Honda says its new X-Blade has been positioned as a motorcycle to attract youngsters and millennials, and for this purpose, it has adopted a very aggressive design language. While its shape reminds you of the CB Hornet 160R, Honda designers have given it sharper panels to increase the visual appeal. The headlight unit gets an edgy design which Honda terms as “robo-face” and the X-Blade is the first motorcycle in the segment to get an all-LED headlight. It also gets a taller flyscreen, underbelly cowl, chunky grab rails and redesigned LED tail lamp. General styling of the Honda X-Blade is impressive barring for the twin-outlet muffler which doesn’t flow very well with the rest of the design of the bike.
Also similar to the Hornet, the X-Blade gets a full-digital console but the latter additionally gets a gear position indicator, service indicator, hazard lights and white back-liting.
Powering the Honda X-Blade is the same 162.7cc air-cooled motor as seen on the CB Hornet 160R. However, the X-Blade’s engine produces a lower 13.9hp at 8500rpm and 13.9Nm at 6,000rpm in comparison to 15hp and 14.76Nm of peak torque developed by the Hornet’s powerplant. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
Also, Honda engineers have equipped the X-Blade with marginally smaller tyres as the bike rides on 80/110 R17 section tyre at the front as compared to the Hornet’s 100/80 R17 and 130/70 R17 tyre at the rear as opposed to 140/70 R17 found on its sibling. A disc brake is offered as standard in the front while the rear gets drum brakes,
Honda will launch the new X-Blade in India by March and it will be priced between ₹80,000 and ₹85,000 (ex-showroom).