Unicorn.... minute details. Review on Honda Unicorn 150 cc

UnicornThe First offering by HMSI is a very good technical machine compared to its rivals ....(Pulsar DTSI mainly)....Hope more and more refinement on this machine from Honda in the future with the add on features like electric start...(Though I think guys should have no problem in kick starting their bikes. as against gals............)

I test drove the vehicle on its launch in Pune ( the Mecca of Bike riders and Pulsars HomeTown)..I was impressed by the vehicles performance...U can feel smoothness of The suspension on speed brakers..The firing was very smooth and very silent compared to others...The braking was impressive...Though I was not able to reach speed of 60kph in 5 seconds as claimed by Honda( I m not an expert tester), I loved the way bike zoomed...

The good part is that it has the same DTSI technology from Honda compared to DTSI in pulsar by Bajaj...The carburrator is CV type (butterfly valve) which helps to minimize the petrol intake during signal stoppings ie when throttle is closed..Hence good mileage..The engine was knock free in very low gears as well as in high gears...The cylinder has side recess for effective cooling..Also horn is not so loud....

Now the very imp part of the Looks...The bike has not so great looks but sure they are not so ordinary also...I think Honda has learnt the lesson from YAMAHA India abt the looks( Remember the old Libero LX curved dome shaped head light and new YAMAHA Fazer..with Insect like head lamp)...

They have played safe and tried to maintain the cost to minimum by not doing so much in the looks department...The switch gear quality is not impressive..u can feel the plastic quality..also entire switch gear could have been fitted into left side..now the light on off switch rests on right side...The Headlight (Wind 115 like and many other bajajs now have similar) is equipped with a halogen bulb...same as Pulsar..

The dials are really good with different carvings and looks really cool...but no separate indicator light for left and right ...The handle bars present on Pulsar and CBZ are missing...The tank if u see from far or close (Appearances can be deceptive) looks like more than 15 ltrs..but can held only 13 ltrs with 1.2ltrs as reserve capacity....The overall finishing (Paint quality, the finishing, attention to details)is ok ( U must see the paint quality and other details on libero and fazer by Yamaha...they r too good) ...

I actually was shocked to see on one engine part directly exposed u can see the welding, looking like some thing is soldered with solder metal...the petrol knob (copied from Libero... gas knob like) quality feels cheap...The fibre part used for middle panel (CBZ like) could have been designed in a better way.. u see gap between tank edge and panel and keep on wondering why it doesnt cover the tank edge portion completely(A child will notice it)...The grips I felt were too small ....The mirrors are simple and effective...The break lacks break cap..the nut gets exposed and looks cheap...

The seat cushion is good and good part is u can detach seat on a lock ( U can keep ur bike papers license etc under seat) Battery. ..fuse all gose under seat....The foot resters are good....The silencer looks really good and class...The bike I must mention has the best REAR LOOKS in all existing bikes..The rear lamp( KArizma like), fibre mud flap and tyre width integrates so well with each other that u can say its one of the best integration.

Only Rear tyre is tuff up( liquid between tube and tyre that seals puncture for good amount of time)The front one is zapper ( Thread style diagonally slanted thread, now found on most bikes in India). The rear tyre width is kept to minimum to lower the traction and increase mileage..So Honda have tried to keep the cost to its minimum by not investing so much on outer looks....But the bike as a whole looks impressive...The cons I mentioned above are minute details...and not visible from a distance...so dont worry..................

The pillion rider position is very comfortable( against pulsar, libero)... The bike's height, wheelbase , weight , ground clearance have been carefully noticed..and are impressive in its class...The total metallic body to fibre ratio is good to keep weight lower...The riding position , posture is good....Mileage I guess will be above 50...The Honda is planning to deliver around 60 bikes per month per dealer so waiting perios is going to be very high...

The bike is very good with its technical marvel . I have booked it...Once Honda will position themself in Indian Bike market they will hike the price of their other models and also pay attention to the LOOKS department...

One last Thing .............Do U know Suzuki is also planning to launch their models from around may 2005.????.........Wanna Wait ?????