Why Can't Honda Sell India's $900 100cc Street Motorcycle In The USA?

Right Now You Have To Shell Out Between $3,000 & $6,000 (!) To Ride Away On The Smallest Street Motorcycles!

You have to wonder why GM and Chrysler went under. Could it have anything to do with the fact that they were simply not producing the types of automobiles that the customer wanted? Both manufacturers were total losers when it came to smaller economy models. The Caliber was the most economical offering from Chrysler and it was a rolling pile of dung that looked like an elephant sat on a minivan, performed like a slug on wheels, and was as long lasting as a nitroglycerin milkshake machine. On the GM side, the profoundly repugnant, dated, poorly designed, badly built, underperforming and ridiculously fuel thristy (I have a friend who gets a completely unacceptable 26 mpg on his '09) Korean Daewoo Kalos rebadged as a Chevy Aveo is an embarrassment with a bowtie badge.

Now that we're on the subject of not providing the vehicles that the public wants, let's discuss the various motorcycle manufacturers. These companies are so damned busy carrying on a horsepower and displacement war where gargantuan, Brobdignanian 2.3 litre juggernaut motorcycles that generate 140+ horsepower are considered "sedate cruisers," and you can buy a motorcycle straight off the dealership floor that will comfortably break 200 mph, that they have completely ignored the overwhelming market demand for an affordable, small, easy to handle, "starter bike" for students, commuters, shoppers, and Sunday cruise riders.

There are only four, count them, four street legal motorcycles offered for sale in North America in the 2009 model year that are even as small as 125cc. They are:

2009 Aprilia RS125 - MSRP: $5,499
2009 Honda CBR125R - MSRP: $2,999
2009 Husqvarna SM125 - MSRP: $5,799
2009 Kawasaki Eliminator 125 - MSRP: $2,799

Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW, Harley Davidson, Triumph and other manufacturers are not represented because, obviously, they couldn't give a rodent's derriere about small entry level motorcycles.

These prices are utterly outrageous. It would cost well over $6,000 to ride the Husky out of the dealership once tax, PDI, etc. is tagged on.

Where do "entry level" riders have $6,000 to blow on a starter bike? Where? In Dubai? Brunei? Certainly not in the USA or Canada!

If you shop around you can find brand new 2009 economy cars for $7,999. And the manufacturers are trying to sell "entry level" motorcycles for a couple of grand less?

Completely looney tunes.

That's why I read with special interest that Honda was about to debut a 100cc single cylinder motorcycle in India that would sell for approximately 42,000 rupees. That works out to $882 with the current exchange rate, and as compared to the laughably overpriced small bike dreck that is currently in North American dealers showroom floors, it's the deal of the century!

There is NO excuse to not sell a sub $1,000 100cc Honda single in North America today. It's not like you have to re-engineer a 100cc motorcycle for emissions, crashworthiness, safety standards and all the overbearing standards which stifle importation of low priced automobiles from countries such as India and China. Very minor tweaking of Honda's India 100cc would make it more than suitable for North American sales.

And, yes, there would be sales. Lots of them. North America is ripe for another "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" campaign. A 100cc Honda is the perfect substitute for legs, and at over 100 mpg, would be gobbled up as fast as they could be produced for the North American market.

So, what about it Honda? Are you still going to try to keep foisting inexcusably outrageous hyperbike suicide machines like the Honda CBR1000RR, or two wheeled Krystal Koach limousines like the Gold Wing, or are you going to start listening to your customers who want A NICE, CHEAP, ECONOMICAL, RELIABLE, FUN LITTLE BIKE???

The 100 cc Honda Single was sold in North America in a wide variety of models to suit almost every "entry level" street and even mild off-road rider untl 1975:

Scroll to Continue

The Red Ranger Becomes An Adventure In Another World gets a new trailer

Synth Single Review: “Where Tigers Are Said to Roam’’ by Color Theory

Easy and Instant Poha Rava Chilla

 Many of the Honda 100 images come from this Vintage Honda site.

Comments

Wade Thiel from Indianapolis on June 23, 2020:

More and more small displacement, affordable machines keep popping up. We won't get a $900 machine, but you can get a new bike like a Kymco K-Pipe for $2k, which is super reasonable.

Rob Auerbach on August 06, 2019:

I could use a Honda 100 SL in my life right now. I'm 70 and I've ridin a lot of high cc bikes but this bike would make a great too toot around.

Mark on May 20, 2017:

I want that Husqvarna...such a sexy Supermoto better than the other options. And yes I'd spent the money if I hadn't gotten a SM510R already.

Go on a testride with one

WillStarr from Phoenix, Arizona on September 25, 2015:

Hi Gaffo and thanks for the info. Do you have a link to where I could look at one? I can't find a Zhenhua outlet in the US.

gaffo on September 24, 2015:

Amen - great article. 10 yrs ago I looked into buying a motorcycle. I assumed someone offered a 125/150cc (like in the 70s/80s - I rem them here in the US as a kid back then). Well surprise surprise, Yamaha had a nice CB125, as did Honda (both sold all over the world - EXCEPT HERE!! another nasty surprise - no only did the small bikes disappear - but all the remaining ones were NOT Standards, and/or they had plastic crap all over them! looked like a transformer dork-mobile! - or some dub bloated-whale Cruiser ;-/. So I gave up for 0 yrs, and waited for the Chinese to fill the void (just like the Japs did in the 70's) - well I think the Chinese stuff is now "good enough" - they've had 20 yrs to reverse-copy the old 60's Hondamonkybikes/CT70's and Suzuki R90's (Skyteam and ZhenHua both make these and have for years. I've done my research - these bike are all over Finland/Germany/England and Austrlia (Nations that had a Monkeybike culture) - and their owners are happy with them. So, if HONDA will not provide and now play the same Game Truimph did 50 yrs ago - fook-em, I say. Go China! I just bought a 1969 replica of the original Honda Monkeybike z50a /w a sidecar by Zhenhua (drop shipped to by front porch - fully assembled) . All I need to is the PDI (lock-tite the bolts/ silicone-seal the electrical connections/ ACF-50 the chrome/ lube the chain)..................all for 1100 bucks - no tax and free shipping from Atlanta. MCO and Bill of Sale from City of Industry CA - both bike and paperwork showed up -week after internet buy. Tagged and Titled shorty after.

mechanically simple - simple air cooled engine, 110 cc (made by Locin - reputable engine builder - they make engines for BMW BTW), simple carb.

so WHEN something breaks - I can learn how to fix it myself. I don't want Hi-tech! (that means I pay others to not-quite fix it properly while ripping me off at a dealer shop)

Not all Chinese stuff is decent. in fact it probably 50/50 now at best. Replicas have the best reputation because the Chinese have had 20 yrs of making them and the original is Honda design is simple to start with (so replicas are a safer bet). Some of the Scooters - like Tank and Tao Tao are utter shiet however.

Its takes several months of trolling forums to do the research on the Chinese offerings - and get info from the hourse mouth (i.e. owners). and most of them are as I said in Europe.

good day.

WillStarr from Phoenix, Arizona on February 08, 2014:

Hi Rich,

Are you saying that it can be bought in Mexico? If so, it's worth a trip across the border to get one!

Rich on February 08, 2014:

We were on Cozumel in Mexico last week (Feb. 2014). The cook at the hotel just bought a 2014 Honda 125 for $1,500 U.S. It looks just like the bikes of the 60's and 70's. I apologize in advance for the poor picture. Cameraphone before dawn as we were leaving for the airport.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pfs4x2jgou067ji/Rich%20%...

I wanted that bike sooooo bad!

terry on July 31, 2013:

Go to www.motorcycleatvforsale.com. any scoot or bike size 1/2 off

WillStarr from Phoenix, Arizona on October 22, 2012:

I'm the opposite Wayne, with a 30 inch inseam, but I agree that it would be great for motoring around town!

Wayne on October 22, 2012:

I was looking at that bike. 32 inch seat, 7.6 horsepower. Even my 36 inch inseam could tough it out for a few miles, and that would be enough horsepower for commuting around town. Better yet, keep it as simple, add 5 horsepower, and raise the seat a couple inches for us tall guys. Honestly, even if priced slightly under the CBR, I'd be interested.

WillStarr from Phoenix, Arizona on October 20, 2012:

I finally found it. Here's a ;ink:

http://www.heromotocorp.com/en-in/cddawn

It's a four stroke.

Wayne on October 20, 2012:

Well, maybe Yamaha is coming up with something. Gizmag dot com has a write up on the Yamaha Y125 concept bike. It looks weird, but if they made it look a bit more "motorcycle-like", I'd be interested.

Oh yeah, it still needs to be affordable. Fingers crossed.

osreinstall on August 09, 2012:

Worked on motorcycles for years. Did major engine work and modified them for the track, mostly 2 strokes. Both on & off road. Can spot them a mile away.

I went to Honda of India to see what was offered. The only source that matters. 4 strokes were the only engines but these guys are not your CB series. They have plenty of body work and you are hunched over in a sport position. They are not stripped down and simple. They are also more expensive than 42,000 Rupees. Prices are not locked down and they are climbing now projected at 48,000 Rupees according to their online write ups. Not the website I showed you earlier.

What was uploaded was a H100S in 1986 and was unreliable and discontinued 2 years later. Cycle Chaos provided the correct data. Wrong image but somewhat accurate article. Talk about misleading. Looks like I have to go to dozens of websites to get accuracy.

Never mind.

WillStarr from Phoenix, Arizona on August 09, 2012:

Every source says it's a four stroke. That's why I asked if you had a source that says it's a two stroke. Apparently, you made that decision yourself.

osreinstall on August 09, 2012:

rushlane-dot-com/honda-motorcycle-and-scooter-india-100cc-bike-will-be-shown-at-2012-auto-expo-1220146

Since no HTML is allowed highlight this and copy & past and put period html on the end and period for -dot-. I don't know why I have to do your work for you. A simple search like, Honda 100cc India works for me in duckduckgo.

Take a real good look at that motor with the exhaust exiting that low on the cylinder and the simple cylinder head.

Honda quit making the cb100 40 years ago.

cyclechaos-dot-com

Then search for cb100.

A 4 cycle 100cc would be under powered for a quick trip on the thruway to the next exit ramp. Go to Suzuki-dot-com and look up the 250cc road bike 4 cycle single. Gets 80 mpg. Around $3700.

You guys may laugh at those muscle bikes hitting something, but I would rather not be hit in the backside by an earth moving device because my bike was too slow. I can always choose not to go fast on the wrist rocket. I also don't want my knees up near my shoulders.

WillStarr from Phoenix, Arizona on August 07, 2012:

"The Honda 100cc bike in India is a 2 cycle engine with a carburetor that is crankcase pumped."

Do you have a link to that info? The only Honda 100cc bikes I'm aware of are all 4 cycle.

osreinstall on August 07, 2012:

Yes there is a good excuse. The Honda 100cc bike in India is a 2 cycle engine with a carburetor that is crankcase pumped. You would have to use DFI, (direct fuel injected) like Bombardier of Canada uses to meet EPA laws. Honda also vowed never to sell another 2 cycle engine to the 1st world market. Also this would drive up costs quite a bit, probably another $1000 and the EPA would tighten up it's rules again. Also if there was a demand for 100cc 4 strokes, Honda would build them. Another thing, there was razor thin profits in the UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle). It's a bygone era. People already voted with their wallet.

WillStarr from Phoenix, Arizona on August 02, 2012:

I remember the Honda 50's/70'/90's tooling around Arizona streets years ago, and I had a 200cc Triumph, but nothing like that is for sale in the US anymore. I suspect it is out of fear of lawsuits.

I wonder if one can be ordered.

steve burkett on July 14, 2012:

there is a HUGE market for 100cc to 400cc commuter style motorcycles. right now, one rare breed is Royal Enfield (500cc). Women, men, college students, etc who dont want an overpriced trendy moped, or a huge overweight 200mph bike. just something simple to get around town. like all the bikes in Asia.

Wayne on June 15, 2012:

I did a search of "why are there no commuter motorcycles in america" and found this post. I'm a middle-aged man who wants to get back into motorcycling, and would love to buy a small displacement commuter bike. Another problem I have is that I have long legs. I just got a 1980 CX500 that will be fine when I'm done spending a small fortune fixing it up, but would be thrilled if Honda would bring the CB223S to North America.

I would be at my local Honda dealer buying one today if it was available, and have talked with several of my friends and relatives who would be interested in one as well. At a decent price, of course.

This is the same Honda single that has been around for years, and would have a hard time believing the the emissions would be worse on this 80+ mpg bike than an 1800cc cruiser.

I don't need a 500cc engine to take me the 3 miles to work and back, but that is what I found for an affordable price.

Our city is overrun with electric scooters that are a danger to themselves and others (32 km/h limit), which shows that people are interested in cheap transportation. This is in Northern Ontario where there is only a few month season.

I honestly believe that there is a market for 100 - 250cc commuter bikes in North America. Not crotch-rockets, and not low-rider mini Harley wanna be's.

Lee A. Paquet on June 01, 2012:

I don't have a problem with scooters of any size. If you like 'em, ride 'em. I just might be on one next year! I've been saying that Americans are crazy for these monster 1500cc stump-pulling tractors for about ten years too long! It's time to ride a small bike and keep the money you save in gas in your pocket. Who needs a bike that goes 175 miles and hour if you're not a professional racer???

Jason on June 01, 2012:

I also would LOVE to have a 100cc I currently commutee 10 miles to work on a Kymco 50 cc and it does fine but the 100 would be perfect. I'll tell ya the SYM wolf 150cc is now in the USA and it is a great little bike. I'm tempted to run out and grab one but if Honda brought this here it would be my choice.

jason on May 27, 2012:

I recently stumbled upon a 1972 honda SL100... its basically the same as the CL100 and the CB100... just with an up-swept exhaust, a single seat and some enduro tires and a smaller tank..

its a hoot to ride around town, I manages to get it up to 55 mph... that's plenty fast...

i got it for only 500$... and 800 for insurance!!! that's only 1300 all together!!!

way cheaper than a brand new 250cc bike, once you pay for the bike and the insurance for a 17 year old rider your already down over 10 grand. THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS!!!!,

please honda, kawasaki, yamaha, suzuki, H-D... and others

BRING SMALL EFFICIENT BIKES TO NORTH AMERICA!!!

you would make more profit than a store filled with munchies across the street from a pot house!!!!

Andrew on May 22, 2012:

Agreed, I own three bikes a 76 CB750, 79 CB750 and a 81 KZ440. If you do the math the 76 was the equivlant of about $8,000 when it came out. For that matter my 76 toyota pickup was about $6,000 new. Granted there is some cost added to new technologies. However especially with bikes they have not changed enough to justify the change in price. If anything I think bikes are a captured market that caters to the "recreational" market more than to the practical market. One exception you might want to look into is Lifan, which is a Chinese manufacturer who makes up to 400 cc bikes. They tend to be inexpensive (under $3,000)and get decent reviews, although parts seems to be an issue. Any which way I agree completely with your analysis...

mary on April 11, 2012:

I agree 100% with the article. I long for a small motorbike-100cc or 125cc. Not a Shadow or Rebel, etc. What the hell is wrong with Honda. I actually think of starting a used small motorbike import business. I wish someone would import these small bikes in the USA.

jan on March 18, 2012:

Totally agree. I bought a 1982 185 Yamaha and it has been the perfect commuter, and is lots of fun too. I would love a 100cc Honda.

Troyboy on February 26, 2012:

I have a 2008 Honda rebel 250cc that if I granny shift, travel at a constant speed round 45-50 mph I will get over 100mpg with it all day. And that's carrying a passenger too.

rick on February 25, 2012:

am indian and i have seen and rided almost all bikes available in india and ussually they are just up to 350 cc, i had a royal enfield myself which cost me 62000 rs in 2002 almost 1200$ and we are talking about most power full bike in india , but they have 100 cc bikes starting from 25000 which is 500$ ,and human beings drive those bikes to so yes they are or could pass all safety tests ,but only problem is they are not bigg bigg companies so cant be sold in us ,,,,,,,,,,,

hoowha on January 30, 2012:

hmm... you can get scooters that are made to look just like motorcycles. Such as the 150 cc Hornet.

snake eyes on January 21, 2012:

I am young and going to college in the city. I would love to have a small, reliable motorcycle for about $1000; especially if it had some off-road capabilities.

My biggest qualm with the idea of commuting with such a vehicle is safety. There is so much traffic. Cars drive so close even on the highway. People generally are not expecting to see motorcycles (when/if) they look over their shoulder to change lanes.

That said, it's more strategic for us broke students to drive around junk cars.

I think that motorcycles are much more sexy than scooters, even with less cc's.

I don't know how everything works economically in the U.S, because I don't think every piece of knowledge is public knowledge (if you know what I mean).

I would say that small, cheap motorcycles would become very popular very fast among my age group, (with the right advertisement) but I don't see them being available any time soon.

I was priveledged to ride a Honda CT90, recently restored by a family member. Since then I have read about the very interesting Australian 'postie bike', the CT110.

For some perspective: a lot of my generation is that of clubs, bad music, powerful machines, large houses, UFC, smartphones, and many social 'incompetencies'.

anirbanniyogi on January 17, 2012:

lovely and intresting article!

i am from india and i couldn't agree with you more. i am a R&D engineer working in the country's largest selling two-wheeler manufacturing company-Hero MotoCorp. the bikes from this firm has technology borrowed from honda and they have incredible fuel-efficiencies. and the engines are not the old-school like from the 1970s. they are new generation hi-tec and they comply to emission norms till 7-8 more years at least! these are so advanced!

ok picture this.the 'commuter' bike which is a no-frills no-nonsense zero maintainance bike -splendor pro-gives a fuel eff of 65kmpl..i.e. 195 miles per gallon!cost $780 in india.ex-showroom

and the premium sports model which which is 150cc has a figure of 150 miles per gallon!at twice the power of the 100cc!cost $1320 ex-showroom

these bikes certainly bear a lot of context to the north american market.i was so happy to read this blog i told my boss about plans to venture into the north american market.

dean on December 25, 2011:

the riding of trailbikes/ dualsports in the bush has all but been stopped

mainly due to not much bush left to ride in these days.

its now replaced by boxes made out of ticky tac

dean on December 25, 2011:

scooters killed the xl100 market

rawk on December 11, 2011:

Great article here. I found it while searching for references about the older, smaller cc bikes because I am resorting to the ebay route as it is difficult to wait on something to turn up locally.

I'm under 140# and like the ease of handling with the smaller bikes.

Why aren't there more choices? One point of speculation I've heard mentioned is that manufacturers have made a calculated business decision that selling the smaller bikes cuts into sales of the larger bikes which bring them more profit somehow. (Flawed logic by my analysis, but I have had dealers try and convince me I could and should consider the larger bikes when I have stopped in just looking and mention this "smaller" preference.)

(Not that small, but two more I would throw into the current smaller class of street bikes are the Suzuki TU250 and GZ250.)

rawk on December 11, 2011:

kawasaki eliminator 175cc

chris on December 05, 2011:

acidently stumbled upon this page again. Just look at the ts125x that was never brought to america. What an amazing bike. It produced 23 horsepower and its 125cc street legal!!! HEre in america we were never even given the chance to see this bike.. I beleieve that this country seriously needs to start using motorcycles as transportation. This country teaches our children to be energy hogs as it feeds the pockets of the rich. Motorcycles can save the country but even motorcyclist will argue with me about this.

wild-tangent on November 10, 2011:

Alex, I can't find a single bike at 100cc for anything less than a $700-$900 in my area, and they're typically from the '70s, break immediately, and are in need of major servicing. Why they have been discontinued is beyond me. Putting a newbie on a new machine is a bad idea, but so too is sticking them on a 41-year-old machine. I can't find anything at 250cc for less than $1,500 in my area, and even then they've been dropped often, don't start, and require more investment than your average broke student can afford to drop into it.

A $2,000 entry-level bike would be VERY welcome, because then the used market for such a bike would have to drop to sub-$1,000 within a couple years, depressing the entire used market for older bikes, re-igniting the new market as well by undercutting them.

Alex on November 09, 2011:

"It's not like you have to re-engineer a 100cc motorcycle for emissions"

I'm not an engineer -- can you explain this statement? Do Honda's Indian-spec motorcycles meet EPA emissions standards already? I've heard of motorcycle companies discontinuing entire lines due to not being able to meet new standards, and I've heard that bikes don't have catalytic converters because they would add too much to the price, so it doesn't seem inherently unreasonable to me that a 100cc bike wouldn't really be sell-able in America.

People buying new bikes want used bikes, anyway, or should. I can buy a used Honda 100cc off Craigslist right now for ... $500, or barely half the price of their new Indian model. A $5000 new bike would be silly for a newbie, but a $900 new bike would be silly, too. (250's are known for being passed around from learner to learner -- we only need a few silly riders to eat the initial cost, and we have them.)

"Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW, Harley Davidson, Triumph and other manufacturers are not represented because, obviously, they couldn't give a rodent's derriere about small entry level motorcycles."

All of the Japanese bikemakers already make many smaller vehicles that they don't sell in America (probably because of the much more restrictive motorcycle licensing there). I think it would be more accurate to say they just don't care about going to the effort to export model lines that they know will be less profitable. Toyota doesn't export all of their car models to America, either, nor do American companies export all of their models to Japan. Exporting something takes time and money.

I would say the blame is probably on H-D, since they're native here, but they've long been more of a lifestyle brand than a vehicle brand, and 100cc motorcycles are definitely not congruous with the H-D brand. (It would be like suggesting that Ralph Lauren could sell a lot of Hello Kitty-branded clothes.)

The blame, if at all, is on all of the other American engineers who aren't making motorcycles at all.

andre on November 03, 2011: