2019 Honda CBR150R Launched In Thailand

The updated motorcycle now comes with ABS and adjustable front forks!

• The 2019 iteration comes with both mechanical and aesthetic changes.
• Ergonomics have been tweaked for a sportier stance. 
• Prices start from 92,000 Baht (Rs 1.99 lakh).

Honda has launched the updated version of the CBR150R in the Thai market. The previous gen CBR150R already was a pretty cutting edge machine, and this new update has only served to take it a notch higher.

For starters, the headlamp is slightly sharper and sleeker, and the windshield is now taller as well. To let riders hold the bike better with their knees, the fuel tank has also been redesigned. Apart from these, the bodywork receives new colour schemes, and one of the variants get “AP Honda Racing Thailand” stickering on the fairing, showing off Honda’s Thai racing team. This variant also features a funky red alloy up front and a black one at the rear. 

Instead of the blue backlight, the instrument cluster is pretty colourful now and gets fuel efficiency readout for both tripmeters. What’s more, there’s also an automatic flashing signal system which lights up the front and rear indicators under hard braking. This feature is restricted to the ABS variant only, though. 

The frame (diamond type) and the engine (149cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled motor producing 17.1PS and 14.4Nm) have remained unchanged. However, Honda has opted for preload-adjustable telescopic forks up front. That’s is a first in the 150cc segment! At the rear, it retains the Pro-Link monoshock with 5-step preload adjustability. Honda also has replaced the traditional disc brakes with petal type ones, and dual-channel ABS is available as an option. The one with ABS costs 99,000 baht (Rs 2.15 lakh), while the non-ABS variant is priced at 92,000 baht (Rs 1.99 lakh).

The motorcycle will be available from April 1 onwards in Thailand and will go head to head against the Yamaha YZF-R15 Version 3.0. Back in 2012, Honda used to sell the CBR150R in India, which used to rival the R15. But due to its premium pricing, the motorcycle failed to make a mark and was discontinued in 2017. So it is unlikely that Honda India will bring this new motorcycle. Another reason why the brand wouldn’t bring the faired bike to the country is because the new model is made in Thailand and it’ll be expensive to localise it in the country or setup a line solely for it.