Honda has commenced bookings of the CB Hornet 160R in India and the motorcycle is set to be launched in December. The CB Trigger replacement will be the last launch of Honda for this calendar year.
Honda has been on an aggressive offensive, trying as hard as possible to uproot ex-partner Hero MotoCorp from the top spot in 2-wheeler sales in India. The Japanese automaker has launched 14 bikes in India this year, the 15th one is the CB Hornet 160R which will go on sale next month and bookings for the same have just opened pan India. Honda dealers are accepting bookings for the motorcycle for an amount of Rs. 5000/-, assuring delivery in the second half of December 2015.
The Honda CB Hornet 160R is positioned in the sporty premium commuter space which is currently ruled by the Yamaha FZ while the Suzuki Gixxer has made the biggest impact in the segment off late. The use of the popular Hornet name shows Honda’s desperation to make this motorcycle a success as the company hasn’t failed just once but twice already with both the Dazzler and Trigger seeing lukewarm response in the Indian market. Like the Trigger replacement the Dazzler, the Hornet 160R replaces the Trigger.
The CB Hornet 160R is nothing but a CB Trigger underneath with cosmetic tweaks while the engine now comes from the CB Unicorn 160. The 162.7cc motor outputs an impressive 14.5 BHP of power and 14.61 Nm of torque, matched to a 5-speed gearbox. We timed the CB Unicorn 160 from 0-100 km/hr at 16.15 seconds and the Hornet should be equally quick. The motorcycle also gets wave discs along with the option of CBS. Expect the company to price the 160R at around Rs. 90,000/-.
Honda has disappointed everyone this year as none of their 15 launches has anything worth noting (except the CBR650F). Right from the Activa 3G which still lacks telescopic front suspension to the updated single-cylinder CBRs which continue to get the old VFR styling, the company has put in half hearted effort in a bid to deliver new launches where the changes are limited to colours and stickers only.
