Honda sees steady year ahead

As the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade celebrates its 20th birthday this year, the big 'H' is cautiously optimistic about how 2012 will pan out.

Speaking at the Australian media launch for the 2012 Honda CBR1000RR, the company's National Marketing Manager, Glyn Griffiths, told the Bikesales the new Fireblade is vital to the brand. 

"Our major focus was developing an all-round package that's rideable and usable ... The most important aspect for us is that the new Fireblade still has cutting-edge technology, and it's our flagship that represents the Honda brand."

While the new-look Fireblade is expected to give Honda a big image boost this year, Griffiths said that 2012 is unlikely to mark the return of the pre-GFC boom years.

"If we can follow on from 2011, I think there should be some small growth, and at the very least we should hold on to the gains we made. It's going to take a long time to get back to the good old days of what the market was."

While the scooter and ATV segments saw the biggest growth in 2011, the sportsbike market is still crucial to all mainstream motorcycle brands, including Honda. The Japanese company's entry-level sports bike, the CBR250R, dethroned the Kawasaki Ninja 250R as Australia's most popular sports bike last year, which was a big coup for the company.

"With what the CBR250R has proven in the past 12 months, that will potentially lead on to more people coming into the sports bike market -- it's an important market for us. On the other hand, I think you will find more scooter riders coming into the market too. And we've got a few new models on the horizon, so we treat that market seriously."

Griffiths wouldn't reveal what those "new models" were, but we can say an all-new CBR600RR is not on that list. "We haven't really got any indications on when [mechanical changes] are coming for CBR600RR. I think if you're looking at the way Honda's going [with the new Fireblade] that's what they'll do [with CBR600RR]. More refinement than an out-and-out new model."

On a final note, the mooted change to ATV legislation that would see roll cages potentially become mandatory on all ATVs is not something Honda is happy about. One unnamed Honda executive was unequivocal in his opposition to such laws: "Honda will withdraw from the Australian ATV market if roll cages are mandated on ATVs in this country."