HEY guys it has almost been two months since karizma was launched and many reviews has been written comparing it with pulsar180 but it has not been compared with eliminator ok guys I know that they both are vastly different machines but since they are in almost the same price range with eliminator being 5k more costlier than karizma...and consider pulsar180(58, 000) which is nearly 25, 000 less expensive than karizma(83, 000) isn’t that a big difference in price considering it is honda’s answer to bajaj pulsar so its not a bad idea to compare it with eliminator.........
ELIMINATOR : THIS IS THE FIRST CRUISER TO HIT INDIAN ROADS AROUND 2001 THE BIKE WAS MADE WITH KAWASAKI COLLABORATION ITS THE LIGHTEST BIKE FROM KAWASAKI VULCAN RANGE OF CRUISERS THE BIKE WAS THE TOP SELLING MODEL IN EUROPE SPORTING A 250CC ENGINE..BUT HERE IN INDIA IT WAS LAUNCHED IN A 175CC VERSION
THE bike has a 173.8cc engine and has 15.15bhp of power and has the ability to go upto speeds of 115...not bad considering it has a kerb weight of 156 kgs still the bike is no slouch either it boasts of a great pickup..the bike has the longest wheel base and is a typical cruiser with all that chrome work and low seating... IT’S a beauty in motion with all that dazzling chrome work all over the headlight, meter, mirrors, handle bar, fueltank, backrest.. etc it is a very graceful bike and is a delight to watch it still makes heads turn and consider it is almost into its third year in production...
THE bike has the most refined engines among indian motorcycles the exhaust is noice less...the bike has 5 gears and sports disc brakes on the front and has the fattest rear tyre present among motorcycles almost as good as a maruti car tyre which makes it a delight for all those lean angle turns the bike has 12 v electricals with the headlight being most powerful 65watts to be precise the brakes are very good, and self starter being execellent ..the bike returns around 32-38 mileage in city conditions...the seat is very comfortable with the rider seat being very broad and the pillon has a fat backrest at his disposal...
THE HANDLING OF THE BIKE IS GOOD AND IT HAS VERY GOOD BALANCE WHICH INSPIRES CONFIDENCE......and the fit and finish which is best in any bike though it has got its drawbacks also like it doesnt have a fuel meter which is must on highways and you are always thinking that when you have to refill it’s 15 litre tank the bajaj guys should provide a pass switch for overtaking again which is very essential for bad indian highways the low seat makes it difficult for tall guys to sit comfortably they look real awkward with thier legs stretching out..and lastly the price 90 thousand on road is real expensive...
KARIZMA :THE LONG AWAITED MOTORCYCLE FROM HONDA STABLE IS FINALLY OUT AND BOY THEY HAVE ADDED SOME FIRST TIME FEATURES TO BE SEEN ON A INDIAN MOTORCYCLES...WITH THAT DIGITAL TRIP METER, CLOCK, ODOMETER..AND GOD THAT LCD DISPLAY REALLY LOOKS GOOD AT NIGHT...
THE bike sports a 223 cc engine and has all of 17 ps of power the bike can go upto a top speed of 125 good 10 kms faster than eliminator...the styling of the bike is similar to adreno with that half front fairing which doesnt look that good on these light motorcycles the bike looks good from the front with that eagle like fairing and that mag wheels the first bike to sport factory fitted spokeless wheels as standard fitment the tail light looks good with that twin bulb making it more stylish...
THE FRONT ASSEMBLY HOUSING WITH ALL THAT DIGITAL GIZMOS IS NEATLY PACKED UNDER A FAIRING THE SWITCHES BEING OF GOOD QUALITY AND THE LCD DISPLAY NICE AND BRIGHT....the self starter is relly good the bike has 12v electricals and has a good headlight the paint work the finish of the bike is very good ..the engine is really refined and smooth and as far as acceleration is concerned it is really brisk arond speeds of 100 but from then on you feel a slight lack of power as it takes time to go upto speeds of 110-115 the bike has a front disc brake for control and a drum at rear though it would have been a disc I wish ....
THE bike is supposed to be handled delicately with all that front fairing consider if it falls of it will make you poorer by 10, 000 rupees so it can not be handled brashly and think before throwing it into corners and riding rough the bike doesnt boast of great handling capabilities but still its not bad either the tyre at the rear doesn’t inspire confidence as it is not even good as that of cbz...the bike gives around 26-32 mileage thats bad ...the honda guys have to do some makeover as the bike shares some common cbz blunders like that of kick starting problem when the foot pegs are down and that childish like small side mirrors and that little side stand and the ommision of a leg guard for a front fairing bike is really striking...and the price 83, 000 on road is nothing much to write home about..
WHICH ONE TO GO FOR : AHH THATS A TOUGH QUESTION TO ASK BUT LETS SORT IT OUT THIS WAY ELIMINATOR IS A BIKE FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE HIGHWAY RIDING AND GRAB A CHANCE TO HOLIDAY THAT DOESNT MEAN THAT ITS NOT FOR CITY RIDING BUT THE BIKE COMES INTO ITS ELEMENT ON THE HIGHWAYS WHERE YOU WILL LOVE IT ...ITS IS REALLY COMFORTABLE AND YOU DONT FEEL TIRED ....THE MORE YOU RIDE THE MORE IT WILL GROW ON YOU AND YOU WILL ADMIRE IT ..ITS ULTIMATE LUXURY..AND IF YOU GUYS DONT MIND OVERTAKED BY A KARIZMA OR PULSAR 180 OCCASIONALLY THAN GO FOR IT...THE BIKE WILL PAMPER YOU IT HAS A UNIQUE STYLING AND WILL MAKE HEADS TURN... ON THE OTHER HAND WE HAVE THE BIKE WHO WILL THRILL ALL DARE DEVILS TO LIMITS THAT PICKUP THAT TOP SPEED THE STYLING THE PERFORMANCE THOSE WHO WANT TO BE THE FASTEST AND KING OF THE ROADS WILL GO FOR KARIZMA THEY WILL LOVE IT WHEN THEY WILL KEEP OTHER BIKES CHASING KARIZMA IT WILL BOOST THIER EGO ....NOW I THINK THOSE WHO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CRUISING AND SPEEDING HAVE GOT THIER BIKES IN THIER MINDS AND KNOW WHERE TO GO....AS FOR MYSELF I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THESE ESTIMATIONS ARE BASED ON NEUTRAL GROUNDS SINCE I OWN BOTH OF THEM...WHOA HOW LUCKY!!!!:-)