11 de November de 2024

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Honda Bros 2025: how the new generation of Brazil’s best-selling trail bike is doing

5 min read

Imagem Destaque

Launched in 2003 with the aim of being a “rural CG”, Honda Bros has become a sales success over the years. Currently, it occupies fourth place in the ranking of the best-selling motorcycles in Brazil in 2024, with more than 115 thousand units registered by September. Still, Honda made important changes to the Bros 160 2025 to maintain good sales numbers and continue to lead the trail motorcycle segment in the country.

The main – and most visible – new feature of the Honda Bros 2025 is its renewed design. According to Honda’s research, the Bros met customers’ practical needs, that is, being an economical and reliable motorcycle for transport or work, like the CG, but more prepared for bad roads or unpaved roads throughout Brazil. However, most consumers would like the trail model to be more visually attractive. 

Main change in the 2025 model, new design made Bros more attractive

Honda got the message. With new fairings, marked by angular lines, as well as an LED headlight and flashlight, the Bros 160 2025 is, without a doubt, more beautiful than previous generations. More robust suspensions and a new dashboard also contribute to the new Bros looking much more like a smaller sister of the Tornado 300 than an “off-road CG”.

Honda also started to offer a version with ABS brakes, on the front wheel of the Bros 160. Until then, despite having discs on both wheels, the trail only came with the option of combined brakes (CBS). With the changes, the price of Bros 2025 also rose, around 7%. The version with CBS costs R$20,490, while the new Bros 160 ABS has a suggested price of R$21,390.

Bros had improved ergonomics

The changes, however, went beyond the visual. Some also have practical effects. Case of the new fairings that cover the tank. In addition to allowing more creative freedom for designers, they can reduce maintenance costs in the event of an outage. After all, the customer will not need to replace the metal tank, but only the plastic parts, which are generally more affordable. Not to mention the LED headlight that replaces the old 35W bulb with more efficiency and a longer lifespan. 

Headlight and flashlight now use LEDs; seat became more comfortable

It is also worth highlighting the redesigned seat. With the two levels more clearly separated and denser foam, the seat proved to be more comfortable in this first contact with the new Bros. We covered 170 kilometers, around São Luiz do Paraitinga, in the Vale do Paraíba region, on the border between the States of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. 

More control

Mixing two-way highways, dirt roads and urban stretches through the region’s cities, the route allowed us to notice other specific improvements in the new Bros. In addition to the more comfortable seat, the handlebars had their angle changed, as they are more “open”. This way, the driver has their hands less inclined and their elbows more open, improving control and steering on dirt roads. After all, Bros is the transport for millions of Brazilians who travel on our road network, which has 78.5% unpaved roads, according to a 2023 survey by the National Transport Confederation.

More open handlebars and new front suspension improved the Bros 2025’s handling on dirt roads

It also improved the Bros’ cycling system to cope with the poor surface of our roads. The more robust front suspension, with 33 mm tubes, in addition to giving the Bros a more “full-bodied” look, helped absorb impacts from holes and rocks on the side roads of Vale do Paraíba. At the rear, the monoshock balance was also recalibrated, according to Honda. 

Together with the new suspensions, the ABS system increased driver safety. The front axle doesn’t twist as much when braking hard and the ABS prevents wheel locking, at least at the front, as the rear doesn’t have the system.

Engine, an old acquaintance

The entire renewal of Bros for 2025 was motivated by the definitive entry into force of the fifth phase of Promot, the program that regulates emissions of pollutants and motorcycles and similar. Despite this, Honda did not make any changes to the model’s engine. “Only adjustments were made to the ECU and calibration. Internally, nothing has changed”, revealed Honda Motos Public Relations Supervisor, Luiz Gustavo Guereschi.

Performance has practically not changed, in practice, but the technical sheet shows less power and torque in the 2025 model

Mechanically, it remains a single cylinder, with a capacity of 162.7 cm³, simple overhead control (OHC), and air cooling. However, to meet the Promot 5, the engine lost some power and torque. In this way, the dual-fuel engine went from 14.5 hp to 14.2 hp, with gasoline. With ethanol, power dropped from 14.7 hp to 14.3 hp, in the same rev range, that is, 8,000 rpm. Maximum torque is 1.45 m.kgf with ethanol and 1.44 m.kgf with gasoline, at 5,500 rpm. In the previous generation, torque was 1.46 m.kgf, with gasoline, and 1.60 m.kgf, with ethanol.

Consumption: Bros runs more than 40 km/liter

In practice, however, there is little noticeable change in performance – I only noticed a certain slowness when accelerating between 4,000 and 5,000 revolutions. But the Bros does well in the city and the real final speed remained around 110 km/h, according to Honda and as I was able to attest in practice. The gearbox maintained the five gears, but the fifth gear was lengthened so that the engine works less “squeaky”. 

Although it has a utilitarian proposal, Bros 160 even takes on an off-road adventure

Although the performance is the same, the engine proved to be more economical than before. Despite Honda declaring 47 km/liter, I managed to drive 43.1 km/liter, according to the new dashboard’s onboard computer. Taking into account that we drove almost 40 kilometers on dirt and covered a lot of mountains with climbs and descents, the consumption was very good. With the 12-liter tank, the autonomy exceeds 500 km, in theory.   

More beautiful and expensive

In general, Honda Bros evolves in the 2025 model. In addition to becoming more beautiful with the renewed design, the changes have improved technical aspects, such as lighting, braking and suspensions. It is also worth highlighting the more complete panel, with gear indicator, and the USB input, on the front fairing. 

Bros 160 2025 now has three color options and two versions, with and without ABS

As a result, the price adjustment of up to 7% is justified, despite there being no mechanical change. The new Bros 160 is now in stores, with a three-year warranty, in three color options. The black one, exclusive to the version with CBS, the gray one, available only with ABS, and the red one, which can be purchased in both the version with combined brakes and anti-lock brakes. Prices range from R$20,490 (CBS) to R$21,390 (ABS).

Pros and Cons

+ More beautiful

In addition to more modern lines, the Bros 2025 features an LED headlight and taillight, as well as a new exhaust tip.

– Less powerful

To comply with emissions rules, Honda had to recalibrate the 160 cc dual-fuel engine, which lost power but became more economical. 

Technical sheet

Honda Bros 160 2025

Single cylinder engine, 162.7 cm³ 

Five-speed gearbox

Final chain drive

Power 14.2 hp at 8,000 rpm (gasoline) / 14.3 hp at 8,000 rpm (ethanol)

Torque 1.44 kgf.m at 5,500 rpm (gasoline) / 1.45 kgf.m at 5,000 rpm (ethanol)

Dry weight 125 kg

Suggested price from R$20,490

* The journalist traveled at the invitation of Honda Motos  

The post Honda Bros 2025: how the new generation of Brazil’s best-selling trail bike is doing appeared first on Estadão Mobility.

https://mobilidade.estadao.com.br/meios-de-transporte/honda-bros-2025-como-anda-a-nova-geracao-da-moto-trail-mais-vendida-do-brasil/
Author: Arthur Caldeira

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