COSPLAY KING
We ride the newly-launched Honda CB200X to see what the Urban Explorer tag is all about
Exploration is the engine that drives innovation. ADVs are pretty much the embodiment of this statement. It is also a segment that has been booming in the Indian market lately. Cue Honda’s latest launch, the CB200X. Now despite my long-winded intro, this bike is not an ADV despite all the visual cues that suggest otherwise. What it is, is a Hornet 2.0 with a fairing, taller visor, taller handlebar and the tag ‘Urban Explorer’. But does it manage to differentiate itself from its naked sibling and be worthy of its rather pricey `1.44 lakh (ex-showroom) price tag? Read on to find out.
The CB200X is a handsome motorcycle. From the rear, it looks identical to the Hornet 2.0 but move to the front and it’s an entirely different story. The CB200X has a big fairing and a relatively tall windscreen. It draws heavy design inspiration from bikes such as the CB500X or the NC750X, especially so in the red colour. And this definitely works in its favour. Also new are handguards which have LED indicators integrated into them. These look good but look built to a cost.
The Honda CB200X is in essence a Hornet 2.0. What I mean when I say this is that it has the same frame, same suspension setup, same brakes. The only thing new in this whole setup is a revised handlebar. The handlebar is now taller, so the rider’s triangle is more relaxed and you sit upright on the bike. The bike handles the city commute very well and a lot of it has to do with the new rider’s triangle. But then again this was never an issue with the Hornet 2.0, to begin with. That was a great city bike too. Yes, Honda doesn’t claim that
it is an ADV or an off-roader. It has all the visual cues but it doesn’t have the chassis setup to allow you to take it off the beaten path. Just some mild soft-roading at best, courtesy the MRF Zapper Kurves.
The engine is probably the highlight of the CB200X. But then again, it is not new, is it? The engine setup, like most of the chassis, has been carried over from the Hornet 2.0 as is. Meaning it is extremely tractable and you can always be in a gear or even two higher than you’d otherwise anticipate. You can comfortably cruise at 85-90kmph in fifth gear and by this point, the engine is spinning at roughly 7000rpm. Go any further and vibrations start to creep in at the pegs and bars. But you really shouldn’t be doing that anyway because it’s a rather slow climb after you cross 100kmph.
Now, don’t get me wrong, the CB200X is not a bad bike by any means. It looks great, has a sweet motor and has good riding ergonomics. But I don’t see it making a strong enough case for itself. Especially considering it costs almost `13,500 over the Hornet 2.0 and doesn’t get anything extra (read long-travel suspension, more ground clearance or more power). If you want a good ADV, with similar performance, then the Hero Xpulse 200 is still the bike to buy. So to answer my initial question does it manage to differentiate itself from the Hornet 2.0 — not really!
THE ENGINE IS PROBABLY THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE CB200X