The new ride is here : Honda Unicorn Dazzler
Three months ago I wanted to buy a cruiser, I had only two options, Royal Enfield or Bajaj Avenger. Now, RE is something which is disliked in my family. Although, I was still looking for a used one I couldn’t get a good deal. The best I got was a 2000 model Bullet for 55k 
And the Avenger, it seems even Bajaj is not interested in selling it. I asked at showroom here, they said they don’t sell it here and that I have to buy it from Calicut. Well, that didn’t inspire confidence in me for the bike, adding it to the general cruiser issues like ‘handling’ in traffic.
Now, I slowly started loosing interest in the cruiser segment and started focusing on commuter bikes with decent power to do trips when needed. After some digging through showrooms, internet and peoples minds, I landed on this beauty.
I didn’t like its name though. Riding Unicorn sounds like I’m some fairy tale princess riding a white horse with a stick on top of its head. “Dazzler” ? The closest words I can remember are Dazzling or Bedazzled which again sounds like from some Barbie doll commercial.
But its a Honda, its smooth, although I haven’t gone above 60 yet, (didn’t want to push it till the 1st service) it felt smooth. There is decent fuel efficiency of about 55+ KMpL, there is a rear disk brake as a added security measure. But above all, I felt good riding this bike and that’s all I needed, to put a smile on my face.
The bikes I looked before buying the D where,
- FZ16/FZS – This Yamaha is in my mind even before it was released, even when my cousin looked to buy R15, I was more inclined to the FZ16. I mean, there is not a single angle on this bike that you feel is wrong, anywhere you look, its style dripping. Once I even confused the FZ1 for FZ16. Its an unbelievably beautiful piece on indian roads. Love Yamaha for that.
~ Maybe its the 7-10kmpl mileage drop or the lack of rear disk brake or the 2000 INR more than the Honda that made me switch to Dazzler.
- Apache RTR 180 – After driving this bike, if I had little time to think, I would’ve definitely chosen it. Its Powerful, too much powerful for its price, its just 3k more than the dazzler and you get everything the honda gives you including the rear disc breaks. I still love its design more than the Dazzlers. “And” you have a Kick start in it (The Cherry on top ?). 
And the Power delivery ? I can’t define it. Love it !
~ The seating position, as the bike deserves, is more sporty and leaned forward. But considering that I work all day sitting on chair with back aches, I do not want to go sit on that for a ride after a hard day. Nope.
Enjoying the Quality 
Nice bike and its stable @ 80kmph too ( I strained it before its first servicing
) BTW its stable @ 60kmph in rainy season too.
haha nice ! I went for a ride today in rain, it got so heavy that I had to stop n take shelter in a bus shelter. But today I was satisfied that it can take on the monsoons here, it had taken one hell of a shower today.
Congrats mate! Its a Honda, afterall!
I too ‘m looking forward to getting a bike – confused between a FZ16 and D. This post of yours tips the scales in the D’s favour…
ya… dude. truly honda… i ve to got it 2 weeks b4.. its real smooth. but sometimes it goes neutral while changing from 4th to 5th gear. dunno y?
Neutral while changing from 4th to 5th gear ? Thats really odd, check with the service mechanic asap.
Ya it happened with me 2 times till date that it got neutral while changing from 4th to 5th gear O_o I thought I’m bad in changing gears
Hmm, i don’t see the logic, im no mechanical mind but how can it shift to neutral from 4-5`th isn’t it the last option ? I mean it has to come down from 4,3 & 2 right ? It din’t happen to me, completed 1422km now.
Arey matlab 4-5 gear ke beech atak jaata hain aur when accelerator do to RPM shows too much reading like in neutral !!
Oh! hehe. It happened to me once, but I guess its bound to happen in any bike.
Thanks Sreejith For posting the pics.
I am planning to buy this bike soon.
will get in touch with you in case i have some Queries
Anytime Arpit
Very good post. Apache RTR has got decent looks with neat finish and great pick up. Sharing my personal experience – Most of the time i find people giving a definite glare at my bike.
hmm…danx 4 d post..but am still confused…i dont think u mentioned d price of dis beast.hw much did u get it 4?am lookin fwd 20 buying a byk..n Unicorn has always been ma fav since my 1st ride on it..n nw thtr is CB unicorn n d dazzler..cant make up my mind.shud i go 4 d dazzler?or shud i go 4 s FZ, considering d xtra 2000 as jus a price 4 d reliability of Yamaha?plz inform abt d price n ur advice..
thank u!
@Sanjay , It was 72k on road whereas the FZ16 is 75k. You should go for the one you feel good on. The extra 3000 is for the good looks of the Yamaha, apart from the looks the Honda beats it in Pick-up, reliability of the proven unicorn engine and value for money.
@sreejith, danks buddy,but i hear dat it doesnt hav d kick start n engine kill button .. is dat true?absence of kick start is a major -ve isnt it?i mean,wat if d self start fails 4 sum reason?u get stuck ryt?also,i read a lot of reviews of users complaining abt d speedometer area..says dat 4 a bike of above 70k,d meters n display sucks..u r a user ryt?wats ur opinion?
@Sanjay Nope, it doesn’t have both. But I don’t think its a -ve point though, FZ16, R15 and most of super bikes or cars don’t have kick start. Honda gives your maintenance free battery.
Now even if in the worst case, say the battery is stolen, then you can just put the bike on gear then push and start.
Speedo Display, I like it, I have uploaded the pic and it seems decent enough for me. I like the fact that it tells time too
Now the beauty is in eyes of the one who looks, so if you hate the display so much, then try some other bike 
Engine kill button, I missed this feature at first, as I had it in my previous bike but I got used to it. Unless you switch off often in stop-go traffic, you won’t miss it.
k..danx 4 d info..
@sanjay I’ve drove it upto 85, meter is not stucked, and ya regarding kick start, you can start your bike by putting it in first gear and try to move forward ( from slope or someone helping to push you and I’m having experience of starting like that when battery connection losed
)
hello friend..
i am from chennai,after a long reviews in websites and from my friends..i came to a conclution to buy this cute bike..but i have a doubt i,e i have seen this same bike in a concept model which is white and red combined colors help me with this doubt can i get that coloured bike in any honda show room will it be available in any chennai show rooms??please reply to my mail..i am eagerly waiting for your reply..
thanks in advance…
@Arasu Nope, it was only a concept model, they have not released the bike with the white/red combination. Only available colours are Red, Black, Grey & Gold. Though you can go for a custom paint job later
Dear Sreejit, I got this bike on 9th Aug and going for the first service on 22nd Aug. Can u tell me what is actual fuel efficiency before any service and after 2 or more services.
This gear slipping problem between 4th and 5th gear, I am also facing it.
I will let you know after servicing.
Kindly tell me on my mail id inderjeet@delhirocks.com
Regards
Inder Jeet
hello sreejith,
im a final year B.E student by profession, i went through ur review sometime in july b4 i got my bike booked and on this 11th of aug i got it delivered, had travelled around 250kms till date nd clocked a top speed of just 70 as adviced by many to drive smooth for the first 1k kms, nd i wanted to ask u a few questions as this is my first bike n i seldom knw bout its maintenance:. . . . .
1. how to knw whether the tyre has got punctured bein a tubeless one , i.e how to detect
2. wat to get inspected during the 1st service ????
3. any increases in milege after the 1st serv with respect to b4 ????
thank u nd hopin to hear from u asap. . .
Hi sreejith….
I am srijit too……i am quit inclined towards buying the dazzler….and i became more interested after i saw your reviews…..atleast now i have someone to ask to incase of any problems….bye…..will keep in touch when i finally buy this beauty…
HI I AM THE FAN OF HONDA BIKES AND FIRSTLY WHEN HONDA LANCHED TO INDIA I BECAME MAD ABOUT HONDA UNICORN AND IT WAS MY DREAM BIKE AFTER SO MY YEAR I AM TAKING MY NEW HONDA UNICORN CB DAZZALER ON 8-OCT-2010
Hai,
I’m from Alappuzha. I would like to know the features of dazzler. Please tell me the pros & cons of the bike. What about the no kick & toe only gear lever problems of the bike? Is it reliable only on electric start?
Thanks sreejith i had lots of confusion between these bikes…. i choosed dazzler which is perfect combo of power,performance, comfort and fuel efficency…. i booked my bike… I will be delivering it in 2 weeks…. Thanks for commments bro…..
Hi,
Can I know if there is any disadvantage of having two disk break ? … I mean is it risky to apply breaks or do we need to be extra careful to use these breaks ?
Hi,
Can I know if there is any disadvantage of having two disk break ? … I mean is it risky to apply breaks or do we need to be extra careful to use these breaks…….. ?
Thanks in advance
Hi,
I booked my unicorn by march received it by October.. They gave me a option to go to new version. Two things that made me not to agree. They were no kick start and half chain covering.. Apart from that the new is good looking…
I’ve hit 110 with my bike.. but the sad part is I did it before 1 service itself. The bike that i longed for so long .. when i had it in my hands , i got too tempted…
Didn’t really found any prob with my bike. rode 3200 kms… but one prob happens freq,, gear slippage b/w 4th and 5th gear…
Please let me know if some one has either got a solution for it or is it not a problem at all..
Nice website
Thanks folks,
@Gopal chances of your Girlfriend flying in sky is high if you apply Brake when you are riding at high speed. Damn these girls, always on dieting x_x
In short drive safely
HAI evrybdy..
got ma CB UNICORN dis nu yr..
me 2… got 4th-5th gr shft problm..(BUT GT SOLVED NOW..!)
FIRST OF ALL……….
ITZ NOT BIKZ PROBLM DEAR..”"DO NOT SHIFT FRM 4th–5th at lower RPM..”"(DUDE’ Itz not 100cc WITH 4GEARS)
LET YOUR BIK ATTAIN CORRECT TORQUE (RPM) ..ELSE GEAR WHEEL WONT B WELL SEATED ND WILL SLIP..
TRY & GIV FEED BACKS…
“”Unicorn produces almost same power (13.3 bhp) like its competitors so that it could claim to be equally powerful but produces its maximum torque (1.3 Kgm) at a lower rpm (5500) compared to the Pulsar (1.3 @ 6500 rpm) so that it kept the rider in the lower RPM to aid fuel efficiency.”"
GIVEN BELOW R GEAR RATIOS OF YAMAHA FZ
1st 2.714:1
2nd 1.789:1
3rd 1.318:1
4th 1.045:1
5th 0.875:1 (5TH TO WHEEL)
GIVEN BELOW R GEAR RATIOS OF UNICORN
1st 3.077:1
2nd 1.789:1
3rd 1.304:1
4th 1.091:1
5th 0.938:1 (5TH TO WHEEL)
FROM ABOVE GET (4TH gear ratio-5TH gear ratio)DIFFERENCE
0.153 FOR UNICORN
0.160 for PULSAR 150
0.162 for CBZ EXTREME
0.170 for YAMAHA FZ16
SO DER Z TENDENCY FOR GEAR SLIP MORE IN UNICORN & LESS through to FZ……
which colour looks best for dazzler?
hey hi! i got my new bike last week and completed 300kms already!I am unable to check my mileage…..how should i? can anyone help?