I learnt bike riding on a yezdi. I believe I have ridden all bike manufactured in india since around late 1970s with the exception of Sooraj (diesel) Royal Enfield (diesel) and machismo. (none of my friends have one).
For some time family and friends have been after me to give my 1987 yezdi a rest and go in for a new bike. I reluctantly decided to go for a test ride on all the bikes. First was the dhadkan of india Hero honda- too pedestrian performance-good fo people who want to fill it and forget it.
Next was Royal enfield - but it had lost its famed sound due to aluminium engine, and extra long silencers(they said due to govt. sound restrictions). Then I landed up at the bajaj showroom. Very apprehensive because I had seen my friends during college days eating dirt on a kb100. The salesman showed me an electric blue monster sorry pulsar ’’can I take a test ride’’ I said. of course was the answer.
This was a showroom in banashankari, bangalore. The roads were typiclly bangalore dirt and potholes. The salesman took the bike out of the showroom. ’’This has a self starter’’ he said as he got on the pillion. I engaged the first gear gave it some gas and lordy lord was frightened out of my wits. This certainly had the pull/push, probably thrust is the correct word. The comfort cruising zone on this babe was around 70kmph or so. It had the weight I was used to on a yezdi. It took sharp turnings without fear and bless the front hydraulic brakes would stop at a dime. The beast was 180cc and the fuel efficiency was forgettable.
But if you want to ride a bike which is affordable and has the power, the ease of handling, this is the bike. No, no dont tell me about karizma. This babe is around 2/3rds the cost of karizma. And yes it does leave yamaha (all indian models) far behind. Looks wise it is okay but if you have a wife /daughter/gf. go easy on the accelerator. If you want to save a liittle bit of gas there is a 150 cc version which is equally peppy.
Pros : Handling, looks,
Cons: fuel efficiency of a kinetic honda