Honda CBF Stunner : Roadtest

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India’s (HMSI) latest offering, the CBF Stunner, speaks well about the company’s newly adopted approach towards the Indian two-wheeler bazaar and that’s good news for all Honda fanatics. The CBF Stunner (named as if to out-dazzle or out gun the competition isn’t very clear!) is not merely a cosmetic upgrade over the dull looks of the Shine, but a more focused machine for the segment that it will play in. The 125cc segment is the new emerging class wherein the buyer expects more than just good fuel efficiency and low-cost maintenance. Aesthetics play a major role in the purchase decision and so does value for money.

The CBF Stunner is a complete looker and it outshines every other 125cc bike in the styling department. The freshly designed tank with functional knee-recesses provide perfect grip for the thighs and look great. The console holds an analogue speedometer and a fuel gauge with the usual tell-tale lights. The switchgear quality is not up to the mark and on our test bike, the starter switch got stuck every time that we thumbed it. The choke switch placed upfront is a severe poke in the eye and it should have been incorporated on the left hand side of the handlebar for convenient use to the rider. A tachometer was a must on such a sporty motorcycle, but the blokes at Honda decided to do away with it to keep the costs under check. The halogen bulb for the headlight and increased under-seat storage space means that the Stunner manages to strike the balance between every day practicality and some spirited riding for the weekends. The snazzy split-seat gels perfectly with Stunner’s sporty character and, Honda’s idea to fasten two individual panels instead of one complete piece, serve the purpose of giving that sharp edgy look to the rear cowl.

The foot-peg frame too gets a very unconventional curvy design while the rear foot-peg hangers are directly welded to the sub-frame. The riding position is sportier with flat handlebars, lower seat and rearset pegs. Like all Hondas’, rider comfort is top class and there is hardly any stress coming on the rider’s arms or legs even during long hauls. Quality of cycle parts and paint is superior to almost all other bikes and it is easy to understand why Honda charges premium for its products. With all these new developments, the bike definitely feels more enjoyable to ride than the Shine ever felt and feels quite in sync with its sporty visual aura.

Unlike most Hondas’, the suspension on the CBF Stunner is a little stiffly sprung in order to help the bike handle better through corners. Couple it to the smooth power delivery, addition of a box-section swingarm for increased stability and Honda’s reputed diamond type chassis, the bike handles better than any other 125cc bike. Even at full whack the bike holds its line confidently through the tight corners and it tackles those mid-corner bumps minus any drama. Although, we really wish that Honda should have provided the Stunner with gas-charged rear suspension instead of the conventional shock absorbers. It would have improved the ride quality furthermore without compromising the sporty handling. However, we realize that it would have bumped up the price even more making the CBF Stunner off limits for the budget conscious biker.

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

The all-new 17-inch wheels are shod with fat TVS Eurogrip rubber and it does a good job until one starts pushing it. For the daily home-to-office trips the tyres are really well-suited but if one wishes to exploit the bike’s potential anymore than commute, they fail to provide accurate feedback to the rider. This makes it difficult during hard braking as the rider cannot correctly interpret the traction limit available, resulting in sudden tyre lock up. The wet-weather traction is extremely poor and although the bike is not meant for serious performance-oriented riding, the traction available is not really sufficient even during emergency braking or on wet surfaces.

The CBF Stunner borrows the engine from the Shine with one significant improvement to it. The 124.7cc motor now incorporates a 5-speed transmission with a one down - four up shift pattern. The new gearbox significantly smoothens out the power delivery on the Stunner as compared to the Shine. The shifts are slick and precise while the gearing is well-suited for the daily commutes as well as weekend rides. The heel-toe shifter too has been ditched on the Stunner and it is replaced by the sporty toe-shifter. While many would welcome this change, the regular office-goers will not be too happy ruining their formal footwear in the process of slotting gears. The engine produces 11PS of power at 8000rpm and a torque output of 11Nm is available from 6500rpm. The bike does 0-60km/h in 6.1 seconds and goes on to record a top speed of 100.03km/h.

The braking is spot on with progressive feel coming from the front brake lever to the rider. There is a 240mm dia disc for the front and a 130mm dia drum on the rear that brings the Stunner to a standstill from 60km/h in 24.86 metres and 2.21 seconds. Fuel economy is up to the mark in comparison to its rivals and under mixed riding environments, the CBF Stunner will run for 68.38 kilometres on one litre of petrol. The tank capacity of 10 litres translates into a total range of 683km. The pricing too is extremely competitive and the top-of-the-line model with disc brake and electric start will lighten your wallet by Rs 53,390 ex-showroom, Pune.

Now that's not bad at all for a bike that feels like a 150cc motorcycle, has the looks to ‘stun’ every on-looker it goes past and does 100km/h. Early this year, this exact same model was displayed at the HMSI stall during the Auto Expo held in New Delhi, to judge the crowd’s reaction. It created quite a stir at the Honda stall and it was all that Honda needed to turn this Expo-concept into a reality. Honda had been thoroughly assessing the changing market trends and studying the increased demand for a good looking motorcycle in the executive commuter class. Holding true to its reputaton of manufacturing world class motorcycles, the Japanese giant has once again dished out a truly stunning motorcycle in the form of the CBF Stunner. Now if we can have that racy iteration of the Unicorn that was also at Auto Expo? Soon please.