I was planning to buy a bike for last 2 months. For this I went to the
showrooms of almost all the companies, saw many bikes.My preference was
good looking bike but should be able to use for family purpose also not
too costly, descent average & muscular body as I am a healthy person
of 6ft height. Obviously 150cc segment was not for me.So I started with
100cc bikes first. For that I had many options.
1.Bajaj – Platina(I ignored because of no muscular body), Discover
100cc(Many features but small tank of just 8 ltrs, looks very small
& again it doesn’t look like original Discover of 125cc, but still I
short listed it for my last consideration), I never liked Bajaj Exceed.
2.Hero Honda–Passion+ & passion Pro.Passion pro has one additional
feature & that is self start option.Otherwise technically both
bikes are same.I short listed Passion Pro.Splendor NXG- I didn’t even
look at that bike, Splendor+ is for avg health persons.So I didn’t
think of these 2 bikes at all.
3.Suzuki-I went to a Suzuki showroom, looked bikes & came out without talking even a single word
to any of their executives there.So no need to comment here
also.Reader’s can understand everything.
4.TVS–Star sport though has good average looks very small so ignored.Star city–Good
look, long seat(good for family), price only 45 k(2 months back, now
45.5 k), Company claims 102 km/ltr average, on road one can easily get at
least 60+(as per users review), 16 ltr tank(Pulsar has 18 ltr tank).So I short listed this bike also.
5.Honda–Honda has not launched 100cc bikes yet.I saw shine &
stunner.Shine though of 125cc looks ordinary.No sporty look, no special
features like trip meter, digital speedometer, length of seat is also not
very long.Star city & passion pro seats are better than that of
shine & pricing around 55k for(disc brakes).Stunner is really
attractive for young minds.I liked that bike.But not useful for
family.So Honda didn’t find any place in my listing.
Finally I chose 3 bikes for my consideration.
I didn’t like Discover look though it has lot of good looking feature
like LED tail lamp, nitrox suspension etc. But it looks very small
because of just 8 ltr tank, its head lamp cowl, though they claim it as
stylish, is also not looking good, only 94.5 cc engine & most
importantly there is no chassis cover, bajaj saved money there(HH
passion pro takes a lead here).So for a person of good health &
height it doesn’t suit.So I removed this bike from my list.Bajaj people
should realise after success of Pulsar at least that people want
muscular bikes. They say about Pulsar – Definitely male. Does it mean
that their other bikes are definitely females? And when u find that
people prefer only male bikes, why are u offering them other bikes? See
all their other bikes & one will realise my view.
Then comes passion pro.Looks really great.U will find this bike everywhere on
road, in parkings & everywhere.Great seller bike.But if one thinks
carefully & without any preconceived notion he will realise that its onroad price is 50k & this bike is only 97.5 cc, giving average
of about 60 or 60+, no other features, no trip meter, no LED tail
lamps, no pilot lamp & forget about digital speedometer.HH is
selling same 15 yrs old product just by changing name;passion, passion+
& now Passion Pro.If u add some 4-5 k extra u can get 125cc bike.So
I rejected Passion Pro also.
Then remained Star city.I was about to buy it on Dasahera.But it is said that, “Man proposes & god
disposes”.TVS was making some changes in that bike.So it was not
available in the market for last 1 & 1/2 month.I went to showroom
thrice before Dasehara.Finally I postponed my plan then to Diwali.
Meanwhile I had gone to SBI bank & as I entered the premises I saw Gladiator,
black+ purple.I could not stop myself looking the bike.After parking
my bike also I stopped there for a while.After coming out of bank too I
spent some time looking the bike.Came home & searched the bike on
Yamaha site, found its price is just 52k as mentioned by some users, read
comments about it on mouth shut.com.I found that 99% users have given
+ve remark about this bike.Thank u all!
Yamaha was not in my consideration also.One reason is that there is no showroom of Yamaha
anywhere near to my house & secondly after sales service complaint
of Yamaha.But because of all of ur comments I searched the addresses of
dealers.I contacted 3 of them.2 of them responded nicely.
I went to one of them in the evening itself.Saw the bike & liked it.Yamaha
has increased its price to 55.4 k now.I learned there that company
claims average of around 70kmpl but on road one can get
55kmpl.So while coming home I went to HH showroom also.HH Glamour costs around
51.5 k It is also 125cc bike;gives better average than Gladiator.Looks
good but not like gladiator. Again I searched the net about glamour
review.Many users are unhappy with this bike.So I canceled this bike.
I was ready to pay additional 10k for gladiator.But my luck was great.On
Sunday, two days after my visit to Yamaha showroom, I received a call
from second showroom again.And they said that we have gladiator
graffiti & its price is only 49k.Immediately I called my friend
& went to the showroom which is at least 35km away from my home
& booked the bike.
I feel very happy & proud of
my decision.The bike has great control.We have Discover & Pulsar also
with us.If u keep 3 bikes in line u will find Gladiator more attractive
than these two because of its height & length, its fuel tank &
attractive tail lamp & indicators.It has great riding comfort.U
will not feel weight of the bike on ur hand.Yamaha has provided Soft
seat for this bike.Avg is not less than 55.
It would be too early to make any comment about performance of my bike, so I’ll keep updating u.
So to conclude I would say if u are not looking for 150cc bike & u
want great mileage with ur budget is around 45k then in 100cc segment u
can choose Discover 100cc for good features & avg.or Star city for
nice looking muscular body, lengthy seat, 110cc engine and good avg.Never
go for passion pro just because u will find plenty of bikes on
road.Usecommon sense.U will not get any additional features & u
will have to pay 4.5k extra.Don’t follow others.
If ur budget is
around 55k or u want 125cc bike then go for Yamaha Gladiator.Nice
looking bike, muscular body, descent average(in 125cc segment – Don’t
compare it with 100cc bikes), great riding comfort & price is at
least 10k less than 150cc bikes.Yamaha engines are always reliable.It
has sporty look and u can use it for ur family purposes also. Ur mom
& ur girl friend both will be happy sitting behind u.
This is my honest opinion after some careful study.Every person has own way
of thinking & likings.I have not written this for criticizing
anybody or any company or any bike.I got help from reviews of others.So
to help others in their decision making I have written everything in
detail.But of course one should use his observation & judgment
before taking any decision.45 – 55k is not a small amount. Best of luck!
