Honda X Blade
Honda’s newest 160cc packs standout styling
The commuter segment can be broadly classified into three major categories. There’s the basic commuters, no frills, straight up 100-110cc twist and go singles (while shifting gears of course) that have an aversion for fuel pump visits. Then there are the fancier 125cc motorcycles that give you a bit of go with the show along with a healthy diet plan for fuel thrown in. And finally, there’s the premium commuter segment. This is where the lines blur a little. The want for fuel efficiency versus sport styling and even sportier dynamics and, more importantly power, makes for a compelling board meeting. It’s such a fine line that the balance needs to be perfect. It is a segment that’s so important and demanding that Honda feels that not one or two but three motorcycles are required to compete in this category and we’re not even including the Unicorn 150.
The X Blade was shown at this year’s Auto Expo and comes in at a price point that puts it square in the middle of the CB Hornet and the CB Unicorn 160. The differences, you ask? For starters, let’s first establish that all three motorcycles are powered by the same 162.7cc, aircooled, single-cylinder engine. Although the power produced in each of them is different. While the sportier Hornet gets a full 14.9bhp and 14.5Nm of peak outputs, the X Blade gets a
bhp lesser along with a 0.6Nm drop in torque. The Unicorn 160 however, sees a further 0.1bhp drop which is negligible, effectively putting out the same power as the X Blade. Which is why it also costs just about Rs 2,000 lesser. The bigger differentiator here though, is styling.
The CB Unicorn is a bit old school in its appearance. It would fit in with motorcycles from the early 2000s and not so much with the current crop of 160s. The CB Hornet brings the muscles being the flag bearer for Honda in this segment but the X Blade is in our opinion, the best of the lot. Leaner styling, sharp and edgy, it brings forth an aggressive stance. It is really much more than just in the middle of the other two and looks every bit sporty as a 2018 160cc motorcycle should. It is however taller and wider than the Hornet in dimensions but shares the same wheelbase.
Size aside, it’s the performance that brings the X Blade much closer
to the Hornet. It feels sprightly off the line, accelerating smoothly through its rev range. The five-speed gearbox is just as smooth in its shifts and coupled with a light clutch, it makes the X Blade effortless to ride. The engine offers brisk acceleration with the first four gears helping extract the best of 9,000rpm before it runs into the limiter. This slightly sporty trait makes the X Blade more interesting than the CB Unicorn. The latter being a comfortable commuter with the smoothest power delivery of the trio but also making it boring for the younger audience that the X Blade is trying to woo.
The X Blade combines smoothness with just a hint of sportiness to keep the overall experience interesting. Traffic is dealt with as much ease with ample initial grunt while the chassis and suspension add another dimension of smoothness. The suppleness of the suspension helps the X Blade glide over the rough stuff without bottoming out as long as the speeds are lower. High speed stability on the other hand is another plus for the X Blade.