Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) yesterday launched the new CB Hornet 160R in India, its 15^th and final product for the year 2015. The bike was first showcased at the Honda RevFest in August.

Speaking at the launch in Goa, Keita Muramatsu, president and CEO, HMSI, said: “The CB Hornet 160R will herald a new era of street naked sports biking in India. We are also proud to announce that the CB Hornet 160R will be one of the first motorcycle in its category to meet BS-IV norms, well ahead of April 2017 regulation timeline”

Yadvinder Singh Guleria, senior vice-president, Sales and Marketing, HMSI, added, “In motorcycles, the 150cc-180cc segment has been gaining traction again. Customers belonging to this segment demand the best performance without any compromise in styling. The combination of raw power, real muscle and ripped performance in the CB Hornet 160R will surely appeal and mirror their persona.”

The Honda CB Hornet 160R’s design is smart, crisp and aimed at a youthful target audience. The headlamp has sharp lines, with faux air scoops on the side. The digital speedometer looks similar to that on the CB Unicorn 160. Sleek lines are seen on the CB Hornet 160R fuel-tank, which also sport muscular flank panels on either side.

The stepped seat is a single piece unit, and the pillion grab bars have a nice metallic finish. At rear, the CB Hornet 160R tail-lamp is designed in an X theme, and looks great. The motorcycle is equipped with a saree guard, shrouded neatly by a plastic cover.

Powering the CB Hornet 160R is Honda’s 162.71cc, four-stroke and air-cooled engine, as makes 15.7bhp at 8,500rpm. Torque is decent too, 1.5kgm output at 6,500rpm. The engine is mated to a five-speed gearbox.

The Honda CB Hornet 160R gets conventional telescopic fork suspension at the front, with a monoshock deployed at the rear. It is equipped with a box section swingarm. A 276mm Nissin made disc brake unit is deployed in front, while there is the option of a 220mm disc brake or 130mm drum unit at the rear. Honda is offering its Combi-Brake System, CBS, with the CB Hornet 160R.

Tyres on the front are 100/80 section, with the rear 140/70 section, mounted on a set of 17-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels. Honda is offering the CB Hornet 160R in five colours, black, blue, orange, red or white.

Honda has priced the CB Hornet 160R at Rs 79,900 for the drum brake variant, and Rs 84,400 (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the CBS brake equipped version.