HHML Karizma....Or what it could have been.. Review on Hero Honda Karizma

Well yes...I know this review is quite late considering that the bike was launched mid last year 2003. A friend of mine was working with HHML before that and I had some insights on the specs of the bike. All I knew at that time was that the bike was a quarter liter and would prove ''revolutionary'' with its High-Tech advances never seen before on Indian roads.

It is a year and more since the bike was launched and a perfect time to analyze on what it could have been and what is has.

The effort that has gone into creating this bike is commendable. After the advent and tremendous success of Bajaj Pulsar twins, HHML had to up the ante to provide bikers with something that could come close to being a true sportsbike while retaining the much needed usability and handling and beating Pulsar 180 in performance front.

This competition got me thinking about a time in my life when the RX100 ruled the roast in performance segment. The RX was such a good machine that it fitted the market needs perfectly. It was a bike which provided zippy performance while not costing the earth coupled with decent fuel efficiency and handling that was perfect for the time.

The TVS Suzuki people observed it and came up with something that was single-mindedly created towards beating the RX in every game. The Shogun it was called and what a bike it was! Excellent in every sense, came with instrument console befitting the nature, electronic tachometer, great geometry and a gem of an engine providing 14 bhp at 8500 rpm. It was an amazing scorcher at the wrong time. Even the Catalytic converters couldn?t help this firebreathing two stroker live a life long enough for people to call it a chapter in Indian motorcycling.

Anyways, the point here is, HHML needed to take some cues from TVS (did they forget themselves??) before creating a bike which could be called as Pulsar beater. This is not to say that the bike is bad, but the fact is there for all to see that it couldn?t do what it set out to be and Pulsar DTS-i did even more damage. So what exactly the Karizma is? And what is the goal it sets for itself? Lets see some points;

Engine and Performance:The Karizma is based on an engine which provided a platform for cylinder barrels the size from 125cc to 230cc. HHML has used this modular engine for its Ambition, CBZ and now Karizma. While not a full fledged quarter liter bike, it provided performance enough to blow Pulsar away from its performance throne at that time.

The engine is a typical Honda engine with one feature that stands out; ?Stressfree?. This nature was something which was lacking in CBZ and it has been taken care of in Karizma. Variable Ignition timing with Advanced Microprocessor Ignition help in reducing engine harshness and decent powerband across the rev range is there for all to feel.

The Karizma produces 16.76 bhp at 7000 rpm and 18.35 Nm of Torque at 6000 rpm. These figures cannot be called awesome by any standards especially for a quarter liter bike.

In effort to make this engine stressfree, the powerplant is spec?ed in a highly detuned state and holds potential for more. Come on HHML, you can do much better with this engine and if provided on a CBZ, this engine would prove just awesome. The CBZ is a wonderful bike already, given this engine; it would probably kill Pulsar any day on racetracks. How does CBZ 250 sound? Much better than Karizma, you bet!! Anyone listening at HHML!!?? Knock,knock!!

On the performance front, Karizma provides acceleration figures of 60 kmph in about 4 seconds and 14.5 seconds to reach 100kmph. Now there are three bikes which can beat karizma on these figures, Bajaj Pulsar 180 DTS-i, Yamaha RD 350 and Comet 250. Got trounced very soon, no?. The top speed is 125 kmph and good cruising speed is 100kmph. The powerband is large and provides a good pull throughout the rev range. It can run all day on 100 kph and that?s the forte of this bike. Any better figures and it could be called as sports tourer for India.

Looks: Disappointing. The design of the front fairing is something either you love it or hate it. This kind of fairing designs should only be deployed when the engine is a proud part of display. On a four cylinder behemoth engine, this fairing would be very suitable, but not on a single cylinder. The fairing in fact makes the engine look smaller than it actually is. Another problem with fairing is evident when the user sits on the bike. There is no shrouding between the front yoke and fairing. One can put both arms in that huge abyss and they would come out of the other side! Don?t know why, but every time I wanted to look at that awesome instrument pod for performance figures, I ended up looking through that gap at the passing tarmac.

Other than that ungainly fairing, overall package is a nicely sculpted one. Especially good looking is the End Can design. The finish on the engine and black powder coated exhaust pipe look great.

The bike looks good from the rear and 100/90 x 18 tyre contributes a lot to the visual appeal. The tail light cluster makes the bike look like Ambition from rear but nevertheless is good looking. The magnesium alloy wheels and highly effective 276mm disc up front look good too.

Handling: The CBZ was one of the best handling bike, this characteristic was taken further in the Karizma and the civilized manner in which power is put to work is commendable. As I said before, this bike has a great potential to be called as a sports tourer for India and a very neutral handling accentuates my outlook. This bike can run all day without the rider feeling tired. The longer wheelbase and stiff swing-arm contribute to the handling in great measure. The karizma would beat the older Pulsar in this factor very easily. The result is; Pulsar gets a longer wheelbase in DTS-i.

Again, I believe this chassis being very similar to CBZ, if karizma engine was used to haul CBZ, it would have been a winner all the way.

Overall: One of the best handlers in our country gets ruined by a few factors; Price, eccentric looks which may not be of everyone?s liking, lowly bhp and fuel efficiency figures and a crazy name!! Come on man?Even the people who own this bike don?t like to call it Karizma, they call it either Kari or ZMA 250 or something. What did HHML wanted to prove with this name?? Heck, CBZ 250 would have been just perfect!! But the way HHML names its bikes, Dawn, Passion, Ambition, I don?t see anything better coming from their stable for some time.

Sighhh, only if CBZ came with this engine, 18 bhp on tap and priced at 65k !! If only wishes were horses?.