Rumors from Japan: a Honda CBR400R

KTMphil

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Jan 11, 2011
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Chiang Mai, Thailand
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2007 KTM 990 Adventure Suzuki DRZ 400
[align=justify:1gkdz57g]Rumors from Japan: a Honda CBR400R in the works?[/align:1gkdz57g]

new honda cbr400r.jpg


Japanese motorcycle mag Young Machine reports that Honda is working on a new mid-size sportsbike that will be positioned in the current range between the CBR250R and the CBR600RR. Apparently, the model is being developed with the home market in mind, where this segment of the market is clearly on the rise, and it is supposed to continue the tradition of the classic VFR400 (NC30) and RVF400R (NC35), although the Japanese magazine reveals that the new model will be powered by a flat twin engine (that is likely to bear some resemblance with the CBR250R’s single) as opposed to the V4 that equipped the aforementioned couple of bikes..

According to VisorDown, this new Honda CBR400R should be able to count on about 50 hp, which is twice as much as the CBR250R but less than half the power of the CBR600RR, making it an ideal motorcycle to complete the transition between the two models.

The shockwaves caused by the steady fall of the sportsbike market worldwide surely hit the main guys in Tokyo, and the concurrent renaissance of the sporty 400s market did not go unnoticed either: putting two and two together, it sounds like there are a lot of customers out there that would be interested in this kind of product.
 
Which might .... just might ..... mean a CRF400L some time in the future? :MJ
 
Single front disc , cheap wheels , cheap frame , hideous exhaust and probably no more than 40 HP .... think I'd buy the 20 year old version .
 
But will it be made in Thailand and available here or will it be made in Japan, mainly for their domestic market?
 
According to my mate -who has his finger on the pulse with the local manufacturers-, the chances are good that this bike will be produced here in Thailand.
Honda reckons that they will be picking up a market segment here in Thailand that is not yet tapped -the gap between the 250's and the 600+ size bikes.
There are also rumours that Suzuki is looking at expanding their manufacture/sales in Thailand with larger bikes, no time frame though and no real info as to what models they may be selling.

Cheers,
Hassman
 
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