What are the few thrills that civilized man can indulge in that is cheap, everyday like but EXCITING. Well for me at this age, it is me and my bike. What’s so exciting you might say, my uncle has one.
First, a thing about the CBZ is that it is a very different bike from other bikes in its league for this country. It has a 156 cc engine (puny by superbike standards) and throws out a meager 12.something BHP. But there the difference ends between this one and other bikes on the Indian tarmac. Its gearbox is designed with one thing in mind to reach that 60 kmph mark in the shortest possible time, which obviously lets fuel efficiency go to the dogs. Ok its gives 38 or max 40 if u ride like a gentleman. Then there is that fat rear tire designed to carry more speed and stability. At 90 it feels firmly planted to the pavement, you cud leave the handlebars, I tried it but you don’t try that. Ok it runs out of breath at 100.
DRUNKEN EXPLOITS WITH ME AND MY BIKE: Sober I am a cruising-type guy happy to chug along at 40 in top gear. But come the evening and 90 ml of alcohol in my blood, I am fully charged and a very different person. I have to get home early and ahead of everybody. Another guy on a Enticer entices me to a duel. He has a female astride. I say what the heck I and shift lower and twist the throttle and catch up with him, of course dodging a couple of slow moving rickshaws in the process. I catch up with him at the signal. Both of us revving at the red light. My bike groans more louder obviously. Ok the lights will they are still red we are waiting, clearing the last of the jaywalkers with our sights and right wrists. I select 1st and wait. The light turns green and we are off. As expected we both caress the bike into first. Then second is flicked and we are off twisting till we can twist no more. My bike lets out a loud cry and then unwilling lunges forward. He is maybe on a third but I am getting away. He is burdened by his pillion. I depress the clutch halfway and blip the throttle in true GP fashion and select 3 and the rest is done unknowingly by my senses just like clockwork. By this time, I really moving and my so-called opponent is slipping away. Fourth comes up and this time I max the revs and it is 60 or so and then casually engage fifth and pretend to enjoy overdrive. I casually check my mirrors to see a speck of light. I ease off as there are people on the road even at this unearthly hour and the next signal has come up, end of race. Then I have to just pretend as if this whole incident didn’t take place at all, that “Who Me?” look.
With cars it is even easier. I have come to blows with a couple of 1.1L Santros at the lights and came out shining. From 0 to 60 it is a wild animal, after that just pull to the left and chug along and watching the Santro zip by and brake hard for that invisible speed breaker or catch up with him at the next signal. Just see the look on the owner’s face.
Its brakes are something to write home about. You can jab hard on front brake and the bike will come to rest faster than you’d expect. I have even broken the oil seals on the shock testing the limits of it. Cost me dearly though Rs. 1500 for the oil seal.
All in all it is a riders bike, Get it if U want to be fastest off the green light and still go home smiling.
Well there will always be new and faster bikes but for its time and cubic capacity, (RX 135 is faster but then 100 cc of 2 stroke is equal to 150cc fours stroke) there is no other like it. I hate all you Pulsars!