I am writing this after coming home and taking a hot water bath as I was fully drenched in the relentless Bangalore rains this year, all the way I was on my trusted steed The Honda Unicorn crossing hundreds of slush covered potholes and steep suspension damaging speed breakers!
Well I might sound a like a Pro Honda Unicorn person, but truly even though in the market you have bikes like Apache RTR, Pulsar Digital speedo, 150, 180, 200, CBZ Extreme I still stand by the Unicorn if you
wanna know why then read on:-
It’s been 6000 Kms(My current odo reading) of pure exhilaration till date. Let me tell you how I went about riding home the unicorn. I have been using the Bajaj CT100 for about 2 years now. Although I have great
respect for this little machine.but then it is a city bike I would not dare taking it out for Long rides due to sheer boredom of riding it at high speeds. Ever since the unicorn was launched I wanted to buy it
.but then the funds weren’t available at that time and also when I did have the funds there was this new of the new sports version which was supposed to be launched so I waited and waited and of course all along
the way came the other beauties like: Pulsar with digital Speedo, CBZ extreme( which I almost wanted to buy but declined due to the front fairing and clumsy & unfriendly hero Honda dealerships near my area) I
test rode them all and I remember asking the opinion of my female colleagues also "Pulsar" came the answer! Then I said do women really understand machines? Or they just go by the looks? Anyway I decided to give a good thought to pulsar once again. Here comes the day of booking
with 1000 bucks in my wallet I go to the Bajaj dealership near my area and ask for a test ride, even the 180s were available at this dealership now(it wasn’t the case before) so I decide to take the 180 for a spin,
I mount it and a hunch to much to the front to grab the handles .Hmmmm I say to myself sporty eh!(The question in my mind "is this good for long rides?") The engine cranks with a heavy noisy starter motor and
the engines makes that rough bajajish growl which I have known for more than 6 to 7 years as I had a caliber and then a CT 100 go out on a spin & try ripping it at all gears "clink clank goes the gear changes,
nothing excites me much, end of the ride I thank the sales man, he asks whether we go-ahead with the booking and I say "let me get back to you" then I go to the Honda dealership, the test ride bike is a Red
Honda unicorn sports the I fire up the engine then I notices there is hardly any sound of the starter motor the engine just fired up in a snap! I just open the throttle a bit to feel the engine Vroooomm! I
could see this is a free revving pot that they have got here. The RPM climbs to 4K to 5 K effortlessly. Now engage first gear and of we go.comfortable wide seat legs hugging the tank you feel totally in
control around the corners gear changes are like cutting through butter no false neutrals whatsoever. You hardly feel the engine vibrations at any RPM range whatsoever. I go ahead and book it. Please keep in mind
before this day I had also ridden APACE RTR 160 and I would not like to write anything on as I have already said enough on the pulsar already and this is a HONDA UNICORN REVIEW for god’s sake!
Now coming down to the ownership experience: -
Mileage: After the running in period the Mileage average is: 50kmpl
Longs Rides: I had been to a 1 day Mysore tour to test its limits and
the top speed I could achieve is 120Kmph on a lower incline of course.
In straight line plain road without inclinations the max speed I could
touch in 110Kmph but it could not beat a CBZ extreme which has the
same engine but differently tuned whichderives better top end from the engine( but I wonder at what cost?) I would like totell you how it feels when you are riding at 90Kmph and touching 100Kmph, Imagine a cat purring at your feet cause it likes you? It’s
the same feeling!
Engine and gearbox: - I would like to say what I look for in a bike is
the ENGINE & GEARBOX. That’s the main part which gets you around not
the digital Speedo or the backlit switchgear. Now why do you think that
the ugly looking Yamaha RX100 and its likes became famous? I can say one
thing: Honda is the largest engine-maker in the world. Well even
wikipedia says that and I am completely satisfied with this.
Monosuspension: Well the kind of control you get due to this chassis
suspension setup is unmatched especially around corner it gives you
excellent feedback in order for you to control it in adverse situations.
This setup also helps in sudden braking and that too in a straight line
and spot on road grip and control. These my dear friends are situations
where life is at stake, so this gives you a sense of security and peace
of mind.
Looks & Appeal: -I have no complaints of the new Sports look either it’s a
"decent looker" I am more than happy and satisfied with its performance
and I don’t mind even if I my bike is not a chick magnet etc but it’s a
decent looker. The sound out of the silence is a little miffled but the
Air induction sound you get from the airfilter below you seat gives you a racy feel.
The airfilter intake is very astetically designed just like that of a cars.
Just imagine the sound when you fit a K&N performance airfilter the?
Cons: - Well I usually cruse at 80-90Kmph so I am always in a look for a
6th cog( or a Overdrive) not that the engine is rough at these speeds
it is smooth as ever but one would save a lot of fuel at these speeds
with a lower RPM.( engine speed)
The drive chain keeps getting loose quite often will have to get it
checked at the Honda service once.