[Rtech]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]It may be a good bike , but it will not appeal to the masses, if the FE is low

Hey Dipen,

I don't think the Honda would be as bad as that in the fuel consumption area. Honda are too smart a company and would have thought of all this. They have enough experience in India to understand what the majority of the consumers want.

Its very rare that Honda come out with a slow moving/bad product (infact, I can't think of any right now) so to think their soon to be launched bike will not do well is to undermine the world's best engineering company.

Rt

[dipen]

I agree with u Rtech, that Honda is sensible enough

But take the example of Karizma , (i know its Hero Honda)
it returns not more than 30 , while the 180 dtsi returns at least 40 with the performance being similar ,,,or should I say P180 takes the cake in a drag

[salil_kulkarni]

hey guys,
wrote to the honda guys a few days back to enquire about the new bike - unicorn.......just got there reply.....here it is.


Dear Mr. Kulkarni,

This has reference to your letter of the August 5th,2004 addressed at our
website.

We are extremely glad to note that you have liked the concept of our first
motorcycle and look forward to your buying it.

Though we appreciate your eagerness to know about the features, but since
the bike is yet to be launched formally we can tell you only key features.

This is a 150cc ,4 stroke motorcycle and is one rank up in all aspects than
existing models available in India. This model has international features
and standards and is manufactured by HMSI in India at its plant in Manesar
(Gurgaon).

We shall share more concrete dates of 2nd week of September. We request
you to please leave your Name , Address & Tel No so that we can communicate
about our launch plan model details and other desired information to you.




Regards,
Deepak Mutreja

Regional Incharge - Sales
sal16@hmsi-india.com
0124-2290911-19 Ext. 321 & 324

[dipen]

Honda unicorn


for more details visit http://www.bsmotoring.com/2004/aug20_1.htm

[Rtech]

Hye Dipen,

Nice find!! According to the BS report, it may have 17" wheels, though I really dont see the point in 17" rims on a 150 cc bike!

Also, it is rather dissapointing to see the convervative design. However, i guess we all expected just such a design from Honda. The rear end looks like it's off the Fazer actually and the front fairing looks straight off the CBZ.

However, gotto love that monoshock!! Just wish it had a more powerful engine to put it to real use!

Rt

[dipen]

I think the taillight is a staright lift up from the big brother Zma (noit quite sure)

this bike will do well only either coz of the Honda goodwill and only if it offers power with FE , as the Pulsars do.
And ya , the monoshock is really a great move.
Just waiting fo the prices !!
its got some really tough compitition from the pulsar twins

[Rtech]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]its got some really tough compitition from the pulsar twins

True, but being a Pulsar owner myself, Bajaj qulaity is just plain terrible and their service is worse. Personally, I will not buy another Bajaj product again, and I'm sure there are others out there like me who would rather buy a less powerful bike but one that is built to last.

Rt

[dipen]

Rtech , agree with u, I myself own a second hand pulsar 150 Es
Bajaj is low on quality compared to honda,

but bajaj gives better FE (considering Pulsar ) compared to the CBZ
bajaj parts are more cheaper than the hondas.this is important in this segment.

Also, resale value of the CBZ is much less compared to the pulsar ,
u get cbz's for the price of splendour's in bombay .
with reagards to pulsar , it has low resale only in the classic 180 model, as it had some problems.( gearbox, etc)

the Pulsar has literally killed the market once dominated by CBZ
whatever we say , the bottomline has to be the sales figures.
thats what important from the company's point of view.

R
Dipen

[dipen]

Also with so much aggression and newer models , ppl dont want long lasting bikes , take yr (Rtech)case as an example , u are selling yr bike which i just two years old.

I am planning to sell off mine ( 7 months since i bought mine) as soon i have enough money to buy another one

[salil_kulkarni]

hey....i agree with rtech and dipen about the pathetic service given by bajaj and the quality of parts. I myself own a 2nd hand Pulsar 150 ES and cant say that i am very happy with it. Im hanging onto the bike till i save up enough money, and sit and make a bike of my own. Cos none of the bikes in today market appeal to me at all. I thought the Unicorn would be good in terms of design, but its just bits and pieces copied off from other indian bikes from the segment. It would have been great if the bike was designed on the lines of the Honda CB 400 sold abroad. Its a shame Honda has messed up with their 1st step itself.

[Aditya]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (salil_kulkarni @ Aug. 22 2004,21:41)]its just bits and pieces copied off from other indian bikes from the segment. It would have been great if the bike was designed on the lines of the Honda CB 400 sold abroad.

I couldn't have put it better. I was really looking forward to a sporty looking machine from Honda. This just looks like any other bike. However, I'm sure this bike will ooze quality. Afterall, it's a Honda.

[dipen]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Aditya @ Aug. 23 2004,02:13)]However, I'm sure this bike will ooze quality. Afterall, it's a Honda.

there is no guarantee
its all wait and watch
the market is highly volatile.
even the KArizma is a Honda ( though with Hero colobration)

its not so high on quality , neither in the engine dept(knocking problem), nor in the fiber body quality.
Alloys are awesoime though.

the FE is pathetic.

[Rtech]

Well, Honda officially launched the Unicorn yesterday. They had none other than Moto GP star Alex Barros to do the honours! Although I must say it looked really funny seeing a 990cc GP racer sitting on a 150cc econobike!

Well, we all saw the spy shots, and unfortunatley not much has changed from then. The best features of the unicorn are the monoshock and the tail assembly. The bikini fairing in front looks like a copy of the Bajaj Wind 125 or something similar.

Prices are Rs.54,770/- on road Mumbai, which is right in the ballpark for this class.

Honda should have launched the bike with alloy's as OE. With Bajaj coming out with their Discover fully loaded with alloys, the Honda is really going to have its work cut out. It's not going to be as easy a ride in the motorcycle market like it was in the scooter market for Honda.

However, Honda being what it is, I'm sure the bike is just full of small details that you will only come to appreciate once you own and ride one for a while.

Here are the performance figures in comparision to "Model A" as Honda puts it, which is obviously the Pulsar 150.

Unicorn Pulsar 150
Max Speed (Kmph) 101 101

Acceleration (0-200m) (Sec) 12.1 12.3

Overtaking Acceleration for
200 m (at 40kmph) (Sec) 12.1 12.8

Acceleration (0-60 kmph) (Sec) 5 5.3

Mileage (in Indian Mode) (Kmpl) 60 55

Rt