I own a Honda CB Unicorn. Brought this bike on the third week of April 2010. I have driven 3900 Kms as on date and had 2 free services availed.
I had earlier experience with the HH Splendor, Bajaj Discover and the Honda Shine. But having in mind the power for a good pick up and the mileage in city limits, I preferred to go for a 150 CC bike. I too was crazy about the looks of the cutting edge stylish(silver colored was my favorite) Pulsar! Then I got a chance to test ride a new CBZ extreme and his friend’s Unicorn during a short trip to a place around 70 kms away from Chennai. The pickup and controls at high speed of the CBZ extreme was pretty convincing and made my mind to consider CBZ extreme. On the return journey I drove the Unicorn. That time I had really experienced the Honda smoothness and its characteristics overtake the other two bikes in my personal rating. I read all the reviews in the website about this bike and all reviews by the owners were convincing. It was the time I made up my mind to go with Unicorn.
I received my Silver CBUnicorn in within 16 days from the date of booking. Driving the CB unicorn or being a pillion rider is sure a smooth and a proud experience. My bike gave around 65 Kmpl on an average before the first service. The ride at 45 – 50 kmph will be silky smooth. I have driven this bike in the highways for around 450 Kms(with short breaks at regular interval) at a constant speed of 70 Kmph with a pillion rider and at around 75 - 80 kmph during return journey and the performance was really awesome. We do feel a kind of jarring in the handle bars in the 55 - 65 Kmph speed after which the bike again runs at an absolute ZERO VIBRATION, like gliding in the air! And at the same time the road grip offered by the brakes and bike weight is excellent. No worry of skidding even while braking from a speed of 75 Kmph to 25 kmph within 4 - 6 seconds with a pillion rider!
The mileage in the highways was at an average 60 Kmpl. In the city road conditions, it depends on how much you drive your vehicle in heavy traffic conditions. My bike gives around 55- 60 kmpl while driving in the Anna Salai from Tambaram to Parry’s corner in weekdays at an average speed of 50 Kmph. Some of my friends ridiculed me saying for this speed, even a 100 cc bike will fare well. But I had shown them what a Unicorn means!(One of those friends who was a massive 98Kg guy was the pillion rider that time and my bike showed the real power by Vrooooming past the signal leaving aside all other equal powered bikes…The power is at par with the most powerful bikes I believe. The same guy who was the pillion rider has booked a Black cb Unicorn recently!)
CB Unicorn doesn’t come equipped with all features better than the other counterparts. The Headlamps dims considerably at low speed. This is a problem for those who ride in lone areas and very bad roads because they will find difficult to ride in low light. I too had a bad experience when I had to drive in the manali – rettery road. Here we can’t drive the vehicle above 15 Kmph as the road is filled with pot holes and heavy lorry traffic. The travel became worse with poor illumination.
The Horn is another sub-standard outsource by the Honda. When I park my bike, I take great care in handling it, as the fiber / plastic parts of the bike is prone to breakage even by the slightest hits in the wall or by the adjacent vehicle. Honda has used cheap parts for reducing weight of the bike and increase their profit, I think. Even the accessories that the dealer provides are sub-standard!
I usually drive within 60Kmph and in due course of time the jarring effect has reduced much. I often make short trips with my friends in the weekends and I had made 2 trips to Pondicherry. My CB Unicorn is giving constant mileage of 60 Kmpl in the Highways and around 55 - 58 Kmpl in the city limits.
Some pros and cons of the bike:
Pros:
1. Riding Comfort(like a cruiser bike)
2. Easy control(though its quite a big and heavy bike)
3. Mileage(the best in its class)
4. Engine smoothness(real silky smooth)
5. Decent power and pickup(at par with the Pulsar and CBZ extreme)
Cons:
1. Headlamp & Horn(not powerful as the other competitors are providing)
2. Sub-standard body parts(low quality fiber / plastic covers)
3. Jarring of the handle bars at the speed range of 55 – 65 kmph speed range.
If you are a family man who is too particular of the economy, mileage, safety and smoothness, then go for this family bike**…
Some more tips I would like to give to all, irrespective of the make.
1. I would personally recommend not to drive this vehicle beyond 60 Kmph. (yea, it can be driven at a higher speeds in a good and free expressway).
2. Shift to higher gears after 3500 rpm in the present gear.
3. Don’t let anyone else drive your vehicle.(I find most others drive at the 4th gear without shifting for the 5th gear. Its a common mistake any one who has previous experience in >150cc bikes makes).
4. Dont inflate your tyres, particularly the rear one. maintain 35psi(25psi in the front) when you are riding single. if there is a pillion rider, fill more, say 37psi.
5. Use only unleaded Indian oil petrol(this is not for advertising, but from my personal experience) and avoid branded fuel.
6. Pls understand its a machine that depends on the way you handle it. Love your bike and take personal care. Drive it with a passion.
I assure your bike will give a considerably good mileage. Then you will see what a wonderful machine it is!