Honda CB Hornet 160R: First Review

Design & Features:

One of the biggest talking points about the new Honda CB Hornet 160R has to be its styling and every journo present at unveil had an opinion about it. But what’s good news for Honda should be the fact that sentiments for its design language were positive. The new motorcycle has been designed to target youngsters and adopts an aggressive design philosophy. The trapezoidal shaped headlamp has been carried forward from the Unicorn 160 but gets LED pilot lamps. It seems that Honda designers have paid special attention the fuel tank as the chiselled lines and beefy tank shrouds adding a dose of muscle to the overall styling. The fuel tank also gets a faux bare carbon finish panel above it and it looks unique.

The rear section of the CB Hornet 160R features a X-shaped LED tail light that makes the tail section look distinctive. The new Honda motorcycle also features multi spoke alloy wheels, split seats and an all digital console which is a straight lift from the Honda Unicorn 160. Switch gear quality is decent but the lack of engine kill switch is really disappointing. Overall the Honda CB Hornet 160R is a striking looking motorcycle and design influences from the Honda CX-01 concept that was showcased at 2014 Auto Expo can be seen. 

Engine:

Honda hasn’t revealed specifications of the new CB Hornet 160R. But expect it to be a straight lift from the Unicorn 160. The 162.7cc; air-cooled motor churns out 14.5PS of max power and peak torque rating of 14.6Nm. Power is transmitted to the rear wheel by a 5-speed gearbox. Going by the experience we had on the Unicorn 160, expect the new Honda CB Hornet 160R to have good performance. Power will be transmitted via a 5-speed gearbox. Instead of the heel-n-toe gear lever expect a single toe-shifter as it is a premium 150cc offering. The motorcycle will be equipped with the patented HET technology and having tested the Honda Unicorn 160 expect the CB Hornet 160R to have an overall mileage of around 45-50kmpl. 

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Ride, Handling and Braking:

Being a premium 150cc commuter, the Honda CB Hornet 160R adopts a flat and wide handle bar along with rear-set footpegs. This should result in a sporty but comfortable position which is a welcome move as the Unicorn 160 had a commuter-ish riding posture. The frame of the new motorcycle has been carried forward from the Unicorn offering and it should have good handling dynamics. Aiding handling performance further will be the 140mm section chunky rear tyre. The Honda CB Hornet 160R is also the first mass production Honda motorcycle in country to offer petal disc brakes. Anchorage is provided by disc brake at front and rear while CBS will be an optional extra. Suspension duties are handled by telescopic front forks and a monoshock unit at the rear. 

Price & Rivals:

Pricing is one aspect that Honda needs to pull up its sock. One of the main reasons for the CB Triggers failure can be attributed to its steep sticker price. The Honda CB Hornet 160R will carry a price tag of around Rs 5,000 to 8,000 more expensive than the Unicorn 160. Expect the new bike to be priced around Rs 78,000 to 83,000 (ex-showroom Delhi). Talking about competitors, the Honda CB Hornet 160R will square off against the Suzuki Gixxer, Yamaha FZ-S FI, Hero Xtreme Sports, Bajaj Pulsar AS150 and the TVS Apache RTR160.