Alright, let’s settle this once and for all in the parking lot of every college canteen and office basement across India: when your budget is around ₹1.2–1.5 lakh ex-showroom and you want a bike that looks angry, rides hard, and still returns decent fuel figures, only two names keep popping up in 2025 — the freshly updated 2025 Yamaha FZ-S FI and the ever-popular Honda Hornet 2.0.
One is the OG street-naked king that just got a mid-life glow-up with Bluetooth and mild-hybrid tech. The other is the beefier, louder cousin that flexes an 184cc heart and Honda’s unbreakable reputation. I’ve spent the last month flipping between both bikes on Pune-Bengaluru highways and Mumbai traffic, so here’s the no-BS comparison straight from the saddle.
1. Looks That Kill (Literally Turn Heads at Signals)
Yamaha FZ-S FI 2025 Walk up to the new FZ-S and it instantly feels sharper than before. The bi-functional LED headlight with those fang-like DRLs, the sculpted tank extensions, and the new 3D “FZ” badges make it look properly menacing in matte black or the new Cyber Green shade. It’s lean, low-slung (790 mm seat), and screams “I’ll lane-split you into next week.”
Honda Hornet 2.0 The Hornet hits you with pure muscle wider tank shrouds, golden USD forks (yes, it still has them in 2025), and that chunky X-shaped LED tail light. It’s taller (798 mm), broader, and feels like it ate the FZ for breakfast. Matte Axis Grey or Pearl Siren Blue — both look premium, but the Hornet wins the intimidation game.
Verdict: FZ-S looks faster standing still. Hornet looks like it’ll beat you up and then ride away.
2. 2025 Yamaha FZ-S FI Engine & Real-World Punch
Yamaha FZ-S FI → 149cc, 12.4 PS, 13.3 Nm + mild hybrid assist (top variant) Super smooth, almost zero vibes till 90 kmph, and the hybrid system gives a tiny electric nudge when you crack the throttle from standstill perfect for traffic light GPs. Top-end feels flat after 100 kmph, but who rides a 150cc that hard daily?
Honda Hornet 2.0 → 184cc, 17.2 PS, 16.1 Nm This thing growls. Roll-on from 40–80 kmph in 5th gear is addictive it just pulls and pulls. You feel the extra weight and torque every single time you overtake a creaking bus. Vibes creep in above 7,000 rpm, but the power band is so wide you rarely need to downshift in the city.
Verdict: Want instant torque and highway confidence? Hornet. Want buttery refinement and stop-go magic? FZ-S.
3. Features 2025 Called, It Wants Its Gadgets Back
Yamaha FZ-S FI wins this round walking away
- Full-color TFT dash (on Deluxe variant)
- Bluetooth with turn-by-turn navigation, call/SMS alerts
- Traction control (yes, really)
- Y-Connect app shows riding logs, last parked location, malfunction alerts
- Side-stand engine cut-off + hazard switch
Honda Hornet 2.0 fights back with basics done right
- All-LED lighting
- Golden USD forks (still the only one in segment)
- Fully digital cluster (but no Bluetooth in 2025 come on Honda!)
- Engine kill switch + hazard lamps
If you’re under 30 and your phone is basically glued to your hand, the FZ-S feels like it was built by people who get you.
4. Mileage The Wallet Test
Real-world (my own tankful-to-tankful tests, Nov 2025):
- Yamaha FZ-S FI: 49–52 kmpl (city + highway mix, calm riding)
- Honda Hornet 2.0: 42–46 kmpl (same conditions, slightly aggressive style)
That’s roughly ₹400–500 saved per month if you ride 1,000 km. The hybrid assist on the FZ-S really works in traffic.
5. Ride & Handling The Butt-o-Meter Results
City (90% of your life) FZ-S is lighter, lower, and flickable. U-turns feel effortless, and the softer rear suspension eats potholes for breakfast.
Highway (weekend rides) Hornet feels planted at 100–110 kmph. The extra 5 PS and wider rear tyre (140-section vs FZ’s 130) give rock-solid stability when trucks try to push you around.
Braking: Both have single-channel ABS. Hornet’s golden USD forks give slightly better front-end feedback under hard braking.
6. Price & Ownership (Nov 2025, ex-showroom Delhi)
- Yamaha FZ-S FI → Standard: ₹1.24 Lakh → Deluxe (TFT + Bluetooth + TC): ₹1.33 Lakh
- Honda Hornet 2.0 → Single variant: ₹1.45–1.47 Lakh
That ₹12–20k difference buys you a good helmet + riding jacket combo with the Yamaha.
Service cost? Honda still edges out slightly cheaper (₹900–1,100 vs Yamaha ₹1,100–1,300 every 4,000 km), but the gap is shrinking.
Also Read… Honda Activa 6G Review 2025 Best Mileage, Features, Variants & Real-World
Final Verdict Which One Should You Buy?
Buy the 2025 Yamaha FZ-S FI if:
- You’re a city warrior who loves gadgets
- Fuel bills hurt your soul
- You want the latest tech without jumping to 200cc prices
- You’re 5’4″–5’9″ and want easy flat-footing
Buy the Honda Hornet 2.0 if:
- Raw performance is your drug
- You do frequent 200+ km weekend rides
- You trust only Honda’s legendary reliability with your eyes closed
- You don’t care about Bluetooth but want golden forks to flex at signals
Personally? I’d pick the Yamaha FZ-S FI Deluxe in Matte Black right now — because in daily Mumbai traffic, that hybrid kick + Bluetooth navigation is pure sorcery. But every time I twist the Hornet’s throttle hard, a little voice whispers, “Bro, 184cc though…”
Your turn which one are you booking this month? Drop your choice below and let the war begin!