Honda X-Blade Vs. Honda CB Hornet 160R — Which One Should You Buy?

The Honda X-Blade and the CB Hornet 160R are sporty commuters in the 160cc segment. There are quite a few offerings in this segment, but the Hornet has been a best-seller for Honda. Now with the advent of X-Blade its a challenge to make a choice. We bring you the comparison between the Honda X-Blade and CB Hornet 160R on design, specifications, features and price.

Design

The Honda X-Blade excels when it comes to design. The motorcycle features a sharp and aggressive design which goes well with its X-Blade moniker. The front end of the X-Blade is dominated by the new robo-face full-LED headlight, a windscreen and sleek cowls. The fuel tank design is aggressive with edgy shrouds finished in black colour. The front fascia defines the overall design of the Honda X-Blade.

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The Honda X-Blade looks sporty from the side with the engine belly pan, black side panels with cuts and creases and blacked out engine. The tail section of the X-Blade features a new razor-edge LED tail light, uniquely designed grab rails, a tyre hugger and dual-port exhaust muffler. The rear cowl is sharp and tapered which adds to the appeal of the motorcycle. To know more about the X-Blade you can also read our first look review of the bike.

The Honda CB Hornet 160R features a more mature design but with a touch of the sporty element. The front end of the bike features a trapezoidal headlamp with sleek cowls and muscular fuel tank design with aggressive shrouds. The attractive body graphics enhance the looks of the Hornet.

The side profile of the CB Hornet 160R features a stubby exhaust which looks compact and sporty. The tail section of the bike gets a unique X-shape LED tail light, sporty split grab rails and a chunky tyre. Compared to X-Blade, the Horner sports a more relaxed and matured design, whereas the X-Blade features a busy design which will appeal to young buyers.

Overall Design Rating

Honda X-Blade 8/10
Hero CB Hornet 160R 8/10

Features

The new Honda X-Blade comes equipped with a host of premium features such as robo-face LED headlamp, LED tail light and all-new digital instrument cluster with a gear position indicator. The Honda X-Blade also gets a hazard light switch which will be useful when riding for long distances. Other features include alloy wheels, faux carbon fibre finishing on the fuel tank and petal disc at the front.

The Honda CB Hornet 160R also sports a fully-digital instrument cluster but misses out on the gear position indicator. The bike features a halogen headlight, LED tail light and a wide rear tyre. The Honda CB Hornet 160R also gets a rear disc brake with CBS (Combi Brake System) as compared to the drum brake setup of the X-Blade. In terms of features, both the CB Hornet 160R and X-Blade are on the same page.

Overall Features Rating

Honda X-Blade 7/10
Hero CB Hornet 160R 8/10

Engine, Specifications And Gearbox

The Honda X-Blade and the CB Hornet 160R draws power from the same 162.7cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine producing 13.93bhp and 13.9Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. With the same engine, both the X-Blade and CB Hornet 160R will offer a similar kind of performance and mileage figures.

Overall Engine Rating

Honda X-Blade 8/10
Hero CB Hornet 160R 8/10

Pricing

The Honda CB Hornet 160R CBS variant is priced at Rs 86,823, and the standard variant of the motorcycle carries a price tag of Rs 82,359. Both prices are ex-showroom (Delhi). The Honda CB Hornet is expensive as compared to its rivals such as the TVS Apache RTR 160 and the Bajaj Pulsar NS160.

The Honda X-Blade will be slightly cheaper than the Hornet with a price tag of under Rs 79,000. With sporty styling and premium features, it justifies its premium price tag. When it comes to pricing, both the X-Blade and CB Hornet 160R are equally matched with similar mechanical components.

Verdict

The Honda X-Blade is an all-new sporty commuter motorcycle with a fresh design and several first-in-segment features. On the other hand, the CB Hornet 160R has been a reliable machine in the market with the more matured design. In fact, Honda has already showcased the updated Hornet with LED headlamp and single-channel ABS at the Auto Expo 2018.

But with the currently sold Hornet, the X-blade has a slight upper hand over its sibling because of the new design and premium features. If you are looking for a stylish commuter with a host of premium features, then go for the X-Blade. And if you are looking for a well-equipped bike with disc brakes at both the ends and matured styling, then CB Hornet 160R should do the job for you.