India's Best Premium Sporty Motorcycle upto 180cc

The CB Unicorn Dazzler is a remarkable product from Honda and makes for a superb 150cc sporty motorcycle with excellent handling dynamics and rock solid stability.

Honda CB Unicorn Dazzler

After repeated requests and pleadings to Honda, the company has finally given the Indian bikers something to cheer for - the CB Unicorn Dazzler. True to its name, this new motorcycle does offer quite a fair amount of razzle-dazzle along with it. Muscular tank-shrouds with well-drawn knee reccess on the curvy fuel tank adorn the bike with a big-bike feel. The ergonomics are extremely rider friendly and like most Hondas, the Dazzler too is an extremely easy to ride motorcycle and it takes minimal effort for the rider to feel at ease.

The Honda Dazzler is powered by the same 150cc motor that serves the Unicorn albeit with some significant changes to its internal setup. The CB Unicorn Dazzler is running on high-lift camshafts, which in simpler terms means that the valves are open for longer duration allowing more air-fuel mixture from the carburetor to enter the combustion chamber hence resulting in increased power. But although the power gains are not significantly higher, it is critical to notice that the Dazzler makes power in the higher rev-range, making it an extremely enjoyable and spirited bike to ride especially for the the experience of riding over winding roads.

Overall, the CB Unicorn Dazzler is a remarkable product from Honda and makes for a superb 150cc sporty motorcycle with excellent handling dynamics and rock solid stability. And even with its performance-focused nature unlike the Unicorn, the Dazzler returns a fairly good economy figure of 55.5kmpl under mixed riding conditions. Honda is now aiming to once again be at the top of the premium 150cc motorcycle game with the Dazzler that is packed with host features like digital console, fat rear tyre and a rear disc brake. All these factors largely contribute in making it the best buy beating even a few higher capacity rivals.

Quick Facts

Engine: 149cc Air-cooled Single

Power: 14PS@ 8,500rpm

Torque: 12.7Nm @ 6,500rpm

Transmission: 5-speed manual

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 1328mm

LxWxH: 2073 x 754 x 1085mm

Weight: 138kg

Performance

0-100 km/h: 14.5seconds

Top speed: 117km/h

Fuel efficiency (overall): 55.5kmpl

Variants

CB UNICORN DAZZLER (Ex-showroom, New Delhi): 63,000

Cheers:

1. Very bold design with a good mix of curves and edges

2. Excellent ergonomics and quality cycle parts

3. A good value-for-money product

Sneers:

1. Slightly flatter handlebars could have enhanced the sporty feel of the bike

2. Ride quality a little on the stiffer side. The bike can do a lot better with some weight-loss

1st Runner Up

Bajaj Pulsar 180 DTSi

Right from the first Pulsar model released in 2001, the Bajaj Pulsar 180 has come a long way. But thanks to Bajaj Auto constantly upgrading the bike with technologies like DTSi and Exhaustec, the Pulsar's charm has failed to cease. In its latest iteration too, the Pulsar 180 still holds enough might give the new kids on the block a good run for their money. Not to forget the killer 150cc pricepoint at which one gets to lay his hands on a 180cc bike!

Other Rivals

Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTSi

With marginal difference between the prices of the popular Bajaj Pulsar twins, the Pulsar 150 DTSi is for the ones who want performance as well as economy.

Hero Honda CBZ-Xtreme

Hottest selling 150cc motorcycle from Hero Honda, the CBZ-Xtreme is quirky looking but has the reliability going for it.

Hero Honda Hunk

Hero Honda's muscle monster, the Hunk has just received an upgrade with regards to features, which brings it on par with its rivals.

Honda CB Unicorn

The blue eyed boy of many Indians, the CB Unicorn is still raking in good sales numbers for Honda, but it is now showing signs of aging.

Suzuki GS150R

An able motorcycle with superb fuel efficiency and even better ride quality, the Suzuki GS150R is a practical buy.

TVS Apache 160 RTR

TVS Motor's performance offering in the 150cc class, the Apache 160 RTR is an affordable race-track scorcher.

TVS Apache 160 RTR-Fi

As the name suggests, the only but significant change in the TVS Apache RTR-Fi is incorporation of a fuel injection.

TVS Apache 180 RTR

The TVS Apache 180 RTR is a more sedate and road-friendly form of the 160 RTR with added grunt but less vibes than its younger sibling.

Yamaha FZ16

Yamaha India's FZ16 was a blow that completely knocked out its competition and put the Japanese bike-maker back into the contention for the race to the top spot in the premium 150cc category.

Yamaha FZ-S

In order to make sure that the FZ16’s wave did not fade away, Yamaha India was quick to launch the FZ-S - a more stylish iteration of the FZ16.

Yamaha Fazer

And before the thrilled Indian bikers could get over the FZ twins, Yamaha introduced the Fazer - a tourer-friendly model based on the FZ16 but only with cosmetic upgrades.