Hey, its a very new bike, please stick to speed within 30-40kmph.
The bike switching off when riding exactly at 40kmph is unheard of, i suspect the carberroutor setting, get it show at SVC immediately so that you dont keep stalling on road, that will damage the transmission inside the engine.

Either one of the following issues.
1. Too Lean AFR.
2. Carb Breather tube disconnected.

Please set the idle RPM to 1500.

Congrats buddy. Feel the quality Don't worry. I have been through this. And now after 4500 Kms, the only thing that bothers me is the clutch setting. Hopefully will get this done.

This is the same thing my bike did to me when it was brand new. So a few tips from me. These tips were given to me by expert bikers at my work place. I have been using these tips and come very handy.

1) Turn the petrol cock to ON position and pull the choke lever.
2) Kick start the bike.
3) As your bike now runs rich in fuel, you might notice that the RPM levels are initially low. That is because you have just started the bike and the engine is not heated yet.
4) Do not put the choke back to the original position yet. Slowly you will see that the RPM is increasing. Wait for some time. Let the bike run rich with fuel for a minute or slightly more.
5) Finally you will see the RPM coming down even with the choke on. Now the bike engine has reached the optimum working temperature and now you can put the choke in the original position and enjoy the ride.

So why does this happen with you, that you feel that the petrol is not entering the engine. That's because to what you have mentioned i see that you do not warm your engine before you start your ride.

Engage the choke. Wait for a minute or 2. Touch the engine block and see if its warm, you are all set for a ride. 4 stroke engine have to be started this way by making them reach the optimum temperature.

Normally i warm up my engine even today for 4 to 5 minutes before i start my ride. That doesn't mean that i have my choke on for all this time. Its only the initial 2 minutes or so.

To give you an analogy, will you be able to run as soon as you wake up in the morning? Not really. The same goes fro an engine. When you warm up the engine sufficiently it is now all set to work.

Coming back to your second problem. "The gear shifting is not as smooth as I'd hoped it to be". Its a new gear box. Wait till 1st servicing.

"The bike seemed to suffocate a little in 2nd gear; felt as though it didn't have enough petrol to run on!" Try warming the engine and see what happens. This happened a lot with me and was very embarrassing when on 2nd gear the bike had complete loss of power and at signals other vehicles honking so that i can get out of their way. After the service center tuned/ cleaned my carb, now the power delivery is more linear. But i wouldn't suggest that you get any settings of your carb changed so early. Let us know if the problem persists.

"The head light on low beam seems to be pointing towards the butt of the pillion in front of me" That's a known issue i guess. All that service center has to do is adjust that light. I got it done for mine as well.

Ride normally. No speed limits. That's what Honda Says but remember no sudden acceleration and avoid very high RPM's initially.

Let us know if you have any more questions.

Thanks Shatur for the info.
Today morning, I did use the choke for a long time and when I cut the choke, the bike went off. Then again I used choke for some more time and again the bike switched off. I was third time lucky

And after this, I didn't feel that petrol-less-ness while on straight road but when getting on a flyover, it sort of came back to haunt me. The bike didn't seem to pull through @ 40kmph on 5th gear.. had to bring it down a gear to feel comfortable in the slope up.. (btw, is 40kmph @ 5th gear advisable?)

Also, in the evening after office hours, I kick started the bike (without choke)...the bike started off but the RPM meter was pointing to a little less than 1 somewhere between .5 and 1.. I'm somehow getting a feeling that its not right!
(btw is an rpm of 3 @ 40kmph the right combination?)

I'm no expert in bikes, but by it looks like the stock setting isn't perfect ... I mean too lean mixture like what Ashwin said. Now is it advisable to get the carb setting changed 100kms in the bike's life?

does it means that while using choke, the rpm will go high abt 4~5 then come bak to normal 1.5~2. then relese the choke liver?

but i usually relese the liver when it reaches ~4. but the engine works properly. its not safe,right?

5th gear is just to cruise. If you are @ the speeds of 60 and then go to 5th gear that's a different story. But at so low speeds being at the speeds of 40 is not a right thing.

Being on the right gear at the right time is equally important for a better fuel efficiency and also be in the power band. While i know your bike is relatively newer and your engine is not free. So you will experience coarseness when riding at high speeds.

Let me remind you, Honda says that do not accelerate suddenly and also avoid high RPM's. To what you have mentioned looks like you are shifting gears at very less RPM.

I don't want to interfere with the way you ride, as i know the pressure that you must be to complete the run in period, but try shifting gears at 4000 RPM.

When on the slope i am sure your bike must be around 2k to 2.5K RPM. How can you be comfortable. You have to downshift. Avoid unnecessary strain on the bike engine.

Coming back to another issue. Bike stalls when choke lever is pulled off. Start your bike in the morning normally. Let it idle for 3 minutes. After the engine is relatively warmer, look at the RPM its idling. If you closely look at your RPM meter you will see that every 1000 RPM is divided by 2. So when your engine is warmer after 3 to 5 minutes of idling, then set the RPM to 1400 RPM. Please check your user manual to find the idling screw. That means the RPM meter should cross 1000 K and then 2 lines after that. That makes it 1400. Manual suggest the same. 1400 [+- 100]. After that see if it makes a difference.

Remember to do it only when your engine is warmer and not when it is hot. Read the owners manual carefully as most of the things that i told you is all in the owners manual.

Lets not get the carb setting changed yet. I found my idling was set incorrectly when i got my unicorn.

Happy riding.

Ideally that is what happens. But do not worry. The reason you pull the choke lever is to run a rich mixture. Touch the block after 2 minutes of choke. If the engine is warmer then disengage the choke lever and start your ride.

Honda Unicorn upgrade in 2012

Just wanted to know if you all have any info/news about new Unicorn model coming out in 2012. will there be an upgrade in 2012 like digital speedometer etc.

Query bout Vibration

Hello fellow xbhpians ,
I am thinking of buying this beast but was taken back by hearing that it vibrate a lot at a speed of 80kmph. I just wanted to hear about this issue from fellows member ..Or any other remedy to this

Not true bro, I've gone 110km speed on 3/4th throttle and didn't experience any vibration to be concerned about.

may be it vibrates the least of any 150s' out there, leaving the R15

Thanks sinnerz2000 and mid . Actually i heard was that new CB unicorn vibrate at that speed and not older one. So any such problem face by any of you guys ??

but there isn't too much difference btw the two apart from the filter, aint it?

Mid, yes but heard a lot of complaint on some consumerforums about cb unicorn vibration...

^^^
Different people different tolerance levels. For some it way vibe, for the rest it wont, so let that discussion be. NOW, for the guys who've been feeling the vibes, keep riding at what speed you feel the bike vibe's the most, for a considerable while and eventually the vibes will go away. Notice at what RPM the bike does 80Kmph(Or the RPM where it vibes.) And rev till that specific RPM in every gear before up shifting and the vibes will go away in no time, I learnt this while doing my second run-in.