Honda Forza 350 Launched In Thailand

Will the maxi-scooter come to India? 

• Honda Forza 350 gets a bigger 329.6cc engine as opposed to the 279cc in the Forza 300.
• Notable features include a traction control system, dual-channel ABS, and an electrically adjustable windscreen.
• The scooter is priced at THB 1,73,500, which is approximately Rs 4.15 lakh.

Honda Thailand has launched the Honda Forza 350 maxi-scooter in the country. As the name suggests, it comes with a bigger engine and a couple of other changes. The scooter is priced at THB 1,73,500, which is around Rs 4.15 lakh. In comparison, the 2019 Honda Forza 300 (which is still sold in Thailand) was priced at THB 169,000, around Rs 4.04 lakh, when it was launched back in August 2019. Honda Thailand also offers a touring-centric variant of the Forza 350, complete with a top box. It retails at 1,82,900 THB, which is around Rs 4.38 lakh.

The Honda Forza 350 gets a bigger 329.6cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled, fuel-injected motor. The bore and stroke measure 77.0 x 70.7 as opposed to 72 x 68.6mm in the Forza 300’s 279cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine. More details about the power and torque will be updated soon.

Like the Forza 300, this engine too gets Honda Selectable Torque Control, which is Honda’s lingo for the traction control system. The scooter is loaded with premium and practical features such as an all-LED lighting system, USB charging port, and Honda Smart Key (allows for keyless ignition) with anti-theft alarm. The Forza 350 also gets a bigger 150mm electrically adjustable windscreen as opposed to the 110mm unit on the Forza 300. The semi-digital multifunctional instrument cluster shows fuel consumption and distance-to-empty function apart from the regular trove of information. For added practicality, there’s an enclosed cubbyhole on the apron to store small knick-knacks if the large underseat storage is full. 

The scooter runs on the same underpinnings as the Forza 300: a telescopic front fork and twin rear shock absorbers. Brakes include discs on both ends with dual-channel ABS. Despite packing a bigger engine, the kerb weight is up by just 2kg, at 185kg kerb. The alloy wheels are still the same 15-inch units wrapped with 120-section tubeless tyres as before. In terms of competition, the Honda Forza 300 goes head-to-head against the Yamaha XMax 300 in Thailand. 

Expect the Japanese brand to launch the Forza 350 in other Asian countries. A little titbit: Honda already sold the Forza 300 in limited quantities, but that was priced at quite a premium since it was imported. It was sold in limited numbers to gauge customer response. Sadly, Honda is unlikely to launch the scooter in India due to its high price. Even if Honda localised, its price will still be prohibitively high and there might not be a healthy demand for it. A lot of enthusiasts in our country prefer motorcycles over scooters. And even though the Forza 350 might have the performance, it is still a scooter at the end of the day.