If you were looking to buy into the 150cc segment, there are plenty of options available. Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj, Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda are some of the manufacturers which make the popular ones in this segment. We’ve done our tests, and found the Suzuki Gixxer and Bajaj Pulsar AS 150 to be the class leaders. Now with Honda having launched the CB Hornet 160R alongside the CB Unicorn 160, we decided to pit it against the two leaders to find out how it fares.
The first thing you notice about the Honda CB Hornet 160R is the extensive use of sharp lines. The headlamp, fuel tank, side panels and tail all match up. The Suzuki Gixxer and Bajaj Pulsar AS 150 next to the Honda, definitely look softer and more curvy. The Pulsar AS 150 has the slimmest, and least muscular styling of this trio, but a tallish wind deflector over the headlamp, and nice and muscular tank region give it enough of its own brawn.
Instrumentation on the Bajaj Pulsar AS 150 looks best here, with a mix of digital and analogue. The tachometer gives riders good visual feedback from the engine. The Hornet has an all-digital speedometer that looks really modern, only lacking in terms of good readability when riding in sunlight. In contrast, the Suzuki Gixxer's unit looks rather plain, although it too comes packed with ample information. Switchgear on the Bajaj is really good, and likewise, the Suzuki switches too are premium. The Honda lags behind here as it misses out on an engine kill-switch, and has an unconventional layout that will take some getting used to. Palm grips feel good on all three motorcycles.
When it comes to the engine, the Honda CB Hornet 160R leads the comparison with 162.7cc. This air-cooled, four-stroke unit outputs 15.7bhp and 1.5kgm of torque, but compared with the Suzuki Gixxer and the Bajaj Pulsar AS 150 however, the Hornet lacks a potent feeling in power delivery. Throttle response, where you need it the most, at low and middling speeds, is dull which the Honda doesn’t make up for at high rpm either. While the Suzuki Gixxer's 155cc engine makes a slightly lower 14.6bhp of maximum power, this is delivered with gusto, with peppy delivery in the low to mid range of the powerband. The Bajaj Pulsar has the most powerful engine, with 16.8bhp available, despite displacing 149.5cc. This is delivered strongly, with good acceleration available throughout the rev range.
All three motorcycles come with five-speed transmission, as shifts in a one-down, five-up pattern. The Honda surprisingly felt the least smooth of these bikes, and has some work to do before it matches up to its Suzuki and Bajaj rivals.
However, the upright riding position on the Honda CB Hornet 160R feels the most relaxed. The Honda seat too, is wide and comfy. The Bajaj Pulsar AS 150 too is just as accommodating on short rides, as it lets you sit upright. The Suzuki Gixxer has the sportiest riding position of all three, but still does manage to be comfortable even on longer rides.
When it comes to handling, it is the Suzuki Gixxer that leads, with the Bajaj following close behind while feeling very confident at all times. The Honda Hornet 160R, however, was a little too sharp for our liking, and ends up coming across as nervous.
Suspension on all the three is good, with the CB Hornet 160R being really comfortable at slow speeds. At higher speeds, the Honda doesn’t quite keep up, and the front end gets easily unsettled when you hit rough patches. The Pulsar soaks in the rough stuff easily, and takes to corners happily, but being on the softer side, you have to cut it some slack when really riding hard.
The Suzuki Gixxer offers the firmest ride quality of all, and this can be felt over sharp bumps. However, over bad surfaces it still feels very composed. The firm suspension keeps the bike composed through corners, even at high speeds. Also, adding a big measure of confidence to the Gixxer's cornering ability are its top-class MRF-made tyres. Despite the fact all three bikes came shod with MRF tyres, the ones on the Gixxer feel grippiest, followed by the Pulsar AS 150 and CB Hornet.
Another top-class feature on the bikes are the brakes. They offer strong bite and good feel at the lever. The Hornet 160R has the advantage of Honda’s proprietary Combi-Brake System. CBS is a good safety feature that applies both brakes in a preset ratio, even when riders operate only one of the two brake levers.
As far as results go, the Suzuki Gixxer manages to retain its crown, and makes the best value-for-money proposition at Rs 76,580 (ex-showroom, Delhi), with great all-round performance and handling, apart from generous specifications.
The level of refinement and good features on the Bajaj Pulsar AS 150 justifies its Rs 80,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi) price tag too, and makes it our runner-up in this test, owing to its good all-round capabilities.
The Honda Hornet 160R, however, isn’t priced to thrill. At Rs 79,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi), the motorcycle fails to measure up to its better equipped rivals. Honda, undoubtedly capable of so much more, is yet to put its best foot forward in the Indian 150cc bike segment. Sure, with the Hornet 160R, Honda has made its most exciting looking product in the segment, but it lacks in several key areas and struggles to be in the same league as the Suzuki Gixxer.
Arpit Phillips
Honda CB Hornet 160R
Price Rs 79,900-84,400 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
On sale Now
L/W/H 2041/783/1067mm
Wheelbase 1345mm
Fuel tank capacity 12 litre
Kerb weight 140 kg
Engine layout Four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Displacement 162.7cc
Power 15.7bhp at 8500rpm
Torque 1.5kgm at 6500rpm
Specific output 96.49bhp per litre
Power to weight 112.14bhp per tonne
Gearbox 5-speed, 1-down, 4-up
Front suspension Telescopic forks
Rear suspension Monoshock, box-section swingarm
Front brake 276mm disc
Rear brake 130mm drum/ 220mm disc
Wheels 10-spoke alloy
Rim size (f-r) 17 inches
Tyre size (f-r) 100/80 x 17 inches - 140/70 x 17 inches
Bajaj Pulsar AS 150
Price Rs 80,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
On sale Now
L/W/H 2070/804/1205
Wheelbase 1363mm
Fuel tank capacity 12 litres
Kerb weight 143kg
Engine layout Four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Displacement 149.5cc
Power 16.8bhp at 9500rpm
Torque 1.3kgm at 7000rpm
Specific output 112.4bhp per litre
Power to weight 117.5bhp per tonne
Gearbox 5-speed, 1-down, 4-up
Front suspension Telescopic forks
Rear suspension Monoshock, box-section swingarm
Front brake 240mm disc
Rear brake 130mm drum
Wheels 10-spoke
Rim size 17 inches
Tyre size 80/100 x 17 – 110/80 x 17 inches
Suzuki Gixxer
Price Rs 76,580 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
On sale Now
L/W/H 2050/785/1085mm
Wheelbase 1330mm
Fuel tank capacity 12 litres
Kerb weight 139kg
Engine layout Four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Displacement 155cc
Power 14.6bhp at 8000rpm
Torque 1.4kgm at 6000rpm
Specific output 94.2bhp per litre
Power to weight 105bhp per tonne
Gearbox 5-speed, 1-down, 4-up
Front suspension Telescopic forks
Rear suspension Monoshock, box section swingarm
Front brake 266mm disc
Rear brake 130mm drum
Wheels 6-spoke alloy
Rim size (f-r) 17 inches
Tyre size (f-r) 100/80 x 17 – 140/60 x 17 inches
Honda CB Hornet 160R
Price Rs 79,900-84,400 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
On sale Now
L/W/H 2041/783/1067mm
Wheelbase 1345mm
Fuel tank capacity 12 litre
Kerb weight 140 kg
Engine layout Four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Displacement 162.7cc
Power 15.7bhp at 8500rpm
Torque 1.5kgm at 6500rpm
Specific output 96.49bhp per litre
Power to weight 112.14bhp per tonne
Gearbox 5-speed, 1-down, 4-up
Front suspension Telescopic forks
Rear suspension Monoshock, box-section swingarm
Front brake 276mm disc
Rear brake 130mm drum/ 220mm disc
Wheels 10-spoke alloy
Rim size (f-r) 17 inches
Tyre size (f-r) 100/80 x 17 inches - 140/70 x 17 inches
Bajaj Pulsar AS 150
Price Rs 80,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
On sale Now
L/W/H 2070/804/1205
Wheelbase 1363mm
Fuel tank capacity 12 litres
Kerb weight 143kg
Engine layout Four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Displacement 149.5cc
Power 16.8bhp at 9500rpm
Torque 1.3kgm at 7000rpm
Specific output 112.4bhp per litre
Power to weight 117.5bhp per tonne
Gearbox 5-speed, 1-down, 4-up
Front suspension Telescopic forks
Rear suspension Monoshock, box-section swingarm
Front brake 240mm disc
Rear brake 130mm drum
Wheels 10-spoke
Rim size 17 inches
Tyre size 80/100 x 17 – 110/80 x 17 inches
Suzuki Gixxer
Price Rs 76,580 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
On sale Now
L/W/H 2050/785/1085mm
Wheelbase 1330mm
Fuel tank capacity 12 litres
Kerb weight 139kg
Engine layout Four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Displacement 155cc
Power 14.6bhp at 8000rpm
Torque 1.4kgm at 6000rpm
Specific output 94.2bhp per litre
Power to weight 105bhp per tonne
Gearbox 5-speed, 1-down, 4-up
Front suspension Telescopic forks
Rear suspension Monoshock, box section swingarm
Front brake 266mm disc
Rear brake 130mm drum
Wheels 6-spoke alloy
Rim size (f-r) 17 inches
Tyre size (f-r) 100/80 x 17 – 140/60 x 17 inches