The first CB- CB92 Super Sport, debuted in 1959; since then, the two-cylinder, 125cc classic has taken on various iterations over decades while amassing a throng of hardcore riders who still swear by the CB brand.

Does the CB350RS provide the same emotive connect between man and machine? How different is it from the H’ness CB350? What’s in store after becoming a Honda owner in India? All that and much more as you read on.

Visually, the Honda motorcycle gets a dual-tone fuel tank, blacked-out engine area and exhaust, round LED headlamps, an under-seat tail lamp, and sharp LED turn indicators.

From afar, what stands out is the redesigned cafe racer look, a pleasant sight for Royal Enfield-seeing sore eyes. One can appreciate the build quality and the overall finish on the rear set footpegs, sporty grab rails, and the switchgear buttons from up close.

Between the H’ness CB350 and CB350RS, the latter boasts an updated under-seat tail section, tuck and roll seat, front fork covers, and an engine skid plate; while these accessories do not go a long way in making the motorcycle any more practical, they add an aesthetic appeal to the rowdy look Honda aims to achieve.

The similarities do not end there as both motorcycles are equipped with the same instrument cluster, LED headlamp, and fuel tank. However, the RS’s tank colours are bright and flashy with two colour options- Radiant Red Metallic and Black with Pearl Sports Yellow. The indicators, too, have been replaced over the circular turn signals with sleek and sharp LED offerings.

Mechanically, the contemporary cruiser is powered by the same engine on the H’ness CB350, a 348.36cc, single-cylinder motor mated to a 5-speed gearbox producing a max power of 20.78 Bhp at 5500 RPM and a max torque of 30 Nm at 3,000 RPM. Additionally, it also gets a class-leading slipper clutch for seamless gear shifts.

The digital-analogue instrument cluster hosts various features such as mileage indicators, gear position indicator, and Honda Selectable Torque Controller (HSTC).

Both motorcycles also share the half-duplex cradle frame with a box-section swingarm. The CB350RS also features the same wheelbase and seat height as the H’ness CB350. However, it weighs around 3kg lighter and has marginally reduced ground clearance.

The large section front suspension adds to the imposing image while also providing great comfort on rough roads. The pressurised nitrogen-charged rear suspension provides a highly responsive rear damping performance. The riding position has been made slightly aggressive with rear-set footpegs, but the patterned seat provides better comfort and grip, both- for the rider and the pillion.

As seen on the H’ness CB350, the road tyres have been swapped for wide pattern tyres to assist riding in difficult terrains. The RS also shares brakes with the H’ness, a sure-stopping 310mm front disc and a 260mm rear disc backed by dual-channel ABS.

So, are the H’ness CB350 and the CB350RS the same? Yes and no! The H’ness, as its name suggests, is laid back, majestic, and equally powerful. On the other hand, the RS is sportier, more impulsive, and looks like a roughed-up king in exile. Even though they share most of the ride-determining components, they are very far apart in how they carry themselves, and you, on the road.

With the CB series, Honda seeks to grow engagement with riders and looks to connect with them on a deeper level. In an effort to inculcate the CB culture, the Japanese bike maker organises around 10 rides every month across India. This is expected to increase once more Honda owners sign up; with this, the company strives to create a biking community and organise rides to different parts of the country.

Honda is on course to set up 50 plus BigWing touchpoints soon with more dealerships expected to take root in the future.

Although the company has no plans for a bigger capacity motorcycle at the moment, consistent demand, well-received products, and an avid biking community may change that in the future. Interestingly, Honda may replenish their 350cc segment if the demand exists.

The CB350RS is priced at INR 1,96,000/- (ex-showroom). The rugged yet classic motorcycle is set to take on the likes of Royal Enfield Meteor, the new Jawa 42 2.1, and the Benelli Imperiale 400. (MT)

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Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ultraviolette Automotive has accelerated its nationwide presence by opening six Experience Centres across Mumbai and Pune within 48 hours. The locations include Andheri, Vashi and Thane in Mumbai, and Shivajinagar, Baner and Kharadi in Pune. This expansion strengthens the brand's foothold across 30 cities nationally.

The new UV Space Stations, in partnership with Hallmark Mobility (Mumbai) and KHV Mobility (Pune), offer customers the opportunity to explore Ultraviolette's motorcycles: the X-47 Crossover, F77 SuperStreet and F77 MACH 2. The centres provide test rides, sales, service, spares and a range of motorcycle accessories, catering to the end-to-end customer lifecycle.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO and Co-founder, Ultraviolette Automotive, said, “At Ultraviolette, our mission has always been to engineer products that push boundaries of performance and technology while delivering an after-sales and ownership experience built on trust and dependability. With our expanding network of retail and service hubs across Maharashtra and other key markets, we are unifying sales and service to offer riders a seamless journey from the first moment they walk into a reliable after-sales experience. As we continue to grow, we are also building a connected ecosystem that brings technology, sustainability, and convenience together. Every Ultraviolette Space Station is designed to represent the future of mobility, where innovation becomes accessible, and every rider resonates with the future driven ethos of Ultraviolette.”

Kaushik Kothari, Partner at KHV Mobility, said, “In line with our vision of driving growth through strategic opportunities, we are proud to be associated with Ultraviolette. We firmly believe that EVs represent the future of two-wheeler mobility, and Ultraviolette’s sharp focus on engineering, design, and customer-centricity resonates deeply with our values. Together, we are confident of contributing to a shared journey of innovation and mutual success.”

Earlier this year, the company launched two other offerings: the Tesseract electric scooter, featuring an integrated radar and dashcam and the Shockwave electric motorcycle.

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TVS Motor Company (TVSM) and BMW Motorrad have announced the production of 200,000 units under their partnership. This milestone highlights the success of the collaboration, which began in 2013 and focuses on the sub-500cc two-wheeler segment.

The partners also announced the start of manufacturing for the new BMW F 450 GS, which was recently showcased at EICMA 2025 from the Hosur plant.

KN Radhakrishnan, Director and CEO, TVS Motor Company, said, “In our over a decade-long partnership with BMW Motorrad, our engineering synergy and shared values of innovation and quality have formed the foundation of every achievement. Together, we have designed and brought several path-breaking products that resonate with customers across leading markets in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. This collaboration’s engineering prowess has set new benchmarks, and our co-developed products are now embraced by riders in over 100 markets globally. Today, as we celebrate the 200,000 unit milestone, we also mark the dawn of a new era with the roll out of BMW F 450 GS that was recently showcased at EICMA 2025. The newly introduced BMW F 450 GS, highlights TVS Motor’s state-of-the-art manufacturing excellence in producing high-end motorcycles.”

Markus Flasch, CEO, BMW Motorrad, said, "This 200,000 unit milestone is a demonstration of the success and strength of our collaboration with TVS Motor Company. What began just over a decade ago as a bold alliance has flourished into an extraordinary success story, with our sub-500cc models setting new standards and delighting riders across the globe. The BMW G 310 R, G 310 GS and G 310 RR enjoy unrivalled popularity worldwide and have become a key pillar of BMW Motorrad’s global growth. The rollout of the new BMW F 450 GS marks the next exciting chapter in our journey together. We look forward to building on this strong foundation to deliver even more innovative, accessible, and truly world-class motorcycles for riders everywhere.”

TVS Motor Company and BMW Motorrad are driving forward investments in new platforms and future-ready technologies. The collaborative R&D efforts are aimed at meeting evolving customer needs across urban and premium mobility.

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Royal Enfield has announced the launch of the Himalayan Mana Black Edition in India at Motoverse 2025. This follows its global unveiling at EICMA 2025. The new version, priced at INR 337,000 (ex-showroom) is inspired by the Mana Pass, a high-altitude route located at 18,478 feet (5,632 meters) above sea level.

The design and ergonomics of the Mana Black Edition are created to maximise off-road riding. The edition features matte details and a Stealth Black finish, suggesting purpose and adventure. It is intended for riders who view every route as a calling.

The Mana Black edition is intended for the spirited rider prepared for adventure and comes with factory-fitted equipment. The machine embodies Royal Enfield's Philosophy, enabling those who aspire to travel farther and conquer.

A distinguishing feature of the Mana Black Edition is its factory-accessorised setup, complete with curated adventure equipment. Components include – black rally hand guards, black rally seat for grip and long-distance comfort, rally mudguard for rough routes and tubeless spoked wheels for durability.

The motorcycle is powered by the Sherpa 450 engine, maintaining the performance and agility of the new Himalayan platform.

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Bengaluru-based electric vehicle and technology company Ultraviolette Automotive has officially launched its F77 Mach 2 Recon and F77 SuperStreet Recon electric performance motorcycles in the United Kingdom. The expansion is in partnership with MotoMondo, the company's exclusive distribution partner in the region.

The launch was announced at the Motorcycle Live Show in London. Ultraviolette showcased its full product portfolio, including the F77s, F77 SuperStreet, X-47, Tesseract, Shockwave and the F99.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-founder of Ultraviolette, said, “Earlier this year, we achieved a key milestone with the launch of the F77s across Europe, followed by the showcase of our future product lineup at EICMA. Today, I am pleased to announce that the F77 is officially launched in the United Kingdom, a nation renowned for its deep motorcycling heritage. It is a proud moment for us as we bring advanced performance and innovation to riders across the UK. With progression on the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, we believe it will further enhance the ease of bringing advanced mobility technology to the region and strengthen cross-border collaboration. We have unveiled our future product line-up: the world’s first motorcycle with radar as standard- the X-47 Crossover, along with our scooter platform-the Tesseract, and our light motorcycle platform- the Shockwave. Our product portfolio offers a clear glimpse into the future of mobility, where intelligence, purposeful design, and instinctive safety come together. With the support of our strategic partner MotoMondo, Ultraviolette is committed to setting new benchmarks across the United Kingdom and beyond.”

The F77 series draws inspiration from aeronautics. The motorcycles deliver 30 kW of peak power and 100 Nm of torque, resulting in a top speed of 155 kph. The bike is powered by a 10.3 kWh battery pack, offering a range of up to 323 kms (IDC).

It features the company’s proprietary artificial intelligence system, Violette A.I., switchable Dual-Channel ABS (developed by Bosch), 10 levels of Regenerative Braking, 4 levels of Traction Control and Dynamic Stability Control.

At the show, Ultraviolette unveiled the X-47 Crossover, a motorcycle that blends two segments and is engineered for versatility across terrains. The X-47 is the first in its class to feature integrated radar technology as standard across all variants, which adapts to lean angles up to 20 degrees. This system, powered by UV HyperSense, introduces the Advanced Rider Assistance System (ARAS) to the segment.

Jan Ykema, Managing Director of MotoMondo, commented “We are proud to bring Ultraviolette to the UK, marking a historic first step in bringing their revolutionary electric motorcycles to riders across the United Kingdom. The F77 series embodies cutting-edge technology, aerodynamic precision and performance-driven engineering, perfectly aligning with the dynamic motorcycling culture in the UK. It is a genuine and affordable mobility solution in a world where there will be more and more restrictions for ICE vehicles of which the cost of ownership will continue to rise. We are excited to partner with Ultraviolette and look forward to seeing the enthusiasm of riders as they experience the future of motorcycling first-hand.”

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