Jul 24, 2003 11:41 PM
3565 Views
(Updated Jul 25, 2003 12:52 AM)
THE “BEST VALUE FOR MONEY MOTORBIKE” TO HIT INDIAN MARKET IS WHAT I HAVE TO SAY AND THIS IS NOT FAR FROM THE EXPERTS’ NEUTRAL ESTIMATION AS WELL.
LETS START:
There are two main considerations before deciding on which bike to buy.
Better mileage.
Sheer power that can just take off and you are at your destination sooner thus saving time,
But then there are those “demanding men” who are always looking for the best in every sphere THEN there should be one bike that can give you the choice of power plus the convenience of mileage.
But sadly this was not the case a few years ago or let me be precise 20 months ago.
It is time to celebrate because now you have a product that is not heavy on the pocket and which has the desirable fuel economy (55 plus is my guarantee) (Pulsar 150) and the power to feel the thrill as well.
So Dedicated bikers rejoice, here is the answer to your crying needs for a bike which has the gun powder to match its looks and which only burns the roads and not your pockets. Bajaj Auto's wholly-indigenous creation is here in Pulsar 150 & 180 form: smashing looks, fantastic kit in all respects, terrific performance and great handling. {One will never seek the RX100 feel from now on. The CBZ and the Fiero are not even in the same ball park.} For the office-going family man who needs to perk up his daily commute, enter the Pulsar 150 with all the attributes of its bigger sibling but with affordability, style, poise, performance, fuel efficiency and what have you! {The little sacrifise is pick up as obvious with the difference of 36 cc and 3bhp between the younger and the elder brother but believe me its only marginal since 150cc is little lighter as compared to 180cc thus bridging that gap.) Top speed is more or less the same.
THE OBJECTIVE:
Biking at this level is all about feeling good, feeling good while polishing the bike, riding the bike and more importantly feeling good while your mates swoon over your bike.
The PROTAGONIST :
Pulsar 150 cc has two variants kick start and elec start.
Pulsar 180 comes with elec start as standard.(kick is always there man)
Disc brake is a standard feature.
I own both 150 (elec start) and 180 cc.
The mileage for 150 is 58 km/pl (driven at 50-70 speeds) under normal city riding.
The mileage for 180 is 46/pl (driven below 80) on highways.
The braking is nothing but excellent.
The top speed for 180 is 120(with pillion) achieved on Jaipur highway.(you can have a bet)
The top speed for 150 is 115 (with pillion) achieved on Shimla highway. (put your money)
THE SCORCHing LOOKS:
Breaking away from the traditional mould was a difficult exercise for Indian motorcycles till Hero Honda made the first move with the CBZ and Bajaj Auto stepped in with an entirely new approach with the Eliminator. The latter has now moved ahead of the rest with an even better executed and far more contemporary design, which blends retro and naked bike cues without ever forgetting the excitement bit front to rear.
The positive thing is that even when standing still the bike conveys a sense of dynamism and better still your dreams about doing a ton (an automotive phrase relating to zooming at speeds of over 100kmph) will be realised effortlessly!The looks also add to the reasons to have this bike. The muscular tank, the visual weight balance onto the front, the large headlamp and the infinity shaped side panels giving her a muscle bike stance, the paint shade and finish in addition to the fuel tank architecture.
More on technical specs:
The 150 has 143.9cc of displacement and it boasts of excellent detailing in the design of the combustion chamber and airbox volume.
A CV carburettor precisely meters the air-fuel mixture and ensures crisp throttle responses while a balancer shaft on the crankshaft works beautifully to eliminate harsh vibes.
The head architecture is conventional with two valves instead of a high-tech 4-valve head that would make more power at the top end at the expense of refinement and usable low-end torque.
The ignition has been optimised without need for a digital configuration. Starting is via an optional electric starter. To make kickstarting a breeze, a decompressor is built onto the camshaft.
The unit develops PRECISE 11.82bhp while max torque is rated at 10.82Nm. Transmission of power is via a five-speed box that is good with nice positive actuation.
WHY I TOOK THIS BIKE:
For the biker in me, the stonking performance, quick turn-in, extreme flickability, superb chassis balance and rigidity and excellent brakes have my vote for the best bike in the business. The fun doesn't end here as decent fuel efficiency ensures that you won't weep while you have fun.
WHY NOT OTHER BIKES:
CBZ : It has a technical blunder of the kick lever that can be started only with the footpeg folded up and in the absence of a self starter this is a major hassle. There is no heel shifter in the gear. There is lot of vibration if you try to reach above 100 kmph. The mileage is never over 40 kmpl no matter how decently you ride it.(trust me with this). Moreover the fully loaded cbz (self start) is 9000 rupees more expensive then the fully loaded 150 cc.
Fiero: It is very light (17 kg lighter than pulsar 150) so it is too risky to ride on over 100 as there is lot of shaking. And it has no fifth gear thus wasting lot of power and leaving some more untapped. Gawky styling and insipid handling are also major drawbacks. And no disc brake and no self start. (they have recently launched fiero F2). Still to check out that bike. But this normal fiero is a no match for Pulsar 150.
PHEW: I have tried my best to help like-minded brothers who want to have a bike on which they can just hit the road on weekends and go top gear and enjoy the thrill and on weekdays they can ride it all day without burning a hole in their pocket EVEN MAINTENANCE WISE.
All the best to fellow mates.
