The Wing Rider

Honda Unicorn - Grey


Ok Peoples, i m finally the proud owner of a Honda Machine. I will try hard not to let this post be a road test but cant help it.
Well, the last one, a Bajaj Caliber wasnt all that bad, and i used to pride myself on the antics i would perform on that bike, i couldnt well have imagined what all i can do with a bike WITH rectangular box swing arms. Alright, the bike is a dream to ride.


Hold on.... abhi aaya thodi der mein.
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Ok am back. and guess what the break was for, CNBC's the Auto show. And lo! they had a pulsar 150 and unicorn shoot out. And guess who won. Well, as much as i would have liked the unicorn to win, i guess neither Bajaj nor Honda had paid Hormazd and his team enough to rate their bikes better so they gave both of them a 4/5. And the dude said all my words. The bike is "understated, elegant and thrifty." "the Pulsar is all Juicy, Street Racer Bod". Well my dad was satisfied with the presenter seconding my decision as an "elite commuter bike".

And it is just that. A commuter bike which has grown.....mature. To an unnoticing eye, it may pass off as another 100 cc bike's upgrade. But on closer look, the bike is sufficiently large but doesnt look so from a distance, surprisingly though. The fuel tank is neat and the rider's legs fit snugly into the sides (mine do). It might not be a traffic stopper but unpleasant is not the word for its looks. It is like the guy in class who is always unassuming, gets above average marks but isnt really participative in class and goes about doing his work without making a fuss about it.

The Engine is makkhan! It is nothing like what indian bikes have seen so far. You just cant hear it purr at idling speeds. The self starter button is feather touch. The shop where i was getting the accessories fitted, the bike got its fair share of admirers, one of them being a pulsar owner who came up to me to congratulate me on my wise decision. He was all praise for the acceleration of the bike (?). He said he rode one and was impressed by its pickup. I was more than surprised, coz during the 100 kilometres i have driven it, the pickup hasnt really taken me by surprise and i was hard pressed to even compare it with other 150 ccs. May be it will be better after the engine has been suitably run in (500 kms maybe).

And tell you what! It goes round as if its on rails! Man, what confidence it gives me to throw it round the corners. It's crazy.

Ok, not all is so hunky dory with this package. One, the gearing is too short. It is like stretching the 4 gears of the caliber to make 'em 5. And the final gear ratio is short too, which i am sure will limit its top speed. And checked out Autocar and it vindicates me. The figures say, the top whack for Pulsar 150 is 119kms, and for Unicorn it is 111 km/h.

And the package, at 56K isnt really cheap. Check this, this is all what i am NOT getting in the honda which i would have with the Pulsar 150. 17", 6 spoke alloy wheels, Nitrox gas shock absorbers, a decent horn (yes the original horn was good for a 3 wheeler auto rickshaw, i had to get a pulsar horn fitted on it), how cheap can honda be, they haven't even fitted a leg-guard on the bike (and to talk of rider safety and helmets and all), well the trip meter is missing as well, and so are the metal weights on the handle bars.

But i am not complaining (i cant afford to, i have had to throw tantrums for this), the bike shall serve me well, i hope. And shall save my graces too, the next time i throw a challenge at a pulsar rider on the signal.



Hey, i have an interview with O&M tommoro! wish me luck.