Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

True, Hero achiever is a sort of a 150cc super splendor.

- Apache RTR 160 is also a VFM, in fact better than Pulsar 150 in many departments, very ideal considering your height and weight requirements.
Will not be as comfortable as Unicorn but will be better than Pulsar 150 definitely.

- On paper and online reviews are completely tangential to your own experience.
Somehow, manage to take a test ride of all the vehicles you consider before you buy ,which in itself is a big task as most dealers don't offer Test rides.

If you still are bent on any of Honda/Suzuki/Yamaha, then I guess you yourself have shortlisted on the Unicorn 160.

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

I agree.
I did consider Apache RTR very seriously as it gave me a perfect balance of low seat height, good pillion comfort and amazing looks.
I could also have dealt with it's heavy weight for all the pro's it offered except for one major flaw - the vibrations. Almost every online review that I read/watched mentioned that the bike contains vibes at various RPMs. This was the deal breaker for a guy who rides sane and is looking for a comfortable commuter.

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

You will regret downgrading from a 125cc! Stick to the 150cc league. After owning a locomotive (yes that's what super splendor is), no bike in its or lower classes can give you the same torque. I thought of mentioning to go for Hero product but you had mentioned only the three Japanese brands. Go for the Xtreme/Hulk if you choose Hero. No-nonsense bike. Yes it weighs more compares to competition hence more stable. The rear seat is good enough although a little high. Don't expect more than 45kmpl. Gives you peace of mind when it comes to service.

I would suggest you to stay away from Pulsar 150! Despite claims of the bike being more refined now and what not, the bike is far behind when it comes to refinement and longevity of parts compared to competition. And the bike is front heavy too. A little hard to steer at slow speeds. However you could consider Pulsar 150 AS though.

As for TVS Apache, apart from the sucky TVS tyres and vibes, the bike is ok. A little cramped for two people though. Handles nicely. Fuel efficiency same league as other 150's. TVS service is decent.

Honda Hornet looks like a beefed up version of the Unicorn 160. Same mechanicals, fatter tyres and sharper edges. Looks like it is targeted at the college goers. Unicorn 160 is definitely more VFM priced almost 8k lesser. I think it is going to be the Uni for you finally.

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

Won't GS150R be bit taller for him (5'3")?

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

That's correct. I missed that piece of info. GS is one of the tallest 150cc's. Bikes like FZ and Gixxer would be suiting him more.

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

Thanks for all your valuable suggestions. And thanks to technology for making it all possible.

Most probably, it is going to be the Unicorn 160 for me. I intend to buy it during the Diwali week (or before if I can bargain a good offer) as I might get a few offers then.

However, till now I haven't really considered the Hero option. Can anyone suggest me between Hunk/Xtreme/Xtreme Sports ? And how it would be a better option than the Unicorn 160 ?

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

Congrats on the selection! Keep us updated!

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !


- Hunk/Xtreme/Xtreme Sports may be a bit tall for your liking, but do visit the showroom just to confirm. Otherwise, Hunk offers good pillio comfort compared to its siblings.
You might not be interested in Achiever due to dated styling but for practicality the bike scores 100 marks, it is the closest to 1st gen unicorn in all fronts except the lack of mono-suspension.

I suggest take a TR of Apache RTR 180, a tad refined than RTR 160. I feel there is a very amplified talk on the vibes in Apache RTR. If it was really unbearable or uncomfortable then it(RTR160) would not have been next to pulsar 150 in sales charts. Also, you had expressed interest in RTR 180 Abs in an other thread.

And Finally, you have the Unicorn 160.

But do take a Test Ride before you conclude on any bike, better be safe than regret after purchasing.

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

Yes, that's exactly what I feel every time I see an Apache on the road (which is very frequent) - that if Apache really has that many vibes, how can it still be so popular ?
Luckily, the Honda and the TVS showrooms are just next to each other in Marathahalli, Bangalore. So probably I can get a test ride on both whenever I get to visit the showroom (Hopefully today).

Any Apache 180 owners please do share your feedback on the vibrations part.

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

I am also in same dilemma now. What bike to choose?. Unicorn 160 CBS is 92.xxINR, Apache 180 abs is 99.xxINR. What is get in apache is decent power , dual channel abs matte blue color. I test drove the bike yesterday, perfect time as it rained yesterday in chennai. ABS works beautifully

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

Ive ridden my friends apache quite a while now, and I would definitely recommend it for overall riding experience, didn't notice any problems with it as such. His is the white ABS model.
Regarding the vibrations, yeah it does vibrate to an extent, but its definitely manageable, not anything like the huge fuss made out of it. The vibrations only become major when you ride at a high rpm at a lower gear(mainly felt around footpads as a tingling sensation), like when I took it at 90 on 3rd gear or such. You'll definitely get used to it, I never had an issue with it I wouldn't worry about the vibrations.
PS Just for your info, Ive only ridden an Apache thoroughly, an FZ a few times(which is little smoother, no doubt), and a Duke 390 twice,so I cannot really say about it compared to any of the other bikes you're looking at, but I really enjoy riding it.

Another point, you mentioned you're 5'3", I'm 5'5", and i can almost flatfoot it. I'd suggest that you wear shoes with a bigger sole, it might make a half or one inch difference, which might not sound like a lot but makes a world of difference. Also the main issue you'll have with height is in heavy stop and go traffic, I've dropped it once in that scenario, coz apache is a little on the heavier side, and if you lose balance it might topple over. Just practice riding- starting and stopping with one foot. But that was the second time I rode it, and now after riding it for a while I have no problems absolutely, so don't worry about the height aspect, you'll feel intimidated initially but you definitely will get used to it, don't worry abut that part
Thats the reason I'm going for an RC, despite being only tippy toes on it

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

Once you get used to Honda/Suzuki/Yamaha refinement, the vibes on a Apache or even Pulsar for that matter can be felt prominently. But I would say, that shouldn't be a problem for your riding conditions. The apache vibes are really bad after midrange. If you are hardly going to speed beyond 80kmph, you shouldn't have any worries. But again, don't expect any of the bikes mentioned to you to have the comfort of riding a commuter like super splendor. Maybe Unicorn 160 can come close. Its like how my mom and sis keep telling me how the pillion seat was more comfortable on my KB100 compared to my Karizma. Especially Apache, which is a short wheelbase motorcycle, feels cramped with two up. But I could be wrong too since it depends on the stature of the people on it. As for the reason why it is sold so much. It is VFM. Our janata will always see a more powerful engine at low price as VFM. Which obviously means that other things get lower priority. Of course the bike has explosive performance but the ride quality is compromised. Also like I said when riding inside city, the vibes don't show up much. On the other hand for a person who loves cruising at high speeds, Apache makes less sense. Not to say that a lot of bikers don't tour on them. But there is some compromise somewhere. However, the updated versions seem to have lesser vibes compared to the older ones. I have not ridden the newer one so don't take my word for it. I took a 20km ride on a well maintained older Apache 180 once, and boy was it irritating to ride beyond 80kmph! The vibes were terrible. Don't mistake me for advising you against apache. I am letting you know what you might have to expect. (Apache owners please don't pounce on me!) Better take a test ride with your better half as pillion. But I would say Unicorn 160 is the better bet for your case. Its a proper commuter unlike Apache which is a mix of sportiness and city bike.

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

Finally took a test ride (although a very short one) of the Unicorn 160 and it was a pleasant experience.
The bike felt very punchy and the light weight was certainly an added advantage. Even my wife found the pillion seat comfortable to sit on.
I didn't really feel the need to test drive the Apache after this.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I have finalized the Unicorn 160 and your opinions did help me a lot.
Now, I still have a few more queries (highly subjective ones) related to the bike.

1. Is it worth spending 6k extra for the CBS if one is mostly going to ride within the city ?
2. Which colour do you find the most attractive ? (I liked the White one but it's not available in any of the showrooms).
3. Which of the following accessories (provided by Honda itself) do you think are worth spending money on ?

Extended Warranty - 3 years (Rs. 660)
Road Side Assistance - 1 year (Rs. 299)
Body Cover (Rs. 430)
Teflon Coating (Rs. 480)
Puncture Safe + Nitrogen (Rs. 730)


Sorry for the long post and if I am being too inquisitive.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

I'd go with the extended warranty and road side assistance, being at an almost negligible price you have nothing to lose. Only point is do make sure to clarify in detail which parts are covered under extended warranty, as I remember seeing a lot of issues in ownership threads where SVCs refuse to replace certain parts under the extended warranty citing all illegitimate reasons, such as wear and tear parts are not covered etc...so do go into a little detail about it.
Regarding the other points you'll have to ask some other member

Re: Premium Commuter 150CC Required !

Answers in bold.