Honda Hornet 2.0 review, first ride
The new Honda Hornet gets a new engine, chassis and fresh styling. It leapfrogs a segment now finding itself in the company of 200cc entry-level performance bikes.
January 18, 2021, UPDATED: January 18, 2021 16:24 IST
Honda Hornet 2.0 Review, first ride
Honda Hornet 2.0 Review, first ride: Strong low-end performance ensures that the Hornet 2.0 feels urgent in the city.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Hornet 2.0 is an all-new motorcycle, with a new engine, chassis and design.
The 184cc motor makes 17bhp and 16Nm of torque.
Honda Hornet 2.0 is priced at Rs 1.27 lakh ex-showroom.
Only Honda can enter a 200cc segment with a 184cc bike and say that all the rest of the segment is overkill, but then again, only Honda could make it work. The Honda CB Hornet was first introduced as a sporty alternative to the commuter oriented CB Unicorn, but for BS6 Honda decided to finally take the gloves off and throw their lot in with the 200cc entry-level performance bikes with an entirely revitalized new Hornet, christened the Hornet 2.0. This is an all-new motorcycle, the only things that it shares with its predecessor are the name and the X shaped LED tail-lamp. Honda has also given it a huge price bump that now puts the Hornet in the company of the TVS Apache 200 RTR and the Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS. The question then remains whether Honda has indeed found the replacement for displacement, or the old saying still rings true.
Honda Hornet 2.0: Design
Honda Hornet 2.0 review, first ride: Sharp styling and the Gold USD go together to give the Hornet strong presence.
If the design is any for bearer, the Hornet 2.0 is already halfway there. Sharp angles and muscular panels perfectly offset an otherwise stubby street fighter motorcycle. Starting at the front, your attention is drawn toward the Gold anodized USD, that adds a fair amount of sporty flair to the Hornet. The canted forward muscular tank flanked by tank extensions that have vents running through them set the tone for the Hornet’s muscular design. Adding to the package are split seats and a short, stubby exhaust. I love the way that Honda has placed the triangular headlamp unit just under the tank line to increase the visual effect of the bike’s forward set stance. You also get all-LED lighting including the turn indicators, a key fob on the tank (for those big bikes feels) and a white on black all-digital TFT instrument panel. The cluster can be adjusted for viewing in day and night with 5-brightness settings but, was adequately legible on the standard-setting on our test bike both in the day and at night. It is worth noting that the Hornet misses out on a Bluetooth connectivity suite that you’d get on similarly priced bikes in its segment.
Honda Hornet 2.0: Engine & performance
Honda Hornet 2.0 Review, first ride: The 184cc air-cooled single is very refined and is almost vibration-free under the 6,000 rpm mark, it sets the refinement benchmark for the segment.
The big news though is the all-new India specific 184cc air-cooled single that replaces the 160cc Unicorn motor. Now on paper, the Hornet 2.0 makes an unimpressive, 17bhp @ 8500 rpm of maximum power and 16Nm of peak torque at 6,000rpm, but remember this is the light-weight segment, and on that front, this little Honda has an ace up its sleeve. All fuelled up, this little Honda weighs in at a meager 142 kg, that significantly trumps the average weight of the segment. For added effect, Honda played a smart gambit with gearing, pairing three very short initial gears with a very tall fourth and fifth gear. The result is a motorcycle that feels just as, if not a little more, spirited than the rest of the motorcycles in the segment, at least in what Honda calls the “usable range”. The motor itself is linear and the power is spread almost evenly across the band, and at no point does the motor feel like it is running out of breath. True to the wing-badge on the tank, this 184cc short-stroke single is remarkably refined. Keep it under the 6,000 rpm mark and the only reminder of the engine running is the purr from the stubby exhaust, push beyond that and there is the slightest of vibrations that begin to creep through the foot pegs. Although the Hornet is undeniably a city bike, it’s happy to cruise at 110 kmph with very little in the form of vibrations or feedback, so some sparing touring is not entirely out of the question. The 5-speed gearbox is slick and needs only a nudge in the right direction to execute a smooth shift with no jerks or feedback.
Honda Hornet 2.0: Ride & ergonomics
Honda Hornet 2.0 review, first ride: Sleek alloy wheels and petal disc brakes add to the Hornet’s sporty persona
The ergonomics are true to the Hornet 2.0’s street-fighter styling. Leaned forward quite significantly, you are met with noticeably short handlebars. Despite being one of the shorter motorcycles in the segment, the forward set triangle is quite spacious, making it arguably the most comfortable motorcycle in its segment. The short handlebars make for razor-sharp handling in the city and in corners, aided by wider section tires both at the front and back that add confidence. Honda has worked their magic with the suspension too, while it is obviously biased to comfort, good rebound damping ensures that it stays planted in the corners even when you’re on the wrong side of it’s “usable range”. Braking comes from a pair of petal discs, a 276 mm upfront and 220 mm at the rear. The light-weight Honda stops on a dime, with confidence-inspiring feedback on the levers. The only miss here, for some, is the lack of dual-channel ABS, which isn’t available even as an option. I would argue though that the Honda is so mechanically sound that it doesn’t need it, and the fact that you can lock up the rear-wheel just adds to the “hon”-appeal.
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Honda Hornet 2.0: Verdict
Honda Hornet 2.0 review, first ride: All-LED lighting for the headlamp, tail lamp and indicators add to the premium appeal of the Honda Hornet 2.0.
Honda has priced the Hornet at a heady Rs 1.27 lakh ex-showroom, smacking straight into the 200cc performance segment, with a smaller engine and less tech and features than you’d get on other motorcycles in the price band. Even then, Honda has managed to create a motorcycle that looks and (more importantly, rides the part) of the segment. On the other hand, it is more fuel-efficient than the segment aggregate, is comfortable and feels considerably better built than its rivals. It may not be the choice of the performance junkie, but smart money in the segment is likely to go to the Honda.
Likes
Smooth engine, gearbox and good build quality
Dislikes
Price
Honda Hornet 2.0 Specifications
Engine 184.4cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled
Max Power 17bhp@8,500rpm
Peak torque 16Nm@6,500rpm
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