Honda CBR400R, CB400F and CB400X Unveiled; India on Cards?

Honda has unveiled the newly developed CBR 400 range at 2013 Osaka Motorcycle Show, Japan. We shared this news a couple of months ago that Honda showcased a 400cc bike and working on CBR 400 range. Honda will launch the CBR 400 range in Japan instead of its CBR 500 range, which was unveiled last year at the 2012 EICMA. We all were expecting CBR500R to take on new Kawasaki Ninja 400R, but it is the CBR400R, which will rival Ninja. The market of 250-400 cc bikes in the Japanese market is on rise due to cut in taxes on motorcycles in the 250-400cc segment by Japanese government.

To get the tax benefits with the greater fuel economy and lesser carbon emission leading motorcycle makers like Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki are developing the single cylinder and twin cylinder engine designs for the 250cc to 400cc class. The company already has the Honda CBR250R in the category, and the CBR400R, CB400F and the CB400X will add strength to Honda's portfolio.

The CBR 400 range is based on the CBR 500 range and CBR400R, CB400F and CB400X have been designed akin to their larger siblings CBR500R, CB500F and CB500X respectively. All the three bikes of CBR 400 range shares a downsized version of parallel-twin engine from the CBR 500 range. Having a displacement of 399cc, this engine is expected to belt out a maximum power of 40bhp with a healthy torque figure. Honda engineers maintain the same 67mm bore, but to downsize the engine they reduced the stroke to 56.6mm.

Honda is targeting the Japanese market at the moment and it remains unclear whether they will sell the new CBR400R sports bike in other countries or not. There are some reports that they are also planning to launch the bike in south east Asian markets, and then India can be a potential market. The performance bike market in India has been improved in last few years, and the bike can be a rival for upcoming KTM Duke 390 and Bajaj Pulsar 375.