The HH Ambition was released a few years ago as a competitor to Bajaj’s mega hit bike the Pulsar 150...
Fitted with a 133 cc engine, this bike sports a unique displacement which leaves it too big to be categorized in the 125cc segment and too small for the 150cc segment... And yet it does surprisingly well in fron of the 150s...
The general build quality is partially derived for the legendary CBZ with the front fuel tank with a similar design... The look changes towards the back where an elongated taper defines the "Ambition" look... The entire design of the Ambition was so good that it is utilized even in the modern HH Acheiver...
In terms of looks, the Ambition was an average looker.... One had to like it or dislike it... The original looks of the ambition was more accepted than the copy of the CBZ... All in all, the Ambition loses out heavliy in the looks department after the so-called facelift which saw its sales plummet... Coupled with Bajaj’s extensive ad campaign of the Pulsar’s looks, the Ambition lost a lot of ground....
Scratch under the surface and one can immediately see the refined HH engine... Or was it? Well... The engine was very good but just lacked the punch that was necessary... The power delivery was good, the gearing was good but somehow the bike was too staid to live up to its name... Agreed that the HH quality wasn’t lacking but it was pretty much a non-starter after the initial sales craze....
The electric start was a useful addition for those who drive in heavy city traffic as also the fact that it could be used in any gear with the clutch depressed... This very starter has lived on, longer than the bike into the current SS, Achiever, Glamour and CBZ Xtreme....
The mileage of this bike was not exactly as good as expected... Considering that a 150cc bike nowadays gives about 50 kmpl, the average of 50 kmpl for the 133cc engine was low to justify it... Yes, it was known as the power fuel bike, but it lacked the necessary power to justify such mileage....
The riding comfort of the Ambition was initially very good, though a bit on teh straight side for tall people... Once the bike was redone, the comfort really went down....
The handling was decent though the dics brake, lifted from the CBZ somehow did not perform as well... And to add to it, the bike was a little bit on the heavy side....
Well, after wrting all this, one actually sees more of a negative side to the bike...But the fact is, it is still decent enough to buy as a second hand... If one can buy it at a good rate, it does provide the usual HH reliability in spite of all the niggles.... And yes, the service centres do know how to service it....
My opinion is that the bike is over rated but not all that bad... The overall package, for once, failed HH and the model was withdrawn a few months ago...