The Honda CBR150R is an entry level sports bike that is a good inter-city commuter as well as a great highway tourer. But comes at a premium
Let’s get one thing straight, for much less than the price of the Honda CBR150R, you get bigger capacity bikes in India. But what you don’t generally get is exhilarating performance, enhanced handling and super-bike looks. In an attempt to give the average Indian consumer the CBR taste, Honda has come up with the smallest CBR ever. But does this mean you have an out-and-out 150cc sports bike? Let’s find out.
The body
The CBR150R is one amazing looker, no doubt about it. The sporty dual-layered full-body cowling is inspired by the racing DNA of Honda and it enhances the aerodynamics of the bike. The Y-shaped headlight design is unique and the twin pilot lamps add to the aggressive stance of the bike. Wide tubeless tyres not only provide excellent grip and better handling but also make the bike stand out—in fact, take away the 150R badge and it will easily pass off as a bigger sports bike. The seat is wide and the material firm. Trapezoidal exhaust not only sounds good but looks smart as well. Mention must be made here of the colour combinations Honda has introduced—red & white, black & white, green & black and orange & white—which exude youthfulness. The racing stripes boost the style and present the true sports character of the bike.
The heart
The compact DOHC liquid-cooled four-stroke 149.4cc engine produces a lofty power of 13.11Kw@10,500rpm (17.58bhp) and a decent torque of 12.66Nm@8500rpm. Fed by Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) technology, the bike gets a six-speed (1 down, 5 up) manual transmission.
The wheels
The CBR150R comes with 17-inch alloys that are shod with fat rubber—tyre size being 100/80-17 (front) and 130/70-17 (rear). That, coupled with front tube-type telescopic forks and rear tube-type monoshock suspension, gives the bike enhanced handling.
The run
The power and torque numbers are not just good on paper, they result in exhilarating performance, too. From the time you shift into first gear to three-figure speeds, you have excitement written all over your face. The power delivery is smooth, as is gear shift. Given the stick, the CBR150R goes on to hit 100kmph in a little over 11 seconds—a mighty impressive figure for a 150cc bike. The bike is capable of doing three-figure speeds for much longer than most other 150cc bikes (and even 200-220cc ones) and comparatively lesser vibrations ensure rider’s comfort too. This is helped by the fact that the CBR150R has possibly one of the best riding postures amongst any of the bikes in India today. The handling, both at slow and fast speeds, is good and changing directions is a breeze. The twin disc brakes—276mm (front) and 220mm (rear)—are super efficient and the stopping distance is good too. Although we don’t suggest high-speed manoeuvres on this bike, primarily because, unlike the CBR250R, this one doesn’t come with ABS as an option. The company-claimed fuel efficiency figure is 42kmpl and, with a 13 litre fuel tank, expect a range of more than 500km. Overall, it is not only a good bike to commute within the city but a great bike for inter-city travel also.
The need
The Honda CBR150R comes in two variants—Standard and Deluxe, the difference being special sporty graphics—priced at R1,18,525 and R1,19,544, respectively (ex-showroom, Delhi). Which makes it the costliest 150cc in the country. But what you are getting for your hard-earned cash is a combination of a good commuter bike, a great highway tourer and, occasionally, a decent sports bike that can be had fun with on a race track (if you have access to one). And 150cc means good fuel efficiency too. The question is, does that sound cost-effective?
And what does the CBR150R mean for the Honda? It is yet another gem in Honda’s crown that might propel the company to its ambitious goal of becoming the largest two-wheeler company in India by 2020.
