Clutchless Manual? Honda CB750 Hornet, XL750 Transalp E-Clutch Launched In India

Honda has launched E-Clutch versions of the CB750 Hornet and XL750 Transalp in India today and the one-line version is this: you can now ride both bikes without ever touching the clutch lever, while still shifting gears manually with your foot. The CB750 Hornet E-Clutch is priced at Rs 10.49 lakh, an increase from Rs 9.22 lakh before. The XL750 Transalp E-Clutch comes in at Rs 13.20 lakh, up from Rs 11.81 lakh. All mentioned prices are ex-showroom figures. Bookings are open at all authorised BigWing dealerships. Both are over Rs 1 lakh more expensive than the bikes they replace.

What the E-Clutch System Actually Does

This isn't an automatic gearbox and it isn't a DCT. Honda's E-Clutch uses an electronically controlled actuator to handle clutch operation automatically, while the manual

gear shift lever stays exactly where it is. You still change gears with your foot in the usual sequence — the system just removes the need to pull the clutch lever when you do it. You can upshift, downshift and stop at a traffic signal with the bike in gear without your left hand doing anything. The clutch lever is still physically there and still works if you want to use it — it's both systems in one, not a replacement.

Honda announced the E-Clutch across its 471cc and 755cc twin-cylinder platforms at EICMA 2025. The NX500 was the first to get it in India last month. The CB750 Hornet and XL750 Transalp follow now as the second and third. The E-Clutch hardware adds 3 kg to the kerb weight of both bikes. Nothing else has changed — engine, suspension, brakes and features are all carried over unchanged from the previous versions.

The Price Increase and What It Means for Buyers

Rs 1.27 lakh more for the Hornet and Rs 1.39 lakh more for the Transalp — entirely for the E-Clutch addition. That's a meaningful premium to evaluate before booking. The Hornet now comes only in black with a red frame and front fork. The Transalp gets two new colours — white and grey.

Where the E-Clutch genuinely earns its cost is in city traffic — repeated stops, slow-moving jams and the fatigue that comes from working the clutch constantly on a larger motorcycle. On a highway run, the difference is less relevant. The other thing worth knowing before deciding: once existing stock of the standard clutch versions is sold, the E-Clutch is expected to become the only configuration available for both bikes in India — the same way Honda now only sells the NX500 in E-Clutch form. If you want the older version at the lower price, whatever stock remains at your nearest BigWing dealership is your only window.