2021 Honda CB150R Streetfire Launched In Indonesia; India Launch To Follow?

Honda currently doesn’t have a sporty 150cc offering in India 

• The CB150R Streetfire’s highlight is its muscular design. 
• It packs a 149cc DOHC liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine with a 6-speed gearbox. 
• Tops out at a claimed speed of 125kmph.
• It could rival the Yamaha MT-15 if launched in India.

We really envy the folks from Indonesia and Malaysia who have the liberty to choose from Honda’s international product portfolio. Sure, we too have a few good Hondas here in India but they’re unreasonably overpriced. Adding salt to the wound is Honda’s newest entrant in Indonesia, the 2021 CB150R Streetfire, pegged to lure newer riders. It’s available in two variants: Standard and Special Edition.

The design overhaul for 2021 has made the bike look more athletic. The entire bodywork is brand new and so are certain underpinnings such as the premium upside-down fork and alloy wheel design. Moreover, you have LED lights, a full-digital instrument console, and a new tapered handlebar that’s said to offer better comfort. 

The Special Edition variant features a Burnt Titanium finish on the handlebar and rim. This particular variant also gets an engine cowl, which adds to the overall aesthetics, and 3D logos on the fuel tank for a premium touch. 

It’s powered by a 149cc DOHC liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that dishes out 16.3PS at 9000rpm and 13.7Nm of peak torque at 7000rpm. More importantly, it gets a 6-speed transmission which is perfect for highways. Fuel tank capacity stands at 12-litres.

A 37mm USD fork from Showa and a monoshock handle suspension duties while a pair of petal disc brakes help anchor the bike. Tying everything together is a diamond-type frame. Its 17-inch tyres come wrapped in a 100/80-section tyre up front and a 130/70-section tyre at the rear. The bike weighs around 134-135kg depending on the variant. 

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The CB150R Streetfire is an intriguing proposition as Honda currently doesn’t have a sporty 150cc bike in India. The CBR150R was discontinued ages ago, leaving a huge gap in Honda’s entry-level performance segment -- an area dominated by the Yamaha MT-15 at the moment. That could change, though, if Honda brings in the CB150R Streetfire to India at an accessible price point of around Rs 1.30 lakh (ex-showroom). Its current price of Rp. 29,700,000 (about Rs 1.51 lakh) just won’t cut it in India.