re: Honda CB Hornet 160R Owners Experiences
Headlight flickers below 2k rpm above that it is constant
Originally posted by hisham2k9
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Hi rapperswil,
Here, they had been taking the bookings since December. But it isn't released here yet. They are saying it might come by only end of January.
Regarding the choosing this bike:
I think I must have checked, read reviews, ownership experiences of almost all bikes around 1 lac. The final contenders were gixxer sf, gixxer, apache 200, hornet and as200.
Gixxer: was almost fixed on this, then Hornet was shown by honda. From what I understood in long term ownership and all, the bike has poor ground clearance(mostly with two people onboard), and a not so good pillion seat. That was a serious drawback since I would mostly be riding with a pillion and I live in a university campus where there are bumbs everywhere on road. Even then, I was ready to go for it, because it is such a well engineered product coming at a very good price point.
Gixxer sf: again the same bike, but looks better with fairing, but a 10k or more premium over its naked sibling for just the plastic body didn't convince me (atleast a rear disc would have made me give it a second thought). But it depends from person to person. Some people just love the fairing, and I don't fall in that category so much.
As200: Such a VFM product from Bajaj as it always has been from them. But I am more of a smoothness guy over cc. I love smoother bikes. And though, bajaj has come a long way in terms of refinement, it isnt as smooth as a Yamaha, Honda or a Suzuki. And in ownership reviews over net, i see people having some minor niggles or the other. same reason why I thought of taking avengers series out of my consideration though it is also very good product as well.
Apache 200: believe me, earlier, I was so much in love with apache 180 abs and I was almost carried away for its abs. But that was during the initial days of my search. But then, I read about its refinement levels, which are considerably low. And also, the apache rtr is meant more for tracks than commuting or touring. I can't imagine myself going to track in near future. My requirements were commuting and some weekend rides with pillion. Add to it that I am 6'1 and heavy, I might have to sit cramped on an apache. I rode my friends apache for a while and realised it wasnt for me. Now that was all the apache 180.
Apache 200, is afterall built on the same platform (the apache 180). Could be the same enigne, as I have read over net. I am doubtfull about its refinement levels. And also, the bike is an Apache RTR, it is inherently a race bike than a tourer or a commuter. So it wouldn't fit my bill( or so I think, seeing the rumors, pictures and history) . The pillion seat on the new apache was also not very convincing.
And now, the Hornet: the bike isnt perfect, but it ticks all the important boxes for me. A good pillion seat, comfortable riding posture (especially for tall guys), that macho look, the brakes, safety feature CBS and most importantly the reliability of Honda and refinements.
But this bike isnt perfect, as the first owner has pointed out, though the built quality is class leading, the welds doesnt seem to be very good, the switch gear is very commuterish(it doesn't even have an engine kill switch... but I read a couple of days ago that honda may change its switchgear on Hornet), and it has AC wiring( from my limited Knowledge, all I know is, the headlights flicker and doesn't give constant brightness. It increase/ decrease with acceleration and all. I hope I can live with that)
Here, they had been taking the bookings since December. But it isn't released here yet. They are saying it might come by only end of January.
Regarding the choosing this bike:
I think I must have checked, read reviews, ownership experiences of almost all bikes around 1 lac. The final contenders were gixxer sf, gixxer, apache 200, hornet and as200.
Gixxer: was almost fixed on this, then Hornet was shown by honda. From what I understood in long term ownership and all, the bike has poor ground clearance(mostly with two people onboard), and a not so good pillion seat. That was a serious drawback since I would mostly be riding with a pillion and I live in a university campus where there are bumbs everywhere on road. Even then, I was ready to go for it, because it is such a well engineered product coming at a very good price point.
Gixxer sf: again the same bike, but looks better with fairing, but a 10k or more premium over its naked sibling for just the plastic body didn't convince me (atleast a rear disc would have made me give it a second thought). But it depends from person to person. Some people just love the fairing, and I don't fall in that category so much.
As200: Such a VFM product from Bajaj as it always has been from them. But I am more of a smoothness guy over cc. I love smoother bikes. And though, bajaj has come a long way in terms of refinement, it isnt as smooth as a Yamaha, Honda or a Suzuki. And in ownership reviews over net, i see people having some minor niggles or the other. same reason why I thought of taking avengers series out of my consideration though it is also very good product as well.
Apache 200: believe me, earlier, I was so much in love with apache 180 abs and I was almost carried away for its abs. But that was during the initial days of my search. But then, I read about its refinement levels, which are considerably low. And also, the apache rtr is meant more for tracks than commuting or touring. I can't imagine myself going to track in near future. My requirements were commuting and some weekend rides with pillion. Add to it that I am 6'1 and heavy, I might have to sit cramped on an apache. I rode my friends apache for a while and realised it wasnt for me. Now that was all the apache 180.
Apache 200, is afterall built on the same platform (the apache 180). Could be the same enigne, as I have read over net. I am doubtfull about its refinement levels. And also, the bike is an Apache RTR, it is inherently a race bike than a tourer or a commuter. So it wouldn't fit my bill( or so I think, seeing the rumors, pictures and history) . The pillion seat on the new apache was also not very convincing.
And now, the Hornet: the bike isnt perfect, but it ticks all the important boxes for me. A good pillion seat, comfortable riding posture (especially for tall guys), that macho look, the brakes, safety feature CBS and most importantly the reliability of Honda and refinements.
But this bike isnt perfect, as the first owner has pointed out, though the built quality is class leading, the welds doesnt seem to be very good, the switch gear is very commuterish(it doesn't even have an engine kill switch... but I read a couple of days ago that honda may change its switchgear on Hornet), and it has AC wiring( from my limited Knowledge, all I know is, the headlights flicker and doesn't give constant brightness. It increase/ decrease with acceleration and all. I hope I can live with that)





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