Jan 29, 2008 01:11 PM
5432 Views
I Bought my Unicorn way back in October 2006 when I was still in college...I picked the bike up after some intense research as I did not want to go wrong with my first geared motor cycle..lol.! Any ways lets start this by saying that I do not have a single regret..! Its been a pleasure....one hell of a ride.! A quick over view...iM not going to throw any numbers or figures into this review as you guys can get that f rom any auto magazine worth its salt.! so its purely my opinion..based purely on my experience with my unicorn!
Lets start with the aesthetic aspects of things....to be frank the unicorn is not going to make women swoon...or make heads turn! Its not in your face 'Hot'....not even striking....however that does not mean its ugly..this bike was designed to look contemporary and it does just that. . .and at certain angles it even come across as sharp....that said..the bike is an average looking bike..its a good thing the latest version is blinged up!!.(must mention the paint is really good..glossy and hardly fades).
When it comes across to fuel economy....I've read some rather unbelievable figures on some reviews in this forum...! I stay in Bangalore..and Bangalore traffic is pretty insane(for those of you who din't know).. so my bike understandably returns a healthy 45kmpl...occasionally even drops to 42kmpl. This also seems to be the case with most honest Unicorn riders I've met....so for you guys who claim to be getting 65 and 70kmpl(shove it!!) anyways..im pretty cool with this...and even if the Unicorn is found wanting in this aspect....it more than makes up in other aspects!
The suspension has been a topic for a million debates...btw the mono shock on a 150 cc was a unique concept in India which Honda cleverly exploited in its marketing campaign for the Unicorn...however critics often point out that the ride is a tad too stiff and the mono shock is responsible....while there is some degree of truth in that...this is to let you guys know that I have ridden my bike hard...very hard on some crazy surfaces...and its only on a bumpy, rough suface that the mono shock actually comes in handy....it never bottoms out..and the swing action of the shock...keeps the rider pretty insulated from what lies beneath...heh heh heh(also the mono shock can be adjusted to suit your ride...namely soft, medium and hard)
A look at the engine of this bike.....the one thing that sets it apart from any other 150 cc on the road.....and I repeat any other 150cc(excluding the 'Achiever' and including the 'hunk'). Cause this engine is 'sublime'. The refinement levels are from another place.....some far, distant, mystical place....a whole new experience...! Ride it slow, ride it soft, ride it hard...there is no difference..it floats effortlessly along.....with a low , almost inaudible , throaty, metallic note...even when its nearing its 114kmph top speed..!!!! gets so silent , you can actually sneak up on somebody...i've actually tried it out..lol! The pick up is linear. . .deceptively quick.....and if your a good enough rider...you can have loads of fun(this one going out to all the pulsars ive rudely slashed past, nothing personal..he he he)! The handling is also brilliant.....this bike is flickable and stable at the same time and corners brilliantly....next time you see a unicorn weaving crazily through traffic at illegal speeds...dont blame the rider....(he's being ridden)!!!! Also the KBX disc brakes up front have a very powerful bite and they go a long way in instilling confidence in the rider! Must also mention that the unicorn has also
been voted as the most comfortable bike...riding 2 up!(BSM poll conducted Oct-Nov 07)
So there goes...my Unicorn is still rolling beautiful....Its been absolutely reliable...never missed a beat....despite the fact that I have'nt always treated her like a lady...(wink) An amazing engine, a brilliant package over all and its also easy on your pocket...roughly 2 years down the line and there s hardly any expenditure..negligible wear and tear translates into no wastage on costly replacements! I'd recommend this as a smart buy to anybody whose smart enough.....for the rest there will always be Pulsars..pffrt!!!
P:S All you guys out here in Bangalore complaining about bad service....I empathize....a lil piece of advice...go to the Silicon Honda service centre on RV Road....meet Mr Shyam Sundar-the Manager (and a bloody genius) wiil surely sort your problem out! Happy Riding!
