Honda CB Hornet 160R vs Honda Unicorn 160

Honda met with great success with the launch of the CB Unicorn 160 and now they’ve launched its younger sibling the CB Hornet 160R. While both motorcycles cater to different types of buyers, we are often asked – which one to choose, here’s your answer.



Design: First up, we have the Honda CB Unicorn 160 which was launched early last year. The new Unicorn 160 got a new headlamp design, along with the digital instrument console that you’ll find on the CB Trigger. The fuel tank got short angular shrouds but retained the 3D embossed Honda logo. The plastic side panels look decent and sweep well up to the quirky H-shaped tail light. In comparison, the Hornet is a sportier looking motorcycle. On the looks front, it gets a more chic and sporty design which was lacking in the Unicorn 160. The Hornet gets a new sporty headlight design with pilot lamps, a shorter single-piece handlebar but the same digital instrument console that’s on the Unicorn 160. The tank shrouds have now been moulded to the petrol tank and a black plastic strip has been added to give it a more muscular sporty look. The aluminium-like rear panels and carbon fibre-stickered side panels give it a slightly more premium look over the Unicorn 160.



Engine: The Unicorn 160 displaces 13.9cc more than the standard 150cc Unicorn. Power output is 14.7PS at 8,000 rpm now, compared to 13.5PS previously, and the peak torque of 14.6Nm is achieved at 6,000 rpm, up from 12.8Nm on the 150. The transmission remains the same with its proven 5-speed box and a heel-and-toe shifter. The increase in engine capacity and power translates to the Unicorn being able to cruise comfortably at higher speeds, without putting too much of a strain on the engine. The Hornet gets the same engine as the Unicorn 160 but has now been re-tuned to put out a higher 15.88PS at 8,500rpm and 14.76Nm at 6,500rpm. Against the Unicorn 160, the Hornet has 1PS more to offer and reaches its maximum power and maximum torque at a slightly higher rpm than before. In this new state of tune, the Hornet’s engine feels peppier and gives you that sporty feel. On the mileage front, both motorcycles return a good fuel economy of 55kmpl, since both get Honda’s HET technology.



Ride, Handling and Braking : Now come the major differences between the two siblings. Both motorcycles employ the same diamond frame but the riding position on both are far apart. The Unicorn 160 gets a more straight up commuter riding position while the Hornet gets a sportier one, due its rear-set foot pegs and the shorter flatter handlebar. The Hornet 160R also gets meatier front shock absorbers than the Unicorn 160. These new shock absorbers do a great job on bad patches and work better than the ones on the Unicorn 160. The tyres on the Hornet are slightly bigger too. It sports a 100/80 - 17 tyre in the front while the rear gets a massive 140/70 - 17. The Unicorn 160 has a 80/100 - 17 up front and a 110/80 - 17 at the rear. The Hornet’s bigger tyres will give you a bigger contact patch both in front and at the rear, which will be useful under hard braking situations and in wet conditions. Both the Hornet and the Unicorn get disc brakes in the front but the Hornet gets a rear disc brake and has better stopping power due its new Petal disc brakes.



Verdict: Both motorcycles are good packages at their respective price points. The Honda CB Unicorn 160 CBS is priced at Rs. 82,844 and the CB Hornet 160R CBS is priced at for Rs. 89,094 (both ex-showroom, Mumbai). The price difference between the two stands at Rs. 7,000. The Hornet does have beefier front shock absorbers, better brakes and bigger tyres, but it caters to a different audience. If you like a sportier looking motorcycle with a the slightly racy riding posture, the Hornet is the one for you. For a more commuter-like comfort and feel, pick the Unicorn 160.