UNIFORM APPEAL
6,000km report Having racked up considerable mileage, the fleetfooted Unicorn remains the most desirable motorcycle in our burgeoning stable of long termers.

Its honeymoon period with us effortlessly dispensed with, Honda's Indian flagship is now busy tackling the crowded Pune city traffic snarls. The Unicorn was never close to being the best- looker in the country, though it's certainly a sturdy contender when talking build quality.
The blue paint on our test steed remains lustrous and panel fit and finish too are just as seamless as the day this motorcycle entered Autocar’s long-term stable. The float-mounted tail-light has a tendency to make itself vocal, and this niggle is present from day one. Other Unicorn shortcomings are the complete omission of a city light, and switchgear we have whined about from the first moment. Recently joining the sticky headlight high and low beam switch with a tendency to work and not work at will is the ignition switch. Honda would do well to quickly look into these not-so- trivial quality issues on future Unicorns.
This engine, however, makes us smile from ear to ear — it has been as well behaved as possible — flawless with an ever-smoothening power delivery, precise five-speed gearbox and performance as strong as on day one. This marvel has been reliable with nary a hiccup or other cause to make us pay it some notice.
Adding to its plus points, the Unicorn is a most comfortable bike to ride, with among the best sorted suspensions on any Indian bike. Handling is ample, but taking a leaf from its arch rival, Bajaj's Pulsar, could only improve matters for the Unicorn — a size larger rear tyre shod on smart alloy wheels. Staying competitive in the ultra-competitive Indian bike scene is no longer a piece of cake.
With two services completed, and oil changed twice, the only unexpected maintenance required by the Unicorn has been a clutch cable giving up at the 4,000km mark and a steering column that needs constant care to keep it working smoothly. Mileage is competent for such a fleetfooted bike, and hovers around the 50kpl mark.
Yet, in spite of a few chinks showing through its armour, Honda's Unicorn remains among our favourite bikes in India, and delivers pleasurable performance and consistent fuel numbers.
Rishad Cooper