Oct 12, 2002 11:57 AM
10173 Views
(Updated Oct 12, 2002 12:11 PM)
Hero Honda CD100 SS can satisfy all your basic biking needs though not the derived ones. I will not call it a Luxury bike. For that many good bikes are now there in the market. But my CD100SS bought in 1996 has given fault free service in these years. I purchased it because the cost (both purchasing and running) was quite reasonable. At that time the market price was Rs. 38000/- and it was available in Central Govt. CSD Canteen also. So, I got it in Rs. 32,800/-. I did not go to the dealer. Such was the craze of this bike at that time that my friends took the draft from me and rushed to the dealer. That was my Birth day and so they brought it as my present. It is a red coloured bike. My experiences with this are as follows:
Driving experience I did not know biking (or driving any automobile) at that time and learnt driving on this bike only. Learning driving on this was much easy. In four days, I was quite comfortable and at the end of the week, I was in the city. It is not a very powerful bike and pick up is not that quick. So for the first time riders or learners this is the best bike (One of my friends met with an accident while learning driving on Yamaha due to the fast pick up and gear problem). Over all biking experiences are very good. Accidents and all are not much with this bike as the pick up not being that fast and breaks work very good. I tested them on one of my beautiful friends (off course girl) when she was behind me. Yes yaar this break works well. Fast up the speed, put the sudden break and she is all yours and face the music afterwards (I am still bachelor you know). The foremost thing which I liked about this vehicle is the smoothness in driving. Yes my bike gives a real smooth drive. The soccers are also good. Driving two people is quite Ok but I have taken three people(all average persons) also sometimes. No problems, if you can maintain the balance.
Average Initially the average was not that good. It was around 50 kms /litre or so. But after first service, it was giving 75-80 (you can trust me!). As on now, its average is 60-65. So the average wise this is very cost effective. I used to put 100 Rs. petrol and it was sufficient for a month or so (but then I do not drive that much, mostly it is from official residence to office and sometimes to city).
Maintenance Though this bike is not that maintenance free as some Yamaha bikes are but the maintenance cost is not much. Being a well established bike in the market anybody can repair it and the parts are much cheaper. The bikes keeps on running smoothly for 6-7 months without seeing the work shop. My bike's Engine has never been opened till date.
Hill Area Driving This bike is very light. That's a definite plus in hill area driving. If the road is narrow and some four wheeler comes in the way, you will be helpless if having a heavy vehicle. But I never had any problem on Mussoorie roads with this bike. As you just stop the bike and carry it to a safer place yourself. My heavy vehicle owner friends have been seen to be still uncomfortable on Mussoorie slopes (specially Landour cantt.) and avoid it, I have visited it a hundred times on this bike.
Lights Lights are quite powerful. But in nights in hilly turns sometimes there are problems in turning as the span is not that broad.
Stability Quite good at low or medium speeds but becomes a bit unstable at above 80 kms/ hr.
Horns Quite loud but give problems in rain sometimes as and when the battery goes low.
Starting Problem Spark plug problems (carbon on that) come specially during rainy season and starting trouble is there sometimes.
Tire Punctures Never happened.
Overall, if you are looking for a reasonably good light- weight bike at low purchasing price and low maintenance cost without any worries (as the bike and technology is well established), you shall go for it. But for professional and fashionable bikers it may be a bit frustating due to slow pickup.
