Hii.. So finally I decided to buy a bike. What I wanted? not just two wheels and an engine, but.. Performance (Bangalore traffic!! oh my God!!), Handling (To squeeze past traffic, people, dogs, cattle, chickens, potholes..) Mileage (Manishankar Iyer, please help!!) Looks (So you dont want to sit behind. but you must turn your head!) Riding Comfort (I value my back!) In that order. So what do I choose? Options: Bajaj Pulsar 150 Honda Unicorn TVS Fiero F2 Bajaj Discover 125 All 100cc bikes were ruled out, because I found them too common and anaemic. Anyway, till the last moment, the Discover was not even on my list! but I read a review in Autocar india, and decided to take a test drive. I did, and I tell you, guys, the first thing I did after returning to the showroom as book the bike! Reasons: Awesome power and toque, in all 4 gears (DTSi, ExhaustTec) Tight handling Exactly suited for my size and height And of course, the price, you pay 4000 more than the splendor you get 25cc and a self starter. All others are excellent (even better, but out of segment) bikes, but the Pulsar and Unicorn were a little big and a little out of my budget, and the Unicorn was too smooth, too silent. The F2 well, no fifth gear, that too for a 150cc bike. I bought the top end version, black, with mag alloys (same as in the new pulsars) and disc brakes. I paid Rs. 54002, on road Bangalore, stretching my budget a little. Its been 4 months and 7500 kilometers.. and I am extremely satisfied, except for some little things. Am not going into all the tech details, but will give you what I felt. first even I thought that it was a baby pulsar, but later I found its not. Looks Looks a little quircky from the front, but overall especially from the sides, it looks extemely good, giving a sculpted raw look, and it looks big also. The rear end is a work of art, with the tail-lamp looking like it merges into the end of the back. Plastic parts are used only at a minimum, giving it a raw naked look. And with alloys and discs, it looks even better. Not as macho as the pulsar, but smaller and sexier. Performance This is the perfect bike for the ’’Traffic signal grand Prixes’’ for which Bangalore is famous for. I tell you, when you are driving in a hell like Bangalore, You will need every extra bit of power and torque, and you will feel the need that as soon as the throttle is turned, your bike should be where you mind says you should be. Using DTSi and ExhaustTec, the Discover is exactly that, where the torque and power seem to be stored in the handle and go directle to the wheels as soon as you turn it! If you are not careful with the throttle, you can even do easy wheelies! It even has the same throaty sound as the P150, but a little tuned down. Its torque is at par with the 150, and you can take long bends without even downshifting. But the gearbox makes a lot of noise, especially when you downshift, which is annoying. The torque is so much that at times you feel like something is holding the bike back. the problem here is the top end. As soon as the bike approaches 65-70, you feel that there might be a need for a 5th gear, but not necessary. it can do very well without it. Its a feeling that the engine gets over revved, but even at 90 its just 7000 rpm. Brakes The front one I have is disc, and it is very hard. So be careful. But the back brakes is drum, and even that is hard, that sometimes you feel that there are discs in the back too! and the back wheel seems to lock up on too much pressure. The lighting is excellent, with the big headlight and pilot lights. Mileage The all important question. Well I got 63 before the first service, 54 after that, 58 after the second service, 60 after the third service and now it ranges 55-60. I think thats pretty good for a 125cc bike with such performance! Handling Its like you tell the bike where to go, it goes. the handling is excellent, more so after I changed the original splendor-type commuter handle to a Pulsar-180 handle. but here the problem is road grip. the back tyre is too skinny (3.00x17) and does not complement the capacity of the engine. The sales guys told its to aid mileage, but it can accomodate for big tyres and rims, if you want to change. The long wheelbase also does wonders to handling. It is almost as much as the pulsar, just 25mm less. Ride Comfort The suspension is excellent, and does not knock out your teeth from your jaws. The seat is long, and comfortable, and with the original handle, the seating position is comfortable and upright. The problems I faced are those small niggling problems, like indicators breaking off at a touch (all bajaj vehicles have this problem), the tripmeter reset knob coming loose, blinker burnout and so on. but nothing with the engine or transmission, which are going great guns! BottomLine So guys, I tell you if you do mostly city driving and want a bike to zip through all that nasty traffic without much hassle and the occasional highway stint, and returns good mileage, and sturdy feelings with DTSi technology at affordable (almost 100cc) prices, with reliable Bajaj name and tech, go for it. Thats my verdict. Happy and safe riding! Cheers vinod UPDATE! Well, guess I paid a little too much. The Discover has been revamped, now the Alloy wheels are standard and snazzy new graphics have been added, from front to back. and the price been slashed too! it now 46500 for the kick start version and 49500 for the electric start version. Also double springs have been added, which is a new innovative invention. now is the best time as ever to buy one! Take care vinod
UPDATE!
My bike was stolen.. Yet to trace it.. Hope for the best to the Bangalore Police..