Feb 11, 2006 01:53 PM
4105 Views
(Updated Feb 11, 2006 01:53 PM)
From what I see in the reviews, it makes me feel that I am the only one with this view about a CT 100. However, I need to be truthful. I believe this is the worst bike produced in India. I purchased one 10 months ago and while I was riding home from the showroom, I kept having this feeling that the bike is very underpowered. Even when I gave good throttle, it picked up speed very slowly. After about 5kms, I stopped to turn back to the showroom to complain. But, I decided to check if something's wrong and felt the brakedrums, just by instinct. They were horribly hot!!! The guys kept the brakes fully tight!!! A friend of mine, who bought a Pulsar from the same showroom, had the same experience.
OK, I attribute that fault to the showroom guys. On the very next day, the speedometer cable came off at the meter end. Since the bike has a visor, I had to haul it all the way to the service center to fix it. The foreman at the center was not surprised at having seen the cable come off loose on a one-day old bike, and he agreed with me that the quality control mechanism at Bajaj was not that reliable. What if if it was the brake cable that came off without my knowledge? I have crossed only about 5,000 kms now and I have changed the speedometer inner cable and the pinion at the wheel end (which is made of plastic!!!) by now. So much for the quality of materials used.
There is a grating sound from the chain, which they have rectified twice already, but comes back with a gusto within a km from the service center. I have decided to bear it rather than spending any more money on it.
The suspension is hardly better than that of a bullock cart. (I am not sure if the double spring rear shocks are any better). When you I jump some potholes at 40kmph (50 is my maximum), the sound makes me feel that something made of iron just broke off.
I don't believe there is any wonder aspect with its fuel efficiency. I do get 70kmpl on good roads, which any decent 100cc 4-stroke bike can give you. A 1950s BSA 250 in my neighbourhood still gives 65kmpl, so is it so great to have a 100cc give you 70kmpl? Don't believe the 101kmpl story dole out by Bajaj. It never happens unless you are ready to push it for one-third of the distance.
The warranty that Bajaj gives is not applicable to any part with natural wear and tear, which means any damage caused by misalignment in assembling of moving parts, like chain and sprocket, cables, etc. will not be covered. They have conveniently claimed that all disputes can be handled in Pune only. Can anyone from Kerala afford to go to Pune to fight a case?
On the whole, I would advice anyone from not investing their hard-earned money in this junk that they call a CT 100. As far as quality is concerned, Hero Honda, Yamaha, and TVS are far better.
