Best choice for most travelers
| Verdict | Choice |
|---|---|
| Solo city riding | Click 160 |
| All-day riding or two-up | PCX 160 |
Specifications
| Spec | Honda Click 160 | Honda PCX 160 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 156.93cc, liquid-cooled, eSP+ | 156.93cc, liquid-cooled, eSP+ |
| Power | 11.3 kW (15.1 hp) @ 8,500 rpm | 11.8 kW (15.8 hp) @ 8,500 rpm |
| Torque | 13.8 Nm @ 7,000 rpm | 14.7–15 Nm @ 6,500 rpm |
| Kerb weight | 116–118 kg | 132 kg |
| Seat height | 778mm | 764mm |
| Fuel tank | 5.5L | 8.1L |
| Under-seat storage | 18L | 30L (U-Box) |
| Front brake | Disc | Disc |
| Rear brake | Drum (CBS) / Disc (ABS) | Disc (ABS) / Drum (standard Thai market) |
| Traction control | None | HSTC |
| ABS | Optional (single-channel) | Single-channel (front only) |
| Keyless ignition | Yes | Yes |
| USB | USB-A | USB-C |
| Rental/day (Chiang Mai) | ฿350–฿500 | ฿400–฿600 |
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Honda Click 160 | Honda PCX 160 |
|---|---|---|
| City nimble feel | Sharper, lighter, narrower bars | More planted, slightly wider |
| All-day comfort | Sporty — stiff rear suspension | Comfortable seat, soft suspension |
| Two-up riding | Limited — smaller seat, single rear shock | Best in class — stable under load |
| Hill riding (solo) | Good — handles Doi Suthep solo | Excellent — more torque |
| Hill riding (two-up) | Struggles under load | Comfortable for both |
| Storage | 18L — fits one half-helmet or small bag | 30L — fits two standard helmets |
| Wet road confidence | CBS drum unsafe on wet mountain runs | ABS front helps; HSTC cuts wheelspin |
| Beginner feel | Easier at low speed (lighter, narrower) | More stable at speed but heavier |
| Parking in tight spots | Easier — smaller footprint | Slightly larger footprint |
What the bikes actually feel like on the road
Click 160 — on Chiang Mai roads
At walking pace in Nimman grid traffic, the Click 160 feels immediately familiar. The flat floorboard means you can put both feet on the pegs at a red light without a center tunnel blocking your position. The handlebars are narrower than the PCX — threading through a gap between a songthaew and a parked pickup on Huay Kaew Road feels natural rather than anxious.
The throttle response is clean and predictable. eSP+ low-friction tech means the start from standstill is smooth — no jerk, no snatch. At 30–50 km/h in city traffic the Click feels lighter than its 116 kg implies. The suspension is firm but not harsh at city speeds — on the patched drain covers that litter outer ring roads the single rear shock transmits some jolt, but it’s not uncomfortable.
On the climb to Doi Suthep solo, the Click 160 never looks breathless. The 13.8 Nm torque is sufficient for the grades in third gear without hunting for the power band. Under two-up the bike noticeably loses composure on steeper sections — the rear compresses and the front lifts slightly on grades above 10%. In the wet, the CBS rear drum is the weak point: on the descent from Doi Suthep in light rain, you feel the rear wheel wanting to track slightly longer than you asked it to. Budget for ABS if you ride wet often.
PCX 160 — on Chiang Mai roads
The PCX 160 sits more heavily at rest. At 132 kg it feels substantial — not heavy, but planted in a way the Click doesn’t. At a traffic light in moat traffic the first thing you notice is the center tunnel: your foot can’t rest flat between your knees the way it can on a Click. This is a real-world ergonomic consequence worth testing at the rental shop before you commit.
The wider body and slightly taller handlebars make the PCX feel broader in a traffic gap. For a first-time rider in Chiang Mai traffic this can feel slightly intimidating — the Click is easier to thread. But at 50+ km/h on the outer ring road the PCX’s composure is a clear advantage: it doesn’t weave or feel nervous on imperfect surfaces the way a lighter bike does.
The soft suspension is the PCX’s defining ride quality. On the broken tarmac of Route 121 (the Mae Rim road), the PCX’s front forks absorb the surface variation that would have the Click’s rider bracing at each pothole. At 80 km/h on the flat run to Hang Dong the PCX feels stable and relaxed. The HSTC traction control is invisible in normal riding — but on a damp Samoeng hairpin, you feel it cut in smoothly rather than abruptly.
The 30L under-seat storage changes the bike’s character. With two helmets in the well, the PCX’s weight distribution sits lower and more planted than the Click under load. For a full day of riding that includes multiple stops, this matters.
Source: Honda Click 160 2-year owner review, ASEAN Now (2024); Facebook group “Foreign Riders Thailand” (2025); Autotul PCX160 urban review (2023).
The real difference
The Click 160 and PCX 160 share the same 157cc engine and eSP+ technology platform. The engine output is nearly identical. What differs is how the chassis serves different riding days.
Click 160 is sportier. At 116–118 kg it’s roughly 15 kg lighter than the PCX, which makes it feel more responsive in slow Chiang Mai traffic and easier to thread through gaps that would leave a heavier bike stuck behind a songthaew. The trade-off is minimal under-seat storage — 18L fits a standard Thai half-helmet, not a full-face. The single rear shock is stiff: fine for solo city riding, but you and your passenger will feel every pothole patch on longer rides. For wet mountain riding, the CBS variant (rear drum) is not ideal — the ABS version with disc rear is worth seeking out.
PCX 160 is the comfortable tourer. The wider body accommodates a 30L U-Box that genuinely fits two standard helmets — useful for a full day of riding. The seat is wider, the suspension is softer, and the HSTC traction control helps on damp mountain roads. At 132 kg it feels planted at highway speed. The fuel tank is 8.1L versus the Click’s 5.5L — real range is ~360 km versus ~200 km. For any ride that leaves the Old City or Nimman grid, PCX is the more comfortable and practical choice — the 30L storage and soft suspension justify the extra ฿100/day for anyone carrying gear, riding two-up, or spending more than two hours in the saddle.
Neither bike is the right tool for serious mountain touring. For that, look at the ADV 160 or NMAX.
Rental notes
- Click 160: ฿350–฿500/day at BudgetCatcher (CBS from ฿350; ABS from ฿400), ฿500/day at Riders Corner
- PCX 160: ฿400–฿600/day across Chiang Mai rental shops; CityGlide and Big Dog list ABS at ฿600/day for 2025/2026
- Deposit typically 3,000 THB for both bikes
- Both require a standard driving license; IDP recommended
- Shops carrying both: Cat Motors, Mango, Bikago, Big Dog, Zippy, POP Big Bike
"Both are 160cc class city scooters with similar real-world performance. The Click 160 has a flatter floorboard feel; the PCX has a more enclosed front."
By Kai Mercer · Updated April 26, 2026