Honda Hornet mileage and running cost

Hornet's claimed mileage is 42.3 kmpl, and unusually, owners and our own riding land right on it: expect 42–42 kmpl in everyday use. Few bikes get this close to their brochure figure.

Among the 67 sports bikes we have reviewed it ranks 32th for mileage, right on the group average of 42 kmpl.

At Delhi's petrol price of ₹94.80 a litre and a real-world 42 kmpl, the Hornet costs about ₹2.26 per km in fuel. Ride 30 km a day and that is roughly ₹1,761 a month, or ₹21,127 a year, before servicing.

The 12-litre tank gives a realistic range of about 504 km, so a 30 km commute means a fill-up every 2 weeks.

Spread over five years and 46,800 km, the Hornet works out to about ₹6.8 per km all-in, of which 33% is fuel and 55% is the purchase price itself. Resale value is not counted; expect roughly 50–60% of ex-showroom after five years for a well-kept example.

The quickest wins for the Hornet: keep tyres at the recommended pressure (under-inflation by 5 psi can cost 2–3 kmpl), shift up early and avoid idling at long signals.

Short trips hurt most. A cold engine on a 2 km run can return half its normal mileage; if that is your use, expect the low end of the real-world band.

Service on time. A clogged air filter or old spark plug shows up in mileage before it shows up anywhere else.