I purchased Gladiator on Oct-2008. Presently odometer is reading 5700kms.
Initially my idea was to purchase 100cc passion plus. But after lot of reviews I found that passion plus is as costly as 125 cc bikes without electric start. Then I shifted my focus to 125cc segment. In this segment, only two bikes satisfied me. CBF stunner and Gladiator. Both had a 5 speed gear box, electric start, Disc brakes, and a powerful engine(11 and 10.8bhp resp.) which is truly between 100cc and 150cc. Even though stunner had a very good acceleration, because of its higher price(59.5K on road bangalore, 6K more than Gladi) I decided to go for Gladiator. My decision to purchase this bike was also influenced by the mouthshut reviews. It is the highest rated bike in 125 cc segment in mouthshut reviews.
Run in period
I was not very comfortable with this bike during its run in period mainly bcoz I was novice to bike. The bike also had some cold starting trouble. It required warming for a minute and then initial 1km riding on half choke. It improved with usage. After about 1000kms it is perfectly alright. Now, I just start it on full choke, idle it for some 5 secs.
I started loving this bike only after 800kms, it was then that I started touching 90kmph. Its a pleasure to ride this bike at 80-90kmph than at 50kmph.
Acceleration
Initial pick up is poor with doubles driving. For single driving acceleration is O.K. Its torque is low at low engine rpm. This makes driving in heavy traffic with doubles a little difficult, because after every braking gears need to be shifted down to 2nd or 1st. Also to keep the vehicle moving fast engine needs to be revolved at higher rpm. This reduces the mileage. While riding doubles a splendor plus with same payload can give a better initial pickup(upto~35 kmph) than Gladi.
Sitting posture
sitting posture is front lean. It will be ideal for 6 feet tall persons. I am 5 feet and 7 inches tall, so I have to lean a little to the front or stay closer to the tank. My senior who is just 165cms is found it difficult to reach to the handle. It is O.K for me for short distance travel, but, doubtful about long drives.
Handling and control
Braking is very good. Cornering is at least as good as other bikes. I am not used to riding other bikes, so I am giving this opinion in comparison to the speed at which my co-passengers on road negotiate a curve. I have not tried any hard maneavouring on this bike, but it has enough maneavourability to drive comfortably in heavy traffic.
Mileage
My driving style for 8.5kms to office is as below
First 300-500meters through pocket roads on 2nd or 3rd gear.Next 2-3kms on highway at 80-90kmph. Then after taking few turns cruising at 60-70kmph for 2kms. Next, half a kilometer through heavy traffic on 2nd or 3rd gear. The last 2-3kms through medium traffic below 60kmph.
For the above driving style I get a mileage of 48-52kmpl for single driving.
Maximum I have ever got is 56kmpl which was during run in period of upto about 1000kms.After that I regularly touch 80-95kmph whenever I get opportunity and probably for that reason mileage has come down.The mileage has dropped to as low as 42kmpl whenever I tried some heavy acceleration or some hard driving with doubles.
Top speed performance
I like this bike most for its top speed performance. I drive this bike at 80 to 95kmph regularly. I don’t know how its vibration at top speed compares with that of other bikes, but certainly, I can tell that, it does not discourages one from pushing to limits. On very few occasions bike has touched 100kmph.Top speed with doubles will be 80-85kmph. I can forgive all other short comings of this bike for its top speed performance.
Other problems
Bike’s engine sound and vibration changes sharply at 60kmph. It goes unnoticed if I quickly pass through 60s. But if I accelerate normaly I can feel some vibration near 60. It will be O.K after few seconds or after crossing 65kmph. Is it due to a change from economy mode to power mode? If anyone else has noticed such problems, then, please share ur experience.
Electric starter has not worked on 4 occasions till date. All occasions while starting after a signal. Has anyone noticed a similar problem with self starter?
I would also like to know its performance during long drives(say 300-500kms).
Thanks everyone for patient reading.
Have a nice drive.