliper is a basic sliding-type unit.

It retails at 37,000 Yuan, which roughly translates to around Rs 4.25 lakh. Even after its recent price revision, which was pretty absurdly high, the KTM 390 Duke still turns out to be a better value for money proposition. And given Honda’s track record, the CB500F is not going to be anywhere as accessible as we would have liked.