BH CORRESPONDENT, New Delhi: Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India have been talking about it for while and just to make sure it was on the right track brought in a few units to test customer feedback. Yes, we are referring to the Honda Forza 300. On Tuesday, Honda delivered the first batch of pre-booked Forza 300s.
Minoru Kato, President, CEO and MD, HMSI said, “With the introduction of Forza 300, we are proud to take the wave of scooterization to next level. It will not only establish Honda as the pioneer in the mid-size scooter segment but will also help us cater to a new dimension of customers, who seek luxury and the joy of riding.”
The Forza 300 is the first maxi scooter to hit India’s shores. Besides futuristic looks, it packs a lot of tech like its 279cc, SOHC fuel injected liquid-cooled engine with variable valve technology that offers 24.8 bhp at 7,000 rpm and torque of 27.2 Nm at 5,750 rpm.
The advantage of variable valve system is that it offers better low, mid and top-end performance. And then you also have Honda’s Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) which works on the lines of a traction control system.
Suspension is motorcycle inspired 33mm telescopic fork and rear gets twin shock absorbers with 7-stage spring preload adjustability. Seat height stands at 780 mm, which should be OK for most riders.
Keeping the scooter connected to the road are 120/70R15 tyre up front and 140/70R14 at the rear. Stopping duties are handled by single 256mm disc brake up front and 240mm rear disc brake with dual-channel ABS.
Mod cons include full LED lighting, an analogue-digital instrument cluster, an electrically adjustable windscreen, lockable storage bins in the front apron and huge underseat storage which can hold up to two full full-face helmets. A 12V charging socket is also provided.
Fuel tank capacity is 11.5 litre and kerb weight stands at 182 kg. Fuel Consumption: 87.6 mpg.
Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior Vice President – Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India said, “Encouraged by the excitement received from customers for Forza 300 displayed at Honda BigWing, Gurugram (which were pre-booked), Honda decided to introduce it in India. We are pleased to announce that we have delivered the first lot of 4 units to our customers. Moving forward, we will announce the Euro 5 compliant version in FY 2021.”
Forza 300 sells for £5,099 in UK (Rs 4.7l). However, India prices will depend on import duties and other taxes.