Well, a late review actually, the reason being the wait for a dedicated slot to the P220 and since that did not seem forthcoming, I had to use the P200 slot to pen my comments.The day I got news of the P220 being put on display at Khivraj Bajaj, Bangalore, I began waiting for my weekend. But a 3 day wait seemed to be too long to touch and feel India’s most talked about bike and I was off to the showroom the very next day at about 12 in the afternoon. Khivraj Bajaj is always short of parking space being located in a, not so big building, though at a prime spot in the city.
I parked my P150(2004) and as I began walking towards the main entrance, I had my first glimpse of the bike. Trust me one good look at it makes you stop in your tracks. The big fairing, mirrors on the fairing, the fat silencer, the rear disk brake and the rear three quarters are, I feel the best angles to look at the bike from.
Anyway, I went inside and lo and behold, there were at least 10 P 220s of all colors, standing neatly in a row with most of them already registered. I went close to one of them and sat on the bike on its main stand and then lifted my legs to place them on the footrests. This is when I made 2 discoveries. One, the riding posture is very much inclined towards the tank, like a sportsbike. I agree that this is India’s first sports bike but the inability to adjust the split handlebars means that you cannot customize your riding position incase you dont like the current angle. Secondly, the seat is hard, I mean really hard on the butt. I d prefer a P150(2007) model seat any day in terms of cushioning and padding. YOur knees though, get plenty of tank to hug and your hands get good grip on the bars as well. The switchgear is the usual good quality Bajaj gadgets with small innovative touches like the self cancelling indicators. back lit switches etc. The console is placed at an angle facing the rider and is more user friendly compared to the P150/180/200. One grouse I have against all these bikes which have a full fairing is, you can actually see the road under neath you between the fairing and the tank when you sit on the bike and that, I feel makes the fairing look like an aftermarket job. I know it is diffficult to cover that space up as the handle bars need space to turn but if something like a flexible rubber cover could be provided, the entire look can be transformed.
My pulsar has very good rear view mirrors and in comparison, the P220’s mirrors are not only small but the rubber grommet covering the mirror stalks are of a low quality and do not cover the mirror ball joint properly and keep coming off as well. Somehow I feel these mirrors are prone to breakage as well as they protrude to quite an extent outside the fairing.
The pillion seat is comfortable and the perch is good to actually have a look at the road from above the rider’s head in order to avoid inconvenience to the rider by bending to either side.
Apart from these small glitches, the general fit and finish is certainly upto if not above the current standards and once does get a feel of being on a premium bike once aboard the P220.
Now for the "feel" part of it.
I sauntered towards the reception and asked the lady if I could get a test ride and was asked to wait for my turn after I gave them a copy of my DL. I could already feel the adrenaline in my nerves as this was the first time I was about to ride a fuel injected rear disk brake bike....!!!!!!! Geeeee, I was drooling by the time the mechanic came to me and asked me to follow him to the parking lot. He wheeled the bike to the road and asked me if I would like to begin right away.....I clambered on to the rider’s seat of a grey P220 with 0023kms on the odometer and turned the key to "ON" position and........what was that ? Felt like some thing was vibrating between my legs.....And before you start guessing my dear readers, that is the fuel pump starting up each time you turn the key on and it literally tickles your inner thighs, at least that s what I felt. The console has many more lights on it compared to the P150/180 to indicate the oil filter, oil temp, ECM status and other electronic gizmos in the bike and the layout is pretty decent as well.
I slotted the bike into first gear and dropped the clutch and......and.....naa no rocket style pick up as I expected but then a very linear stable pull suitable to our day to day city traffic.I sort of liked it. Changed into second and the bike accelerated better.....above 3500rpm the bike is worth raving about and really begins to feel big and fast. We reached the next signal and I intended to brake as late as possible avoiding wheelspin and getting a feel of the rear disk, but to my disappointment, the rear disk did not bite as I expected it to. In fact, I tried to make the wheel skid at an empty stretch later but no luck. The rear disk I must say has neither the bite nor the feel of a disk brake.. You still need to use the front brake to a good extent to get good braking distances. Coming to suspension, Pulsars have always had a good ride and decent handling and this one is no execption. It rides over potholes and speed breakers with ease, soaks up road irregularities and rides well on smooth roads.
Mileage, hmmm nice question, wrong place but still, based on the technology Bajaj has pioneered in this bike, I feel one can expect an average figure of 30kmpl if ridden sanely. Not bad considering the class to which this bike belongs.
Maintenance, Bajaj has always been cost effective as far as this aspect is concerned and if the workshops are properly equipped and the personnel trained well, the routine service should be a cakewalk as well.
We came back to the showroom and I requested for a quotation. I was told that they already have 1100 orders pending and hence I would need to wait for my turn upon which I d be called and given a quotation.
Wait I will, to collect some more moolah for my downpayment and to check how the bike performs in the long run.
Heres wishing you all the best Bajaj....
All ears here.....