Since I am riding this bike for almost 2 1/2 Years I guess I have enough experience to write a review.I stay Approx. 13 KMs away from my office and I am riding on all working days to and fro from home to office and vice versa.
Part of the trip is on empty roads and part of it is stop and go traffic.
Looks
Platinum silver color with chrome graphics are breathtaking.Even today when the market is flooded with all sort of bikes, the looks of Platina stands apart.I guess this is the first bike to feature a clear lens indicator. Though its an economy bike, but the looks indeed can be compared to any sports bike.Sleek rear panel with fluid grab rail design are still incomparable to any make or model.Graphite tint engine with black silencer and chrome heat shield was subsequently copied by many major bike manufacturers like HH and Suzuki.
Performance
4 stroke 99 CC engine delivers 8.2 P.S power at 7500 RPM which is an o.k power for slow and medium distance trips.The gearbox though is noisy and sometimes shifting up the gears is a problem.Due to low ratios on 4 Gears (which is all downshift) gear changes are required frequently which causes a lot of inconvenience.
Engine torque goes for a toss at lower RPM’s.Due to lack of power at times to pull the bike even in low speeds you may have to shift to the first gear to catch up with the stop and go traffic. After 20 K.M’s and beyong the engine gets heated and the bike starts misbehaving.It gets too noisy and starts losing power and acceleration too fast.
Conclusion:The bike would be recommended to people who have low budgets.Are fuel conscious and travel at a speed below 50 to short distances. Suspension and wheels. There is nothing special about the suspension as claimed by the company.In due course back pains are possible but at a much lower extent then the other bikes with cramped seating positions like TVS RTR 160 and Yamaha RF15.
Alloy wheels are of very medium quality.Drum brakes are pathetic.Sometimes the bike would just not start in spite of repeated kicking.The tires get punctured easily and quite often.Leg guard is just for name sake.Very small and inefficient.
Final Story
I have got my bike modified a bit by changing to a much wider tire of MRF which in return gives me an excellent road grip and control even in rainy conditions.Due to very bad braking system, I have got a Disc brake of Discover 135 installed which is giving some serious stopping power to my bike through the 240 mm powerful disc brakes. K & N Air filter and iridium spark plug can further make a difference in the poor power of the bike but since it does not have any resale value it is pointless to spend so much.
I would never recommend anyone to go for this bike due to all the shortcomings it has, there are various 125 CC bikes available in the market now with slight price difference.Yamaha Gladiotor typr RS and SS is the best in class.Honda Unicorn is a bike which has a very refined and smooth engine and great comfort and at 13 bhp power if you are a tactile rider with an aptitude for space and speed calculation you can beat a Pulsar big time.
So please go for platina only if you have short distance to travel to and fuel efficiency is your major concern.You may not be young and would not prefer race or overtaking at all....then this is a bike for you.