A Sober Beast

A dusky day was in its midst,the highway had a sheet of rain water giving it a matt silvery finish on the tarmac. I was on my way back home,it was then when I decided to call my friend & go for a ride on his new ride the Honda Unicorn CB Dazzler. "A sober beast" were the 1st words that came in my heart when I first saw it,that was due to the PEARL NIGHTSTAR BLACK colour which caught my attention. Originally offered by the company from its range of total four colours

1)Armour Gold Metallic

2)Pearl Siena Red

3)Pearl Nightstar Black

4)Sword Silver Metallic

The speciality of these colours is that in spite of being metallic,they give a special sparkled effect,that dazzles when projected under sunlight or any other light source.I guess its when the company might have thought of a name as CB Dazzler. The Batman shaped cowl fitted on the tank makes it look like a superhero's machine.

CB DAZZLER is lighter as compared to other bikes & its elder sibling, the Honda Unicorn. It is faster, meaner, agile & along with the above features it is very much stable.
The idea to lauch the CB DAZZLER was to completely capture the market of the 150 cc segment. Dazzler is powered by 14 horse powered engine with a newer cam shaft that makes the ride more refined & redifined. Being light, it has a feather like handling in the traffic & also on the highway it is pretty amazing. With very good gear ratios, the knocking phenomenon is avoided to a great extent even at low rpm's. It has a very good acceleration even when decently loaded.

The suspension has three modes, that can easily set by the tool given by the company. The 1st mode is the neutral or the normal mode, where the bike can be driven in the normal conditions, the 2nd mode makes the ride stiffer. Compatible for those who constantly travel with a pillion & the third mode makes the spring softer making it the best for a single rider travelling in any conditions, yes I mean any conditions.

Our journey was a joy ride of 110 km, to a hill station known as Lonavala, which is a preferred destination for all automobile enthusiasts, as it is not only the road but also the eternal climate during the monsoons. The bike weighs 138 Kg unladen, it was further loaded with a weight of 185 kg, no guys you are getting it wrong 'yokozuna' wasn't our test rider, it is the combined weight of the rider & the pillion. Since it was the 1st month after its purchase, we were under the impression that till the running-in period or till the 1st service the speed shouldn't exceed more than 55-60 km/hr. The average speed of our journey was 60 km/hr, that was achieved @ 4500 rpm. Later did we realized that the company did not prescribe any speed limits or rev limits. Had we known about no pumping limits, we could have completed the trip sooner.

The goodwill of the extra 0.7 bhp is seen when the ghats began, on the turns it does not require to be shifted down at every corner, this is because of the crisp engine, amazing gear ratios, the diamond chassis & above all the mono shock suspension when put together speak for themselves. The handling was simply amazing even when it rained, there was no such turn or curve or an instant where I couldn't lose faith in its handling, especially braking thanks to the rear 220mm disc brakes. Apart from the conventional KBX brakes previously offered, they have been successfully replaced by 'Nissen', the same set of brakes are installed in Kawasaki Ninja 250R & Yamaha R15.
The overall economy was 47.1 Km/L & it was even before the 1st service. However the company claims 60 km/L which is not difficult to achieve in a HONDA, with proper driving habits. The blue display is soothing while riding through the night & is not flashy at all. The mirrors are in an attractive SEPTAGON shape mainly to avoid braking in case of a minor fall.

The dazzling baby had no great issues or complaints, the only issue could rise would be the electrical buttons if not properly covered with separate plastic covers. Tyres are originally fitted with MRF NYLON ZAPPER SOFT COMPOUND TYRES, these tyres are not the best but they are fitted by maximum companies due to its competitive cost in its segment. The best suited for the purpose is DUNLOP, as it offers the best grip & life period in every season & driving conditions. The major issue that caught my notice was the fogging of the turning indicators in such a less period of time. HONDA popularly known as "THE POWER OF DREAMS", has surely not compromised in its power but a bit in its plastic quality.

My verdict is that it would be a wise decision to go for the CB DAZZLER, a few thousands would rarely matter, because for the price you pay, you get it all. Power , Pick-up , Fuel Economy , Looks, Modern styling & design, A trusted name like HONDA. Do note that discounts offered are very less, as it is a hot new launch but you can definitely give it a try. There are a few dealers claiming a waiting period of over a month but as my friend had directly picked up his bike from company stock yard, they have more than enough bikes at hand to fulfill the demand.

I would like to thank Dinesh Motwani, as this blog could not have been written without him.

The bike has following specifications as given by the company.

Weight/ Measurements/Chassis:

Kerb weight: 138 kg

Fuel tank capacity: 12 litres

Width: 754mm

Length: 2073 mm

Height: 1085 mm

Ground clearance: 162 mm

Wheelbase: 1328mm

Chassis: Advanced Design Diamond Frame

Tyre type: Tubeless

Front suspension: Telescopic fork

Rear suspension: Mono suspension 3 step adj

Rear tyre: 110/80 17- M/C 57P

Front: 80/100 17-M/C 46P

Rear Brake tyre: Disc 220 mm dia

Front Brake tyre: Disc 240 mm dia

Engine & Transmission:

Transmission: Constant Mesh, 5 speed gear

Gear shift pattern: 1 Down- 4up

Engine: Air cooled, 4 Stroke, SI engine

Torque: 1.3kg@ 6500 rpm

Displacement: 149.1 cc

Net Power: 14 bhp@ 8500 rpm

Air filter: viscous paper filter

Carburettor/ fuel injection: Carburettor

Starting system: self

Electrical:

Chain case: Half

Ignition: Digital CDI (Multi Mapping)

Headlamp: Halogen 12V 35/35 W

Battery: 12V-4AH Maintenance Free

Inst panel: Blue Din Digital

Overall HONDA offers a very intelligent & a smart deal with the following prices

Delhi: Rs 62,900 (Ex-Showroom)

Mumbai: Rs 74,000 (On-Road)

Bangalore: Rs 70,715 (On-Road)

Kolkata: Rs 64,390 (Ex-Showroom)

Guys do read the next blog addressing the high speed & extreme performances of the HONDA UNICORN CB DAZZLER.

Till then

DRIVE SAFE..BE SAFE..

- Vikas Bhatia