Sponsored: Why Honda CB Hornet 160R is the Best Executive Motorcycle

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) has made strategic moves in the 150 – 160 cc segment. Their flagship motorcycle, the CB Unicorn that was launched in 2004 has been doing exceeding well for the manufacturer. They added another higher capacity variant to it called the ‘CB Unicorn 160’. But realized it did not grab too many eye balls on the styling front given it insipid looks. Something offered in bucket loads by the Yamaha’s FZ and the Suzuki’s Gixxer. Honda then launched the CB Hornet 160R as a sporty motorcycle that can be booked through a dedicated mobile application as well. Does it have what it takes to make competition sweat? 

The CB Hornet 160R presents itself as a very stylish looking motorcycle from the Honda stable. The boffins at their factory knew exactly what the Indian youth wanted and designed the bike from scratch. The end result looks like an extremely edgy and sporty design that will appeal to the young. The halogen headlight flanked by body colored cowls on either side gives away a rather menacing look. Move behind and you are greeted with an orange back lit all digital instrument console that reads out the trip meter, the odometer, the speedo meter, the tacho meter, the clock and the fuel bars to name a few. The big muscular tank with integrated shrouds played with lines and curves on either side extend all the way towards the front telescopic forks. The 3D Honda monogram on either side of the tank looks premium and add a touch of class. Together, the entire tank lends a very aerodynamic design and prominent stance to the bike.  View from the side and one will find that the side panels are finished in smooth silver paint and rake upwards to meet a pair of sturdy grab rails at the rear. The contoured seat looks plush and built for a comfortable ride. The CB Hornet 160R has a mid-ship exhaust with a silver heat protector as seen in the bigger Honda naked superbikes like the CB1000R.  Step to the rear and one can find a very interesting ‘X’ shaped led tail light that meets the neatly integrated tail piece that houses the rear number plate. Look at the Honda CB Hornet 160R from any angle and it oozes sportiness.     

Sit astride and you find yourself nuzzled well into the bike owing to the lower set, shorter and fatter handle bar upfront with slightly rear set foot pegs. The seat height is apt and even shorter riders will not have a reason to complain. The seat is comfortable for both the rider and the pillion. Even over long distances neither would have any gripes. The handlebar feels nice to grip and the sporty looking mirrors offer a good field of vision. The high quality switches feel nice to operate and are all ergonomically placed. The levers are easy to reach and the clutch feels very light to operate.   

The CB Hornet 160R gets the same motor as on the CB Unicorn 160 that has been extensively reworked. It now produces a healthy power output of 15.66 bhp at 8500 rpm and a torque output of 

14.76nm at 6500 rpm. That kind of power figures on a bike that weighs just 142 Kgs gives it a class leading power-weight ratio. Not only is the CB Hornet 160R a powerful motorcycle, it is also pretty fuel efficient and returned an impressive 55 Kmpl during our test runs. 

Suspension duties on the CB Hornet 160R are carried out by beefy telescopic forks up front with a linked adjustable mono-shock at the rear. It could handle most road surfaces well and the dampening has improved when compared to the current CB Unicorn 160. The 5 spoke split alloy wheels on the CB Hornet 160R gets a 100/80 – 17’ front tyre and a massive 140/70 – 17’ rear tyre. The bigger contact patch offers more grip and is reassuring under hard braking. The bike gets the all familiar 5 – speed transmission with well laid out ratios that eliminate the need to shift often when in traffic. The CB Hornet 160R comes in two variants – Standard and CBS (Combined Braking System). The former costs Rs 79,900 (Ex-showroom Delhi) and comes with just a front petal disc brake. The latter cost Rs. 84,400 (Ex-showroom Delhi) and gets a rear petal disc brake too.   The brakes on the bike are the best in its segment and gives the CB Hornet 160R serious stopping power. Those opting for the CBS variant will appreciate the way the system works seamlessly by distributing the brake force to the front and the rear wheel when the rear brake pedal alone is depressed. The bike’s overall geometry gives it excellent straight line stability and ensure the bike comes to a halt without much drama even under panic braking. 

So then, looks like Honda has done it again. The CB Hornet 160R has a lot going for it. It looks sporty, has a powerful engine, is pretty fuel efficient and can give its customers the assurance of Honda’s wide service network. When pitted against its closest rivals – the Yamaha FZ and the Suzuki Gixxer, it makes for a very compelling buy. We say then the CB Hornet 160R is all set to clinch the crown. 

Also Read: Honda CB Hornet 160R Ride Review