[Vagabond27]

Introduction
I purchased a 2023 model Honda Unicorn Black BS6 OBD-II E20 bike on 08 Dec 2023 from the sub dealer of Marikar Honda showroom Statue, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Till now I have done around 9000 kms and completed three free services. From day one of the purchase I had to face so many issues with the bike ranging from head cover gasket leak to sluggish throttle response. The bike has issues with power delivery right from the day of purchase. After the first service, I mailed Honda regarding the issues. Subsequently I received a call from the Main dealer and the bike was checked at the service centre on seven occasions. The first complaint was made on 13 January 2024 through email. I have proved the issues at the service center by conducting a road test. As the service center couldn't solve the issue, I requested them and Honda customer care for assistance and inspection of a Technical person from Honda. After a delay of 7 months, a technical coordinator from Honda conducted a namesake visit and without any technical inspection he has submitted a report that the bike doesn't have any issue. Even after making multiple requests, Honda is not sharing that report with the service center or the customer.

Decision to purchase
I made the decision to purchase Honda Unicorn BS6 OBD-II from the positive experience of extensively using Honda Unicorn BS6 2021 model. I was satisfied with the performance and state of tune of the 162.7 cc fuel injected engine. It had crisp throttle response, free revving engine and good acceleration and was refined too. Previously I have owned Honda Unicorn BS3 150cc models, BS4 150cc models, Hero Hunk, Hero Passion Pro Hornet 160R, Hornet 2.0 BS6 also.

The 2023 model was launched with BS6 phase-II update (OBD-II and E20 upgrade). Along with it Honda has increased the power and torque in the Unicorn BS6 OBD2 E20 model by 0.54 bhp (approx.) and 0.58 Nm (approx.). So a prospective customer who looks at the specification of the new model would think that Honda has fine-tuned the product for better performance. I expected the bike to be a better version of the BS6 model. This is where Honda has failed me. This is where Honda has failed on the reputation of the brand Unicorn.

Power and torque comparison: BS6 v/s BS6 OBD2 E20 model

BS6 model : 9.5 kW (12.91PS or 12.73bhp) @7500rpm & 14Nm@5500rpm

BS6 OBD2 E20 model : 9.9 kW (13.46ps or 13.27bhp) @7500rpm & 14.58Nm@5500rpm


Present Issues:

1. Sluggish acceleration and lag in power delivery (from the day of purchase): poor performance compared to initial BS6 bikes (2020-2022) and old carbureted unicorns. The bike accelerates well only when gradual throttle input is given. On sudden throttle input, the engine bogs down. It feels that while shifting to higher gears, the power is not fully transferred to the higher ones from the lower one.
2. Poor low-end torque and Low initial pickup in all 5 gears (from the day of purchase): struggles to pull from low rpm and needs frequent downshift and upshift to keep up the rpm. Compared to the BS6 model, the initial pick is also down. When the clutch is slightly released, the bike starts to move with a slight jerk due to inadequate power transferred to the wheel.
3. Difficulty in Overtaking: Overtaking other vehicles needs planning and metered acceleration to extract adequate power from the engine.
4. Engine stalling during cold start (February 2024 onwards): During cold starts (morning or evening), as usual the bike would idle at high rpm (above 2k depending on the time) for more than a min (feature of fuel injected bikes) and suddenly stall. It would stall repeatedly on further attempts of self-start and would idle properly without stalling only if I gently opened the throttle. According to them it’s due to the cold weather. This reasoning can be accepted in case of a carbureted motorcycle not in case of a fuel injected one.
5. Fog inside meter console, rear right indicator and tail light (May 2024 onwards)
6. Stiffness in twisting the throttle (from the day of purchase): The accelerator feels tight and difficult to hold on. It creates fatigue on hands after some riding. The issue is not with the accelerator cables. The free movement of the innercable of the accelerator cable was checked. It appears to be due to the usage of stiff spring in the butterfly valve of the throttle body (stiffer than the one used in BS6 model). Part number of throttle body is different in BS6 and BS6 OBD2 unicorn.
7. Compression Loss: Kicker was freely moving. It took me 10-15 kicks to regain the compression of the engine and the bike to start. This occurred after engine cold start issue (mentioned in point no.4). This happened on 13 August 2024 for the first and only time.

Issues resolved:

1. Head cover gasket leak: Occurred on day one of purchase within 10kms of ride.
2. Issue with turn indicator signal in meter: the bulb was replaced
3. Hard Front forks: Air trapped inside suspension affecting the smooth. It was a manufacturing/assembling mistake. A reset was done after the first service. But it later developed issues again and the fork oil was changed.
4. ABS calibration issue (June 2024 onwards): The front brake lever gets hard at times in 30-40 km/hr speed and brakes don't get applied properly. Solved at service center in September 2024.

Issues Explained: How it feels

Despite the increment in power and torque, the performance and tractability is nowhere near to the BS6 2020-2022 models or to older ones with 150cc engines. The power delivery is erratic and it lags all through the lower rpm in every gear. The engine is virtually dead below 4000 rpm. You won’t feel the engine pull or torque at the lower band. Only when it is revved and taken to higher rpms the power is somehow delivered for normal commuting through traffic.

Gradual acceleration has to be given or keep the throttle in the same position for the bike to respond, then only it reaches the required power band for moving on to the next gear. Basically at lower engine rpm, the throttle has to be kept open at a position for the bike to build momentum. The bike struggles even further with a pillion on board. The moment you close the throttle, the engine rpm drops far too quickly making it difficult to continue on the same gear and unless you downshift, the engine won't pull from that point else it starts to knock. The only way to avoid this is to gently accelerate even then you will feel the engine has gone out of the power band which is to be maintained to stay in that particular gear. So unable to move on from that gear to the next, i have to downshift again to create the momentum (Say you are going riding on 5th gear in mild traffic in 50-55 km/hr, you close the throttle for a couple of second and then when you accelerate it should be able to pull, but it won’t pull cleanly without downshifting. Here the engine loses the steam).

Another scenario is when you try to overtake a vehicle, the bike doesn't respond to sudden throttle input. You will be twisting the accelerator to cross the vehicle, the engine won’t respond according to the amount of throttle input given and in the process you will find that the limit of throttle opening has reached and the bike failed to cross over. The key is to gradually accelerate and take it above 4k and then gun it to cross safely. The spring used in the butterfly valve of the throttle body is very stiff making the free pulling of the accelerator difficult, adding more agony to the rider. The stiff spring also gives a jammed feeling due to the engine suction. In the BS6 model, it is very soft and easy on hands.
On the positive side, the engine feels very smooth to ride, no abnormal noise or mechanical issues but feels suffocated and not as free revving as the BS6 model. A side to side ride comparison of BS6 and BS6 OBD2 models would clearly tell the story about the extent of sluggishness and power delivery issues in the OBD2 model.

Inspection at the Service Centre
A quick scan with the OBD tool was done on 15 January 2024. On 08 February 2024 the resistance and spraying pattern of the injector and the pressure of Fuel pump was checked. Resistance of the injector was found to be around 12 ohm (standard value: 11-13 ohm) and the fuel pressure from the fuel pump was above 300 kPa (standard value between 263-319 kPa). The tappet clearance was also checked on an earlier occasion and it was found to be exactly according to specification (in 0.08 mm, outlet 0.24 mm). Apparently all the results were within the recommended limit. The bike doesn’t seem to have any sensor related issue as per scan (no Malfunction Indicator Light) or mechanical issues. But they had no clue why it didn't run well.

My suggestion was to forward the issues to the company and connect me with the technical team so that I can directly convey the issues. Usually an ECU update is released by the manufacturers when issues are identified. So I asked them to check the possibility of an ECU update also. They closed the complaint without informing the customer and without finding a solution (Ticket No: 1-121925369133). I came to know about this on 06 May 2024 only when I received a different complaint number in response to my mail from Honda.

Since they denied the issues present in the bike, I had to prove it in front of them to get their support. We have a 2021 BS6 Unicorn in our family. I took that along with my bike to the service centre on 06 May 2024 (Ticket no. 1-126020788480). The service person took test drives in both the bikes and found that the throttle response and pickup is very low in the BS6 OBD2 model compared to BS6 2021 model. Compared to the previous iteration, the power and torque in the OBD2 model is up by 0.54 bhp (approx.) and 0.58 Nm (approx.). So theoretically it should have better performance. Forget about better performance and the power figures, it should be running without any lag and as good as the BS6 model. The power delivery should be crisp and smooth in a fuel injected motorcycle. Here the bike is struggling to keep up the pace. The lag can be felt throughout the rev range. These things are difficult to convey through words, a good mechanic or an enthusiast can easily identify the issues.These issues were acknowledged by the service person and the CRM of the service center and I was given assurance that it will be escalated to the zonal office, Kochi and I will be informed when someone visits from the zonal office.

Conversation with Zonal Office, Cochin
The Area Manager (Mr Nandhu) from the Zonal Office, Honda has completely denied the test drive feedback of technician and Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) and the acknowledgement/identification of issues during that time. He said the service center has not acknowledged anything. The area manager’s way of conduct was very unwelcoming and impolite. He was not keen on listening to issues also. I haven’t taken a video of them accepting the issues with my bike nor have they provided me with a written statement acknowledging the issues with my bike. All the discussion/feedback/acknowledgement was done in my presence. Why should I mistrust them when they sincerely tried to understand the problems?

I contacted the Area Manager, Zonal office Honda for the first time on 21 February 2024. Back then he had assured to provide an update within 3 days. I never heard from him after that day. I have repeatedly tried to contact the Area Manager over whatsapp messages and phone calls. He would ignore my messages and calls. He never bothered to communicate until 14 May 2024. The area manager without personally test driving or inspecting the bike is convinced that the bike is functioning well. He feels that I am constantly raising complaints without any actual complaints. He argues that the scan report (QDR) shows bike sensors within specified limits so there shouldn’t be any issue with the performance of the bike. What I learned from my experience is that absence of Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) alone shouldn’t be considered as the only criteria and equated to the well-functioning of a motorcycle. The real world performance should be correlated with these reports.

Visit by Technical Coordinator from Honda
After 19 mails and 20+ calls to the customer care (1800-103-3434), a technical coordinator (Mr Vinod Sans) from Honda came for inspection or for whatever thing he came for on 30 July 2024. It was a namesake technical review. I narrated the events that happened during the last 7 months. During the discussion, he was ducking my technical doubts/questions and behaved diplomatically without answering.
After that we went for a test drive and compared the OBD2 unicorn with the BS6 2021 unicorn (my friend’s bike). I showed him the drastic performance difference between both models and the exact issues carrying him as a pillion. He has only nodded to these kinds of real world issues of power delivery and didn't ask a single word back!!
To prove my point, I went with a well-functioning BS6 unicorn to the service centre for comparison and showed him the exact issues. He didn’t compare it with another OBD2 bike or with another BS6 unicorn. He didn’t conduct any technical inspection of parts/tests nor did he ask any technically sound questions for understanding the issues. I showed him the issues specifically. He didn't bother to check the same way and verify it. No technical tests were conducted.

I thought a technical coordinator would be asking technical stuff, answering technical stuff and discussing possible causes of the technical issues. Overall it ended as a name sake technical review without getting into the technical issues. Above all, they are not willing to share the namesake technical report. Also, they have closed the complaint (complaint number: 1-126020788480) without my consent and providing a solution.

Feedback from other users
I have talked with many users through social media and in person. Majority of the users shared a similar experience. The common issues identified so far are lag in acceleration, poor initial pickup and difficulty in overtaking, engine stalling during cold start, gear slipping issue and fog in meter and indicator during rain or cold climate. I face all the issues except gear slipping.

Conclusion
Overall, the initial pickup and in-gear acceleration is like a 100cc bike. In every aspect, this bike is a disaster compared to BS6 unicorn and earlier 150cc models. Honda sells an average of 20,000+ units of Unicorn every month. Majority of the customers buy it based on the reputation of older unicorns. The issues mentioned are common with 2023-2024 Unicorn OBD2 models. As of now there is no accountability or transparency. They are letting the customer suffer. The service centre is well aware of the issues but not doing anything to help the customer. The officers in Honda’s zonal office, Cochin are playing their own hide and seek game behind the curtain. A better mechanism should be implemented to collect customer feedback on out of factory issues and provide timely solutions.

[Bismaya]

I wanted to express my sympathy regarding your recent experiences with Honda. I have encountered similar issues with my Honda motorcycles over the past few years, which ultimately led me to switch to Yamaha. It is disappointing to see what I perceive as a lack of responsibility on Honda's part regarding customer service and spare parts availability.

Unfortunately, cases like yours are not isolated; they seem to be increasingly common. I've noticed a decline in the quality of spare parts and service from Honda. While some Authorized Service Centers (ASCs) have made genuine efforts to assist me, they are often limited by the unavailability of essential parts, raising concerns about Honda’s commitment to ensuring timely access to replacements.

For instance, we are currently searching for a replacement master cylinder for a friend's Activa 125 BS6, and it has proven quite challenging to locate. Although ASCs promise to place orders upon request, the success rate feels uncertain. It's surprising that a market-leading scooter lacks essential components like a brake cylinder. If this is the case for such a high-demand product, it raises questions about the availability of parts for less popular models.

Thank you for your attention to these concerns. I hope that Honda will take steps to address these issues for the benefit of its customers.

[Vagabond27]

Major changes: Honda Unicorn BS6 (2020-2022) to BS6 OBD2 (2023-2024)

1. Spec Comparison

Compared to BS6 model, the power and torque has been increased by 0.54 bhp and 0.58 Nm. But real world performance is pathetic!! Acceleration and power delivery is like 100cc bike.


2. Crankshaft Position Sensor

A detachable CKP sensor is added in BS6 OBD2 Unicorn.



3. Side stand

In older Unicorn (2004-2019), the side stand is attached to a metal piece and bolted in the chassis.Here the entire load is carried by the chassis. In BS6 and BS6 OBD2 Unicorn, it is welded to the footrest rod which is bolted at the bottom of the engine!!! Here, the load is on the engine base. Just imagine the possible outcomes during a mishap in both these cases.



4. Nut in coneset

In older unicorns and BS6 Unicorn (2020-2022), the steering stem nut was a full size one. In the BS6 OBD2 model, they have changed the design to nut with a center cap. I don't understand the logic or engineering benefit behind this. Water can enter through the sides of the cap causing rust inside the T-stump!


5. ECU and Throttle body
Part number of ECU and Throttle body is different in BS6 and BS6 OBD2 Unicorn.

6. Silencer shield
Picture says it!

[DDV437]

You meet the nicest people on a Honda. Too nice maybe, because Honda themselves seem to be taking them on a ride.

[Vagabond27]

Issue no.4 Engine stalling during cold start

Video 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxeXoPnD0O0

Video 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XvbQ3tPERA

[ravradha]

Honda is increasing market share and dominating several segments in scooters and motorbikes in India, but their success has led to complacency. They're neglecting individual customer importance and forgetting:


1. It was their great engineering and material advancement that translated to abuse-resistant products and reliability for Indian commuters
2. Reliability builds trust and mouth-to-mouth positive feedback.
3. Positive feedback drives sales and brand value.

Complacency can reverse this:

1. Decreased product quality.
2. Poor customer experiences.
3. Negative word-of-mouth.
4. Decrease in sales

Honda has to restart

1. Maintaining high-quality products.
2. Prioritizing customer satisfaction.
3. Continuous improvement.

Till there is proof of this happening let's just abstain from buying Honda. Untill that happens Honda will take us for a nice ride, even when their vehicles can't give us one.

[Vagabond27]

First mail to Honda. Since then 20+ mails and so many calls to customer care and the service center.

In all the Honda administrative offices, security personnel will be attending your calls and note your number/info etc and they will hand it to the office. They may or may not call back. There is no official way to talk with the office people unless they call back. They won't talk through the office number which security personnel attend.

Proved my point at the service center for the second time. Later denied by the Area Manager in Zonal Office without checking the bike.

Report of the Technical co-ordinator. Not sharing the report with customer. They will get exposed if they share it!!

[Vagabond27]

Fog- Speedometer and Indicator Few other users also reported fog in speedometer. Once i have noticed fog inside the tail light also but couldn't take a video at that time.

https://youtu.be/OnuMjZDHa64

[Vagabond27]

Design Flaws in Honda Unicorn BS6 OBD2 E20 2023-2024 models.

Design Flaw 1: First generation to 2024 model



Design Flaw 2: 2020-2024 models



Design Flaw 3:First generation to 2024 model



Design Flaw 4: Huhh!



Design Flaw 5: Described in the previous post

[Vagabond27]

One thing i immediately noticed after sitting on the new Unicorn BS6 OBD2 model was some difference in the way steering unit felt compared to BS6 and BS3/BS4.

[DocOn2Wheels]

I can certainly relate to this thread. I have had a very similar experience with Honda and that too Big wing which they market as their premium offering. My bike, CB350RS had manufacturing defect in its engine and I have been facing problems since day one. Can't explain everything entirely here; I already have a thread mentioning my woes:
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motor...nightmare.html (How choosing Honda CB350RS as my first bike turned into a nightmare!)
One update I would like to give is I opened the engine head myself and there were quite few interesting bits I noticed which I'll be posting there itself. That notion of Honda being a symbol of reliability and customer satisfaction should change because it's all about luck now; it's all well and good until you visit them just for regular services but the real horror starts when an unexpected issue pops up. No matter how trivial it is, it will become a pain in the ass if you only rely on the ASC and don't have an access to a reputable FNG, as is the case with me, and because of which I had to take matters in my own hand. I also went the legal way but got cheated there too; will post about that too soon.

[Vagabond27]

Originally Posted by DocOn2Wheels

I can certainly relate to this thread. I have had a very similar experience with Honda and that too Big wing which they market as their premium offering. My bike, CB350RS had manufacturing defect in its engine and I have been facing problems since day one.

Yes, I understand the pain. I have gone through your entire thread. i understand that defects may come in a machine but the company officials have to listen when we try to convey the manufacturing defects. There is no proper channel in the present system for a customer to directly interact with the Honda technical team or administrative official. Even if we somehow collect their number from sources, they won't entertain us after the first call. Their official in Zonal office blocked me in Whatsapp when i proved his assumptions wrong

[Vagabond27]

Dear Teambhpians,

Is there any alternative way through which we could bring the "out of factory issues" to the notice of R&D division, Honda?

[Vagabond27]

Almost 10 months has passed. Honda doesn't care to provide a solution or justification. These faulty bikes are still on sale.

[Vagabond27]

For the third time they have closed my complaint without a resolution.
I no longer can register a complaint through the customer care as per the customer care executive! Blacklisted??!!
Complaint Reference# 1-130554326195