The Cheetah. Review on Kawasaki KB 100

Well, this review is dedicated to my dear old KB 100. This bike was shown to be a cheetah on TV. So what was this bike all about ? Here are the specifications :- 2 stroke, single cylinder, 4gears, 100cc , 105kg kerb weight, pumps out 10.8 BHp. That seems like just an ordinary bike of today. But then think again .... this bike came to India in 1987. That's almost 17 years ago.

At that point of time, in the post RD350 era, there were only 3 bikes. The legendary CD100 , KB100 and of course the RX100. Each made for its own purpose. The CD100 was the first 4 stroke high mileage bike whereas the RX100 was always first as far as taking off from a signal was concerned. But the RX100 drank more fuel & oil than a bulldozer and the CD100 didn't have enuff pull. That's where the KB100 fit in. It gave the best of both worlds.

This is the first bike I rode. My dad rode it for 15 years and then I 'succeeded' him. At first, I was apprehensive cause I wanted a new bike and this bike was old,faded and uncool. But then I thought ... ''okay , will do for a start''. And so learnt riding on this bike. First thing, features .... how many bikes do you know which have all these gadgets - tachometer, built in helmet lock, ignition cum handlebar lock, parking lights even when key is not in the bike, left and right turned handlebar lock , engine kill switch.

All this in 1987. Even today, very few bikes have ALL these features. It develops 10.8 BHp which on a 105kg chassis means 'jet propulsion'. The RX is faster till 50kms/hr. But then, slowly but surely, the KB catches up. It has very short gearing... which means you reach top gear in no time. But as far as stability at high speeds is concerned, the KB has an edge over the RX. Being a 2 stroke, it pulls over slopes easily and the power is realised very quickly when the throttle is opened. So if you wanna overtake, just downshift and let her rip. Since its very light, handling through city traffic is very easy.

The main problems I faced though were the seat and shock absorbers. They're terrible. The mileage I got was around 45kms/ltr. My dad says he used to get around 55kms/ltr when he initially bought it. But then, he never exceeded 45kms/hr on the bike all his life. On the contrary, I can't keep it below 45kms/hr. But then, ultimately one day it refused to start and I was late for college. So in a fit of anger, I decided to but a new bike. I bought the Wind 125 which is doing great.... but I still miss my KB.

If you haven't ridden a 2 stroke bike before, you would have wondered why people make such a big fuss about the old RX and the RD. 2 stroke biking is all about performance biking for the ham fisted. They're rugged, brash and cool. They give you a totally different feel when you ride them. It flatters the rider and gives an adrenaline surge. 4 strokes can do this only at higher speeds. The feel of the high revs and the machine under you is totally different. Its for those who are utterly passionate about biking. Thats all for now .... more revs later.