Honda CB Unicorn 150

Honda has followed a very simple approach with the CB Unicorn 150. The motorcycle, in its current generation, looks exactly as the one which debuted with minor changes back in 2008, which means that it has not seen much of change in almost last ten years. This is a good as well as bad thing, explained well in content below.

The CB Unicorn 150 has got a very simple looking face, with a dash of chrome separating the front visor and the minimalist headlamp, all of which are enclosed in a smartly styled bikini fairing. The front fender is devoid of any drama, and has no characteristic lines, just like a basic 100cc motorcycle.

The front face has seen a slight change during the entire life of this motorcycle, but the same can’t be said about the side profile. The large-in-size fuel tank, side body panels as well as the tail section are completely the same as the very first generation motorcycle, save for the fact that they are now devoid of any snazzy body decals, which gives a sort of soberness to it. The side body cowls come with a tooth-shaped chrome bits on both the sides, thus adding some character and premium appeal to the otherwise bland side profile. The long tail section ends up in a large pointy tail lamp, with the body colored single piece pillion grab rail being the only change here.

Continuing the sense of familiarity, the new CB Unicorn 150 still comes with the same drab looking three-pod analog instrument console as before. At the times when even the lower-priced 110-125cc motorcycles are getting part-digital instrument console, the CB Unicorn 150 sticks to its old roots here, with the unit, nevertheless being an informative one with a centrally placed speedometer with odometer and trip meter, along with tachometer on one side and fuel gauge to the other. The switchgear too is same as before, which means that it looks cheap and misses out on engine kill switch – a common feature now on every 150cc or above motorcycles. This time around, the only change which looks significant is the new set of rear view mirrors, which are the same units as seen on all new generation Honda commuters.

In short words, the overall design of the CB Unicorn 150 is unchanged and looks sober to the core, but at the same time, it hasn’t got a single modern cosmetic feature, which makes the bike look tad too dated in the face of competition.

The Honda CB Unicorn was the first motorcycle in the Indian market to feature a mono-shock at the rear, something which it has retained even in this new guise as well, along with simple hydraulic telescopic forks at the front. This makes the CB Unicorn the most affordable motorcycle in India to feature a rear mono-shock.

In terms of brakes, the CB Unicorn gets the industry-standard 240mm disc brake at the front and a 130mm drum brake at the rear. It, though, misses out on the Combi-Braking System (CBS) which is available in other premium 160cc Hondas, in order to keep costs in check.

Honda CB Unicorn 150 comes as a reliable commuter which is well-engineered to understand Indian road conditions and meet Indian safety standards. The bike offers a stable ride quality inferable from the front hydraulic forks and rear monoshock unit. With this, the front 240 mm disc in assistance with rear 130 mm drum brake offer reliable and prompt braking. Added as a mandatory feature is the Auto Headlamp ON (AHO) unit, under which the headlamp unit remains in an auto ON mode for better road visibility.