Honda CB Unicorn 150 ABS: 5 Things You Need To Know

What do you get for the premium of Rs 6,500? Let’s find out

Honda has updated one of its most popular motorcycles, the CB Unicorn 150, for 2019, and given it a price tag of Rs 78,815, ex-showroom Delhi. However, it continues to look the same and feature the same mechanicals, while being Rs 6,500 more expensive. So, what exactly has changed?

1) Now comes with ABS

Honda has updated the CB Unicorn with a single-channel ABS unit. This is the same unit we’ve seen on the CB Hornet 160R. However, while the Hornet 160R ABS model (which received a similar safety aid update a while ago) is priced at a premium of Rs 5,500 over the standard model, the Unicorn 150 hikes up that premium to Rs 6,500. Why? 

Also read - Honda CB Unicorn 150 ABS Launched At Rs 78,815

2) It gets tubeless tyres 

Along with the new single-channel ABS unit, the Unicorn 150 also comes with front (80/100) and rear (100/90) tubeless MRF Nylogrip Zapper tyres. However, this update isn’t exclusive to the ABS variant and can be also be found on the standard variant. Speaking of which...

3) The standard model hasn’t been discontinued. Yet

Post the 1 April 2019 deadline, no two-wheeler above 125cc without the safety net of ABS will be allowed to register. This indicates that the standard Unicorn 150 will only be available on sale for the next month. 

4) It remains unchanged mechanically and cosmetically 

Other than the addition of ABS and tubeless tyres, there really isn’t anything new here -- unless you count the ‘ABS’ logo on the front fender. Powering it is still the same ultra-refined 149.2cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine which churns out 12.9PS of power and 12.8Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed gearbox. During our road test, the motorcycle returned an efficiency of 57.18kmpl.

5) It’s got some competition

The Honda CB Unicorn 150 ABS continues to compete against the Hero Achiever (Rs 69,050) and the Bajaj Pulsar 150 (Rs 76,800, both ex-showroom Delhi). While there has been no news of the Hero Achiever getting an ABS update, the Bajaj Pulsar 150 ABS was recently spied testing. Expect the pricing of the latter two motorcycles to go up but not by a huge margin.