WITH the first 100cc motorbike hitting Indian roads in the late 1980s there began a silent revolution in manufacture that was to completely change the mindset of buyers. More and more young people took to motorcycles, bike clubs started coming up in different cities and cross-country and long-distance runs became popular.
Indian automobile experts felt the 100cc bikes wouldn?t last long since these were light and not fit for Indian roads. They also believed the engines couldn?t be repaired since these were too light. But they were proved wrong and demand grew for lighter motorcycles with fuel-efficient engines. The 100cc bikes forced manufacturers of heavy motorcycles to introduce fuel-efficient engines and reduce the weight of the bikes. Now even Army and paramilitary personel use lighter bikes, as do traffic police personnel in different cities.
Though I would ride heavy motorcycles, I always found 100cc bikes had very good balance and road grip and could be ridden on wet roads with confidence.
A few days back, I drove a Kinetic GF Laser Sports bike and was charmed by its performance. It has brilliant road grip, the brakes are very dependable and at sharp turns the bike can be manoeuvred with ease.
The Kinetic GF Laser Sports is fitted with a powerful 170cc engine. Gently turn the throttle and you?ll experience the force that only a 15bhp, 14Nm powerhouse can generate and the brute force that allows cruising at a top speed of 115 kmph. It is the first Indian bike with an advanced four-valve engine. Two inlet and outlet valves provide for better combustion and enhanced power delivery. This results in a smooth, high power performance with minimal vibration.
Even on bad roads the driver and pillion rider won?t feel any uneasiness, the smoothness enhanced by the counter balancer shaft in the engine crankcase. And the engine is almost noiseless. The five-speed gear box allows for top gear cruising ability, optimises power and delivers it effortlessly at any speed. This is very important in highway or cross-country biking where the slightest jerk when changing gears can upset the rider and damage the gear box.
The Kinetic GF Laser Sports is a perfect blend of style, power and comfort, so perfectly designed you?d think you were riding a foreign made motorcycle. An optimised handlebar-seat-footpeg relationship makes it a bike with a difference. The seat is so well adjusted as to negate any pain at the back of the thighs on long runs. The seats on old-fashioned bikes were so hard that drivers had to stop after an hour or so just to stretch the arms and legs to ease the pain in the shoulder joints and in the lower back. These problems have been ironed out.
The GF Laser Sports comes loaded with many a thoughtful fitting. Like the pass light, gear indicator, side-stand retract indicator, engine kill flick-button and trip meter. The most important feature is the twin headlamps ? a first for Indian motorcycles. This gives enormous confidence to the rider, particularly at night, and it?s a must for those doing cross-country biking.
I remember when we?d do cross-country runs and would have to install additional spot lamps that often wouldn?t work because the battery couldn?t take the additional load, resulting in tripping. But the GF Laser Sports? 35/35 W twin headlamps make the road crystal clear at night.
The disc brakes help during panic braking. I used the brakes at 80 kmph and believe me the bike stopped without a jerk. This is certainly a great relief. Another important feature is the 195mm ground clearance. This saves the undercarriage from damage even on bad roads. The GF Laser Sports is available in Neon Yellow or Black, Racy Red or Black and Aqua Blue or Black. Doa test drive and check things out for yourself.