Original Source: Bajaj Auto is now world’s third largest motorcycle manufacturer from BikeAdvice.in

Once known for its iconic scooter Chetak, Bajaj Auto has now transformed itself into a global motorcycle manufacturer.  In the financial year 2011-12 the company sold over 3.8 million units of motorcycles worldwide which makes it world’s third largest motorcycle manufacturer.  As far as motorcycles are concerned the company is only behind to global motorcycle leader Honda and India’s largest two wheeler company Hero Motocorp.  This isn’t enough, the company is also ranks amongst the world’s most profitable automobile manufacturer.

It’s truly remarkable for the company which was once known for its bad quality and operational inefficiency.  The company now owns strong brand portfolio of motorcycles across the world.  The brand Pulsar and Discover’s cumulative sales have already crossed five million units. Discover is estimated to be the second largest selling motorcycle brand in India.  It sold nearly 1.5 million units during the financial year 2011-2012. The company exported 1.27 million units of motorcycle worldwide during the financial year 2011-2012.  Boxer is the largest selling brand in Africa and Pulsar 135 LS ranks amongst the top selling motorcycle model in various Latin American markets.

It is to be noted that Boxer competes with several Japanese and Chinese motorcycle brand in the African market.  One of the examples is Honda ACE CB125 (Honda’s $600 motorcycle).  Pulsar competes in the Latin American and South Asian market where Japanese brands are ruling the market. The company enjoys leadership position in 12 countries out of 35 countries in which it exports. Beside this, the company owns 47% stake in KTM Power Sports AG of Austria.  The company currently enjoys 10% market share of global motorcycle market and it aims to increase it up to 30% mark. The company aims to sell 4.5 million motorcycles worldwide in the financial year 2012-2013.

-Mahavir Kothari

Original Source: Bajaj India hikes Pulsar and Platina Prices by 1% [Bajaj Bikes Prices 2012] from BikeAdvice.in

Country’s second largest two wheeler, Bajaj has hiked its flagship motorcycle Pulsar and entry level motorcycle Platina prices by 1% all over India.  The price hike has been taken in response of rising input prices from past couple of months. Due to increase competition Bajaj Auto was not able to increase prices for a very long time though the Input cost has increased.  Bajaj Auto has not hiked the price of Discover as there are many new launches lined up by competitors in this month.

Go to :

• Bajaj Pulsar 2012 Price in India
• Bajaj Platina 2012 Price in India

Earlier, country’s largest two wheeler manufacturer Hero Motocorp. announced price hike of Rs. 500-1,000 among its key products. It is fact that input cost has gone high in past couple of months but due to sluggishness in the demand and increased competition two wheeler companies are hesitating to increase the price. It is also to be noted that the price hike is more prevalent in Entry level segment and premium segment.

Bajaj Auto has increased only Pulsar and Platina prices because they are strong brands in their segment. Platina now has established as low cost, low maintenance and high resale value. In fact Bajaj Auto has seen significant jump in the demand of Platina in past one year. The shipping volume has jumped from the 30,000 per month to 50,000 a month average. This is a sign that a good product is always appreciated in the Indian two wheeler market.  Pulsar is a leading brand in premium segment and price hike does not affect that much.

There is a competition heating up in Rs. 40,000 (ex-showroom) segment where most of the motorcycle sold in Indian two wheeler market. Hence, we may not not see any price hike in this segment in near future. It is interesting to see that how new products from Honda and Suzuki perform.  At the end of the day consumers are going to benefit with better products at low prices.

Bajaj 2012 Pulsar Price in India
Pulsar 150cc DTSi old price: Rs. 62,100 approx.
Pulsar 150cc DTSi New 2012 Price: Rs. 62,720. approx.

Bajaj 2012 Platina Price
Platina 125 old price: Rs. 38,000 approx.
Platina 125 New 2012 Price: Rs. 38,380 approx.
-Mahavir Kothari

Original Source: Bajaj Auto to launch all new motorcycle on May 14th [Upcoming Bikes 2012] from BikeAdvice.in

Earlier we reported that Bajaj Auto is going to launch all new motorcycle in the middle of the May, 2012. Bajaj Auto has now officially announced the launch date of 14^th May for its all new motorcycle.  Mr. Rajiv Bajaj MD, Bajaj Auto and Mr. K Srinivas, Vice President two wheeler sales will showcase the all new motorcycle to the media in Delhi on 14^th May.

K Srinivas earlier announced that the all new motorcycle will be showcased to media in the middle of May and it will hit showrooms from the month of June. The new all new motorcycle is expected to be the all new Discover which was spied last month. As per the spy photo, it is expected that this motorcycle will have monocross suspension and other class leading features for the first time in commuter segment.

New Bajaj Bike and Pulsar 200NS Price?

It seems that the all new Pulsar and Discover will hit the showroom simultaneously.  It also seems that the pricing of Pulsar 200NS will be announced at the launch of new Discover as media will definitely question about the availability of Pulsar 200NS in showroom and it’s ex-showroom price. So get ready for another exciting motorcycle from Bajaj Auto.

-Mahavir Kothari

Original Source: Bajaj Pulsar 220F Review by Abhishek from BikeAdvice.in

Hello everyone, this is Abhishek from Pune and today I am writing a ownership review of my Pulsar 220F. Sorry for coming directly to the point. The reason is its the last date of the submission of review and so I need to be quick.

I will part the review in a few basic Sections which will make it easy for me write down my experience. For my friends who directly want to the technical aspects, please go the third section directly as the first two sections are the struggle at home and the sheer excitement on the delivery day.

Before Purchase

My parents were always against the thought of me having a bike as they knew about my craving for power and speed. the reason behind this was the accidents I had on my friends bike in the city premised itself. I was a kid then, going to junior college and speed was everything I knew. I got my bones fractured and it added to the weight of their opposition.

After entering into engineering, I really wanted a bike but asking for it was a taboo. So I promised my parents that I would take ultimate care while riding the bike and I would give them no reason to worry. So finally in August 2010 they agreed on the thought of it. Their initial condition was a bike with moderate power levels and top end.

But I really wanted a one time bike. I was always crazy for Hero Karizma since its the initial launch. So without letting them know I went to get the quotation of the bike. But what shocked me was the bike delivery would take at least 6 months. I was very depressed and tensed as I dint want to miss this opportunity of having a bike before my dad’s mind changed.

Visited almost 8 showrooms in Pune but to no vail. Finally decided to move on to some other bike and P220F and R15 were the only options left. Budget not being the problem, I decided to go for R15 but it seemed too short for the guy of my height. Plus found it too wide, compared to my Activa, in the same week I went for the test ride of the P220F and somehow it seemed to the right choice among all bikes.

Why so was because

The guy promised me the delivery of bike in 4 working days (that was the most important thing for me). The price rage was moderate, plus the name Pulsar was very common, so for my dad, me having a Pulsar was not a very big deal. The power and torque distribution was better than the bikes I test rode (less gear shifts)

Finally told my dad about the idea of having a one time bike. He went through the specs and was flattered. Asking me no more questions, for a few more days he started showing me cut-outs from the news papers of the news about the two wheeler accidents. Tried his best to convince me why a 150cc was the most ideal bike for me as it dint have too much power but I was stuck to the thought of having the beast now.

So there was this cold war between him and me about the bike. Daily he used to show me some news of bike accidents and I used to try convince him. My mom always used to suffer in between and after getting fed up of trying to make both ends meet, she moved back. But then finally on 5th September he agreed to buy me the beast.

I couldnt sleep for the whole night and I was so excited about having that cheque in my hand which would end up with the beast next to me. ‘Got the cheque on 6th and booked it on the same day, the next 4 days were the most longest days for me. I did almost everything my mom and dad wanted me to for those 4 days.

The Day

Woke up at 6, full ready. Left the house at 830 telling my mom I am going to the college and then in the evening to the showroom but I know you guys can guess what it did. Went straight way to the showroom and got the delivery after waiting for almost 2 hours. But those two hours were so much filled with fun and excitement. I was almost day dreaming about every possible thing I could.

Took the bike and went to the college. A new bike in the college, that too mine. My goodness. Sends shocks though my spine even today, that was the best feeling till date. I was talking to myself and couldnt control my smile. That level of happiness was like stalled for almost 6 hours when my dad called me and said he is coming with me to get the delivery.

I dint know what to do. On the single day before even letting my parents know my bike had done 76kms and it showed on the board. Mud everywhere as it rained that day. I called my friends told them the thing and we, team of 7 started cleaning the bike with out hankies and water bottles.

I called my dad and told him I would get the delivery tomorrow, mean while, one of my friend was turning the front wheel anti-clockwise to turn that 76 into 0 but that never happened. I dint know what to tell my dad. So called him at 6PM and told him I got a call from the showroom and they told me I should collect the bike in 15 mins. Thankfully, he asked me to go alone and fetch the bike and come home.

I was again the most happiest. I reached home at around 7PM and my mom was waiting with the pooja thali. I did the pooja and begged my bike forgiveness for riding it that much without the pooja.

After delivery

My first problem

From the next day I started taking the bike to college. Along with me being happy, everyone else was happy as if its them who got a new bike. Everyone wanted a test ride and that was the most difficult phase for me. Not letting friends to test ride it. So to not to do for too many days, I unked the college for 2 days and finished the initial running in period upto the first service and got it serviced in the first week itself.

My dad saw the reading and was really pissed off but he dint want to spoil my happiness so said nothing. The days started passing by and the bike getting old. And one thing that started to bother me was that the bike wont start sometimes. I mean even after you thumbed the starter, nothing happened. This happened for 1 of 5 initially but in some more time, it started to happen for 5 of 5 times.

I had to dhakka start my bike almost everytime for 2 days when I took my brand new bike to the service station. They helped me out with some wiring stuff and it worked, but for only 3 days. again the same thing. Now I really asked myself if I dint give it enough thought. I was actually against having a P220 when there was no thought of having any bike but when the thought of having a one time bike came, I went for a P220.

I wondered why and how this happened. I was real frustrated with the Bajaj people for they never really helped me for next 2 weeks when I directly shoot a phone call to the Bajaj After Sales manager for Pune region. He seemed helpful and fixed a meeting at Bal Gandharva on some saturday. On that day too dhakka started the bike and reached the guy.

Checked something and the guy immediately called the person whom I had contacted before. Some baffle and he came with with a thought of leaving the bike for 1 hour there. I went to him after 1 hour and yes, he had fixed it. he said there was some minor error in the relay but still he changed it. And then the bike was back to normal.

I was again happy. After losing all the faith and trust, the bike helped me regain it and then after it never really embarrassed me. started with a single thumb always.

General Exploration

The bike was all good again and that was when I started to explore it. I had never handled this much power before so it was quite a new feel for me. The bike was very heavy than activa and so steering in the city was actually a task for initial some days. Plus the tank caused pains in my thighs as Activa did not have any tank in between my legs.

But this bike gave me a real superior feeling. The road was same for both activa and my newbie. But the feel was all new. All the pits and breakers that required me to slow down my Activa to 30kmph were taken by the bike very easily. The next thing was the sound of the bike. I liked it a lot and it was music to my ears since then. I used to be more focused on the tone of the bike at different driving conditions, say the engine speed, the gear, the road and say my mood.

Life was all brand new. I could go anywhere with confidence. Plus the bike helped me know myself more. Before the purchase I was just okay with the design of the bike in first few days, I had actually started liking it. And then I started loving it. I felt like I was newly married and I took utmost care of the bike, during the day and during the night too. Like I need the blanket, I gave my bike its own bike cover. Kept it more safe by roping a chain in between the bike and my house.

Technical Experience

Lets gets technical now, instead of quoting the figures and numbers related to the bike, what I will do is let you guys know how it affected my day to day riding experience and hence my life, as for the bikers, ” riding bhala to sabh bhala”

• As we all know the bike has 21PS power and 19Nm torque which is more than enough a normal person would need during his on/off-road sessions. You dont anything more than this until you get your thoughts grey with the bike. Me being new to this, I am very much satisfied with this. I have gone to Lavasa n number of times and the bike never let me lose that surge of adrenaline. It will keep you happy, where ever you take it. Took it on the barren land and on the barren mountain once. Yes it does feel heavy then but still then it could do very well over too.
• Secondly the bike has awesome headlights. You would scare the ghosts off when you take it onto the darkest dark roads. the range of view is far far better than any other bike. So its like driving in the day even when you its 2AM on the no moon night.
• Thirdly, the bike has got very good brakes. All you need to know is how to use them and the bike will stop under any circumstances. It took me 10,000 kms to actually learn to use them and now I am confident enough to stop anywhere at any point of time.
• Some people find this bike heavy but what I think is the weight adds to the stability factor of the bike. Take it on rough roads and still being above 80kmph, you would be stable. That adds to the confidence and in the end, you can shell out more fun and thrill and the adventure feeling.
• I know the bike has got OIL cooling which is way no better than Liquid cooling, but in my journey on 22,000 kms not even once have I felt that I am over heating the engine. I have ridden it for 270 kms in one go at above 90kmph on average and almost 400kms on a single day with only 3 breaks of 10-15 mins in between. So now you get an idea of my riding pattern and still then the bike was always ready for more.
• The shock absorbers really do what they day. Though the rear once crib sometimes, they give you a thud feeling when you hit a pot hole unknowingly, but that has to be accepted considering the positive points. The front ones do their work very well and the rear brothers still need to grow up.
• The top end my bike gave me is 152kmph at 5 early morning from Nigadi to Nashik Phata and I guess thats more than enough what we guys need. The average speed allowance in the city traffic is 60 but if you know how to really zoom it, you can take it to 80 even in the city.
• Talking about the mileage, my bike gave me the top figure of 54kmpl under little lean tuning on strict riding conditions which were No Brakes at all, Speed always in between 55-64kmph, Plain road and less traffic. So if this is what your city gives you, you can satisfy not only the need for speed but also the mileage.
• The bike can easily carry a 50kg luggage tied on the pillion seat and take you where ever you want to go. I have done a 350km ride with my friend with one back pack each and it made no difference in the performance.
• From what I have observed, my bike gives me a very silent note when I am in the range of 60′s so when you are on long rides, the bikes sound wont tire you.
• Maneuvering the bike in the city is easy once you are done with the size and weight issues and it really gives you a sporty and racing feel once you learn that.

So in all, my bike now is a perfect package of power, speed, sound and capacity. Everything it gives me back is more than my daily needs. Say the power, I definitely dont need 21ps power to commute into the city nor such a high torque. The speed it can give me is in multiples on what I need in the city. All in all, a perfect city cum highway machine.

Maintenance of the bike

Bajaj bikes are known for their need of heavy maintenance and thats the black spot on the white moon, following is my experience about my bike,

• As far as my bike is concerned, my bike gave me the maintenance issues only during its first month when I had to replace the relay finally. But that was done under the term of warranty so I dint have to shell anything out.
• I had to replace the cone set on the bike twice in last 22000 kms and rest of the things were okay.
• Had a nasty fall from 110kmph when a truck changed its lane in a fraction of second and I crashed into that truck from behind. I was wearing two thick jackets one on other as it was winter season so escaped with some dirty deep cuts. My helmet saved me. But the only thing that broke was the right hand side indicator and the right hand side engine guard got bent. So I dont really have any reason to complain about the bikes build quality. The fairing got a crack sideways but that cannot be noticed.
• Oil leakge from the engine seal, but I got it repaired from Bajaj so thats no more a issue.

Thats all I have done till date. Moral of the story, the bike has always been good to me and there for me whenever I have needed it. But thats all cuz of the prime care I take of my bike.

Following is what I have done to keep my bike in good condition,

• I have developed a good rapo with the people working into the Bajaj service station, I know their names and they know my name. So they dont look at me only as a customer. I let them know how much I love my bike and I let them know how much important they are to my bike.
• I list down my queries and go to them only when they are free with prior communication. This helps me in lot many ways, it gives my bike more time per query. I give my bike to the same guy in the service station whenever I go there as he knows everything about the bike and hence takes proper care. As we say one handed bike lives long, one handed serviced bike stays healthy.
• I ask them question about other bikes they have repaired so it gives me an idea of the probable reasons and causes of the problems even before they occur. And most importantly, I Respect Them For They Are My Bike’s Doctors.
• I keep it clean as far as I can. Plus I keep the chain clean and hence avoid any dust on it. For that I use Motul or SAE90 oil.
• I keep the air filter of the bike clean so as to help the bikes heart be clean always.
• I refuel the bike only at selected fuel stations. Constant variations in the fuel quality might effect into the performance of the bike.

In Short

By bike is a priceless gift given to me by my parents. no other super bike can take its position and hence its my responsibility to take proper care of it for it to live more and stay healthy. Its not just a bike but a precious friend for me, imagine your life without your bike.

My bike give me an optimum figure of 42kmpl under normal driving. I dont always speed up for the 150kmph tag line but my more normal speeds are in between 80-100kmph. I also take my bikes feed back into consideration when I want to speed up as you all know, Pulsars are very intuitive. So bike bikes tells me about an accident almost 80% prior to it and after failing to take it for 2 times, I know it really does it.

My bikes helps me stay in competition with all those bikers around me and it makes me proud when it does what I say. I thank my parents for getting me this friend and I thank those 7 friends of mine who helped me clean it that day with their hankies and water bottles. God’s grace, they dint ask me for the replacement of their hankies.!

Thats all I had to say about my bike my friends. I thank my biker friends who finished it from start to end.

See you all.

Regards,
Abhishek

Original Source: Bajaj Pulsar 220F Ownership Review by Sohum from BikeAdvice.in

Bajaj Pulsar 220, The fastest Indian! Hunto! Two years ago, they introduced the “Fastest Indian” a new, revolutionary performance motorcycle which made heads turn given to it’s striking performance specs, that ditched fuel injection, reduced on-road price and a wonderful TV advertisement yet again, very few could resist not buying one for themselves.

But I wasn’t one of them. One year ago, I got the delivery of my true ‘Blue’ Bajaj Pulsar 220F. I was looking for a bike which offered an all-round package for a student. Also, another reason was that a person of my statute (6feet 3inches tall and weighing approx 85kgs.) cannot opt to settle that a Honda Dio was perfect for me. Mind you, it wasn’t.

Eventually, I settled for the fastest Indian and I believe it’s the best bike for my needs. The 220cc powerhouse manages to keep everyone happy everywhere. Especially the torque keeps its rider happy in the city, better on the uphill sections, and sufficient power to keep on going on the straight unending highways.

With a 44km/pl mileage figure, it is quite a mile muncher and that fuel tank takes quite a while to run out of juice. The projector headlamp is a boon for every time you ride it after office hours! It illuminates exceptionally well and by far is the best I’ve ever seen fitted on any motorcycle manufactured in India.

Although the bike is semi faired, the vibrations are annoying to a certain extent. Attach to that the rear view mirrors and the picture gets worse, quite literally. The fittings are top notch but they could have been a lot less wobbly. Another vital signal is the check oil signal and the side stand signal which abruptly flash leaving you confused, scared and panicked. An overall check must be made when it comes to the electrical fittings of the motorcycle.

In terms of performance, the Pulsar is mental. The acceleration is pinpoint, the power delivery is consistent. It is a fun bike for the weekend rides around it’s birthplace. But it has an aggressive stance which can be witnessed when it is shown some spirited riding. I personally believe the rear suspension needs to be set on a harder setting than the stock setup. It helps in corners to a great extent, giving the rider better feedback.

The foot pegs serve the purpose of a practical solution for all riding endeavours. The pillion ride is comfortable for that bloke who isn’t convinced with the hunto performance of the bike. Split seats ensure a great deal of comfort for riders of any body structure. That’s one of the reasons why I actually bought this bike for me!

All in all, it’s the perfect bike for every need. I’m having no issues even after a year of using it and I don’t think I can get a better package at that price tag!

Regards,
Sohum Bilawal Joshi

Original Source: Bajaj Avenger 220 Ownership Review by Kousik from BikeAdvice.in

I have retired from Indian Air Force and I am presently employed with a PSU bank. Because of the unruly and chaotic Kolkata traffic, I had stopped driving two wheelers. For my emergency needs I used a 15 year old LML Vespa NV which was like a recurring deposit account without any return as it broke down every now and then.

I used the Metro railway or the city bus service to travel to my office and back. One fine evening in 2009, as I walked down to the Metro station after a busy day in my office, I was shocked to see a huge rush infront of the station. I came to know that the metro services have been disrupted and may not restart on that day.

The buses were over crowded and there was a mad rush for every taxi that came into the vicinity. While waiting for a cab, I was casually glancing at the Bajaj Pro Biking showroom located at Park Street. Out of curiosity for the mean machines on display I walked into the showroom. I was promptly guided through the display arena by a customer service representative.

The mean and muscular looks of the Avenger 220 impressed me at the first sight. I told myself “Enough with trains and buses. Henceforth I am going to ride my bike to office.” I took a test drive and requested the representative for a price quotation and a technical specifications manual. He suggested me to go for the more popular Pulsar 220.

But since I was obsessed with something different and muscular bikes I opted for the Avenger 220. It will be worth mentioning here that I started my riding lessons on a Royal Enfield when I was 16 years old. I had a fascination for Bajaj bikes because I grew up seeing Bajaj products all around me and when I purchased my first bike way back in 1989, it was the Kawasaki Bajaj KB 100. So it was by my instincts that I had a blind faith on Bajaj products. Within a weeks time the jet black Avenger 220 bike was delivered and my joy knew no bounds.

My bike became a centre of attraction in my office as well as in my locality. At times when I stopped at traffic intersections, other road users would give me a good look. Some young turks would ask the price while some elderly gentlemen would like to know about the fuel consumption. I was once chased by a mini bus driver constantly honking from behind.

When I stopped at an intersection, he drove next to me and started shouting at me. Actually he wanted information about the bike as he was plannning to buy one for his teenaged son. Once, I was stopped by a traffic policeman. He started verifying my documents, but ultimately he confessed to me that he actually wanted to know about this bike and that was the reason for which he had stopped me.

Well after a few days of merry, I started losing interest for quite a few reasons. Firstly, because of its weight I found manouvreing in the chaotic traffic very cumbersome. Secondly, finding the neutral was an extremely tedious task. Stopping without cutting off the engine became a punishment as I had to keep the clutch engaged since the bike refused to shift to neutral mode.

I did a lot of research by surfing the internet and came to the conclusion that my bike needs some fine tuning and adjustment. I took the bike to a nearby Bajaj service centre. They did their bit but I was not satisfied. I shot an e-mail to Bajaj Auto. The next day I got a call from one Mr Arindam Sengupta, Customer Service Manager, Bajaj Pro biking Service Centre, Kolkata.

He requested me to meet him and bring my bike along. I got a warm welcome and I was told that Bajaj has a dedicated service centre exclusively for 220 CC bikes. He told me that, I should not had gone to any other service centre as they do not have the expertise to handle 220 cc bikes. Within an hour’s time my bike was serviced right infront of me.

I was given a special permission by the manager to enter the working bay. While handing over the keys, Mr Sengupta assured me that whenever I have an issue with my bike I could feel free to call him on his cell number. As if some fairy had touched my bike with a magic wand, all the problems vanished in thin air.

Gone was the handling problem and the problem of neutral selection. I was told that the neutral can be selected with a feather touch of the lever and I will become used to it the more I drive the bike. On an average I drive for almost 40 kms daily and frankly speaking I am enjoying riding my Avenger.

As I said earlier, I learned riding a 2 wheeler on a Bullet. It was my late father’s possession of pride. An old war horse it needed a lot of calf and thigh muscles’ strength to kickstart the engine. I would rarely get a chance to drive solo as my father believed that I was too young to drive a Bullet.

Later he sold off the bike, when on a few occasions he caught me riding it without his permission. Later, after I joined the Indian Air Force I purchased a Kawasaki Bajaj KB 100. I had to wait for two months for getting the delivery. My heart was pounding with joy when I got the keys and took possession of the lovely machine.

It was indeed a mean machine by the standard of yesteryears. In those days there were hardly a few 100 CC bikes on Indian roads. We had the Hero Honda CD100, the Yamaha RX 100 and IND Suzuki Max 100. I don’t remember if there were any other contemporaries of KB 100. It was a wonderful bike with a lovely appearance and an equally attractive instrument console.

It had a tachometer and a fuel gauge. The pickup was excellent and the cost of spares were quite affordable. In fact as it was a product of the Bajaj stable, it had to be meant for the ordinary Indian. When I sold the KB 100 after owning it for almost 11 years, I had tears in my eyes. Would you believe I never spent a penny for the cables whereas I rode it for almost 1 lakh kilometeres.

In those days, in our Air Force station, only a handful of youngsters had 100 CC bikes. Rest all had scooters. I and my colleague Sachin, were the objects of envy of several colleagues with our brand new KB 100s. By now you might have understood that I have a soft corner for Bajaj products.

It would be unjustified if I try to compare my experience of the Avenger 220 with that of the KB 100 because they are two different bikes of different genres and era. Avenger is a 4 stroke bike with a more refined 220 CC engine and has a self start option while KB 100 had a 2 stroke air cooled engine.

But there are quite a few features in both the bikes which deserve merit. KB 100 had two (left & right) display lights for both indicators while Avenger has one common display. The pillion seat of KB100 was far more comfortable than that of Avenger. However without going into further comparison, I would like to highlight the merits and de-merits of this wonderful machine, Avenger 220.

There is a saying used in Indian Air Force which goes as “Man Behind the Machine” which actually intends to highlight the role of the man who handles a machine. How much technologically advanced a machine may be, a lot depends on the man handling it. Taking that into consideration, I would like to put forward a few points about Avenger 220.

The Pros

The first thing that attracts me is its looks. It has a solid muscular as well as bygone era looks. The round headlamp, the single round speedometer, the bulky yet traditional fuel tank and the elongated rear portion gives it a different identity among the crowd. Next comes the excellent chrome finish.

With a bit of care and polish, these chrome plated parts radiate a glare strong enough to compel one to wear anti glare glasses. Even the side stand has chrome finish and despite using it for close to 2 years the shine is still as it was when I bought the bike. The chrome plated rear view mirrors are extremely stylish and provide perfect view of the traffic trailing you.

The tripmeter located on the speedometer console is ideal for those who are concerned about point to point distance. The DC horn is also quite good and provides sufficient decibels to attract the attention of the motorists or pedestrians ahead of you. The rear tyre is very wide and ensures wonderful grip on treacherous and wet roads.

The front disk brake is just awesome and for experienced riders it is the brake every rider dreams off. The large fuel tank confirms that your weekly visit to the local gas station does not become a routine. At the same time the nice and small fuel gauge reminds you about the amount of petrol left in the tank every time you turn the ignition on.

However the fuel gauge gets a bit misty when exposed to rain or fog. This mist disappears within a few hours due to evaporation. The push to cancel side indicator switch is very handy and hassle free. The battery performance indicator light is another extremely useful and value addition to the bike’s portfolio. The headlamp is extremely powerful.

It not only lights up the pot holed Indian roads for you but also ensures that car and SUV drivers are forced to lower their high beams so that you oblige them by lowering your beams. Another beauty of the headlamp is that once the engine starts running the electric supply to the headlamp is routed through a device which supplies steady DC current.

Actually it ensures that the intensity of the light does not change with the acceleration. So, even if you are driving at a very low RPM you are able to get a bright and steady light. The drivers seat is extremely comfortable and gives a well laid back and comfortable posture. The rear brake pedal is quite elevated and is located at a very relaxed position.

The position of the steering column is perfectly aligned with the rider’s seat making every ride a memorable one with the speedometer and rear view mirrors at perfect position. For the health conscious bikers, unlike other bikes there is no long drive fatigue or low back pain. The pickup of the 220 CC engine, ignited with dual spark plugs and its oilcooling technology deserves special mention.

It has enough power and strength to leave quite a few envious bikers and car drivers behind when you start from a stop position at traffic signals. The engine responds very smoothly to the twist of the throttle. Both the shock absorbers front (telescopic) and rear (hydraulic) are quite tough and navigating small humps and potholes is just a child’s play.

You will hardly feel the jerk on your torso as everthing is absorbed by the shockers. Although my advice would be, if you are rookie try and be patient while you get used to this monster. Bajaj Auto provides a warranty for 2 years or 30,000 kms on this bike but it is mandatory to get all the free as well as paid services done from an authorised service centre to get the benefit of this warranty. The company provides a windscreen but at a cost of almost 3000 bucks and I personally feel the windscreen does not suit my taste. So I did not go for it.

The Cons

However, by today’s standard’s and fuel prices, Avenger 220 is a fuel guzzler. I get an average of 40-44 km per litre of petrol and to many its a bit too much. My take is if I love something different and if I want to stand apart in the the crowd, I wont mind to spend a few extra bucks.
While every extraordinary thing has something ordinary in it, so does the Avenger 220.

The first drawback is, it does not have a kick start option and in case the battery refuses to crank the next option is to push the bike to the nearest service centre. Touchwood I have never experienced that. I have been advised by the service centre technicians, that the battery power indicator light provides sufficient warning before the battery actually stops performing.

Another disadvantage of the Avenger 220 is the pillion riders seat. It is extremely thin and pillions with more than average buttocks, find long distance rides quite painful. The ignition switch key hole is located under the steering handle on the left side and is definitely a handicap for riders who have not been blessed with a long arm by the almighty.

But recently I have noticed that the latest models are being rolled out with the ignition key just below the fuel tap. The number of service centres having the infrastructure to service this bike is limited. Hence before buying it you should ensure that you have one in your locality. The side and neutral indicator assembly is located in such a place that you need to put some effort to catch a glance while driving in congested city conditions.

Therfore you need to install a buzzer for the side indicators to prevent the battery from draining out by inadverently leaving the indicators blinking. With a price tag of almost INR 85000 (all inclusive) on Indian roads, Bajaj auto could had done better by providing tubeless tyres and rear disk brake as well.

The front mudguard is made of plastic and is prone to break due to minor accidents common in overcrowded Indian roads. While negotiating high anthill type bumpers/humps, the centre stand of the Avenger 220 gets knocked a few times and is a cause of heartburn. On speaking to the technicians I came across a local remedy but I did not want to tamper with the original size or design of the centre stand.

It would be prudent metioning here that, during the winter I noticed that the bike refused to start without the choke and almost througout the year the engine needs to warm up for atleast 5-7 minutes before it is put into action.

Although I am settled in Kolkata, I have some ancestral property located at a remote village in Hooghly district which is around 135 km from Kolkata. So whenever I get an oppurtunity, I strap up my helmet and leave for the village with my brother as pillion. The first 16-20 kms is all about negotiating the horrible city traffic of Kolkata.

Then its a joy ride driving for almost 60 kms on a highway maintained by NHAI. The next 20 kms is extremely treacherous full of nasty potholes, encroached roads, indisciplined truckers and full of pedestrians and cyclists. The final journey is through serene greenery and lavish streches of agricultural land on both sides of the road.

I have travelled on this route quite a few times and my Avenger 220 has stood by me as an able and trusted companion. Be it in Kolkata’s mad traffic or the National Highway, my bike has never let me down. Overtaking long distance buses or convoys of trucks is just a part of the game. The Avenger 220 has been able to withstand a speed of almost 90 KMPH without a fuss and sudden braking at that speed has also been un-eventful.

I have experienced that whenever a heavy vehicle comes from the opposite direction, lighter bikes tend to lose balance, but with the Avenger 220, balancing has never been a problem. Even after driving for almost the entire stretch of 135 km at one go, I have never experienced fatigue nor did I feel that the bike was over tasked. The superb headlamp and powerful side indicators have taken care of the night driving.

At times I have run into potholes or humps while driving on village roads but my bike has been able to withstand the shock quite easily. Yes at times I have observed that with a pillion it has been quite difficult to shift to 3rd gear while driving in kuccha roads. Overall the Avenger 220 has been able to negotiate all sorts of road and mud tracks with relative ease.

Overall, to be honest its a wonderful bike with the Bajaj assurance stamped on it. Its not a bike for the beginners or rookies and needs to be handled efficiently. The chrome plating needs to be taken care off, otherwise it is likely to get rusted specially in humid and coastal areas.

Because of its excellent ride quality, superb gear speed ratio, awesome electricals, a rough and tough 220 CC engine, and electrifying looks I would recommend this bike to anyone who has the passion for riding something different. Because of the Exhaustec technology, the silencer produces a Boom sound which is very soothing as well as unique. If I were to rate this bike on a scale of 10, I would give it 9 for looks, 8 for performance, 6 for fuel efficiency and an overall 8.5. Indeed the Avenger 220 gives the feeling –”Feel Like God”.

Happy Biking

Regards,
Kousik Gangopadhyay

Original Source: Bajaj Rouser 220 (Pulsar) Review by Ricii Exiomo from BikeAdvice.in

I live in a rural setting in the Philippines where motorcycle is the primary movers of people here, including me. Fifteen years ago I bought my first bike to suit my need and my riding arena – dirt and trail, so I got myself a dual-sport bike a KMX 125 2-stroker. The bike served me well and brought me to places that are still worth visiting again, wishfully. When you are still young your body can take easily the abuses and beatings associated with dirt riding. Time flies however, and as you get older and tamer lol, your preference and riding skill changes too. So, without a choice I was forced to convert from dirt-eater to on-road whizzer. Because of age. For those who are curious, yeah, I am already 42. Well in the middle age, a point in life where you wanted to stop the clock hehe.

Looking for a bike that will satisfy my yearning to drive on-road was difficult thing to do for in the beginning because of 2 reasons: first, there are many bikes to choose from and, secondly, my wallet can only bring me far but not really far enough. To make things easier for me I limited my eyes to just 3 bikes to choose from: Honda CBR150, Yamaha FZ16 (Fazer) and the Rouser 220 (Pulsar).

To help me out with my final choice I scoured website forums including BikeAdvise to get an idea how these bikes fared in their own paces. I also visited showrooms to see the actual bikes. My first choice really was the CBR150, however, I find it too pricey vis-a-vis its engine displacement. FZ16 was culled out primarily out of my distaste for the rear drum-brake. I settled for what I call bung-for-a-buck. And I didn’t regret that decision.

My Rouser 220 (Pulsar) is already 4 months old and has an accumulated odometer reading of more than 7,000 kilometers. I made regular journeys to places I have never visited or rarely been set foot on since I can remember. It’s a different experience from what I used to do before in the dirt and trails. Towns and cities within and outside my province feels closer than they were before. It’s a good thing I decided going on-road, it opened new avenues for me to see life as what it is in my homeplace.

My bike never failed me from the day I laid my hands on her until this very moment. In fact, it has never visited a mechanic since then! My only routine maintenance is replenishing oil every 2,000 kilometers. Thanks to the internet, most do-it-yourself ideas can be easily accessed with just a click of the mouse thus, motorcycle maintenance is getting more of a personalized thing when you want to opt out of the hassle of going to the mechanic.

Kudos to Bajaj for giving us an opportunity to own performance bikes at an affordable price tag. I am looking forward to years of riding pleasure with my black Pulsar.

Ricii Exiomo
Philippines

Original Source: Bajaj Discover 125 DTSi (2007 Model) Review by Arunkumar from BikeAdvice.in

Introducing myself, this is Arunkumar, an oil and gas professional, a Chemical engineering graduate from Anna university, Chennai, mad on bikes, bike riding and bike science. I stay at Medavakkam, an out skirt of Chennai.

It was on May 2007 I had brought a Bajaj Discover 125 which was launched in all black for the first time in India. Before that, I was planning for the Apache 150. As soon as I saw it I fell in love with it and changed the plan of Apache because its looks certainly attracted everyone (during those days, there were not much competition in the 125CC category) and was also 7000 bucks cheaper than the Apache.

The bike costed 52,500/- out of which I paid 20,500/- as down payment and had to opt for the EMI option since bike was inevitable for my commuting as I had to travel 40 kms a day.

Because those were the days I had just learnt riding geared bikes and I was novice to bike riding. As soon as I started riding my bike, it kindled the rider inside me and whenever I had to ride my bike, I ride with interest, no matter how old it is. Those were the days I did not have more cognizance about how to select a bike which would last long with proven durability, reliability and quality.

Let’s get into the categorical review and I don’t want to make a movie out of it because I’m not much satisfied with the bike. This is not a mere review, This Is A Warning!

Looks

I don’t want to compare the bike with the present 125 CC bikes which are highly advanced in style. But during 2007, Discover really embossed its looks in my heart. But anyway, my bike looks good for me still, as it looked in the beginning.

That is the basic feeling every biker should have, without it, no one can ride it with all his heart. Technically speaking, the handle bar design is good with its wide angle grips which were fitted with weight balancers which don’t work much in balancing! Petrol tank when looked from the back is good.

Engine And Performance

I am sure that people reading this review wont like much tech specs of the outdated Discover model, but that is one which completes a review, isn’t it? Ok now, it has a 125CC engine with 11.5 bhp of power which is still the most powerful engine in the 125CC category except the KTM 125 (I don’t exactly know what KTM 125′s power is), four speed manual gear box, air cooled engine and with a push-rod and rocker arm type of valve arrangement (I hope so) and two spark plugs.

During the run-in period I handled the bike just like a new born baby, since handling the bike during the run-in period is definitely going to destine the life of the engine. During the early days, upto 1 year of the purchase of the bike, Discover proved to be very good and out-performed all its competitors. Due to double spark plugs, the power delivery was gradual at all speeds.

But this applies only upto 2.5 years of the purchase of the bike. The engine was not that vibrant, but was good in throttle response. Now, it is the time to open my heart about the Bajaj product which is a baby in the 3 “TYs”, i.e., Quality, Reliability, Durability. This is the department where the Bajaj people have to learn from the kinder garten level. No match for the Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki! More false neutrals, notchy and faulty gearbox.

Around 8000 kms, the bike started to perform very low despite I was keen at maintenance logs. I had to change the valves, inlet and outlet, since my personal mechanic advised me to do so. I always take my bike to my personal mechanic because the Bajaj service center guys learned more to deceive than to do a genuine service. The service center guys do not know much concerning the engine.

They just know how to dismantle and mantle the bike. They almost never tuned my bike properly as my personal mechanic did. After the valve replacement, I started to face the worst days of my bike riding. I started to hear a “grr” sound from the engine which was perhaps the sound of the hydraulic valve tappet (as per my knowledge, woe to the push-rod arrangement of Bajaj!) for which my personal mechanic told which should not be changed for a month since the new set of valves had to set in.

Oh my God, I was so irritated to ride the bike with that “grr” sound since it robbed all my riding pleasure. After a month when I took the bike to my mechanic hoping to curb that awkward sound, he frustrated me saying that riding with that sound should be OK and it should not be adjusted in. I became annoyed of his words. Afterwards riding the bike for some months, I took it to the service center to have it curbed.

After that, the clutch plate had gone. I had to replace it and it was done.

During 18000 kms, I started to hear a ratting sound in the engine when I cross 50 kmph for which the service center guys advised me to change the cam chain. As soon as I changed the cam chain, I started to hear the same “grr” sound again for which another mechanic said that it couldn’t be curbed since Bajaj was a noise engine unlike the Honda and Yamaha.

What an irresponsible answer! There are mechanics who do not even know the difference between the sound of engine and sound of tappets or at least they are such indolent to meet the customer’s needs. Upto 30000 kms, the performance for OK and was not upto a frustrating level.

As I crossed 40000 kms, I lost my gearbox. I started to hear a “pada pada” sound when I shifted to the 4th gear at 40 kmph. My mechanic advised me to ride the bike with it since after some time, he wanted to change the valve set-up, gear shaft and some thing additionally. But being a normal middle class person, I could not afford for frequent maintenance tortures my bike gave me.

Now, I have crossed 65000 kms, this is the first time I ever met a minor accident in my bike. I never met an accident upto that since I glued myself to the traffic rules and always wore a helmet for my commuting. It was the fault of a pedestrian on whom I dashed my bike. Thank God, I escaped with minor scratches and he, with almost no injuries.

Now, the bike just does like an old man which climbs a staircase. It takes more time just to reach 40 kmph! But the bike is very powerful in the 60-80 kmph section. That is all it does. I did not take the watch but it may be more than 5 second to cross 40. The bike is very sluggish. Now there I a potential and a peculiar problem I am meeting. The engine does turns off itself when on idle (not due to low idling speed).

When ever I idle my bike at signals, it turns off, out of which I am experiencing grave tortures in Chennai’s traffic. The mechanic cleaned the carburetor twice, but it still does persist. Now I’m still riding with this problem and couldn’t take it for service due to some financial reasons. Goes off, in traffic and I have to use the self starter to switch it on and goes of again and again. The engine operation is not constant and rises automatically when I steer to the right, which my mechanic always used to ignore. “More Woes Per Mile!”

Mileage

Mileage figures were well in the starting periods. Gave between 65-68 kmpl during the first year. But now, it gives around 40 kmpl only. Readers, note, I used to change the engine oil every 3 months even if I my economy prevent me to leave the bike for maintenance. Mileage is worse than a 150cc mill. Since the engine was not responsive, I used to twist the throttle hard for pick-up.

Braking

Braking at the front wheel is good. But braking at the rear wheel during emergencies is just like placing my head at the rail track myself. The bike skids badly when braked hard at rear, the bike pulls towards right during hard braking. This is because the weight is not properly balanced and distributed. The condition goes worse in wet roads, not lesser than even the Apache’s tyres!

Tyres

Stock tyres were Dunlop which was so bad against punctures and braking as well. I had to spend more on puncture repair frequently. Then I switched to MRF Zapper-C which was a boon for me against punctures. They offered superior stability and were planted to the road well.

Trust me, the bike has run more than 30000 kms with MRF, till now, I have faced only a single puncture, even with the punctured tyre, the bike ran for two weeks before I noticed it was a puncture. Thanks to tubeless tyres of MRF. They look good still now and perhaps will run more before it demands a replacement. I will call this the only good part of the bike.

Electricals

Unlike the latest Pulsars, it has an AC system. There is nothing bad about the electrical section since Bajaj itself is a brand name for electricals since it manufactures fans, irons etc which does good. Switches and controls are of good quality but the pass light goes mad temporarily during heavy rain and come good again.

Stock headlight is Halonix which performs well till now and one indicator did fuse which was replaced in the earlier days. But sometimes, the turn indicators blink in a frequency more than the normal. Hence I would advice the readers never start an AC operated bike with headlight and turn lights on, which may damage them.

Conclusion

Besides suffering, I always enjoy the ride because I am used to it and always enjoy with what I have, but seriously seeking to switch to another bike and waiting for the right time since my economy does not allow me to do that now. I will never advise a Bajaj product for anyone (Pulsar maniacs, please forgive me).

They are showy and powerful (power which fades after 2 years) but lack reliability that Hero Honda (now HMC), Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki & RE offer. Now, I am planning for a TBTS, R15 version or some nice bike in the category 150-200. I don’t know how P200 NS is going to perform. I would appreciate Bajaj if they have put efforts in the quality department.
Readers, if you want to suggest me a good bike, please go on. No 125cc, because I’m planning to take the bike for long rides. I have some crush on the Apache RTR 180. What do u guys say? How is its quality and reliability? Please feel free to comment in this section.

(P.S: This review may seem to be a complaint box against the Bajaj Discover. But I swear it is purely based on my experience and I am posting this review as an eye opener and not in an intention to discredit the Bajaj brand. Pulsar enthusiasts, please forgive me)

Regards,
Arunkumar

Original Source: Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Ownership Review by Gautam from BikeAdvice.in

I have been reading articles on Bike Advice for quite a while now and I finally feel its time I gave back something to the community. I own a Pulsar 135LS. I know that this might not be the ideal choice for a large section of people, but I am sure this bike will be simply perfect for quite a few of us.

My name is Gautam, I am 23 year old based in Bengaluru. I work as a Systems Engineer for Hewlett Packard. Unlike most other people here, I started biking quite late. Neither my dad, nor any close relatives had a bike and my parents were not so keen on letting their accident prone kid near one.

So it was only in second year of college that I started learning how to ride a two wheeler. I was in final year of engineering, after much deliberation and consideration; that my dad bought me an Activa. The Activa was an easy choice, it was economic, reliable and overall, an easy ride. I rode my Activa all over Bengaluru for over an year before I grew bored of it. I needed a bike.

So Why Did I Choose a Pulsar 135LS?

People ask me this question all the time. When I started looking for a bike, my priorities were,

• Price and Mileage: I had no intentions of making my dad pay for the bike. Beyond this, the petrol expenses would be from my paycheck too. So the bike needed to be economic and give me decent mileage.
• Weight and Handling: As this was going to be my first bike, I needed something that a thin fellow like me could manage on busy roads.
• Looks: Not that this was of least priority, but I wanted something which looked good, for obvious reasons of course!

I went through the technical reviews on various web sites and based on my criteria, I narrowed down my choices to the Yamaha SZR and the Pulsar 135LS. I decided against a Pulsar 150 because it is just too common on Indian roads. From my personal experience, asking people for their opinions is just going to confuse you more.

Of course you should value their opinions but know that different people look for different things in a bike. Different people also have different ideas of what a good bike should look like. So, based on your requirements, short list your options are try them for yourself. When you try the right one, you will know.

It so happened that the day I went to the Yamaha showroom, it was closed and I tried the Pulsar 135 first because the Bajaj showroom was open. The moment I sat on it, something felt right. Before I came back from the test ride, I already knew that this was it. I came back with my cheque book and photo id proof the same evening. In July 2011, the bike cost me 67,000 INR on road. I am not sure of the current prices.

Engine and Gearbox

The Pulsar 135 has Bajaj’s trademark DTS-i engine. What’s new is that Pulsar 135 features the first application of a 4 valve head in an Indian bike. This, combined with the under square design, makes for a powerful engine. So although it is just 135cc, just by power to weight ratio, it is superior to a lot of the 150cc bikes out there.

For a bike in its category, it is indeed fast. I have personally done 0-60kmph in under 6 seconds and clocked a top speed of 102kmph. The downside of such high stressed engine, is the vibrations. This is an established fact and there is nothing much that can be done except get used to it. But this isn’t really as bad a thing as you would think.

Going with the sporty feel, the gear lever is the toe shift type. The gear shift pattern is 1-down-4-up, improving the safety of the bike. The gear shift is smooth and the gear ratio is also perfect for city commute with the top gear pulling as low as 25kmph, relieving you of the gear shift on smaller jams and those lighter bumps.

Styling

After the full length rear tyre hugger was replaced, the bike looks absolutely stunning. The sculpted tank with its lean mean front fairings, the clip-on handle bars, split seats and split rear grab rails all come together to give it a truly sporty look. The stylish number plate holder which drops from the rear also appeals to me very much. This bike is easily the best thing that happened to a tall thin rider.

Just the fact that the brand new Pulsar 200NS looks more like the 135LS than the 220 is a testimony to this design. One minor down-side of the split rear grab rails is that you cannot fit your helmet lock here. You will have to attach it to the front crash guard. I find this to be a small problem especially when you are parking in a crowded place.

Handling

Most of my commuting happens through the busiest IT corridors of Bengaluru. Weighing in at 122kg, the Pulsar truly lives up to its reputation of “Light and Sporty” as it zips through the chaos of rush hour traffic and bad roads. The slender frame ensures that the bike slips through smallest gaps that bigger bikes with wider fairings simply cannot.

The bike feels easy and responds to the slightest touch, making it a pleasure to zigzag through busy roads. Cornering has also been a breeze on this baby. The bike has disc brakes on the front tyre and drum on the rear. For a bike of this category, these brakes are reliable and give you the confidence to take on the roads.

Other Aspects

The dash board is packed with all the digital goodies that we have come to expect from the Pulsar family like the speedometer, odometer, trip meter and the fuel gauge. The 35W head lamps which run on a DC circuit ensure that the beam is the same brightness all the time. This small yet thoughtful feature makes so much sense; especially when you are navigating a bad road at night.

The ergonomically placed Pass switch and the backlit switches make for easier night time commute. The engine mud guard which is an optional feature is great to keep your engine clean on muddy roads but it does hit those really bad road bumps. The seating position is pretty much upright and I find it ideal for city commute.

There are days when I spend hours in traffic and I don’t have any back problems. The pillion rider sits slightly elevated and so far none of the people who have sat behind me have had any complaints. One minor complaint I have is regarding the relatively smaller fuel tank. The 8L tank means more frequent re-fueling but that’s a price I am willing to pay for the small neat dimensions.

Mileage

Despite the stop-and-go traffic and bad roads I get a mileage of about roughly 57-58 kmpl, just a tad lower than expectation but still decent. I would blame my novice riding skills more than the machine for this.

My Verdict

Eight months and 6000 Km later, I am still completely in love with my bike. The Pulsar 135LS combines the best of the 125cc segment economy and the 150cc segment power. Add to that its stylish sporty look and you have a winner. So if you are a college goer or a young professional or a new biker just learning to ride, looking for an economic yet powerful and stylish ride, the baby Pulsar is the one for you.

Thank you for reading.

Regards,
Gautam

Original Source: Bajaj Discover 150 Ownership Review by Pratik Tambe from BikeAdvice.in

Hello fellow riders! I am Pratik from mumbai, a proud owner of Discover 150. I guess I am the first one to write an ownership review in Discover series. But never the less I have a lot to say about the bike. Read on!

Why Discover 150

Bajaj had always been on my mind when it came to bikes and I was sure I would buy a Bajaj. Basic requirement was a bike that was powerful enough and gives a decent mileage. I did a vast market research and narrowed it down to 2 bikes. Discover 150 and Pulsar 150 and since I have daily commute so mileage was an important factor to consider and hence discover 150 was my obvious choice.

The Looks

Any person who has been observing the discover series will notice the difference in looks of 150 125 and 100 more muscular body, the 150 tag at rear end and wide rear tyre are the noticeable difference in the design. I admit the looks could have been better for 150. Overall a good design that gives a slight sporty look.

Rating: 6/10

The Performance

The 150 cc DTS-i engine gives an amazing performance with top speed of 108kmph. One thing worth mentioning in performance is the torque. It has very powerful torque and hence slight increase in acceleration delivers great amount of power. So when you are driving in city or highway overtaking a huge trailer or truck becomes very easy with slight flick of acceleration.

Gearbox has short ratios of gears specially designed for city driving and it can easily pick up on 5th gear at 25kmph. So once I am in 5th gear, unless I come across heavy traffic, there is no need to keep on changing gears.

Rating: 8/10

Comfort and Safety

• The bike is designed very well to fit a tall rider in a comfortable seating position. I myself being 5.11, find no difficulty in adjusting posture. Seat is a bit hard and definitely gives u hard time when u ride for long hours.
• The rear nitrox suspension is very effective and makes riding a comfortable experience.
• The 240 mm front disc brake is well calibrated and is reasonable sharp. The rear drum brake assist the front disc to give bike an early stop. 121kg being its kerb weight is an added advantage.

Comfort Rating: 7/10
Safety Rating: 8/10

The M Factor

The M factor. That is money and mileage factor. This is where the bikes takes it away from other 150 segment bikes. The bike delivered an unbeatable mileage of 61kmpl (average) and that too with a speed of 60-70 kmph (after running in period). Fuel tank being 6.5 (plus 1.5 reserve) you can drive 400 kms straight without topping up. And ofcourse priced way less than other 150 segment bikes. Got it just for Rs.56000 onroad!

Rating: 10/10

The Cons

Yes. As no machine can be perfect this too has disadvantages. But considering the plus points of the bike these can be safely overlooked.

• The bike vibrates after 70kmph and you feel the need to have a 6th gear.
• The auto choke that has been provided to help riders get rid of manual choke doesn’t really help and we have to manually rev it up to heat the engine.
• The eurogrip tyres that come along with the bike do not provide essential grip as nylogrip zappers.

Overall Rating: 8/10

Completing 1500 kms with my bike,i am very satisfied with its performance. Discover 150 is the kind of bike that gives u performance at a very reasonable price. It is for riders who hunt for bikes that bridges the gap between commuter and sports bikes. I have learnt that when u treat bike with respect it gives respect in return. So do respect your bike. Wear all safety riding gears and always drive attentively.

Regards,
Pratik Tambe