Honda CB Hornet 160R review, test ride

The CB Hornet 160R comes with 17 inch, five-spoke alloy wheels, shod with 100/80 section tubeless tyres at front, and 140/70 section tubeless tyres, at the rear. These provide good grip. Brakes are by Nissin, a 276mm petal disc unit on the front, while the rear has a 220mm disc brake, or the option of a 130mm drum brake unit. Likewise, Honda’s Combined Brake System (CBS) comes as optional. The Hornet we rode was CBS equipped, which worked well. Slam the rear brake, and you can feel the front end dive a bit, as it deploys and bites automatically as well. Feel and feedback at the control levers is good, and reassuring.

The Honda CB Hornet 160R is priced at what is a fair sum, at Rs 79,900 (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the basic model, and Rs 84,400 (ex-showroom, Delhi) for a top-of-the-line CBS brake equipped bike. Yes, you can’t help but like the new Hornet thanks to such a responsive, refined and peppy engine, and its sporty, yet comfortable ride quality. However, Honda has priced the new motorcycle at what is a fair premium over the present Japanese segment champion, the Suzuki Gixxers. This means the Hornet has its work cut out to prove it has the value to justify such a jump up.

Stay tuned for a more exhaustive review, once we receive a Hornet to test ride over a longer duration.