Performance – Powering the X-Blade is a 162.71cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that also does duty on the CB Unicorn 160 and CB Hornet 160R. Fed by a carburettor, this motor churns out 13.93 HP of power and 13.9 Nm of torque astride the X-Blade. As compared to the Hornet, the X-Blade is lower on power as well as torque which makes it slower in terms of acceleration. The on-paper specs are closer to that of the CB Unicorn 160 but the higher kerb weight of the X-Blade seemingly puts it at a disadvantage. To address this, the automaker has tuned the engine in such a way that the actual performance on road is somewhere between the Unicorn and the Hornet. There is good amount of punch in the low-end while the mid-range is strong enough for quick overtakes. Touching 100 km/hr in 18.37 seconds, this motorcycle isn’t meant for outright acceleration and feels more comfortable cruising at city speeds.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/40780396874/[/flickr]
The chrome treatment on the exhaust looks tacky!
As one approaches the redline, vibrations start creeping in from the seat and handlebars
If you push it, the X-Blade will achieve a speedo-indicated top whack of 115 km/hr which equates to around 108 km/hr as per the VBOX. At city speeds, power delivery is fairly linear which makes it effortless to ride this bike in traffic. Out on the highway, progress is slow as power tapers off sharply near the top-end along with a decline in refinement. That being said, treat it as a commuter bike and the motor will impress you with its smoothness and refinement. The X-Blade gets a 5-speed gearbox that offers slick shifts but isn’t exactly a joy to use. In this segment, what makes or breaks the deal is often the fuel efficiency of a vehicle. Equipped with HET, the X-Blade delivers a respectable fuel economy of around 43 km/litre which translates to a real-world range of over 500 kms on a single tank of fuel.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/40599887485/[/flickr]
A lot of cycle parts such as the rear-view mirrors are shared with the Hornet
Stiff suspension setups have become a norm with Honda products these days!
Riding Dynamics – In spite of being on the heavier side at 140 kgs, Honda X-Blade feels sufficiently agile and flickable in traffic. Weaving in and out of gaps is a breeze thanks to its flat handlebar which is narrower than that of the Unicorn. When handled sedately, the motorcycle feels sure-footed and takes corners quite well. However, with an increase in speed, it tends to loose its line around corners for which the MRF Zappers are to be blamed. The X-Blade is suspended via telescopic forks up front and a monoshock at the rear. The suspension is tuned to be on the stiffer side. This results in a strictly average ride quality over bad roads. Thankfully, the ride flattens out once the bike gathers pace and small undulations are absorbed with relative ease. As we mentioned earlier, the seat compound is on the harder side which makes the X-Blade not the best in terms of ride comfort. Braking is performed by disc brake at the front while the rear wheel gets a drum brake. Braking performance is good enough for the kind of speeds this bike manages. Sadly, there is no CBS or rear disc brake on offer.
