Hero MotoCorp mulls a 250cc bike for 2012: Big question is, will it be a cruiser?

Choosing to go it alone after a split with long tine technology partner Honda, Hero MotoCorp will launch a premium motorcycle in 2012, and wait for this, the motorcycle will displace no less than 250cc. Given that Hero MotoCorp still has an engine sourcing agreement with Honda, a rehashed Honda CBR250R is what comes to mind immediately.

But that isn’t really a viable option as Honda wouldn’t really want to deliver its flagship motorcycle to Hero MotoCorp on a platter, engine sharing be damned. Instead Hero MotoCorp might just be able to borrow Honda’s 250cc engine to be used in a different application such as a cruiser.

We broke a story about Hero MotoCorp planning a 250cc cruiser way back in February, and this latest development could have some connection with that. Hero MotoCorp for its part remains mum about this development even as a source close to Hero MotoCorp has made the following comment.

From the purport of the comment, while Hero MotoCorp might indeed be setting up a full fledged R&D unit to develop new products, results from the new Hero MotoCorp R&D facility could take some time to come. Until then though, Hero MotoCorp using Honda’s technology cannot be ruled out at all.

Hero Impulse 150 Dual Purpose Motorcycle

For instance, Hero MotoCorp will launch two new products very soon, the 150cc Impulse On-Off road dual purpose motorcycle and a 110cc scooter called the Maestro. Both these products’ engines have been sourced from Honda under the engine licensing deal that hero MotoCorp currently has in place with erstwhile Japanese partner Honda.

Therefore, the CBR250R’s technology packed engine being used in the new 250cc motorcycle Hero MotoCorp seems to be developing is something that could very well be the case given that th second half of 2012 isn’t very far away and the fact that Hero MotoCorp’s fledgling R&D division is yet to produce any results worth the mention.

Also, the 250cc engine might be used in a cruiser application as Honda might not have any qualms with that given that a cruiser sits in a completely different segment when compared to the Honda CBR250R which is a sportsbike. Watch this space.