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How I Chose between P200 and Unicorn!

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  • How I Chose between P200 and Unicorn!

    How I Chose between P200 and Unicorn.

    This is an archived thread which got deleted in server crash, so am posting it again.
    This post is purely based on my experience and observations, so please don't start brand-wars and try to keep it clean .

    January 2008: I finally convinced my parents that i can ride a bike safe enough and started a tedious hunt for a good/reliable bike under 80k ( non-flexible ,which nullified heavyweights like ZMA and P220)
    I was pretty much head-over-heels on P200 and was in no mood to compromise and go for any other bike, i closely followed P200 thread here on xBhp and was in touch with Sandeep K Ram ("Bike Advice Guru" as i like to call him, most of the seniors here know him very well. He "formerly" owned a P200, Now has a ZMA). After numerous chats with him, i was convinced to give some other bikes a try. I went to various show-rooms and short-listed 3 bikes namely RTR Carb, P200 (didn't consider P150/180 since P200 was the best amongst them and well within my budget) and Honda Unicorn.
    The show-rooms were kind enough to lemme test-ride the bikes (especially TVS which allowed an extended ride )
    Here is my feedback after Test-ride of all the three:

    RTR: Revvy engine but at the same time vibrations are too much, was superb to flick around corners, a great track-bike but needed some refinement and above all ride postion was a great dissapointment (am 5'10).

    P200: You can just keep looking her all-day and never get tired ( i rode a friends bike few times before), excellent throttle response, sofa-suspension, only drawback was heavy front-end handling (traffic flickability being an issue).

    Unicorn: I never saw the newly launched 2G unicorn in flesh (only in mags and web), really caught my eye with tht beautiful monoshock and flow of curves. After riding both RTR and P200 was amazed to ride such an amazing silent/refined mill, was trying hard to find some flaws but could not except the "over-chrome" use and erratic Honda service guy as pillion.

    Two things were quite clear from the test-rides:
    1) Every person who is buying a new bike should compulsarily test-ride before making a decision.

    2) RTR was out, and now i was searching for reviews and comparisons of P200 and Unicorn (until i found out that a friend has bought a Unicorn).

    I quickly planned a ride to lonavla with both my friends on P200 and Unicorn. I rode both the bikes (P200 all the way till lonavla and Unicorn all the way back). This is what i came to conclude:

    P200: Pros: Crowd Puller, Responsive Throttle, Pulsar-Grunt, VFM.
    Cons: Vibrations, Not-so-Refined, Front Heavy.

    Unicorn: Pros: Monoshock, Economical (though it didn't matter to me), Excellent Cruiser, Refinement, Its a Honda.
    Cons: Chrome Patches, Could have done with a 6th Cog.

    Notes: Both the bikes were few months old and just had their first services and run-in done. I had severe wrist-ache after riding the P200 and its electricals kept breaking down, also my friend had really bad experience with PBK Svc here in Mumbai. Brakes on Unicorn are Progressive and not spot-on as with P200 and took some time getting used to.

    So finally i made a decison and bought a Red Honda Unicorn (Mar-08) and i dont regret it.

    To sum-it-up: Pulsar is a Wild Stallion whereas Unicorn is a Race-Horse, and i prefer latter!













    Last edited by saif71184; 04-28-2009, 08:32 PM.

  • #2
    Topic Approved.
    :)

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    • #3
      This was one of the best "What bike should I go for" threads on xbhp before it got lost in the server crash. I must admit that choosing a Uni over a P200 would have been quite difficult but it was a wise choice none the less. Infact going by your example,people should rather go for the bike they like rather than the biggest/costliest bike they could lay their hands on.
      For me the decision was the latter. When you got the Unicorn I had the P200 and I never regret having her. But then there was always a longing inside me,for I adored that winged badge(still do). And still wish for the race horse.
      Its the irony of choice between the subtle and the sublime.
      sigpic
      "Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall."

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      • #4
        @aryan: Thx for the approval buddy, my thread approval ratio is now 2:1 .

        @nightwing: Yeah it was my first thread on xBhp. Glad i could revive it. I should thank you also, for the post-buying tips that you gave .

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        • #5
          Ohh i remember this thread. and i also remember some good responces.
          so howz your uni doing now???and post some pics as well

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          • #6
            Unicorn Rockz

            right choice buddy...
            I am riding unicorn from last 7 months and it has been pleasureful ride till now...torque in the low and mid range is just awesom thats why its perfect handler in the city...
            cheers
            PROUD 2 BE A
            WING RIDER

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            • #7
              I really liked the way you have presented your experience. It's not about what bike is better than other but probably about the battle between heart and mind. One has to win. And both are right in their own places . I really liked the last sentence. It cleanly concludes the whole argument .
              Enna Rascalla. Mind it !!!

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              • #8
                I owned first batch of Unicorn (nov 2004), rode her for 4 years, was my first bike, it was an absolute pleasure. Loved her to the core for the way she treated me. She never broke down, never let me push her even once, not even a puncture. Gave her to my friends for a very low price cause i knew that he will take care of her. Own a Fz now, but the heart still beats for Honda (just because of the sheer experience), waiting for another good one from Honda.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by sherry_unicornlover View Post
                  Ohh i remember this thread. and i also remember some good responces.
                  so howz your uni doing now???and post some pics as well
                  She is doing Great, infact shez getting smoother with age ala wine !!

                  Originally posted by puneetsingh View Post
                  right choice buddy...
                  I am riding unicorn from last 7 months and it has been pleasureful ride till now...torque in the low and mid range is just awesom thats why its perfect handler in the city...
                  cheers
                  Yes it can absolutely challenge any 150cc from 0-60, Low-end torque is phenomenal .

                  Originally posted by leon_nerd View Post
                  I really liked the way you have presented your experience. It's not about what bike is better than other but probably about the battle between heart and mind. One has to win. And both are right in their own places . I really liked the last sentence. It cleanly concludes the whole argument .
                  Exactly Man, Thanks for the words Leon .

                  Originally posted by shark80 View Post
                  I owned first batch of Unicorn (nov 2004), rode her for 4 years, was my first bike, it was an absolute pleasure. Loved her to the core for the way she treated me. She never broke down, never let me push her even once, not even a puncture. Gave her to my friends for a very low price cause i knew that he will take care of her. Own a Fz now, but the heart still beats for Honda (just because of the sheer experience), waiting for another good one from Honda.
                  Yeah Man, Honda has that presence and it gets noticed .

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                  • #10
                    saif

                    good choice bro !!! and nice presentation ...my unicorn is 8 months old !! its the best choice !!! in 150cc ..thx to my dad ..earlier was thinking of tvs apache rtr 160.... by the saif can u give review of bike ..so that it can be helpful for others if they want to buy bike !!! or is it there in honda unicorn thread ??? can u give me the link !!
                    I CaN RiDe mY BiKe WiTh No HanDLebAr$ !!!


                    16/7/2005 HONDA ACTIVA
                    21/8/2008 HONDA UNICORN


                    sigpic

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                    • #11
                      ^^ Thx...No i didn't write an official review yet, am planning to, once i get enough time..

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                      • #12
                        go for unicorn

                        hi buddy i ride unicorn from past 2.5 years and fully satisfied with its sound mileage and engine condition.i suggest u go for unicorn.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by mohan3643 View Post
                          hi buddy i ride unicorn from past 2.5 years and fully satisfied with its sound mileage and engine condition.i suggest u go for unicorn.
                          You are an year late.
                          sigpic
                          "Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall."

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                          • #14
                            ^^

                            @mohan: I think you didn't read the entire post

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