Honda’s Next Retro Motorcycle For India Might Impress 'Badass Ravi Kumar' Too

It is tricky to crack the code in the Indian motorcycling scene like Royal Enfield. The Bullet 350 and Classic 350 have cemented themselves as an evergreen choice for retro motorcycle enthusiasts, which is reflected highly in the sales figures. A reliable short-stroke 350 cc engine, a simple yet charming old-school design and robust engineering make these motorcycles highly desirable. Despite the onset of foreign competition from Honda, Triumph and Kawasaki in the segment – all of whom offer advanced vehicular technology – none can remove Royal Enfield from its position. 

Take Honda’s CB350 series as a great example. These neo-retro motorcycles from Honda try to emulate old-school riding with a torquey engine, a loud exhaust, a comfortable riding posture and a relatively simple architecture. However, these motorcycles are known to lack the old-school charm (character, as the British would say) that a Classic 350 provides in loads. 

Honda, however, doesn’t like to sit and wait for miracles. Industry insiders suggest that the Japanese two-wheeler brand is keen on dominating the retro motorcycle market. Hence, it intends to bring some of its highly acclaimed kickass retro models to India. One such highly revered model is the Honda Rebel 300 – the darling of new motorcyclists overseas. With a low seat height, a meaty engine and a low price tag, this motorcycle has got the ‘Classic 350 killer’ all over it.

But will it spell trouble for Royal Enfield? Let’s find out.

Honda Rebel 300: What is it?

The Rebel 300 has been around for a while in international markets as Honda’s small displacement retro motorcycle with a cruiser flair. The motorcycle is based on Honda’s CB300R engine platform, sharing the same 286 cc single-cylinder engine making 25 hp of peak power and 17 lb.ft of torque. This is unusual for a cruiser motorcycle, considering how Royal Enfield and other retro brands stick to a long-stroke engine setup prioritising low-end torque.

For Honda though, the Rebel 300’s manageable power and torque presented in a well-tuned serving make it popular for beginner riders as well as those seeking am easy-to-ride weekend motorcycle. 

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Design as cool as 'Badass Ravi Kumar'

The styling is where the Honda Rebel 300 shines. In a bid to impress retro motorcycle fans, Honda has given the Rebel 300 an old-school cruiser styling. The unusually bulbous tank with high-set handlebars, an extremely low seat (just 690 mm!) and a short rear section makes the Rebel 300 command unmatched road presence. You might miss it in the regular black colourway but in its spicy orange paintjob, even Himesh Reshamiya’s Badass Ravi Kumar couldn’t give it a miss! 

Since this is targeted towards the lower end of the retro motorcycle spectrum, you do get dual disc brakes with ABS braking as optional. Honda, however might alter the equipment list for the Indian variant. There are a couple of additional accessories to make the Rebel look more cruiser-centric, if you seek more jazz and style from your retro bike!

Honda being Honda though, the Rebel 300 will take its sweet time to roll into the Indian scene. Insiders suggest that Honda has planned for a launch in 2026 at the earliest. 

Rebel 500 coming too

If the 286 cc engine doesn’t seem enough, rumours suggest that Honda is secretly developing a new 500 cc parallel twin engine with more power and torque. The styling is yet to be determined though.

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