Hi all, this is my first post. Am here to share my bike’s riding experience.
At that time, i.e., in 2006, I didnot have’big’ money to buy high end bikes / go beyond 50K. So natually Splendor and likewise bikes comes into picture. I definitely didnot wanted to go for Splendor., every second person on road rides a Splendor, and I wanted something rare(to some extent), and decided to go for PassionPlus - which was like a tad high than Splendor. I seriously didnot wanted to go for Bajaj’s, TVS’s and others. Mainly because I was not sure about their performances 2-3 years down the line.
In 2006, Pulsar upgraded two of its bikes - P150 and P180 with digital dash board and LED lights and other goodies. I liked the all black P180 very much., but my budget didnot permit me to own one. So finally had to settle with a PassionPlus.
In Dec 2006 I got my bike delivered. That was my first bike riding., I never rode a bike. When I decided to buy a bike, I test rode my friend’s Zeus., and he ne’er let me go beyond 4 kms riding. I dint even know how to put gears, work with clutch and stuff. When I took my bike’s delivery, I was very very nervous. I got the bike delivered at 1000 hrs, the showroom guy drove my bike from basement to the road and handed over me the keys. I very well remember, at that time, I sat on the saddle, started the bike with one kick, pulled the clutch, and my left foot automatically shifted to the first gear. I heard people telling, that you should slowly leave the clutch and simultaneously increase the accelerator. And I did the same, the bike moved gradually ahead and I started feeling confident. Then went into second gear and so on. To my luck, I spotted one of my friend who was actually going to my home, I called him and he happily drove my bike home.
Next day was the doomsday for me. Inspite of my mother telling not to take the bike to office, I took it and believe it or not, I was out of my home to office at early morning 0545 hrs, as there will not be any traffic and there is no need to change gears frequently. My office is 13 kms, and I took 45mins to cover that distance.
Later the day, came the real test for me - I had to drive back home at 1800 hrs. If anyone is part of Bengalooru here, they’ll know the traffic at that time. My legs were literally shivering, as I proceeded towards basement to take the bike. Came out of our campus, and was slowly driving on the extreme left of the road. After couple of kms, I saw the first signal and slowed my bike. I was like 30-40 feet away from the traffic lights. After sometime, the lights turned green. When my turn came to move, I happily loosened the clutch and rised accelerator., bike moved 2-3 inches and the engine was switched off. There was a huge traffic behind me and everyone started screaming, loud enough to deaf. My body turned cold and for couple of seconds I didnot know what to do. later an autowala screamed at me and told me to put the bike aside and do whatever I want. But hell, am not able to tow the bike also. I was in a very embarassing situation. People gave me disgusted looks and comments. Later I realised that, when I stopped at that signal, I was in fourth gear. I had to put it to first or second gear, depending on the bike’s pickup. Couple of times, I even towed my bike to cross the signal, as I was not sure to tame a signal all by myself.
After that day, I became extra careful while riding and within the next 2-3 days, I learnt 80% of riding. Still I was struggling a bit while taking’U turn’. And as the days passed, I learnt riding the bike fully.
Coming to the bike.
Engine and Performance: Bike comes with a 97.2 cc displacement and 7.8 horses., which makes the bike a pure commuter.
Mileage: The most discussed part of any HeroHonda bike. Before first service, I was getting around 45-50 kmpl. And today, am getting an average of 60-63 kmpl. While driving in city, I never cross 45 kmph and long ring roads or continous stretches, I keep it under 55 kmpl. Which makes my bike definitely a mileage bike.
Control: Awesome. Once I learned to ride my bike, I sometimes vroom upto 80-85 kmph and apart from vibrations, the bike is completely under my control.
Pickup and ride comfort: Am a maniac. When am in a signal, and when the light turns green, I try to outrun other rider by pulling the bike upto to 25-30 kmph in first gear itself, until the engine screams for gear change. And till date, I ne’er had pickup problem when there is no pillion. And with pillion, its a bit difficult to pull. Near signal’s or slow moving traffic, I have to come to first gear.
Coming to ride comfort., the seat is pretty cozy and can easily manage to drive 100-120 kms at one stretch without your bums getting burned out. I’ve done lot of long rides and I hardly take 3-4 breaks.
Looks: Looks is purely subjective and differes person to person. If you ask me, Passion is one of the best designed bikes from HH’s stable - next to Legendry CBZ and Splendor. This bike is evenly balanced from head to toe. Passion’s head was so cute that even Yamaha Libero used Passion’s headlight for sometime.
Maintenance: Other than oil change and regular fuel and couple of punctures, I haven’t spent a single rupee(touch wood) on the bike. Its definitely the most low maintenance bike that I have ever come across. Keep your right wrist under control and regularly feed the bike with liquid, the bike will perform like cheese.
Verdict: For a common man / commuter, I would definitely a Passion., firstly its from HeroHonda’s stable, second, very low maintenance, thirdly, very good mileage, if drove sensibly and under control.