I just took a test ride and oh boy the bike sure looks strikingly beautiful in the flesh, specially the one in red (there are 4 colors to choose from, which are silver, grey, red and blue). The detailing on the bike is just brilliant although I would have loved to see a better looking headlight cowl and some good detailing to spice up the instrument cluster which is very informative but just plane jane (just my personal opinion and I’m sure most people might not agree to this). Maybe the better looking Yamaha Fazer 250cc instrument cluster I saw in one of the Pics spoilt me.
So I thumb the starter button and she fires immediately to a steady idle (no strange engine noises like in the Pulsar) appearing to have a refined and smooth engine. Exhaust note isn’t loud neither is it muted just good enough I’d say but I would love if it had a growling sound to it (I’d prefer the Pulsar’s exhaust note here). Gear shift pattern is 1 down 4 up which is a major plus factor and what makes it better is shifting gears happens smoothly although I did encounter false neutrals once or twice but its got a good feel to it, which also reminds me of the clutch which is equally better; a great combination I’d say.
The pickup is nothing so great but the bike pulls well and acceleration through the gears is fun (although I didn’t get to yank the throttle open; the showroom guy would have yanked me off the bike then). The horn is kind of strange sounding but since it’s a double horn it did sound anytime better than our single horned motorcycles (Pulsar does better here too, well not a great achievement). In the braking department she does just great with the brakes giving a very good feedback and response.
The seating position is very comforting (I’m 5.11 by the way) thanks to the well proportioned seat (Pulsar loses in this department) and I guess the 17’’ front and 18’’ back wheel helps achieve a good sporty yet comfortable position (kind of a mix between a commuter and sporty stance). The handling & ride is pretty good thanks to the wide tyres and the alloy wheels coupled with the gas shockers. So all in all the bike is great although its too early to tell in a way. You gotta experience it for a few days at least and go through a lot of tarmac in order to really get to know a bike’s strong points and sore points or for that matter any vehicle. I’m tempted to make the purchase but I’m gonna hold myself back for a few months till I see some good test reports and experiences from other buyers (smart...heh) or maybe I would wait for the biggest wait of the year; the Yamaha Fazer 250 cc. Thanks for reading through guys.