Long Term Review – Honda Unicorn 160

The Honda CB 160 Unicorn joins the Bike India fleet of long-term bikes.

I still recall the first time I ever laid eyes on a Unicorn. No, not the mythical horned equestrian but the winged two-wheeler of reality. Back in 2004, when Honda introduced the Unicorn, their 150-cc offering that was set to take on the Hero Honda CBZ and the Bajaj Pulsar 150, was something unique. Not only was it the first Honda motorcycle that could be bought from a showroom, it was also the only motorcycle at the time that sported a monoshock at the rear. Much water has passed under the bridge since then and, following a few iterations, we have seen the Unicorn grow in size. In its current form the bike now sports a 160-cc single-cylinder air-cooled four-stroke engine. However, the cycle parts continue to be the same.

As mentioned in our road test (see February 2015 issue of Bike India), the Unicorn continues to be a smooth operator. The Honda engine is super refined and has good grunt and it’s got a well-sorted five-speed gearbox. The chassis is capable and the suspension set-up offers a superb balance between ride quality and handling. The only crib bits are the lack of a sporty feel and the absence of an engine-kill button. Those apart, life with the Unicorn is set to be one plush ride. Stay tuned for updates on living with the Honda CB 160 Unicorn.