Honda's PREMIUM commuter bike for Rs 75k?

A sneak peek at Honda's latest premium commuter bike: CB Trigger

Proving countless speculators and their speculations right, Honda unveiled its much-awaited 150cc premium commuter motorcycle on march 11. However, that was pretty much all that the gossipmongers had gotten right.

Against all predictions, anticipations and expectations that had surrounded the unveiling of this motorbike for weeks, Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) revealed not a revamped naked version of the CBR150R, popularly known as the CBR150R StreetFire in the international market, but a completely different and brand new model titled Honda CB Trigger for the exceedingly popular premium commuter segment of the Indian bike bazaar.

Being looked upon as an upgraded version of Honda CB Unicorn Dazzler, the newly-introduced CB Trigger, once it goes on sale in May, 2013, might even replace the Dazzler, which is not doing too good when it comes to sales these days. The bookings for the newbie, in the meantime, are expected to commence sometime during next month.

While official statements are still awaited on the price front, speculators believe that a price tag of about Rs 75,000 (Ex-showroom) is most likely to be tagged to the new arrival. Considering the segment and the price bracket that this new bike has been, or is likely to be placed in, Yamaha FZ and the big boys of the Bajaj Pulsar family seem like the direct competition that Honda CB Trigger will have to deal with.

Starting with the specifications, a 150cc, air-cooled, 4-stroke, single-cylinder, 4-valve, DOHC engine that promises a peak 14bhp at 8500rpm along with a maximum of 12.5Nm of torque at 6500rpm has been employed to power the CB Trigger. Built off the same 4-stroke power mill that drives the CB Unicorn and the CB Unicorn Dazzler, this 150cc engine gets mated to a 5-speed manual transmission system that features a 1-down-4-up shift pattern.

To complete the mechanical package, a kick/electric start mechanism, a full transistorised ignition system and a 12V, 5Ah maintenance-free battery have also been incorporated by the manufacturers. Together, this brilliant mechanical arrangement promises to return a fabulous fuel-economy of 60kmpl while offering a top speed of 103kmph giving the newcomer a clear edge over its rivals.

Besides all this, a unique feature that the CB Trigger will bring to the 150cc motorbike segment of the country for the first time is the Combi Brake System, also known as CBS. Allowing the rider to apply both brakes simultaneously, this advanced technology helps in reducing the stopping distance of the bike by 32 per cent, thereby facilitating a much more powerful and precise braking action.

To work in synchronisation with the Combi Brake System, HMSI engineers have employed 240mm hydraulic disc brakes for the front and 220mm hydraulic disc brakes with single piston for the rear wheel, raising the safety standards of the ride by a considerable margin.

From the comfort point of view, Honda CB Trigger comes equipped with a telescopic suspension at the front and swing arm monoshock suspension, also called as Pro-link suspension, at the rear end, which effectively irons out the potholes and bumps on the roads thereby resulting in a smooth and supple ride.

To add to the comforts, the CB Trigger also features smartly-designed and considerably wide seat that not only supplies ample room for both the riders, but also facilitates an upright sitting position for the driver to ensure easy and fatigue-free riding. On top of all this, the presence of tubeless tyres, measuring 80/100 17" for the front and 110/80 17" for the rear wheel, makes sure that unexpected punctures do not become a source of inconvenience for the riders of Honda CB Trigger.

Other than these, there are a number of significant fitments and gadgetries that have made it to Honda's new commuter including the likes of a digitised instrument panel, sporty black 6-spoke alloy wheels, full gear lever, full chain case, viscous air filter and stylish stepped LED tail-lights.

A diamond-style body-frame has been chosen to support the structure of the CB Trigger, which has been adorned with several attractive features such as the air scoops carved on the well-designed fuel tank, the bold character lines running right from the front to the rear end, the alluring contours spanning the entire outfit and the sporty black finish that covers the cycle parts and the engine of the bike. To add to the charm of the bike's vibrant outfit, a paint palette comprising of three attractive colours has been put together featuring Pearl Siena Red, Meteor Green Metallic and Black.

A total of three variants have been introduced for Honda CB Trigger by the automaker namely, CB Trigger Standard with front disc brakes, CB Trigger Deluxe with front and rear disc brakes and CB Trigger CBS with front and rear disc brakes and Combi Brake System. And considering the significant share of 10 per cent that the 150-180cc segment holds in the Indian bike market, it seems to be a very clever move on Honda's part to try and expand its portfolio in the particular sector.