Brace Yourselves! Honda CB Hornet 200R Hours Away From Its Launch

[UPDATE: Honda has launched the premium Hornet 2.0, its biggest made-in-India motorcycle. Head here for all details on the price, features, engine specs and more.]

• The CB Hornet 200R will be Honda’s first 200cc motorcycle in India.
• It features a USD fork, chunky tyres, an LED headlight, and a full digital instrument console.
• Likely to be equipped with a 200cc air-cooled and fuel-injected motor.
• Expected to be priced around Rs 1.40 lakh (ex-showroom).

Honda is all set to step into the 200cc performance motorcycle segment with the CB Hornet 200R today. It will replace the CB Hornet 160R that never made the cut for BS6 regulations. So what’s in store for us? Well, the teaser video suggests that the upcoming CB Hornet 200R will be a premium offering from Honda, also its first in the 200cc space. It gets uprated mechanicals, a sleek new design and a couple of cool features. Expect the bike to be priced around Rs 1.40 lakh (ex-showroom).

The biggest and the most interesting change, of course, is the motor, which appears to be an air-cooled and fuel-injected mill. It could be a bored out version of the motor offered in the Honda CBF190R sold in international markets. The CBF190R's single-cylinder 184cc engine makes 15.09PS of power and 14.5Nm of torque, which is surprisingly low for a sub-200cc bike. However, we believe Honda may rework the CB Hornet 200R’s powertrain for more oomph.

The CB Hornet 200R isn't short on premium hardware either. It gets gold-finished USD fork, chunky tyres (possibly radial) and petal disc brakes for better heat dissipation. Expect dual channel ABS to be offered as standard. The entire package is held together by a single-cradle frame. All-in-all, the perfect recipe for a sporty naked streetfighter.

And then there's the way it looks. It retains the essence of the CB Hornet 160R but dials it up to eleven in terms of styling. While you still get those fat tyres, a stubby exhaust, box-section swingarm and the full-digital console, the CB Hornet 200R looks a lot more sportier and aggressive than before. The tank extensions have a mass forward design that flows well with the sharp new full-LED headlight. In terms of ergonomics, the bike seems to offer a relatively upright yet sporty riding posture with rear-set footpegs. Even the key fob has been repositioned on to the fuel tank.

We think Honda would position the CB Hornet 200R in between rivals like the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, Bajaj Pulsar NS200 and the premium KTM 200 Duke.