Preview: Honda CB Twister

Honda is ready to shake the 100-125cc segment in India with its upcoming Honda CB Twister. Just like the small car segment in passenger vehicles is the most popular segment, similarly the 100-125 cc bike segment features some of the fastest selling bike models in India. Hero Honda, another Honda joint venture company in India, currently owns the lion’s share of this segment but that does not keep the parent company from expanding its product portfolio in India.

Nevertheless, the new Honda CB Twister is not here to compete with Hero Honda Splendour or Passion but to create its own niche. The looks are nowhere near to these two models - on the contrary, the CB Twister has been inspired by the CB1000R.

But if you thought that Honda aims to sell a simple and “plain Jane” model due to the price factor, you’ll be mistaken. Honda’s latest model is everything but simple. It is all about style and looks. The design has been penned by Honda’s Italian design studio and addresses the need of the youngster craving for style statements within a budget. This makes the bike quite suitable for rural and semi-urban markets both. The bike’s design and price make it a good model for exports as well.

The Honda CB Twister delivers superb on-road performance with its 110cc 4 stroke, single cylinder, air cooled OHC engine that is expected to develop 9 Nm of maximum torque at 6000 rpm and will produce 9 bhp of maximum power at 8000 rpm. The bike is expected to deliver a mileage of 70 kmph. The model is available in three variants – CB Twister, CB Twister Self Disc and CB Twister Self Drum. The standard model comes with kick start and disc brakes while the deluxe models come with electric start and drum brakes. It features an advanced design diamond twin pipe chassis and 4-speed manual transmission.

The model is equipped with front disc brakes, alloy wheels and sporty looking red springs at the rear. You find a screen-less front cowl that uplifts aesthetics of the bike and the combinatory instrument panel gives you best of both worlds. The muscular tank is good enough to lure the young minds and the floating side cowl give it an aerodynamic style that gives you ultimate adrenaline rush while riding the bike. It also features a new technology that cuts down on maintenance to deliver a smooth and hasslefree ride. The ignition is digital CDI type. It has maintenance free 12 V, 3.0 AH battery with no topping up or leakages either.

CB Twister meets the new BS III norms and is priced at Rs. 42,000 and above. This price will remain same across major cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, New Delhi, and Pune but the on road price will of course vary depending upon the state taxes. It is available in five colours - Pearl Night Star Black, Pearl Fujy Blue, Pearl Amble Yellow, Candy Comic Green & Pearly Siena Red. The new Honda CB Twister will be available in showrooms by end of February 2010.