Honda CBF 125 EFI for Europe launched

Honda unveiled its 2009 range of bikes at Intermot, the International Motorcycle and Scooter Fair held in Germany. It also showcased its Honda CBF Stunner 125 that will be launched in the European market, in December 2008.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd had rolled out the Honda CBF Stunner 125 in August 2008. The Honda CBF Stunner 125 for Europe comes with the chassis and power plant borrowed from the popular Honda Shine. What’s new about the bike is that it boasts of a five-speed transmission. The Honda CBF Stunner 125 will now be available in Europe across Honda dealerships as the Honda CBF 125 EFI.

The company said the Honda CBF 125 EFI would be rolled out with the same power output of nd 11.1PS and 11Nm of torque as its Indian counterpart, the Honda CBF Stunner 125. But the European models have an improved form of Honda’s fuel injection system to stay in accordance with the UK’s strict Euro-3 emission norms, it added. The Honda CBF125 will be priced at 2195 Euros (Rs 143,500).

The company is targeting customers in the early twenties and aims to capture the fancy of new bikers and those looking for a hassle-free commuting experience through the crowded streets of European cities like London and Paris. The company aims to fulfill the demand for small capacity bikes in Europe. The European Union licensing regulations limit riders under 21 to ride bikes with horsepower and displacement restrictions.

Honda’s CBR 125 model was launched in the UK, in 2004 but the small capacity bike was built on Honda’s CBR platform.

Honda, which saw a cumulative worldwide motorcycle production of 200 million units by end-September 2008, recorded this milestone in the 60th year since the company began motorcycle production in 1949.

Annual worldwide motorcycle sales, which exceeded 10 million units in 2004, had seen its 2007 sales reach 13.47 million units. The company wants to take its sales figures to more than 18 million units in year 2010. With this aim in mind, Honda is expected to continue offering products which fulfill the diversifying needs of customers around the world, industry experts said.

Honda currently makes motorcycles at 32 plants in 22 countries around the world. It has also set up local R&D in the US, Germany, Italy, Thailand, China, and India.