New Unicorn in the waiting

12th February 2008, 23:25

Hello guys,

With the competition in the motorcycle segment heating up day after day, is Honda planning to come out with an improved version of the Unicorn which sports

1. Digital Console

2. An LED tail lamp

3. An all new design

Please pool in your comments and enlighten on this issue.

manish7 · 13th February 2008, 12:36

I would be most interested if they do come up with these chnages, but knowing Honda - they are just too apathetic when it comes to bikes in India! :(

jkdas · 13th February 2008, 12:40

Old wine in another colorful bottle!

brianbandra · 13th February 2008, 12:57

what does "all - new design" mean exactly..
anyway heres some news on the new Yamaha:

Yamaha to launch two premium bikesSwaraj Baggonkar / Mumbai February 13, 2008Come June, Yamaha will launch two models in the premium segment to revive its business and image in India. The company will roll out two motorcycles in the 150cc class, a fast-growing segment dominated by Bajaj Auto, and price them higher than a Bajaj Pulsar 150 or a Hero Honda CBZ. Yamaha hopes to take on the competitors with the launch of R15 and FZ 150. Consumers will have to shell out 50-55 per cent more than a regular Pulsar 150, which is priced at Rs 60,000. The new motorcycles will carry a price tag of close to Rs 1 lakh. This will make the models the most expensive bikes in India, ahead of Eicher Motors-controlled Royal Enfield-makers of Bullets cruisers, Bajaj Pulsar 220 and Hero Honda Karizma, which are priced below Rs 90,000. “We are upbeat about the launch of the R15 and FZ 150, which will happen later this year. Price-wise it will come at a premium to any of the Bajaj or Hero Honda models....at close of Rs 1 lakh. We are confident that the two (models) will be a huge hit among youngsters,” a company source said.

manish7 · 13th February 2008, 14:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkdas

Old wine in another colorful bottle!

Nah...they are not even changing bottle!!!

revved_up · 13th February 2008, 14:20

@Priyank : Do you have a source for this?

TomRider · 13th February 2008, 14:29

There was a GP edition (not the existing one in orange and black) in the Auto Expo in Honda stall. But they have not specified any performance figure of it. One more was the race edition which is a true track bike with under seat exhaust. Both look good, but cant expect it in the production line soon, as Honda has not made any comment about the production of these models.

I presume that the NEW UNICORN is the imagination of the thread starter!

motorheadinc · 13th February 2008, 14:33

i would love to know more....
I believe the unicorn is an excellent bike but an improvement(definitely on the looks front) is always welcome.

It is high time they start taking Indian 2 wheeler market seriously

kkr2k2 · 13th February 2008, 14:49

Please give some reliable source. Hope they do something on the foot wear section also.

maddy42 · 13th February 2008, 14:49

Looks like one more sticker job. After all Hero Honda had a honda in it!

manish7 · 13th February 2008, 15:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by revved_up

@Priyank : Do you have a source for this?

I think the OP is just asking question....and not reporting any news as such!

Ajaybiz · 13th February 2008, 15:22

Is the one which they showed during Auto Expo in Delhi some concept sports with same 150 engine and big bikini fairing.
I am not waiting for that, will put the pics in some time for what i am waiting for and its not a new product

.But bench mark for all bikes specially in india.

phamilyman · 13th February 2008, 16:21

He is asking, not telling.

Short answer: Count chickens when they hatch, not when you need them to

rider60 · 13th February 2008, 17:05

AFAIK honda has a long way to go, they first need to beef up their service network, it took them three years just to launch the 150cc unicorn after the activa! they need to better the service stations and only then can they think of launching the better versions of the bike!

after all IMO their policy will not be like the bajaj to upgrade the bike every now and then, you see the service mechanics dont even know the changes made to the later versions!, and hence have ended in poor services to the bikes! the honda atleast would not want that to happen, and,

the other problem will the avaliability of the spares if they are going to do this then the parts become costly so they will not do such a thing i guess!
please do put in your thoughts!

VJ_MAVRICK · 13th February 2008, 17:11

I second rider60's comments with Honda servicing very well below par as i used to own a unicorn for some 2 years. They were very skeptical too in their launch of the upgraded unicorn with alloys and all. Certainly! covering the ground alone in indian mobike territory is a factor in their delays to launch new upgrades.

12th February 2008, 23:25	#1
priyank Posts: n/a	New Unicorn in the waiting Hello guys, With the competition in the motorcycle segment heating up day after day, is Honda planning to come out with an improved version of the Unicorn which sports 1. Digital Console 2. An LED tail lamp 3. An all new design Please pool in your comments and enlighten on this issue.
	() Thanks

13th February 2008, 12:36	#2
manish7 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 508 Thanked: 0 Times	I would be most interested if they do come up with these chnages, but knowing Honda - they are just too apathetic when it comes to bikes in India! :(
	() Thanks

13th February 2008, 12:40	#3
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	Old wine in another colorful bottle!
	() Thanks

13th February 2008, 12:57	#4
brianbandra BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: mumbai Posts: 57 Thanked: 0 Times	all-new design? what does "all - new design" mean exactly.. anyway heres some news on the new Yamaha: Yamaha to launch two premium bikesSwaraj Baggonkar / Mumbai February 13, 2008Come June, Yamaha will launch two models in the premium segment to revive its business and image in India. The company will roll out two motorcycles in the 150cc class, a fast-growing segment dominated by Bajaj Auto, and price them higher than a Bajaj Pulsar 150 or a Hero Honda CBZ. Yamaha hopes to take on the competitors with the launch of R15 and FZ 150. Consumers will have to shell out 50-55 per cent more than a regular Pulsar 150, which is priced at Rs 60,000. The new motorcycles will carry a price tag of close to Rs 1 lakh. This will make the models the most expensive bikes in India, ahead of Eicher Motors-controlled Royal Enfield-makers of Bullets cruisers, Bajaj Pulsar 220 and Hero Honda Karizma, which are priced below Rs 90,000. “We are upbeat about the launch of the R15 and FZ 150, which will happen later this year. Price-wise it will come at a premium to any of the Bajaj or Hero Honda models....at close of Rs 1 lakh. We are confident that the two (models) will be a huge hit among youngsters,” a company source said.
	() Thanks

13th February 2008, 14:20	#6
revved_up BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 802 Thanked: 791 Times View My Garage	@Priyank : Do you have a source for this?
	() Thanks

13th February 2008, 14:29	#7
TomRider BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: KL7-KA03-NYC Posts: 340 Thanked: 4 Times View My Garage	There was a GP edition (not the existing one in orange and black) in the Auto Expo in Honda stall. But they have not specified any performance figure of it. One more was the race edition which is a true track bike with under seat exhaust. Both look good, but cant expect it in the production line soon, as Honda has not made any comment about the production of these models. I presume that the NEW UNICORN is the imagination of the thread starter!
	() Thanks

13th February 2008, 14:33	#8
motorheadinc BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: University of Bath Posts: 297 Thanked: Once	i would love to know more.... I believe the unicorn is an excellent bike but an improvement(definitely on the looks front) is always welcome. It is high time they start taking Indian 2 wheeler market seriously Last edited by motorheadinc : 13th February 2008 at 14:34.
	() Thanks

13th February 2008, 14:49	#9
kkr2k2 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Melbourne, Hyd Posts: 1,294 Thanked: 66 Times View My Garage	Please give some reliable source. Hope they do something on the foot wear section also.
	() Thanks

13th February 2008, 14:49	#10
maddy42 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Coorg Posts: 2,131 Thanked: 1,328 Times View My Garage	Looks like one more sticker job. After all Hero Honda had a honda in it!
	() Thanks

13th February 2008, 15:22	#12
Ajaybiz BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,440 Thanked: 320 Times View My Garage	Is the one which they showed during Auto Expo in Delhi some concept sports with same 150 engine and big bikini fairing. I am not waiting for that, will put the pics in some time for what i am waiting for and its not a new product .But bench mark for all bikes specially in india.
	() Thanks

13th February 2008, 16:21	#13
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,968 Thanked: 4,641 Times	He is asking, not telling. Short answer: Count chickens when they hatch, not when you need them to
	() Thanks

13th February 2008, 17:05	#14
rider60 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bhagyanagaram. (A.K.A. Hyderabad) Posts: 1,620 Thanked: 56 Times View My Garage	AFAIK honda has a long way to go, they first need to beef up their service network, it took them three years just to launch the 150cc unicorn after the activa! they need to better the service stations and only then can they think of launching the better versions of the bike! after all IMO their policy will not be like the bajaj to upgrade the bike every now and then, you see the service mechanics dont even know the changes made to the later versions!, and hence have ended in poor services to the bikes! the honda atleast would not want that to happen, and, the other problem will the avaliability of the spares if they are going to do this then the parts become costly so they will not do such a thing i guess! please do put in your thoughts!
	() Thanks

13th February 2008, 17:11	#15
VJ_MAVRICK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,239 Thanked: 34 Times View My Garage	I second rider60's comments with Honda servicing very well below par as i used to own a unicorn for some 2 years. They were very skeptical too in their launch of the upgraded unicorn with alloys and all. Certainly! covering the ground alone in indian mobike territory is a factor in their delays to launch new upgrades.
	() Thanks