Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India launched the 2018 Honda CB Hornet 160R recently. It locks horns with a new entrant in the segment, the 2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V.
The 160 cc naked bike segment is hotly contested as it offers a good combination of looks, performance and value-for-money. The Hornet’s muscular design is appealing to enthusiasts who are in the market for a macho-looking bike. The 2018 Apache RTR 160 4V, on the other hand, is a lean looker that reeks of TVS’ racing credentials.
Let’s see how the two motorcycles perform on paper:
| Specifications | 2018 Honda CB Hornet 160R | 2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V |
| Engine | 162.71 cc engine with air cooling and carburettor | 159.7 cc SOHC engine with air and oil cooling and fuel injection. Carburettor version also available |
| Peak Power | 15 PS at 8,500 rpm | Carb: 16.5 PS at 8,000 rpm / FI: 16.8 PS at 8,000 rpm |
| Maximum Torque | 14.5 Nm at 6,500 rpm | 14.8 Nm at 6,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 5-speed | 5-speed |
| Front Suspension | Telescopic fork | Telescopic fork with fork seal protectors |
| Rear Suspension | Monoshock | Race-tuned Showa monoshock |
| Front Brake | 276 mm petal disc with single channel ABS | 270 mm petal disc, no ABS |
| Rear Brake | 220 mm petal disc / 130 mm drum | 200 mm petal disc / 130 mm drum |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 12 litres | 12 litres |
| Kerb Weight | 138 kg (STD) / 140 kg (CBS & ABS STD) / 141 kg (ABS - DLX) | 147 kg (FI) / 143 kg (Carb, drum) / 145 kg (Carb, disc) |
| Wheelbase | 1,346 mm | 1,357 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 164 mm | 180 mm |
| Price, ex-showroom, Delhi | CBS: INR 89,175
STD: INR 84,675 ABS DLX: INR 92,675 ABS STD: INR 90,175 |
Carburettor with front disc and rear drum: INR 81,490
Carburettor with front and rear disc: INR 84,990 Fuel Injected (FI) variant with both front and rear disc: INR 89,990 |
The 2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is the more advanced bike, thanks to the oil-cooled engine with slightly superior output. The bike also gets a premium Showa rear monoshock. The 2018 Honda CB Hornet 160R on the other hand comes with bigger discs; and there’s an optional single-channel ABS version as well, apart from the CBS and STD variants.
TVS has not provided ABS for the new Apache yet, but the bike comes in carburettor with rear disc or drum options and a fully-loaded fuel injected variant. Coming to the price, the difference between the top-end models of the two bikes stands at INR 2,685. The small premium offers the advantage of a single-channel ABS at the expense of outright power. The Hornet also comes with an LED headlight, which is a segment first. The Apache RTR 160 4V FI comes with a multifunctional digital display that comes with features like gear position indicator, top speed recorder, lap timer and acceleration timer. The Apache also offers 16 mm greater ground clearance than the Hornet.
