Honda CBR 150R – Review

Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India (HMSI) who thrilled us with their quarter litre bike, the Honda CBR 250R now unleash it’s smaller sibling, the CBR 150R. This bike comes from the iconic CBR family with racing DNA of Honda.

Looking strikingly similar to CBR 25oR atleast visually, the bike looks smashing from every angle and feels more proportionate than the bigger sibling. Looks Leaner, trimmer and looks more muscular.

Look and feel of CBR 150R

CBR 150R takes its design cue from Honda’s VFR 1200F much like its elder sibling.  The Y shaped  headlight design identical to the larger variant looks neat and crystal clear. But in CBR 150R you have two unique eye design lights flanking the main head beam. It gives the bike a mean look and also a predator on prowl effect.

The combination of analog and digital instrumental panel are very similar to the one sported in 250R, though the metallic trimming is missing over here. So what we get is a digital speedometer, fuel gauge and trip meter and an analog tachometer.

The round built-in LED tail lights with separated signal lights adds a dash of sportiness.

The sporty full cowling makes the bike all the more better on aerodynamics. It expresses an aggressive character, complimenting Honda’s racing track genes.  Compared to the 250R, the fairings are slightly flatter and the panels bit smaller. Talking about the stickering  job, it could have been better if more attention paid to it. It is loud and seems like the sticker design hastily done. Well, these kind of design elements are very personal opinion, so who knows some of you out there might even like it!

Sporting a wide tubeless tyres that provides excellent road grip and enhancing the handling aided by front and rear disc brakes.

Engine, performance and ride quality of CBR 150R

CBR 150R sports a 149 cc,  4-stroke carburetted single cylinder 4 valve DOHC engine that delivers maximum power of  17.58 Bhp @ 10500 rpm and max torque of 12.66 Nm @ 8500 rpm.

As I saddle myself on the soft cushioned seat and fire-up the motor to a lovely rasping sound, the bike feels a lot more compact and nimble to handle. The dial’s tacho bar jabs across the dial in response to a blip of the throttle, the bike takes off ripping forward, building the power steadily. The bike feels seriously quick, flicks through corners effortlessly and feels flawlessly stable with great maneuverability. Significantly this bike packs in a mean punch and the suspension at both ends are firm and well damped enough to cope with our Indian conditions. The braking is precise and confident. All said and done, in city traffic 150R feels slightly less responsive but not to the level of making an issue out of it. Hit on an empty stretch or highway, all is forgiven and its a sheer pleasure to ride when the RPM’s high. The gearbox are pretty sharp and smooth. Under all riding conditions expect a decent mileage of 40-45kmpl. The riding posture is great for a long distance ride.

CBR 150R colors

The bike is available in four colors.

Variants of CBR 150R:

CBR 150R is available in two variants standard and deluxe. Technically both the variants are same. The difference is in the graphics or lack of graphics in the standard variant. Frankly, speaking I liked the white standard that is thankfully minus the overdone graphics.

Price of Honda CBR 150R

CBR 150R is priced at Rs 1,254,21 (ex-showroom price, Mumbai) for the standard variant and the deluxe variant is 1K more.  The pricing is definitely a bit steeper considering you can get KTM Duke 200 for 3K cheaper and Yamaha R15 for almost 10K  less. So, Honda CBR 150R is a super-premium bike price-wise and would make many a potential buyers think twice before putting their money into it.

So what are the difference between Honda CBR 250R and CBR 150R?

CBR250R uses a trellis type diamond frame while the  CBR 150R uses a steel twin spar frame

The exhaust can of CBR 150R is shorter.

The meter dials of CBR 150R does not get the silver trim that the bigger variant sports.

Though the Y shaped headlight looks similar, watch out for the two unique eye shaped lights in CBR 150R flanking the main head beam.

No engine kill option in CBR 150R

No day flash in CBR 150R

CBR150R’s four paint schemes are completely different from that of the CBR 250R

DOHC 4-valve engines, yes! but then obviously they are not entirely similar.

What I liked in CBR 150R

looks mean, lean and crispier than CBR 250R0

Good premium 150 cc bike for every day use

A good looking mini-sports class bike

Good performance and handling as expected from Honda

Good mileage

What I did not like in CBR 150R

Sticker job

Steep P-R-I-C-E!