MY HONDA BIKE

MY HONDA BIKE

I don’t know what to say, really. I mean, I was really looking forward to Honda’s new CBR150R despite it being 100cc down on its bigger-hearted clone. The idea of an R15-beater is tantalising, after all. Then again, if I were to be swayed by first impressions, I’d have never ridden the CBR150R after the first 50-km ride. What does that mean? Hopefully, by the end of this, we’ll have figured that out.

It’s the two-wheeled definition of déjà vu, this motorcycle. While we were shooting, a college kid on a CBR250R slowed to a halt and looked alternately at his bike and ours, trying to figure out what we were fussing over. He realised something was different, but couldn’t pinpoint it until he saw the ‘150R’ decal. And with an expression that said ‘I’ve been cheated’, he rolled away.
All he ever wanted was the cheapest fairing that said ‘CBR’. And that’s exactly what the newest Honda is – in more ways than one.
I’m not one for nitpicking, but the switchgear is straight off the Stunner. Hmm. What’s more, there’s no pass-beam switch – even 100cc commuters have that. I won’t even mention the looks, except the Repsol-wannabe paint job that is probably present to cash in on their MotoGP world title last year. And it doesn’t really manage to pull off the intended effect all that well in the flesh – just adding orange to white doesn't make you a factory rider. The other colours (green, in particular) look pretty good, though.