The 2015 Honda CB Unicorn 160 is here!

So, how is it different from the 150cc Honda CB Unicorn? Naveen Soni reports on what the Unicorn 160 has to offer!

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd (HMSI) has launched a new 160cc premium commuter in India, CB Unicorn 160. Following the legacy of one of the most loved motorcycle in the segment -- the 150cc Unicorn -- it is a completely new motorcycle with an advance heart. Here are the differences between the existing and the new motorcycle sharing the same name.

Style

Photograph: Courtesy, MotorBeam

Both the Unicorn models are based on the same platform. However the aesthetic changes make them completely different fron each other.

The Honda CB Unicorn 160 gets a more aggressive headlight with new bikini fairing and sporty visor. It comes with a fully digital instrument panel instead of the old school analog type.

The black handle and the edgy rear view mirrors on the 160cc model are also sportier than that of the 150cc bike.

Fuel tank of the CB Unicorn 160 looks more masculine with the shrouds. Side panels of the bike also get a wing styling and the new rear panels are adding a new style statement with a sharper tail and 'H' shape LED tail lamp.

Seat has also been redesigned for better comfort and the 160cc bike gets a shorter muffler to gell well with its sporty stance.

Chassis

The Honda CB Unicorn 160 and the 150 share the same Diamond type frame, 33mm telescopic front forks, spring loaded hydraulic mono-shock, 240mm front disc brake and the 130mm rear drum brake. However, both the bikes have different dimensions due to the changes in the body-work and the newcomer also gets the optional CBS (Combi Brake System).

The CB Unicorn 160 has an overall dimension (Length x Width x Height) of 2,045mm x 757mm x 1,060mm, while that of the CB Unicorn 150 is 2,095mm x 756mm x 1,100mm. Wheel base of the bike has also been shortened by 16mm to increase the maneuverability of the bike during city rides and reduce the turning radius.

Design of the 6-spoke alloys have been kept similar, but the new ones used in the CB Unicorn 160 are 1mm lesser in diameter. The 160cc Unicorn CB also comes with wider 80/100 section front and 110/80 section rear tyres instead of the 2.75" wide front and 100/90 section rear tyres of the CB Unicorn.

Engine and transmission

The most important upgradation in the Honda CB Unicorn 160 is its new 162.7cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine, based on the Honda Eco Technology (HET). The new engine is capable to make 14.5bhp of maximum power at 8,000rpm and a peak torque of 14.61Nm at 6,000rpm.

The CB Unicorn houses Honda's legendary 149.1cc engine, which powers the other 150cc Honda motorcycles and also sourced to the Hero MotoCorp's range of 150cc motorcycles. Maximum power output of the bike is 13.14bhp at 8,500rpm and the peak torque output goes upto 12.84Nm at 5,500rpm. With some advancements and re-tuning, the same 149.1cc engine makes 14.3bhp of maximum power in the Honda CB Trigger.

So, was there any need to develop this new engine? The answer is, yes. The new engine is more refined and claims a best-in-class fuel efficiency of up to 62kmpl. Both the bikes share the same 5-speed transmission with 1-down and 4-up shift pattern.

Pricing

The all new Honda CB Unicorn 160 is available in two trims -- STD and CBS, priced at Rs 69,350 and 74,414 (Ex-showroom, Delhi) respectively.

The Honda CB Unicorn 150 comes with a price tag of Rs 63,695, which means the 2015 Honda CB Unicorn 160 costs around Rs 5,600 more. However, after looking at the upgrades in the new model it is worth the extra cost.

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