Bike Comparison : Honda and Yamaha are the two leading bike manufacturer of world. Both bike manufacturers, Honda as well as Yamaha has been spend long time in the bike market and they are known for service as well as reliability and comfort. However, there are so much difference between these two bike manufacturers. In the Indian market, 150cc segment bikes have now gained much popularity and now has established market leaders in world of biking. It was Honda that launched Honda Unicorn few years back in India which created uproar in 150cc bike segment as a whole. However, Honda Unicorn is facing competition with Yamaha FZ16. There are lots of confusion among the new bike buyers mind as to what they choose between the these two bikes. So, there is a brief bike comparison of these two bikes.
The handling of Honda Unicorn is superb that makes it the most balanced bike from the stable of Honda. The monoshock shock absorbers of Honda Unicorn reduces the jerks very well and provides excellent riding ability. Honda Unicorn feels heavy on the standstill and handles like a feather while riding. Regarding the pickup Honda Unicorn has got less initial pickup if we made this bike comparison with Yamaha FZ16 but sooner when you cross 40kmph it becomes really fast. If a bike with a low engine capacity has rapid initial pickup it sucks the top end performance that will result vibrations or the engine not responding. That is the main reason why leading bike manufacturers like Honda, Yamaha and even Suzuki lacks rapid initial pickup. With Honda Unicorn, you will feel no vibrations or sound changes even after 100kmph. Honda Unicorn is equipped with ultra refined engine and the comfort level is top notch that makes it suitable for city riding as well as on highways.
Yamaha FZ16 has got the fastest pickup in the 150cc bike segment. Yamaha FZ16 is the most powerful naked bike which power increases in a smooth fashion as the power is distributed in the lower and mid torque range. Yamaha FZ16 does not have the raw power like that of Bajaj Pulsar or TVS Apache to give jerks or jolts of acceleration. Yamaha FZ16 can also handles superbly due to its large handlebar that makes it more flickable in the traffic and its monoshock adds to better cornering and leaning ability. Yamaha FZ16 has the fattest rear tyre in any other bike comparison. Its speedometer, tripmeter, tachometer, fuel gauge and other indicators are installed in a digital LCD display to provide more comfort and style to the rider.
Hero Honda is the largest bike manufacturer of India and Bajaj is the second largest Indian bike manufacturer but there are so much of a difference between these two bike manufacturers. Hero Honda has been spend long time in the bike market and it is known for service as well as reliability and comfort while Bajaj has been an innovator in Indian bike market. With the launch of every new bike it comes with something new and innovative.
On the Indian roads, 150cc segment bikes have now gained popularity and has now established market leaders in world of biking. It was Bajaj who launched Pulsar 150cc DTSi (Digital Twin spark ignition) with tagline of definitely male. The wonderful marketing caption has been analyzed by bike pundits, it created uproar in 150cc bike segment as a whole. However, Bajaj Pulsar 150cc DTSi is facing competition with Hero Honda Hunk. There are some confusion among the new bike buyers as to what they choose between the these two bikes. The bike buyers who have to invest about Rs. 60,000/- plus rupees on bike they can’t go for a marketing tagline. So, there is a brief comparison of these two bikes in terms of look, performance, reliability, pricing & more which might helpful for the bike buyers.
LOOKS: The look of the Bajaj Pulsar 150cc DTSi has a unique appeal. Its large fuel tank with muscle, its design of which has been tweaked in Japan to make this bike as one showstopper, the telltale headlight and the razor edged tail-end of the Pulsar 150cc DTSi give it a fresh new look. Pulsar 150cc DTSi also has so many gadgets and hi-fi electronic gadgets with the cutting-edge technology to impress bike buyers.
However, The model of Hero Honda Hunk portrays a majestic sporty look with its exquisite style and large tank shrouds. Hero Honda Hunk is available in four dashing colors of red, silver, black and blue. Hunk has a thump and muscular look with its gold polished front forks, golden gas reservoir of rear shock absorber and silver finished central section. Hero Honda Hunk is equipped with butterfly-like headlight, and it reflects a sporty look with everyone stopping by to give a glance. Maybe looks wise, Hero Honda Hunk seems to better than Pulsar 150cc DTSi, but again looks are very much subjective, ain’t it?
PERFORMANCE: The Bajaj Pulsar 150cc DTSi has an advantage of better throttle response with its own patented DTSi (Digital Twin spark ignition) tecnology. In the Pulsar 150cc DTSi clutch works perfectly but the gearbox needs some modifications. However, Hero Honda Hunk boasts of a 5-speed constant mesh gearbox and its clutch is extremely smooth and the gears can be shifted with slightest effort. Pulsar 150cc DTSi is known for its notchy gear shifting and its clutch is not as smooth as it is in the Hunk.
The 150cc engine of Hero Honda Hunk produces 14.2 PS power at 8500 rpm and 12.98 Nm torque at 6500 rpm. While the Bajaj Pulsar 150cc DTSi engine produces 14.09 PS at 8500rpm and 12.76 Nm torque at 6500 rpm. Thus the power-plant of Bajaj Pulsar is bit mild in comparison to Hero Honda Hunk. Although the engine Pulsar 150cc DTSi is smooth yet it makes noise and loses its smoothness when pushed hard. However, Hero Honda Hunk does not vibrate even at a speed of 80 Kmph.
FUEL EFFICIENCY: Mileage wise With the Hero Honda Hunk, one can easily find about 55-60 Kmpl mileage for the economy riding and around 65 Kmpl on a long drive while Pulsar 150cc DTSi gives around 45-50 kmpl mileage on economy ride and about 55 on long drive (should it be driven smoothly).
BRAKES: Pulsar 150cc DTSi is equipped with a good disc brakes, but it needs to be use carefully as the brakes of Bajaj Pulsar are extremely sensitive. With applying front brakes too quick, it has a tendency to topple over. Hero Honda Hunk has a 240 mm disc brake on front wheel and the rear wheel is equipped with 130 mm drum brakes and that by itself provides enough stability and safety in the Indian road conditions.
INSTRUMENT PANEL: The digital display panels lovers may be disappointed a little bit by Hero Honda Hunk. While the Hunk has nicely designed 3 dial instrument panel which display all the necessary details, Pulsar 150cc DTSi has a digital LCD console instrument panel which is seductive for many bike lovers.
HANDLING: Pulsar 150cc DTSi generates more noise, as it gets older but hardly there is any such difference with Hero Honda Hunk. However, if the rider is fond of speed drive, his Pulsar 150cc DTSi will get heated up when driven at 60kmph speed for sometime while Hero Honda Hunk stays cool no matter speed driving for a considerable length of time. It also means a difference with maintenance. Pulsar 150cc DTSi needs to change clutch plates more often than a Hero Honda Hunk. So for speed handling, Hero Honda Hunk is better than Pulsar.
COMFORT: The riding position of Pulsar 150cc DTSi gives a sporty kind of feeling in comparison to the Hero Honda Hunk. There are a few riders who complain for the awkward seating position of Pulsar and that a Bajaj Pulsar 150cc DTSi doesn’t make a pillion rider feel as comfortable. While the riding position of Hero Honda Hunk is better with the raised handlebars and neatly placed foot pegs. The innovative gas-charged rear suspension gives a nice feeling as well. The cushioned seat of Hero Honda Hunk is much comfortable and the front seat of the Hero Honda Hunk model is separated by a step-up from back seat and makes the pillion feel, male or female, quite comfortable for long distance ride.
TECHNOLOGY: The digital and cutting edge technology incorporated into this bike, Bajaj Pulsar that gives a great satisfaction and daring riding experience to the rider. The bike was developed with its nitrogen assisted rear gas shockers, telescopic suspension, optimized and improved exhaust gas system. While again Hero Honda Hunk is also has a new cutting edge technology with low fuel consumption. Hero Honda Hunk is slightly heavier than the Pulsar 150cc DTSi as it weighs 145 Kg.
PRICE: If compare the price, Bajaj Pulsar 150cc DTSi is priced at Rs.59,190 (as ex-showroom price New Delhi) and coming to about Rs.68,000 on road. On the other Hero Honda Hunk is priced at Rs.55,000 (as ex-showroom price New Delhi) and costing about Rs.62,000 on road.
VERDICT: People said, in the 150cc segment on the marketing front Pulsar 150cc DTSi is more popular in comparison to Hero Honda Hunk, but in core biking (by which I mean quality, handling and reliability) Hero Honda Hunk is much better than of Pulsar and there is no debate to this. Still better I would say, ask an owner who has a Hero Honda Hunk for 2 years or so, he is still a happy to have spent very little on maintenance and on the other hand Pulsar 150cc DTSi owner would have changed clutch plates, shock absorbers and is already looking for an upgrade of Pulsar or some other better model. The spares of Bajaj may be cheaper than Hero Honda but even Auto Car India acknowledged that Bajaj bikes as a whole suffers from quality problems.
For the detail description about Bajaj Pulsar 150cc DTSi and Hero Honda Hunk check out these links.
Pulsar 150cc DTSi
Hero Honda Hunk
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