Honda NX200 India Launch: What To Expect From The Hornet 2.0-based ADV

The name has been trademarked recently, and we analyse what exactly could this upcoming bike be all about

[UPDATE: Honda has launched its most affordable ADV in India, called the CB200X. You can read all about it in our launch report here.]

Honda India recently trademarked the name ‘Honda NX200.’ It is likely to be a 200cc adventure-themed motorcycle based on the Honda Hornet 2.0. Wondering what it’s all about? Here’s our analysis:

Properly Modern Looks:

The Honda NX200’s design could be a combination of the Honda CBF190X and the Honda CX-02 Concept. The former is sold in the Chinese market whereas the latter is a concept motorcycle showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo in India. The Honda NX200 could feature a mass-forward look complete with a windscreen to keep wind blasts at bay. It could also get a taller handlebar, a pair of mid-set footpegs, and a more comfortable seat to ensure good mile-munching capabilities.

We could also expect the bike to feature knuckle guards, engine cowl, and luggage mounting points at the rear to go with its purposeful demeanour. Like the Hornet 2.0, the lighting system could be all-LED and the bike could get a fully digital instrument cluster as well. We hope the console comes with smartphone connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation to round off the package.

Hornet’s Heart:

The Honda NX200 is likely to share the same 184.40cc single-cylinder air-cooled fuel-injected engine from the Hornet 2.0. It is also likely to produce the same 17.2PS and 16.1Nm as the naked bike. That said, if we’re lucky, Honda could tweak the final drive for a slightly gruntier low-end. The engine will be paired to a 5-speed transmission, so triple-digit cruising on the highway might be a bit of a stretch. 

Beefier Underpinnings:

The Honda NX200 may use the same diamond frame as the Hornet 2.0, but it could be suspended on longer-travel suspension at both ends. The bike won’t exactly be a hardcore mud plugger, though. It is likely to use the same 17-inch alloy wheels as the Hornet wrapped with road-spec tyres. All in all, its demeanour will be similar to the Honda CBF190X. Of course, expect the bike to get disc brakes at both ends with proper dual-channel ABS as standard.

Expected Price, Launch Timeline & Rivals:

• Yamaha FZ-X: Here’s What We Know So Far
• Honda H’ness CB350 Gets 3 New Colours But You Can’t Buy Them. Here’s Why
• Honda Hornet 2.0 Road Test Review

At Rs 1,29,608 (ex-showroom), the Honda Hornet 2.0 is priced at quite a premium. So in a typical Honda fashion, the NX200 is also likely to be pegged on the higher side, presumably around Rs 1.45 lakh (ex-showroom). Honda may launch the bike in the second half of this year, during the festive season to tap into the increased demand. Once launched, it will be the perfect Japanese alternative to the Hero XPulse 200T.

Images used are for representation