Honda Eterno

Honda Eterno is India's first 150cc geared scooter. Honda Eterno is giving tough competition to motorcycles as it gives a mileage of 60 km per litre under actual riding conditions.

Honda Eterno is a tough & sleek 4-stroke 150cc scooter. Honda Eterno has been specially developed keeping in mind the requirement of the middle-class Indian who seeks to carry his entire family and/or goods on his vehicle. The loads of storage space in the under seat box, the wide and flat foot board, the bag hook and the side grab rail are indicative of Honda Eterno's India centric focus.

Honda Eterno comes with a wheel-side design, that packs engine & drive system into one unit, and hence makes the engine compact & light and as a result delivers more direct & efficient power transmission. Due to its excellent aerodynamic design, Honda Eterno encounters 20% less air resistance than other scooters in this class.

Honda Eterno's ergonomic design and excellent weight balance reduces riding fatigue. The optimization of weight balance lends more stability to the scooter and as a result there are no tail swings even on sudden braking.

Honda Eterno has several innovative features. It comes with patented one-direction gear system like a motorcycle that makes it easier to locate the neutral and reduce stress on the wrists while changing gears. Honda Eterno also has a neutral lock that prevents the scooter from accidentally jumping while starting.

Honda Eterno is equipped with several safety and toughened features. These include waterproof electrical components, stainless steel tuff-up cable, and tuffup wheels.


Honda Eterno Technical Specifications:

Engine
Type	4-Stroke, Single Cylinder, Air Cooled
Displacement	147.7 cc
Max. Power	6.0 KW (8.2 bhp) @ 6000 rpm
Max. Torque	10.63 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Transmission	4 Speed Constant Mesh
Starting	Kick
Electricals
Systems Voltage	12V
Headlamp	35/ 35 W
Chassis
Clutch	Wet Multiplate
Frame	High Rigidity Under Bone
Dimensions (lxbxh)	1810 x 716 x 1132 mm
Wheel Base	1247 mm
Ground Clearance	161 mm
Suspension
Front	Bottom Link, Spring Loaded Hydraulic Damper
Rear	Unit Swing, Spring Loaded Hydraulic Damper
Tyre Size
Front	3.50 - 10, 4PR
Rear	3.50 - 10, 4PR
Brakes
Front	DRUM, 130 mm DIA
Rear	DRUM, 130 mm DIA
Fuel Tank
Capacity	4.5 litres

Honda Dio

Honda Dio is India's first motoscooter. It is attractively styled and catches attention with its stunning looks. Honda Dio's cutting edge technology and style put it far ahead of its competitors. Dio's extensive use of resin and distinguished styling impart it a motorcycle feel.

Honda Dio is equipped with 4-stroke 102 cc engine. It delivers a peak power of 7 Bhp @ 7000 rpm and a peak torque of 0.8 Kg-m @ 5500 rpm.

Honda Dio is ergonomically designed and quality of its components and controls is top-notch. Dio's sleek, aerodynamic, wedge design, and its lightweight body result in improved fuel economy and riding pleasure. Honda Dio's slim design aids in easy navigation through heavy traffic.

Honda Dio is equipped with several safety features. It has long front suspension that offers a long stroke. Honda Dio's effective shock absorption maintains superb riding comfort and allows a pleasing ride. It offers better front/rear balance even when carrying a passenger and remains balanced during emergency braking. Honda Dio comes with tuffup tube, which prevents the sudden loss of air pressure by sealing holes or cuts made in the tube by the piercing foreign object.



Honda Dio Technical Specifications:

Engine
Type	4-stroke, Single cylinder, air cooled, OHC
Displacement	102 cc
Max. Power	7 Bhp @ 7000 rpm
Max. Torque	0.8 Kg-m @ 5500 rpm
Transmission	V-matic
Ignition	Self / Kick
Electricals
Battery	12V, 5Ah
Headlamp	35W
Chassis
Frame	High rigidity Under Bone type
Dimensions (lxbxh)	1760 x 710 x 1110 mm
Wheel Base	1235 mm
Ground Clearance	145 mm
Weight Distribution (front/rear wheels)	40:60
Suspension
Front	Bottom Link with spring loaded hydraulic damper
Rear	Unit swing with spring loaded hydraulic damper
Tyre Size
Front	3.50 - 10, 4 PR
Rear	3.50 - 10, 4 PR
Brakes
Front	Drum, 130 mm dia
Rear	Drum, 130 mm dia
Fuel Tank
Capacity	6 litres

Honda Activa

Honda Activa is the first scooter launched by Honda in India. It is designed as a family two-wheeler and features higher load carrying capacity.

Honda Activa is popular for its practical styling, ease of use, better ride quality and the excellent 102cc engine. Its compact body offers ease of handling and delivers performance and reliability. As regards looks, Activa is a perfect combination of curves, creases and flawless paint finish.

Honda Activa is equipped with 4-stroke 102.1 cc engine. It delivers peak power of 7 bhp @ 7000 rpm and peak torque is 0.8 Kgm @ 5500 rpm. Honda Activa has a highest ground clearance of 145 mm in its class and its riding position is specially designed to make handling easy and reduce rider fatigue.

Honda Activa comes with a host of utility features. These include tuffup tube and CLIC mechanism. The Nylogrip tyres have a double walled tube filled with fluid. In case of puncture the fluid fills in the gap and seals off the puncture thus preventing air from escaping. The Convenient Lift Up Independent Cover (CLIC) mechanism makes maintenance easier and faster.


Honda Activa Technical Specifications:

Engine
Type	4-stroke, Single cylinder, air cooled, OHC
Displacement	102 cc
Max. Power	7 Bhp @ 7000 rpm
Max. Torque	0.8 Kg-m @ 5500 rpm
Transmission	V-matic
Ignition	Self / Kick
Electricals
Battery	12V, 5Ah
Headlamp	35W
Chassis
Frame	High rigidity Under Bone type
Dimensions (lxbxh)	1765 x 715 x 1130 mm
Wheel Base	1235 mm
Seat Height	760 mm
Ground Clearance	145 mm
Suspension
Front	Bottom Link with spring loaded hydraulic damper
Rear	Unit swing with spring loaded hydraulic damper
Tyre Size
Front	3.50 - 10, 4 PR
Rear	3.50 - 10, 4 PR
Brakes
Front	Drum, 130 mm dia
Rear	Drum, 130 mm dia
Fuel Tank
Capacity	6 litres

Honda Unicorn Limited GP Edition Unicorn

New Unicorn

Old Unicorn

Honda has also launched a 2008 Limited GP Edition Unicorn.. and this is how it looks.
Honda has also decided to refresh its 150 cc Unicorn with new stickers and paint scheme.. That's all that is new in the 2008 edition Honda Unicorn. The bike still feature the same 13.3 bhp engine and other specifications as the older Unicorn.

The alloys have improved the staid looks of the Unicorn. Honda could have done well without the Chrome on the Headlamp and the side panels.

The Black Theme, (started by the Bajaj Pulsar 180) seems to be the latest flavour these days. The TVS Apache, Yamaha Gladiator Type J.A, Hero Honda CBZ Xtreme, Hero Honda Karizma and now the Honda Unicorn have all gone for that "Black Treatment".

Changing the wheel size from the present 18" to 17" could have accentuated the gap between the rear tyre and the seat and could have provided the bike with a racier look.

Unicorn Limited Edition version

The riding postion is the same as the older Unicorn. Pushing the footpegs a little back would have given the bike a little bit more sportier stance compared to the present "upright" commuter friendly riding position.

A Limited Edition version of the New Unicorn dressed up in Honda Repsol Colors has also been released.. 2,500 of these Limited Edition Unicorns will be rolled out in May 2007.

Colors:

The 2008 Honda Unicorn comes in four colors: Black, Silver, Red with black graphic and Black with red graphics.

2008 Honda Unicorn Colors Available

Price:

The 2008 Unicorn is priced accordingly in New Delhi

2008 Honda Unicorn GP Edition

Rs. 59,293 (Ex-Showroom) Rs. 61,951 (On- Road)

2008 Honda Unicorn (with Self Start)

Rs. 57,913 (Ex-Showroom) Rs. 60,529 (On-Road)

Technical Specifications of the 2008 Honda Unicorn:

1.Dimensions:

• Kerb Weight: 146 Kgs
• Length: 2095 mm
• Width: 750 mm
• Height: 1100 mm
• Wheelbase: 1340 mm
• Seat Height (mm): 790
• Ground Clearance (mm):168
• Fuel Tank Capacity (Full ): 13 litres
• Reserve Tank Capacity: 1.3 litres

2.Body/Chasis:

• Frame: Diamond Frame
• Front Suspension: Telescopic
• Rear Suspension: Mono-suspension
• Front Tyre: 2.75 x 18
• Rear Tyre: 100 / 90 - 18
• Front Brake Type: 240 mm Disc
• Rear Brake Type: 130 mm Drum

3.Engine & Transmission:

• Engine Type: Single Cylinder 4 Stroke, Air Cooled OHC
• Displacement: 149.1 cc
• Bore × Stroke: 57.3 mm × 57.8 mm
• Net Power: 13.3 bhp @ 8000 rpm (9.9 KW)
• Torque: 1.3 Kg-m @ 5500 rpm (12.8 Nm)
• Air Filter: Paper Type
• Carburetor: CV Type
• Starting System: Self Start
• Transmission: Constant Mesh, 5 Speed gear
• Gear Shift Pattern: 1 Down - 4 Up

HONDA Shine

Honda Shine. the latest launch in the Indian two-wheeler market is ready for a rollout on April 17. Honda Shine is being launched by Honda Motorcycle and Scooters Ltd, (HMSI) Indian unit of the world's largest selling bike-maker.

The Honda Shine comes equipped with a 125 cc Opimax engine, delivering an acceleration of 0-60 kmph in 5.3 seconds. The engine is four-stroke, single-cylinder air-cooled. Honda Shine will not, initially, have a disc brake or a self-start. These models of Shine are expected to roll out by July.

The Honda Shine offers 10.3 bhp of power @ 7500 rpm. The company claims that the Shine will run for 56 kilometers on a litre of petrol on Indian riding conditions, and that looks decent for a mid-size bike.

According to Honda, the Shine is equipped with puncture-resistant Tuff-up tube and a 'Primary Kick' for easy city riding. Honda Shine will be available in Wild Purple Metallic, Champion Blue Metallic, Black, Alpha Red Metallic and Geny Grey Metallic.

After Honda Unicorn, this is the second bike offering by HMSI. Other two-wheelers manufactured by Honda in India include the Honda Activa, Honda Dio and Honda Eterno.

The Shine has ample seating space for the rider and the pillion, making the ride a breeze. The seating position is engineered to minimize fatigue over long stretches.
Honda says that the Shine is equipped with a host of advanced technologies like Multi-Mapping CDI, Long Intake Pipe, Tumble Flow Combustion Chamber, and Connecting Tube, CV Carburetor, 2 Way Air Jacket and Pulse Exhaust System.

The Honda Shine will be launched zone wise, first in the north and central zone April 17. Later, the Shine will come to the southern zone April 27 and the western and eastern zones on April 28.

The Shine has an on-road price of Rs.45,120 for the drum brake version and Rs.47,065 for the disc brake version in Delhi.

HONDA SHINE SPECIFICATIONS

Engine Type 4 Stroke, Single Cylinder, Air Cooled
Displacement 124.6 cc
Net Power 10.3 bhp @ 7500 rpm
Transmission 4 Speed, Constant Mesh
Ignition Digital CDI (Multi-Mapping)
Starting Kick
Torque 10.9 Nm @ 5500 rpm
Rear Suspension 3 Step spring loaded hydraulic
Front Brake Type 130 mm Drum, 240 mm Disc
Acceleration (0-60 kmph) 5.3 seconds
Rear Tyre 2.75 – 18 48P (6PR)

Honda CBF Stunner

Honda’s new motorcycle CBF Stunner is a mean little 11 bhp, 124 cc machine
The CBF Stunner is here. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has unveiled its new 125 cc sports bike, the CBF Stunner, for the Indian market.

CBF Stunner motorcycles will be available in three vresions - Self Disc Alloy (Price Rs 51,655), Self Drum Alloy (Price: Rs 49,820) and Kick Drum Alloy (Price: Rs 47,070). At this point, Honda will offer the Stunner CBF in red, black, metallic silver and yellow colours.

Lookswise, you could call it a mini-Karizma. It looks like a well-put together package for sure. We think it looks the best in yellow, the bright colour nicely contrasting with the matte black handlebars and black front fairing.

HONDA Stunner CBF specifications:

125cc, 11 bhp
Kerb Weight: 129 kg
Wheelbase: 1271mm
Fuel tank capacity: 10 litres

Tubeless tryes
Front 80/100-17 and Rear: 100/90-77
Front Brakes: 240mm Disc or 130mm Drum
Rear Brake: 130mm drum

Starting: Kickstart / Electric

5 speed transmission
Trip meter

Honda claims acceleration figures of 0-60 kmph at 5.2 seconds for the CBF Stunner. Take it with a pinch of salt, the motorcycle weighs 129 kg, and even the iconic Yamaha RX 100 could not do that. It will be good, we are sure though.Honda intends to sell 10 lakh motorcycles during 2008-2009 fiscal year, out of which the company expects 80,000 to be CBF Stunner motorcycles. Honda has priced the Stunner CBF bike between Rs 47,070 and Rs 51,655 (Ex-Showroom, Delhi).

HONDA Unicorn

The Unicorn is the first foray for Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India in the Indian motorcycle market. The 150cc Unicorn takes on the existing players with extremely high fit and finish levels synonymous with the Honda name. Developing 13.3 BHP the Unicorn has adequate power to compete with the existing players in the segment. The muscular styling and add to its appeal.

The Unicorn incorporates a single high performance rear shock absorber allowing the suspension to be placed closer to the centre of gravity allowing for better traction and comfort. The Unicorn uses Hondas global R&D technologies to deliver an ideal combination of fuel efficiency and power.

The origin of the bike:
One of the auto magazines said, “To many, the unicorn is hardly an apt name for a bike, but when it comes from the Honda stable, anything goes”. Fact is Unicorn is actually the MOST apt name for this bike because the Japanese never do anything without solid logic, Honda even more so. When Alexander invaded India in 326 BC, he saw for the first time in his life a one-horned Indian Rhinoceros (which does not exist in Europe). He named it Uni-corn (Uni=one; corn=horn). Now everyone knows that this bike is the first bike in India to have mono-shock (Uni-shock) rear suspension. Thus, mono=one=uni, and as we all know the shape of a shock absorber is cylindrical like a Rhino horn. The rear end & tail light is also very horny. So what else would you call this bike but Unicorn?


History apart, mono-shock really makes technical sense, because un-even-ness is impossible in this design. It is a fact that in our body, our two legs are not absolutely identical, neither are our two hands or eyes or ears. We might be born with identical pairs, but as we grow our limbs and components become non-identical due to the unequal work we put them to. Same with twin rear shock absorbers. As we ride any bike, our personal biases and external conditions cause them to wear un-evenly. And over time we get wobble, pulling to one side, instability etc. But in the Unicorn, this is obviously impossible. Indeed, rear mono-shocks are almost de-rigueur in most modern super bikes. I would not be surprised if the Pulsars too adopt this pattern sooner than later.


Bike details:
This bike with powerful 4 stroke 150 cc engine delivering output of 13.3 bhp engine clubbed with many other high end equipments like Constant Volume (CV) Carburetor, pulse exhaust system, offset crank and 2 way air jacket. Its multi mapping CDI, roller rocker arm, 5 speed gears, tumble free combustion etc. determine the performance as well as its aesthetic value. Its aerodynamic body lining, sporty and sleek design, appealing tail lamp and excellent body graphics etc are enhancing its style statement day by day.


Unique shock absorbing mono suspension prevents discomfort due to the sudden jerk caused by uneven road. Its flexible seating arrangement, ample foot space give the total comfort of journey. Fully equipped with various cutting edge technology, this bike comes with hole plugging mechanism, tuff up tube, easy primary kick etc




Setting a new benchmark in the motorcycle segment in India, Honda Unicorn Grand Prix Edition is engineered with state-of-the art mono-suspension fitted on flexible diamond frame that renders stability and comfort for confident riding in any condition. It is the only motorcycle in India that is equipped with puncture resistant tuff-up tube. The bike confirms to stringent Honda endurance tests for engine, suspension, frame and electricals.


Engine details:
The Unicorn is powered by 149.2 cc engine having 57.3 mm bore and 57.8 mm stroke. Contrary to convention, the Owners Manual DOES NOT mention any BHP or Torque figures. However, it is known that it develops 13.3 bhp (9.9 kilowatts) of power at 8000 rpm and produces 1.3 KgF (12.8 Nm) of torque at 5500 rpm. The engine breathes through a constant vaccum (CV) carburettor for which air is filtered through a paper element air filter. Ignition is through a multi-mapped CDI unit.



The engine has a two-way air jacket and cam followers are rollers, which reduce friction and hence reduce power loss. A pulse exhaust system (EC?) mentioned earlier, gives it the brilliant torque spread that it delivers. Electric power is produced by a 125 watt AC Generator backed by a 12 volt -- 2.5 Ampere-hour battery. Headlight power is 12 volt - 35 watts, while tail-lamp is of 5 watts.




The advanced design diamond chassis frame has a 1337mm wheelbase with a ground clearance of 168mm, and rectangular section rear swing-arm for good road holding. Dry weight of the bike is 126 kg, while kerb weight is 138 kg. Fuel tank capacity is 13 litres, including a one litre reserve, while engine oil capacity is 1.2 litres. Front tyre size is 2.75 x 18, while rear tyre is 3.oo x 18, and tubes are of the tuff-up, puncture resistant type such as used on the Honda Activa. Stopping is by a 240mm disc brake in front and a 130mm drum brake at rear.


Performance:
I did some acceleration (zero to sixty) and braking (sixty to zero) tests. Rider was 20 year old, sometime racer Bhardwaj Jadhav, who is 179 cm tall and weighs 70kg. On the same day at the same time I also did the same tests on another 150cc bike and one 125cc bike, both of which also have front disc brakes. I was surprised to find that the Unicorn did much better on both the above parameters than either of the other two bikes tested on the same day on the same road.




My braking (sixty to zero) tests are very manual, like in panic braking to avoid accident. Rider has to jam both brakes with full force, lock both wheels and skid to a halt. I admit this is dangerous, but there is no choice. While both the other two bikes gave braking distance figures of @ 14 meters, the Unicorn gave a figure of 12 meters. Since both the other bikes have same as Unicorn size tyres front and rear as also front disc, I can safely conclude that Unicorn has 14% better braking than other equivalent bikes. Whether this is because of having better brakes or because of monoshock suspension, I cannot say for sure, but it is so.

As to pickup, the best zero to sixty figure I actually recorded was 4.52 seconds, which again is far better than the other two bikes tested at the same time and place. Since my measurements are totally manual and fairly rudimentary, the actual zero to sixty figure would probably be less than four seconds, depending on how sophisticated and accurate the measuring instruments are.

Top speed I managed on the Unicorn was 113 kmpH, which I was able to do on that part of the Pune-Bombay Expressway bye-pass where two wheelers are allowed. Not only that the Unicorn achieves this speed faster than any other bike I have tested, but is also the fastest among all the 150cc bikes.



First ride:
The first time you ride the Unicorn, the thing that immediately strikes you is the PROGRESSIVE nature of the braking characteristics of the front disc brake, which is brilliant. Indeed, I would say this is the best disc brake on two wheels

among all bikes in India today, and it shows in the sixty-to-zero braking distance figure for this bike, mentioned elsewhere in this report.

I have already done over 1500 km on the Unicorn. Many solo long rides PLUS a long double seat ride with FAT pillion on bad country roads made worse by this year’s heavy rain as also shorter rides in the city, with equally bad roads due to the rain. And Honda launches Unicorn when the roads are in the worst condition as if to say, “You bloody horrible road, lets see what you can do to me.” And as I found out, the answer is, “nothing”! The bike is very much at ease in all conditions, whether double seat on country road puddles or singles on city pot- holes. Pickup is great, in any gear. Low End Torque (LET) is unbeatable. Surprisingly, so is High End Torque (HET) as well as mid-range. This is most gratifying. Sometime ago, when two-strokers still ruled the road, I used to fit Expansion Chambers (EC), also known as Proton or KRP exhaust, on my 2-stroke bikes such as Shogun, RX, Shaolin etc., to enhance performance. I had to choose between three different types of ECs depending on my requirement, be it Low End, Mid-range, and High-end. There were no ECs available that would enhance torque all thru the rpm range. Yet, thru ONE tuned silencer of the Unicorn, Honda has been able to achieve un-paralled torque spread, something that needed THREE different ECs earlier.

Road holding and cornering are superb. Again I feel this is thanks to the monoshock. Leaning confidently into corners is much more easier than any other bike with same tyre sizes. Rectangular cross-section swing-arm helps further. Handling and criss-crossing to get away from “road-hogging-100cc-mileage-maniacs” is a breeze and a lifesaver, especially for those having high blood pressure.

Shocks and brakes apart, the rest of the bike is tops too. Paint and plating, fit and finish, weld quality, is all Honda. If you want to know the quality of workmanship of any bike, just take a look at the shape, size and contour of the welds and you’ll know.

The lockable seat (with tool-kit and first-aid-kit under it) is very thoughtful. The instru-dials are top class, but the absence of a trip-meter was sorely missed, and I found the horn not loud enough for such a fast bike. Apparently, Honda thinks that Indian road users are as well mannered and courteous as the Japanese, which of course is not true. Therefore I am going to fit a VERY LOUD horn. I’d rather pay a fine for noise pollution than have an accident with deaf people. The other surprising thing is that there is only one single tell-a-tale light on the dashboard to indicate turning, which only indicates that one of the blinkers is flashing, not telling whether it is the left one or right one. This is definitely a drawback on such a premium bike. More important is that I am not really thrilled with its headlight beam quality. Sure it is 35 watts and as bright as any other 35 watt job, but again, it’s throw and spread is more concerned with being polite to oncoming traffic rather than to the visibility of the road to the Unicorn rider. Obviously, the Japanese would rather commit seppuku (=hara-kiri) than survive by being impolite! I am a bluddy impolite Indian and would rather blind the oncoming traffic than be blinded by them!