Honda Bikes in India

To make its mark on the global motorcycle racing scene, the Honda Racing Service was established in March 1973. In 1978, the New Racing (NR) division was established. Both divisions handled motorcycle racing activities. They were merged in September 1982 and renamed Honda Racing Company Limited.

In 1984, Honda and the Hero Group inked an agreement to manufacture and sell motorcycles in India as Hero Honda. However, this joint venture (JV) was considerably affected by Honda’s later decision to enter the Indian market through its subsidiary. Honda formed a subsidiary named Honda Motorcycles India (HMSI) in 1999. It made its entry into the motorcycle segment with the 150cc CB Unicorn - the first Honda bike in India. Later, they launched the 125cc CB Shine in 2006.

The production of all Honda bikes commenced from its first plant of 1.65-million-unit capacity in Haryana. In 2011, Honda expanded to its second plant in Rajasthan with a 1.2-million-unit annual capacity. In 2013, the company started the third plant in Karnataka with a 1.8-million-unit annual capacity.

In 2018, HMSI crossed the 35 million two-wheeler manufacturing mark with its four manufacturing plants in India. With this, Honda became the only two-wheeler brand in India to reach this milestone in 17 years.

The Honda bikes, ever sold in India, consist of the SP 125, the Navi, the X-Blade, the CB Hornet, the CB Shine, the CB Unicorn, the Livo, the Dream Neo, the Dream Yuga, the CD 110 Dream, the CBR 650F, the CB1000R, the CBR1000RR, the Gold Wing and the Africa Twin, among others.