Guyz, I know that this review does not fall in this section. I already have written a review under Twenty best bikes but MS does not allow writing another review in the same section. I am sorry I am omitting the 100cc and 125cc bikes because there is a maximum limit for the revu. All these bikes have been driven and tested by me(by means of stopwatch), so I have given my figures for 0-60, 0-100, mileage and top speed with an unbiased approach(unlike bike magazines). But the downside is that these all are sigma readings(sigma readings are 99% correct) not some sattelite gear for testing.
Cruisers(125cc-350cc)
RE Thunderbird
Bajaj Avenger(new eliminator) - winner
Yamaha Enticer
Hi performance bikes(180cc-223cc)
HH Karizma
Bajaj Pulsar 180 - winner
150 cc bikes
Honda Unicorn
HH CBZ
Bajaj Pulsar 150 - winner
125 cc bikes
Bajaj Discover - winner
HH SuperSplendour
Mileage masters(100cc –110cc)
HH Passion - winner
Bajaj CT 100
TVS Victor
These are the only bikes worth contending for the best bikes in their respective segments.
Cruisers(125cc-350cc)
RE Thunderbird-The 350cc 18 bhp pseudo cruiser looks good and goes well but the long exhaust robs the bike of the ‘bullet’ thump. However, the easy starting(relatively speaking) and the left side shifting five speed gearbox is very welcome. The biggest cruiser here is not the fastest obviously because of the weight it carries. But it is the closest you can get to cruising nirvana in India.
0-60kmph 5.8 seconds
0-100kmph 20.2 seconds
Mileage 30-35kmpl
Top Speed 115 kmph
Price 75000 Rs
Pros- Styling, bullet heritage
Cons- Price
Bajaj Avenger(new eliminator)-The Avenger has got the 180cc pulsar engine plonked in. So it is pretty powerful than its earlier avatar. But its top speed has reduced a bit. The engine feels torquey enough, and the sound is better than before. It has much better low and mid range grunt. But a major downside is that it is a Bajaj(unreliable?) product.
The pricing is absolutely spot on.
0-60kmph 5.7 seconds
0-100kmph 21.3 seconds
Mileage 40-45 kmpl
Top Speed 109 kmph
Price 63000 Rs
Pros- Price, engine, image
Cons- Reliability, top speed
Yamaha Enticer-It looks like a cruiser, but has only a 125 cc heart pumping out 11 measly horses. The engine is smooth and offers good fuel economy. This bike is for one who wants an affordable cruiser, giving performance a damn. It is also a little bit overpriced for its size.
0-60kmph 8.9 seconds
Top Speed 98 kmph
Mileage 55 kmpl
Price 50000 Rs
Pros- Styling, build, comfort, mileage
Cons- pricey, low power
Hi performance bikes(180cc-223cc)
HH Karizma-The 223cc Karizma is the biggest of the contemporary japmobiles. It is a torquey machine, geared for fast acceleration and has relaxed comfortable feel to it(unlike P180) that goes down with well with new and experienced riders alike. But it is priced a little too high coupled with low fuel efficiency make it a sales failure.
0-60kmph 4.5 seconds
0-100kmph 15.6 seconds
Top Speed 124 kmph
Mileage 25-30 kmpl
Price 70000 Rs
Pros- Handling, image, performance
Cons-Price, finish, mileage
Bajaj Pulsar 180- Apart from the addition of the gas shocks and the 17 inch mag wheels, what has changed is the Pulsar’s attitude. This is one helluva bike. All the bike magazines have underrated this bike. The bike has a reduced top speed but the increased acceleration, increased low end torque, better handling coupled with a masculine soundtrack gives other bikes a nosebleed.
0-60kmph 4.3 seconds
0-100kmph 16.1 seconds
Top Speed 116.7 kmph
Mileage 40-45 kmpl
Price 58000 Rs
Pros- Performance, handling
Cons- Quality, identical looking to p150
150 cc bikes
Honda Unicorn- We’ve waited for Honda to enter the Indian market 4 years and now it finally has. But with a bike which gives- same performance and mileage figures that the Pulsar gives, along with a puny horn, puny tyres, puny engine sound, mish mash design and a commuter style seating position. But there are the positives too- engine smoothness, great handling and above all the “HONDA” brandname. So unless u are a Honda cultist, plz do urself a favour and go to a Bajaj showroom and fetch urself a Bajaj Pulsar 150 Dtsi.
0-60kmph 6.1 seconds
0-100kmph 22.8 seconds
Top Speed 112 kmph
Mileage 50-55 kmpl
Price 50000 Rs
Pros- Brandname, engine refinement
Cons- Looks, ride quality, commuter style
HH CBZ- It looks like a HH designer has gone mad with crayons and sprayed all kinds of colours on India’s best looking bike(atleast for me). Sad, India’s first ever 4 stroke performance bike has been reduced to nothing but a joke. No offences to anybody but the engine is a disgrace, so is the mileage and so is the price. Hero Honda guys have absolutely ignored this product and put it in a coffin to RIP(rest in peace).
0-60kmph 5.8 seconds
0-100kmph 23 seconds
Top Speed 108 kmph
Mileage 40-45 kmpl
Price 54000 Rs
Pros-Looks, handling
Cons- Everything else
Bajaj Pulsar 150-This is the single bike which redefined the performance segment(after CBZ) and made this segment mainstream. Consider this- u get mag wheels, gas shocks, beautiful body, fat tyres, gud FE, gud performance, allover brilliant engineering, electric start, low sporty handlebars 4 only Rs 54 k. To put things into perspective, the HH CBZ without all above said things comes for the same price tag. Truly bajaj has killed the competition.
0-60 kmph 6 seconds
0-100 kmph 21.6 seconds
Top speed 111 kmph
Mileage 50-55 kmpl
Price 54000 Rs
Pros- Performance, looks, mileage
Cons- Very common bike
I would like to thank Aseem, Vivek, Karan, Vikas, Anish, Nikhil and Praveen for lending me their bikes.
