Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Submitted By:
AKSHOBHYA RAIZADA
Acknowledgement
Akshobhya Raizada
CONTENTS:
1) Introduction
2) History
3) Trademark origins
6) Leadership
7) Products
Motorcycles:
Introduction:
History:
From a young age, Honda's founder, Soichiro Honda (本田 宗一郎, Honda
Sōichirō) had a great interest in automobiles. He worked as a mechanic at a
Japanese tuning shop, Art Shokai, where he tuned cars and entered them in races.
A self-taught engineer, he later worked on a piston design which he hoped to sell
to Toyota. The first drafts of his design were rejected, and Soichiro worked
painstakingly to perfect the design, even going back to school and pawning his
wife's jewelry for collateral. Eventually, he won a contract with Toyota and built a
factory to construct pistons for them, which was destroyed in an earthquake. Due
to a gas shortage during World War II, Honda was unable to use his car, and his
novel idea of attaching a small engine to his bicycle attracted much curiosity. He
then established the Honda Technical Research Institute in Hamamatsu, Japan, to
develop and produce small 2-cycle motorbike engines. Calling upon 18,000
bicycle shop owners across Japan to take part in revitalizing a nation torn apart by
war, Soichiro received enough capital to engineer his first motorcycle, the Honda
Cub. This marked the beginning of Honda Motor Company, which would grow a
short time later to be the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles by 1964.
The first production automobile from Honda was the T360 mini pick-up truck.
Powered by a small 356 cc straight-4 gasoline engine, it was classified under the
cheaper Kei car tax bracket.[citation needed] The first production car from Honda was the
S500 sports car.[citation needed] Its chain driven rear wheels point to Honda's motorcycle
origins.[citation needed]
"Honda" in Japanese is 本田, which literally means "root field" or "original field".
Trademark origins:
The stylized word and drawing design HM logo is a registered trademark at the
USPTO, and owned by Honda Motor Company Ltd.
Whereas Honda's trademark had been registered in Japan since November 13, 1953
it wasn't until a decade later that the motorcycle and automobile company filed for
trademark registration in the United States. On Friday, August 30, 1963, Honda
Giken Gokyo Kabushiki Kaisha of Tokyo, Japan filed for two trademarks with the
USPTO.
One trademark was for the word mark of HM within an oval geometric shape. The
application, signed by founder Soichiro Honda, was filed in the primary category
of non-metallic building material products. Description included for the HM
trademark was for land vehicles-namely, motor cars, motorcycles, and motor
trucks. Trademark registration was granted on September 15, 1964.
The stylized word and drawing design Winged HM logo is a registered trademark
at the USPTO, and owned by Honda Motor Company Ltd.
Honda filed a second trademark with the USPTO on the same date of August 30,
1963. The second mark was for the winged HM design logo that Honda had
registered in Japan since June 15, 1962. The Winged HM mark is in the non-
metallic building material products as well and applied to goods and services for
land vehicles-namely, motor cars, motorcycles, and motor trucks. The USPTO
granted registration on September 15, 1964.
Of note, the USPTO initially issued an Office Action to Honda rejecting their
application for both the HM and Winged HM marks. The U.S. trademark office
cited two other HM trademarks that would likely cause confusion, mistake, or
deception. Additionally they determined that the identification of goods was too
broad and indefinite. One of the confusing HM trademarks was U.S. Registration
No. 748,4794 for pneumatic tires and owned by B.F. Goodrich. The other
confusing trademark was for Holman & Moody for automobile bodies and frames,
U.S. Registration No. 708,684. Honda responded to the Office Action, and
following the USPTO's admonitions, amended their applications to narrowly
define the description of their goods and services to readily distinguish the Honda
HM trademarks to avoid confusion, mistake or deception. Subsequently, the
USPTO accepted Honda's response and approved their trademark registration on
both marks. U.S. trademark status for the HM and stylized winged HM is
registered and renewed. Both marks are owned by Honda Motor Co. LTD of
Tokyo, Japan.
Corporate Profile and Divisions:
Leadership:
• 1948–1973 — Soichiro Honda
• 1973–1983 — Kiyoshi Kawashima
• 1983–1990 — Tadashi Kume
• 1990–1998 — Nobuhiko Kawamoto
• 1998–2004 — Hiroyuki Yoshino
• 2004–2009 — Takeo Fukui
• since 2009 — Takanobu Ito
Products:
Motorcycles
Honda is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Japan and has been since it started
production in 1955. At its peak in 1982, Honda manufactured almost 3 million
motorcycles. By 2006 this figure had reduced to around 550,000 but was still
higher than its three domestic competitors.
During the 1960s, when it was a small manufacturer, Honda broke out of the
Japanese motorcycle market and began exporting to the US. Taking Honda’s story
as an archetype of the smaller manufacturer entering a new market already
occupied by highly dominant competitors, the story of their market entry, and their
subsequent huge success in the US and around the world, has been the subject of
some academic controversy. Competing explanations have been advanced to
explain Honda’s strategy and the reasons for their success.
The first of these explanations was put forward when, in 1975, Boston Consulting
Group (BCG) was commissioned by the UK government to write a report
explaining why and how the British motorcycle industry had been out-competed by
its Japanese competitors. The report concluded that the Japanese firms, including
Honda, had sought a very high scale of production (they had made a large number
of motorbikes) in order to benefit from economies of scale and learning curve
effects. It blamed the decline of the British motorcycle industry on the failure of
British managers to invest enough in their businesses to profit from economies of
scale and scope.
Honda Motorcycle
& Scooter India
Pvt. Ltd:
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter
India Pvt. Ltd (HMSI) is a fully
owned subsidiary of Honda
Motor Company Limited, Japan.
Honda is the world's largest
manufacturer of two wheelers.
Set up in 1999, it was the
fourth Honda automotive venture in India, after Hero Honda,
Kinetic Honda Motor Ltd and Honda Siel Cars India Limited.
Headquarters of the company are located at Gurgaon in Haryana
state of India. In December 2002, HMSI got ISO 14001
certification.
Honda Brands
• Honda Aviator
• Honda Activa
• Honda Dio
• Honda Eterno
• Honda Unicorn
• Honda Shine
About the Company
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd was founded on August
20, 1999 at Manesar near Gurgaon in Haryana. The foundation
stone for the Honda factory was laid on December 14, 1999 and
the factory was completed in January 2001.
Honda Shine
Equipped with a host of advanced technologies, Honda Shine
offers impressive performance. Having some really phenomenal
features, Shine is a value for money. State-of-the-art
technological inputs make it a dream machine.
Honda Activa
Honda Activa is an easy to ride two wheeler with good pick-up
and high reliability. Thanks to its user-friendly features, it has
been quite successful in India. The vehicle has the option of kick
and self-start, and one can choose according to one’s
preferences.
Honda Dio
Honda Dio, manufactured and assembled in India by Honda's
HMSI subsidiary, is India's first motoscooter introduced in 2001.
With attractive body color and appealing structure, Dio makes its
presence felt on the road.
Honda Eterno
Honda Eterno ensures steady and smooth ride in any road
condition. The scooter has good pick up and accelerates fast. The
vehicle offers complete pleasure of riding, thanks to its features
like comfortable riding position, spacious foot board, handle
position etc.
Honda Unicorn
The bike is fantastic both in performance as well as aesthetic
value. It is a perfect fusion of sporty and macho design. With
features like swift acceleration, superior mileage, international
styling, riding comfort and convenience, the bike has made some
benchmarks in Indian automotive industry.
Honda Shine 125cc Review :
With 125cc engine, I feel that this bike does a very good
job in giving you comfort, mileage and descent looks.
Here’s a review of the various aspects of Honda Shine.
Styling: The looks of the bike is not sporty like the Glamour, the competitor from
Hero Honda. But I feel that the bike has a different focus than the latter. The bike
has been designed for the ‘office commuter’ in mind who needs plain and neat
looks. If you are a college student, choose to buy the Honda CBF Stunner which
has the same 125cc engine but a sporty and trendy outfit.
Performance: Many users have told me that the bike vibrates when it is taken
above 60 km/hr. But one has to remember that this is a 125cc bike and not a 150cc
one. But at low speeds, the acceleration is fantastic. The bike gives a mileage of
more than 50kmpl for sure but it can give higher number if you maintain the right
air pressure in the tires and get your bike serviced regularly.
The bike has very good handling, the ergonomic seats make it very comfortable for
all day riding. Gearing is a noticeable feature in Shine. A owner of Honda Shine
says – Gearing is very user friendly. Frequent gear shifting is not required. You
can ride at quite low speeds without down shifting. For example: if I am going in
4th gear and I approach a speed breaker, I have been able to slow down to around
20kmph, cross the speed breaker and then accelerate again all the while
remaining in 4th gear. Wow! That makes city riding more comfortable.
The dashboard has the basic features built into it. Speedometer and ODO meter on
the left and fuel gauge with three indicators (high beam, signal, and neutral) on the
right. The indicator lights look cute in oval shape, don’t you think so? And they are
bright enough so that it is visible even in broad day light.
Verdict: Honda Shine sets itself apart from other bikes in 125cc segment. You
know why? It is a original Honda make. Honda is known for high quality of parts,
durability and pride of ownership. Overall this is a good bike which I would
recommend to my uncle, but not my friend!
Honda Shine 125cc Specifications:
Engine Type: 4 St, Air Cooled OHC Single Cylinder
Displacement: 124.6 cc
Net Power: 10.3 BHP @ 7500 rpm (7.68 KW)
Torque: 1.1 Kg-m @ 5500 rpm (10.9 Nm)
Rear Suspension: 3 Step Spring Loaded Hydraulic Shock Absorber
Transmission: Constant Mesh, 4 Speed Gear
Front Brake Type: 240mm Disc / 130mm Drum
Acceleration (0-60 kmph): 5.3 Sec.
Rear Tyre: 2.75 – 18 48P(6PR)
The Activa is mostly used by my wife to commute to work, visit her friends and do
errands for the house. My daughter and son also use it regularly. I borrow it at
times when I am lazy to ride my Pulsar or when I have to go shopping. Women
just love it for its wide comfortable seat, self start and auto gear feature.
The seat is hinged at the front and opens upward at the rear. It is lockable using the
ignition key. There is a little storage space under the seat, which can hold a mini
helmet but not a large one. This space gets heated quite a bit if the vehicle is driven
for long. If you were planning to carry ice cream, it they would melt and flow by
the time you reach home. There is some free space up front where you plant your
legs, to hang shopping bags from the luggage hook. Since there is no foot brake
pedal, this space can be used without hindrance. This is one big advantage of the
Activa over a bike. If you plan to carry stuff like gas cylinders then the optional
front storage box should not be fitted. Anyway I would never recommend this nor
will I recommend carrying more than the legal number of passengers.
Headlight is not so bright even though it uses a 35 W lamp. Poor optics could be a
likely reason. Activa is not provided with a parking lamp. However the turn
indicators and stop light of 21 Watts are powerful and clearly visible, even in
daytime.
Spare tire is optional. I did not opt for it as it would spoil the look and add extra
weight. The manufacturer does not recommend it as the tire is supposed to
withstand and self-repair minor punctures.
I had to buy necessary accessories like Foot rests, Side stand, Turn indicator
beeper, Front storage box, Floor mat, Front and back guards and Rear number
plate. I could not understand why even floor mat and rear number plate are sold as
accessories. There is no separate front number plate. I stuck the registration
number sticker directly on the front faring. Fortunately the twin rear view mirrors
are not sold as accessories
Helmet holders are provided on both sides of the seat near the hinge. This helps to
secure helmet in combination with seat lock.
Activa’s tires originally come with puncture resistant inner tubes. Don’t confuse it
with puncture resisting, tubeless tires. The tube is double layered and contains a
self-sealing gel, which seals the tube in event of minor punctures, like the ones
caused by nails. In the 3rd year the rear tire got punctured beyond repair and both
the tube and tire set was changed with a standard variety.
Engine compartment is accessible by opening 3 bolts located under the seat, inside
the storage compartment and then tilting the front upwards. The rear of the engine
cover pivots on an internal hinge. They is a stay rod to keep the metal hood in
lifted position. The body is fully sheet metal, including front mudguard.
A small tool kit is provided which is stored in a small cavity under the seat. The kit
contains spanners for spark plug and wheel removal, a screwdriver, adjustable
pliers, etc.
Petrol tank can be filled only by lifting seat. I get a mileage of approximately 40
Kms to a litre.
Specification:
Overall length: 1768 mm
Overall width: 710 mm
Overall height =1120 mm
Wheelbase: 1235 mm
Dry wt of Scooter =107 kg
Engine oil volume = 0.7L to 0.8 L
Fuel tank cap=6.0 L
Transmission oil volume = 0.12 L
Passenger cap=172 kgs
Engine bore x stroke: 50 x 52 mm
Engine Compression ratio = 9.0:1
Spark plug= P-RZ9HC (CHAMPION), Air Gap = .7 TO .8 mm
Idling Speed = 1700 RPM ±100
Front / Rear Tyre size= 90/100-10 53J
Battery = 1 2V-5AH
Alternator cap = 0.11kw @ 5000 rpm
Headlight = 12V-35/35W
Pros:
Reliability
Cons:
lack of style
The tried and tested engine ensures good performance and a decent fuel economy.
The trademark Honda refinement and reliability is present everywhere on this new-
age scooter.
Another thing that sets the Aviator apart from its siblings is its suspension. Though
the chassis of the Aviator is almost similar to the one offered on the Activa, it has
now been equipped with inverted forks in the front. The twin telescopic front
suspension offers better handling characteristics and going around corners is now a
breeze.
The Aviator shows great composure while taking high speed bends on roads. The
new front suspension has also enhanced the ride quality significantly.
The scooter sports a peculiar wheel configuration with different wheel sizes at
front and rear. While Honda has retained the rear wheel size to 10-inch, they have
equipped the Aviator with a 12-inch front wheel. The change in the front wheel
size has come in order to accommodate the disc brake as a 10-inch wheel would
have been too small to house a capable rotor.
The Aviator’s price tag is higher than any of its competitors in the market,
however, the features that come packed in a parcel badged with the wing makes
every penny spent worth it.
Apart from the performance due to the presence of its 4 stroke, single cylinder, air-
cooled, OHC engine it is being noticed in the market for its attractive body color
and appealing structure.
Honda Dio
Top of Form
Honda Dio add
Bottom of Form
Its stylish aerodynamic, sleek, wedge design body
is really compatible with the body mounted multi reflector head light. Light weight
of this fibre body does not only look good but also enhances riding comfort and
fuel efficiency.
Passenger's comfort is the assurance of its specially designed seat with enough leg
room and ample space in under seat luggage box for storing helmet, lunch box,
spare parts, raincoat etc inside it. Its under seat bag hook is also very effective for
holding briefcase or bags.
For supporting this two wheeler, it has firm road gripping tyre with stable steering.
Its wider foot board is helpful for co-passenger to keep his feet comfortably.
Other features involved in it are CLIC mechanism, Tuffup tube, long front
suspension, movable front fender, saree step, side stand, sporty inner box, Honda 4
stroke engine oil etc.
Engine
Type 4-stroke, Single cylinder, air cooled, OHC
Displacement 102 cc
Max. Power 7 Bhp @ 7000 rpm
Max. Torque 0.8 Kg-m @ 5500 rpm
Transmission V-matic
Ignition Self / Kick
Electricals
Battery 12V, 5Ah
Headlamp 35W
Chassis
Frame High rigidity Under Bone type
Dimensions (lxbxh) 1760 x 710 x 1110 mm
Wheel Base 1235 mm
Ground Clearance 145 mm
Weight Distribution (front/rear
40:60
wheels)
Suspension
Bottom Link with spring loaded hydraulic
Front
damper
Rear Unit swing with spring loaded hydraulic damper
Tyre Size
Front 3.50 - 10, 4 PR
Rear 3.50 - 10, 4 PR
Brakes
Front Drum, 130 mm dia
Rear Drum, 130 mm dia
Fuel Tank Capacity
6 litres
Honda Unicorn 150cc Review:
Honda set foot on the Indian bike market with the legendary Honda Unicorn. With
150cc engine and mono-suspension, it was the first of its kind in India. In one
word, it can be summed up as ‘The Smart 150cc Bike.’
I went to the Honda showroom to test drive the Unicorn, but I was disappointed as
they told me that there are no bikes for test drive and if booked, it will take another
6 months to arrive! Wow! This is a great pointer to the fact that the bike is selling
like crazy in India.
The brakes are not outstanding, but provides adequate friction when you put the
pressure with your fingers and foot. The best part of the bike is the mono
suspension. You will feel the difference only if have driven many bikes on all
types of roads. But it really counts!
The bike does
not have a digital console which puts it a little behind the competition, but the dials
really serve the purpose. The most necessary feature of dashboard, the speedometer
is put at the right place, at the center! Bold and clear, unlike other bikes which
have the speedometer aligned on the sides of the dashboard.
Regarding the mileage part, let me get you some words directly from a owner.
Gowtham: “Since I drive mostly in highways I get around 54-55kmpl and around
49-51 in city. Some of my friends have reported more mileage of 57 kmpl it could
be because of my riding style too. you will get an average mileage of any where
around 52-55 kmpl. So good fuel efficiency, but make sure you fill petrol in only
one bunk regularly coz this will ensure steady mileage. Riding speed should be
around 50 -60 kmph for getting this mileage as I observed.”
Conclusion: Honda speaks for itself, Honda is a perfectionist in the automobile
market. With the Unicorn successfully selling across India, it is a sure sign that
Honda will launch a lot of new bikes which will eat up the competition just like
that. Buy a Honda and you will NOT regret it.
Pros: Honda Make, Fantastic Handling, Smooth and Silent Engine, Mono
Suspension
Cons: Mileage is not as good as its competition
Honda Unicorn 150cc Specifications:
Engine Type: 4 Stroke, Air Cooled OHC, Single Cylinder
Displacement: 149.1 cc
Net Power: 13.3 bhp @ 8000 rpm (9.9 KW)
Torque: 1.3 Kg-m @ 5500 rpm (12.8 Nm)
Carburetor: CV Type
Starting System: Self
Transmission: Constant Mesh, 5 Speed gear
Gear Shift Pattern: 1 Down – 4 Up
Front Suspension: Telescopic
Rear Suspension: Advanced Technology Mono-suspension
Front Tyre: 2.75 x 18
Rear Tyre: 100 / 90 – 18
Front Brake Type: 240 mm Disc
Rear Brake Type: 130 mm Drum
However, on second thoughts with the price tag lingering around the Yamaha’s FZ
(FZ 16 costs Rs 73k OTR Pune), a comparison between these two becomes
inevitable.
Dazzler doesn’t have FZ like ground breaking looks, nor does it carry insane
power like the Apache, nor the homogonous torque of the FZ but what it carries
over is the decent-looker better mileage factor. So does it make a good buy at the
increased price? Wait for a thorough test drive as we dig deep to answer the same
question!
The 2010 Honda CB Twister turns up the heat in the Indian motorcycle market.
Enter, the 109cc CB Twister, a commuter bike that looks like no other Indian
commuter bike to date and has launched with Honda saying it has perfected every
aspect of its new motorcycle. Read on and allow us to bring you our opinion on
Honda’s new CB Twister.
Your eyes won’t believe they’re upon a commuter bike while viewing Honda’s CB
Twister. Sharply styled with cues from the designed-in-Europe CB1000R, Honda’s
new commuter motorcycle is cleanly styled without the clutter of many decals.
Much of its mass concentrates forward and close to its center of gravity. Six ‘V’
shaped spokes frame the CB’s attractive black alloy wheels, with this same shade
coating much of the bike, including its front forks, handlebar, side and rear cowls,
engine and stubby silencer. Honda is offering five metallic paint shades with its
new bike.
A nicely styled headlight and mini nose fairing adds some panache to the Twister
commuter-cycle.
A bright headlight nestles within the Twister¹s angular front fairing, below the
crest of which reside smartly laid out instruments in an eye-catching and legible
format. The Twister offers a bold speedometer, and fuel level indicator. It enjoys a
pair of angular, functional mirrors, and switchgear that is smooth to operate but
sadly lacks a pass light flasher. Soft palm grips and nicely shaped control levers
add to the feel good factor when riding this bike.
The Twister’s fuel tank is muscular and attractive, providing adequate thigh
support, only lacking a hinged filler-lid. This sits just behind a set of nice front
cowls, which can sometimes interfere with a tall rider’s knees. The CB Twister’s
side panels and seat merge seamlessly into the rear, with a design master stroke
evident in the brilliant manner in which the rear grab bar integrates into the fairing.
The tail is handsome, with a smartly tapered mudguard and red damper springs.
Easily the best looking model in its segment, the CB Twister leads the way with
excellent overall quality, perfect fit-and-finish, as well as enviable attention to
detail.
The Twister is powered by a 109cc air-cooled single with a purported 9 hp.
The Twister comes with a different frame as seen to date on bikes by Honda for
India. As with a single-downtube frame, the CB also deploys its engine as a
stressed member but sends a pair of arms down from its steering head to hold the
engine. Suspension is by a telescopic fork up front and a pair of hydraulic shock
absorbers at the rear, along with a rectangle-section swingarm.
Honda has got this bike’s ergonomics spot on, with the riding posture comfortably
upright and saddle perfectly padded. The CB Twister comes with 17-inch wheels at
both ends, and our test bike came shod with a pair of tubeless MRF tyres that
offered excellent traction. Ride quality on this bike is set a touch towards firm,
with handling taut and precise at all times. Perfect for quick manoeuvring through
crowded traffic, the CB Twister steers with a neutral and light feel. Cornering
manners and straight-line stability are commendable.
The Twister’s top speed is about 60 mph.
Our test bike came with an optional 240mm disc brake, which proved capable of
stopping from 36 mph in 17.33 meters (56.8 feet). Brake feel from both levers was
always progressive and reassuring.
Honda isn’t reputed as a world leader in motorcycle technology without reason.
The CB Twister managed to run 57.2 kilometres on one liter of fuel (135 mpg!) in
city conditions, despite its admirable performance. It bettered this figure to
61.3/kpl (141 mpg!) on its highway run.
Honda is clearly stamping its authority on our two-wheeler market. The CB
Twister lends a new dimension to commuter bikes in India. Such handsome style
has been unheard of in this class till now, being good enough to have even its
150cc neighbours turning a deep shade of green. Overall quality is also top notch
on the Twister.
Honda’s smooth new engine responds and feels surprisingly better than its rivals.
The latest Honda is comfortable too, enjoying a well engineered chassis that
provides nimble and light handling. The sum of which means the Autocar India
crystal ball predicts this competitively priced motorcycle is one big winner on all
fronts.
Our big grouse is Honda already struggling to feed waiting lists building up at its
two-wheeler dealerships. This needs urgent addressing, as the CB Twister is
certain to further lengthen these waiting lists, while on its way to becoming a huge
blockbuster for its maker.
Honda CBF Stunner 125cc Review:
CBF Stunner’s Styling: Honda says that many people thought that it was a 180cc
bike in the first look. And some thought it was a 250cc one. The bike is quite large
for its engine size. The big flaring in front definitely adds a super cool status to the
bike. Major part of the Stunner story is its looks. With alloy wheels, Karizma like
head lamps, split seats, Honda has made it look like a sports bike for sure. Park the
Unicorn and Stunner together and a baby can tell that it wants the Stunner. We
Indians give so much importance to looks and Honda has identified it right.
CBF Stunner’s Performance: No one can tell that the CBF is the twin brother of
Honda Shine, Unless they look into the specifications. I would say that the bike is
better suited for city riding than highway cruising. With jump start pickups at
lower speeds, the college guy will definitely look like a cool dude on this bike,
compared to the guy who drives a Passion Plus, struggling to catch up with
Stunner.The bike gives out 11 bhp at 8000 rpm with its 124.7 cc engine. It does not
give me enough pleasure at 80 kmph because the bike is not smooth enough
compared to the higher cc counter parts. You would push the engine to the limits
only when someone is chasing you, not otherwise!
The engine’s performance has nothing to do with being really sporty. If you want a
good looking bike without compromising the mileage, this bike is for you. The
handling is impressive. You can turn the bikes with the slightest force because
there is no dead weight of the dash board and headlamps in clinging to the handle
bar. The tires are pretty thick and the brakes are excellent. Even when you squeeze
just the front brakes, the bike does not lose its balance, Honda has done a good job
of weight distribution. If you are crazy about the digital speedometer thing, I am
sorry, CBF Stunner will disappoint you with complete analog dashboard as shown
below…The left dial has the speedometer, ODO meter and the trip meter while the
right dial incorporates the fuel indicator. On the center it has a high beam indicator
and single signal indicator for both the left and right signals.
The on-road price of Honda CBF Stunner ranges from Rs.54,000 to 60,000 in
south India. You have options of having disc brakes and self start. The mileage
claimed by users is 66 kmpl.
Pros: Styling, Pickup, Brakes
Cons: Small engine for a big bike
Honda CBF Stunner Specifications:
Displacement: 124.7cc
Engine: 4 Stroke, Air Cooled, OHC Single Cylinder
Maximum Power: 11Bhp@8000rpm
Maximum Torque: 11Nm@6500rpm
Gears: 5 Speed
Weight: 129.00 kg
Ground Clearance: 173.00 mm
Fuel Tank: 10.00 ltrs
Suspension(Front): Telescopic front fork suspension
Suspension(Rear): 3 step spring loaded hydraulic shock absorber
Brakes (Front): 240mm Disc
Brakes(Rear): 130mm Drum
Honda Stunner PGM-Fi Review:
With the market getting hotter from every nook and corner with some sizzling
products in offering, it is important that we move ahead in the technology
department as well and not just a permutation and combination of the same old
tech implementations on different versions. In the same bid, Honda launched a
scintillating looking Fuel Injected version of Stunner a few months back which
was unveiled at a grand function where two bigwigs also made to the curtains, the
naked monster CB1000R and the super sexy streetfighter CBR1000RR
With the presence of such massively accorded bikes many would feel a small
125cc bike would get overshadowed, but contrary to this perceived notion, it held
onto its own with a distinct appeal and a glorious aura. Lets dig out what difference
had a Fuel Injector made to the overall behavior of the bike from its elder sibling.
STYLING, BUILD AND DESIGN: I am yet to come across a sane man who
doesn’t like the looks of the carbed Stunner and then what better when it comes in
different and more appealing clothes. Essentially, Stunner PGM-Fi remains the
same old body with changes in the overall designing and colors. The linearity of
the whole bike is maintained with lines flowing in a particular well defined
manner. Even the contours are pretty well sorted out. The uniformity of the design,
right from the fiery front fairing all the way uptill an upswept tail surely reflects
the detailed eye which went into the making of the bike.
The bike comes in two tone paint scheme borrowed from the liter class sibling
CBR Fireblade and needless to say they look simply superb. The front fairing is
indeed the best looking perfect fit on any semi faired bike in India and doenst look
an odd fitting as is the case with some of the bikes in the market. Honda has
decided to deploy two color tones of the CBR series, the CBR Red and CBR Silver
Metallic on this 125 cc machine and the bike certainly oozes out style in both of
these color tones especially the metallic red complements the overall theme pretty
well.
The rear shock absorbers are also painted red which, incidentally, look good.
Seating posture is sporty with those rear set footpegs but even after continuous
long runs the bike feels relatively comfortable. The seating is split type and broad
enough to accommodate even fatter butts comfortably. Handle bars are the same
high placed ones as the older stunner which also aids to the comfortable seating
posture.
The engine gets a golden treatment which lets the bike exude a lot of class. The
bike now sports a half chain cover to add to the sporty feel along with a premium
key and a maintenance free battery. Build quality is top notch with very little to
complain about. Paint quality is one of the best we have seen on Indian bikes and
the fit and finish is just awesome. As a design element, the bike also gets a silver
finish heat shield instead of the chrome plated one on the carbed Stunner. Overall,
we would class this bike as one of the best looking bikes in the country.
Styling, Build and Design – 8/10
RIDE & HANDLING: The bike runs on the same Diamond frame as the earlier
Stunner. The overall chassis and suspension setup remains the same which means
that this bike also handles like a dream and cornering is a cake walk on this
fantastic setup. On the contrary, ride quality of the bike is not as plush as some
others in this engine segment (read Yamaha Gladiator) but still is pretty decent.
What we would like Bajaj to learn from Honda is how they design their knee
recesses. On the Pulsar 220, driver’s knees have a hard time with that semi fairing,
as it touches them causing a displeasing irk especially on long runs for people who
are a little long on scale. On the contrary, Stunners knee recess has been so well
sculpted that it can accommodate any normal to large knees with absolute
perfection.
Zipping through the traffic on this bike is not as easy as (say) its other sibling,
Honda Shine, but manages pretty well but the best on any half or full faired bike in
India. The worse part we found was that some bikes had TVS Tyres. We really
don’t understand why, even after taking such a premium, Honda doesn’t provide
them with MRF Zappers, or better still soft compound tyres. This is the only
deterrent to a knee scratching cornering abilities of this bike. Just that TVS tyres do
not feel as attached to the road as some good quality tyres.
As has been the major complaint with earlier Stunners (and Shines), the vibrations,
which creep in at mid and higher rpms, have been taken care by Honda. The bike
now sports end handle bars to reduce those saddening vibes. Second, the bike has
taller gearing which means that the bike runs at lower revs in turn helping in
reducing the vibs. Compared head-on with the earlier Stunner, the vibrations are
still there but a lot lesser and don’t come between the fun factor which this bike
returns.
Ride, Handling – 7.5/10
PERFORMANCE, BRAKING & FUEL EFFICIENCY: With an increase in
power by almost half a bhp from its earlier sibling, the bike is expected to be
faster. Let us, at first, inform you that there is not a very noticeable difference
between the two bikes. The FI surely has a better and crispier throttle response
majorly attributed to the inclusion of a Fuel Injector. Essentially, both the bikes are
near about similar on figures with this FI being less than half a second faster to 60
kmph clock ticking a tad over 6.5 seconds. When we checked out the top speed of
the bike, speedo showed us 105 kmph after which the bike was totally dead.
Compare this with the 102 kmph we managed for the carbed stunner. But the way
this bike reaches that top speed is way better than the carbed one.
The carbed Stunner runs out of steam at anything over 85 kmph and after that it’s
just your time and extra road which carries it over a ton. The marginal better top
speed is majorly because of the fact that Honda has shed one tooth of its rear
sprocket which means that the bike is now taller geared than carbed version. We
wonder how would the carbed stunner behave with the same sprocket (Hope you
understand what we mean!). However, the mid and top range of both the bikes did
not leave us impressed very much, just that the FI is little bettered. Talk about low
end and we would rate both of these as the best in this 125cc segment.
Many of you might be wondering about the addition of the much famed PGM-Fi
on this bike and how has it improved this one and here we talk about the fuel
efficiency figures of the bike! There is a definite improvement of at least 5 kmpl
over the carbed version. Expect this bike to return very good fuel efficiency figures
of 65-70 kmpl under normal city riding and anything in excess of 70 on long
highways. This bike runs on the same braking set up as the earlier version and
overall braking is very good and the braking certainly instills a lot of confidence
just that the TVS tyres are little let down (we repeat, Honda please provide this
bike with soft compound tyres only).
Performance, braking and fuel efficiency – 7/10
TIDBITS: The best thing Honda has done is to remove that oddly placed choke
knob. Switchgear is almost identical and doesn’t have an engine kill switch (still!).
Neither does the bike sport a tachometer, which we feel is a must these days
especially when you are selling your product as a premium in the market. The bike
has a bank angle sensor, which shuts off the fuel supply once you roll over a
particular dangerous angle just to avoid any internal engine damage.
Instrumentation is also similar with the FI getting a malfunction indicator just
beside the neutral light on the console.
VERDICT: If you have read the full review and have any plans of considering this
as a prospect bike, let us shatter them! The bike retails at a monstrous (and
unjustified) price tag of Rs 73,000 which is over 16k than the carbed Stunner and
way over any other 125cc bike. With positive changes to the designing and paint
theme, an addition of FI we would have loved this bike to be priced sensibly but
Honda seems to be a little over optimistic about their bike.
Very little performance gain, nothing out of the ordinary gizmos (like the Yamaha
R15 has), this bike is not recommended unless you are a Honda showroom owner!
Probably a 5k increase would have made this bike a worthy upgrade or a Unicorn
engine would have made this bike a roll on success at this price but sadly, Honda
seems to be in a tune of their own. If you have as many rupees and are bent on
buying an FI bike (only), buy the Apache RTR 160 Fi!
Reference:
1. "Move Over, Volvo: Honda Sets New Safety Standard for
Itself", an article in the "News" section of the March, 2004
issue of Motor Trend, on page 32
2. 2004 Annual Corporate Report
3. The story of Honda's entry and growth in the American
market is documented in Terry Sanders' film The Japan
Project: Made in Japan. Honda
4. Honda's Corporate History
5. Honda Motorcycles at the Open Directory Project
6. Honda Worldwide site
7. Honda Press Library
8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/