Earlier posted this review in Aviator page by mistake.
I thank all the mouthshut reviewers. I have made my decision based on your reviews. So it is the time for me to write my observations. I am going to write really big review, so please excuse me.
I have organized my review as
*1. Why Unicorn? what are the other choices I have considered?
My+Ve observations
My -Ve observations*
This is my first ever bike, done 11500 KM, 15 months old, Black with gray strips. Previously I had driving experience on my fathers LML vespa, and had hand on few of my friends bikes like passion and glamour. My top priorities while choosing a bike for me are reliability, mileage, long life.
So my obvious choices are in 125CC segment,
Shine >> Gladiator >> glamor.
I have ruled out all Bajaj and TVS bike and did not even had test drives from any one of them. Because they fail to deliver reliability, long life. Glamor is really good bike( looks are subjective, +ves are Reliable, Easy driving in city conditions, good enough mileage, smooth ride even at high speed just like Passion plus), In spite of good points, I did not like looks and the most important of all is, it’s engine sound( No feel of modern bike, even splendor or passion are better than this).
Gladiator ruled out because I don’t have enough resources telling it is reliable( Although many say it is good, but I could not dare seeing Yamaha’s previous products). Otherwise it has looks, performance, mileage, stability.
Shine: I took lot of time to rule this out. Because It is really good product except very few -Ves, But these -Ves are very serious. Vibrations at above 60 KMPH( based on reviews). Second -Ve is very thin rear Tyre, Lack of 5 th gear. Otherwise shine has decent looks( matches to my character, simple yet modern), it has refined engine at the same time reliable, decent mileage( subjective for an an 125 CC bike, explains you later). These -Ves made me to look for other options.
At this point of time I have two beautiful choices on either side of 125 CC.
First is Passion plus( with out electric start)
I have considered Passion plus because It has every thing what I wanted Except Power and torque. It is still a very good choice for the people because it is Reliable, good mileage, long life, comfort, easy to drive.
Power and torque is one thing we always want big numbers, but how much time we really use it at MAX?. For 99% of normal people(like me) driving happens to be in economy mode or one uses only 30-40% of the engine’s full power.
I need electric start as I had an injury for my right knee, I can not give very hard kick. Passion kick is very hard, at that time there is no option for electric start in passion. This is the only reason I have seen to rule out passion as my first bike.(later I have purchased a passion plus to my father).
second choice is Unicorn:
Then there was a serious thought in me " I have already landed in the world of 150 CC, then why should I restrict my self to Unicorn". So I have considered Hunk and CBZ Xtream also. Ruled out bajaj and TVS bikes as usual. At that time there were no Suzuki or Yamaha 150CC bikes in the market". CBZ xtream is already in a good number on the roads. I really like it’s look, Engine, lastly it is from Hero Honda so reliability not a problem. Then the point is mileage. Most of the reviews on CBZextream says, good handling, excellent comfort, good power, pickup but mileage varies from 45 to 55.
After finalizing on 150 CC I felt like 55 KMPL is decent mileage, and 50 KMPL is minimum to me. So to be on safer side I have ruled out CBZ extream only because of mileage.Hunk also ruled out on similar basis although I like it’s looks. In addition, it is very new to market that time. only 1 - 2 months old.But the details and care Hero honda shown in designing Hunk is excellent.
So finally I have booked Unicorn in Mar 2008 in silicon honda Bangalore. Got the bike after 10 days. Before I have purchased, I have desperately waited for an upgraded version of Unicorn as I am not happy with any of the colors available that time( Bad stickering job). But to my surprise After 3 months I purchased my Unicorn, there were next gen Unicorn. I felt very bad, because I have asked all the dealers and searched in Net, I did not get even a single clue. I have waited almost one year in choosing the bike, it is not hard for me to wait for another 3 months.
Any how I got one unicorn. Till now It clocked 11500 KM, completed all my 6 free services, Giving me an average between 58 to 60 KMPL, in Bangalore with Bharat petroleum normal petrol. My driving happens to be mostly in 30 -50 KMPH range, I do not accelerate very much except when some one irritates me in the traffic. I will come to 5 th gear just above 30KMPH.
The least Mileage I got is 51 KMPL when I dove it very harsh with doubles on Bangalore Mysore Highway, most of the time keeping the speeds above 60 and max 85. I have seen the true power and character of unicorn in that trip. It is really a gentle man bike below 50 KMPH, and all of a sudden when I twisted the accelerator further, it becomes very powerful above 50 KMPH . Sound it makes at that acceleration is amazing, And the confidence it gives at that speed is simply excellent.
I like the Engine sound of Unicorn very much. I wanted to drive this bike without helmet only to listen it’s engine, But not possible inside City limits.
Best mileage figure I got is 66 KMPL, That time I went for a solo, early morning drive, with very little traffic.
My opinion on performance of unicorn: I have very rarely drove my unicorn to it’s limits, I feel it has very good amount of torque and power reserved above 50 KMPH. it can definitely reach 0 to 60 KMPH in less than 5 sec if the rider is skilled.( I have not tested my driving skills:-)).
My observation:
Good Reliability, I did not get even a single problem from the engine.( But I had a different experience too, explain you later), good mileage, Refined engine etc. Mileage is definitely a very strong point for this kind of bike particularly when most of other 125 CC bikes struggle to give this numbers including Shine.
Handling and confidence is excellent( Initially when I bought I felt very difficult to drive this heavy bike in slow traffic and that too with doubles. Now I get used to it and I feel no difficulty in slow traffic or even when putting center stand) One will definitely feel these as negatives in test drives.Person should be more than 5’6" tall to feel comfortable on unicorn.You will not feel the weight once you sit on this bike.
Initially observed some cold start problems but now no more. Cont.
