What we have here are two obvious players in the affordable and performance centric commuter class, and one outsider of sorts. The TVS Apache 200 4V – one of the obvious players, given it has nearly 20bhp – is the newest entrant. And though it is available both with fuel injection and carburetion, we have the latter for it is lesser priced.
Next up is the Bajaj Pulsar AS200. It is the second of the obvious players here for it too makes near 20bhp(23bhp to be precise). And, like the TVS, the AS200 is carburetted as well. However, the AS200 hasn’t found too many takers; it’s not a bike that’s selling well for Bajaj.
Finally, there’s the Honda Hornet 160R. And so far, it has done well on the sales front. It sits right on top of the 150cc, affordable(read non-faired) commuter pile and as you might have guessed, it is the outsider in this test.
And it is here to answer one crucial question –is it really worth spending more and buying a 200 when we have such capable 150s(and thereabouts) at lesser prices to choose from?
Let’s get right to it then…