Jul 31, 2007 09:42 PM
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(Updated Jul 31, 2007 09:52 PM)
My dad's Bullet had lasted it's lifetime. We were on the lookout for a new bike which gave a good mileage and a decent power. Hence, we narrowed down our search to the 125cc segment. We had 4 options to choose from. Bajaj Discover, Honda Shine, Suzuki Zeus and the Yamaha Gladiator. My dad had almost decided to go with the Discover, when we heard from many users and magazines that it had gear-box problems. So, we decided to have a look at the other ones too. Finally, we narrowed down our options to the Honda Shine and the Yamaha Gladiator. But after a detailed survey on the 2 bikes, we decided to go with the Gladiator. Reasons? Stunning Looks, 5 gears and a great mileage!
The Bike...STYLINGThe bike, as I mentioned has been styled extremely well. In my honest opinion, I would rate it's styling better than the Pulsar.The bike's tail has been styled very well (yes, the tail is the same as Fazer.). Due to the unique styling, Yamaha has been able to do away with indicators jutting out from the sides.The tank has been buffed up. I bought the Gladiator Type JA. This version costs about 2000 bucks more but is really worth it! To start with it has the Yamaha Logo in Gold (the normal version comes with a Silver Logo). Added to that is the snake body graphics in purple and the sign of John Abraham on the tank head. The font also undergoes a makeover , with the words Gladiator printed in gold and a majestic font style. The chassis has been painted black. Along with Disc brakes and Black alloys, it is sure to be an eye-catcher on road.
PERFORMANCEThe gears shift smoothly in the Gladiator. So, I guess it was a better choice than the Discover. Though one cant accelerate much till the 3rd gear, Gears 4 and 5 allow maximum speed. I havn't hit the top speed yet on this bike. So, no comments about the Top Speed now! But, one nagging factor about the bike is that it doesnt feel all that powerful as it looks. The macho styling and razor sharp tail just dont match the power the bike generates (10.8 PS).
The Gladiator is a great bike for the tall rider. It is 1100mm high.The engine is the same from the Fazer except for 5 gears. In short, the Gladiator is more of the Fazer in an all new look.
The suspension of the bike is great. Smooth on the bumps. It's height adds on to the ride quality and the end result is that we feel little or nothing when crossing over a bump. The Mileage is also pretty good. It delivers around 57 kmpl which is decent for the 125cc segment. Mileage was another reason why we chose the Galdiator over the Discover.
The Service of Yamaha is good. They did a good job at the 1st service of the bike (which is the only 1 completed as of now.). The JA Type is much better in looks than the normal version.
To sum it all up, the Gladiator is a great bike. Worth it's value. It lives up to its name. A True Warrior among bikes!
