Do The Hornet 2.0’s Rivals Have What It Takes To Stir Its Nest?
- Aug 28, 2020
- Views : 32244
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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