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**The Monk** · 11-01-2017, 11:36 AM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

Query Approved

If looks are not important for you and you only want a bike capable of doing its job with the least amount of problem and will have a comfortable pillion seat as well.

If you care about looks, then the Gixxer, Hornet, FZ, NS160 etc would be more up your street. But pillion comfort wouldn't be as good.

Test ride all the bikes before deciding.

**ravihpa** · 11-01-2017, 12:11 PM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

Originally posted by The Monk View Post

Query Approved

If looks are not important for you and you only want a bike capable of doing its job with the least amount of problem and will have a comfortable pillion seat as well.

Test ride all the bikes before deciding.

For this, you mean Unicorn? Also, 150 or 160?

**The Monk** · 11-01-2017, 12:15 PM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

Originally posted by ravihpa View Post

For this, you mean Unicorn? Also, 150 or 160?

Yes the Unicorn. Either. Check the ownership threads before finalising.

**ravihpa** · 11-01-2017, 06:30 PM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

If I was to give up pillion comfort, which one is the better machine? Can I read the advantages and the disadvantages of each machine compared with each other somewhere on the internet? Unbiased and truthful reviews, of course.

I remember I had read that Honda is still using old tech gearbox or something compared to Gixxer or other latest offerings from other companies. I don't remember the particulars. Need to do more research on that part.

Another thing that has always bothered me was the way to change gear in these machines. Up til Honda Shine (4 gear system), changing the gear, there is a portion at your ankle and you just press down on it to shift the gear up. But in the case of Honda Hornet, for changing gear, moving it up, you have to move your shoe (toe portion) below it and push it up. There is no ankle portion where you can push down to go one gear up. That has always irritated me. It also ****s up the upper portion of my shoe

I hope am making sense

**s1d** · 11-01-2017, 09:47 PM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

Originally posted by ravihpa View Post

For this, you mean Unicorn? Also, 150 or 160?

I think based on your requirement, the Unicorn 150 should be good a choice. It's a no nonsense bike and trouble free. It would fall in your budget, returns good FE, low maintenance cost and can carry a pillion in good comfort. And it would return close to 45kmpl if kept around/under 75kmph.
On the unicorn 150, you can ask them to replace the toe gear shifter with the heel-toe shifter (i think it's from shine or the older unicorn which came with this heel-toe shifter.. costs 100rs or so, a couple of my friends have done this)

**ravihpa** · 11-03-2017, 06:15 PM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

I just checked out the local Honda showroom, and they have a 5-month wait for Unicorn 150/160

Hence it's not even available for a test drive

They have the Hornet available. By the way guys, is it worth it to get the CBS system (Combi-Brake System)? I previously thought it had ABS and was really excited about it, but my excitement died when the showroom guy told me otherwise

A friend has Gixxer and he's unhappy with the bike's performance and the service he gets from the local service center. So I guess that's outta the picture.

I was never too keen for a Yamaha. I can MAYBE think about a Pulsar, but will have to test drive it first. A friend had bought a UG4 long time ago, and I loved it. Don't know the current state of a Pulsar 150.

Am going to test drive Hornet tomorrow.

**Siddhanth Paul** · 11-04-2017, 11:54 AM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

Originally posted by ravihpa View Post

I just checked out the local Honda showroom, and they have a 5-month wait for Unicorn 150/160

Hence it's not even available for a test drive

They have the Hornet available. By the way guys, is it worth it to get the CBS system (Combi-Brake System)? I previously thought it had ABS and was really excited about it, but my excitement died when the showroom guy told me otherwise [emoji14]

A friend has Gixxer and he's unhappy with the bike's performance and the service he gets from the local service center. So I guess that's outta the picture.

I was never too keen for a Yamaha. I can MAYBE think about a Pulsar, but will have to test drive it first. A friend had bought a UG4 long time ago, and I loved it. Don't know the current state of a Pulsar 150.

Am going to test drive Hornet tomorrow.

Gixxer isn't a bad machine. My friend also owns one, never had a problem. Minor niggles though. But, Hornet is also good and comparable to Gixxer in terms of performance. Well, test drive is always a way to get a feel of the bike. Do let us know about your views on the Hornet

**ravihpa** · 11-06-2017, 09:43 PM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

Guys, after test driving a few bikes, I've come to the decision to get a Unicorn 160. It's a beautiful machine, has straight riding position, good pillon comfort, has a heel-toe shifter

, and has all the better aspects of the legendary Unicorn 150. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Thanx a lot guys, for helping me with this decision

**ravihpa** · 11-09-2017, 01:16 AM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

A weird thing happened today. Since the official Honda showroom said there's a 5-month waiting list, I visited a few bike dealers, and almost all of them recommended me the Unicorn 150 and said that Unicorn 160 is a "failed model" and has "flopped", etc. Some were even questioning the durability of the bike (in comparison to the 150). After I insisted that I want the 160, all of them said that they can arrange the bike for sure but would advise against it.

Maybe they have a low margin of earning on that model, I don't know. What do you guys think? Any truth to this?

**Shumi_21** · 11-09-2017, 10:49 AM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

Hey man,

The Unicorn 160 is essentially an update to the 150 with refreshed looks, a digital instrument cluster, even the engine is a bored out version of the 150's engine. Build quality of both bikes is on par with any other Honda. I don't think you will face any problems with respect to that.

Since these bikes are in the commuter domain, the deciding factors are always fuel economy and cost of the motorcycle itself. This is where the unicorn 150 scores over the 160. It's not only cheaper but also more economical (if only by 4-5 kmpl) than the 160. For the average commuter this is more important as he/she needs to get from point A to B for the cheapest possible cost. The refreshed looks and features of the 160 do not matter to him/her. That is why more commuters opt for the 150 over the 160, thereby substantiating the claims of the Unicorn 160 being a failed model.

I'd suggest you have a look at the Honda Unicorn 160 ownership thread too. As always, test ride extensively (on the highway) before you decide.

Hope this helps.

**manishh** · 11-09-2017, 11:51 AM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

I own older Unicorn for 9.5+ years now and it is as smooth as butter even today and absolutely reliable. I visit Honda authorized service center regularly for bike servicing - and no problem as such with Unicorn 160 is what I was told by them. If you have liked it, go for it.

Honda bikes are usually low on features (still missing kill switch), slightly overpriced but reliable and well-built. Once you get used to their engine refinement and precise gear shifting, no other bike is good enough. I recently rode RE 500 for my Ladakh trip and fell in love with my Unicorn all over again.

Diwali is over and the year end is approaching - so dealers push to sell what they have available, often misguide. Take their opinions with a pinch of salt. Try to visit service center and talk to few Unicorn 160 owners. I'd also recommend visiting trusted local (non-authorized )service center as they have experience across different manufacturers and can give some useful insights.

**Shashank K R** · 11-16-2017, 03:18 AM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

Originally posted by Shumi_21 View Post

even the engine is a bored out version of the 150's engine.

I don't know whether [MENTION=24697]ravihpa[/MENTION] has already bought the bike, but a small correction

- The 163cc engine is based on a different platform, not related to the 150cc engine.

Also the 160 is more comfortable on the highway (now this is only my opinion based on my 1 year ownership of the bike and the comparison my friend made with his 150).

There is a small segment of people who prefer the 160 over the 150, and I'm in that segment, so it may look like I'm biased towards the 160, though due to the bad experience I had with it, I moved to Suzuki.

**ravihpa** · 11-16-2017, 08:36 AM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

Originally posted by Shashank K R View Post

I don't know whether @ravihpa has already bought the bike, but a small correction

- The 163cc engine is based on a different platform, not related to the 150cc engine.

Also the 160 is more comfortable on the highway (now this is only my opinion based on my 1 year ownership of the bike and the comparison my friend made with his 150).

There is a small segment of people who prefer the 160 over the 150, and I'm in that segment, so it may look like I'm biased towards the 160, though due to the bad experience I had with it, I moved to Suzuki.

I've not bought it yet. Am waiting for my finance "to fall in place". I have narrowed it down to the Unicorn 160 coz of many things, the Honda engine, straight riding posture (don't like the leaning posture of Hornet), heel toe shifter, etc.

Can you tell me the "bad experience" you've had with it that made you move? I would really appreciate it.

Thanx for the feedback

**Shashank K R** · 11-17-2017, 10:45 PM

Re: Bike for daily highway commute.

Originally posted by ravihpa View Post

I've not bought it yet. Am waiting for my finance "to fall in place". I have narrowed it down to the Unicorn 160 coz of many things, the Honda engine, straight riding posture (don't like the leaning posture of Hornet), heel toe shifter, etc.

Can you tell me the "bad experience" you've had with it that made you move? I would really appreciate it.

Thanx for the feedback

It's nothing to worry about. Mine was probably a one off case, compounded by the ineptitude of the ASCs. I still like the riding position and that torque low down.

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