Honda Hornet 2.0 – Everything you need to know
It isn’t a cakewalk ruffling the feathers of a market leader in the Indian automotive scene. Honda has had its sights set on the top leading position for well over 10 years, and things are still difficult with the current crop of competition around. But in order to achieve the top spot, there might be a change in the brand’s approach towards the Indian customer. Now, the BS6 update to its engines was a crisp way to start, since it reflects Honda’s confidence in terms of technology. Honda had also given all its two-wheelers updates, which included the Dio, the Activa, Unicorn and a whole lot more. And these are all-new products, by the way. Honda launched the new Hornet in 2020 and it gets massive mechanical changes like a more powerful engine, a new chassis and sportier looks.
Looks matter
The Honda Hornet 2.0 is based on the CB190R sold in overseas markets by Honda Bikes. For our market, there’s a plethora of revisions. While the shape of the Honda Hornet 2.0 is identical to that of the CB190R’s, the body panels are all-new. Up-ahead, it sports an LED headlight and a USD fork finished in a gold colour. Even the engine cowl is new. When you stand back and take a good look at the bike, it looks muscular with those huge tank extensions and tank capacity remains at 12 litres. You’ll find the ignition key slot positioned in front of the fuel tank, a feature you’ll see mostly on higher-capacity sports bikes. It gets a split-seat, which adds to the sporty look. Move to the back and you will see a unique tail light shaped to look like an X, again an idea from the older bike. The Honda Hornet 2.0 features a negative LCD display with multiple adjustments for brightness, a gear position indicator, two trip meters and a battery voltage meter. The switchgear is pretty basic, but it seems better than what the old Hornet had to offer; the new bike also features hazard lights and an engine kill switch. You’re seated in an upright position with just a hint of sportiness as you lean a little towards the handlebar, while the foot pegs are set to the rear. Seat height is acceptable and anyone should be comfortable on this bike. The front fork gives it an aggressive look from the front. However, if we had to nitpick, then we’d say the plastics didn’t feel strong and the body-coloured mirrors look a bit low-rent.
The 2.0 means more
Apart from the sporty look, the Hornet 2.0 now has a sporty engine too. Honda Bikes have given it a 184.4cc, fuel-injected engine, producing 17bhp and 16.1Nm of torque. It’s not a complex engine; it’s a two-valve, air-cooled, SOHC engine and it’s very similar to what Hero MotoCorp have done. The engine is smooth as always and that whine from the intake is very typical of a Honda motorcycle. However, refinement is still good with very little of the vibrations being felt through the foot pegs. The engine gets flat post 8500rpm, but the motor pulls nicely from low revs and the surge is strong after 6000rpm. Mid-range performance is quite punchy and the bike feels best ridden at normal speeds. Without putting too much stress on the engine, you can manage a top speed of about 90kph. Acceleration-wise, it’s not as quick as its rivals. But the 5-speed transmission is slick and light, which is something a lot of customers will like about it. The gearing is short too. .
