Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

Is hornet a really BS4 complaint engine as company advertised?.

In my RC card RTO registered it as a BS3 vehicle only, is this the same case with others?. I sent a mail to Honda regarding this but no reply as of now.

And also, I read today BS4 vehicles won't be having headlight on off switch, as soon as engine stars head light on automatically for all BS4 vehicles.

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

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While launch time itself, Hornet was BSIV complient. I don't see anything mentioned on RC. Anyway, since at that time BSIV was not introduced in their dropdown menu, they have given it BSIII
Honda CB Hornet 160 now available for sale | Business Line

Now a days, they have added sticker of BS IV.

AHO (Auto Headlight On): I don't see any article saying BSIV should have AHO.

I have started riding parking light always on. Parking light is well lit does increases your visibility from front and makes traffic more aware which are behind me.
While breaking tail lamp shines more.

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

I have a new-found respect for you!


Thank you for this. I suppose this is going to help with the below point as well.

+1. I have a short highway run everyday. It's downright scary.

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

Hey folks, hello from Nepal again. So I have done about 6000 odd kms over 8 months in the bike. And here is my experience so far.



Cons:
1. Headlights: As almost everybody on here already knows, the headlight on this bike are pretty woeful. After 7pm it was near impossible to ride above 40kmph as I'd feel very insecure riding high speeds due to the poor throw of the light. The Philips stock Honda offers cost me NRs 600 (~Rs 380) which I replaced after my accident were even worse than the stock ones.
So I went to a local store to look for HID or LEDs, very determined to change the headlight setup when this shop owner offered me a headlight @ Rs.90 with the guarantee of product & double money returns if I was not satisfied. I half convincingly bought that Chinese headlight and to my surprise, it has proved to be atleast 3 times better than the stock ones.
2. Low-end: Even though this bike has better Power and Torque, its fairly slow out in the lower end. The engine does not feel peppy at all, although a recent servicing by a local workshop guy solved this issue to some extent.
3. Engine:Initially, Honda replaced a faulty part (jet pin and vacuum) in the engine for free where it would lose power at around 5-6k rpm on throttling and then accelerate again after 6k, that was sort of fixed. Currently, engine is making some odd sound, which this local mechanic pointed out to me and asked me to file a complaint to the Honda service center during my next servicing (last free servicing) at Honda. This engine doesn't have the creaminess of a Unicorn.
4. Service Center: The guys at the service center, except for one or two are...weird. They are loaded with bikes to service, short on time and will usually just change the oil(or not), clean the air filter, tighten the brakes, wash the bike, and that's it. So it pretty much useless. Recently, I found this mechanic upon recommendation by me friend who finally did a proper servicing of my bike and it now feels as good as new. So I think, I've found my guy to take care of my beloved when I finally break free of my warranty period.

Pros:
1.Design: As has been already said, probably the best looking motorcycle in its class, no matter from whichever angle.
2.Mileage: Its been giving me 39-44kmpl. Initially it was ~47kmpl up until the first servicing. But that was careful, break-in riding. And believe me, 39-44 kmpl mileage up here in hilly Kathmandu, Nepal would definitely give me 50-55+ in flat Indian roads.
3.Mid-end: I found the mid end to be absolutely joyful in this bike. Coming out of the weak low end, I reach ~70kpmh without even realizing it. I found the high end very straining in comparison to what you guys on here have been saying. I've reached a top speed of 109kmph on the speedo but feel I'm asking too much once i cross 85kmph.
4.Pillion seat: I was rooting for the Gixxer before this beauty came in, and trust me, if it wasn't for a 5 hour offroad ride for humanitarian relief during the massive Earthquake of Nepal in 2015 as a pillion on the Gixxer, i'd be owning that today. My bums were in such a condition, that I had to sleep on my stomach for 2 days. The Hornet pillion seat is a sofa in comparison and the best in class in my opinion.


Changes I made to the bike:
-Put a carbon-fibre like sticker to the tank extensions. Goes well with the faux carbon fibre panels in the bike, makes my bike standout and looks pretty awesome too. You can see that in the pic.
-Changed the headlight to a 35/35W Chinese replacement, which is far far better than the stock. Not LED or HID, but its good enough now. Says Xenon on the cover, but i'm quite sure you wouldn't get a xenon for 100 bucks
-Changed the oil to Castrol Activ 4t. Just been 3 days so can't really tell. But it must surely be much better than that crap 10w30 Honda one. FS throttle wasn't available, and I didn't have time to scour the market for Motul. Planning to try Shell AX5 on my next change.

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

@thesidmeister

Agree with headlight. I have changed to Philips 140/- from local store and it much better.

Mileage: I am getting 40+ with pillion+office rush+not mileage conscious. Also, After 9100 ODO, I also need to change air filter.
Low end: Yes, it's missing the punch but shifting at 5000rpm and at precise shift bike shoots.

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

Is the unicorn 160 faster than the hornet?

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

Won't be a difference in top speed, but when you ride back to back to back Unicorn160 may feel more peppy, because of better low end torque, power also comes earlier.

And yes those thinner tyres also helps U160 in acceleration and top speed.

Cheers.

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

In lower ranges, yes. In higher ranges, it'd be the Hornet.

But at lower ranges, the maneuverability is awesome on the Hornet, so I would give it an edge over Unicorn.
So while engine doesn't help the cause for low revs, the overall handling more than makes up for it.

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

Can anyone tell whats the significance of that black cylinder between carb and starter ( right side of the bike )

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

That is the EVAP unit.

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

It might be charcoal unit ? It isn't present in unicorn 160 , though every other major components is identical to Hornet . Will the addition of this increase performance in unicorn 160? Or just it's for emission compliance for BS4 ?

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

Must be a charcoal unit, not sure. It's just for BS4 compliance. Reduces pollution by re-introducing the petrol fumes back into the combustion process.

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

Can I put 40/45w headlight?

Re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences

Yes , and replace stock 5W parking bulb to LED so the net amps drawn would be within limits