Ultimate economy. Review on Kinetic King 100

The launch of this mileage champion from Kinetic has been pretty low key.

It appears in the Kinetic showrooms and quietly sells. A very basic bike, looks like a moped. Step-thru frame, but a four-stroke

engine and four foot operated gears.

Unlike the other large-wheeled step-thrus, the step-thru gap on King100 has a

dual purpose. It allows saree-clad ladies to ride it plus it has a generous

one-foot-long and nine-inch-wide solid, uncluttered, flat platform on the step-thru gap where much luggage can be carried.

So actually the King100 has a very wide application. It is a multiple purpose bike! It is to two-wheelers, what MPV’s (Multi-Purpose-Vehicles) are to four-wheelers. Ladies can drive it. Delivery boys can carry much luggage. And everyone can afford it, since it costs only @ Rs.22,000/- which is about the same as an upmarket moped or mokick.

INTERNALS & EXTERNALS

The King100 is powered by Kinetic’s proven 97.2cc engine have bore x stroke of 50 x 49.5 mm. This is the same engine that powers the other Kinetic 100cc bikes, including the kinetic k4-100, which gave a mileage of @ 90 kmpL on a Kashmir to Kanyakumari run I did few years ago. Operating at a compression ratio of 9.1, this engine produces 5.1 bhp of power at 6500 rpm and develops a torque of 0.6 KgM at 4000 rpm. The shift pattern of the foot-operated four gears is all down. Power is transmitted through a wet multi-plate clutch. Starting is by kick only.

Built on a wheelbase of 1295 mm, the kerb weight of this bike is 86.5 kg. Fuel tank capacity is NINE litres, including a ONE litre reserve.

In fact, this bike has one of the best side stands, very convenient to use and also bike rests at the ideal lean angle.

This bike is quite suitable for shorties and females. Seat height from ground is 76cm (30 inches) with bike off-stand and one rider 68 kg sitting on it. Seat is 65 cm (25.5 inches) long and 26 cm (10 inches) wide, spacious enough for double seat riding. For lady pillion sitting sideways, there is a wide, solid, fixed foot-board (not foldable foot-peg) at LHS to rest two feet.

I love the sound of the horn. It produces a unique sound. No other horn in India produces such a sound.

ON THE ROAD

The King100 is quite peppy and I doubt if any mokick can match this 100cc engine in performance. Handling and road holding is at par with other bikes of equivalent weight and tyre size. Brakes are adequate for city commuting and so is the headlight for night city commuting.

It does zero to forty kph in ten seconds. Braking characteristics from forty kph to dead stop are very good. The bike stays fairly straight, even after wheel locking and skidding to a stop. Braking distance forty kph to zero is less than six metres, which is excellent.

What this bike is about is LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY. A full size V.I.P. suitcase kept in the step-thru gap does not foul with the handle bar even at full turn. And even with the suitcase in the step-thru space, there is still space there to keep a handbag or even a not too thick briefcase.

For professional delivery people such as couriers, grocery superstores, eggs etc., suitable wire-mesh cages (even lockable) can be easily fitted in the step-thru space.

For dropping small children to school, this bike is ideal. The child can sit on the seat in front of the driver and keep his school bag in the gap. There is more than enough space.

The height of the step-thru floorboard is just 45 cm (18 inches) from the ground, just six inches higher than gearless scooters, which cost twice as much and do not give even half the mileage that this one gives.

MILEAGE

I did my regular mileage tests on the same road where I do all the tests. While I admit that this one does not give the same mileage as given by Kinetic K4-100, the King100 definitely gives much better mileage than any other current bike. All tests have been done riding single seat using regular green petrol without any additives. Following are the figures I got.

S.No Driving Conditions Distance Covered (km) Fuel Consumed (litres) Fuel average (kmpL)

1 Very light traffic. Speed mostly 55 kph. Five gear changings. No braking. 4.4 0.068 64.7

2 Mostly steady 40 kph in 5th gear. Once gear change. No braking. Light traffic 2.7 0.035 77.1

3 Light traffic. Speed mostly steady55 kph. Four gear changings, once to 1st,once to 2nd & twice to 3rd.And brakings. Accelerate up to 65. 4.9 0.065 75.4

4 Normal traffic. Upslope and downslope. Speeds between 15 to 60 kph. Fifteen gear changings and 20 brakings 8.2 0.100 82.0

5 Overall Fuel Average 20.2 0.268 75.4

CONCLUSION

This bike represents ultimate economy. Cheap to buy, and the best mileage on two wheels. At @ Rs.22,500/- ex-showroom Pune (cheaper in other states), this bike delivers the goods cheaper than anything else.