Honda Unicorn To Soon Get A Sportier Sibling

This one could be named the Honda SP160. 

• Honda will aim to capitalize on the Unicorn moniker. 
• It could feature the Unicorn’s engine with some tuning updates.
• Once here, it’ll rival bikes like the Bajaj Pulsar 150, TVS Apache RTR 160 2V and the Yamaha FZ-FI. 

Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) has officially released a teaser of its newest bike set to hit the market in the coming weeks. From the teaser, it appears to be a sporty commuter, possibly based on the Unicorn model but with a few modifications to the 162cc, single-cylinder engine. 

It is highly likely that the new Honda bike will be based on the Unicorn, which comes with a 162cc air-cooled engine. This decision makes sense because the 100-110cc segment already includes the new Shine 100 along with the Honda Livo and CD 110 Dream. Moreover, the 125cc segment is covered by both the Shine 125 and the sportier SP 125. 

The teaser suggests that the upcoming bike will feature a muscular fuel tank with tank extensions, a split-seat setup, a chromed-out exhaust heat shield, and an integrated pillion footrest with the saree guard. The taillight stands out with a striking design, looking like a split-setup from the top but actually forming a V-shaped design in full view. Both the taillight and the expected LED headlight add a touch of modernity to the bike, while the indicators will likely be bulbs. As for the suspension, it is likely to have a telescopic fork and monoshock setup.

In terms of pricing, we can expect the new Honda motorcycle to command a slight premium over the current Rs 1.09 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) price tag of the Honda Unicorn. This could place the upcoming model in the range of around Rs 1.12 lakh. Once launched, the new Honda motorcycle is anticipated to compete with other popular models like the Bajaj Pulsar 150, TVS Apache RTR 160, and the Yamaha FZ-FI.