Have you ever been in a situation, and I'm sure you have, where someone tells you, "These noodles taste fabulous with Strawberry ice-cream! You just have to try some!"? And you go, "Okaaay... Maybe later..." And then "later" does arrive, and you just end up sampling some, and then wish you hadn't, because you'd rather savor Satan's home cooking than that crap to be honest..
And the same applies everywhere - food, clothes, colors, shapes, sizes, appearances overall, music, cars, bikes, animals.. Then there's how you would deal with things, everyone is different, and has different tastes. Whatever happened to the good old saying "to each his own"? One man's music is another man's noise...
Colors are subjective, looks even more so. Some people say a red Karizma is beautiful, I loathe every inch of it! If I ever, and quote me on this, were to have a Karizma, it would be a stripped-down, bare bones version, with just the chassis, engine, light, free-flow end can, a single seat, round headlamp and light clip-ons - and all the weight-saving bits I can find... No fairing, panels and an exhaust can that weighs a ton.
And the same to the BMW 5 series. Some may think it's ugly, but I think it's gorgeous, with it's wide eyes, which don't look the bit because of it's sweeping eyeline... And then there's it's flowing lines, that accentuate it's length and fitness. Then the back, with the stretched tail lamp assembly and, for some, that glorious "M" badge!
So there. The next time you're about to tell someone to try something that suits your taste, don't say, "This is awesome, you have to try some...". Instead, say, "I think this tastes great, you should try some, you might like it..."
And just so you know, I always suggest a bike or car for someone, but that's based on practicality and requirement, not looks.
And I never pick the color...
Monday, June 30, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Charting courses...
Soaring fuel prices notwithstanding, there's an onslaught of cubes happening and it doesn't seem to have any sort of end in sight. In fact, this is only the beginning!
But first, I want to make something perfectly clear. Personally, I feel the YZF-R15 should have been launched in the BCs rather than ADs... Well, at least a couple of years earlier. It's a fabulous motorcycle, but the hard truth is, in this day and age of rising fuel prices, and depleting fuel sources; it will not find too many takers, especially in our country. True, it is everything an average Indian motorcyclist wanted - which just so happens to be a 100cc, 100kph, 100kpl, Rs. 10000 bike... Which of course, is not entirely possible.. I'm not saying the R15 is something close, I'm saying it's just something else!
It is that kind of bike that looks a little like the sort of thing our population of idiots (which is quite substantial) would want their CBZs or Pulsars to look like, after a whole round of mods... I don't mean everyone who gets the odd fairing, or a paint job, or even a loud exhaust can; I'm talking about owners of bikes like the "Ducati 959 Turbo" or a "KTM Ninja GSX600 FireBlade Sports" with a billion exhausts on either side! On that note, what the R15 is, is a refined, modern 150cc bike, which is powerful, and light enough to destroy all the 150s we have now, as well as a whole bunch of larger capacity motorcycles...
The R15 is a very good thing to have happened, although it happened a little too late. Yamaha could have done the right thing and launched their concept Gladiator in production form 2 years ago, with the R15 following a year later. But they didn't. Anyway, it's happened, and I'm happy it finally did. But, there's another bit they had showed off, but still haven't delivered - the Fazer YS250.
Surely, the reason Yamaha didn't launch the bike could not solely be because they "could not get the price inside the 100000 bracket". It's hideous to try and imagine that, now that they're 150 costs 110000! (;p) Obviously, we are looking at a 180000+ price tag for the Fazer, without the half-fairing even... That aside, there are many bikes that would be ideal for our country - in terms of practicality and desirability alike. So, the point of writing this bit, for me, is to bring "to the fore" the ideal bikes which, according to me, should be here ASAP!
With the stupid "800cc and above" rule, practicality obviously takes a firm back seat! So we can rule out the likes of a 400 or even a 600, without passing homologation, which, by our standards, will again take another decade or so.
First off, the Suzuki Bandit 1250S. Yes, 1255cc may sound huge, but how does 11-odd kgm at 3700rpm sound? Add the near 100bhp output to that and you have an extremely fun, and capable machine. I'm sure Suzuki have it in their list of probables, because it isn't the only one they probably have in mind. The Hayabusa is, undoubtedly the most famous of the lot, and Suzuki spokesmen have, on numerous occassions, confirmed their plans to launch the 1300 here. In fact, you can actually buy the old Hayabusa from a Suzuki showroom near you for about 13.7 lakh. Old I say, because their new 1340 is here, and has taken the crown of fastest hyperbike away from Kawasaki's ZX-14. With an output of 200bhp from the 1340 inline 4, and 180+ horses at the rear wheel, it is very, very brutal! The GSX 1000R too is likely to make it here shortly, since the R1's here already. And I would dearly like the GSR600 to be here here as well...
Honda. Amidst rumors of a new 100cc hair dryer, um, motorcycle, I will go out and say they are being stupid. With Bajaj promoting 125s to replace 100s, it's only fair to say that an upgraded and price-trimmed Shine would be the better way to go. And it wouldn't hurt their image to have a CBR 1000RR FireBlade to gawk at in their window, while you're out buying a Unicorn. Nor would a Hornet 900 or a VFR800 Interceptor, or even the bloody GoldWing, though it would take up the space of a dozen Unicorns and a million Activas put together.. Crikey! They have it all, but they're just not doing anything, are they?!
Kawasaki's new Ninja 250R will hit ProBiking showrooms "soon", according the Bajaj boffins... At 2.2 lakh it is a rather good deal, considering you get excellent service and assurance of a worry-less after-crash period.. :D Then, there's the Z1000 - a personal favorite of mine. Big, yet compact, and brutally good looking! It's sharp, aggressive stance is fantastic and if I had to go out and buy a bike today, given the money, it would be this one. Okay it would be the R1, but that aside, the Z1000 is a very good choice, and they have indeed shortlisted it for launch here, along with a Vulcan (1600 or 2000 no one knows), the Ninja ZX-6R and the ghastly ER-6n...
Away from the little far-eastern island now, Aprilia, MV Agusta, BMW and Ducati are all rather well-known brands. And to say that I'm glad Ducati have roared in would be an understatement. Even so, the fact that they came with their carrier ship full of Italy's finest, was the best bit of news I'd had in a while. We have all their bikes on offer, save for the RR Desmo.. That might make it here sometime too, hopefully. So too for the BMWs and Aprilias. There are so many bikes that we could actually "use" here. Like the Benelli TNT, which just recently got options - an 899 and an 1130! Both sufficiently practical and economical enough to have around here, and yet, be rip-roaring fun at the same time!
On that note, I can say it's finally growing, our bike options; the market too, and so too, the mindset of the people. Realisation is dawning amongst the masses and they are beginning to slowly accept the fact that a bike costing as much as a bungalow, can indeed be faster that a car that costs as much as Paris! And I'm in no mood to discuss our import duty structure at this point... In fact, I'd rather not say anything, than risk being gruesomely sentenced on multiple counts of blasphemy.
Cheers to biking then!
But first, I want to make something perfectly clear. Personally, I feel the YZF-R15 should have been launched in the BCs rather than ADs... Well, at least a couple of years earlier. It's a fabulous motorcycle, but the hard truth is, in this day and age of rising fuel prices, and depleting fuel sources; it will not find too many takers, especially in our country. True, it is everything an average Indian motorcyclist wanted - which just so happens to be a 100cc, 100kph, 100kpl, Rs. 10000 bike... Which of course, is not entirely possible.. I'm not saying the R15 is something close, I'm saying it's just something else!
It is that kind of bike that looks a little like the sort of thing our population of idiots (which is quite substantial) would want their CBZs or Pulsars to look like, after a whole round of mods... I don't mean everyone who gets the odd fairing, or a paint job, or even a loud exhaust can; I'm talking about owners of bikes like the "Ducati 959 Turbo" or a "KTM Ninja GSX600 FireBlade Sports" with a billion exhausts on either side! On that note, what the R15 is, is a refined, modern 150cc bike, which is powerful, and light enough to destroy all the 150s we have now, as well as a whole bunch of larger capacity motorcycles...
The R15 is a very good thing to have happened, although it happened a little too late. Yamaha could have done the right thing and launched their concept Gladiator in production form 2 years ago, with the R15 following a year later. But they didn't. Anyway, it's happened, and I'm happy it finally did. But, there's another bit they had showed off, but still haven't delivered - the Fazer YS250.
Surely, the reason Yamaha didn't launch the bike could not solely be because they "could not get the price inside the 100000 bracket". It's hideous to try and imagine that, now that they're 150 costs 110000! (;p) Obviously, we are looking at a 180000+ price tag for the Fazer, without the half-fairing even... That aside, there are many bikes that would be ideal for our country - in terms of practicality and desirability alike. So, the point of writing this bit, for me, is to bring "to the fore" the ideal bikes which, according to me, should be here ASAP!
With the stupid "800cc and above" rule, practicality obviously takes a firm back seat! So we can rule out the likes of a 400 or even a 600, without passing homologation, which, by our standards, will again take another decade or so.
First off, the Suzuki Bandit 1250S. Yes, 1255cc may sound huge, but how does 11-odd kgm at 3700rpm sound? Add the near 100bhp output to that and you have an extremely fun, and capable machine. I'm sure Suzuki have it in their list of probables, because it isn't the only one they probably have in mind. The Hayabusa is, undoubtedly the most famous of the lot, and Suzuki spokesmen have, on numerous occassions, confirmed their plans to launch the 1300 here. In fact, you can actually buy the old Hayabusa from a Suzuki showroom near you for about 13.7 lakh. Old I say, because their new 1340 is here, and has taken the crown of fastest hyperbike away from Kawasaki's ZX-14. With an output of 200bhp from the 1340 inline 4, and 180+ horses at the rear wheel, it is very, very brutal! The GSX 1000R too is likely to make it here shortly, since the R1's here already. And I would dearly like the GSR600 to be here here as well...
Honda. Amidst rumors of a new 100cc hair dryer, um, motorcycle, I will go out and say they are being stupid. With Bajaj promoting 125s to replace 100s, it's only fair to say that an upgraded and price-trimmed Shine would be the better way to go. And it wouldn't hurt their image to have a CBR 1000RR FireBlade to gawk at in their window, while you're out buying a Unicorn. Nor would a Hornet 900 or a VFR800 Interceptor, or even the bloody GoldWing, though it would take up the space of a dozen Unicorns and a million Activas put together.. Crikey! They have it all, but they're just not doing anything, are they?!
Kawasaki's new Ninja 250R will hit ProBiking showrooms "soon", according the Bajaj boffins... At 2.2 lakh it is a rather good deal, considering you get excellent service and assurance of a worry-less after-crash period.. :D Then, there's the Z1000 - a personal favorite of mine. Big, yet compact, and brutally good looking! It's sharp, aggressive stance is fantastic and if I had to go out and buy a bike today, given the money, it would be this one. Okay it would be the R1, but that aside, the Z1000 is a very good choice, and they have indeed shortlisted it for launch here, along with a Vulcan (1600 or 2000 no one knows), the Ninja ZX-6R and the ghastly ER-6n...
Away from the little far-eastern island now, Aprilia, MV Agusta, BMW and Ducati are all rather well-known brands. And to say that I'm glad Ducati have roared in would be an understatement. Even so, the fact that they came with their carrier ship full of Italy's finest, was the best bit of news I'd had in a while. We have all their bikes on offer, save for the RR Desmo.. That might make it here sometime too, hopefully. So too for the BMWs and Aprilias. There are so many bikes that we could actually "use" here. Like the Benelli TNT, which just recently got options - an 899 and an 1130! Both sufficiently practical and economical enough to have around here, and yet, be rip-roaring fun at the same time!
On that note, I can say it's finally growing, our bike options; the market too, and so too, the mindset of the people. Realisation is dawning amongst the masses and they are beginning to slowly accept the fact that a bike costing as much as a bungalow, can indeed be faster that a car that costs as much as Paris! And I'm in no mood to discuss our import duty structure at this point... In fact, I'd rather not say anything, than risk being gruesomely sentenced on multiple counts of blasphemy.
Cheers to biking then!
At the fore....
After riding, IMO, the top 4 bikes (non-Bullet and non-import) our country has to offer - The Karizma first, the Apache RTR, then the Pulsar 220 and now the YZF-R15, I can safely say that they all have their good, bad and ugly points...
The Karizma is awesomely smooth, at almost any engine speeds below 6krpm, but that's it... It's an old, aging piece of featureless metal and plastic that I detest (even more today than I did when it launched as a 223cc, 16.76bhp bike), more so with it's gigantic "R" stickers and inexplicable, hideous engine cowl, and grotesque yellow dials that wouldn't be out of place whatsoever on a 1969 taxicab! The PGMFI version is long overdue, and it better come with a couple of more steeds, else it will be flattened by bikes over 70cc less creating equal power - like the R15...
The Apache RTR160 has divine handling - the best of the lot, but is an absolute microbe when it comes to feel! The bike is tiny, if you're over 4 feet tall that is! That's the only reason I bought a 220 and not the RTR160. The acceleration is good, ditto braking. The top end though is not what you would expect - nothing the 18.5bhp performance kit won't fix though! But then again, it pushes the cost up to Karizma territory.. And now with those ugly tank extensions, which are unneeded dead weight, since the bike doesn't have an oil cooler. The RTR now has another big ugly point...
The Pulsar 220 has all the goodies a riding enthusiast would savor - FI, nice riding position, with clip-on handlebars, flashy digital gauges and lots of lights everywhere you look! There are discs front and back; nice, bright projector lamp for a good night stint, tubeless tyres for lesser worries and other bits likes the oil cooler and the split seats. Then you notice the rear brake is wooden, and only bites when you're doing 8000kph! Well, 70 or so, but you get my point. It's ferocious power delivery is complemented with very stable handling and a good front brake, if only you don't lock up that is... Always wear your pads n helmet if U plan to do below 70kph! Overall, a good, almost economical bike, that's a joy on long rides, though your wrists may cry for some ice after a long stint...
The YZF-R15 is one of those... Before proceeding, if you're saying, "It's a 150 that costs 1.1 lakh!", please don't read on, and don't bother buying the bike either...
Ah.. You can't decide if you want it for one reason, or the other, or both, but then again, there seems to be a reason not to buy it too, if only you could figure it out! It's a 150, but it makes 17hp, and gives a fuel economy of about 30kpl. It costs as much as a Machismo 500, but looks like a million bucks! It has discs both sides, and effective ones at that! It's fairing is as wide as an H3, and is gonna make it awesome fun to park.. It has tyres that would nicely suit that bicycle you rode as a kid, but it corners like it was on rails. The white backlight and double headlamps (no projector) are good night time buddies.. The Deltabox frame, gas-damped link-type monoshock, 6-speed gearbox and liquid cooled 4V engine all come together in one tight package, making it worth every penny. It feels very substantial, the riding position is awesome, the tank recesses are just right, even if you're 9 feet tall; and most importantly, it makes you feel 10 years old!
I can now sum it all up and say - the RTR160 and the Karizma aside, choosing between the R15 and the Pulsar 220, is sort of like choosing between a Lotus Elise and Lancer ! It's really hard! The Apache is a sort of S2000... The Karizma? Well, that's like a Merc C200K... We all would rather have the C350!
The Karizma is awesomely smooth, at almost any engine speeds below 6krpm, but that's it... It's an old, aging piece of featureless metal and plastic that I detest (even more today than I did when it launched as a 223cc, 16.76bhp bike), more so with it's gigantic "R" stickers and inexplicable, hideous engine cowl, and grotesque yellow dials that wouldn't be out of place whatsoever on a 1969 taxicab! The PGMFI version is long overdue, and it better come with a couple of more steeds, else it will be flattened by bikes over 70cc less creating equal power - like the R15...
The Apache RTR160 has divine handling - the best of the lot, but is an absolute microbe when it comes to feel! The bike is tiny, if you're over 4 feet tall that is! That's the only reason I bought a 220 and not the RTR160. The acceleration is good, ditto braking. The top end though is not what you would expect - nothing the 18.5bhp performance kit won't fix though! But then again, it pushes the cost up to Karizma territory.. And now with those ugly tank extensions, which are unneeded dead weight, since the bike doesn't have an oil cooler. The RTR now has another big ugly point...
The Pulsar 220 has all the goodies a riding enthusiast would savor - FI, nice riding position, with clip-on handlebars, flashy digital gauges and lots of lights everywhere you look! There are discs front and back; nice, bright projector lamp for a good night stint, tubeless tyres for lesser worries and other bits likes the oil cooler and the split seats. Then you notice the rear brake is wooden, and only bites when you're doing 8000kph! Well, 70 or so, but you get my point. It's ferocious power delivery is complemented with very stable handling and a good front brake, if only you don't lock up that is... Always wear your pads n helmet if U plan to do below 70kph! Overall, a good, almost economical bike, that's a joy on long rides, though your wrists may cry for some ice after a long stint...
The YZF-R15 is one of those... Before proceeding, if you're saying, "It's a 150 that costs 1.1 lakh!", please don't read on, and don't bother buying the bike either...
Ah.. You can't decide if you want it for one reason, or the other, or both, but then again, there seems to be a reason not to buy it too, if only you could figure it out! It's a 150, but it makes 17hp, and gives a fuel economy of about 30kpl. It costs as much as a Machismo 500, but looks like a million bucks! It has discs both sides, and effective ones at that! It's fairing is as wide as an H3, and is gonna make it awesome fun to park.. It has tyres that would nicely suit that bicycle you rode as a kid, but it corners like it was on rails. The white backlight and double headlamps (no projector) are good night time buddies.. The Deltabox frame, gas-damped link-type monoshock, 6-speed gearbox and liquid cooled 4V engine all come together in one tight package, making it worth every penny. It feels very substantial, the riding position is awesome, the tank recesses are just right, even if you're 9 feet tall; and most importantly, it makes you feel 10 years old!
I can now sum it all up and say - the RTR160 and the Karizma aside, choosing between the R15 and the Pulsar 220, is sort of like choosing between a Lotus Elise and Lancer ! It's really hard! The Apache is a sort of S2000... The Karizma? Well, that's like a Merc C200K... We all would rather have the C350!
And if you're wondering why the Pulsar 200 isn't discussed above, it's only because I have considered all the manufacturers flagships. The P200, is in some eyes, a more practical alternative (or should I say traditional alternative, with no FI, rear disc and fairing..) to the Pulsar 220. In some ways, I would agree, but then again, I would rather have the whole chicken fried, than just the breast and a leg piece BBQd...
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
R1
Those two letters say it all! In so many cases! True enthusiasts will get goosebumps hearing certain combinations of a letter and a number like R1. Try this - M5, Z4, H1, A8, C5... Too much already? Okay...
Well, here's the in your face truth! Superbikes are here! Whether you believe it or not, whether you believe the time isn't right, or the roads aren't good enuf, or the people aren't educated enuf, or if 99% ppl can't afford them... Yeah, yeah.. ALL TRUE! But still... they're here... (YES!) And it feels so good!
The reason this post is called R1 is simply because I worship it. The Yamaha YZF-R1 is, has been and probably always will be my favorite motorcycle (or should I say superbike?). I respect it firstly, because it was the first to break the 1000bhp/ton barrier (more horsepower than weight)... How's 174BHP and 172kg sound? Good right? That was 2004... This is 2007, well almost 2008 and the R1 now bears numbers of 189bhp and 172kg! Insanity personified!
The R1 will be in showrooms as (or even before) you read this, with a Diwali 07 launch planned. It will be followed by other heavyweights like the TDM900, XJR1300, FJR1300 and even the 1670cc MT-01! The YZF-R6 will be launched a little later because of the stupid "Only-800cc+-Euro III-compliant-bikes-can-be-sold" rule! Also expect the XVS1300A and the huge, gorgeous XV1900 Stratoliner. The catch: All the bikes will have Rs. 9 lakh+ price tags, for the "small" 900 - the R1 will be available for about 11.5 lakhs :(
Stay tuned. Cos it's only gonna get better. The GSX 1000R and GSX 1300R Hayabusa will appear in Suzuki showrooms in March 2008. Also expect the Bandit 1250S because it has a bottom-end of 108Nm (@3700rpm) that very few larger bikes (Big V-Twins exempt ;]) can match, which is more than ideal for the situation in our country. Good idea that...
Honda too will launch their big baddies the Hornet 900, CBR 1000RR FireBlade and the GL1800 GoldWing. Rune anyone?!
Bajaj has just purchased stake in KTM! Can't be happier! (What, should have been 49%?)
Anyway, RC, Adventure, Duke and SuperDuke better come soon... 250s seem a little too piddly now... But hey, they're most welcome.. The more, the merrier, rite?! And hey, Kawasaki?!
Lots of em coming... And the prospect of custom bikes seems more devilishly near than ever before!! Haha!!!!!
Well, here's the in your face truth! Superbikes are here! Whether you believe it or not, whether you believe the time isn't right, or the roads aren't good enuf, or the people aren't educated enuf, or if 99% ppl can't afford them... Yeah, yeah.. ALL TRUE! But still... they're here... (YES!) And it feels so good!
The reason this post is called R1 is simply because I worship it. The Yamaha YZF-R1 is, has been and probably always will be my favorite motorcycle (or should I say superbike?). I respect it firstly, because it was the first to break the 1000bhp/ton barrier (more horsepower than weight)... How's 174BHP and 172kg sound? Good right? That was 2004... This is 2007, well almost 2008 and the R1 now bears numbers of 189bhp and 172kg! Insanity personified!
The R1 will be in showrooms as (or even before) you read this, with a Diwali 07 launch planned. It will be followed by other heavyweights like the TDM900, XJR1300, FJR1300 and even the 1670cc MT-01! The YZF-R6 will be launched a little later because of the stupid "Only-800cc+-Euro III-compliant-bikes-can-be-sold" rule! Also expect the XVS1300A and the huge, gorgeous XV1900 Stratoliner. The catch: All the bikes will have Rs. 9 lakh+ price tags, for the "small" 900 - the R1 will be available for about 11.5 lakhs :(
Stay tuned. Cos it's only gonna get better. The GSX 1000R and GSX 1300R Hayabusa will appear in Suzuki showrooms in March 2008. Also expect the Bandit 1250S because it has a bottom-end of 108Nm (@3700rpm) that very few larger bikes (Big V-Twins exempt ;]) can match, which is more than ideal for the situation in our country. Good idea that...
Honda too will launch their big baddies the Hornet 900, CBR 1000RR FireBlade and the GL1800 GoldWing. Rune anyone?!
Bajaj has just purchased stake in KTM! Can't be happier! (What, should have been 49%?)
Anyway, RC, Adventure, Duke and SuperDuke better come soon... 250s seem a little too piddly now... But hey, they're most welcome.. The more, the merrier, rite?! And hey, Kawasaki?!
Lots of em coming... And the prospect of custom bikes seems more devilishly near than ever before!! Haha!!!!!
The Big Mach :) M500LB
It's here! The new Bullet Machismo 500 (AVL Lean Burn)... With 23.66bhp (@5600rpm) and 40.85Nm (@3000rpm) on tap, it's one hell of a ride! I was in love after the test ride and I so wish that that engine is a part of all Bulls, as an option of course!
The Ride:
A lazy afternoon, I cruise by my dealership and catch a glimpse of chrome, a lot of it (even on the battery box!) There it was, the one I had been waiting for, for so long! Keys in hand, off I went, down Market Yard road, the usual test route.
Acceleration was nothing short of breath-taking, and it leaves you with the feeling that there's so much more on offer, if you ever needed it! The U turn was taken in 4th gear, a near idle thump happening, so much was the torque. The bottom-end is unbelievable! The M500 can coast at 80-100kph all day and never get tired or leave you feeling like something was lacking.
Overall build quality too has improved a lot - less vibrations, cleaner shifts (and a muted thump) make you wanna believe you're not on a Bullet, which in a way is true. No more right shift, CB point, grandfather carb, 500cc this one is... For the afficionadoes, yeah, it's different, but hey, times change, and if retro suits your taste, the 350 Classic's always on the menu!
Moreover, at about 1.1 lakh on road Pune (without all the accessories) she's a good deal (no kiddin!) A bike everyone who likes bikes should definitely saddle up on. But head fast, cos only 500 bikes will be sold throughout the country every calendar year!
The Ride:
A lazy afternoon, I cruise by my dealership and catch a glimpse of chrome, a lot of it (even on the battery box!) There it was, the one I had been waiting for, for so long! Keys in hand, off I went, down Market Yard road, the usual test route.
Acceleration was nothing short of breath-taking, and it leaves you with the feeling that there's so much more on offer, if you ever needed it! The U turn was taken in 4th gear, a near idle thump happening, so much was the torque. The bottom-end is unbelievable! The M500 can coast at 80-100kph all day and never get tired or leave you feeling like something was lacking.
Overall build quality too has improved a lot - less vibrations, cleaner shifts (and a muted thump) make you wanna believe you're not on a Bullet, which in a way is true. No more right shift, CB point, grandfather carb, 500cc this one is... For the afficionadoes, yeah, it's different, but hey, times change, and if retro suits your taste, the 350 Classic's always on the menu!
Moreover, at about 1.1 lakh on road Pune (without all the accessories) she's a good deal (no kiddin!) A bike everyone who likes bikes should definitely saddle up on. But head fast, cos only 500 bikes will be sold throughout the country every calendar year!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Apache
The Apache. A bike I have always admired and felt was the best looker this country ever produced. A gorgeous, sculpted piece of art - every line in place, maintaining a flow so outstanding, you have to trace it with your own hands to truly appreciate it. Handling, power and refinement too are top notch and the bike is immense fun to ride. Of course, I'm talking about the 150; the RTR160 takes everything I mentioned up one level! Now, time for a test ride! This is where I either love or hate a bike permanently.
The place: Century TVS. The test track: Wakdewadi road. Distance: 1.4 kms approx.
Looking at the Apache RTR160 head on, you see the magnificent flow and the attention to detail. Even the rubber mounts and covers on the gearshift and rear brake levers have the theme carried on, so to the foot pegs and the rear mud flap. The racing stripe makes it's way across the centre of the bike, and is also present on the tachometer in the console. The hand levers have a nice alloy finish. The split grab rail is comfortable and practical. Overall looks are outstanding, and attention to detail gets 10/10.
Getting on the bike was easy, effortless and exciting. The bike exudes a feel characteristic of a powerful, yet docile beast. It's comfortable, and you kinda fall into place, hands land on the exotic handlebar grips, knees inside the tank's recesses nicely, feet set back on the rear-set foot-pegs. Posture is forward-biased, as it should be, ample arm room to pilot the machine in the direction I wanted it to go (not that I would need it, details follow...) I roll the bike off the pavement and onto the road. The 270mm petal disc feels a lil too bitey at first, and will take some getting used to, but I'll have that covered after a few instances of braking. I thumb the starter and the 159.7cc 15.2bhp 13.1Nm 136kg Apache RTR160 thrums to life. It sounds good, real good; but can it go like it looks and sounds..?
Acceleration is quick, too quick even, the initial jumps are pronounced and you tend to feel like you're going to lose it big time, if you're not careful. Good. Cos now I'll be careful! This is one bike, you should not rip open the throttle on - RTR - Rapid Throttle Response, now I know... Evolution is apparent, from Fiero to F2/FX, from the 5-speed 150cc Apache and now, the 160cc, which has an even better feel to the gearbox.
On the road, the bike feels very powerful, very agile and the response is outstanding. Handling is nothing short of telepathic! It is definitely the best handling bike on offer. Turn in and steering is precise, even the minutest reflex action is immediately translated into deviation from the line you're on, to the line you wish you were, just like that, involuntary movements are picked up quick and the bike handles like a dream. I had a bit of trouble accelerating out of a U-turn from standstill, and a fast approaching Volvo B7R driven by one of our beloved municipality drivers doesn't help matters in any way. But I'm off, comfortably, 6500 revs in 1st and I'm far ahead, then 2nd. Some of the shifts left a ? on my mind, you don't realise that the shift happened from lack of audible feedback, at times, from the box. But I don't mind at all. It's smooth and effective, that's what matters. And I'm on my way back to drop off this fabulous machine.
The bike I rode was red. Awesome. But the yellow just brings out so much more. The black/yellow contrast is too well known and I would rather prefer something I would think of as a Benson & Hedges Jordan TVS Racing machine... The bike certainly handles like it was meant for the track. And from what I hear, TVS will introduce tuning kits for the RTR160 which should drop kerb weight and improve acceleration, if not add a few more horses to the peak power. That would be nice!
My Ratings:
Power: 8/10
Could've been so much more, top end grunt feels a little disappointing
Response: 9/10
Amazing throttle response, but has powerband limitations
Transmission: 8/10
Smooth, but has some feedback issues
Handling: 10/10
"Telepathic" is truly the most apt word
Ride Quality: 9/10
Gas-damped monoshock anyone?
Fuel Economy: 8/10
The more or less standard figure is unknown at this time, expect 40-52kpl depending on riding style
Value For Money: 9/10
Rs.63400 on road, slots perfectly between the Pulsar 150 (62700) and 180 (64300).Also, all the add-on kits, whenever available, will increase the price by a good 10-12K!
The place: Century TVS. The test track: Wakdewadi road. Distance: 1.4 kms approx.
Looking at the Apache RTR160 head on, you see the magnificent flow and the attention to detail. Even the rubber mounts and covers on the gearshift and rear brake levers have the theme carried on, so to the foot pegs and the rear mud flap. The racing stripe makes it's way across the centre of the bike, and is also present on the tachometer in the console. The hand levers have a nice alloy finish. The split grab rail is comfortable and practical. Overall looks are outstanding, and attention to detail gets 10/10.
Getting on the bike was easy, effortless and exciting. The bike exudes a feel characteristic of a powerful, yet docile beast. It's comfortable, and you kinda fall into place, hands land on the exotic handlebar grips, knees inside the tank's recesses nicely, feet set back on the rear-set foot-pegs. Posture is forward-biased, as it should be, ample arm room to pilot the machine in the direction I wanted it to go (not that I would need it, details follow...) I roll the bike off the pavement and onto the road. The 270mm petal disc feels a lil too bitey at first, and will take some getting used to, but I'll have that covered after a few instances of braking. I thumb the starter and the 159.7cc 15.2bhp 13.1Nm 136kg Apache RTR160 thrums to life. It sounds good, real good; but can it go like it looks and sounds..?
Acceleration is quick, too quick even, the initial jumps are pronounced and you tend to feel like you're going to lose it big time, if you're not careful. Good. Cos now I'll be careful! This is one bike, you should not rip open the throttle on - RTR - Rapid Throttle Response, now I know... Evolution is apparent, from Fiero to F2/FX, from the 5-speed 150cc Apache and now, the 160cc, which has an even better feel to the gearbox.
On the road, the bike feels very powerful, very agile and the response is outstanding. Handling is nothing short of telepathic! It is definitely the best handling bike on offer. Turn in and steering is precise, even the minutest reflex action is immediately translated into deviation from the line you're on, to the line you wish you were, just like that, involuntary movements are picked up quick and the bike handles like a dream. I had a bit of trouble accelerating out of a U-turn from standstill, and a fast approaching Volvo B7R driven by one of our beloved municipality drivers doesn't help matters in any way. But I'm off, comfortably, 6500 revs in 1st and I'm far ahead, then 2nd. Some of the shifts left a ? on my mind, you don't realise that the shift happened from lack of audible feedback, at times, from the box. But I don't mind at all. It's smooth and effective, that's what matters. And I'm on my way back to drop off this fabulous machine.
The bike I rode was red. Awesome. But the yellow just brings out so much more. The black/yellow contrast is too well known and I would rather prefer something I would think of as a Benson & Hedges Jordan TVS Racing machine... The bike certainly handles like it was meant for the track. And from what I hear, TVS will introduce tuning kits for the RTR160 which should drop kerb weight and improve acceleration, if not add a few more horses to the peak power. That would be nice!
My Ratings:
Power: 8/10
Could've been so much more, top end grunt feels a little disappointing
Response: 9/10
Amazing throttle response, but has powerband limitations
Transmission: 8/10
Smooth, but has some feedback issues
Handling: 10/10
"Telepathic" is truly the most apt word
Ride Quality: 9/10
Gas-damped monoshock anyone?
Fuel Economy: 8/10
The more or less standard figure is unknown at this time, expect 40-52kpl depending on riding style
Value For Money: 9/10
Rs.63400 on road, slots perfectly between the Pulsar 150 (62700) and 180 (64300).Also, all the add-on kits, whenever available, will increase the price by a good 10-12K!
Monday, September 3, 2007
India and bikes.
What can I say... They just didn't seem to go together. The first 2 "performance" bikes we had were 50% more capacity than what the entire population wanted. So, a meek little 150 called the Fiero was launched to take on the likes of the only proper fun "sports" bike which was also launched, the HH CBZ... It had the potential, and was a hit too, but it had a lot missing. The Eliminator came by, but was way outta reach for many a biker, though it left a lot of the latter drooling in their wake, me included. Sure, the Bullets were there, but the 5-speed unit was still a long time away then.
Then came the most important motorcycle, or should I say motorcycles, India had ever seen. Bajaj launched their home grown Pulsar twins in 150 and 180cc guise. Their importance was not really the "thing" then, but it made other manufacturers shiver with the volumes that started happening with the launch of those two true-blue performance bikes. Sure, they looked sporty and had the power and the oomph as well. HH long had a block that went from 133 right upto 223cc. The Ambition is not of any concern here, but the top end of that block is, the Karizma. Yes, the Karizma was the fastest 4-stroke bike India had ever produced. (The Yamaha RD350 was, and is to date, the fastest Indian made bike. All hail!!) It had quality, performance, handling, refinement; but it wasn't frugal and didn't produce the power expected from a 200+ machine. I didn't like it then, and I still don't like it now.
Then Bajaj did what every major manufacturer in the world did on on a regular basis - upgrade! In came 2 new "DTS-i" versions of the Pulsar twins, with loads of new tech on offer, plus, the 180 now made 16bhp; enough to demolish the larger-engined Karizma in the top speed stakes. The 223cc 16.76bhp 150kg Karizma hit 125.6kph, while the 178.6cc 16.01bhp 139kg Pulsar 180 DTS-i hit 128.9kph! But Bajaj didn't stop there, they worked on a new model, something that would take the country by storm. Something that took a long, long time to actually bring from paper to tarmac.
The big break up of TVS with Suzuki only made things worse. Enter the Fiero F2. New package, same engine as the Fiero, and lo, behold and be cursed, the ol' 4-speed gearbox. A chromier FX didn't make things any better. A few years down the line, axe.
Kinetic had a good bike in the GF170 Laser, but lack of quality and practicality made sure they didn't stay on. But that was a good thing, for with their new forger alliance with Korean major Hyosung, the 250cc V-twin cruiser, the Aquila, hit our shores! It was brilliant. 27bhp, 24Nm, big, fat and effective brakes, good top whack and handling, but it still was a bulky cruiser... Limited edition it was, and it went, fast! Now came the trump. The Comet GT250. With a mill borrowed from the Aquila, tuned to produce 30bhp (@10500rpm), it was the first real sportsbike that we've had in a while, and the fact that it aped a certain Italian marque model was only a good thing!
Years go by, the Fiero FX is gone, the old Pulsars have gone and Bajaj has major upgrades again, while HH does another ol' sticker job on every one of their models. Not much happens, save for a few good Bullet launches, the Thunderbird and a new electric starter equipped 500. Auto Expo 2004 happens, Kawasaki showcase their ZZR250, Eliminator V250 and of course, their then new litre-bike the Ninja ZX-10R all over the country. I had the privilege to see, touch and straddle the orange ZX at a local auto show. Questions about price and mileage (the usual) were shadowed by someone's question from the crowd - "What is the power?" The reply was "180bhp". The response to the reply from someone in the crowd was "180bhp or 180cc?!" Nice. The answer "1000cc, 180bhp" was followed by gasps and gulps as disbelief swept the faces of everyone present there. Ah! Enlightenment...
It's 2006 and Bajaj has finally readied a production ready version of their Pulsar - a mean, more powerful and more technology and gadget packed bike than most people could only imagine here in India. Little was know till the middle of the year and by the end, a handful of prototypes were released for sale. Karizma owners to this day refuse to believe that a bike can better their "pride and joy", if only the ignorant morons opened their eyes to what was below their tank.
Spec sheets got tears flowing in the eyes of some - 220cc, 20bhp, fuel-injection, rear disc brake, digital console, ECU engine, tubeless tyres, stacked projector/parabolic headlamps, oil cooler, split seats, split grab rail, LED tail lamps, tank pad, self-cancelling indicators on flexible mounts... the list went on and on... Yes. It was easily the best bike on offer. The new Karizma "R" was just a dab of black paint, apart from an engine cowl and big R stickers, that only added more weight to the already underpowered and overweight bike.
Cutting to the chase. 2007! The year of expectation. We have 2 Apaches - a sculpted E150, and an excellent handling RTR160. We have 4 Pulsars - 150, 180, 200 DTS-i and a 220 DTS-Fi. The 180 will bid us adieu very soon. A 300cc single, and a twin cylinder 400 are expected in mid-2008 and end-2009 respectively. . But more importantly, the government has finally applied Euro III emission norms to bikes of 800cc and above, meaning the Yamaha R6 will not happen so soon, but a whole lot of others are on the way! My dream bike, the 185bhp 172kg YZF-R1 will be in showroom by the end of the year and will be followed by many of it's larger engined brethren, including the massive 1670cc MT-01. Can't wait... Saving up from right now will certainly help a few years down the line...
Then came the most important motorcycle, or should I say motorcycles, India had ever seen. Bajaj launched their home grown Pulsar twins in 150 and 180cc guise. Their importance was not really the "thing" then, but it made other manufacturers shiver with the volumes that started happening with the launch of those two true-blue performance bikes. Sure, they looked sporty and had the power and the oomph as well. HH long had a block that went from 133 right upto 223cc. The Ambition is not of any concern here, but the top end of that block is, the Karizma. Yes, the Karizma was the fastest 4-stroke bike India had ever produced. (The Yamaha RD350 was, and is to date, the fastest Indian made bike. All hail!!) It had quality, performance, handling, refinement; but it wasn't frugal and didn't produce the power expected from a 200+ machine. I didn't like it then, and I still don't like it now.
Then Bajaj did what every major manufacturer in the world did on on a regular basis - upgrade! In came 2 new "DTS-i" versions of the Pulsar twins, with loads of new tech on offer, plus, the 180 now made 16bhp; enough to demolish the larger-engined Karizma in the top speed stakes. The 223cc 16.76bhp 150kg Karizma hit 125.6kph, while the 178.6cc 16.01bhp 139kg Pulsar 180 DTS-i hit 128.9kph! But Bajaj didn't stop there, they worked on a new model, something that would take the country by storm. Something that took a long, long time to actually bring from paper to tarmac.
The big break up of TVS with Suzuki only made things worse. Enter the Fiero F2. New package, same engine as the Fiero, and lo, behold and be cursed, the ol' 4-speed gearbox. A chromier FX didn't make things any better. A few years down the line, axe.
Kinetic had a good bike in the GF170 Laser, but lack of quality and practicality made sure they didn't stay on. But that was a good thing, for with their new forger alliance with Korean major Hyosung, the 250cc V-twin cruiser, the Aquila, hit our shores! It was brilliant. 27bhp, 24Nm, big, fat and effective brakes, good top whack and handling, but it still was a bulky cruiser... Limited edition it was, and it went, fast! Now came the trump. The Comet GT250. With a mill borrowed from the Aquila, tuned to produce 30bhp (@10500rpm), it was the first real sportsbike that we've had in a while, and the fact that it aped a certain Italian marque model was only a good thing!
Years go by, the Fiero FX is gone, the old Pulsars have gone and Bajaj has major upgrades again, while HH does another ol' sticker job on every one of their models. Not much happens, save for a few good Bullet launches, the Thunderbird and a new electric starter equipped 500. Auto Expo 2004 happens, Kawasaki showcase their ZZR250, Eliminator V250 and of course, their then new litre-bike the Ninja ZX-10R all over the country. I had the privilege to see, touch and straddle the orange ZX at a local auto show. Questions about price and mileage (the usual) were shadowed by someone's question from the crowd - "What is the power?" The reply was "180bhp". The response to the reply from someone in the crowd was "180bhp or 180cc?!" Nice. The answer "1000cc, 180bhp" was followed by gasps and gulps as disbelief swept the faces of everyone present there. Ah! Enlightenment...
It's 2006 and Bajaj has finally readied a production ready version of their Pulsar - a mean, more powerful and more technology and gadget packed bike than most people could only imagine here in India. Little was know till the middle of the year and by the end, a handful of prototypes were released for sale. Karizma owners to this day refuse to believe that a bike can better their "pride and joy", if only the ignorant morons opened their eyes to what was below their tank.
Spec sheets got tears flowing in the eyes of some - 220cc, 20bhp, fuel-injection, rear disc brake, digital console, ECU engine, tubeless tyres, stacked projector/parabolic headlamps, oil cooler, split seats, split grab rail, LED tail lamps, tank pad, self-cancelling indicators on flexible mounts... the list went on and on... Yes. It was easily the best bike on offer. The new Karizma "R" was just a dab of black paint, apart from an engine cowl and big R stickers, that only added more weight to the already underpowered and overweight bike.
Cutting to the chase. 2007! The year of expectation. We have 2 Apaches - a sculpted E150, and an excellent handling RTR160. We have 4 Pulsars - 150, 180, 200 DTS-i and a 220 DTS-Fi. The 180 will bid us adieu very soon. A 300cc single, and a twin cylinder 400 are expected in mid-2008 and end-2009 respectively. . But more importantly, the government has finally applied Euro III emission norms to bikes of 800cc and above, meaning the Yamaha R6 will not happen so soon, but a whole lot of others are on the way! My dream bike, the 185bhp 172kg YZF-R1 will be in showroom by the end of the year and will be followed by many of it's larger engined brethren, including the massive 1670cc MT-01. Can't wait... Saving up from right now will certainly help a few years down the line...
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