Karizma Vs. Pulsar 220 Fi Vs. Apache RTR
Print This Post
New bike buyers who are ready to invest money in the premium segment, need to have a careful consideration of the existing models and their performance. The Pulsar and the Karizma closely compete with each other in terms of price and engine capacity and the Apache RTR falls a little behind being a 160cc engine.
If you are in a mood to shell out close to 1 lakh for your bike, my recommendation is to go for Karizma. Some of the reasons would be, 1. Hero Honda is the largest bike manufacturer in India and definitely takes great care in the consistency of quality in its units. 2. The technology is borrowed from Honda, and no one needs to tell you how famous the Hondas are around the globe. 3. The Overdrive show from the CNBC recommends it. Here is a video taken from YouTube which compares the three bikes. The video is pretty old and does not include the Yamaha R15, but still it is a great piece of information for those of you who are confused between Pulsar 220 and Karizma.
Video, courtesy of CNBC TV 18.
And to know more about Karizma, the following stories may be of your interest.
And if you are interested in knowing how Yamaha R15 competes with Karizma, visit Karizma Vs. R15.
These bikes are definitely not enough for bike enthusiasts in India. Since the major profits for the companies lie in 100 – 150cc segment, all the energy is focussed on mass selling of middle segment bikes. And the superbikes such as Yamaha R1 are way beyond the reach of a common indian youth and does not make sense to buy one because even if you have the money, you don’t have the kind of roads in India which these bikes demand.
I think that the real deal is going to be with the launch of rumored Karizma Fi, which is expected to have a displacement of 250 – 300cc and Hero Honda will position itself as the creator of a new segment of biking in India as it did with the launch of Karizma in 2003. And we also expect Kawasaki Ninja to be rolled out in the second half of 2009. Anyway, great days ahead for the Indian bike community.
Deepak
Related posts:
- Sudarshan’s Love Affair with Silver Karizma R
- Auto Expo 2010 – Complete Coverage of Motorcycles
- Brand New Pulsar 220 – A Surprise From Bajaj Auto
- Bajaj Pulsar 220 Vs. Yamaha R15 Vs. Apache RTR 180
- Hero Honda Karizma ZMR : My Opinion
44 comments
sudarshan on December 10, 2008 at 3:22 pm
hi deepak
yeah i completely agree with you, even with hayabusa and intruder, r1 and mt 01 though now these bikes are available in india driving these bikes on indian roads is a nightmare for the owners.
there are no roads for such bikes in india
the traffic and sudden happenings of people or animals crossing roads
fuel quality as these bikes run only on 97 octane
dust and other such damaging aspects prevalent in india
unavailability of spares during emergencies
qualified experienced service personnel, we must remember india is still in its infancy in superbiking, no owner would want their superbikes to be experimented by trial and error before the service men gain experience as they might mess up the bikes
potholes, huge bumps etc will damage the undersides of the superbikes
the tires will last for just 1500-2000 kms so frequent tire changing and unavailability of specefic tires is a pain
and so many other such factors ensure even if you have the money a superbike is not fitting in the indian context and a karizma fi or p220 and ninja 250 and lastly r15 and fz16 are the best bet for india.
india is atleast still another 10 years behind in all aspects of biking
Anand on December 10, 2008 at 3:25 pm
All these 3 bikes really rock but the Karizma really is the king of the road as Deepak would never forget to say
The Apache gives you the same adrenaline rush as the other bikes but at a lesser price. Its Petal disc really rocks. You can really stop where you want and it has this great initial pull.
The other bikes, relatively heavier tend to beat the Apache at higher speeds.
PS: The Apache featured in the above video is not an Efi. Its the carb version(refresh)
Deepak on December 10, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Hey Anand, it seems that you have been following my posts closely and noted that I am a die hard fan of Karizma.
And I checked the video again, the guy says its Apache RTR Fi only!
Indian Cars on December 11, 2008 at 10:57 am
We really don’t have good premium bikes. While the Karizma is a good bike, it lacks power and technology. The Pulsar 220 looks like a grown up Pulsar 150 and the Apache is not suited to tall riders and lacks power. The R15 lacks displacement. While the R15 is the best track bike, it still can improve. We want more power, atleast 30bhp
Anand on December 15, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Yeah Deepak the guy ‘says’ its an FI, but check the stripe on the front mud guard. Its continuous unlike the triangular separated one in the FI. Its the carb version….:-)
Deepak on December 16, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Oh ok Anand, I get it… Edited
shubh on December 22, 2008 at 10:38 am
hey, as per me apache 160 fi is a gud machine.priced at 69k it has d best handling of all at speeds above 100 too, unlike d zma nd d 220!cmin on to mileage it gives 40-45(when screwd), which is pretty gud. i myself hav defeated d 220 in a small drag,initial pik up of d apache fi is terrific,no doubt that in a long race 220 will finally stand out as a winner coz of d 220 cc engine churning out 20 bhp.but still compare d prices 220 4 91k givin 30-35 mileage. nd rtr fi 4 69k givin 40-45!!! if money isnt a prob ,one sud go 4 d r15,else d rtr fi rulz in d racing circuit.
Sudeep on January 18, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I totoally disagree on the cnbc overdrive video, it depends on the driver who wins the race, but I agree that the Apache RTR is a great bike, in handling and power delivery, i dont hav a RTR but i had riden it with one of my friends bike on a trip, and i am big fan of it since then, an ulitmate racing machine, for a person who wants to race, will go fast always.
Matthew Samson on February 12, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Hi deepak,
I have driven all the three bike’s and i am stuck on the karizma for last five years i have owened all three version of karizma the one i liked is the first model from karizma it was faster then the other two models. I have a modified karizma which topped 145 Kmh.I didn’t had enough road to strech it further. I live in chennai and used to drive in chennai race track for fun. But i always use to drag in the ECR Road and no one dare to race with me. If possibe i will upload my bike pic. I have 150 rear tyre and 120 in the front with dual disc and rear disc and NGK iridium spark plug with karizma modified carm shaft.Mono shocks and K&N Air filter. I tried lot things with by bike andit beard it all because it was HONDA Engine.
So i always advice people to go for karizma.
220 is god after all it is from indian market.So the Quality is not good.
RTR is good compared to 220.
Matthew Samson on February 18, 2009 at 8:48 am
Small correction
220 is good after all it is from indian market.But the Quality is not good.
Abdulla on March 8, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Hi Guys,
I believe the RTR FI would be a winner on the Indian highways bcse if we were to race all the three on Indian highways, Apache RTR FI has the lightest weight,good initial pickup, nimble handling, cornering and best brakes. Karizma and P220 are winners on track or if you get that strech of clear highways; but in reality depending on our highways where there are people crossing, vehicles of all sizes & speed limits on single lanes….i think RTR will perform better.
monty jayakar on April 27, 2009 at 11:39 pm
well…a completely biosed review.220 is best bike in india in corners n fastest speed as well technology using FI system.
whereas a r-15 is nice compete for this bike..but Zma falls behind RTR-FI 160 too coze old-tech.maybe fi model of ZMA wud help bit…
Rana on May 11, 2009 at 2:47 pm
HI ALL,
I have a little query,
I want to buy a bike but confused .
I want your suggestions on whether to go for Pulsar150 or APAChe RTR or Yamaha FZ or Bajaj’s 135cc.
I need to travel around 35 kms daily, so I need the meleage also,
For which should I go in terms of all things .
ANKIT CHAUDHARY on May 15, 2009 at 2:56 am
hii dudes, i own a 180 en now im in mood to sell it out because i met accident twice for the same reason i.e. front tyre burst out while racing at a good speed…..now im totally confused between 220 & zma…..my friends are forcing me for zma but im totally fida on 220′s look……someone plz help me yaar…….
ANKIT CHAUDHARY on May 15, 2009 at 3:00 am
which one goes faster-zma or 220??????
lucky on May 15, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Ofcourse zma is d best
zma is faster than 220
ankit mehta on June 8, 2009 at 12:04 pm
which kind of boke bajaj avenger
ashwin on June 26, 2009 at 12:49 pm
man apache rockzzzzzz………………
demo on July 11, 2009 at 1:03 am
hey i’ve noticed all d info abt 220,rtr n d real machine zma.
it took a lot of time 2 say that 220 can defeat zma (rtr is far away frm both) , but it tuk just 1 day 4 us 2 proof tht zma still d best….(1 day to own 220 after its launch).
now we r waitn 4 d much hyped or rumerd KARIZMA FI. n let check if it becme d new best in dis segment…
demo on July 11, 2009 at 1:16 am
if ny1 say that 220 is faster than zma than im challenging him 2 go further 149kmph coz dis is our best wid our favrite zma….
n let me tell u d distance was just 450mtrs (approx)
so if sumone still confused b/n these 3 bykes den i think dis will help u out….
Bunty on July 29, 2009 at 11:47 pm
you have right cvoice of bikes but I suggess u to buy 220 because its tecnology is new then zma ………i have also midnight black p220……so lets be fastest indian………….
rahul 007 on August 2, 2009 at 7:15 pm
pulsar 220 is d fastest indian bike at d moment……..(pulsar 220 fi)its got 21bhp which is d highest compared to any indian bike…..with d current price tag of 72,000 on road its d best buy….well d price hav reduced because bajaj took d direct fuel injection system out from d new 220 but increased its power……..so guys b d fastest indian……!
rahul 007 on August 2, 2009 at 7:20 pm
sorry dude but truly speaking apache180 dont even stand closer to d new 220…..i own both d bikes nd ders a huge difference in der perfomences…..d apache only stays near to d 220 till 60km/h but after dat d 220 vanishes man…..now im sorry dat i bought d apache rtr 180………!
slayer on August 9, 2009 at 10:40 am
@rahul 007
dude ur mis judging RTR180 if u wana compare it with a bike compare it with p180…there is a big difference between power of p220 &RTR180 so it dosnt make sense…
still it keeps up with p220 till a certain speed is TRULY commendable!!!
compare it with a bike of the same 180CC class…then ull know how gud the RTR180 really is
slayer on August 9, 2009 at 11:32 am
and its 80,000 onroad
slayer on August 9, 2009 at 11:43 am
@rahul 007
i mean the p220 is around 80,000 onroad…72,000 is showroom price
RTR180 is 68,000showroom and 71,510 onroad
get ur facts right
vicky on August 31, 2009 at 7:39 pm
i want to buy a new bike either pulsar220 or karizma which would i prefer?
Mohit Jain on September 17, 2009 at 11:25 pm
hello friends, let talk about three bikes
firstly , the great apache rtr fi earns good initial pickup, haute breaks, light weight, mindblowing handling, great engine sound.
pulser 220 is the ever fastest bike, only fastest nothing else.
krishma also only fast noyhing else and have sexy pick up,
lalitesh verma on September 19, 2009 at 2:48 pm
wait for new karizma pgmfi and i bet no bike can compete wid that in any feature “JUST WAIT AND WATCH”
rahul on October 9, 2009 at 8:56 pm
according to me bajaj pulsar 220 is the best bike among the all….karizma is a good choice but its standard is not upto bajaj`s level…apache can also be a good choice but east or west Bajaj is the best……….hence go for bajaj…..
rajat on October 29, 2009 at 10:25 am
hey i drive both the bike the old karizma and pulsur 220 but the pickup,power and brakes which is very important is too much better than karizma more important thing is brakes in india after speed and the balance during the brakes is amazing of 220 pulsur
Venkatesh.M on November 19, 2009 at 2:59 pm
can we use NGK iridium spark plug for Apache fi 160 eng bec i have fi eng only but the apache which there have showed in the vedio is not fi series it a normal one bec u can fell in sound only but i never felt it bec i will tell in the sound of the bike its fi are normal version in fi model u will be getting the race sound as thoug you are going for the race and it as nice beat sound and its depend on the person who drive the bike friend i will never leave the pulser 200 to chase me in the city as well as in the high way also and in our team we all are having apache fi 160 bikes only butin bangalore service is not nice for the apache fi 160 i am very affaried to give my bike to service
khalid on March 1, 2010 at 6:58 pm
dude if any1 there things that apache rtr 180 cant bit k-zmr,p-220 ten think again.coz everything dpends on d rider as wel as on machine.n if some1 iz still having douts ten lets face on d street.
Maina on March 13, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Hey men,
It is totally unfair that you are compare RTR 180 with P220 and KORIZMA. See their engine capacity. There are huge difference between 180 and 220. So stop this nonsense. You can compare it with p180. No doubt that RTR can beat p180. It can beat even p200 easily. I’ve a rtr 180 and believe me it has so terrific power that it is become the nightmare of the sports bikes like p180, r15 even to p200. So imagine it’s power and speed. Its gonna rock dude.
At first when I thought for buying a bike, I thought that I’ll buy only p180 or p200. But my father advice me to buy rtr 180. At that time I was a little bit disappointed about that. But the advice came from my father, so I’ve to obey that. But after I bought the rtr 180, it made me satisfied. Its perfect speed, its perfect power, its perfect comfort make me crazy for that. I’ll advice to all to test drive the all new APACHE RTR 180. And I’m sure that it’ll unleash the DNA of racing.
dhananjayan on March 31, 2010 at 12:38 pm
i wanna buy a new bike
among these which bike shal i buy
1. pulsar 220
2. apache 180
dhananjayan on March 31, 2010 at 12:44 pm
but some of them said that apache have brake failure….wt about that
Ronit on March 31, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Hi!friends
as we all know that apache rtr 180 is da great bike ever made it rockzzzzzzzz.I have rtr180 and believe me it has great pickup,great brakes,dashing sound its a full package on indian markets.I had also raced with p180,p220,r15,fz.and no one defeated me for a moment.saying that cuz my frnd has all these bikz and I always won da race cuz its india roads not that foriegn roads where u get clean advantage 2 go up.IF anybody don’t agree with can RACE WITH ME I;M ALWAYS READY WITH MY RACING DNA UNLEASHED RTR 180.
Ronit on March 31, 2010 at 11:23 pm
if u r going 2 by a new bike u can always go 4 rtr 180.cuz it ROCKZZZZZZZZZ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Subharanjan(THe f@sTeSt R!der...') NOs jampot on April 10, 2010 at 2:03 am
hey guyz, hi i m subharanjan i own the yamaha fz-s i fond of my bike. Especially for the road grip. Hey i cnt tll abt da 220 fi but the dtsi rockz it is called da fastest indian bike ever . The zmr nor the r15 can win da race from 220 dtsi. As bcoz of da 21 bhp @ 8500 rpm the zmr nd r15 has got same bhp 17 bhp @ 8500 rpm . If u add a ngk iridium spark plug and a k&n air filter in da 220 dtsi it will increase da throttle respone and increase the bhp . It will rock da roadz . I am plannin 2 buy the 220 machine or the 250 cc pulsar which may hv 27-32 bhp . Accordin 2 me da fastest indian rocks it is da bst bike evr i hv ridden . thnkz
Sameer on April 30, 2010 at 2:08 am
tell me dat which is better apache180 or pulsar220 on the basis of speed,pickup……….. send the resume on born2win54@yahoo.com
Sameer on April 30, 2010 at 2:13 am
also tell me the maximum speed of p220,apache180,fazer,fz.
tell me which bike i have 2 buy on the basis of racing……………… born2win54@yahoo.com
ashish on July 3, 2010 at 11:23 am
Ppl P220 rocks and is truly d fastest indian bike with nice design…..Karizma is good but not the best to race with a P220…I own a P220 and is a stock but it gives a perfect compi to a modded Karizma….But a modded P220 can for sure beat ne bike…..cheers…:)
ashish on July 3, 2010 at 11:24 am
In all the ways P220 is the best bike on indian roads…
abhishek on August 26, 2010 at 11:27 pm
i am from ghazabad and i have p220fi and it is a fastest in india becoz after tuning in in fuel injection (increase co2 level)top speed of bike is 162 with little vibration. thats realy fast men. i have check it 4 times two times more than 150kmph and one time 160 and one time 162. no one can win from this bike i am professional in bike –if you want ask something mail me on crosso@ymail.com