Principaly, there are two motorcycle that the youngster in our country wants. It’s either the Pulsar (180 or 150). Or it is the Hero Honda CBZ. These two motorcycles sum up to two of the most “stylish” motorcycles in the country, if you allow me to say that. Of course, absolutely nobody has been able to wipe off the luster of the Bullet Electra or Thunderbird, oh no. These two motorcycle send a profound message to anybody present around. But still, youngsters drool after Pulsar and CBZ. Let’s see what’s so special about the latter- Hero Honda CBZ.
Style and Build
You can have no doubt about the class of consumers this one is targeted at right from the beginning. It certainly has been built for the upwardly-mobile youth who love flaunting around on the street and flashing their “style”. Imagine a fifty years old plump man in his daily office clothes on this one and compare it with a twenty years old guy in combats and a tight shirt and a denim jacket, Ray Bans on his eyes and hair that look like he’s jumped into a tangle of electric wiring. You’d certainly believe the second one looks more like what it ought to be.
CBZ has this sporty look about itself. I guess that is it’s real “charm” if men allow me to say their vehicles have it. Of course, it isn’t the power-monster, son-of-a-gym Bajaj Pulsar 180. It’s more like a power-guy, born-from-a-good-familly vehicle. It has an athletic yet sturdy look about itself (like Brock Lesner has) unlike the Pulsar who has a all-muscle look about itself (like Big Show). I think that similie should help a lot!
Performance
If you build a motorcycle for youngsters and give it a very mild engine, you’ll be making losses more effectively than any other industry. I mean, of course this one has good performance figures! I’ve not personally taken a ride on it. But I have three neighbours who own it. And let me tell you, the shake up as much hell as humanly possible with their bikes. With a 157cc engine, CBZ dashes from nought to sixty in about six seconds which is damn good. I forgot to mention with the rider and a pillion.
And it’s not just this sudden dash that it kicks off. It also has this very good ability to endure that dash. If you get what I mean. I mean, you can ride it at that speed for a good long time (if traffic permits you) without hearing a single whine from the engine. This is just one other good thing from CBZ in this section.
Fuel efficiency
This is where, of course, it takes a beating from Pulsar. Till now, it was doing pretty well, with a sober and less hooliganistic look and comparable performance figures. But CBZ can’t take you as much as Pulsar can per litre of petrol. While the latter goes a best of 55 to a litre, CBZ is modest and satisfied with just 50 to a litre. The worst figures from CBZ and pulsar are both 49, making CBZ a more consistent bike. You will have to give it credit from this point of view. But if you have a pocket-money run budget, you might not be able to afford that Sunday treat at Pizza Hut every alternate Sunday owing to this guy called CBZ.
Handling and Safety
I haven’t found anything bad to say about CBZ here either. It is pretty easy to ride. I mean, it obeys your commands with very good obedience. However, it also as a slight tick of skidding at turns which is where you introduce the “ride of her life” part of your girlfriends ride hom with you. But I doubt she’ll notice that.
Again, because of it’s weight, nice suspension it keeps stable at fast speed and bumpy roads. With disc brakes in the front and nice 150mm drum brakes at the back, it stops to make sure you can stop to give your classmate a ride to her home the moment she raises her hand to ask for it.
Summing it up
I have to say CBZ is very good in almost all aspects. It has good looks, good performance, average fuel efficiency and good handling. So if you ask me, this one is very good. Let’s hope your father thinks so too (at 60-odd thousand rupees, it can be a difficult task!).