My first bike was KB100, and I still ride it like it was bought just yesterday.
It was year 1990 and I was in my final year of engineering. The young blood inside me wanted fast life & fast bike. My parents had put a condition that if I score distinction in my finals, I would get my dream bike. Believe it or not (but you better belive it...since it turned out to be a reality) I topped in my final exams, and I was presented KB100.
At that time there was a nice comparison between KB100 & Yamaha RX100 in a magazine called ’’Car & Bike’’. The article was titled ’’Ms Universe v/s Ms World’’. I think I had liked Ms World that time and thus it was my dream bike, which I ride even today, after more than a decade.
It used to deliver about 35-40km/litre, now recently I have not checked the average. I have done more than 50k kilometers on this bike, and I remember my first tire puncture never happened for first 5-6 years! The original bike came with Dunlop Spectrawide tyres, now I have MRF Zapper.
Since the model was from the first production lot, many of the plastic & rubber parts and even electric parts are original, which are still running. I have also not done any re-painting till today. Of course I have taken utmost care in maintaining it during and after monsoons every year.
I get it serviced every two months. I get the breaks overhauled every six months. Thus we are in great shape.
Touchwood, till today, I have never been let down by this bike due to sudden breakdown during short or long tours. Two of my friends also opted to buy KB100, due to my good experience and both of them too ride KB100 today. Together we have done many outstation trips to Pune & Alibag. Very comfortable to ride for the driver and also for the pillion rider.
Now this model is not produced, and smarter models like Calibre, KB100-4S, Spectra etc. have come.
I am sure other KB100 owners may not have much different opinion about it.
Take a break....I am going for a ride now!