CBF – Honda’s new 125!

The 125cc segment is fast changing. The idea now is to give these bikes a distinct identity rather than positioning them as more expensive, less fuel efficient and a bit more powerful wannabe 100cc bikes.
125s are now taking on a sporty image. The Flame was the first to jump in. However, its power figures were a let down.
Bajaj was next to jump in with the XCD Sprint, and has given some respectability to the concept of sporty 125s by making significant changes to the XCD engine. There’s now a 4-valve head in place instead on a 2-valve cover as on the older bike and the power rating is up too - 12.5bhp.
Honda is next. The company had announced launching a sporty 125 to appeal to the younger crowd sometime last year, and the CBF concept shown at the expo is a teaser of what we can expect.
Unlike, what most others are saying, I don’t think the CBF is a concept based on the Unicorn; it is in fact based on the Shine. And the obvious give away are the twin shock absorbers at the rear.
I know what you might say, Honda can always make that change on the Unicorn platform. Sure, it can. But it won’t!
You see, when every one around said monoshock wasn’t the way forward, Honda shouted that it was. It can’t possibly go back on that, after all it’s a question of its standing, not just in the industry, but among buyers as well.
Speaking of cycle parts, I think Honda has done a superb job on the concept, especially on the Racing version, putting on thin USDs on the front along with a large petal disc, besides an aluminium subframe, gas charged dampers and an underseat exhaust at the rear. Superb. The Sports version meanwhile, which is much more a production reality, though not as sexy as Racing, is still decent with the stepped seat and an aggressive rear mud guard.
But what about the CBF Sports’ drivetrain, will it use the Shine’s engine in a higher state of tune with a 5-speed box to go along with its focused looks?
I would love it if the company did. But going by what Honda has achieved with the Aviator, sticking to the same drivetrain with upgrades made just to styling and a few cycle parts against the Activa, I am inclined towards believing, it will retain the Shine engine, and in the same state of tune.
I would however, love Honda to prove me wrong, when the bike goes on sale later this year. And it might, if it takes cue from the Bajaj’s Sprint.

The Off-beat approach - Suzuki way

Little surprise, that Suzuki, after making a dismal foray into Indian biking with average products like the Zeus and Heat, in a category which saw a flurry of launches from every manufacturer in the country at the same time, showboating better styling, ergonomics, performance and features, has now decided to look at scooters. And it’s not your regular 100cc gearless scooter either, but the Access with her 125cc engine, is trying to carve a niche in a segment which hitherto is untouched.
But will the Access get the numbers Suzuki so desperately needs? Not quite. But there’s more to the two-wheeler bike making circus then just numbers. There’s the question of getting noticed, there are dealers who need to be pacified, and there needs to be a good product mix to retain walk-ins.
Suzuki feels the Access will help the company on all these counts. And what ever numbers she does manage to sell; it will only help the company’s cause further.
Looking at the 125cc gearless scooter segment, in the meantime, there’s no real competition. Yes, Kinetic has also just introduced the SYM Flyte, but its demeanour is more of an entry level, light, girly scooterette than a full fledged scooter. The Access on the contrary, with her large dimensions, not to mention a larger heart, fits the latter quite well.
Will soon have a ride report on the scooter, and how she compares with the rest of the creed…

125s: the saga continues…

Back in 2003 there was a spurt of 125s that hit the Indian market. There was the LML Freedom Prima, Yamaha Fazer, TVS Victor 125, Bajaj Discover etc etc.
The logic of bike makers behind the same, I guess, would have been – that’s how it works the world over – 100s, then the 125s, then the 150s and so on and so forth - and the same should hold true for India as well. But what they over estimated was our need to upgrade.
“If I want a fast bike (in relative terms of course), I’d buy a 150. And if its fuel efficiency I want, I’d rather stick with the 100s.”
The end result – the 125s never took off. Fast forward to 2007-08 and bike makers are taking keen interest in the 125cc segment all over again. The difference this time round is – unlike in 2003, the 100s are witnessing a slow down in sales, while the 125cc plus segment is growing at double digits. That the difference in the sheer volumes of the two is mammoth, is something bike makers aren’t really talking about. Particularly Bajaj.
Bajaj has just launched the XCD, a bike it hopes will make the 125 the new entry level. And it seems to have played the cards right too – giving the bike brilliant fuel efficiency, and at a price that is anything but expensive. Then there is the features list which should have the style conscious, cash strapped individuals swooning over her.
But not every bike maker thinks on similar lines. Here we have Honda, which will in early 2008 showcase its take on the 125s – a stylish, youth oriented, and most likely better performing motorcycle than the Shine will hit showrooms. The new Honda 125, I am sure will not redefine the entry level, and Honda would not be hoping to do the same either.
Then we have the Flame. TVS’ 125 which should be out before the end of this year. She is a stylish looking motorcycle, and brags of some innovative features as well. And unlike the XCD promises both good low end and top end performance. And with the new CCVT blah blah tech, which uses a three valve head for better swirl at low engine rpm and better filling of the cylinder at high rpm, she should not be very poor on the efficiency front either.
The point of all this? We have two very different lines of thought here. As an enthusiast, I’d like Honda and TVS to succeed. Imagine the two companies packing in 150cc rivaling performance in smaller, less expensive bikes? Won’t that be brilliant. For little else, but the fact, that segments above it will move up on the performance scale too!
I don’t mind Bajaj succeeding either, cause knowing with the Discover 135, it is already trying to do the same. And with a new Discover in the wings, which might also come in 150cc guise, hence replacing the Pulsar 150, enthusiasts have little to worry about.