Less than a month after Honda commenced bookings for the CB Hornet 160R, the premium commuter already has a waiting period stretching from one and a half to two months. The CB Hornet 160R is slated to be launched in India on December 10, though dealers in major cities across the country have started accepting bookings of the bike for a token of Rs 5,000.
Honda has divulged very little information about the CB Hornet 160R, though we expect it to be powered by the same 160cc single-cylinder engine that is used in the CB Unicorn 160. While the engine in the CB Unicorn 160 has been developed keeping fuel efficiency in mind, the one in the CB Hornet 160R might be tuned to offer a more sporty character. It comes equipped with disc brakes on both wheels and the customary combi braking system (CBS). It also gets a fully digital instrument console from the CB Unicorn 160 and LED tail lamp.
As the CB Unicorn 160 already competes with the Suzuki Gixxer, Yamaha FZ-S Version 2.0 and the Hero Xtreme Sports, the CB Hornet 160R will be positioned in the higher end of the premium commuter segment. This segment currently has some well-established names like the Suzuki Gixxer SF, Yamaha Fazer FI and the Bajaj Pulsar AS150. While Honda’s previous attempts at gaining ground in this rapidly growing segment (the CB Dazzler and the CB Trigger) have been unsuccessful, the company will attempt to capitalise on the CB Hornet 160R’s sporty looks to make a dent in this market space.
