Honda X-Blade vs Hero Xtreme 160R vs Yamaha FZ Fi V3: Specs Compared

Published July 8, 2020
Views : 15640
3 min read

Honda’s latest 160cc takes on its rivals from Hero and Yamaha

The Honda X-Blade was traditionally meant to bridge the gap between the Unicorn and the Hornet in the 160cc segment. With the launch of the X-Blade BS6, the bike now runs a more powerful engine tune and is priced on par with most 160cc motorcycles. So how does this new Honda fare on paper against the also-recently launched Hero Xtreme 160R and the much-adored Yamaha FZ Fi V3 BS6?

ENGINE:

Specifications	Honda X-Blade BS6	Hero Xtreme 160R	Yamaha FZ Fi V3 BS6
Engine	162.7cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, 2-valve engine	163cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, two-valve engine	149cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, two-valve engine
Power	13.86PS @ 8000rpm	15.23PS @ 8500rpm	12.4PS @ 7250rpm
Torque	14.7Nm @ 5500rpm	14Nm @ 6500rpm	13.6Nm @ 5500rpm
Gearbox	5-speed	5-speed	5-speed

The Hero Xtreme 160R is the most powerful motorcycle in this segment with a two-valve head. And it is clearly visible in this company. It might be lower on torque compared to the X-Blade but the Xtreme is 4.5kg lighter. The Yamaha might be lighter than the other two bikes but it is severely underpowered, especially now in its BS6 guise. It is just fractionally more powerful than 125cc bikes like the Bajaj Pulsar 125 and Hero Glamour 125.

UNDERPINNINGS:

Specifications	Honda X-Blade BS6	Hero Xtreme 160R	Yamaha FZ Fi V3 BS6
Frame	Diamond-type	Diamond-type	NA
Front suspension	Telescopic fork	Telescopic fork	Telescopic fork
Rear suspension	Preload-adjustable monoshock	Preload-adjustable monoshock	Preload-adjustable monoshock
Front brake	276mm disc brake	276mm disc brake	282mm disc
Rear brake	220mm disc/130mm drum	220mm disc/130mm drum	220mm disc
Front tyre	80/100 - 17	100/80 - 17	100/80 - 17
Rear tyre	130/70 - 17	130/70 - R17	140/80 - R17

All three bikes are quite equally matched in terms of the kit they are packing. While Hero and Honda offer a rear drum variant, Yamaha comes with only a twin-disc setup, which is commendable. It also has the larger front disc that should bring the bike to a halt sooner than the other two.

Honda has shied away from offering a rear radial tyre on the X-Blade while it is a standard fitment on the Xtreme and the FZ. The larger 140-section tyre on the FZ might add to its muscular appeal but considering what the engine is producing, it feels a bit over-tyred. Perhaps, if Yamaha could switch to a 130-section tyre like the Xtreme, it could improve the FZ’s acceleration and fuel efficiency.

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DIMENSIONS:

Specifications	Honda X-Blade BS6	Hero Xtreme 160R	Yamaha FZ Fi V3 BS6
Wheelbase	1,347mm	1,327mm	1,330mm
Ground clearance	160mm	167mm	165mm
Fuel tank capacity	12-litres	12-litres	13-litres
Seat height	795mm	790mm	790mm
Kerb weight	Single disc: 143kg Double disc: 144kg	Single disc: 138.5kg Double disc: 139.5kg	137kg

Again, the three motorcycles are quite evenly matched here. The FZ edges the other by just a small margin as it is 1.5kg lighter and can carry an extra litre of fuel on board. The last bit is extremely crucial for this segment as the extra litre would allow you to ride the FZ for around 40-45km more on your daily commute.

PRICE & VERDICT:

Honda X-Blade BS6

Hero Xtreme 160R

Yamaha FZ Fi V3 BS6

Single disc: Rs 1,06,687

Double disc: Rs 1,10,968

Single disc: Rs 99,950

Double disc: Rs 1,03,500

Rs 99,700 (Rs 1,01,700 for the FZS-Fi)

It seems like a no-brainer here, doesn’t it? The Hero Xtreme 160R offers phenomenal value for money covering you on all fronts: performance, practicality and price. If you are looking for a peppy daily runabout machine, it would serve you well.

Only if you are looking to bank on Honda’s reliable track record should you spend that extra and get the X-Blade. But even that doesn’t seem like a wise decision as you end up spending almost Rs 7,000 more than the Xtreme and almost Rs 10,000 more than the FZ. In fact, the FZ is one of the most reliable motorcycles in the market. If you are not too fussy about performance and just want a good commuter, the FZ would be a better pick than the X-Blade.

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