[Resolved]  Honda Unicorn — engine defective

Hi All,

I have a Honda Unicorn Purchased from Beed .
I stay at Wagholi in one of the Most Reknowed apartment (Pune) which has closed parking for bikes and cars, and has open ventilation and garden around the parking.

To introduce my historical relations and understanding with bikes...

1) My Fathers Enfield Bullet was the first bike I put my hands on, first i cleaned her daily since I was in std 8th.
2)Being a 80 Kgs guy in 10th (Khate Pite Khandan ka hun)...Enfield Bullet was the first bike I started in my life.
3)After my father got another bullet I was the one to take care (Maintenance) of the First Bullet (Standard).
4) In college I purchased a Second hand Yamaha RX 100..as we had a Yamaha Group .
5) I have used Bullet Enfield and Yamaha Rx 100 in age 18-28 ..for almost 10 years and know pros and cons very well after disscussing with every other guys about bikes and I am the most trusted person in my group regarding any information on Bikes.
6) Only a Enfiled Bullet & Yamaha Rx 100 Owner knows how many times they interact with mechanics and take care of their bikes.
7) I know I have rich experience with two wheelers their sales and service part too, as this is the core topic in most youth discussions.

As I shifted Pune and started living life of a thorough professional I lost weight and started feeling, bullet is HEAVY for me now and YAMAHA too small, and I was Tired of a noise making bike. (Am Content with 10 years Silencer Noise).

I purchased a HONDA UNICORN...for reasons like..
1) Noise less Engine.
2) reat Mileage.
3) Honda.

I hav purchased Unicorn in JAN 2009 (As my birth comes in Jan)..she is close to my heart.

Things I do to maintain her..
1) At Initial starts ...Warm Her up for minimum 5 minutes...
2) Always drive on Max 80% on 3 RPM and only thrice I have touched 70. Mostly I drive on 40-45.
3) Do Servicings on time...In every Servicing I make a point that I do chain greecing (costs around 400 rs.)
4) As I have purchased this bike cause i don"t like bikes making loud noise...so I do Washing at authorised service centers only... I spend 75 rs for washing and greesing instead of spending 40 rs. with a local washer (Reason: They use dirty water with max force from wrong angles, I know and can prove this wipes the vehicles shine and lusturous glow.they even use same cloths having dust particles and tiny particles, so even if they wipe the bike, they actually put scratches on the bike and I have seen my bikes looking old after washing at local centres, they dont even put greece or wax polish after washing it.


I know I can write a lot...but I will come to the point.

I hardly use my (Metallic ) Silver Honda Unicorn. As it stands alone most of the time eighther in office parking or residence parking.
I claim I have one of the most beautifull parking made by Kumar Builders in Pune.

I was thinking of buying a Parking Cover for my Honda Unicorn, As I have same for my Bullet Enfield.
I was planning to buy a Cover from many days and thought o[censored]tilising my 2nd Jan Holiday for my (lovely) Unicorn.

Now my experience begins.

I went to B.U. Bhandari (Camp-Pune, Behind HDFC Bank).

The time I went maybe it was lunch time, because the spare-parts shutter was half down and most mechanics in white uniform were standing, discussing or doing something evveryone do in lunch time. As I have been there regularly and brought a main lock kit from there, I always knew there was a good man with grey hairs...always well informed about parts and prices, I was expecting he would be there and I was waiting for him or someone to arrive).

Meanwhile I started reading the tools and prices information they have on left side wall, a good 5-10 minutes passed.
A guy in 20"s arrived, saw me and moved to a computer which was facing me...I saw him playing with the mouse and thought, after lunch I should wait for him to settle down and once he approches me I would ask him for the Garage Cover...

I waited for a while, his face was towards the P.C. and Back towards me.." I thought he felt I left" So I initiated..in my lovely polite marathi (As I was in my New Year 2010 Happy Clouds in my mind)

"Excuse Me" tumchyakade honda unicorn chey cover ahey ka. " [ I asked him in marathi ]
"Konte Konte Cover pahije" he replied looking at the computer.

I very well knew there are only two types of covers...1} Garage Cover, 2} Seat Cover, then I thought he might even have Tank Cover and Wrist Covers...
I was very happy to get all HONDA Branded covers with LOGO"s.

Sagle dya " I replied smilingly.

Sagle mhanje kiti ? akkha dukan anun dakhwu ka ? He came near me and started yelling.
Honda Unicorn che jewdhe astil te sagle dya. I said in a Firm Voice, and I was surprised to hear his answer. ( I have worked for more than 4 years in Sales and Customer Service )

He still started shouting "nakki kai pahije sang"...(I was giving him respect and he was like showing me his authority and power, treating me improperly.
I replied.." tula ek gosta kiti wel sangavi lagte"...

Then I said him, the way you are speaking, nor a dealership owner, nor would owner of honda speak...migght be i said that loudly and the guy with greay hairs I was searching for came. I informed him about the Garage Cover. Another nice employee came and started asking me what happned, I said him, you should ask your colleagues, I have told twice what I needed, and still you are asking me what I need ?

I lost my temper and asked everyone over there, am I here to buy a product or to see their muscle power ? I informed them, if the guy feels so cheap about customer service he should leave the job and give it to someone who understands customer service and keeps himself, his employee and customers happy.
I thought, its non of my business and I should bother about the things I came for .

I asked the greay haired (good guy) for Garage Cover, Seat Cover, Tank Cover and asked him to Coat my Bike (Plastic Coating-around 560 Rs.)
I said him, I come from wagholi till camp(20 kms) just to buy HONDA PRODUCTS even to wash my bike, and what wrong I do that he speaks such way.

While giving thoose things he requested me to forget about the other guy and gave me 2 things.
1) Garage Cover - Black / Blue Colour Thick polythene -590 Rs.
2) Seat Cover - Without a Honda Logo.
I showed him my Unicorn”s Seat Cover having HONDA logo, and told him, I am chinging this because some kids have tried putting a 1 inch razor scratch on the seat, which is visible only if you stare too hard, and I don’t want to change my Original Honda Cover with a Duplicate one.


1) The good greay haired guy said, “ this products are locally made and are not from HONDA.
2) The Plastic Coating they do can be done only on Monday, as they are closed on Sunday’s.


After looking at the Garage Cover I asked him, how come a Garage Cover is in Dark Colour ? cause Ideally they have to be silver “There”s a deep scintology behind this “ .

Still I was ready to buy, and asked him do they accept cards, he said no and I told him I would visit a HDFC atm and would come back. While waiting in a long que….to withdraw money, I thought its wrong to buy a dark coloured garage cover, I called my friend Karthik to inquire what colour cover he has, even he replied silver, so I thought to go back and tell them I want a silver colour cover. I went till the gate and looking at their showroom and the way they treated me, I din”t felt climbing their stairs again, so I went searching for more showrooms and dealers.

I went to YASH HONDA (Near Kirloskar) they didn”t had it, and behaved as they were least botherd ( as usual).

I was tired and while going home, saw one honda showroom at Viman Nagar, Inquried and even they had the same blue/black Garage Cover for 590 INR.

I was tired of getting and meeting the right person everytimeso I thought of checking on web and finding from where can I buy one.

After checking the website I called most of the dealers, whoose land lines were busy and spoke to 2-3 receptionists who kept me hanging and never replied with any information( Pashankar, Kothari Wheels)

Then I saw a name as STERLING Something, I found this name familiar and have read this name in Mumbai and Nasik( As I had a habbit of starring at auto-showrooms).

I got a gut feeling that I should try calling them.

I called a mobile number to Mr.Thanawala and asked him do they have a Garage Cover for Honda Unicorn.
He confirmed with someone else and said yes he has. I told him I don’t want the Black or Blue local ones, I am looking for a Company Branded Garage Cover and am ready to pay no matter of the price. He said his showroom keeps only HONDA BRAND products and they don’t keep anything apart from Honda Brand, After hearing this from him I felt assured, and I told him as I am calling from Wagholi (17.00 hrs) it might take me another 1 hour to reach there, and can he plz keep his showroom open till I reach. He said that should not be a problem, I can take a short way from Khadaki Bazaar and explained me the route, and to my surprise I reached there within 30 mins. After reaching there I was amazed to see such a Big Well Establised HONDA SHOWROOM.

I enquired at the counter about spare parts purchase and she directed way towards the spareparts counter.

I afraidly asked the guy for a Garage Cover for Honda Unicorn, He was handy with one, smiled at me and showed me a HONDA UNICORN SILVER COLOUR GARAGE COVER AT MRP 321 INR. And his selling price is 270.00 INR ONLY.

I was shocked and asked him twice about the price, he smilingly replied the same 270 Rs. Only. I felt like taking two extra for my friends, but then rememberd they have different bikes.

I even saw HONDA HELMETS For Just 1030 Rs. That too a folding one, Didn’t purchased one cause I needed silver and they had red in stock, as he informed silvers are taken as activa owners prefer silver.

I am amazed with the HONDA UNICORN SILVER COLOUR GARAGE COVER and started realising yes I have selected a right brand, and its STERLING SHOWROOM who is sooooooooo customer centric.


Most Important Things which sets STERLING HONDA ...far ahead of others are :

1) The owner has given his personal cell # on honda website, so taht you can reach him directly.
2) Most of other HONDA Dealers have posted land lines, and if you call thoose they are eigther busy, or the staff is disinterested in guidng and assisting.
3) Mr. THANAWALA is so prompt and customer centric that he is always ready to go extra mile for a customer.
4) Only Sterling Honda gives delivery on Sundays in Pune, (I dont know about rest of India)
5) Only Sterling Honda has Computerised registeration and trained staff to peacefully carry out the act of registering bikes that come for servicing.
6) Only Sterling Honda keeps GENUINE HONDA SPARE PARTS AT ORIGINAL PRICES.
7) There are lot many things, and I am planning to give my bike for servicing..i will add post servicing.
8} Last but not least..I am ready to ride 20 kms from Kharadi till Pimpri...just to give my bike in safe & expert hands of STERLING HONDA..Passing all Other HONDA DEALERS on the way.

The most important thing I want to HMSI to notice is :

How come a HMSI Dealer sell BLACK/BLUE cheap Tadpatri as Garage Cover ? at 590-700 Rs ?
Wherein HMSI is providing SILVER HMSI garage Cover at 321. Rs ?


One suggetion...

On the dealer search list, STERLING MOTORS is on 12-13th number, just because its in alphabetical order.
But you should put them as NO-01, and add a note as recommended by HMSI in Pune...by doing this HMSI will not loose sales that are lost by calling thoose first 10 uninterested, unfocused, careless dealers.


I had a very bad experience with YASH HONDA.

At my 2nd servicing my bike started making noise whenever I crossed 40kmph...I asked them to do whatever...and reduce the noise, as I was willing to pay any amount for the latest technologies they must have came with... for this they informed me to do :

1) Chain Greecing (over hauling).around 300 rs.
2) Engine Fluxing ( Flushing engine before pouring new oil) around 500 rs.
3) Insisted me on Plastic coating through a mawali type of guy...

I was fine with first 2 things, I asked the guy if he was a HONDA DEALER Employee, and he said he works there and coats all vehicles, he explained me pro"s and con"s, and I told him, let me see the bike after servicing, I will first finish all the technical things and at last go for the plastic coating (600 rs) thing. He got angry with me and told the HONDA MECHANICS about this and they said I can give the order to him, so he can bring plastic for the coating( I needed to pay him in advance at morning 9.00 am when I just arrived to deliver my bike). I told the HONDA MECHANICS just be focused on that the engine should not make noise...

When I went for delivery, my bike"s front disk starting making noise ( even without applying brakes )..reason given by HONDA MECHANICS was...due to water wash..this happned, I insited them to fix it, they started proving me that EVERY DISC BRAKE bike has this hissing noise and started arguing with me. they conveyed me that this problem wont last.

Problems I faced after Servicing.

1) Engine Ignition was damaged, and bike use to start late ...(HONDA MECHANICS said it was due to water wash, and will be solved once water is dryed)
2) Another problem I faced was my front disk brake was not as effective as it was before I gave my bike for servicing.
3) Centre Stand of Bike was Shakable, And it lost its Firmness (HONDA MECHANICS said its due to water ).
4) My bike"s headlight started making noise even if a 1/2 inch stiff came on road...

Next day alady called for after service survey from YASH HONDA .

I told her about the hissing noise, headlight noise, and the ignition switch problems, she said I should come back and get it solved.

I was very much afraid of giving my bike in the mechanics hands again, but as it was the neareast showroom and due to lack of time, I went there and showed them,
I requested them many a times about the hissing sound, and they rubbed the front disc parts in such a way, that I have lost my front brake grip, and they are almost useless...and numb as brakes...by this I have started applying rear brake, and today the rear brake and front brake both has reached a condition that they should be changed.

I never voiced out of fear from YASH HONDA MECHANICS..& B.U. BHANDARI MECHANICS.and the HONDA DEALERS ATTITUDE, and I was afraid as I had to leave my bike in their hands for servicing. I thought there"s no way out, If I raise my voice they would DAMPEN my SILVER UNICORN as they have already done...

I Hemanth Reddy, given my new Honda Unicorn for 4th servicing in Honda Autofin Showroom for servicing..i gave for servicing at 09:00am and that named Nagesh(worker) took my bike & asked me to come at 04:00pm. i went at 05:00pm & asked for my bike. they asked me to wait for 15min, later i found my bike which is not yet serviced & 4other customers who gav their bikes before 08:00am wer also still waiting. i called Nagesh and another person & said to him that "take your own time and do servicing properly". he noded his head and took my bike in side at 05:45 & he bought out my bike with in 15min or even less time. and delivered my bike. with Rs785/- Bill. i found my bike which is not at all water serviced and oil is leaking and my disc break has gone. its not at all working...i asked him for explanation he said "this is how we do in our showroom(Honda Autofin)" i was shocked & that useless manager is in leave. i hav nothing to talk to that rude Stupid. and one other customers backlight bulb was also missing and we hav a doubt that they are stealing our new bike inner parts and replacing with older once and making us to bile them in the next servicing. please dont go to AUTOFIN SHOWROOM UPPAL.