2011 Hero Honda Hunk Review

Hero Honda started the performance biking trend with the launch of the CBZ way back in 1999. The bike which had a tag like ‘Super Sprint’ performed like no other machine in the Indian motorcyle market. It was not only fast but power delivery created a crazy rush for the rider. This was something Indians had never witnessed and the CBZ was an immediate hit. Soon the 150cc motorcycle segment became the real performance segment. It was followed by the Pulsar 150 and 180 in 2001 and the CBZ all of a suddenly lost market share. Hero Honda could not leave the 150cc segment alone for long and had to come up with multiple models to counter attack arch rival Bajaj Auto. The CBZ Xtreme, Achiever and Hunk were all directed as a response to the Pulsar. The new bikes helped Hero honda capture a small percentage of market.

One of the models was the Hunk, which has now got a much needed boost in terms of features. So how does it translate to the end user? The 2011 model features digital speedometer, something which is become the norm in the two wheeler motorcycle segment in India. The speedometer looks quite similar to what is seen on the CB Unicorn Dazzler. The Hunk also features Rear disc brakes which inspired confidence in the rider in emergency situations. All these small features have given the Hunk the much needed hardware to maintain its position in the 150cc segment. This will also help the company to better compete with the Pulsar 150, Honda Unicorn and Yamaha Fazer.

The Hunk looks muscular with its aggressive tank and an all black treatment to the engine, tail pipe and various parts. The engine is the same Honda motor which does duty in its sibling bikes including the Honda Unicorn and CB Dazzler. This means the engine is refined and returns good mileage. Performance is good at low speeds but once you tend to gather speed, the Hunk will do a respectable 115 kilometer per hour top speed.

The 2011 Hunk is priced at Rs. 70,000/- (on road Mumbai). While this might not seem to be extremely value for money, the performance, quality and refinement justify the price tag. Add to that Hero Honda is famous for the high network of dealers, quality spare parts and quick service. All this makes the motorcycle a worthy buy. The 2011 model has indeed changed and for the better.