One of the most important motorcycle launches of the year happened on Friday though you’re unlikely to read about it in any of the testosterone-infused websites – it was the Indian unveiling of Honda’s new fuel-efficient and low maintenance 110cc motorcycle model, the CB Twister. Honda sells a million motorcycles a year in India, and next year expects to sell 220,000 Twisters, based on its similar looks to the company’s CBR1000RR flagship, its low maintenance and its outrageous fuel economy (164 U.S. mpg and 197 U.K. mpg) and a price of just US$900.
Targeting the younger generation, CB Twister features a design from the school of large-capacity European motorcycles. CB Twister is equipped with a low-friction, high mileage, highly efficient air-cooled 4-stroke single-cylinder 110cc engine, which complies with India's emissions standard (BS-III) that will take effect in April 2010.
India is the world's second largest motorcycle market (behind China) with sales this year expected to top 8.6 million units, of which the 110cc category accounts for half.
The bike is the product of Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI), a wholly-owned Honda subsidiary in India, and not from Hero Honda, Honda’s local JV company, which owns the lion’s share of the Indian motorcycle marketplace.
The Twister is scheduled to go on sale in India at the end of February 2010 and will be seen for the first time in public at the Auto Expo 2010 to be held in New Delhi, India beginning January 5, 2010.
And BTW MPG Figures posted by Indian bike manufacturers are outrageous. It would be difficult to get these numbers even if you cruize at straight line at 40kmph for 2 hrs. Companies like Bajaj quotes mileage figures like 101kmpl. While the real bike manages a 65 after a lot of compromise.
Indian bikes are pretty refined. FE figures are amongst the best in the world. And by the way, 65 kmpl is not bad at all. And anyhow, driving the bike which claimed a mileage of 101 in a city does give u abt 80-85. Personal experience. Which is not to say that i haven\'t driven higher capacity bikes. But even those made in India sport pretty good Fuel Economy figures.
40kmph? I suggest u drive a Honda Scooter named Aviator(as CB Twister is not yet available) which is just 100cc and even that will take u to 85 kmph. Smoothly. I agree that is not a very high figure, but as spirit of 76 said, sometimes fun is more important than jumping on a crotch rocket and zooming off. City traffic begs for a light, laid back bike.
Oh. We have the crotch rockets too in India. If u care to drive one. Tech is fast catching up but u see, manufacturers have to keep the market in mind. And there is a market for all types of bikes in India. From 110 cc to 1100 cc.
So i suggest u STFU!
This sounds like a great product.
I have owned forty or fifty Hondas in this class of bikes. I have ridden them for 45 years. I rode a Honda 90 from Los Angeles almost to Canada, to northern ID, plus other long trips.
It is my impression that these small bikes do not have a heavy frame. I doubt that this one does.
I have never been bothered by vibration on these. On other bikes, yes... never these.
I know you CAN get incredible mileage with them without any special effort. A bike designed for it will probably do a much better job than the ones I have owned.
I can see a large sport bike rider would compare these to walking but in my opinion drag racing from signal to signal isn\'t transportation either. If you want commuter transportation I think you would be happy with one of these. But get a color you like because you\'ll have it for a while. These bikes last for years and years with proper maintenance.
I was chatting with a fellow riding an old Honda S90 (one of my favorites). He had 65,000 miles on it without opening the engine. I did lecture him on replacing the chain. I described graphically what would happen to his engine if the chain broke.
Gizmag Team - how about checking with Honda Japan or US for confirmation of this performance - and when it might become available elsewhere -
As long as there are bikes like this which show so much poise for low price no one will buy bikes which can put out better technology. India is very technology agnostic cause manufacturer\'s always launch something cheap but good looking(add more plastic cladding).
And this bike shares the engine with a bike named \"Shine\" which has vibration issues over 40kmpl. So look before you post.