Honda is working on a new lightweight CB. But it's not a 150, 250, or 300. It's a CB190F. Honda, through its subsidiary in Haryana, India, has filed a patent for a model called CB190F.
If it is indeed an upcoming model, the CB190F will take on KTM's Duke 200 and the Bajaj Pulsar (Rouser in the Philippine market) head-on in the highly attractive 200cc motorcycle market in India. India is currently the world's largest motorcycle market, peaking in 2018 with 22.4 million motorcycles sold.
The Honda CB190F is directly inspired by the bigger motorcycles in Honda's stable that bear the CB badge. The bike also features a 117mm upside-down front fork, mono-shock absorber for the rear, fully-digital instrument panel, and full-LED lights.
It is powered by a 184cc air-cooled, EFI SOHC engine, mated to a 5-speed transmission.
It's not an entirely new model. The CB190F has been offered in China and select South American markets since 2016.
The big question
Are we getting it in the Philipines? Like what we've said in our previous articles, Honda Philippines has a history of being conservative in terms of importing models from abroad. In the case of the CB190F, we can't really say for sure. Additionally, factors such as the competitor's pricing, import taxes, historical sales figures of similar models, or other factors could mean bringing certain models here in the country may not be profitable at all.
And then there's the coronavirus outbreak. With the current pandemic, motorcycle sales are already down and may be that way for a while. Bringing in a new model is not exactly high on any brand's priorities. For sure, the CB190F could be a nice sight on our streets, wouldn't it?
