Hornet vs Gixxer vs RTR 160 4v: The 160cc shootout
The 160cc premium commuter motorcycle segment in India is probably the most demanding one. It was created by the Yamaha FZ16 and soon every other manufacturer from TVS to Suzuki to Honda and even Bajaj just jumped into the party to get a slice of the ever growing pie. It is also the most difficult to please a buyer in this segment. This buyer is not only looking for good looks and good performance, he's also looking for good practicality. With great difficulty I have picked up the top three motorcycles in this category in my opinion and put them in a head to head shootout. So lets find out what the Honda Hornet, the newly launched Suzuki Gixxer and the longest name and wheelbase in this shootout the TVS Apache RTR 1604v have to offer and which one should you buy and why.
Looks Design and Equipment: Starting off with the cliche "looks are subjective". So be it but they do form an important criteria for many buyers in this category. The Hornet's design looks dated. Honda have given it fresh stickers and led treatment but yet the design looks way too commuter and way too dated. The new Gixxer also dons LEDs for the headlamp as well as the tail lamp but the design doesn't look cohesive from many angles. The Apache is well proportioned, screams sportiness from every angle. This round undoubtedly goes to the Apache. It comes with a super stiff and super responsive double cradle frame while the other two get a conventional diamond frame. The instrument cluster, especially in the Fi variant is very comprehensive with a gear position indicator, a top speed recorder and even a lap timer. The aluminium clutch and brake levers, the aluminium footpegs, the batman style grab rails, the racing stripe in the center of the fuel tank, the offset fuel lid, the chequered flag on the tank, they all visually deliver the sporty nature of this motorcycle to the onlooker and that's where it trumps the other two. 2nd place goes to the Gixxer for the fresh design while the newly stickered Hornet comes in 3rd.
Ergonomics: You sit upright on the Hornet while there is a slight forward lean on the Apache. The new Gixxer makes you sit in a typical street fighter stance where the pegs are rear set, the handlebar is tall and close to the rider's body. I personally prefer the slight forward lean of the Apache over the Hornet's super commuter stance while the street fighter approach is something I have never understood. Never will. Since this is a completely subjective matter, I will choose not to rank these motorcycles.
Engine Performance: There is no doubt that the Apache with its 4 valve, oil cooled engine is the fastest of this comparison. Well it's not about how much power is generated but how that power is delivered that matters more. The Gixxer is extremely peppy in the low and mid range, making it a perfectly fun commuter. Moreover, the motorcycle is light and agile making it a breeze through city traffic. All you need to do is look at a gap and wring the throttle and in no time you will have passed through it. Try to rev it hard and the shortcomings of this engine become apparent. There is practically no juice in the top end and while the motorcycle enjoys being revved hard, the gain by doing so is very limited. The Apache is on the exact opposite end of this spectrum. It feels like a smaller 125cc engine in the lower revs when you are ambling around in traffic. There's just no juice. Twist the throttle a little more, the engine crosses the 6000 RPM mark and everything changes. There is a strong surge of torque and the bike pulls cleanly to its 11,500 RPM redline asking you to shift up so it can do it all over again and again and again. The Hornet sits between these two extremes and delivers a linear power throughout its rev range. All 3 engines are refined and get gruffy only in the very top end of the rev range. In an outright drag race, the Apache will not just beat but decimate the Hornet and the Gixxer and hence, this round too goes to the TVS followed by the Honda and the Suzuki.
Handling: Suzuki fights back in this round by acing the handling set up. The wheelbase is short, the turn ins are katana sharp and the grip from the MRF tyres is immense. The lighter weight further enhances the flickability of this motorcycle. TVS claim that the RTR 160 4v is designed for the track and it shows. Despite narrower tyres than the other two, the bike feels extremely confident entering a corner, staying through it and powering out of it. There is a level of maturity that you feel when you lean this bike over. The Hornet once again is very neutral in its handling. There are no surprises, the bike obeys what you ask of it and does it without hurting or thrilling you in the process.
Ride Quality: While Suzuki aces the handling department, it chooses to completely ignore the ride quality and that's where the Apache fights back. The suspensions on the Gixxer have been stiffened further so that the belly does not scrape on larger speed breakers as it used to. While the fatter front forks do work well to cushion what potholes and road joints have to offer and you're otherwise too busy having fun to notice the harsh ride, it's only when you ride on the Apache that you start noticing the difference. The Apache comes with suspensions specially made and tuned by none other than Showa. Showa is a name usually attached with litre class performance superbikes and their experience and brilliance shows in the Apache's suspension set up. The bike just glides over small potholes and road joints like they didn't exist. The mid corner stability is brilliant. You just that you are riding a much larger, a much more mature motorcycle than a 160cc. The Hornet's set up is once again Honda, once again neutral.
Clutch and Transmission: All 3 bikes come with a light clutch pull and smooth transmission set up. If there's one department that I would like to give away to the Hornet, it's this. The gear shifts are smooth, slick and precise. The Gixxer's are slick but slightly notchy. I prefer that. The Apache's are butter smooth but devoid of the slickness. You need to look at the dashboard to know the bike has gone from neutral to first. That kind of smooth.
Brakes: Chink in the armour alert! TVS what were you thinking? One of the most important aspects of track racing is how fast you can shed speed and sadly, TVS forgot about it. The brakes lack the outright bite and need a harder pull to get the Apache in control quickly. It is a matter of getting used to applying greater brake force but still a little more bite would have helped complete the sporty character of the Apache. The Gixxer's brakes are the sharpest of the lot and very confidence inspiring. The Hornet? Yes you guessed it right. Very Neutral.
Conclusion:
To make the review as objective as possible, I have given scores in the inverse order of the ranks that these bikes get in each category. The end result shows just how closely these motorcycles are matched against one another. The Apache is clearly the winner of this shootout purely for the amount of performance it brings to the table. It is undoubtedly the fastest motorcycle of this category by a fair margin and it does so with a sense of maturity and comfort which is rare to find in a performance oriented motorcycle. The only downside are the brakes and I hope TVS work on them in the upcoming update. The Gixxer is hands down the most fun you can have for the money and also the most effortless to ride on a daily basis. The Hornet comes with Honda DNA and reliability and just feels like a very well rounded package. In the end, nothing matters. Not what I think, not these scores, not the performance figures on paper. You would not go wrong with buying any of these three motorcycles. Test ride them and let the motorcycle choose you. As long as you know what you're looking for, you will find it in one of them for sure.
