ZigOpinion: Honda Far From Stirring The Hornet’s Nest

  • Published February 22, 2025
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Yet another case of too-little-too-late for complacent Honda as the recently launched 2025 Hornet 2.0 is still far behind its rival, the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V in terms of value for money

ZigOpinion: Honda Far From Stirring The Hornet’s Nest highlights

Honda recently launched the 2025 Honda Hornet 2.0 at a price tag of Rs 1,56,953 (ex-showroom Delhi), making it Rs 13,502 more expensive than before. Sure, along with complying with more stringent OBD-2B norms, Honda has thrown in a bunch of nifty features to justify the premium, but is it really worth it?

Starting off strong but losing momentum:

ZigOpinion: Honda Far From Stirring The Hornet’s Nest details

The Hornet first started off as a 160cc streetfighter called Honda CB Hornet 160R back in 2015. It was in fact the production version of the snazzy-looking designed-in-India Honda CX-01 concept that the bikemaker unveiled at the 2014 Auto Expo in the country. Back then, Honda was fairly proactive with new product development, and the Hornet was Honda’s answer to the hugely popular Yamaha FZ. However, the segment started heating up with more feature-packed options including the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V in 2018, as well as the redesigned, ABS-equipped Suzuki Gixxer in 2019. In 2020, Honda backed off the 160cc naked segment and started dabbling in the 200cc streetfighter space with the launch of the Honda CB Hornet 2.0. It was Honda’s largest capacity made-in-India bike at the time.

ZigOpinion: Honda Far From Stirring The Hornet’s Nest overview

However, ever since its launch, Honda barely gave the bike any substantial updates. Sure, we got the MotoGP edition later that year but then it was still a fancy sticker job at the end of the day. While the world was reeling from the pandemic in the same year, TVS (pleasantly) shocked enthusiasts with the launch of the updated TVS Apache RTR 200 4V complete with segment-first riding modes AND adjustable suspension! That was completely unheard of in the segment, and made it one of the best-equipped, most capable bikes in its category. 

Compartmentalising racing and commercial sales:

ZigOpinion: Honda Far From Stirring The Hornet’s Nest gallery

Another aspect where the TVS really shines is capitalising on its rich racing legacy and also using its production bikes as a platform to further germinate and propagate racing culture by hunting for young talent who eventually move further up in displacement categories and bigger racing events. Honda used to do this via the IDEMITSU Honda India Talent Hunt and Talent Cup but it only used race-spec CBR150R and CBR250Rs for the purpose and not any other lower capacity motorcycles. 

By offering race-spec Apache RTR 200s, TVS was able to make motorsports even more accessible to a wider audience, and it also used its learnings and applied them into its production models. This is how TVS was able to give track-oriented features on its road bike. Using the RTR 200s also ensured TVS is able to maintain them without breaking the bank as racing is often destructive, at least when it comes to pushing your limits. 

ZigOpinion: Honda Far From Stirring The Hornet’s Nest showcase

After the CBRs were phased out from production, Honda sort of kept its racing activities compartmentalised. With the introduction of the hardcore track-only bike, the NSF250R for its talent cup, Honda didn’t really have much connection to what it was selling in the market. Sure, it opened a vastly new avenue for young racing professionals, but then there is barely anything of consequence to the aam junta. Also, overtly relying on Honda’s MotoGP journey can only do so much for its road bikes, and stickers can add extra bhp only in ‘imaginationland’.

Balance sheet healthy = stakeholders happy

ZigOpinion: Honda Far From Stirring The Hornet’s Nest glimpse

It seems like Honda’s consistently incredible sales of its Activa range keeps its business numbers looking positive and pretty, which could be one of the reasons why it has become complacent. Its recent update of the Hornet also comes under the blanket updating spree of Honda’s other products with pretty much the same features. This makes it all the less special for the Hornet. Adding to its woes, the Hornet is a whole Rs 8,333 more than the Apache RTR 200 4V, while barely matching it in terms of features. It even lags behind in sheer output figures as the RTR makes 3.83PS and 1.55Nm more.

What Honda could’ve done is rework the design for a fresher look, give it a heavily reworked engine (possibly with a sight displacement bump) with better performance and refinement, not to mention riding modes, and wrap it up with grippier tyres. Now that would’ve been a Hornet that’s worthy of its sting. Looking at Honda’s portfolio in other neighbouring markets like Indonesia and Thailand, we wish Honda had a soul as sharp as a (fire)blade as it had in India circa 2013. Remember the time when we had the capable CBR150R, even the legendary VFR1200F and the swanky VT1300CX chopper sold officially in India?

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Delhi Rs. 1,73,543
Kolkata Rs. 1,76,545
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Hyderabad Rs. 1,84,259
Mumbai Rs. 1,78,048
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