Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

While Hornet scores better in pillion comfort and power, Fz scores in more premium feel and after sales service(remember you will not be visiting the service center only before buying the bike). The nominal difference in power won't matter much in stop and go city traffic.
It all comes down to your individual preference. Take your sweet time and decide carefully.

Sent from my Xperia L.

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

For 1.10 Lakhs,I think you will get the Apache RTR 200,Carbureted,TVS Tyres and ABS.If you raise the budget a bit higher,You can get the top-end RTR 200 with Fuel Injection,Pirelli Tyres and ABS.

Bajaj and Honda (Including TVS sometimes) are known for their POS Dumb SVCs.One guy,Owner of the 200 RS gave his bike to Bajaj for first service and they didn't even have a chain spray with them(You can find him on Youtube).TVS Dealerships is known for the dumbness of the people introducing the bike to you.So prepare well to be put off by sales idiot saying the RTR 200 beats a Duke 200.

Reliability wise,I think TVS is better than Bajaj.Honda is Japanese so they are the top,Their Fibre (Plastic) Quality sucks though.But keep in mind,A well maintained bike will live for a very long time

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

Both the bikes are good and many people confuse several time when it comes to choosing between them
Well i would say do a test ride on both the machine same day one by one and whichever give you better comfort just buy.
Don't think too much man if yamaha and honda bikes are in your list.
Honda obviously has a plus point of CBS.

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

I don't understand what you mean by more premium feel,both are same segment bikes and are at par in terms of features.also after sales support depends on dealer.my Honda dealer is quite good and service is prompt,but when I went for quotation in yamaha dealership they were least interested and rude . Also a difference of 2.8 PS and 2nm is not nominal

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2


Well you already know what you want, Don't buy the because just because the sales person was not good to you its the product that you are going to use.

Go for the FZ fuel injected version as it is more responsive and excepted by the market and been for a long time and it sounds good (all Yamaha's do even the cyrux) Honda hornet is pretty new.

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

First of all the gixxer is a wonderful machine and has almost the exact same seat area as the hornet. So if you count out the gixxer because
of the pillion seat, I'm afraid you'll find the same issue in hornet.

Coming to the bikes in question, the FZ is really smooth and has a very crisp throttle response. But for a 150 priced around the 90-95k mark it is seriously underpowered
and will be a disappointment in the long run if you are even remotely addicted to the adrenaline rush that a naked streetfighter should provide. The suspension isn't exactly plush either.

The hornet is much more powerful on paper, but all that power does not translate to as much fun on the road. With its power of over 15 bhp, one would expect it to perform similar to or even marginally better than the apache rtr160 (the performance benchmark in the segment) but unfortunately it does not. However, with your requirements of
easy, hassle-free maintenance, it'll serve you really well. The hornet is also the best looker in the segment IMHO.

The gixxer, although out of your list, provides the best performance among the three and also sounds the best.
All three have an average mileage of around 42-45 so no major difference there. Handling is the best in gixxer but the other 2 aren't far behind. The honda has the best brakes.
Petal ones too and the CBS variant which you can get in your budget easily, stops better than even some higher segment bikes.
Hope that helps.

Now for some alternatives:
1) Hero cbz xtreme sportz- You get blander looks but sharp performance and okay handling. Pillion can sit much more comfortably. Superb service so really trouble-free maintenance. Saves you some money too.
2) Hero karizma- again, the looks are quirky but the engine is amazing and so is the value for money it offers. It'll even take you to the hills if you want to on weekends.
3) TVS RTR 200 carb- Awesome looks, superb performance for the class. Although the pillion comfort and mileage will take a hit.
4) Lastly a machine which you can buy if you really want to buy it and forget it. The Unicorn 160. Looks are not as good as hornet but doesn't look ugly either. Engine is nearly the same and so is the performance. Mileage is a little better and the pillion will get a sofa. Also- Rock Solid Reliability. Period.

All the best! Choose wisely.

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

I rode my friends suzuki zeus a few times and when i took the test drive of gixxer it had the same engine sound. I agree that the tall gearing and gr8 ingear acceleration are best for city rides, but it dint give me that big bike feel that the fz or hornet gave me , maybe coz of my height . hornets pickup and power was felt when i was riding it , the feel that lots of juice is left even when you are at 80kmph really brings a smile on your face and gives a satisfaction to your heart. Fz on other hand felt underpowered even at low rpm's but the feel it gives the rider with its engine , exhaust note and sitting posture is simply awesome i felt like i was on a super bike. Fz with its premium engine and overall built quality is on par when compared to hornet.

Karizma the old model without facelift which was discontinued is still my love. I really miss it.

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

+1 for the karizma. It was a gem.

But I don't know how you found the exhaust note of gixxer and zeus to be the same.

And the gixxer is both longer and wider than the fz so I don't know how the fz gave you a big bike feel but the gixxer didn't.

But I'm not here to promote suzuki so heck with it.

Anyway, the fz is indeed a great machine. Just a bit underwhelming for the sticker price. You seem to be in love with the fz my friend and if that's indeed the case always go with your heart. Cause if you really like a bike you'll regret later if you end up buying something different!

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

Only the sound from engine not the sound from exhaust. Gixxer is longer and wider? I dint knew it.. But when i rode it, i felt it to be small.may be coz of the size of the tank . the tank on both hornet and fz feels too bulky wen compared to gixxer. The sitting position is totally upright in gixxer which is good i guess for long city rides. And thanks a lot for supporting me buddy...

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

Most of the times on paper specs do not necessarily reflect on road. On paper it may be bigger but general consensus is fz is bigger(bulkier) than gixxer.

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

Anything more than 13Ps and 13Nm wouldn't matter much in city traffic. If it does, you'll be riding too scarily to be driving these bikes without proper gear, which most of us Indians do in general, because you'd be redlining like a Motomonster!

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

go for hornet delivers excellent FE above 50

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

I haven't heard the general consensus that the fz is bulkier. Between two bikes which are almost exactly the same in length width and height I don't really see how one can be visually much bulkier than another.
If anything, the styling on the new fz looks overdone and that exhaust muffler looks extremely odd.
But anyway, it's all up to the perception of the one who'll buy the bike.

To the OP- If you can also wait a little bit for the pulsar 150 NS, It is worth considering. It will have the new-gen AS150 engine which means 17 bhp on tap. The styling looks pretty neat too although the tires are a bit skinny. Being a bajaj it will also return good mileage and be easy on the wallet in terms of maintenance.

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

well i own a as200 was in the same position as you. I was never a fan of Bajaj , but iv not looked back after getting the bike. done about 5200km in 3 months. just got back yesterday from a 400km trip got an average of 41km/l overtaking was a breeze. my earlier cbz classic I had dropped down to 500-750 km a month.
The tyres suck on this bike and thats about it other than that iv not had any really issues with this bike , paid 1.05 otr Mumbai . plan to move to michelin pilot street radial this week or next.

Re: Need help in finalizing between hornet and fz v2

Finalised hornet 160r with a lot of wait and research .. would be getting it by july 2nd week. Which color will you guys suggest from black and pearl blue? Not much difference though. But is the dark blue colour going totally unnoticed on roads?