Honda CBR250R To Be Launched Officially in Udaipur Tomorrow : BikeAdvice |  |
- Honda CBR250R To Be Launched Officially in Udaipur Tomorrow
- Suzuki Access 125 Review by Venkata
- Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Ownership Review by Saurabh
- KTM Duke 200 Spied Again
- Hero Honda Karizma-R Review by Leonard
- Discovering Myself With Hero Honda Hunk
- Questions and Answers – Round 21
- The Bikes That Changed The Face Of Indian Motorcycling
- Interview with CEO of Royal Enfield (Excerpt)
| Honda CBR250R To Be Launched Officially in Udaipur Tomorrow Posted: 18 Jun 2011 09:08 AM PDT
Original Source: Honda CBR250R To Be Launched Officially in Udaipur Tomorrow from BikeAdvice.in Honda's latest motorcycle the CBR 250R is going to be launched officially in Udaipur on 19th June, Sunday at Celebration Mall. Though the bike is already available for booking from last one month, this launch is still considered to be the official launch of the brand new machine.
Sandeep Rana Area Sales in-charge, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. along with Sheel Mohan Sharma – Manager, Lakecity Honda are going to unveil the bike model on the day of launch. The program will start at 7pm. A stage has been erected in front of mall's main entrance to display the CBR250R, a dance show and other programs will be followed by the launching ceremony. Organizer of the event, Lakecity Honda is the sole and authorized dealer of Honda Motorcycles and Scooter India pvt.ltd in Udaipur. Varun Murdia – Director of Lakecity Honda said in a conversation via email "We are expecting a sale of around 8 to 10 bikes per month from Udaipur and it is in sync with HMSI's plans in Udaipur. Our confidence has increased as we already have a booking of 12 bikes in the first month itself with around 25 inquiries in hand who wanted to see the bike once before booking it. We will also be giving delivery of CBR to few customers on the day of the launch" The Honda CBR 250R is a sport model also fit for street. The bike has an exceptional feature of combined anti lock system of braking. There are two models with different price tags of Rs.1,46,589 (Standard) and Rs.1,72,075 (C-ABS) is available in market. Source : Udaipur Times Regards, Related posts: |
| Suzuki Access 125 Review by Venkata Posted: 18 Jun 2011 07:58 AM PDT
Original Source: Suzuki Access 125 Review by Venkata from BikeAdvice.in Hi readers this is Venkata and over the next couple of minutes I would like to take you all to a journey on my Suzuki Access 125. I own Suzuki Access 125; however I wanted to buy a bike with gears but my wife didn't like bikes with gears, so I thought of buying a gearless Scooter. After Searching in the market for about 2 months I thought I would buy Honda Activa but when I went to showroom and asked for Honda Activa they said it would take around 8 months to deliver and price here in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh region is 59,000 rupees, on road.
Again I was in great dilemma and was not able to decide on what to do further. One of my friends who also owns a Suzuki Access 125 advised me to go for the scooter he was using. At first I was a bit hesitant if I was making a wrong choice by going for a scooter other than Honda Activa, however I decided to go for Suzuki Access 125. So on 1-Jan-2011 I went Vallurupalli motors in Vijayawada (dealers of Suzuki). So the dealers said that it would take one or two months for me to get my hands on the scooter but then again I requested them, so they gave the delivery on the third day. I choose the bike to be Black and it is an awesome experience riding it. One thing that I most liked about the scooter is its pick up. Initially I faced some starting problems like when I slow down the accelerator bike stops but it was rectified by the mechanic and now the problem is gone. For the last 6 months I have been using this bike and let me tell you one thing that this little machine is just so amazing and comfortable though it is a little bulky for ladies. Mileage comes around 45-49kms/ltr in city traffic stop and start conditions but in high ways it is 50-55kms/ltr. The on road price of Suzuki Access 125 here in Vijayawada is 54000/- and 2000/- for Accessories. Suzuki Access runs on a powerful mill, no noise just a wind like a sound coming during acceleration though it gives out a little noise during low speeds. I completed 2 servicing; they are taking 280/- for free servicing to change the engine oil. It has a spacious seat and under seat space is also good and spacious. When compared to Honda Activa it is more comfortable, enjoyable and the price and waiting period also very less. The servicing guys quickly respond to my. The only thing I want to share is that this scooter is one value for money product and I loved it from the moment I laid my hands on it. The machine is so good that even my wife loves it. I came to know from my friend that the service for the Honda Activa is very bad here. Suzuki Access boasts a list of accessories such as, front fender bending, leg shield bending, front box, inner mat, body colored grips and it goes on. Obviously all these additional parts will make the vehicle look trendier. Access has both the options that of self-start and kick start system. The gauges and control system are traditional. The seats are comfortable and flat offering good support for the pillion rider. Performance wise Suzuki Access runs on a powerful mill so you don't have to worry climbing uphill. It sports 125cc engine that produces 8.58bhp at 7000rpm and 10Nm at 5500rpm which kind off make it a reasonably powerful amongst its peers. The Access engine features XTP (Extra Torque and Performance) which is quite similar to Suzuki Zeus. Although Suzuki promises fuel efficiency of 60kmpl from its Access 125cc, we know about the test conditions (maybe downhill they are talking about…duh!). You should be just happy if your Access gives an economy of little more than 40kmpl. Finally I would say it is really a good bike and you will not regret if you choose Access over its peers. Regards, Related posts: |
| Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Ownership Review by Saurabh Posted: 18 Jun 2011 07:51 AM PDT
Original Source: Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Ownership Review by Saurabh from BikeAdvice.in Hi, all my biker brothers, a warm welcome to my review. I am a passionate biker whose name is Saurabh. I am 20 years old living with my parents in Amritsar. I am pursuing Btech degree from Guru Nanak Dev University. And belong to middle class family.
My passion for bikes came to the surface when I was only 10 years old. At that time I didn't know anything about bikes or didn't noticed them. Then, suddently one day while watching TV I saw Pulsar ad which fascinated me and it was "definitely male" tag which thrilled me beyond measure.
When I actually caught a glimpse of it on road, it really captivated my senses. With its huge tank, unique design and exhaust sound it was the first bike ever which caught my attention after the RE which I hated then I don't know why. It became the bike of my dreams and I even started convincing my dad to buy it "Papa kharid lo,bohat acchi hai pulsar" but he hardly paid any attention. Eventually, I was scolded off due to my excessive persuasions. "Pagal ho gya hai ye" were my dad's words (he is a really strict and stern fellow). My dad had Bajaj Classic SL scooter then. The IntermissionThis was quite dull phase of life for my biker heart which was yearning for a bike. In this period I quenched my biking thirst only by looking at bikes and as a pillion rider. I didn't know how to ride a bike till about 15. In 2006, my father bought Hero Honda Passion Plus which is a good bike for uncles (lol). My dad taught me to ride a bike on it.
I learned it with great zeal and enthusiasm. I used to took it for a ride when it was not in the service of my dad. This continued till 2007, when my father bought me a Honda Activa (really sad) without my opinion (he is a strict and stern fellow). When I resisted he said, "tu +2 karke kisi aur shehar emgg ke liye jayegs to yeh active ghar mein kam aa jayegi". New BeginningAfter clearing AIEEE engg exam, I opted Btech in my own city in GND university. So, I bwas left at home and it was a good opportunity at my disposal to demand for a bike as 3 years with Activa were more than enough for me. I started convincing my dad to buy me a bike which he accepted without any hiccups. He told me decide the bike my eyes were fixated upon. I told him, “Pata hi hai apko”. He grinned and decided the date as 13 July 2010. I was very excited as we went to the Bajaj showroom. He told me about the budget limitations, "55k ke budget mein honi chahiye bike". I was shocked to hear Pulsar 150's ex-showroom price at 63.212.
Those words were like a bee's sting to my heart. I looked at my dad for mercy but to no avail. "beta aur koi dekh le", he said. Then, my eyes caught glimpse of the Pulsar 135LS which was looking very attractive in Passion red. Discover 150 was available at 6k discount to my budget. But I had decided that it was Pulsar I want to go for. After paying about 58k on road the beast was finally mine. I was on cloud nine on my way to home, delighted by its looks and thrilled its amazing exhaust sound and acceleration. Till now, my Bajaj Pulsar 135LS has completed 6500km and has been serviced 4 times. Those 6500kms were very special to me. I consider it as my companion more than just a bike.
The bike has lived upto my expectations to a great extent but it's a universal law that nobody is flawless hence is the case with my bike too. Right from the first dsay I took a great care of it. I wash it regularly and polish it at desired intervals. I do everything possible to maintain my Bajaj Pulsar 135LS at its best. I am in the habit warming it up in the morning before taking off and using kick starter. LooksI am really delighted by its looks and consider its design to be unique and fresh contrary to what is available in its category in the market. Its unique design resembles a ballistic missile when viewed from side parked on side stand. I like its design more than pulsar 150. It has got clip-on handlebars, freshly shaped headlight, good tail lamp and grab rails.
It has sporty rear with a separate mudguard.It will look like a true sports when its removed but I stayed away from such modifications as I love my Bajaj Pulsar 135LS. The only flaw is its turn indicators whioch don't look good and the rear tyre hugger could have been better. EnginePulsar 135LS's real star is its engine. What a great engine I must say "awesome". It never cries for mercy and is always in tremendous enthusiasm right from the word go. As you all know it has got 4 valves and 13.5 bhp power which is class demolishing for a 135cc bike. The gearbox is quite smooth contrary to what I have heard of Pulsars. The engine is quite smooth in the beginning but as it heats up it lacks in refinement. The engine is the stressed member in this bike, but it is very powerful. PerformanceThis is a very agile Pulsar variant and believe me its no.1 in its category, you have to ride it to believe me. Its 4 valve layout with 2 inlet and 2 outlet makes it engine very rev friendly and can be revved to eye-popping 10,500rpm witout any hiccups. Its 13.5bhp power coupled with a light frame (122kg) provide it with a class leading 111PS/tonne power to weight ratio which give it an insane pick-up that suits its name "LS-light sport". It doesn't feel like a 135cc and can beat many 150cc bikes in outright acceleration and top speed. It takes only 5.1 secs for 0-60 dash and about 17 seconds for 0-100. I personally took it to speedo indicated 123kmph at about 10000rpm. It was a very awesome experience of my life. Its behaviour at high speed is worth appreciating and gives adrenaline rush. Good work by bajaj. Handling & ComfortOverall it has a good handling but not the best. Its seating position creates a lot of confusion as its neither sporty nor commuterish but somewhere in between which is not comfortable at all for long rides. I myself got back pain for first few days.
It attacks the corners with stability and agility of a cat. It has great maneuverability and city is its natural habitat. It not so suited for highways. The ride quality is a bit stiff for the sake of handling. The 17inch MRF tyres provide ample grip. Fuel EfficiencyNow this is the most discussed topic when you buy a bike rather than the bike itself. To a true biker, mileage doesn't matter, at least to me. As for getting good performance you cant get mileage. However, it has got excellent mileage of 50-55kmpl in city and 60-65 on the highways. It also depends on the riding style and place of use. OverallPulsar 135LS is an engineering marvel from Bajaj which, however, is suffering from quality issues. This bike is really agile and suitable for young and aspiring racers who like to race and stunt. And this bike will be pocket friendly due to its mileage. This is a really fast motorcycle it feels fast right from the low revs upto its rpm limiter. But he engine is most stressed out of the whole Pulsar series. And crucially it has vibrations,you can feel vibes right from 3.5k rpm and above 6k rpm its well established part of what you are doing on this motorcycle. My justifications is highly stressed engine which make a lot of power do vibrate. It goes really fast but has vibrations. This bike is developed keeping the age goup of 18-30 in mind. According to me, Bajaj Pulsar 135LS is for a person who wants a good looking bike, requires a bike for daily commuting and also likes to race down the lane without burning a hole in his pocket. Goodbye! greetings friends and thanks for bearing my long review. Any queries are welcome. Regards, Related posts: |
| Posted: 18 Jun 2011 07:44 AM PDT
Original Source: KTM Duke 200 Spied Again from BikeAdvice.in Greetings! The world of two wheelers is full of surprises and spy shots. In the most recent spy activity KTM Duke 200 was spied again at Lonavala. This pretty much made it clear that Bajaj will soon launch the much awaited street bike i.e. KTM Duke 200 in India. Hopefully as the spy shot is taken it can be pretty much made up that the bike will be launched by the year end only.
These spy shots of the KTM Duke 200 will certainly bring a sense of happiness to many people who have wished to buy this street wonder. The story regarding the spy shots was published on the Motoroids news portal confirming the launch of the Bajaj – KTM baby soon into the Indian market. Since many days there are speculations going on regarding this bike and every now and then the air was filled with grapevine but this spy shot confirms that there is some serious thing going on in Bajaj – KTM joint venture. So how did the spy shots surfaced? Well actually the bikes (Ya not one but two KTM Dukes) were parked outside a hotel as the riders halted for a break there. It was then the images of the bikes were clicked. There were two bikes and they were just the prototypes and not the production models (as reported on Motoroids). It is no hidden fact that KTM and Bajaj have been working on the 200cc variant of the bike since long and they may surface it anytime soon. The 125cc variant was manufactured and exported to Europe from the Bajaj's chakan Plant. News has it that KTM 200 would support many of the first time features such as upside-down forks and (possibly) a chromium-molybdenum trellis frame. All in all, it gives us immense pleasure in rolling out this news regarding the most awaited bike and we hope that Bajaj- KTM launches this wonder soon. Also the 200cc engine can be closely compared to the new CBR250Ralthough the final decision would lie upon their real time performances. Let us keep our fingers crossed and hope that the bike soon shows up on to the streets . Image Source: Motoroids KTM Duke 200 Share on Facebook Related posts: |
| Hero Honda Karizma-R Review by Leonard Posted: 18 Jun 2011 07:37 AM PDT
Original Source: Hero Honda Karizma-R Review by Leonard from BikeAdvice.in My Bike, Hero Honda Karizma, from my view as owner of this great bike that has been launched in India, I am really proud to write about this bike. My Karizma R, The awesome engine packs 17 bhp in a 223cc.
A real sporty looking bike, and the dreams comes really true with Karizma. Hero Honda engineers have put their best to develop the model Karizma. One big advantage of this bike is that the handle bars are free to turn because there is no extra weight attached to it.
Engine Specifications
The only thing the bike should have, i.e. Fuel Injection / Tubeless Tyres / & Rear Disc. Otherwise its evry part is very good. 150kg weight, 1355mm wheelbase and 276mm disc brake gives it very stability in running in condition. In this point Karizma too much far away from any kind of bike(P220, R15, Fazer). So buy it, you will feel that you are riding a dream bike.
Its an excellent bike full of power I really enjoy its driving style and my bike gives me 38 km mileage in city and 42 to 46 on highways. Looking into the dash board of the Karizma, we can see 2 dials, a Rpm meter and a Speedometer and next to it is the digital panel which displays Fuel, a Trip meter, total distance and a digital clock, I really love the clock, I do not need to leave the handle bars to check the time in my wrist while driving. People may think that fast sport bikes are risky, but in my opinion, Karizma is the safest bike in India. Provided with adequate wheel base and body weight, the bike comes to halt easily from very high speeds without losing any stability. I have made a little different in my Karizma R, in the modeling part with some colour change as per my taste, the original colour of this bike was Black body and red alloy wheels. But I think people will definitely like the changes in colour which I made in my bike, pictures are attached here too. I have driven many bikes in my life but always praise the Karizma, as i went first time with my partner and both enjoyed the ride. The gear shifts are smooth and silky. The positioning of the switchgear is just about perfect with a sense of usability.
The blinder switches are placed superlatively and the horn, indicator (push cancel type), choke lever are all placed on the left side and the electric start and light switch is on the right side. It is a superb three pod instrument cluster. The first ever digital instrumentation on any Indian bike. A digital indiacator for the fuel levels, ODO and an in-built digital clock find their place in the Digital Instrumentation. The speedometer and tachometer are anologue and are well placed. The neutral and high-beam indicators are positioned on the speedometer dial. The displays are backlit in Orange lights and are well visible at all times of the day/night. So, My suggest don't wait go for the best Karizma by Hero Honda, and you will be proud to be a owner of this great bike. Regards, Related posts: |
| Discovering Myself With Hero Honda Hunk Posted: 18 Jun 2011 07:33 AM PDT
Original Source: Discovering Myself With Hero Honda Hunk from BikeAdvice.in Hello Folks, I'm Subash from Salem, I am working for a reputed IT company in Coimbatore. I would like to share my experiences with my Hero Honda Hunk and how it helped me to identify my other passions apart from biking; yes this would be one of those longer posts.
It was my uncle's Lamby Scooter with which I learnt to ride two wheelers and I'm still in love with that scooter which packs a power full 150CC engine and a heavy metal body. I have lot of nostalgic memories with it. I had a TVS-50 when I was in school (handed down from my brother) and a Third hand Suzuki Samurai when I was doing my MTech in Anna University. Samurai was supposed to be a no problem bike but mine gave me lot more problems than an algebra book can, but of course one can expect that in a third hand machine and by then 2-stroke was already outdated. Other vechiles I'm used to are my Dad's Bajaj Chetak and Bajaj CT100. Chetak is truly a warrior's horse and it's still in good shape.
Bajaj CT100 is a great mileage bike which gave a whooping 70+ kms during the first year and probably it was my endless trips to nearby hill station 'Yercaud' in this bike gave me enough experience to ride in any kind of terrain. Apart from Samurai which I bought and Sold in Chennai other machines are in good condition and I take them for a ride whenever I find the opportunity. Finding My PassionsI was so much in love with Chennai that when my company deployed me in Coimbatore I was literally heart broken, cry. But all that changed after getting my Hunk. To be obvious when I decided to get a bike for myself my first choice in 150CC segment was Honda Unicorn. But I was very impatient to wait for 3 months so I decided go for a Hero Honda bike since I liked the reliability factor of Hero Honda machines.
I went to Hero Honda showroom in Salem with the intent of booking CBZ Extreme! But there I found these weird looking machines and I thought of taking it for a test drive. As soon as I jumped on to it I realized it suits me very well than a CBZ Extreme. I should mention here that I'm 6 feet 96kgs heavy Hunk myself, mrgreen, and HH Hunk was a perfect match for me. It was in November 2009 I fell in love with my 'Basavi' (named after Basava, bull of Lord Shiva). Coimbatore is bordered by Kerala and Karnataka so an hour drive would land you in scenic locations of these states. After few trips to Ooty, Kothagiri, Valparai and nearby tourist spots of Coimbatore I realized my passion for riding and my love for Nature. Also, once in a month I used to travel home by bike which is a 163KM ride and slowly I started to take different routes via beautiful country side of Sathyamangalam (Popularly known for notorious smuggler Veerappan) and extend the ride up to 200 to 230 KMs.
While attempting to capture these loving memories I found my other passion which is Photography. I go to work only at 2 PM so I had lot of time to spare in the morning. One fine morning I woke up at 5 AM and not willing to go back to sleep I decided to go for a ride and that was the start of my early morning bike rides which is more like a meditation to me. The villages surrounding Coimbatore is so beautiful and sometimes surreal in day breaks. Some how while riding through the country side and forest areas I am happy from my heart and I feel a special connection between Me, My Bike and My surroundings, roll. A Life time ExperienceLate 2010 I decided to go for a round trip to Kerala and started planning for it. Though I don't speak or understand much of Malayalam I decided to ride alone for good. A colleague of mine from Kerala who is a splendid photographer himself helped me to come up with a route which would be a great riding experience and equally challenging.
Though I was very much determined to make this trip I somehow didn't find the impulse to do it. And in early March Anant Singhal shared his experience here about his lonely ride to Mumbai and it was the inspiration and the kick in the back I required. I hit the road in late march. I'm very much thankful to him and Bikeadvice for posting it. It was a wonderful 3 days, 930KMs and 650 photos trip of my life time. My long wait had actually resulted in perfect planning and everything went as per schedule. From Coimbatore I started with Valparai (tea estates) and then to Chalakudi, Athirampalli (falls) passing through Kerala Reserve forests where I was able to sight wild elephants and Lion tailed Monkeys, Perumbavoor (elephant orphanage and training centre), Kakkanaadu and I reached Kochi by evening, had a wonderful kerala delicacy and slept early.
Next day to visit Fort Cochi I had to take a ferry and I came to know that we can take our bike in a ferry. It was a different experience to sit in the bike and ride on a ferry, it costs only 2Rs and I did not forget to add zeros behind 2. From Kochi I headed to Alapuzha known for House Boating and Boat racing in Vembanad Lake the longest lake in India. I spent a little time in Alapuzha and then I headed back to Kumarakom, this was the only time I travelled back in same route (though 'Reverse is not an Option'). In Kumarakom I visited Birds Sanctuary otherwise known as Baker's Island which was bordering the Vembunad lake on one side, I was eager to visit this place because it was mentioned in the Book 'The Hungry Tide' which is one of my favorites. I hired a row boat to circle around Vembunad and then by dawn I reached Thodupuzha a small hill station where I spent my second night and there I tasted squid for the first time in my life. The last day of my trip was more eventful, In Thodupuzha I visited a falls and a hill called Ilaveezhapoonchira hills which was the toughest and most challenging ride.
Almost 5 kilometers of very steep and winding roads and then 7 kms of steep mud road in which even a 4×4 jeep would struggle, if going up was a struggle coming down was even worse, but it was all worth it and I loved the challenge. From there I went to Munnar but I did not spend much time over there because it was not the kind of place for 'Single' riders, it's a Honeymoon location (lol). Passing through Chinnar, Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) I was completing my 3 day trip, a journey through hills, Rivers, canals, dams, Peaks, Tea/Rubber Estates and so on. Knowing that my trip will come to an end in couple of hours I was recollecting all the memories and reliving it in my mind and all of a sudden I was stopped by a guy standing next to a pick up truck.
He told to me to wait for sometime because there is a wild elephant nearby (single elephant is more dangerous than herd). I wasn't surprised with what he said because I was still well within reserve forest area. I was not afraid of the elephant but this guy who had stopped me in middle of no where concerned me more so I took off. After a while I saw this female elephant with a little one, grazing in some 40 to 50 feet distance from road. It was not the first time I'm looking at a wild elephant from such a short distance and I'm used to it in Bhandipur so I decided to take couple of snaps. I kept the engine running and dropped the gear to neutral; I stood up from my saddle to focus on the elephants carefully not making any sudden movements.
At that moment a bunch of tourists in Zylo went past me not before making a howling sound all together evil. I turned back to look at the Zylo and slowly turned towards the elephant only to realize the elephant was marching fast towards me with her trunk waving madly at me. I was frozen shock at that sight and it took me 2-3 seconds to regain my senses and start my bike, she must have been 15 feet away from me when I escaped the scene, it was the final icing on the cake for a wonder full trip. RevelationAfter I posted few of my trip photos in Facebook, My project mates started to consider me as an outcast because most people type cast me as Bookworm given my educational background and constant FB updates about books that I read. It took sometime for people to understand my passions and slowly they accepted it. My team mate introduced me to her uncle who is a top-notch Forrest officer who had invited me for tiger watch. People now and then come to me to suggest a bike for them and all I do is provide them with Bikeadvice URL Sometimes people bug me with questions like "What if tyre goes flat", "What if you fall" and there are some who ridicule me as psycho to ride alone evil. I never really cared much about them. Isn't this my life! And all it takes is little preparedness and planning. About the BikeI bought this bike for 68,000 Rs in November 2009 and unlike its latest version it did not come with rear disc and LED Tail lamp. It looked a bit different from other bikes with that side skirts and Hunk was not so popular at that time. Apart from Sports Red and Black it came in variant colors like Navy blue, elephant grey, cherry red, Silver and i've seen white with red as well, not sure if it was a paint job.
The things I like about this bike is the wide and comfortable saddle (didn't I mention i'm a heavy man) and the 'gas reservoir suspension' adds up to it, Relaxed riding position so that you don't have to lean forward much like in Apache but you can adjust your riding position. Pillion is not that comfortable and overall design of it is not for family use. For a 150cc engine my bike gives a humble 40 to 45 KMs mileage even after all that rides. I take a good care of the engine but I do push it to its limits, my top speed on this bike is 115kms/Hr. Like other 150CC bikes it has a 5 speed gear box with the usual 1 down, 4 up gear shift pattern, initially the gear shift was hard but now every things smooth. The front wheel has a 240 mm disc break and rear wheel has a 130 mm drum breaks. As they say 'A bike without crash and car without scratch is only a myth' I too have crashed a couple of times, both the times full face helmet had saved me. Ironically both incidents happened because of an animal crossing the road. Dogs in highways are common enemies for riders. So if you are passionate rider go for Full face helmets, it helps to keep your passion alive mrgreen. I like the reliability of these Hero Honda machines and I trust my 'Basavi' a lot. It is this trust that had made me to discover my passions and redefine myself. My next big trip would be in November roll. Thanks for Reading. Regards, Related posts: |
| Questions and Answers – Round 21 Posted: 18 Jun 2011 07:02 AM PDT
Original Source: Questions and Answers – Round 21 from BikeAdvice.in 1) I am a normal family rider whether should I go for the regular single disk breaking variant of CBZ Extreme or the one which comes with rear discs. – N. BALAJI
BikeAdvice: Hi Balaji, Normal single disc brakes on our Indian bikes are more than enough in case of sedate driving and considering you are a 'family' driver, the regular variant of CBZ Extreme loaded with single discs upfront would serve your purpose pretty well. Go for the regular variant and invest the remaining amount in a good quality helmet/riding gear. 2) I want to buy a Honda scooter, my monthly travelling is about 750-800 km. So tell me in detail which scooter is the best for me with better mileage, comfort and looks among Suzuki Access 125, Honda Activa, TVS Wego – ABHISHEK BikeAdvice: Hello Abhishek, All the 3 scooters mentioned by you are pretty competitive. Suzuki Access is the biggest engined (125cc) and the most powerful scooter of the lot. It produces 8.58Bhp & 9.8Nm of torque compared to 8Bhp & 8.8Nm of the 110cc Honda Activa and 8 bhp and 8Nm torque of TVS Wego. This power gain is clearly felt when Access is ridden with a heavier load and the same is replicated on the others. Access produces better torque lower down the engine revs (rpms) to enable a better and more hasslefree ride. Moreover, Access comes loaded with telescopic front suspensions which make a big difference to the overall ride quality of the scooter as compared to others and is friendly to the spine as well. It is solidly built and would be as durable as the Honda's Activa, if not more! With so many advantages, you would have to live with a slightly lesser fuel efficiency (expect anything around 35-40kmpl). Activa, no doubt, is the current best seller and a wonderful scooter. However, with some inhumane waiting periods and little higher price tag, it just takes the sheen off the positives of this scooter. Wego is the most masculine and the best looker of the lot. With 12 inch alloys and telescopic suspensions, it does make its own style statement. But Wego's 'not so refined' mill and an almost equivalent price tag keep us suggesting the others. Unless you have sales, service issues of Suzuki in your area, we really don't think you should look beyond Access. Access (51k) is dearer by Activa (Deluxe-50k) by only a thousand bucks and a couple of thousand bucks by Wego (49k) on road in Pune. In any other case, you can safely opt for the Honda Activa. 3) Hi, I would like to know which is the widest rear tire that can be fitted on Pulsar 220 without any problem or fitting arrangements. — OMAR BikeAdvice: You should be able to go for 130mm section without any alterations. However, we suggest you not to play with original recommended size. If you are aiming for better grip, try better tyres like the Michelins Sirac or Pirellis. 4) How can I buy the new naked Pulsar 220S online. – DEEPAK DAS BikeAdvice: Why do you want to do that at the first place? As far as we understand, Bajaj doesn't have any provision of online trading of any bike. Yes, you definitely can apply for test drives for particular models on their official website. A more sensible way would be to carefully inspect your bike before taking its delivery physically at the showroom. 5) I am planning to buy a bike. I am very much confused between Karizma R, FZ16 and Fazer as the prices vary in a close margin only. I expect a mileage of 35 – 40 kmpl in city. So kindly help me in selecting one of these. — PRASHANTH BikeAdvice: Hi Prashanth, 6) I was totally confused in buying a byk among pulsar 180 and yamaha fz-s. Both have great looks, but I want a better performer and good economy. Wwould u please give me comparisons between them, especially which gives more mileage? – RAVI KIRAN BikeAdvice: Hi Ravi, 7) My Apache RTR 160 is giving 20kms/l. Why……? – PAWAN BikeAdvice: Hi Pawan, Do you feel anything 'inappropriate' with your bike like the way it sounds, the way it runs? If yes, get your bike checked at TVS service center as soon as you can. In general, an Apache RTR should return 35 Kmpl under worst running conditions and ~50 Kmpl in ideal conditions. To be on a safer side, your bike should give you 45 Kmpl on an average. In case your bike is brand new and have not completed 1000 kms on the odometer, run your bike appropriately till this milestone. Absolutely new bikes have a tendency of giving wayward figures. An engine settles down only after 3000 to 5000 kms properly. BikeAdvice: Hi Debraj, 9) I want a bike which looks powerful in performance & design. Which bike is suitable for me Honda CB Dazzler or Honda CB Unicorn? – SAMPATH BikeAdvice: Hi Sampath, Dazzler also comes equipped with a semi digital console and a broader rear tire. Also note that both the tires on Dazzler are tubeless. Obviously, it comes at a premium approx 4k over the older CB Unicorn. Our recommendation would be the more modern Dazzler for you. 10) I am living in Kerala. There are several roads up and down. I bring my bike in neutral position while going down and then I switch off my bike in order to save petrol. Could you please tell me whether I am correct or not. — KRISHNA BikeAdvice: Hi Krishna, Shut your engine off on places where you have to stop for more than 30 seconds such as traffic signals. We are sure implementation of these would help all of us to save fuel and be more responsible towards the environment. 11) a) I wanna know when will R15's new model will get launched? – KRISHNA BikeAdvice: Hi Bhavin\ Krishna, 12) TVS Jive or Honda twister, which bike is better in mileage, maintenance and resale?. — RAJESH BikeAdvice: Hi Rajesh, 13) I am planning to buy a bike this coming September. Which one should I go for among: Fazer, FZ16, Avenger 220. It should be below 80k with excellent mileage. — SHREYAS BikeAdvice: Hi Shreyas, 14) Hi! I am looking for bike which gives good mileage and minimum maintenance. After consulting with few people, I am planning for passion plus or passion pro. Is my choice good? Any other bike? – CHANDRAMOULI BikeAdvice: Hi Chandramouli, No doubt Passion is a good and reliable bike but it is overpriced considering what the current market is offering. We have better bikes in the market currently. Consider CB Twister from Honda which trounces Passion on almost all comparable parameters and is a much better bike to ride and falls in the same price bracket. You can also consider Splendor NXG which is similar in tune to Passion Pro and is less costly. In case you have your preference set on Passion, then go for Passion Pro as it is better tuned and comes with electric starter as standard. 15) Sir, I want to buy a bike and my budget is 1lak. My options are Honda cbr150 or karizma R. When is honda cbr150 lanching in India and how is karizma R? — JITHESH BikeAdvice: Hi Jitheesh, - Answers by Saad Khan Share on FacebookRelated posts: |
| The Bikes That Changed The Face Of Indian Motorcycling Posted: 17 Jun 2011 10:22 PM PDT
Original Source: The Bikes That Changed The Face Of Indian Motorcycling from BikeAdvice.in The launch of Ninja 650R has been welcomed by a lot of people across the country, but 15 years ago no one would have thought that we will see bikes like these one day. This is all because of some bikes which left a mark in the motorcycling history. So here I sit down and try to list some of the motorcycles which changed the face of Indian motorcycling: Hero Honda CBZIndia's first performance bike, the bike was launched when the country was being fed with the regular 100cc motorcycles by every other manufacturer, and ironically it was launched by the same company which started this 100cc trend.
Launched in 1998, CBZ was completely different from the bikes we have been used to. It was India's first 150cc 4 stroke motorcycle. The original Honda 156.8cc engine was a gem of a engine producing 12.8 PS of power, making it the most powerful in the country. The stylish headlamp, the sleek tank, the three pod instrument cluster, the disc brake made it one hell of a looker. The bike was a perfect combination of performance as well as looks. This was the bike that showed there exists a market for 150cc machines and this was the machine that started it all. The Pulsar twins 150 & 180The birth of a phenomenon known as Pulsar, the launch of CBZ has showed that there exists a market for 150cc machines. Bajaj auto making shifts from scooter manufacturing to bikes was struggling to make an impact on the market with their bikes and the collaboration was Kawasaki was not helping either. That was a time when the man named Rajiv Bajaj took charge and changed the way Bajaj auto works. He is the one responsible for what Bajaj auto is today.
It was his vision that led to the birth of Pulsar. The bike was designed by the motorcycle designer Glynn Kerr. It featured a big muscular tank which is a signature of the pulsar family. The round headlamps, the 3 pod instrument cluster, the front disc brake all gave it the big muscular look and it was aptly tagged as Definitely Male. The 150cc engine made 13bhp of power while the 180 made 15bhp more than enough for the power hungry people of the country. But the best part was the price it was launched. The 150 was cheaper than the CBZ and offered more mileage, while the difference between the 180 and CBZ was merely a 2K. This resulted in making Pulsar the most popular brand in the country and the phenomenon that started in 2001 still continues and Pulsar remains the highest selling bikes in the 150cc+ segment. Hero Honda KarizmaThe motorcycle which replaced CBZ as the flagship for the company was launched in 2003; the bike had many of the firsts to its name. India's first 200cc+ motorcycle, the most powerful motorcycle in the country having a 0-60 timing of around 3.8 seconds Karizma won a lot of hearts with its looks.
The half fairing, the integrated indicators, the sleek tank recesses, the unique rear tail light design featuring twin bulbs, the digital trip meter, everything made this bike a dream machine for bikers all over the country. The bike was available in a lot of colors but looked great in yellow. The bike though being costly for its time managed to sell in decent numbers and it again showed the competition that Indian bikers need big performing machines. Though being promoted as a sports machine, Karizma's touring capabilities have always been appreciated, the relaxed seating posture, the engine that can cruise at 100+ all day made it the first choice among the touring community. Pulsar 220 DTS-FiBajaj displayed the biggest Pulsar in the 2006 auto expo and the whole country was waiting for its launch. It was finally launched in the year 2007, and became the only bike to challenge Karizma. The bike featured a lot of first's features which though were becoming the standard all over the world but somehow we were deprived of those features.
The bike featured a half fairing which stacked a projector headlamp rating 55W along with the two parking lamps gave it a mean look, the complete digital instrumentation, the 120 section rear tire, split grab rails, the clip on handle bars, rear disc brakes, an oil cooler to cool the engine and most importantly the fuel injected engine. The fuel injected mill made 20PS with 19NM of torque which was sufficient to propel the bike to a top speed of above 130km/h. The pulsar 220 opened a whole new segment of performance machines in the country which was soon to be extended to a whole new level. Yamaha YZF R15The Japanese giant which had tough times surviving in the country after the glorious era of two strokes came back very strongly to show the whole country what it is capable of. The R15 changed the game all together, the baby R1 is considered as a benchmark in terms of performance and Yamaha showed that even a 150cc costing above 1 lakh can sell like hot cakes.
The R15 became the first bike with a full fairing, the twin headlamps, and the digital instrument cluster, made it the best looking motorcycle to hit the Indian roads. But apart from the looks, the real fun lied in the engine; the 150cc was the first 4valve engine featuring liquid cooling, DIASil cylinder making 17PS of power and 15Nm of torque which might not sound enough on paper. But, its performance is in a different league altogether. The bike's handling is in a league of its own due to its deltabox frame along with the linked type monocross suspension. The tires look punny, but provide awesome grip on the road. The R15 will always be considered as the important landmark in the Indian motorcycling industry for making us feel how a sports bike feels and rides. The future of the motorcycling looks bright now, with the launch of the Honda CBR250R, Ninja 250R and the Ninja 650R, but still the Indian biker needs an affordable hard performing 250cc machine, and that's why the hopes are high on Bajaj with the next gen Pulsars in the pipeline. Let's hope that we get to see a lot more machines which match the international standards but are affordable for the masses. What do you say? - Kunal Chanana Share on FacebookRelated posts: |
| Interview with CEO of Royal Enfield (Excerpt) Posted: 17 Jun 2011 08:30 PM PDT
Original Source: Interview with CEO of Royal Enfield (Excerpt) from BikeAdvice.in According to a recent interview of CEO of Royal Enfield to the Business Standard, the company has sold sold 52,574 units, against 51,955 units a year ago. He added to this, "Remember, there were days we even struggled to manufacture and sell 2,000 vehicles a month."
We have been hearing a few customers waiting deliberately for as much as a year to get their Classic 350 and 500 delivered. So, when he was asked whether Royal Enfield was able to match the demand and supply, he replied, "No. The more we make, the more we fall behind. Despite increasing our volumes to 6,000 a month from 4,000, we could not match the demand, and our waiting period is still higher. While the demand is for 7,500 vehicles, we could manufacture only 6,000 vehicles. For instance, the waiting period for a Classic 300, one of the top-selling models, is six-eight months." There was a question put forth to him on the areas of concern, the bottlenecks of the company and the plans for the same to be addressed. His answer for this question came in a descriptive manner. It is, "There are three concern areas — quality, supply-demand constraint and selling our products overseas". He then added, "As for the quality issues, there were complaints about the engines, which we have fixed. There were also some concerns about the clutch failures, ridding and handling issues. Our customers' expectations are growing, especially after the launching of the Classic 500 in November 2009. The model is bought by car owners whose expectations are much higher. We are also looking at the mis-match between the demand and supply. This was due to manufacturing constraint". "The third focus area is reach, both domestic and overseas. In India, we have 180 dealers. We are planning to add three-four dealers every month for the next three years. Overseas, we are establishing our presence in the UK, France, Italy, Spain, USA and other countries. But we have to take a re-look at our sales, service and distribution strategies. The company caters to 29 countries and last year 2,500 units were sold in overseas markets. Since we understood the Indian market, now it is time to look at other developing countries and Southeast Asia". He also discussed about the hike in production level of the present plant. He said, "We are planning to increase our capacity to 150,000 lakh next year and to 250,000 lakh in three-five years through both greenfield and brownfield expansions. The company is looking for land in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The suppliers' capacity is the other challenge. Recently we have started importing batteries from Italy, which is not only price-competitive, but helps address the quality issues." To answer everybody's question on bringing down the waiting period after opening up of new plants, he answered, "It is difficult to say. As I said earlier, when we increased our capacity to 6,000 from 4,000, we thought we would address the waiting period. Instead, it increased the demand further". This fact clearly reveals that only Royal Enfield bikes can be marketed in India even with such a hefty delay in delivery period. It's highly unbelievable to see such high quality bikes for which, I should say we all crave for. The last question was very interesting indeed. The question was about identifying which was the model that aided the company in total transformation. He answered, "All brands helped the company, but Classic has helped the brand grow. The company, which sold 200-300 units in November 2009, now sells 3,000 units a month. It attracts large number of car owners. The Thunderbird Twinspark, the first model to feature Royal Enfield's revolutionary Unit Construction Engine, has attracted large number of urban information technology professionals." With the company's plans of adding few more models to its current portfolio and increasing its production level in a vast manner, we are pretty sure that Royal Enfield has got a long way to go in the Indian market. Regards, Related posts: |
Which bike in the 150cc range should I buy? It should not cost more than 70,000. It should have some style, double discs and less maintenance. It should have a mileage of around 40+ in city riding conditions. Plz suggest me a nice bike. — DEBRAJ
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