Can The Honda Scrambler Stir The Hornet’s Nest?

While both the bikes get a similar air-cooled fuel-injected motor, the Honda Hornet 2.0 is not only more powerful and torquier but also complies with the stringent BS6 emission norms. It is also a little lighter than the CB190SS, which should translate into better performance especially while weaving through city traffic.

With a claimed mileage of 34.4kmpl and a 15.3 litre fuel tank (20 percent larger compared to the 2020 iteration), the CB190SS can cover over 500km on a tankful. Whereas, the Hornet 2.0 returned an impressive 57.35kmpl in the city and 55.77kmpl on the highway in our real-world test. This coupled with the 12-litre fuel tank should ensure a theoretical range of over 670km!

Underpinnings

Both the bikes are built on a similar platform but the Honda CB190SS is designed more for off-road fun. Hence, its spoke wheels with block pattern tyres should offer improved grip off the road.

Being a street bike, the Hornet 2.0 uses road-biased MRF rubber, which should keep you happy as long as you stay on the tarmac. Being tubeless, the tyres on the Hornet can also handle punctures much better than the CB190SS’ tubed units.

Dimensions & Features

The Honda CB190SS’ spoke wheels along with its large 190mm ground clearance make it perfect for exploring trails. On the other hand, the Hornet 2.0 comes with a much lower 167mm ground clearance, so you may have to think twice before going over rough terrain. However, it makes up with its lighter weight, which should make the bike a little more flickable.

Both bikes get an all-LED lighting system. The CB190SS features a USB port on the instrument cluster for added convenience. For a more old-school feel, the CB190SS gets an analogue-digital combo cluster whereas the Hornet 2.0 comes with an all-digital unit. We’d have liked it if the Hornet featured smartphone connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation as its Indian rival, the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, gets it as standard.

Price & Verdict

The Honda CB190SS and the Hornet 2.0 are meant to cater to different types of riders. If you’re the kind who likes to explore the twisties on the weekends and ride to your workplace on weekdays, then the Hornet 2.0 makes perfect sense. If you’re the adventurous kind who likes to take the road less travelled, then the CB190SS seems to be apt. Sadly, you cannot get one in India. But worry not, as we’re set to get something even better. As we’ve mentioned before, a scrambler based on the Honda H’Ness CB350 is India-bound and you can read all about it here.