Update on April 30, 2021 - Bajaj recently launched the new Dagger Edge Edition of the Pulsar motorcycles. Click HERE to read about them. Now, as you have done that, keep scrolling down to read about the 2020 Honda Unicorn 160 BS6 vs Bajaj Pulsar 150 BS6.
Original Article - June 10, 2020; In India, most of the people generally prefer a commuter motorcycle for intra-city commutes. Thats because these bikes are adequately powerful for daily city usage, deliver good fuel-efficiency, are practical and budget-friendly too. While most of the people generally opt for a 100cc or 110cc entry-level commuter or a 125cc motorcycle, there are still some people who want a formal yet sporty motorcycle but with the benefits of a commuter. And for them, we have the Premium 150cc Commuter Motorcycles. In this article, we will be comparing two 150cc motorcycles to know which is the Best Premium 150cc Commuter in India. So, here we have the 2020 Honda Unicorn 160 BS6 vs Bajaj Pulsar 150 BS6.
Honda Unicorn 160 BS6 vs Pulsar 150 BS6: Looks and Colour options
The 2020 Honda Unicorn 160 retains its old classic design language which is loved by the customers. With the BS6 update, it gets a new premium headlamp cowl with lots of chrome accents, 3D Honda's wing mark emblem on the fuel tank, chrome slashes on the side covers and also the signature big tail lamp. The bike has a muscular stance which looks very good. It also gets a comfortable long seat and subtle black inserts on the engine and the exhaust which further enhance its appeal. The Unicorn 160 BS6 is offered in three colour variants: Imperial Red Metallic, Mat Axis Grey Metallic and Pearl Igneous Black.
Bajaj Pulsar 150 Series includes three motorcycles - Pulsar 150 Neon, Pulsar 150 Standard and the Pulsar 150 Twin Disc. All the three motorcycles differ from each other aesthetically but they get almost identical mechanicals and cycle parts, except for the fact that the 150 Twin Disc gets fatter rubbers and disc brakes at both the end. Bajaj Pulsar 150 Series motorcycles look very sporty and good. The Pulsar 150 Neon is available in three colour options - Neon Red, Neon Silver, and Neon Lime Green, the standard 150 is available in Black Grey and Black Red, while the 150 twin-disc model is available in Black Blue and Black Red shades.
Honda Unicorn 160 BS6 vs Pulsar 150 BS6: Engine, Transmission and Mileage
| Specification | Unicorn 160 BS6 | Pulsar 150 BS6 |
| Engine | 162.7cc, single-cylinder, fuel-injected, HET | 149.5cc, single-cylinder, fuel-injected, DTS-i |
| Max. Power | 12.7 PS at 7500 RPM | 14 PS at 8500 RPM |
| Max. Torque | 14 Nm at 5500 RPM | 13.25 Nm at 6500 RPM |
| Cooling System | air-cooled | air-cooled |
| Transmission | 5-speed | 5-speed |
| Emission Norm | BS6 | BS6 |
| Mileage | 55-60 kmpl (real world) | 50-55 kmpl (real world) |
The 2020 Honda Unicorn gets a new BS6-compliant 162.7cc (BS4 was 149.2cc engine and so was called Unicorn 150) single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel-injected engine. This motor churns out 12.7 PS of power at 7500 RPM and 14 Nm of torque at 5500 RPM. It comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and also gets Honda's Eco Technology (HET) to deliver better performance. It delivers a great mileage of 55-60 kmpl in real-world driving conditions.
Bajaj Pulsar 150 is powered by a BS6-compliant 149.5cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel-injected, DTS-i engine. This mill churns out 14 PS of power at 8500 RPM and 13.25 Nm of torque at 6500 RPM and comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Pulsar 150 also delivers a decent mileage of around 50-55 kmpl in a real-world scenario. Do note that while the Pulsar 150 offers higher power, the Unicorn has more torque at a lower engine speed which makes it far better for city runs.
2020 Honda Unicorn 160 BS6 vs Bajaj Pulsar 150 BS6: Chassis and Suspension
| Specification | Unicorn 160 BS6 | Pulsar 150 BS6 |
| Chassis | Diamond frame | Single down-tube frame |
| Front Suspension | Telescopic Shock Absorbers | 37mm Telescopic Shock Absorbers |
| Rear Suspension | Hydraulic Mono-shock Absorber | Nitrox Gas-charged Shock Absorbers |
The Unicorn 160 is based on a diamond frame while the Pulsar 150 sits on a single down-tube frame. For suspension duties, both the motorcycles get telescopic front forks. While at the rear, the Pulsar 150 gets nitrox gas-charged shock absorbers whereas the Unicorn 160 gets a hydraulic mono-shock absorber.
Honda Unicorn 160 BS6 vs Pulsar 150 BS6: Tyres and Brakes
| Specification | Unicorn 160 BS6 | Pulsar 150 BS6 |
| Tyre Size | Front 80/100-18 Rear 100/90-18 | For 150 and 150 Neon Front 80/100-17 Rear 100/90-17 For 150 Twin Disc Front 90/90-17 Rear 120/80-17 |
| Tyre Type | tubeless | tubeless |
| Wheel type | alloys | alloys |
| Front Brake | disc | disc |
| Rear Brake | drum | disc/drum |
| Additional safety aid | ABS | ABS |
The Honda Unicorn 160 runs on big 18-inch tubeless tyres, which is the biggest in the segment. It gets HET tyres that offer low rolling resistance and are specially designed to increase fuel-efficiency. The braking duties on both the motorcycles are performed by disc at the front and a drum unit at the rear. However, the Pulsar 150 Twin Disc gets disc brakes at both the ends. Both the motorcycles also get single-channel ABS for added safety.
Also Read: 2020 Honda SP 125 BS6 First Look Review The Best 125cc Commuter?
Honda Unicorn 160 BS6 vs Pulsar 150 BS6: Dimensions and Capacity
| Specification | Unicorn 160 BS6 | Pulsar 150 BS6 |
| Length | 2081 mm | 2055 mm 2035 mm (Twin Disc model) |
| Width | 756 mm | 755 mm 750 mm (Twin Disc model) |
| Height | 1103 mm | 1060 mm 1115 mm (Twin Disc model) |
| Seat Height | 798 mm | 790 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1335 mm | 1320 mm 1345 mm (Twin Disc model) |
| Ground Clearance | 187 mm | 165 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 13 L | 15 L |
| Weight | 140 kgs | 144-150 kgs |
Honda Unicorn 160 BS6 vs Pulsar 150 BS6: Features
The 2020 Honda Unicorn 160 gets an old-school analogue instrument cluster but it looks really good. It gets three different dials with a backlit function that houses the speedometer, fuel gauge and the tachometer. Bajaj Pulsar 150, on the other hand, gets a semi-analogue semi-digital console in which the tachometer is analogue while all the other information are displayed digitally.
Honda Unicorn 160 BS6 vs Pulsar 150 BS6: Price
| Model | Unicorn 160 BS6 | Pulsar 150 BS6 |
| Price (Ex-showroom Delhi) | Rs. 93,593 | Rs. 90,003 - Rs. 1,00,838 |
The 2020 Honda Unicorn 160 BS6 is priced at Rs. 93,593. Bajaj Pulsar 150 Series, on the other hand, is priced between Rs. 90,003 - Rs. 1,00,838. Talking about the Pulsar 150 series individually, so the Pulsar 150 Neon is priced at Rs. 90,003, the Pulsar 150 Standard is priced at Rs. 96,960 and the Pulsar 150 Twin-disc model is priced at Rs. 1,00,838. All prices stick to Ex-showroom Delhi.
Now coming to the final question, which Premium Commuter Motorcycle should you buy? So, if you are someone who wants a formal-looking commuter that has its own sweet charm, which is ultra-comfortable, decently powerful and offers a great mileage then you should consider the Honda Unicorn 160. On the other hand, if you want an attractive sporty motorcycle with the brand swag of a Pulsar with more power, better handling and one which can be used for touring too, then you should consider buying the Pulsar 150.
Also Read: Top 5 Cheapest Fully Faired BS6 Bikes in India Hero Xtreme 200S to KTM RC 125!
So, this was our spec-comparison of the 2020 Honda Unicorn 160 BS6 vs Bajaj Pulsar 150 BS6. Which among these will you buy for yourself? Do share with us in the comments below. You can also join our 91Wheels Two-wheelers Whatsapp group (click via mobile to join) curated exclusively for the fans, enthusiasts and the owners.
