The 2019 Honda CB150R ‘Streetster’ has gone on sale in Thailand. This bike is essentially a visually revised version of the CB150R street-naked, and has been priced from 99,800 baht (Rs 2.16 lakh). What’s new on the Streetster is a new paint scheme and red detailing on the brake calipers. If you thought this bike looks similar, that’s because it shares its neo-retro styling with the CB300R that was recently launched in India; it even shares components and tech with it.
The CB150R began life as the 150SS Racer concept that the company first showcased in April 2017 at the Bangkok International Motor Show. Mind you, this was even before the reveal of the ‘Neo Sports Café’ concept in October 2017 at the Tokyo Motor Show. The production-ready version of the Neo Sports Café, which is the current CB1000R, only went on to make its debut in November 2017 at EICMA. All of these bikes have modern lines complemented by retro elements like the round LED headlight.
Propulsion on this bike comes from a 149cc DOHC single-cylinder engine. This motor is fuel-injected, liquid-cooled and is shared with the CBR150R. Thailand’s Honda website doesn’t quote power figures, but one can expect it to produce somewhere around 18-20hp. The gearbox, meanwhile, is a 6-speed unit.
Like the Honda CB300R, the 150 uses a diamond frame that is sprung up by a 41mm USD fork and a monoshock. The CB150R also appears to have identical brakes that measure 296mm at the front and 220mm at the rear, which come equipped with dual-channel ABS.
The Honda CB150R also shares its wheels with the CB300R and features the same spoke design and identical tyre specifications – 110/70-17 at the front and 150/60-17 at the rear. It also comes equipped with LED lighting all around and a fully digital instrument cluster.
There is a chance this bike could make it to India, as it would make a good rival to the recently launched Yamaha MT-15 and even the KTM Duke 125. Further, supposed India patent images of the CB150R were leaked last year.
Coming to the pricing, if Honda does intend to launch this bike in India, we can expect them to significantly lower the cost for our market. We have seen them do this in India with the CB300R, which is priced at Rs 2.41 lakh compared to 1,49,800 baht (Rs 3.25 lakh) in Thailand. Do you think the Honda CB150R should come to India, and do you believe they can price it competitively? Let us know in the comments below
All prices, ex-showroom, India.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
