Original Source: Why You Should Buy the KTM Duke 200 from BikeAdvice.in

Ever since KTM Duke 125cc was launched in Europe every bike enthusiast just waiting to see KTM Duke 125cc launch in India. Most of them were disappointed when Duke 125cc was launched in Europe with the configuration of 15 bhp power, top speed of 80 KM (due to European norms for under 18) and the price tag of nearly Rs. 2.8 lakhs. But the real surprised came when Bajaj Auto announced that India will get a bigger Duke at an attractive price.

Indian bike enthusiasts were eagerly waiting for Duke 200 India launch after it was launched in Malaysia and Europe. Finally the wait is over now. Bajaj Auto has launched Duke 200 on 24^th January in Delhi and the booking will start from February 1^st week across the country. But why one should buy Duke 200 when there is Pulsar 220, Karizma, YZF-R15 V2.0, Honda CBR250R and upcoming Honda CBR150R, next generation Pulsar and Hyosung GT250R? Let’s have a look.

Supremely Engineered and Highly Reliable Engine

Duke 200 engine reflects traditional quality of KTM. It is compact yet delivers high performance. The single cylinder, liquid cooled, four valve, DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft) with DLC (Diamond like Coated) coated finger followers engine has bore x stroke of 72 x 49 mm which gives it engine displacement of 199.5cc. The bore x stroke ratio of 1.47 suggests this is an oversquare / short stroke engine and produces maximum torque at higher speed.

The engine generates maximum power of 18.4 KW/ 25 bhp @ 10,000 rpm and maximum torque of 19.2 NM @ 8,000 rpm. The power to weight ratio of 184 bhp / tonne is even more impressive than bhp and best in class thanks to its kerb weight of 136 Kg. It has got high tech cylinder head similar to those used by KTM on their top level racing bikes. It comes with Balancer shaft which reduces annoying vibrations. Duke 200 comes with very high compression ratio of 11.5:1 which requires high octane quality of fuel like Speed or Xtra premium.

The fuel delivery is managed by world class Bosch electronic fuel injection. The fuel injection mapping starts working as soon as the gear is engaged. The 38mm throttle body ensures instant acceleration, maximum performance and low level of fuel consumption. Thanks to the electronic functionality and gear sensor, the maximum speed is limited in sixth gear to level permitted in the respective country.

The transmission is handled by six speed gear box and wet multi disc clutch which is mechanically operated. It has got single centrally placed spark plug which ensures optimum ignition.  To control the overheating issues the engine comes with liquid cooling system. It has got centrally located exhaust which is something new in India. The compact three chamber silencer with three way catalytic converter has been placed between rear wheel and the engine due to which it seems that there is absence of exhaust pipe. The central location of exhaust also has an advantage of low centre of gravity. The rotary sound like exhaust note is a unique feature and suggest an arrival of monster.

This is an engine which is meant to be revved hard. The engine produces lower level of emissions and high level of fuel efficiency. Overall it’s supremely engineered and highly refined and reliable engine which is choice of every bike enthusiasts across the world.

Trellis Frame and Aluminum Swing Arm

Duke 200 has got the Chromium-Molybdenum trellis frame with steel sub frame. It is important to know what a trellis frame means. According to motorcycle racing research major advantages are to be gained in terms of rigidity by joint the steering head to the swing arm in as short a distance possible. A steering head is at top of the frame. The frame is made up of large number of short steel (or aluminum) tube welded together to form a trellis. It is easy to manufacture and extremely strong as well. It has unique aluminum die cast swing arm which is light yet extremely stable. It has got wheelbase of 1367mm which is widest enough to do better cornering. The bike weighs only 136 Kg despite having 200cc engine, widest tyre, USD suspension, liquid cooler. The light weight is result of KTM’s traditional quality of having precise and compact components and excluding unnecessary components. It has 165 mm (6.50 inch) of ground clearance which is enough for most of the bumpy riding. Overall the chassis is light weight, well built and enhances a rider’s confidence.

Radial Tyres & 10 Spoke Rim

Duke 200 has got one of the widest tyres in its class. It has also got 10 spoke alloy wheel which suits its naked look. The front rim size is of 3” x 17” and the rear rim size of 4” x 17”. The die cast aluminum wheels are specially designed by KTM to make it lightweight yet extremely stable. It has got MRF REVZ FC radial tubeless tyres with the front tyre size of 110/70 * 17 and rear tyre size of 150/60 * 17. It is to be noted that this are radial tyres so it comes with an advantage of shorter barking distance, better road grip, low fuel consumption and better life over a normal tyre. Further the tyre size is large enough for any kind of road conditions.

Brembo Brakes

Duke 200 has got one of the finest braking system in its class. It has got disc brakes from Bybre, a subsidiary brembo brakes (world’s leader in disc brakes). The front has got 280 mm disc with single piston floating caliper and the rear got 230 mm four piston radially bolted caliper. The rear disc is one of the widest in its class.

WP Suspension

Duke 200 has another novelty in suspension department. It comes with WP Upside down (USD) front suspension which is also better known as Inverted forks. The upside down system has tubes at bottom and bodies at the top which improves handling by reducing the unsprung weight of the motorcycle. The USD suspension is mostly found on Sports motorcycle. What’s more, the upside down suspension has 43 mm internal tubes one of the largest in its class.

This isn’t enough the rear got WP Monoshock suspension. WP Suspension is one of the leading European companies in suspension and it supplies to some of the reputed name in Europe like BMW and Triumph.

Street fighter Styling and robust Build Quality

As far styling concern Duke 200 has got naked street fighter looks. The bull inspired front headlight suits its street fighter look. The motorcycle looks massive from the front due to its wider tyre and naked headlight. The diamond inspired LED tail lights are good enough to catch anyone’s eyes. The LED side blinkers looks cool with headlight and taillight. The nicely design saree guard, grab rail and rear hugger enhances its rear look. The bull inspired fuel tank offers enough knee recess and the air craft type fuel tank filler looks gorgeous on Duke fuel tank. Both the side look of Duke 200 leaves an impression of higher displacement bike due to an over square engine and wider tyres. Duke 200 comes with top notch paint quality. It comes with KTM inspired orange color, however we may see other color option in near future. Overall it has top class built quality with pure naked street fighter look.

Best in class Instrument panel

Generally an instrument panel introduction is included in electrical but the Duke 200 has got most sophisticated and functional instrument panel which is best in class and available only on top end bikes and cars. It has got digital instrumental panel where you can have average speed during trip, average fuel consumption, distance to empty, distance to service, dot matrix messages, ready to race message. The list does not end here; it has two trip meters with additional F mode apart from digital speedometer, rpm meter, a digital watch and gear indicator. You can also know the temperature level of engine. You can also set the rpm limit for you motorcycle and it will not go above that.  A shift RPM alarm fro driver helps in shifting the gears. The instrumental panel has indicators for side, neutral, high beam, side stand, low fuel level and low battery.  It has one of the widest digital instrumental panels in its class.

Electricals

It has headlamp roll ON during rolling downgrade: This means there is a vertical compensation for the angle created on an incline or decline, something like the adaptive headlight in the K1600, but way less advanced than that since the one on the KTM will not compensate for the lean. The front headlight and rear tail light has got 60/55W bulbs. It also got zero maintenance 8AH VRLA battery which ensures you will never out of power supply. The Duke 200 number plate has also got LED illumination. What more you can also modify the tank illumination by aftermarket tank LED. It has got Backlit control switches which includes side indicator, low high beam, headlight turn on/off, turn indicators and engine kill switch.

Best in Class Ride and Handling

Duke has best in class ride and handling abilities thanks to its class leading frame, tyres and suspension. The riding position is upright which ensures that you will not get tired in long journeys.  It has the hydroformed handlebars for better strength and clamping location. The handle bars provide an excellent feedback while high speed cornering. The high speed straight line stability of Duke, is a second to none.

The seat height from ground is just 810mm, perfect for an Indian average height of 5.6 inches. The wide rider seat has enough padding but the rear seat is bit narrow. The fuel tank offers enough knee recess.

Outstanding Performance & Fuel Efficiency

The performance figure suggests why Duke 200 is a true hooligan street bike. It can achieve 0-60 speed in just 3.3 seconds which is a quicker than the competition, 0-100 speed in slight over 9 second again quicker than the competition. Even the rolls on figures are quicker than the competition. The 0-120 race is an effortless job on Duke 200. However, after this speed it takes time to achieve the top speed of the motorcycle which is around 135KM/ hour. It is not one of the fastest motorcycles in its class but yes its one of the quickest motorcycles in its class. KTM did not claim any fuel efficiency figures but showroom guy confirmed that you can expect mileage of 30 Kilometer / liter which is acceptable given the power figures and the engine performance.

European brand

Duke 200 is a first European motorcycle in its class. European motorcycle brands have more aspirational value compared to Japanese motorcycle brands. Be it any brand Ducati, BMW, Aprilia, Triumph or KTM. The pride of owning a European motorcycle has much more values which you will not get with R15 or CBR250R. What’s more there is a range of accessories like gloves, jackets, t-shirts, bags etc.  and aftermarket parts like chain, sprocket, illumination set, seat cowl, handle guard etc. to make a perfect KTM club.

Largest and Dedicated Service Center

People are always worried about quality and availability of service station in case of sports motorcycle. With Duke 200 you get 34 dedicated showroom and service centers throughout India which is largest for any specific motorcycle (these service stations were before pro biking showrooms of Bajaj).  The competition like CBR250R and R15 does not have any sole dedicated service station which the Duke has.

Mouthwatering Price

Duke 125 is sold at 4,400 Euro (Rs. 2,87,000) in Europe which is almost 600 Euro (Rs. 40,000) more than the competition and still it became the number 1 motorcycle in its category by sales after few months of launch. So what kind of price did you expect for KTM Duke 200 in India? We expected price range of Rs. 1.2 lacs to Rs. 1.4 lacs. However, Bajaj Auto has undercut our expected price range by Rs. 2,500. The Duke 200 has been launched at an introductory price of Rs. 1,17,500, Ex-showroom Delhi (On road around Rs. 1,30,000) which is an outstanding price considering its qualitative parts and European brand. It has all the quality of European brand except one thing, European motorcycle brand premium compared to Japanese motorcycle brand. Duke 200 is just Rs. 10,000 more than the R15 and Rs. 30,000 less than the CBR250R.

Verdict

Duke 200 is an outstanding motorcycle, the only thing which it short fall is a top speed. However, considering a street fighter motorcycle it needs to be quickest rather than fastest and Duke over score competition in this department. If you are ok with top speed this is the motorcycle in 250 cc segment you should go for. So guys, ready to race?

- Mahavir Kothari

Please leave your comment what do you feel about Duke 200?

Technical Specification

Engine Type: Single cylinder, 4-Stroke,
Displacement: 199.50cc
Bore x Stroke (mm):  72 x 49
Compression Ratio: 11.3:1
Maximum Power : 25 bhp @ 10000rpm
Maximum Torque : 19 Nm @ 8000 rpm
Starter/Battery : Electric Starter/12 V
Fuel System: Bosch EFI
Control: DOHC, 4-valve
Engine Management/ Ignition: Bosch EMS
Headlamp:  12V 60/55W H4
Battery:  12V 8AH VRLA
Lubrication: Wet sump
Clutch: Wet multi-disc clutch, mechanically operated
Transmission: 6 Speed, claw shifted
Cooling: Liquid cooling
Frame: Steel Trellis Frame, powder coated
Subframe: steel
Handlebar: Aluminum, tapered 26/22mm
Steering head angle: 65˚
Trail: 100mm
Front Rim Size: Cast aluminum wheels 3.00” x 17”
Front Tyre Size : 110/70 x 17
Rear Tyre Size: 150/60 x 17
Front Brake: Four piston, radially bolted caliper, 280 mm disc
Rear Brake: single piston, floating caliper, 230 mm disc
Front suspension: USD, Telescopic fork, 43mm dia
Rear Suspension: Monoshock
Front fork travel: 150mm
Real monoshock travel: 150mm
Silencer: Stainless Steel Silencer with regulated catalytic converter
Chain: X-Ring 5/8 x ¼”
Fuel Capacity:  11 liters approximately
Kerb Weight: 136 KG
Wheelbase : 1,350 +/- 15 mm
Seat height: 810 mm
Ground Clearance: 165mm

Original Source: Bajaj Pulsar 220 vs Hero Karizma ZMR from BikeAdvice.in

Bajaj and Hero Motocorp (Hero Honda previously), are the two pure Indian make motorcycles who have been at loggerheads continuously after Bajaj came out with its extraordinary concept, the powerful “Pulsar”. Hero Honda was no meek player either who went on to create a biking tradition with its charismatic Karizma. However, due credit does go to Hero Honda for venturing into the virgin territory of 200+ cubic capacity displacement when Bajaj was happy making the favourite “Hamara Bajaj” scooters and trying to give competition to the already established hugely successful 100cc bikes from the Hero Honda stable.

However, Bajaj is a quick learner and soon came up with a strong contender for the tall standing Karizma, the Pulsar 220. Since then, it has always been a boggling question for many as to which one is better. Which one should you buy if you want the ultimate performance motorcycle? We thought it’s time we take both and make them face head to head and see who eventually comes out victorious!

The Styling

To start, I take up the aspect of the styling since that is the first thing anyone is going to notice about any motorcycle. Add to it the 220cc class and any motorcycle lover is bound to demand fabulous styling that should make him look apart from the crowd and also make heads turn when he/she rides past! The two motorcycles I am comparing here have very different design languages. Each one has been distinctively designed to appeal to a specific sensory perception of the consumer.

The Pulsar 220 with its “wolf” like headlights looks really stylish while the Karizma ZMR with its GSX1000R inspired headlamps look menacing. Coming to the tail lights, the twin LED lights on the Pulsar 220 are the coolest ones ever seen. On the Karizma ZMR, you get one “inverted pentagon” shaped light which is LED stripped. Coming to the side stance, the Pulsar 220 has got a horizontal fairing extending from the headlights to the fuel tank. It also has a netted slot providing air flow.

The small fairing gives the bike a “naked bike” look and adds dynamism to it. The contour line on the fairing extends all the way upto the fuel tank too. The Karizma ZMR on the other hand, has got a full fairing that on which the ZMR is inscribed in a Japanese script style (inspired from the Suzuki Hayabusa). The fairing is styled excellently with the front end of it following the curve of the front wheel while the rear sporting a Z shaped design.

The ZMR with its full fairing looks mighty muscular, big and more like a “speed goddess”. Both the bikes have got a single exhaust. The exhaust tail pipe on the Pulsar 220 looks not much different from its younger siblings and has no colour which looks a bit out of place. On the other hand, the Karizma ZMR gets golden finish tail pipe which blends along well with the design. The engine, the front shockers and the inner circle of the front and the rear discs are gold painted. Both the bikes get split rear handle grips. The Karizma ZMR offers those as body coloured while they are black on the Pulsar 220.

Pulsar 220: 3
Karizma ZMR: 4

The Performance

Now let us come to the performance factor. The Pulsar 220, as evident from its name is powered by a 220 cc motor that delivers a power figure of 21.04 PS @ 8500 RPM and a healty torque figure of 19.12 Nm @ 7000 RPM. On the other hand, the Karizma ZMR is powered by the same 223 cc engine that powered the old Karizma. The 223 cc engine delivers a power of 17.6 BHP @ 7000 RPM and a torque of 18.35 Nm @ 6000 RPM.

Going by the figures alone, the Pulsar 220 is definitely way powerful than the ZMR in terms of power and in terms of torque. The Karizma ZMR may look like a speed goddess, but it is the Pulsar 220, in which the speed beast is hiding, waiting to be unleashed. Just twist the throttle and the 220’s thrust will make you go backwards in awe and surprise. The Pulsar 220 wants it to be taken seriously.

Gently input the throttle, and all will be well. On the Karizma ZMR, it is a bit more relaxed. Though it is about 1 Nm short in torque than the 220, yet the delivery is quick at the low RPM (6000 on the ZMR as compared to the 7000 on the 220) which makes it fun to drive. One of the big things separating these bikes is the kerb weight. The Pulsar 220 with its small fairing weighs 150 kg while the Karizma ZMR with all its fairings tips the scales at 159 kg making it 9kgs heavier than the Pulsar! The Pulsar outperforms the ZMR in power-to-weight ratio.

The 220 offers one of the best power-to-weight ratios because of which it gets the tag of “the fastest Indian”. Fuel delivery to the 220’s engine is through the carburettor while on the ZMR a fuel injection does that duty. The fuel delivery feels smoother in the ZMR across all rev ranges. On the 220 however, you twist the throttle suddenly and there is a lag. It is like the lull before the storm to come.

You can witness the speedometer needle surging very fast in the post-lag period. The Pulsar 220 can do the 0 to 60 kmph sprint in just about 4 seconds while the Karizma ZMR takes a bit more to about 4.7 seconds. A top speed test wasn’t possible because of too much traffic. On road, the Pulsar 220 returns a good fuel economy of 38 kmpl under mixed driving conditions while the Karizma ZMR returns about 40 kmpl.

Pulsar 220: 4.5
Karizma ZMR: 3.5

The Handling

One of the key aspects any sports bike deserves to be talked about is its handling. Sit on the bike, and you feel more close to the ground on the Pulsar 220 than on the Karizma ZMR. The Karizma ZMR will not be an ideal bike for the short people. Also, the ZMR feels wider than the 220 because of its broad fairings. The Pulsar 220 features a split-seat design which provides you with good support and makes you prepared to race anytime.

On the other hand, the Karizma ZMR features a single piece providing a comfortable seating for you as well as your pillion. On straight lines, both the bikes feel planted to the ground, but relatively the Karizma feels more planted because of its higher kerb weight. The Pulsar 220 despite its raw power feels planted because of its thicker tires. The 220 rides on 90/90 section (Tubeless) at the front and 120/80 section (Tubeless) at the rear. They are fitted to 17inch alloy wheels both at the front and back.

The ZMR rides on thinner sections, 80/100 on the front and 100/90 on the rear. However, the ZMR rides on bigger 18 inch alloy wheels. On the corners, the two show up different dynamics. The Karizma ZMR with its bulk and bigger dimensions is slightly difficult to manoeuvre with a considerable lean angle. However, the bulk coupled with the smooth power delivery gives you a confidence of solid grip that the bike maintains with the road. The 220, while is smaller in dimensions and with low kerb weight is very quick around corners.

The rev-friendly engine always entices you to throttle hard while you are exiting the corner but a slight mistake and you can lose control. The bike packs in so much power at the top-end that you need to have considerable amount of experience to master it. The ZMR uses Telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers at the front and a Swing arm with 5 step adjustable IGRS system at the rear. While on the 220, you get telescopic shocks at the front and 5 way adjustable Nitrox shock absorbers at the rear.

The suspension at the front and the back does a good job of taking care of potholes in both the bikes. However, the Karizma ZMR has got a slightly softer suspension making it good for long tours as well. The Pulsar 220 on the other hand, has a stiffer suspension which makes it not so good for long journeys but great for fast cornering. However, take both the bikes to whatever speed you like, both offer equally good stopping power according to their stature. The Pulsar 220 gets 260 mm disc brakes at the front and 230 mm ones at the rear while the Karizma ZMR gets 276 mm disc at the front and 240 mm discs at the rear.

Pulsar 220: 4.5
Karizma ZMR: 3.5

The Ergonomics

Coming to the instrument cluster, both the bikes offer good looking digital consoles. The Pulsar 220 offers an analog tachometer and a digital speedometer. The round tachometer is on the left while the digital speedometer is on the right of it. The speedo console also shows other information like the fuel level by the left side of the speed, the odometer and the trip meter at the bottom and battery, oil temperature etc at the top.

Below the speedo console are 4 round lights; the turn indicators, the neutral gear position, the hi-beam and the side stand engage respectively from the left. At the extreme right of the console, is the RESET switch. Coming to the Karizma ZMR, it sports a trapezoidal console with the analog tachometer at the bottom centre of the console. On the left is the digital speedometer below which it also shows the time. On the right is the fuel level, odo and trip meter and the alphabetic display.

On the top centre it has small 4 lamps; the engine malfunction light, the neutral gear indicator, the hi-beam and the direction indicators from the left respectively. Both the consoles are equally good, but somehow I feel that the console of the Pulsar 220 has been designed keeping the “racer rider” in mind. The large speedo and the large tacho ensure that you get to know your state without have to look closely which is not the case in the Karizma ZMR. Also the Pulsar indicates if you have the side stand engaged or not which is a good thing for many in India.

Pulsar 220: 4
Karizma ZMR: 3.5

Conclusion

The Karizma ZMR will cost you Rs. 1,02,939/- (On Road, Gurgaon) while the Pulsar 220 is Rs. 86,250/- (On Road, Gurgaon). Over such a price difference anyone will de definitely inclined to go for the cheaper alternative. However, you cannot buy a bike of this segment just by the price. Anyone should also look into what kind of usage he is going to have. If you are a ride daily for long distances then the Pulsar 220 is not a good choice for you, the Karizma ZMR definitely is! If you are a person who loves corners, then the Karizma ZMR is not the right bike for you, the Pulsar 220 is! Overall, the bikes come very close in this heated competition with Pulsar 220 gaining marginally due to its sheer focused nature on speed and handling, the two basic necessities of a sports bike and nevertheless, a bike lover!

Regards,
Joy Chatterjee

Original Source: Bajaj Avenger 200cc Ownership Review by Siran from BikeAdvice.in

I am so glad to publish my first write-up in BikeAdvice.in. Pardon me about the wrong technical detail you come across, if any.

So here we are, I’m tagging the Avenger as “Budget-Cruiser”. To start-off with, ‘m briefing the cons,

• Really poor build quality. I mean both the metallic & non-metallic parts. You cannot find a single perfect weld bead. Right after a week of purchase, I noticed rusting of fasteners.
• Metallic parts get corrode easily if ride over a drizzle. Profuse spraying of anti-corrosive spray is required (Myself got an imported heavy duty spray which is used for earth movers).
• Though this ain’t matters much, just wanna make awareness. The engine noise neither sound like cruiser and nor like normal commuter too. It’s not feeble like Hero Honda Hunk and at the same time it ain’t thunders like RE. A little less sharp than Yamaha FZ.

• Then comes the spare availability. I bought the thing in EMI. Know what, I couldn’t find spares before my EMI expire. I kept mailing Bajaj for a simple chain sprocket. And the people in the service station are unaware about the tech-spec. They suggest me a tyre pressure which is actually twice as the recommended pressure printed in the catalogue. This incident resulted in different landing. The service people started pointing me like “He is the guy who complaints us via mail”. Somehow I tackled it and stopped visiting them. Instead I found “Bike Point” which does a clean job. They reveal, explain us the things they done in our machine and handover the old parts of replaced ones. Quite interesting about them.
• “Budget-Cruiser” definitely lacks in braking stability. The disk provided in the front wheel seems to be a sales strategy booster. Halting the vehicle in hasty situation requires a lot & lot of expertise. Drum in the back tyre desperately needs a retrofit. Once you adjust it for solo ride and satisfied, an unexpected pillion mate would lead to brake clings automatically on the ride.
• Trickiest part about “Budget-Cruiser” is riding them on wet/muddy roads. In spite of its lower centre of gravity, it trembles. I crashed my vehicle once on 40kmph swing.
• Pillion seat is too narrow which makes the ride awkward for a fat person. Sometimes its worst for even the thin guys on the long run.
• Lack of kicker. In fact, kick starting gives a macho look.
• Last but not least, the fake neutral issue. Eventually it helped me to get expertise in 1 down-4 up shifting irrespective of the manufacturer.

Previously I had my brother’s Yamaha RX100,

The first bike which taught me the road. Initial pick-up is mind-blowing. No one can accompany you once you are 2meters away from traffic signals. It’s totally an elegant piece of Yamaha which clings to the biker. I happened to smash RX100 to an Apache while a jay walker jumped in to the road from nowhere. I got tensed because I was in rushing to work. Then I checked the apache ride since it was a school kid. Small cracks on RX100’s front mud-flap with misalignment in handle bar were found. But for the Apache, the pillion foot rest (i.e. the entire casting component) was broken. Followed by a dent in gas tank. I was like “What on Earth has happened?”.

I felt guilty and contributed a reasonable sum to the kid. I drove RX100 for a couple of month, so I took back my eye from Activa. Finally I shortlisted Unicorn, ZMR, Thunderbird as my choices. Unicorn’s waiting period was a headache. ZMR doesn’t suit my height. Thunderbird too ruled out because of the price tag and 8 month waiting period. Obviously I dropped the new bike idea. Back to square one, started searching of second hand Activa. Whilst searching I rode an Enticer which lubricated my cruiser hunt. I googled about Aquila, Hyosung Availability in tamilnadu and found a used Aquila tagged 95k. I ended up in Avenger.

Coming back to “Budget-Cruiser”,

Note: - Above snap reveals a 2 year old machine
It doesn’t roar like RX100, but it still got a pretty decent configuration.
Power: - 17.56bhp @ 7000rpm, Torque: – 16.78Nm @ 6000rpm.

Let’s look at the Pros

• Riding Posture – cannot be expressed in words (among Indian counterparts). Well curved seat and raised leg posture will definitely give a couch kinda pleasure.
• Alluring head-turner/eye-catcher. My 2 year old “Budget-Cruiser” still allures people. Believe me I hear “wow” at least twice in a week. The reason may be my caring. I don’t leave it in drizzle neither on sun. I used to run for shadow to park. Moreover, I always avoid shortcuts on my ride though it saves some gas.

• Amazing 0 to 60 in just 6 seconds, that too in a cruiser. The vehicle goes flawless at 80kmph with company behind and 100kmph on solo. About the top speed, I thought of reaching 160kmph by watch YouTube videos. But then, I got satisfied with 140kmph pretty better than 110kmph printed in manual.

• Low centre of gravity – Every biker gotta experience at least once over this. I felt the miracle on my ride to Kolli hills. It has 72 hair pin bends which I drove in single stretch. For the bikers in South, hit the Kolli hill to check how cruel a 72 hairpin bends would look like?

• Next comes the price tag. As I named it “Budget-Cruiser”, it costed me 76k. I suppose that ain’t hefty when compared to HMSI 125cc commuter which costs 63k. Last week I bought an Active which finally costed me 58k with accessories. I got consoled of selecting Avenger after getting Active. Of course Activa is of irrelevant category, all I mean is product configuration for the money.
• Hydraulic rear suspension does a tremendous job.
• Mileage – I was amused when it delivered 39kmpl in highways and 35kmpl in city.
• Analogue speedometer with backlight gives a classic look. Fuel gauge over the gas tank adds glossy to the vehicle.

• Cruiser – This thing can literally be called as cruiser because it’ll never make you tiresome even after long runs (with perfect riding gears). I peeped a maximum of 871kms in 4 days.

My Trips in “Budget-Cruiser”,

• Trichy to Madurai – to & fro 262kms (Been there several times. My very first trip was a quick trip ever. Started at 6.10a.m, stopped 20mins in Madurai for breakfast and reached home back at 9.20a.m.)
• Trichy to Pondicherry – to & fro 412kms
• Trichy to Chennai – to & fro 700kms
• Trichy to kolli hills – to & fro 278kms
• Pondicherry to Gingee – to & fro 138.6kms
• Pondicherry to Cheyyar – to & fro 200kms
• Trichy to Salem – to & fro 284kms

I’m winding up with couple lines about people behind the screen. I express my gratitude to my brother Naveen, the one who factually sparked the biker in me by affording his RX100. A heart full of thanks to Ezhilmaran & Babu Gandhi, who inspired me in this regard and offering perfect gears like glove etc.

Santhosh Velmurugan, I just want to say thanks for helping out with photography. The only problem is that you did such a great job, I’ll probably end up in asking you to help again. These people did so much for nothing. Thanks a Zillion!

Regards,
Siran

Original Source: Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Ownership Review By Avin Antony from BikeAdvice.in

I born bare in the place called world, my footprint on mother’s earth stamped me as an Indian – Keralite Christian. She was so beautiful that she showed me many faces, one, in which I fall in love –  “The Face of the Chariots”. My love was true & yet so deep.

Age by age I grew for a battle to fight for my incredible love to grab chariots, but circumstances, fate & agony didn’t allow owning one. Days passed, years passed, I learnt to handle chariots except heavy ones. Side by side my hand glides for Brut art to give birth, a beast at least, for one or may be in future.

My Good Times

At the age of 16, a star striked on my destiny, my mom’s traveling expense was high, so mom planned to purchase a chariot especially a scooty. Shops by shops, we walked & walked, at last she finalized & bought a brand new Honda Aviator disc version in 2009 April at Rs.46,500.

Though my passion for bikes was engraved in my heart, for me its least not the last. My uncle handover the key & I accepted as my own sister with a sweet smile. Though it’s not a bike, a placed myself as I’m going to ride a sports bike.

Experience

Day’s passed away; I took her with my friends, school, malls, exploring new roads, off-roading & even for drag race in DND highways on afternoons. My maximum speed I attained was 100km/h + without any vibration. I looked after her as my own sister, I bathed her every day, took for service in every 3months, but all it was lacking was food. So sad, so bad, yet to say that every time I face shortage of pocket money.

So I made her to prefer to gulp only for Rs.20 daily from my pillion riders pocket whoever it is, girl or boy & due to this reason I made a good friendship with petrol pump service guys. I truly love my Aviator, because I felt very silent & a better power & torque compared to others rivalries in the same segment. Designing was also upto mark coz of her Italian looks & her lights are so bright & clear.

Also her mileage & handling was good & however her brakes are awesome. But only thing I would like to say that I lack confidence while leaning less than 45degree, so Honda can come out with bit more grippy types because as we all know in city as well as in highway one can find dust on Indian roads.

My Jerks

In March-2011, mom planned to sell Aviator, & she was taken away from me forever. I begged a lot to my parents, why can’t she live with me, I plead to take care of her, but they didn’t All she left was her sweet memories which we both spared and that made me to niggle and to weep for her. Meanwhile I completed my 12th & started working because my blood was bleeding for another chariot in remembrance of her presence in her absence.

Like this six months passed away, keeping in my heart somehow to clinch a Tata winger, because dad assured me to accompany me a part to pay the price, but again a got a jerk in my fate that lead me to my shortcomings, and my broken heart was now totally crumbled & crushed into sands. I worked in Call Centre then I left the job in the month of august 14th.

I changed my mind now it’s time to take bunch of books rather than borrowing cliché from mates like a groom searching for brides. My vision was the one who having aggressive looks, muscular body, ya you can say a gal from WWE…lol… Days was like that every second different bikes striking to my mind as I’m looking for high-end bike so in my view bikes available in mother land was Fazer, ZMR, 220f, Duke125, Duke200, Apache ABS, Hyper Edge, Impulse R15 v2.0.etc.

New Era

I got a new job by luck on 30-Sept & they offered me a bike upto 60, ok. The company paid 1/3 of cash remaining I have to pay. Day was 2nd of Sept. My pumping heart for 220f lead my way to B. Showroom, though 220Fi is of 88k, but my offer was of 60k, So, they offered me 135ls ahem… ahem… well, what can I say hmm.., I went to buy a big daddy but came back to home taking his daughter 135LS, my beloved girlfriend. I parked her in my garage & waited for 4th Sept – Sunday.

It was dawn, my sleepless nights & my researches made my more rejuvenate, I silently came out with my key, I take out her cover. Wahoo… sexy, sports & smart; Guys, she was an acquaintances for me. I give a kiss on her forehead, my adrenaline was pumping, pulse rate increased, and my heartbeat reaches to 101 times per minute. I unanchored her from frame. I took her to pump. Damn, waited till 6.00.

Scene in Pump

I compromised myself & pledge that from now on I will fill the tank up to brim. In remembrance I jumped out of the bike, put my hand on bikes back seat, ha-ha, petrol pump guys laughed, & replied “fool, its bike not your aviator”, I with a great shy give a smile scratching my head.

I get down to NH, countdown begins to green & here I gives her one chance to gulp, full throttle, I skulled myself with a Vega dirt, my toes to head- bones was crackling, fingers were shivering. Soon a thought striked into my mind-“bruised ankles & elbows, bloody kneecaps, smashed bikes, is familiar everyday phenomenon with motorbike news buffs”.

However, considering its accident-prone nature, the novice may need handy tips to acquire fine art of vrooming, I conquered all my fear, countdown reaches to 5, I buried my head onto tank, butts high-up in the air, sharpen my eyes, its green. Here I vrooms, 1 Gear-6 Rpm- & soon.., reaches up to 85km/hr., as its new bike after two minutes I reduced to 2.5rpm, 25km/hr. in 5 gear & took back to society.

My 1st Ride

I’m breathless, all I have to say its snorting ness, sounds bit crazy na…?, u won’t believe, I know, until u feel the blaster. Ah. That made the bystanders to crave to the legend. Well this is enough to crave the souls of the girls.

Experience

Dis going to make me feel the beauty of motocross. I made her to run 30-50km a day, on weekend around 150-200kms. During the ride, every corner I rode through was an experience, even a small off-road made me to enjoy every bit of the bike. The best thing about the power & its surge whenever u want it, in town or in city or on off–road.

Brief Description

Bike is a joy to flick in & out of traffic, riding enthusiastically; popping wheels taking corner with one leg out, jumping over speed-breakers well such antics become easy when astride the 135LS. The Pulsar remains one of the sexy prototypes which has been made it into showrooms virtually unscratched in its looks, thanks for that designer as well as production unit.

Its front fairing looks young babe, well there is no funny music coming in from der, rather than irritating rattles / squeaks. However, it is view up ahead which is truly awe inspiring as you sit comfortably in a motocross stance rather than crouch or slouch in an ungainly & tiresome manner. The bike has a degree of balance which is amazingly light to touch yet firm footed in its stability even at slow crawling speeds.

Advantage & Disadvantage

I never thought or even expected this aspect a motocross bike, but thanks to the brilliant optimized 4-vaue combustion chamber design & thermodynamics, the finely sorted out ignition system, It’s the 1st 4-valve tech in 135cc segment with the power delivering 14bhp which is crispy, strong & linear.

Sprinting from 0-60 in 5.1sec makes it the undisputed babe, however it is the view up ahead of the strip among his colleagues, accompanying one down, and four up transmission. Only problem I faced is gear shifting, means until the engine gets warmed up or run more than 1km, it’s hard to shift to 3rd gear, remaining all gears are smooth.

Latest News & Facts

Good news for Pulsar 135LS fans. Pulsar 135LS became the top selling model for Bajaj Auto in Indonesia because of the major reason of success of Pulsar 135LS is performance at unmatchable price. All I have to say “I love her so much”, well it’s time to go for an another long drive with two ways ahead B.E.(Bachelor of Engineering) & B.DES.(Bachelor of Designing). So guys catch you next time with a new girlfriend. See ya.

Regards,
Avin Antony

Original Source: Bajaj Boxer CT Ownership Review By Ajit from BikeAdvice.in

Hello everyone! My adrenaline pumped greetings to the family of BikeAdvice. Firstly, let me introduce myself. My name is Ajit Nair. I reside in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. I am pursuing my Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A). I am an active user of the site Mr. Deepak Raj & his team has developed and I should not exaggerate but it is nothing short of an instant classic.

Right from my early age, I had this inclination towards bikes, bikes, bikes and nothing but bikes. Along with this inclination and inquisitiveness, came an insatiable hunger to know the technical aspects of bikes as well as the latest know-hows relating to bikes. I learnt to ride geared vehicles when I was in 10th standard. A bit late, “but it’s better late than never.” Almost like TVS Apache’s caption used to go earlier!

I was fortunate enough to have found this site that could deliver the latest of the two-wheeler industry to bike lovers like me. I take this time out to present to you the bike review of my bike which is the Kawasaki Bajaj Boxer CT. I have been using this bike since the past 5 years now and it is only at this point of time that I feel that I am in a stage to develop a review. My bike has done 33,475 kms till date. I, have rode it for around 18,500 kms.

Let us cut to the chase with the review. My bike was bought by my dad as he wanted a commuter segment bike that could deliver reasonable fuel efficiency and also would be maintenance free. He also wanted the bike to endure the sands of time as coming from a middle class family we could not shift bikes. As mentioned earlier, I am not much into the technical aspects so please bear with me. The price of the bike was Rs. 41,000/- on road.

I am going to go through the following aspects:

• Looks
• Ride Quality and Built Quality
• Performance and Handling
• Maintenance
• Mileage

Let us see them one by one. This is purely my opinion and observation so please be liberal enough to spare me the sword.

Looks

The looks of the BOXER is not something which you crave for and neither has it been a head-turner. But again this is a commuter bike and it is only in the recent years that companies have emphasized on styling in the 100-110cc range bikes. But a close look and it gives you an assured feeling that it is meant to be durable and tough. “JUST LIKE A BOXER…!” The round headlights and the squared tail-light give it a pretty decent look.

The best part about this bike which I am sure that all of you would appreciate is the steel content used in this bike. The rear as well as the front mudguard being of steel gives it a nice, shiny look. There is a lot of steel used in this bike. The spoke wheels give a nice reflection thereby making it look more attractive.

Ride Quality and Built Quality

I believe the most important aspect for you to develop a bond with your buddy is the way how he accommodates you and takes you to places. Call me a “BOXER CHAUVINIST” but the ride quality of the bike will be cherished by me forever whenever I see the commuter segment bikes. The ride quality of this bike is something that I do not generally see in today’s bikes.

It is very comfortable to the rider and the pillion as well. The broad seats provide ample support to your as well as the pillion’s butt. It is something that you miss in these days commuter bikes. The rider seat has good offerings but that’s not the case with the pillion part of the seat. The built quality of the bike is still at par with some of the modern day machines.

Sturdy yet subtle. Majority of the spare parts are still been retained by the bike which speaks volumes about the bike’s built quality. Use of good quality and quantity of steel has helped the bike in achieving heaps of praises from people whom I and my bike got to know. To brief it up, they are excellent.

Performance and Handling

Now comes the most dreaded part for any commuter segment bike. The performance part has never been the USP for these sort of the bikes and my BOXER is not an exception. Still, the performance has never been that criticisable that you keep on weeping. It generates decent torque and has got decent acceleration and pick-up. It gets to the 60 kmph mark in anything around 7-8 seconds which is good enough for me as I generally ride in the 45-50 kmph range. “Safe Riding is Good For The Bike Too After All…!”

The handling however has been a wonderful experience. It is so good that one feels that you are in sync with the bike and my friends too love riding my bikes till date in an era dominated by the Pulsars, Hunks and others. It’s a different thing that I seldom give them a chance to lay their hands on my buddy. U-turns, J-turns whatever turns it takes them very nicely to keep you comfortable.

You may not feel like any Casey Stoner (with due respect to the best racer around!) but you still can feel the confidence within you to take awkward turns or ride differently. I do not generally take my bike for long rides but I take them on occasions like get-together meetings with school friends, early winter rides with my friends and at times during monsoon but I hate my bike getting dirty so I allow her to rest during those hideous monsoon days.

One instance that I like the most was when I had to take admission for my Masters Programme and the college was in Mehsana (110 kms far from my place). I was initially hesitant to take my bike and go there in the burning sun but then something told me that this would be a good time to strengthen the bond between you and your bike. That’s it and the next thing I saw was me reaching the destination without any hiccups in one go.

That day, I did something around 220 kms but did not experience any major problems with my back or fingers or wrists. The sun tried to take its toll but it did not succeed. My current college is just 80 kms to and fro. So I take my buddy out for frequent long drives to my college. The upright riding position is very comfortable and the bike feels very maneuverable in tight city riding and once you get hold of it, it’s even better.

Maintenance

This has been one of the features which I keep on bragging about to my friends as some of my friends have had to suffer at the hands of their bikes resulting in spending thousands of bucks. All I did during these 5 years was regular servicing, timely oil change and needed adjustments. That’s it and the bikes performing as good as it has been.

Still accelerating and producing that wonderful sound which makes me feel relaxed as soon as I twist the throttle. I recently got it serviced. It is running as smooth as butter. It is producing the same beautiful exhaust sound it used to make 5 years ago. The key to any bike running good is the amount of care you put in. It’s not a bike, it’s your best mate after all…ain’t it?

Mileage

“Woh Bike Hi Kya JO 100cc Ka Ho Kar Bhi Average Na!” This is the statement that you hear from most of the people when they start describing a commuter bike. Thanks to the excellent built quality and an equally performing engine, I have been able to extract anything above 55 kmpl.

Now I know that is not something you can die for, but it sure is something to die for after a decade. So I am happy with it. Needless to say about the increasing fuel rates day by day. Deepak takes superb care of informing the readers about these issues so people like me get my bike’s tanks filled and then happy riding for some time.

The Journey so far…! My journey with my buddy has been absolutely fantastic and overwhelming and it is still going strong. I share my thoughts with my buddy whenever I feel low and even when I am happy and excited.
I have something to say which my bike would agree with me on.

“But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.” – John Keats

Me and my buddy will go on and on no matter what. For people who don’t have time, I will spare them of this.

Pros

• Very nice built quality
• Very decent mileage even after a decade.
• Very Comfortable
• Nice exhaust sound. Seems like music to me…!

Cons

• Not advisable if you want to just zoom, vroom.
• The looks seem bit out-dated at this point of time.
• Lags technologically.
• It feels out-of-breath as soon as it crosses 65 kmph and at that point you feel the bike is being struggling for breath.
• It does not have a fuel indicator which is why you need to plan out your long outings carefully if you are driving the bike for the first time or after a long time.

Thank you all for taking your most precious time out and the team of BikeAdvice for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to share my thoughts on my buddy. Deepak please let me know if I can render my services to you at any point of time. The pleasure will be all but mine. Wear proper gears and helmets while driving and enjoy with your buddy! Peace out everyone!

Regards,
Ajit Nair

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

Well this is more of my experience with bikes and a bit detail about my current ride than an actual “review”, so please bear with me.

The Beginning: My fondness for bikes seems hereditary as my father and then my brother have always been very passionate about bikes. Anyways… it all began when after many days of dragging my elder brother, he agreed to give me my first biking lesson.

The bike was a 2-stroke Kawasaki RTZ, an original Kawasaki make of the 80s unlike the later versions that Bajaj built locally. We went to a colony at early morning that had nice roads and sparse traffic of Lucknow. After few rounds of slow and steady learning I raised the speed to 60 (too much for me for the first time) and thus established my guild with bikes. My love for being on a bike with the wind in my face had grown only since then.

The Second Act

The year was 99 and father bought a Bajaj Caliber. There were no pulsars to envy. Caliber had brought a whole new style which was only attempted and failed earlier with the likes of Sleek. One day after driving the RTZ for some months, I asked him if I can have the new one and he happily handed me the keys. And the second affair began. I love this bike a lot as this was my companion in my last year of school and also throughout my four years of engineering.

I’ve many fond memories with this one. Been on it with friends on so many trips, teenage adrenaline fueled races, breaking my own time records for home to college, rides with my girl, just saving myself from horrible accidents and then failing at times too to return with bruised knees and elbows. Still never stopped driving it as fast as I could. I still enjoy riding it whenever I go home on vacations.

Vrooom… in Mumbai

College life has ended. Time to start working. Place? Mumbai: City Of Dreams. As this was the most populous city with the most irritating traffic, Mother didn’t approve of my bringing over the Caliber here so I didn’t have any access to any bike for two years.

Then one day my elder brother (in Pune) gave me the news that he was to travel to foreign locale and that means I get to get his Pulsar 150. Once again I was elated. Speeding on Western Express Highway at 80 plus everyday was no more a dream. Spent almost a year with it and then I had to leave for a foreign travel as well for good enough time.

Preparations

While there, I saved a sum that made me think that it’s time to own a bike of my own. My preferences were R15, Fazer and P220. Kept checking forums (thankful to the ones here at bikeadvice) as well as referred with friends and family. Soon I decided that on return I’m getting an R15.

But things turned evil on return when I went to the Yamaha showroom and they said R15 has a waiting period of 2 long boring killing months. By this time many suggested that I should get the Fazer instead of R15. So I looked for that too. But same result. Then one day I thought why not revisit the P220, which most have suggested against. At the showroom, I saw this Avenger 220 glaring in style. The sales executive praised it a lot and suggested that I should consider that instead of the P220. Also that this was available within a month. As it always had been a “Hamara Bajaj” in our family so I was bit assured about it being hassle free. Then after reconsideration and after few days of further research and yet some hesitation I finally booked it.

And here comes the Cruiser…

After a month and sixteen days I finally got my own cruiser. Went to collect it with my girl and then we headed straight for a temple. This was the first time that I was actually driving this bike (Yes, I’m stupid that I didn’t take a test ride), so I was very nervous. The stance was very different from any of my earlier bikes and it was heavier too. Yet it was so comfortable. I was exhilarated.

Thus started the run-in period which I was hoping to get over soon (:)). Few weeks later I decided to take the cruiser on a cruise. Destination was Kashid Beach which is roughly 180 kilometers and Google map says would take 3 hours to reach. But Google doesn’t take into account Mumbai roads and traffic. We started early and reached there by noon. But the delay was also as I didn’t cross 65 anytime as the bike was still in the run-in period. Had it been any other bike I would have surely got a sore ass, but with the “Feel Like God” bike it was different. Even the pillion rider was very comfortable. Return journey was quicker as we were familiar with the road and I was more confident with the bike.

Another time I and my friends decided to have ride at night to marine drive which was like a breeze on the avenger due to lesser traffic and thus no handling problem. This bike sure catches the attention fast and you do get envious looks.

Next time I put the bike to such test was when mother came to visit me and I drove her starting from the western suburbs up till Gateway of India while stopping at various places and then return back and thus covering 80 plus kilometers within a day ( it’s too much for me). Apart from this, I ride it daily from home to office covering a span of around 8 kilometers one way.

As the bike has been around for a while and there had been so many reviews earlier, I won’t go into the technical specifications any further.

As Enfield is a class of its own and Enticer is no longer there, I won’t compare it to any other current bike in market as it’s really one of its kind unless you bring the other high end cruisers from Yamaha or Harley into consideration and then it’s just a baby and a lot cheaper too. The design, the style, the comfort, the handling, all is very very different from any other bike that you can put your hands on.

I would summarize my experience with the bike in short below:

Pros: For you to Oooooh

• Extremely comfortable seating for both rider and pillion for long rides.
• Distinguishable design. Sets you apart.
• Great pick up. If you start right no one can beat you at a traffic signal.
• Easily gives around 37-40 KMPL mileage in city traffic which is quite good for 220 cc machine when the same is expected result from many 150 cc bikes these days (correct me if I’m wrong).
• It’s a family Bike (:)). You can do loads of shopping or groceries and carry it around on this one as the pillion rider has ample space to sit comfortably and yet space for things to keep.
• A side stand in chrome that shows the designers did put some thought into make this bike look different.
• DC lighting and electric start (pretty convenient).

Cons: Something’s to Aaargh!

• Bit difficult to maneuver by tall people like me (6 feet plus) especially in Mumbai’s bumper to bumper traffic as compared to my earlier bikes.
• Acute and non-changeable angle of brake pedal and gear (then again, it’s a problem for tall people only).
• Rear tire prone to skid if break applied wrongly. (I think my breaking technique is to be blamed).
• Chrome parts tends to rust and with so much chrome thrown in, it’s a problem in Mumbai.
• Not much satisfied with the suspension when driving solo. Should be more flexible.
• Fuel gauge atop the tank tends to get filled by moisture after a wash or when it rains.
• Somehow my tail light happens to fuse often. Changed thrice in nine months.
• Not actually a negative but still it’s more fun as a leisure bike than a day-to day office ride.

If Only it had…

• Alloy wheels
• Adjustable break and gear pedals
• Rear disks
• All black matte finish
• With such a simplistic design, won’t harm to thrown in a clock or a trip meter in the console or even twin meters would be nice
• Twin headlights. (Yeah that will sure bring up the ante)

From Within

Sometimes when I see people driving R15 or the recent hype with CBR 250 and then the R15 2.0, I think that I should have bought some sports kind of bike as that’s what I wanted always and as it also suited my height but believe me when I ride at even 60 plus and look at the console atop the fuel tank, the view (In the picture below) I get, is truly what will make you “Feel Like God”.

Happy driving.

- Arijeet Chakravarty

PS: Going by the trend maybe the next one will be a Ninja.

Original Source: 2010 Bajaj Pulsar 150 (UG 4.5) Ownership Review by Chandan from BikeAdvice.in

I have my own superhero moments. It starts at the exact time I put on my helmet to be astride my bike and initiate the definitive sound of the engine coming alive. I am happiest when I ride and the world around transforms into a conjured up fantasy, with me as the single protagonist.

I enjoy the experience more than the thrill of speed and these come with memories and interesting stories, each with an associated landmark and a couple of hundred miles to its credit. My ride – it’s a 2010 Midnight Black Bajaj Pulsar 150 UG 4.5 and I must say I have been a happy owner. There are various aspects which endears me to the Pulsar, for a start I like the reverberating sound of a Pulsar engine.

The different rhythms emanating out of a Pulsar since it was first launched has always been super soothing to my ears all the while. I would still place the distinct sound of the erstwhile Yamaha RX 100 at the top of my list, but its Pulsar all the way thereafter. Buying a bike was always a priority.

I had made several attempts at deciding whether to go for a second-hand bike or a new one, but I guess better sense prevailed when I finally decided to wait for a perfect opportunity to splurge on a gleaming new Pulsar. Like most of us I have this habit of going through a ton of reviews / comments / opinions before the actual investment.

And so it was a daily regimen of surfing through sites, magazines, forums and of course the Bike advice buying guide which I had downloaded a couple of times. There were the technical jargons, performance statistics, efficiency figures etc, but surprisingly making the final decision was easier than I presumed, although it does include a lot of thoughts hovering at the back of the mind.

For an average user like me there are the constraints of budget [Just had Rs 68,000 to spend], running and maintenance costs which become a defining factor. The actual delivery date was one of the major reasons that I considered while making the choice for I needed a bike as soon as possible when the finance was at hand and ready.

I rummaged through most of the dealerships of various bikes in that segment, but only the bajaj dealership [very near to my place where I reside currently] assured me of a delivery in less than a week, [most of the others didn’t even have a model in their showroom to showcase]. I just had to furnish all the details and complete the formalities.

Everything went smoothly and the whole buying experience culminated with me getting the keys to my very own Pulsar in all its glorious black livery. The feeling was truly memorable and well remembered in the chronicles of my life. It’s almost a year now, since I became a proud owner and I have a bagful of experiences to share.

I have had the chance to ride most of the bikes available in the market today [upto 230 cc] and I am led to believe that each one of them possesses a certain amount of perfection in its own right. As the price band goes northwards the refinement goes up too but it’s all about getting the perfect bang for the buck.

The Pulsar 150 is my definition of a fun, practical and a fuel – efficient contemporary vehicle of choice which has effectively met my objectives of frequent city roundabouts, office transport and those occasional yet much awaited long rides in and around Pune. I would like to opine that the mileage has been excellent and trips to the fuel stations have been less frequent.

I haven’t tried out the tank-full to empty measure for efficiency yet, but I try to never go to reserve. Between the pump visits I constantly get figures of 55 – 60 kms [that’s within city limits] to a litre, inspite of the traffic and zillion gear changes. I guess that works as a cushion to the never-ending price hikes for petrol. Believe me that sinking feeling which comes in if we do not get our moneys’s worth was a constant worry on my radar.

But with the Pulsar I don’t seem to find the time for all that philosophical musings, because I am always busy with the workings around the most striking piece of machinery with me right at this moment. I have zipped through rains, the sun, the traffic and the likes on my Pulsar and the going has been great to say the least. I let the experience garnered while on a ride to equate the performance statistics.

Comparisions are there in plenty on the World Wide Web but finally it’s the relationship between the bike and its rider. I have friends, owners of apaches, hero hondas, Yamahas, Pulsars etc who would hear nothing negative about their bikes. I understand that wisdom and respect the mutual feeling. There’s some associated pleasure in taking out the bike and bringing it home. I feel that vibe everyday.

For the more earthly concerns, yes there has been some niggles. I didn’t get the choice of MRF zappers during delivery and had to settle for Eurogrips which have not been upto the mark as far as grip is concerned and has induced some hyper tension moments with the disc brake upfront.

A few minor scratches stand out on an otherwise squeaky clean panels lying there as a testimony and a reminder to be on the lookout for the multitude of dangers associated with riding on our roads. I have been made aware by various Pulsar owners riding on eurogrips on the issues with not having the perfect bite. I am in full agreement. The problem increases manifolds on wet roads and you have to work towards corecting your riding style acording to the conditions.

Riding slow is an advisable option then. I am contemplating making a move to the properly suited zappers very soon. But personally I find the overall geometry involving the wheel-base coupled with the clip-on handlebars greatly modulated for cornering and tight maneuvres, eurogrip or whatever. I have had my share of fun while on my sojourns to the windy ghat sections and the highways.

I mimic the legendary racetrack bends with the foot-peg sparks flying whenever it’s dry and there is an opportunity. To add to the dislike list, the self-cancelling indicators is a nuisance sometimes indulging in its own mood swings to decide when to work and when not to. And there are some wheezing sounds which I am told is due to the front fairing, but haven’t noticed it for quite a while now.

That I can partially attribute to the involving ride experience of my Pulsar. I am just too engrossed at the road upfront and opening up the throttle which is a seamless procedure effectively using up the bhps on tap. I am always on the lookout for opportunities to embark on long rides; luckily I have had the chances inspite of the hectic office schedules [read weekend shifts]. I would like to do a trip to Goa soon for which plans are afoot.

For that I have tried to build up and measure the requirements by going out on practice rides. Lavasa near Pune has been a favourite hunting ground. It has the twists and turns coupled with roads in good conditions and scenic ambiences. The performance of the bike is of great relevance when we venture out on such outings.

While I have noticed the torque being on the lower side for the UG 4.5 version of the Pulsar 150 and needs the correct gear changes, the top-end comes into play at the right time which is ideally suited to my style of riding. I generally go for a gradual rise in acceleration instead of sudden thrusts. My bike has performed above expectations for all my requirements.

I feel there has to be a certain amount of indulgence showered on the bike too which goes a long way in keeping it in a sparkling condition. Normally the “taking care” graph is at its peak during the initial years when the bike is still new and then it dips as the times go by. I try and do a check everyday for the basics at least, viz – any loose underpinnings, oil level etc and of course the servicing cycles.

The monsoon though makes the cleanliness part a tricky errand. But again, riding in the rains is a different experience altogether. I ventured out on one such rain soaked day for a long ride to Lonavla. The presence of fog made for a breathtaking sequence just that we had to be extra careful at every bend and the incoming traffic. I had done this route previously on a CT 100, a CBZ, my Maruti Esteem and others but the difference was palpable.

On reaching there, did that familiar Amby valley run, it was very crowded being a weekend. And the points, well you could only imagine the boundary, for it was all enveloped in the thick fog. I had some piping hot tea and pakodas from one of the stalls and with nothing much to do readied up for the return. The cleaning I had to do on returning was a mammoth task but was worth it.

Still for the next one in line I would like to wait for a clearer sky with the sun shining, for now I seem to prefer the wind felt within the innards of the helmet during a mile crunch [and maybe as an escape from the cleaning errands too]. That said, for me whenever a ride’s completed and I return with the sun-rays dissolving at my back there is just one scene which stands out in the fading light. It’s always the silhouette of my Pulsar with the distinctive glow of the pilot lamps turned on.

Regards,
Chandan J Patir

Original Source: Bajaj Avenger DTSi 220 Ownership Review By Paritosh from BikeAdvice.in

Hey cruisers, this one is for you. If you have ever thought how it must be riding this machine in such a macho posture with black aviators and cruiser helmet, this one is for you as well. It all started when I moved to Maharashtra for work after my engineering. I was looking to buy a bike, a bike that can serve my purpose of going to the office and at the same time serve as my companion when I cruise through the cool breeze in the amazing sunsets.

I considered the option of many bikes, right from the racing bikes like Yamaha R-15 to Royal Enfield Classic 350. And trust me after considering all the options from mileage, comfort, style, power to the price, I finally decided to bring home my angel “The Bajaj Avenger – DTSi 220”. Bajaj being one of the fastest growing companies in last decade in India haven’t generated much of revenue from this bike. It might be because of the lesser popularity of cruiser bike in India or this one being over shadowed.

Looks

The broad handle, extensive wind shield and of course the huge fuel tank followed by a low rider seat makes this machine look like a mean bull. It’s enormous looks with round head light and matching indicators can make you fall in love with its elegance.

If u actually love cruiser bikes this bike will fit your imagination the moment your eyes sees it. It’s pillion seat comes with a back support which not only gives it a elegant look but makes it’s a very safe and comfortable journey for the pillion riders too. And yes, it turns a lot of heads on the roads.

Engine and Power

The moment you bear down on its self ignition button, it’s 220 CC oil cooled engine roars like a lion ready to take you on an attention grabbing ride. With an impressive torque of 17.3 Nm at 7000 rpm this power generator produces 19.3 bhp. The power is what gives you a smooth and fast pick up and acceleration. So, when you are on the road and someone overtakes you. Don’t worry his joy will end up soon as you pushes down some of the gear in its 5 Speed gear box.

Fuel Efficiency

With the increasing price of fuel in India, mileage obviously is the major concern. This bike gives a mileage of 35 KM/L, which is a decent bargain for the kind of power it delivers. It will let you ride at a cost of Rs 2 per KM.

Brakes, Suspension and Tyres

It’s comes with a very stable and dependable braking system with a front 260 mm hydraulic disc brake that can stop you almost instantly. The rear break is the conventional drum break. It’s high tech suspension allows you to glide through the worst of the roads with comfort. It has a very large wheel base which makes it very good to handle. The tyres are again good enough to support it’s suspension in making your journey smooth on hard roads.

Cons

I have been boasting about my angel for so long but nothing in this world is perfect. So isn’t she:

• It doesn’t have a kick start. So, it by any chance your battery betrays you. You will be in deep trouble.
• It’s spare parts are hard to find in small towns.
• Not a very good choice for short people.

Technical Specifications

Engine

• Type 4-stroke, single cylinder, DTS-i, air cooled with oil-cooler
• Displacement (cc) 219.89
• Max. Power (Ps @ rpm) 19.03 @ 8400
• Max. Torque (Nm @ rpm) 17.5 @ 7000
• Starting Electric

Suspension

• Front Telescopic
• Rear Hydraulic Shock Absorber

Brakes

• Front Disc, Dia. 260 mm
• Rear Drum, Dia. 130 mm

Tyre

• Front Tube type Unidirectional – 90 / 90 x 17?
• Rear Tube type Unidirectional – 130 / 90 x 15?

Fuel Tank

• Total liters (reserve, usable) 14 liter full (3.4 liter reserve)

Electricals

• Battery 12V, 9Ah
• Head lamp 60 / 55W
• Horn 12V, 30W

Dimensions

• Wheelbase 1475 mm
• Ground Clearance 169 mm
• Kerb Weight 154.5 kg

Summary

The advertisement was right. It does make you feel like god.

Regards,
Paritosh Sharma

Original Source: Bajaj Discover 125 DTSi Review by Guru from BikeAdvice.in

I have been reading a lot of ownership reviews and while all these are very recent, there are hardly any that you’d find for some of the older bikes, most probably due to the paucity of internet access. It has been five long years since I’ve been riding my Bajaj Discover 125 DTSi and in spite of some niggles, it has never let me down and there has never been a situation that I was stranded in the middle of nowhere, except, of course, when I was foolish enough not to check if it had enough fuel in it.

Back in the day, since May 2006, I was in the need of a bike, my office was around 10Kms from home and to avail public transport, I need to change three buses and walk around 1Km to reach office. So, I then decided to buy a bike. Prior to this, my only experience with bikes was a few runs on a cousin’s Bajaj 4S and a friend’s Boxer AT.

Just enough for me to learn how to operate the clutch. I was mostly using a Bajaj Spirit. As you can understand, my knowledge and experience of bikes was very limited. So, I started a hunt, with a friend in tow, who had much lesser knowledge than what I had and could only advice on the cosmetics of the bike.

I had already removed Hero Honda from my list, cos I was not interested in an overpriced 100cc. I was left with only the following bikes

• Bajaj Pulsar (180)
• Honda Unicorn
• Yamaha Libero G5.

I had to strike of the Unicorn, since there were not too many service centers at that time and I was working in the night shifts and could not travel too far to get the bike serviced. I then checked out the Libero G5 and found that though the bike was nice, it had spoke wheels (alloy wheels had made their appearance and was a rage) and the quality of switchgear, was not too good (too many gaps in the switch panel).

Also, a spate of accidents involving the Pulsar at that time had my parents dead against the Pulsar. So, that leaves me with no bike from my list. In the meanwhile, I went to every showroom possible and checked out all the bikes, but none really was appealing.
I was having this discussion over dinner one weekend and suddenly saw a bike, which was being shown on TV.

It was the D125 (Black-Blue). The anchor was showing the features and I stopped my dinner and kept gazing at it and listening to all the specs. It was love at first sight for me. I decided that this was the bike. I could also reason that this bike, being a 125, was a great compromise between the power of a 150cc and the economy of a 100cc.

Finally, my Dad’s colleague, who knew someone from a Bajaj Showroom, had a Sales agent get the same colored bike and I had a look at it and took a small test ride, which became a longer one since the sales guy insisted that I ride it a little more to get a hang of the bike. So, rode it from my dad’s office to home, got the necessary documents and then rode back to the showroom.

The loan formalities were completed in 15mins and yeah! I had finally got my first real bike. The On road price was 52,800 Rs and I had made a down payment of 10,594 Rs. With the rest in instalments. From then started a journey that I cannot forget. Started reading about how to care for the bike and with help from the manual and various online sources, I have been constantly keeping her in the best of shapes possible.

My first long ride was in October 2006, when I had finished my second service. It was a 600Kms round trip and I was riding Solo. I started off on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM and reached my destination at around 4:00 PM with a break of around 2 hrs in between. So, a distance of 300Kms in 6 Hrs (with other breaks).

Since then, I’ve had several solo and group rides to several places and the bike has been performing consistently. But after the first 6 months of using the bike, I had to change my job and my new office was around 25Kms away but I was being provided company transport. So, my bike rides were reduced to weekends and to run some small errands.

I have been ensuring though, that the bike gets the best attention possible, with the exception being, in 2009, when I got her serviced in March and till November, I had hardly ridden her for 1500Kms. Finally, gave her to the Castrol bike zone, which did a tremendous job with the servicing.

The bike was feeling as good as new, but all these days of neglect, or the mechanic’s incompetence, left her with a permanent scar in terms of mileage. I used to regularly get a mileage of 60-65Kmpl (I swear). But after this servicing, though the bike was feeling new, the mileage reduced drastically to 35Kmpl. It was after several rounds of servicing at various places, it has now settled to a steady mileage of 45 in the city and 40 on the highway. I have recently completed 35,000Kms on it and the only parts I’ve replaced are:

• Mirrors, both twice, since some morons break them at public parking places.
• Rear tire at 25,000Kms (Because it had cracked after 4 yrs, the tread was fine).
• Rear brake liner – Once for every 10,000Kms (So, totally 3 times now).
• Front brake liner – Once
• Front brake cable – Once (Last service).
• Battery – Last year, at 20,000Kms.

I had started searching for a new bike in the recent past, since now, my regular commute is my bike and my office is 35Kms away from home, but except for the decrease in mileage, there is no real reason for me to sell my current bike. Some points I noticed during all these years.

• The bike makes adequate power for its cc and weight.
• The brakes are not too confidence inspiring.
• When turning/cornering, a little bit of sand/muck on the road can cause the front to get pretty unstable.
• When there are minimal roads, it is a pain to ride this bike cause of its stability. I am not ruling out the role of the tires in this case. However, since I ride mostly in cities and highways, I’ve not really bothered to change the tires to check.
• Though the alloy and size are similar to P150/180, this alloy doesn’t allow the air-valve for the Tubeless tires to fit; hence a little bit of jugaad or a normal tube type tire needs to be used.
• There are not too many choices with Engine oil, since the recommended grade is 20W40. I normally go for the Shell Helix or the Elf Moto.
• The seat is pretty hard and you’ll surely get a Sore Bottom even riding 100Kms.
• For older female pillions (Read Mummys and Aunties), getting on and off the bike is not too difficult.
• The light from the headlamp and indicators are inadequate. Though the tail lamp is pretty bright.

Now for the Pro’s and Con’s

Pros

• Reliability.
• Cheap Spares.
• Availability of service centers.
• Stability on roads.

Cons

• Vibrations at speeds of over 70Kmph.
• Reduced Mileage after 3 Yrs.
• The bike is prone to skidding. As long as you don’t brake, you shouldn’t have any problem with the bike’s stability and the skidding is not consistent, it can happen suddenly, anytime but not at all times.
• The chain tends to get pretty noisy. I’ve tried getting it fixed by various mechanics, but after 500Kms, the chain gets loose and starts touching the cover when you are up shifting. This only happens during the gear shifts and except for the irritating noise, nothing much has happened to it though. Because of this, the engine feels harsh as well. The only solution is to oil the chain each time the noise appears.

Hope you liked my review. Please leave your comments

Regards,
Guru Prasad

Original Source: Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTSi Ownership Experience by Nalin from BikeAdvice.in

Hi, Call me Nalin Manoj a.k.a RAZOR. Born Lankan been in India for the last 13+ years for education and now working as a professional. I’m known to be a born biker, I guess that is because my mom loves bike race even though she didn’t know much about it. She used to tell me that she was awake a lot of nights watching bike races, even when she was pregnant with me inside.

I’m inspired to bikes by all those stories she told me. And now I own two of the best bikes in their make. I was 17 years when I got my first bike. We were actually on our way to buy a moped for me to go to school on the 24th of May 2004 just after my Birthday on May 16th that year. It’s supposed to be my Birthday gift. But you know what? Magic is true man. There was this bike which came like a glance and stood right next to our auto rickshaw in which me and my mom were on the way to the Motor bike showroom. I always dreamt to have a geared bull with me to rip the streets. And my mom just asked, are you sure you are okay with the moped. I said yes. And she asked what about this one right next to us.

Dream came true. Alright I give up the suspense. It was the Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTSi. This was the first of the, DTSi engines launched by Bajaj in India, with an 18 liter tank and 3 liter reserve (HUGE). 12.9 BHP bike with the analog meter console and of course the manly look with the all new Head light assembly with pilot lamps. I Love the bike so much. The ride came to me on the 14th of July 2004. Trust me the engine was so damn good that I felt the king of the Road. You wouldn’t believe if I said that was my first ever motor ride ever since I was born. I never had a ride on any friend’s bikes. I just had a cycle before that a Top gear Y series with 24 gear ratios with mono cross of course.

Imagine if you were fed after a long starve. How would that feel? That is how I felt that time. I still have the same sensation today when I take a short ride on it. It’s a lovely bike.

It is now 7 years old and you wouldn’t believe it if you see the picture or the bike. I used to race for 2 years with it. It had a K&N filter on it, a speed throttle, and a diffuser to kill the ears of people around. It was a perfectly tuned engine. The bike could beat the custom 180cc DTSi’s. I had an increase on pick up and acceleration but lost a lot of kilometers because it drank my fuel. I still managed to get 42 kmpl. No one can handle the bike except for me. My friends had taken it for a ride and landed kissing the road. One of the pictures would describe it. But touch wood never happened to me so far. And now the bike has become the old savvy. I have rehabilitated the bike back to its custom form. All extra’s removed except for the rear tyre.

Of course as usual there are some hiccups with the bike. First thing’s the rear tyre of the Pulsar 150 DTSi. For more mileage Bajaj decided go with the 90/80 18″ size. I was forced to change it to a 120/80 17″ sized MRF Zapper. Looks mattered to me allot. I had halogens which drank my battery so had to change the battery since my auto ignition stopped working after the halogen lamps were installed. And the worst part is the Gear box, if you know what I mean. It was the worst gear box. It fails every 6 months. I had this instance where the first fell and then directly to the third with a neutral in between. Oh damn I lost my second gear. Now I have it replaced with the new gear assembly which is quite good.

Have you ever spent a few minutes talking to your bike? This might sound stupid but should know the fact that the bike has your life on top of it. I spend at least a five minutes alone with my bike every day. I talk to her about how she has been on road and on the race, etc.; it kind of builds the bond and the belief with your ride. You’ll feel the ride in you when the adrenaline pumps inside you. You’ll have the best control in you. Try that people. It sure works for most, trust me on this!

I have spent a 72000+ kms on it now, in the last 7+ years. And it at times hurt, that I can’t take that baby as I did before because of my new ride, the speedster Yamaha R15 Black. He is the new kid in town under spot lights, annoying all the other chicks. I meant the bikes, lolz. But still there was this situation where I had to sell my pulsar to get the new ride. But the bond between me and my pulsar which I call the “RAZOR”, stopped me from doing that because I’m not sure if the next owner of the bike would love it as much as I did. So I decided to wait for some more time to save that money from my pay to get the new ride.

I’m now a happy rider with the classic pulsar 150 DTSi with (48kmpl for the price of petrol today), and the new speedster Yamaha R15 (haven’t named it and suggestions are welcome). R15 Review next season. And hey that is my mom on my new ride. She is an awesome mom.

Remember guys ‘n gals: It is never wrong to ride with precaution. Wear helmets and have control before you speed up.

Nalin Manoj