HONDA HORNET 160r

Aimed at the young customers, Honda’s CB Hornet 160R gave Honda its breakthrough in the 150cc segment. Unlike previous failed attempts like Trigger and Dazzler, CB Hornet 160R succeeded in drawing customers to showrooms. The chasiss and engine have been borrowed from unicorn 160, besides there is no major resemblance with the latter. Although, Honda has made significant changes to the engine to make it yield enhanced performance.

Honda has done justice when it comes to looks and styling, the robust fuel tank featuring plastic cladding lends muscular stance to the bike. The sharp creases on the bike work well for the overall look. Up front is a pleasantly designed head lamp reminiscent of CB 600F. There is a sporty digital speedometer displaying all necessary information for the driver. Handlebar is flat and switchgear seems very elementary. Palm grips are nice and grippy and the X-shaped tail lamp at rear is catchy.

The Honda Hornet 160R is the Japanese two wheeler maker's third attempt at luring in the young. It tried with the Dazzler and then with the Trigger, but both bikes were half-baked attempts. The Dazzler completely lacked appeal and the Trigger was just a Unicorn in fancier clothing.

With the Hornet 160R, however, Honda has set out not just to play catch up with success like the Yamaha FZ-S and the Suzuki Gixxer but to blow past them. And what better place to start than one that truly defines this class of 150cc motorcycles: Style. The Hornet 160R might be the Unicorn 160 underneath with the engine and chassis borrowed from the latter, but Honda has done enough to create the much needed differentiation.

Once you get the Honda Hornet 160R all fired up though, it sounds revs and responds like the Unicorn 160. It is only towards the top end of the engine performance that the additional horsepower can be sensed. The mid range isn't good but get past 6,000rpm and the Hornet seems to come alive. Rev past 7,000rpm and the Hornet enters the 'fun' zone. It still doesn't sound great, but you'd rarely find it lacking in response or pull. It tops out at 9,500rpm.

The gear shift quality for the 5-speed box (again borrowed from the Unicorn 160) in typical Honda fashion, is crisp, precise and a joy to use. The clutch is light and progressive too making the Hornet a breeze to live with in the city. The only real negative to the Hornet's drivetrain is the engine noise. The engine's performance - its free-revving nature and barely any vibes to complain about be it on the handlebar, footpegs and tank even at high rpms - is pretty much sorted. But it's the knocking like noise from the engine - no matter what rpm - that makes the Hornet feel less refined than it actually is.