The Honda Unicorn has always been a top contender for best commuter bike in India, mainly because of its mileage. Preferred by daily riders, Unicorn’s mileage makes it a trusted choice for city commutes as well as longer rides. With durability, refined handling, and fuel efficiency, the Unicorn continues to stand out as a dependable everyday motorcycle. In this article today, get to know about Honda Unicorn’s mileage, how to calculate it, and why it is important to know the mileage of Unicorn.
The Hero Honda Unicorn, first launched in 2004, has become one of the most popular commuter bikes in India thanks to its refined performance and reliability. It features a 162 cc (Honda CB Unicorn 150 is discontinued) air-cooled engine, mono-shock rear suspension, comfortable seating, and a sleek design that appeals to both young and mature riders. The bike is also known for its smooth gearbox and excellent ride stability, making it a favourite for daily commuting. With a strong build and low maintenance costs, it ensures long-term dependability. The Honda Unicorn's average mileage is 50-60 km/l, depending on the riding conditions, making it one of the most fuel-efficient bikes in the segment.
The mileage of the Honda Unicorn bike is its key selling point – around 60 Kmpl. The ARAI mileage of Unicorn 160 is rated at around 60 km/l, while the real-world mileage of Unicorn generally falls between 50–60 km/l, depending on riding conditions. While the ARAI-certified mileage of Honda CB Unicorn bike is calculated under controlled situations and environments, the Unicorn’s real-world mileage is an average of various user reports of the bike owners across India.
Here’s why it’s worth calculating the Honda Unicorn’s mileage: it keeps running costs in check, helps you spot issues early (drop in km/l can hint at low tyre pressure, clogged air filter, chain slack or ageing engine oil), and lets you compare your real-world mileage against the claimed/ARAI figure for your routes. Factors that most affect Unicorn mileage are riding style (smooth vs stop-go), load and pillion use, traffic and terrain, tyre pressure, chain condition/lube, fuel quality, and timely servicing. Here’s how you can calculate Honda Unicorn mileage:
Knowing your monthly fuel spending of the Honda Unicorn helps you budget better, spot drops in the real-world mileage of the Unicorn (which may signal maintenance needs), and compare routes or riding styles. It’s simple: estimate your total kilometres, divide by Unicorn bike’s mileage (km/l), then multiply the litres needed by your city’s petrol price.
Formula
Example (50 km/day for ~30 days)
So, the expected monthly fuel cost for travelling 50 kms daily = ₹3,000–₹3,300 (if your price/mileage differ, plug them into the formula). (For reference, using ARAI mileage ~60 km/l: 1,500 ÷ 60 = 25 L → about ₹2,750.)
You can improve your Honda Unicorn’s mileage by following these simple yet impactful tips:
The Unicorn’s 150cc engine performs best with clean oil. Follow Honda’s service schedule and replace engine oil on time to maintain smoothness, efficiency, and mileage.
Always keep tyre pressure at Honda’s recommended level. Low tyre pressure increases drag, while overinflation reduces grip—both can affect the real-world mileage of Unicorn.
Sudden revving and hard braking waste fuel. The Unicorn is designed for steady, linear power delivery, so smooth riding improves fuel efficiency.
Stick to Honda’s specified 10W30 grade engine oil. Using non-recommended or thicker oils can make the engine sluggish and lower mileage.
The Unicorn’s 5-speed gearbox works best when you shift according to speed and RPM. Riding in the right gear reduces engine strain and helps you stay closer to the ARAI mileage of the Unicorn.
The Honda Unicorn, being a commuter motorcycle, comes with affordable two wheeler insurance premiums. Like all bikes, it requires at least a third-party liability policy by law, but most owners opt for comprehensive insurance that covers theft, damage, natural disasters, and rider safety. One important factor is Pay-As-You-Drive (PAYD) insurance, where the total distance you ride directly affects your premium. Since the Unicorn is often used for daily commutes, mileage matters in two ways:
If you ride fewer kilometres in a year, insurers consider you lower risk. For example, a Unicorn owner riding 5,000 km/year may pay a lower PAYD premium than someone covering 15,000 km/year.
The more your Unicorn runs, the higher the chances of wear, accidents, and claims. This increases the insurance cost under PAYD plans.
While the real-world mileage of Unicorn (50–60 km/l) saves fuel costs, insurance looks at distance travelled, not fuel efficiency. So a fuel-efficient bike helps your pocket on petrol, but won’t reduce premiums unless you ride fewer total kilometres.
The Honda Unicorn 160 delivers an ARAI-certified mileage of around 60 km/l, while its real-world mileage typically ranges between 50–55 km/l depending on riding conditions.
In heavy city traffic, the Unicorn generally returns around 48–52 km/l.
Yes, the Unicorn is considered one of the best commuter bikes in India due to its smooth engine, comfortable mono-shock suspension, upright seating posture, and reliable mileage.
You can improve Unicorn mileage by ensuring regular servicing, using Honda-recommended engine oil, maintaining proper tyre pressure, avoiding aggressive riding, and shifting gears at the correct RPM.
No, the original Honda Unicorn 150 has been discontinued. It has been replaced by the updated Honda Unicorn 160 BS6 model.
The Honda Unicorn 160 can reach a top speed of around 101–106 km/hr, making it suitable for both city rides and occasional highway use.
For best mileage and performance, service your Unicorn every 3,000–4,000 km or as per Honda’s recommended service intervals, ensuring timely oil changes, air filter cleaning, and chain maintenance.
