Biking enthusiasts went berserk with the news of Honda’s plans to foray into the Indian market with its fully owned subsidiary, HMSI back during the initial part of this decade, expecting a lot bigger bikes. The start was also in line with expectations as they kicked off their proceedings in India by launching a 150cc bike. As time went past not much of those expectations were put to rest but nonetheless, although small, we saw the emergence of some fantastic machines from their stables.
Honda Unicorn was one such machine which was launched in 2004 as a direct competition to the ruler in 150cc segment Bajaj’s Pulsar. Though Unicorn did not experience that huge a success due to plain and staid styling and not so catchy feel attached to it, the bike boasted off country’s most refined engine which came along with bullet proof reliability, complimentary! As time passed by, with the launch of new bikes and competition’s aggressive upgrades, Unicorn needed much deeper upgrades then what it was lended with.
And as a result of half-hearted upgrades, the charm of the bike started vanishing among the masses which became evident with the falling sales of the bike. HMSI boffins sat down to think about a much better attempt this time and hence the CB Unicorn Dazzler was born. With Dazzlers launch came a lot of expectations and as always, we went ahead for a test ride of the bike to unearth the questions which would quench the thirsts of our avid and curious readers. Has Dazzler got enough Dazzle to bedazzle the crowd with its aura? Read on…
Styling, Build & Design:
While Unicorn was known much for its simple and elegant styling, Honda’s recent launches clearly suggest that they have shifted focus on flashy looking concepts. Dazzler draws many designing cues from its youngest sibling, CB Twister and is completely in tune with today’s generations’ likings. Similar to Pulsar 135, the front fairing is housed between two different panels and a Passion-like bulging lens cover. The screenless bikini fairing is loathed with a supposedly aggressive styling but instead it makes the bike look sad. Somehow, we have always felt that most of Hondas (HMSI & Hero Honda) bikes in India could have had better looking meaner fairings.
Dazzler uses clear white pointed indicators which also feel a little flimsy. Front indicators are placed slightly above than normal and bulge out with their bigger necks. The mass of the tank is gone and Dazzler does duty with a smaller and plain looking tank. But probably the catchiest part of the bike is the extended tank shrouds much similar to, again the Twister. With the Honda emblem protruding on it, this is the only part which lends the bike a big-look factor. Knee recess is again typical Honda, top class!
Honda has also provided this bike with two-tone seat cover which comes in black and gray which does add a bit of dash to the bike. The rear is finished with two materials, the body colored fiber part ends a little earlier and a black colored plastic takes the cues to a decent looking plain tail very similar to Hunk. Body colored grab rails are also kept non mushy and provide a proper holding space and feel. In sync with the sporty character of the bike, the full chain cover has been dispensed off and in comes a half chain cover. While the Twister was made to look fiery with fantastic curves running all across and a touch of youthism attached to it, Dazzler is lended with a more of a mature character and a masculine feel!
Ironically, build quality on the bike is not what Honda is famous for. There are few areas like the engine and components which are immaculately built and exude typical Honda quality. But there are many areas which have been overlooked and finishing is not to our liking. Wires run all around and some even without proper housings. The rear footrace assembly seems like borrowed from another incompatible model and amateurishly put on this bike. Plastic quality has always been an area where Honda has lacked and Dazzler is no exception. We were astonished to see plastic turning ‘whitish’ on the bike which we rode. Front indicator housing and back part of rear mudguard near the monoshock could have been better done. Seat fitting had yawning gaps and even casual eyes can catch these misfittings.
The funniest part which we felt was the exclusion of kick starter in the bike. The bikes which come sans a kick starter in today’s world are bikes which have sporty riding postures and to avoid CBZ classic like ‘fold-the-foot-peg-to-kick-start-the-bike’ hassles. Dazzler has Unicorn like commuter seating position with the footrests front set and an ample amount of space to accommodate a kicker. In short, Dazzler could have been made a little more flamboyant but more importantly, Honda has done a half hearted attempt to the construction quality of the bike. Barring the engine bit, the bike has a lot of last-time fill-ups, unwanted gaps, welds, wires and screws.
Styling, Build & Design: 7/10
Engine, Gearbox & Ride Quality:
Honda has always been a master at producing gem of engines and equally good transmissions. And dare we say anything against it here! The new iteration of Unicorn produces a maximum power output of 14 bhp from the same 4 stroke 149.1cc engine which is an increment of 0.7 bhp and also peaks at 500rpm above at 8500 RPM as compared to the older version. Though no improvement on the torque output is made, the bike produces the same 12.8 Nms at 500 rpm above at 6500 rpm. These figures are by no means ground breaking in the current immensely competitive 150cc segment, but definitely takes the hitch of Honda producing low powered bikes away in the minds of the masses.
Closely observing the figures, Dazzlers tune feels more related to the CBZ Extreme/Hunk rather than Unicorn/Achiever. Not only this bike is different from Unicorn lookwise, it has a different character also. Unicorn was made to scorch through city traffic with ease and hence was the reason of concentration of power and torque at lower rpms. Dazzler feels happier when you are on open roads and with a slight wrist of the throttle, the sweet note takes you to a better world! But with an increment in the power output, the smoothness of the Unicorn’s engine has been traded off slightly but it would still come second in the market. Inclusion of weight end bars in Dazzler also helps in reducing vibrations.
Quite similar to Unicorn, Dazzlers gearbox-clutch geometry is world class. Gear feel is smooth and it would take a very mature rider to find false neutrals on this bike. The only-toe shifter might create a few problems for first time switchers initially but with time people will get accustomed to it. Even on quick situations like a hurried up overtake which needs gear change at higher rpms, shifting up just needed a little press of the buttery clutch and a slight push down of the foot. Ride quality was typical Unicorn and we were almost convinced that this has to be one of the most relaxed bikes to travel on in this segment.
Engine, Gearbox and Ride Quality: 9/10
Chasis, Handling & Dynamics:
Unicorn was probably the first bike which redefined how a bike handled and cornered with its immaculate chassis and India’s first monoshock. With Dazzler, the game has just been taken ahead. The only other major bit, apart from the engine which is same on this bike is the same chassis which Honda calls as “Advanced Design Diamond Frame”. The front does duty with regular telescopic shockups, whereas the three step red colored adjustable monoshock has been carried over to this bike as well for the rear. The rear setup can be altered from hard to softer setup depending upon the terrain the bike is being ridden on.
The good part is that its neither too stiff nor too soft which makes it a perfect balance to ride on. The well crafted rectangular swingarm also adds to the stability factor a lot. The important bit about this bike is that contrary to Unicorn’s 18 inch tyres, HMSI has retorted to 17 inchers for Dazzler. The immediate impact is that the ground clearance is down by 17mm to 162mm from 179mm of the Unicorn. As a result, the center of gravity has also shifted downwards which has made this bike even more stable than Unicorn both on triple digit speeds and acute corners also aided by broader 80/100 (front) and 110/80 (rear) tires. Moreover, tuff up tubes on the Unicorn give way to completely tubeless MRF Zappers on Dazzler.
City handling aspects are also slightly different for this bike as the wheelbase has been shortened by 12mm to 1328mm (from 1340mm for Unicorn) along with a drop of 8 kilograms in weight. The major weight reduction has come from the use of more fiber and plastics and reduction in all dimensions of the bike. As a result, Dazzler (2073 * 754 * 1085) is a smaller bike than Unicorn (2095 * 756 * 1100). It is more easily flickable in city traffics but Unicorn still is better when engine characteristics come into picture. However, come longer and broader freeways and this bike comes into its own state of tune. On highways, Dazzler is faster and more enjoyable than Unicorn. After riding this bike we were sure that we were riding an even-improved version of an already-fantastic Unicorn.
Chassis, Handling &Dynamics: 8.5/10
Electricals And Instrumentation:
Honda has always been a laggard in this field and Dazzler becomes first bike from their 150cc arsenal (HMSI & HH) to sport a digital (semi-digital, to be precise) console, after many years of competition bringing it on their bikes. Nonetheless, a welcome change and it has been well executed. Dazzler sports a cute looking blue backlit console which features an analogue tachometer which is calibrated till 11k rpm redlining at 9300 rpm. The digital speedometer window is small but displays speed readings in big and bold black letters. A watch, fuel indicator, a trip meter and the odometer are also integrated in this window.
The console also has regular indicator lights which include side turn, high beam and neutral gear indications. The sad part is that the setup is still not DC which almost every other manufacturer is offering on their bikes. The display however is fresh and takes us away from the typical orange colored clichés. The headlamp is still powered by a 12 Volt 35 watt halogen but the throw of the beam is wide and has a decent coverage. Switchgear is similar to Unicorn and includes a self starter crank and a light button towards the right hand side and a choke lever, upper dipper switch, turn blinkers tab and a horn button towards the left. As you must have figured out by now, Dazzler also doesn’t feature the most basic functions- pass switch, pilot lamps and an engine kill switch with reasons best known to Honda!
The rear view mirrors have now acquired a heptagonal shape and do a good job of providing a fine view of the demonic vehicles as well as cute looking “scooties” coming from behind. Honda has also chosen a lesser powerful battery for this bike. Dazzler comes with 12V 4Ah maintenance free battery (Unicorn had a 12v 7Ah battery). Considering this as a first time attempt from HMSI towards providing digital gadgetries we are impressed but with the exclusion of few very basic features we are disappointed at the same time.
Electricals & Instrumentation: 7.5/10
Performance, Mileage And Braking:
As we already said, Dazzler doesn’t boast off nerve wrecking bhp figures, it’s just a few added grannies to the existing engine so we did not expect anything out of the block. And quite similar to what we had in mind, Dazzler is a sweet performer which doesn’t zip past its competitors but definitely can keep pace with them. As compared to Unicorn, Dazzler is a higher revving machine and is definitely both quicker and faster and performance figures speak a lot about the same.
Dazzler is around half a second quicker till 60kmph and almost 2 seconds earlier in reaching 100kmph on the speedo with the bike taking around 5.5 seconds for the 0-60 dash and approx 18 seconds for the 0-100 sprint. The top speed which we could achieve on this bike was an impressive 116 kmph on the speedometer which would translate to something in the range of 105-108 kmph true. Nothing ground breaking, but these figures are still better than Unicorn and in line with all the sporty commuter bikes in India.
Added to the glory are the fantastic fuel efficiency figures this bike is claimed to achieve. We could not test the actual mileage figures but according to feedbacks and our own analogy, Dazzler will run for around 50 kilometers for every liter of fuel in the tank in our type of city riding conditions. And with a tank capacity of 12 liters, this bike will run for around 600 kms before calling it quits. Though slightly lesser than Unicorn, these figures are commendable for a 14bhp bike in Indian conditions.
Another feature Honda has loaded this bike with is the inclusion of rear disc brakes. The bike comes equipped with 240mm front discs and 220mm rear discs as standard (compared to 130mm rear drums for Unicorn), both Nissins. As expected, braking has improved significantly and with a lesser weight and more braking power the stopping distance would be decreased considerably on this bike. Incidentally, Dazzler becomes the first bike in this segment to sport a rear disc brake (excluding R15). With an optimum combination of power and fuel efficiency, this bike does take away extra brownie points for better braking.
Performance, Mileage & Braking: 9/10
Bikeadvice Verdict:
Dazzler comes only as a single variant with rear discs and self start as standard. Honda is offering four color options for this bike viz Pearl Nightstar Black (our pick), Sword Silver Metallic, Pearl Siena Red and Armour Gold Metallic. With all the added gadgets and features, HMSI is charging a premium of Rs.4000 over Unicorn for Dazzler. This bike will be yours for an on road Pune price of Rs.71,790 (Unicorn costs Rs 67,708 OTR Pune).
For the very first serious upgrade for Unicorn from HMSI, Dazzler does look a pretty good prospect. It does everything in right proportions, rides well, performs decently, returns fantastic mileage, handles brilliantly which, in short makes us call this bike a ‘Jack of all trades BUT Master of none’ bike. And this is where we become apprehensive! The on road price of this bike takes a prospective customer in the range of Apache RTR 180 and Yamaha FZ-16 and this is where Dazzler feels segregated.
Apache has the insane performance going in its favor and FZ has redefined how a 150cc bike can look in India. Forget Apache as it’s a bigger engine, a guy confused between FZ and Dazzler will 70 percent of the times find himself landing in a Yamaha showroom, eventually and he has a good reason for the same! Dazzler is a very good product and there are no two ways about it but where it loses out is the ‘lack of identity’ factor. This is precisely the reason you would see us tightfisted while awarding the final points to this bike later in this section. Two thousand rupees lesser, this bike would have been a fantastic bargain but never has Honda compromised on pricing its products at a premium.
Nonetheless, Dazzler is a very apt bike for those who are bored of seeing Pulsars on Indian roads, don’t like GS150R for one reason or the other, can’t go for FZ because of its lower FE figures and the very plain looks of Unicorn do not excite them. Dazzler is for those who want to own a hasslefree Unicorn-like smooth engine but fear that their girlfriends might not like to sit with them on it. Summing it up, go for Dazzler if a Unicorn is what you are looking at which now comes with exciting goodies and the initial few glares come complimentary!
Bikeadvice Final Rating: 7.5/10
- Saad Khan
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{ 99 comments… read them below or add one }
Since Uni lovers will not be fond of high-rev characteristic of Dazz, I’m sure the Old Uni is way better than Dazzler!!
And, if you are still confused between FZ and Dazzler, I would advice you to go for the Yamaha one.
Great review by you guys!!
thanks for the good review…..
is this look like the upgrade of cb twister? right or not?
if they make dual colour tone as dispalyed on auto expo it will look great……
i doesnt looks like an upgrade of CB Twister
front look doesnt looks impressive (personal openion no hard feelings please)
rear looks like hunk
So even as per the Autor its unicorn like not better or equivalent to unicorn
kindly compare fz vs gs150 r and dazzler . Like unicorn whether it has tall gear ratio or not . So that we need not to change gears quite often in city riding
Dazzler is slightly more inclined towards performance than unicorn but dis difference wil translate into more buyers 4 it its to be seen
I think it all comes down to whether you have compromised fuel efficiency for higher power or settled for lesser power for more fuel efficiency.latest pulser 150 did the same i.e increased power to 15 BHP which resulted in slightly lower fuel efficiency.so if you can increase power/torque without any compromise on fuel efficiency you have surely done some inventions else done nothing very useful.
Hi All,
This question is only for Typical unicorn lovers.
Do u think dazzler is a better upgrade for unicorn all d way.
i m goin to book anyone of those within this week. i really need help from u guys. good mileage and low maintaince is wat i look for….Is the dazzler figure same as unicorn in d above 2 conditions ????????
Help me guys(Cb Uni lovers)….
GOOD REVIEW GUYS……………
Hi Saad, how does it compare with P135LS in performance, the figures you quoted for 0-60 & top speed seem to be in the same range.
hi chethan!! i think,maintenance wise dazzler will be same as unicorn.as far as fuel efficiency is concerned i would recommend
you to wait and refer to overdrive magazine to come up detailed
review which should come next month.since honda claims 60KM/ltr
i would say it will be very close to what they claim.personally i think it should be around 50 in city conditions.
hi,
I have completed 500km of my new dazzler…well i found it good bike…it gives me decent milage 50-55…
n performace is really good…in higways n city. U can say it is mixture of decent performace n milage…
As per Law of Nature, power is inverserly propertional to milegae, so…it gives good performace than Unicorn, not only because of extra 0.7bhp…but i think its due to light weight…it really pick up fast …n zooms…
Brakes are excellent…
Even i dont know, why they removed kick start? also the riding position should be more shopy n comfatable…
Dont know HONDA…kept in in b/w sort of bike…
not fully sporty ..nor fully commuter… LOL…
Overall its a good bike…if you are in dilema of purchasing FZ n dazzler? just ask youself, what is the priority of choosing bike, is it looks(FZ-Killer looks), performace(Apace), or milage?
or something in b/w which gives decent milage n good performace(Dazzler)?
Happy ridinig!!
the conclusion was good..
“Dazzler is for those who want to own a hassle free Unicorn-like smooth engine but fear that their girlfriends might not like to sit with them on it.”
tis is wat i thnk of Unicorn and dazzler/fz…
Unicorn is like ur wife and dazzler/fz is like ur grlfrnd…
u wil keep changing ur grlfrnds but wl keep ur wife for lifetime…
choice is urs…;)
@Aryan
good oneline meaningfull joke which itself tells so much.
completely agree with you Aryan.
old is gold. original is original, half hearted effort is half hearted efforts no matter if it dazzle with its fake wings.
hey, can you make out a shoot out between fz, GS-150R and dazzler?..it would be worth publishing!!…it clarifies a lot of queries regarding these 3 bikes!!
Ya the conclusion was gr8. i think FZ is for GF(being so small rear sit), but Dazzler i think – Wife/ GF both can sit….
Unicorn- Wife only sits… lol.
This is one of the best reviews ever published by Saad Khan. Keep it up man!
@chinmay…tats a very sarcastic comment u made on Unicorn..
njoy ur ride on Dazzler..
but somehow i feel Unicorn commands more respect than dazzler does..very early days u never know wats in store…:)
one straight question:
can u compromise on unicorn for dazzler?????
also adding up to my earlier comment:
my bike will seat my mother more often than my gf……
(will dazzler be comfortable for old people…..so tat i can seat both of them – of course not at same time guys)
I dont see drastic changes from Unicorn. I felt like Honda’s has failed in making the Dazzler sporty. There are few welcome changes, more power, rear disc, digital goodies. But where is the sport seating posture, clip-ons, spilt seat ? Even the younger sibling has some of these features. Honda should have done better.
@Raghav: Well, i took dazzler, b’coz of UNICON engine n realibility…so i cant be sarcastic to UNICORN…
Definatlty UNICON is one of the best bike in its own segment.
It has its own respect since it has been in market , for so many years.
@Shaiju: Ya, that what i mentioned earlier, HONDA has left in b/w. Split seat is there in Stunner…it looks really good.
Any way i choosed dazzler, becoz of all the reason, mentioned by Saad.
Pulser- Too common
GSR 150,UNICON: More or else same look..
FZ: Low of FE
Apace: Good in performace, but will u use that more of power n performance?
Hero Honda: One can relie upon.
Dazzler: Trusted, as it has same uNICON engine.
Its all my personal opinion.
@chetan: Dazzler wount be comfatable for older ppl..as my mom also..didnt sit in that. I have not put saree gaurd, as it will ruin look of bike. Also the upright rear sit,wont be confatable for many ppl..
U can go for UNICON..trusted n realiable…
I do not agree with this review. First thing Unicorn sales were never falling. Infact, it has increased a lot since its launch. When unicorn was launched people did not like it due to its bland looks and similarity to CBZ but then slowly began to realize that even though its styling is not par with the competition but it has got the marvelous engine, fantastic handling, superior comfort, perfect blend of performance and mileage and most important peace of mind. The long term reliability made people go for this wing horse. That is the reason we are seeing lot of unicorns here and there that it has become a common bike. If the sales are not proper we would have rarely found a unicorn. The booking period of unicorn is 45 days here in hyderabad that made me go for GS150R. Daily I see lot of new unicorns on my way to office even though we have better looking bikes in the market. Slowly we indians are changing the mentality and now began to realize that all that glitters is not gold. I have not met even a single person who is complaining about this bike infact they have praises for the bike. Go to any mechanic or a person who have sound knowledge of bikes and he will recommend unicorn. Second thing this is not a proper dazzler review. Nothing has been said about the performance of this bike. Even though the bike has just 0.7bhp more than unicorn, its sprints like anything, beats FZ16 in performance. The pickup is fantastic not just better than unicorn. I was totally amazed by its performance. Even the top end performance is so good that it can beat my GS150R whose top end performance is so good that it bagged the NDTV performance bike of the year 2010 award. It is the quickest 150CC to reach 100kmph. I recommend, guys do not stick to any review, go for a test ride especially long ones and check for yourself. When I first saw dazzler, I was totally taken aback but the test ride totally changed my view. Honda should have made it more sportier something like CB400 or hornet or even something like CBR150R would have been great. It does not look as good as FZ16 but it terms of performance beats all the 150CC bikes. Ride it to believe it.
Bro…….u made my day…….
unicorn is best in 150cc range in india…i bought my old unicorn 5 years back still its like 1st day i bought…and dazzler fullfill everything wch my old uni dont hav….all ready i got my dazzler its realy minblowing it has got better pick up,good breaking,mileage,better handling,stlyish….etc…go 4 it guys u ill get all u want….my byk easily beat all 150 range byks…even apache rtr 160….
Guys, I am very much confused between FZ-16 and dazzler…
Only thing that refrains me from buying FZ-16 is its mileage.
Personally I like FZ-16..
I don’t worry about Fz-16 price and small pillion seat…!!!
I have heard people saying 33-36 and some saying 45..I need to know what is the normal mileage one can get in city conditions????It should give me atleast 40 kmpl..If it reaches 44-46 kmpl then its a win-win situation for me!! My driving style is not rash/hard, just cruise at 50-60 km/hr..
PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!
Honda should have provided kick starter and clip on handlebars for this bike. Discarding kick start alone doesn’t make a bike sportier. As far as commuterish stance is concerned, I think honda retained it to make dazzler suitable for long rides. Sportier stance looks good but results in backache and arms pain after long rides. That’s the reason why fazer has more commuterish stance than FZ16 even though fazer looks more sportier than FZ16 or FZ-S.
@Ahmed
Nice writeup man. You are right that unicorn sales never dipped since it came to the market and is increasing day by day. That is the reason why honda took so long(6 years) to upgrade unicorn whereas others are constantly upgrading their bikes year after year. Why upgrade when product is well selling. Those who went for other brands considering looks and more value for money are now going for Unicorn selling their bikes because now they realized what value for money and peace of mind is. But personally, I do not like the current upgrade, dazzler. From the front, it looks like twister and the back resembles hunk. Sidewise it looks good. Yes, honda should have replicated CBR600R(Hornet). It looks awesome. I am yet to have a test ride of dazzler. But I heard from those who had a test ride that it has got fantastic pickup.
@praveen
Bro r u sure dazzler can beat rtr160?
I hv xtreme(14.2bhp) n hv seen hw strongly rtr160 pulled away frm me n it was da carb ver.
I dnt believe u no offence:)
Hi all..i have bought uni dazzler on May 31st…Completed my 15 days and it has touched 400kms…Only one word i can say is Awesome or excellent or great….now i m feeling the slogan of Honda “I Enjoy the Quality”it has very smooth engine with comfort riding…. its definitely a gud upgraded package than old unicorn…the wider rear tyre,sexy digi console,power increment and tubeless tyre gives u a pleasant driving and sporty look…paying just 4000 bucks extra u get thise upgrades than older Uni which is good value for money thing… In City riding i acheived mileage of 52…Depends on driving style..but it gives around 50-55 kmpl in city riding conditons…In top speed(60 – 70kmph)also bike doesnt makes noise and vibes..feels like flying….only doubt is it doesnt have kick start..oly elec start..i ve doubted and scared while hearing first..after enquiring dealr he said ..it comes wit MF battery and sure ther will be no prob for 4-5 years in battery….gear shift is really smooth and easy….braking is excellent…one more thing i like to clarify is here i seen in several posts that rear disk is risky and tough for fresh new first time riders…But the truth is rear disc is not powerfula s front one…i’ve felt rear dis is some wat 20 -30% sharper than drum brake…but ther is no question of riskiness in rear discs….on the whole its a sporty commuter,…..i m very much satisfied…it simply overtook old uni in all aspects…while comparing to pulsar(Poor per and ewngine and no comfort..only style) and gs(rust prob and relaiablity of engine) and fz(Better – but fails in mileage)..its better in all aspects…but it can beat the style of fz..but in performance and specs wise it has comparitively better than above 3…so guys go for it and Have a enjoyable riding…if any queries mail me to sun_vijay2003@yahoo.co.in …bye..
@ Ahmed, u r right!!! I know, nobody can tell a bad comment regarding unicorn if they have better knowledge and since my uni with me for the past 3yrs with 50-55kmpl on city and 60-70kmpl on highway
I am afraid if you right with Dazzler not having a pass switch! Is that correct?
Hello to all. Thanks to Saad Bhai and other readers specially Ahmed & Sunder.
I got delivery of my CBU Dazzler @ 26th May. It ran nearly 325 km, and what I percept is:
When I was looking for a bike, I go through all the reviews by actual users on this site. Looks is purely personnel choice, so I will not comment on that.
The conclusion of that was, Pulsars and Apache are performance king. Gr8 pickup &good racing style. But their engine becomes older soon. (According to some tech guys, its due to their short stroke engine. Only God knows the reality.) Both of them sounds & vibrates more after2/3 yrs of service.
When I took test ride HH bikes, (Hunk & CBZEx), found that there was noticeable vibration within all bike at moderate speed of 65/70. Feelings are unacceptable when u just took test ride of smooth bikes like Uni & FZ.
I didn’t found any charm in Suzuki GS. It was like jack of all, master of none. It feels & looks much bulkier than other bikes. (even at riding…) Maneuvering during traffic chaos is not good experience.
So I short listed my choices to Yam FZ and Honda Uni….
Well then, can we remind Yam Enticer… It was a cruizer bike sometime around 2002/2003. It had gr8 looks, style, and budget. But it slowly vanished out I feared out same for FZ. It has Gr8 looks, refined engine, Smooth sailing capacity but reliability? Surely not, when compared to Honda! I just thought how many Enticers are running on roads now? And how much 2002 Honda Eterno are there…I got my answer.
But making choice within Uni and Dazzler is simple task for me. I have to pay 4k more for a new bike, aggressive style, rear disk breaks and important… lighter body. (Digital speedo and side crawling is not so important for me.) I surely afford that. So without any doubt in my mind I booked Classic Uni 2 months ago but got delivery of Dazzler. (At last!)
In one line, I opted for better among good, and completely satisfied with it.
Sir, while you have made a sarcastic comment that those who want to buy Unicorn may not to do so for the fear that their girlfriends might not sit with them; in reality the contrary is true. Females very much enjoy serenity of this product from Honda. Moreover is it not true that the rear seat of unicorn is actually higher and far more importantly COMFORTABLE than what others are offering.
And this is the actual feeback received from my females friends.
would like to have comment of others!
Also would like to say that the semi digital console of the dazzler is in line with international sports bike. what say?
i am really very confused btn unicorn and dazzler……
i want it for a long term and i think dazzler is not that bad for a long term….as it has same engine. i dont see any shortcomings in dazzler compared to unicorn (looks doesnt matter).
My main need is for a long term bike and i feel unicorn like a old model and bulky….
so someone plz help…
Price sensitive buyers will definitely like P135 over Uni, Dazzler & FZ-16.. it offers equivalent performance with price tag difference of 10k..
equivalent performance??…….wanna have a race….??……..hahaha
Ravz, I agree to u..its just a myth among plp tat grlfrnds dont like sittin on unicorn…
i thnk tis statement applies only till the college level grls who r amateur to the core..i.e who live in Dhoom -2 world, once the grl sits on Unicorn she never has a prob in future…
i thnk the bikes like fz and apache or recent entry dazzler r good for those who do not hav grls n want thr bike to do the job for them
the above comments are directed only for the statement “grlfrnds dont like sitting on unicorn aka CB Unicorn”
@chethan, man u r one confused guy in this world…don’t take me wrong i can understand, its ur first bike…u hav to compromise on few things bcoz u cant get everything in life..
if money is not a prob for u its better u go for CB Unicorn and for just style statement u can buy a funky looking bike after 2yrs..i am waitin for OEM’s to come up wit a grt8 bike in next 3yrs…dazzler is new its a gamble that u take wen the product is new.
i know u will still b unsatisfied whether u buy Unicorn/dazzler
just compromise on few things or wait for 6 more months till dazzler is comprehensively tested on road…
@ pulsarboy
those who need a good quality,needed for their lifetime,reliability,resale value, comfort,mileage,performance…………..etc…. they wont definitely select bajaj, eventhough they come with 1000cc or 10000cc with 105 mileage in that…… otherwise that person may b a fool or a blind or like u, u just ride a UNICORN or a ‘branded’ product… u wil ignore the indian bajaj….. MIND THAT……..
@ Aryan,
U r probably rit. i have to compromise as i cant wait for 6 months or so….
i have booked a unicorn anyhow.
Thanks for ur reply…
This is for Chetan, bro you seem to be genuinely looking for a bike. Here is my opinion on your queries:
Yes, i think dazzler is a better upgrade from Unicorn; cosmetic wise (didn’t like the headlamp shape) though strongly believe that Honda guys could have set it apart from others in this class! Low maintenance and good mileage can be relied on only after a period of time so one needs to give that run in period to dazzler.
i don’t think there is any bike that can comfortably accommodate an older women as a pillion reason being seating posture is one sided which is actually a wrong way!!
Dazzler can be called ‘long termer’ only after a certain period of time; as i mentioned earlier. it does have advantage being from the stable of Honda. However i personally never go for new products straightway.
i hope i have answered all of your queries and now you have answer mine;
bro what do you mean to say ‘Typical Unicorn Lovers?’ Please explain.
@Ravz,
Unicorn is a benchmark for other vehicles….
N those people who dont want to divert themself from unicorn (bcoz of satisfaction or anything) are typical uni lovers….i.e; they dont want to try any other thing except uni….
Even i am a honda lover n dont want to go beyond it..tats y i ve no interest in other products other than honda…i am typical honda lover
Just tell me one thing isin’t unicorn a bike with lowest BHP in 150cc segment….
this makes me feel its not powerful enough compared to dazzler…
Any take on its pick up compared to other bikes….?
I think a reply to this will solve my confusions…..
yes Chetan you are right! even pulsar 135 has 13.3 bhp of power in its rear wheel. Dazzler has 14 bhp at 8500rpm similar to CBZ xtreme.
the article says dazzler may not race ahead than its current competitors but can manage to pace with them.(search the youtube for overdrive clips of dazzler review)
the tech specifications are already mentioned on net so why be confused. there have been reviews by dazzler users themselves. use them to get an idea of what is in store for you.
@ vimal.
If u like fz go for that man. My friend also own and he getting 52+kmpl at a speed of 60-90kmph. But at first 2000kms he only drive below 50kmph. Now clocked 18000kms in odo.
I am clearly disappointed with what honda has come up with. No doubt honda has the most refined engine but dazzler was supposed to look sporty! I was expecting a more naked bike on the lines of fz with the refinement of unicorn which honda is capable of producing but unfortunately didnt. This is really a half-hearted effort on the styling front from honda. If only honda would come up with a powerful and naked 180 or 200 cc machine with the refinement honda is known for!
@Pulsarboy
I definitely need to appreciate your optimism.
@Terror biker & nav.. I’m not suggesting everyone to stop buying Dazzler.. if you guys have money it’s your choice. Could you tell me what’s this bike offering more than P135LS.. (apart from monoshock & Rear disc)?? P135LS can smoke FZ anytime.. just read the comparo reviews published or try your hand practically. You guys are blind enough to read the comment in whatever way you want. I’m not here to start a Bajaj vs Honda war.. but I guess, I’m free to express my opinion. And yeah.. i have seen a lot of people like you guys, who can’t take a single good comment for Bajaj. P135 offers good performance & mileage at a cheaper price tag. People like you are foolish enough to believe that higher the price, better the quality. It’s not true.. you are paying that premium for brand perception. Just look at what HH doing.. selling CD-dawn with the same 100 cc engine as passion plus with huge difference in pricing. Get a grip on yourselves.. and see things in perspective.
Girls dont like to sit on Unicorn???
First of all, I must Salute the genious person on this blog to discovered this nobel prize award winning thing.
Basically friends, girls like boys first and then its bike…
Many beautiful girls seen as pilion on not just Uni, pulsar, Apache, but also on HH Splendor. (Mostly in last case…)
Do girls who sitting on splendor are crazy? absolutely not!
So dont make ur silly opinion based on biased view. This is like the Axe Effect ad.. (Lots of girls running behind a boy who sprayed the deo…insane!)
If any of bro want to take girl as pillion, then first look at himself. If ur good, girl will agree to come with u on even cycle.
Lets stop this stupid and misguided thought here, and let our discussion go thr’ the main object, which is about Dazzler and not pillion girls.
Dear All,
Unicorn is masterpiece from Honda but dazzler is not. Yestarday i visited Honda show room in Ahmedabad. But surprised to know that they are still waiting to sell the first bike where Unicorn has waiting period of 1 month.
It look so ugly and spoiled overall image of unicorn the old unicorn is far better and looks decent.
Honda has reduced the bike weight but how?
1. plastic parts
2. 17″ inch tyre and rim
3. No Kick lever
4. Front Headlight
5. Length 2073 (uni 2095)
6. Width 759 (uni 756)
7. Hight 1085 (uni 1100)
8. Wheelbase 1328 (uni 1340)
9. Fuel tank capacity 12 litre (13 liter)
Just one thing disc brake which increses kerb weight.
Honda started following Bajaj but not in the right manner using 17 inch wheel is good move but using ugly plastic parts spoils image. Honda is known for reliable and durable product but if it goes this way it will surely not work out. Instead if could have upgraded the same cb unicorn with new engine specification or launched sports version with same style of old unicorn.
one more thing honda actually has five variant for 150cc HH Hunk, HH Achiever, HH CBZ extreme, Honda Unicorn and Honda unicorn Dazzler but to be frank the total of the above bike sale is not equal to p150 and p180 sale. And with the addition of dicvoer 150 bajaj will become king of 150 cc. Just with two products it will have lion share in 150cc. Just wait for few months result will be out.
Thanks,
Regards,
Mahavir Kothari
@Gautam
“If ur good, girl will agree to come with u on even cycle”. Well said friend. Infact girls feel more comfortable on unicorn than any other bike like FZ16 etc. The reason is that the seat is so comfortable along with the smooth and silent engine that sometimes you feel like you are riding a car. True to its name Wing Rider. My wife never felt uncomfortable on my GS150R even after long long rides. It says that it really drives her crazy. GS150R is no way next to unicorn when it comes to comfort. Some guys do not understand it. They think if they have a sporty looking bike, even though not comfortable, girls will be pleased. The thing that is important to them is what looks cool to others rather than what feels good to us. We own bike for ourselves not for others. People go for honda not because of its brand name and “if price is high product will be better” mentality, but honda bikes are knows worldwide for excellent handling, super comfort, long term reliability and unbelievable engine refinement. These comes with high price. So we pay for it so that we have a troublefree ownership experience and that is what we get. Yes, hero honda is using the same honda engine in passion and all their 100CC bikes which was in CD100. I think it more than 20 years now. An engine developed 20 years back it still under production and serving the purpose. This speaks about engine reliability. Let me know which indian company has came up with an engine that is there for atleast 6 years. If bajaj or any other company provides this with less price then I will be the first to buy their product as I am an Indian.
Hi,
I live in Chennai. My first bike is a Splendor now its 7 years old and looking for a change. I decided to buy
150cc bikes and finally shortlisted Suzuki GS150R & Unicorn, later i find it difficult and confused to choose one among them since the reviews for both these bikes are good.
I request someone to guide me in selecting the best without compromise on performance, stability, city ride, durability and suitable for family man.
@ ahmed
Do you know we have e a two wheeler called TVSXL super and its engine
It is their in life for more than 20 years
Indian engines as good like honda
Am also using GS150R and my wife will be with me on every ride ans she feels comfortable
Honda is good; it may be best according to your preferencen but it can’t be the same for all others
I like the way you loved honda but comparing it to the comfortable of a car is way too much sir
pls help i am great confusion.i am going to take a bike.which one look better cb unicorn dazzler or yamaha fz?i havent seen a dazzler yet.but i have a deep trust in its engine bcoz its made by honda
@madhu
I am not a honda lover. If I am, then I would have bought unicorn or waited for dazzler. I bought GS150R as it is more value for money product and quite similar to unicorn. Honda and now suzuki made me to love them. I am not only talking about comfort but also engine refinement and smoothness. Honda Unicorn does have the most smooth and refined engine of the lot and overall ride sometimes feels like a car. I am refering to noiseless engine with smooth ride and comfort. Even GS150R feels the same minus noise. If I would have praised only GS150R then you would have shouted, “Yes,yes true”. Whatever we say, it is a fact that honda engines are known worldwide for engine refinement, suzuki for most value for money products and yamaha for performance.
The TVSXL super you are referring to has the suzuki engine buddy. When TVS has the joint venture with suzuki, suzuki use to provide engines for TVS as honda is doing for hero honda.
I don’t have any offence against indian companies but fact is a fact. Japanese engines are much much better than us.
what r those dusty images????
honda bikes are knows worldwide for excellent handling, super comfort, long term reliability and unbelievable engine refinement
as said my ahmed sir
@ Ahmed am not against honda or bajaj I did used tvs, bajaj, honda, suzuki and yamaha products
Currently I am using suzuki even if you compar GS150R with a car I would say the same words I would appreciate it to certain extent won’t go and compare it with harley davidson or a car.
that’s what I tried to convey you
Every bike has its own + and – futures
It can’t be averted
Am just pointed tvs 50 as an example vehicle which is in life for more than 20 yrs where the use is mostly by village people and merchants to carry heavy loads
That should be appreciated
It may have the punny 50cc engine but its still monopoly their is no competition for tvs in that segment
Even I did a test drive on unicorn its good and as u said its silent and refined but GS150R fits my family requirement
sorry if my comments hurts you in personnel by any way
Honda had great jerk with this waste dazzler design.All the up grades are good except the design. Twister looks great than Dazzler. no eye catching look like Yamaha FZ or like big Brother UNICORN.Honda india need to Shift all the upgrades to OLD UNI This is my wish Cost no matter.
Recently done a test drive and even noticed the same on a petrol bunk
Yes I am talking about the silencer note of dazzler is louder than unicorn even in idle
Dazzler users any comments on this ?
Always honda bike’s silencer note (exhaust sound) and engine noice is calm
It seems dazzler is exceptional in that
Hey. the images are cool; liked them!!!!!!
i want to buy bike, first i decided to buy dazzler but after reading poor reviews about dazzler I was confused. Now I can’t decide go for which one pul-150,hunk or unicorn, can any one help me?
@ arun: Well, if the dazzler has disappointed you, then have a look at HH Hunk as it will have the same credentials of being from uni engine. But it doesnt sport a digital console.
P-150 is also a good choice but maintainance can be an issue after 2 yrs.
do tell about ur decision!
Dazzler’s look is not so impressive but at d same time its not bad also….. its an excellent performance oriented bike…
Has power comparative to other bikes and mileage better tyhan all other bikes in market except unicorn and gs 150r.
Its an excellent value for money….
If u r above 28 or 30 go for unicorn….else just try dazzler….
i booked silver color dazzler today…..
Hi,
For those who still have confusion, pls go thru bikeindia.in, in review section check Executive bling. it shows the comparison of
dazzler with FZ & Apache.
definitely FZ(Awesome looks) & Apache(performance) as its USP.
Dazzler is one with good performance & good FE. Overall i expect the cost of running dazzler over the years will be less as compared to other two bike.
who selected the pics of dust ridden bike? repulsive enough. any one already jittery about dazzler would definetly recoil. serves the japs right. they still tend to think bike is to commute but in contrast, to us, it is a statement, an identity. let them keep launching craps and let us keep ignoring them.
hi,
please go thru vicky.in,it shows the comparsion of dazzler with fz . finally dazzler won with lot of credits
hi
i hav finished 2500 k ms with my unicorn dazzler
i get a mileage of around 55kmpl
good performance
im sure it can compete succesfully with any other 150 cc bikes in India
Hi
I’m planing to buy dazzler but,I saw in one review that rear disk is not effective in rain while riding with 2 people.IF IT IS TRUE in all cases then,
(i)it will create question about safty of bike.
(ii)similar can happen with HH K ZMR,RTR 180,PLS 220 & others.
I don’t have any experience of disk brakes.Confused!
@ Ishan,
Dear Ishan, you can create questions on any bike with disk brakes in case of rainy days. Every bike with disk brake got problem in rainy days.
I never drove a bike with disk before. Drove 3 bajaj bikes like CT100, Platina, and Discover DTS-si.
I got this Dazzler on 9th Aug. Trust me i drive it in rain, i drive it in water deep till your knees on road (co’z i have no choice but to cross that slop to reach home on that day only), i drive it on wet mud, If you drive carefully this bike is stable on road. I never feel like slipping, skidding or loosing balance while driving carefully in these conditions.
Keep Biking
Hi,
Finaly i bought this bike(black one).For me it looks realy good than the images.I desided to go for it because of milege & performance (& in my collage,FZ & Pulsars are common). 100 kms done and i’m fully satisfied.Its a great bike.I feel that its a very good combination of sport+commuter.
Few things i have noted,
(1)The breake is absolutley perfect and powerfull.
(2)I don’t feel any vibs. till 50km/hr(my max. speed).
(3)Gear shifting is very smooth and engine sounds very decent(i feel same as cbz x & hunk).
(4)Pickup is exelent.[I saw in the video review of bloomberg/UTV,where they calculated acceleration of dazzler (0-60 km/hr) that is 5.19 sec with stopping distance 17.3 meters in 2.13 sec(stopping time) & pickup of YAMAHA FZ-S a was 5.59 sec(0-60) with 14.89 meters stopping distance in 1.77 sec.]
(5)Blue digi. console with analouge techometer looks realy good(specialy at night).
(6)Milege not calculated perfectly but surley 50+.
(7)Chain sounds little while riding(i think same thing for other half chain case or open chain bikes).
I desided not go for FZ-S because of (1)low fuel economy(around 40).(2)Dazzler comes with rear disk break & viscous paper filter(i.e. low maintenence cost) and MF battery.(3)I don’t like FZ’s rear tiny seat.(4) R.s.2-3k extra(for Fz-S) than dazzler(in vadodara).(5)As in a review,it is little difficult to read the digi. techo.(of FZ) in sunlight.
This is my own opinion based on experience & what i saw in other reviews.The only style and looks,for which the liking differs from person to person but for me it realy looks like dazzling unicorn.
hi…
this is srikanth..
i want to purchase 150cc bike..
im totally confused to purchase dazzler r GS150?
plz help me.i will purchase in 1week only
i want dazzler performance
Hi
I would like to buy Suzuki GS150R or Unicorn Dazzler, could anyone suggest me which one will be the best to ride in hyderabad????????
Unicorn Dazzler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BuY iT………
hi guyz…
i got this bike just 20 days before. engine is smooth nd looks too.
drove 400kms… and mileage is also good 52KMPL
first service yet to be done…
hope this info. helps some new buyers…
wts the top speed u got man…….plz suggest pulsar 220 or dazz
Hey guys im really confused btween dazzz and pulsar 200
diff in money is of 10k
how fast dazzler can go………
plz suggest
thnx guys
Hi Friends..
I’m having plan to go with Dazzler/Unicorn or Suzuki GS150.. As this is dazzler review, I want to know whether we can rely on selfstart of dazzler.. myself in suburban area of city.. so in rainy days all roads would be water log.. Plz advice me whether lack of kick start will kick ourself from bike in rainy days.. and moreover whether rear disc brake is comfortable in rainy days..???? Kindly help friends…
hi……there is no problem with self start…they giv 3 yrs warranty on that….i didnt hav any problem wid self start nd rear disc…..dazzler is a good choice
hi.. srikanth
Thanks for your reply.. Could u confirm whether warranty is for self start or battery..???
it’s for battery….i have used this bike in rainy season and now winter season….no problem with self start and rear disc brake…
not for battery… battery covers one year only, power relay and electrical circuits only covers 3 years warranty… read the warranty booklet carefully… u will get this answer from your dear after one year…
Hi
Guys right now im too confused to buy the bike after seeing Unicorn Dazzler and Bajaj Pulsar now which is better kindly help and this message is only for bike riding experts as i want to know that how is the on road performance about mileage and the smoothness
unicorn dazzler — first service over….total 1000kms……..i maintain speed always in b/w 45-55kmph…………mileage :in city– 52kmpl….nd on high way — 55kmpl….. it’s very smooth compared to pulsar,apache,gs150
i too own a dazzler i’m very much satisfied with its smooth engine…. really easy to handle in heavy traffic and it also gives a sporty look…. then i was fully stisfied with its mileage of 50+ in chennai city traffic and the mono suspension which is good…. i was unhappy about quality of fibres that have been used as a visor and the covering of tail lamp….
Hi Guys,
I’m in Bangalore and ‘ve been using Sports car(Fiat Palio) for my daily commutation so far.
Recent fuel price hike,my car’s mileage and city traffic are making me get a bike for daily ride.
This is my requirement.I am looking for a 150CC bike with following factors.
1/City mileage is important.For highways,I always use my car.
2/Comfort riding position,good suspension and less weight should be considered.
3/Maintenance should be less.Digital meters should not bring me a regular maintenance cost.
4/Decent performance is Ok.
5/Safety(like front/rear disk brakes)
I like Unicorn than Dazzler ‘cuz of its simple look and less digital gadgets(also it has a kick-start).
We have Yamaha Sz-R there too. I test rided but not convinced.
Pulsar is powerful but it brings maintenance and less mileage than other 150 cc bikes.
So,what do u experts suggest me go for,either Unicorn,Dazzler or …?
Pls help me from here,
Cheers.
hi, i think u already know the answer but need a confirmation. yes u r right, uni fulfills all these criterion.
u can goggle comparison b/w uni and dazzler provided elsewhere. uni doesnt come with rear disc but the drum brake is sufficient; all u need to do is to use the front and rear in tandem. rest assured its comfort, riding position and safety is above par.
hope it helps!
Hi Ravz,
Thanks for the comments.
I have booked Unicorn this week.It seems like it takes around 50 days until delivery.
Will post further once Unicorn is in my hands.
Cheers.
Hey .. read all the comments.. have half my mind inclined towards the dazzler .. but very confused.. my gf wants me to buy a pulsar 180 .. but I’m very apprehensive about it’s clutch and other problems that I’ve read over the internet.. can u guys tell me which is better.. and why?
Thanks in advance
I think u have better to buy DAZZLER
My height is 6.1 ft would it suit me wid respect to height ….. does it hv same height like fz and ol …??
I get my Dazzler in SWORD SILVER colour
I think Golden is better
I hav a doubt about the open chain provided in the dazzler. how do I keep it clean and lubricated.can anybody suggest me please.
Hi…guys..me too guys like all of u….i had seen all comments of the review on dazzler and went to showroom and took test drive the first experience of the drive is very dazzling to me and i booked the bike in suryabala showroom in CBE and got after 15 days….my dazzler is night fury black good service is offered in this showroom on my experience….
hiiii my name is sujith i am totally confused which one is better dazzler or shine pls guys help me to take a decision !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reviewing a bike which has not fully fitted with its parts?
Dazzler has got the PASS LIGHT, mind it
dazzler is good . but self start too poor .
I wanted lightweight bike, so i had booked dazzler in July. But Honda dazzler is not available in showroom since August 2011. Showroom people say dazzler production has stopped. Why, nobody knows. They say next batch of dazzler will come only in 2012.
Anyway, without kicker, dazzler sales were very less. Removing kicker and giving low-power 4 Ah battery in dazzler was stupid of honda. Dont compare with cars. Cars have powerful 30 Ah to 100 Ah batteries and cars have fuel-injection, which enables efficient ignition. Yamaha R15 also has fuel injection, not carburetor. Dazzler has carburetor. Maybe new dazzler will get more-powerful battery or kicker now, since new yamaha Fz-S has kicker.
Also, I think honda is concentrating more on Activa (50%) and Twister (20%) which together account for 70% of honda sales every month and give better profit. Shine, unicorn, dazzler, dio, and aviator together contribute the remaining 30% sales or even less. I want to buy a lightweight bike, and my options are SZ-R, FZ-S, and RTR180. RTR180 has rear disk and kicker also. For big bike choice, i prefer Gs150r or Hunk over Cb-unicorn, as unicorn is outdated and lacks many features.
Only 1 question… why the low power battery is installed in dazzler as compare to uni…. since dazzy dnt hv kick.. Its fully depend upon the self start…is honda is stupid? can i change d battery upto 7 ah like unicorn after 1 year