2020 Honda CBR150R Launched In Thailand, Rivals Yamaha R15 V3

While many enthusiasts were expecting the bike to sport an inverted front fork, Honda has disappointed on that front

• The 2020 iteration comes with a new set of colour schemes.
• Only gets cosmetic changes.
• Priced at an equivalent of around Rs 2.43 lakh.

Honda Thailand has launched the 2020 iteration of its popular faired bike, the Honda CBR150R. While rumours have been running rife about the Honda CBR150R being updated with an inverted front fork, Honda has sadly given the faired bike just a colour revision for 2020 in Thailand. Perhaps, the version with the inverted fork may be launched next year as a part of the 2021 update.

Coming back to the bike, the 2020 version comes with four all-new colours: grey, red and black combo, black and orange dual tone, red and black dual tone, and matte black which is similar to the 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R. While the black and orange colour version exudes a sporty aura, we liked the 2019 Repsol Edition’s colours better as it carried a proper MotoGP-inspired livery. Prices start from 99,700 baht, which is around Rs 2.43 lakh.

No mechanical changes have been made to the motorcycle. It retains the same 149cc single-cylinder DOHC liquid-cooled engine, pumping out 17.1PS at 9000rpm and 14.4Nm at 7000rpm. It is linked to a 6-speed transmission. While the bike may not have an inverted front fork, it still gets a preload-adjustable telescopic front fork, which was introduced in the 2019 model. The rear uses a preload-adjustable linked monoshock as before. No changes have been made to the brakes either. It continues with the same petal disc on both ends with ABS sold as a separate variant. 

Even though the 2020 Honda CBR150R doesn’t have an inverted front fork, it really doesn’t make the bike feel any less competent as it already has a preload-adjustable telescopic fork. The 2020 iteration could adhere to Euro 5 (BS6) emission norms with a possibility of its output going down in favour of the stringent regulations. Honda may try to balance it out by providing an inverted front fork in the updated model. This should make the bike look a bit more premium.

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As far as rivals are concerned, it goes up against the Yamaha R15 V3.0, which produces 2.1PS and 0.3Nm more thanks to its bigger engine. Despite packing more power and torque as well as better features such as Variable Valve Actuation technology, this motorcycle undercuts the 2020 Honda CBR150R by 2200 Baht, around Rs 5,373.