It was a matter of touch n go...for all this while I had made up my mind to go for the bullish Pulsar DTSI 150 cc...then came the sudden news of a true blue bike from Honda and I thought, lets wait for some more time...still, I remained undecided, sometimes too confused... I wanted to make it right in the first shot this time around...... then bajaj simply dumped the old Pulsar, came up wid a mouth watering alloy version and I almost tilted in Bajaj’s favour..but one visit to the bajaj showroom was enough to make me look in other directions..you see the bells and jingles were not just improvements;they came for a price..a considerable 3-4k price increase...as I was really on a tight budget my heart sagged and I bid bajaj farewell...
That gave me more time to think about Honda and finally one fine January morning I booked my ’Honda’ !!I was not interested in a Electric start version so I booked a KStart.. I was told that it would take close to three months for delivery but I was ready for all the sacrifice...and I can proudly say that all my sacrifice didnt got to waste...the moment I took a test ride, I knew it was something very different from the usual set of indian wheels...no exaggeration but you truly need to ride the unicorn once to feel the levels of engine and gearbox refinement ...i came back home wid a smile on my face...i finally got the keys to a spanking new red unicorn on march 3rd’ 05 ..and rode off in an open stretch to get the feel of it...the engine as barely audible even in the 60s and I felt good!! Though its a matter of personal tastes but I feel that the unicorn looks the best in Red and silver....the black is the least interesting one as its looks too anonymous..
After a few days ride, it didnt cost me too much grey cells to figure out that I was getting a mileage of 55-57 kmpl...and I was truly satisfied...i am not a rash rider...those days have gone by....so a steady 50 in top gear is my way of attaining riding pleasure...and its in this front that you’ll really appreciate a Unicorn...i’ve had the bike for nearly 5 months now and I havent encountered a single false neutral...no sticking of gears nothing..simply great...my friends who have pulsar frequently nag about false neutrals and this is where honda really excels...the experience of a 100 years doesnt go to waste...and it shows...the refinement level is top class...it seems that even if you crank up the engine rpm beyond the 10000 rpm mark, it would still be unbreakable...
The build quality is great and it would seemingly outlast many other bikes on our roads... though I still have to take it on a highway ride for testing its unbreakability but..the signs are positive...!! These 5 months have been without any squeaks and it has been through all sorts of roads here in Pune.
Ride quality is on par wid pulsar and cbz despite thinner rear set ...though it would be better if it donned those thick rubbers from cbz....
the switch gear is karizma-spec and adequate...night riding has proved the lights to be ample....
After the 2nd and third service, the mileage has improved steadily and it gives close to 60 kmpl now..although it’ll depend heavily on your riding style but still you should get any where around 52-55 kmpl no matter how you ride it...
Also the paint gloss is intact and no signs of any rust has been seen even though its rainig steadily here in pune...
Cons
The only flaw that comes to mind is the horn...its a bit too weak for indian traffic....maybe the japs forgot that this bike was really on indian shores...!!
Also the breaks are on the weak side too...but that I was explained at the showroom as, ’’in keeping with the indian riding habit..!!’’ What do these guys think of indians...
The bike drew a lot of flak for its boring looks but I have no qualms on tht front..its perfect for me...maybe i’ve grown up!!I particularly like the rear lamp design which though karizma-ish but nevertheless complements the looks.
Verdict
Well, being an owner myself, i can safely recommend this bike to any and everyone out there in the market for a decent 150 cc bike...it meets all you r need of a perfect city rider cum highway stormer....provides great mileage for its cc.. and rides like a dream...most important is..it has taken the indian conditions very well and has proved to be very reliable indeed...Signs of a true blue Honda then?? Yeah...for sure...
Enjoy your ride...
Ohh... Mr.Editor, please do us a favour and make a separate category for Honda...it simply feels claustrophobic in here..!! We would like to keep our Hondas away from HEROes...!! ;)
Caayotee out.