Monday, February 11, 2013

Hero KARIZMA ZMR Owners Review .. the ultimate sports tourer :) -Avelin Daniel Abraham



                          


Hero Moto Corp's Premium Motorcycle ! KARIZMA ZMR !



The Hero Honda KARIZMA was the first real sports bike of India, when it was launched in 2003.  The R version got nothing more than a cosmetic upgrade. Enthusiasts were disappointed.
People wanted more; specially fuel injection, digital speedometer ,LED lights and more power. This came true when India's largest two-wheeler manufacturer went ahead and launched the KARIZMA ZMR. But it was not received well.
The bikes looks were not pleasing to the eyes of many, even I was not convinced at first whether  I really needed the ZMR  but riding the ZMR changed my thoughts.Proud owner of ZMR now ,15000 kms in an year is not all that bad ;)
Karizma ZMR is an excellent bike and a reliable one too. Quality is top-notch and the engine is very refined. However if you are into racing and always go wild on roads then you should look else where as the ZMR is a cruiser, not a drag bike. It is fast but not the fastest.It looks good but is not a head turner. It costs Rs 1.16 lakh on road and will return a mileage averaging 42 kmpl, making it an excellent alternative for those who seek a peaceful ownership experience and occasionally wishes to back a punch.


Kms Completed         - 15000
Average Mileage        - 44kmpl ( 51kmpl - Best Mileage , 34kmpl - Worst Mileage)
Max Service Cost       - INR 650
Major Replacement  - INR 2200 ( Front and Rear Brake pads @ 14700kms)
Top Speed Hit           - 131 km/hr (NH 47)

Longest Distance    - 970 kms ( Kumily - Pondichery)
Max Power: 17.6 bhp@7000 rpm 
Max Torque: 1.87 kgm@6000 rpm 
Kerb weight: 159 kg 
Power to weight: 110.69 bhp/tonne

As mentioned earlier I was never totally convinced with the looks of ZMR , but it gradually began to change. I started noticing people looking at it and even the cops enquiring about the mileage and price.Now I am in total love with it.All these happened not because ZMR is a looker but its rare in the roads, probably because of the reason that many feel that the bike is heavy , bulky and so on. To all my friends out there ride this bike , feel the smoothness of the engine you will fall in love :)

Moving on with my review , I have written down my experience and my feelings about ZMR and those qualities that i feel are so cool and vice versa.

The Digital Instrument Cluster

                                           

Undoubtedly the best meter among the Indian Bikes The all new digital console is having all required clocks. Speedometer, Odometer, 2 trip meters, Tachometer, Automated Mileage Indicator , Auto Light Censoring ,Digital Clock complete the cockpit. A personalize message on switching on and off is an unique touch, this can be customized.I would have wished to see a gear indicator console too :). The real time average meter updates every 15 seconds. Dont believe the real time meter always but it's between 40-50kmpl most of the time.
The Suspension System
                            

Indian roads requires a good suspension system..The Karizma ZMR features telescopic forks at the front and inverted gas charged suspension at the rear, which has 5-step adjustment. The adjustment is not so easy to do and I had it set on medium most of the time. Ride quality is very good and the ZMR absorbs most of the bumps on the road. Even after continuously riding on the worst of roads, one doesn't feel the uneasiness caused by bumps and potholes.
The Smoothest of Engines
                                       

The strongest point about Karizma ZMR is its engine.The 223 cc engine is the smoothest and most refined engines available in India.It might not make your heart skip but what it does is that it captures your heart. Even thou it is categorized as the lowest power to weight ratio bike in the premium segment  it backs a punch when it flies 0-60 km in 3.7 seconds.The Engine is so relaxed and till now I have not heard a rough sound from the engine whatever speed or slow you go. But with all that mass and the kind of road presence it gives off, it could have produced better performance that would have really enabled the ZMR to throw out the competitors.The gearbox is another commentable aspect , even though its not a 6 speed. I wished it had a 6th gear that would have clearly given the ZMR the edge over the rivals. But still put the gear on to 3rd or 4th roam around the town without any hiccups.


The Best In Class Mileage


                                               

This is were i was absolutely surprised. A 223 cc , 17.6 bhp , 159 kg bike giving out the maximum distance for every drop of fuel. The mileage of ZMR on average is 44kmpl. If u push this bike to its limit you would get the worse mileage, even that is around 34kmpl. Enjoy your ride between 5-6 rpm you are guaranteed a mileage between 40-50kmpl. 
Thanks to the 12 hole PGM-FI engine and the 6 high tech sensors working on the bike.


The Handling & Fairing


                                           

The handling is amazingly good. Nothing to boast about but it caters almost everything thrown at it. For the size and weight the ZMR does is job very well.True that you cannot play MotoGP with it.The raised handle bars provide a comfortable ride whatever be the condition. There are issue relating to the fairing , it gets loose every 2000 km. I had to tight it every 2000 kms to avoid vibrations to the body.

Turn On's

  • Fuel Efficiency
  • Comfortable Ride
  • Mind Blowing Engine
  • Low Service Costs
  • Nissin Disc Brakes
  • Best Bike For Long Distance Drives

Turn Off's

  • Poor Rear Styling
  • Average Quality Tyre from MRF ( Rear Tyre )
  • Not Highly Recommended For Frequent City Use 

"A man is as good as the bike he drives. Take care of the bike, and the bike will take care of you” :)



Thanks & Regards
Avelin Daniel Abraham

Coming Soon Owners Review - Yamaha YZF R15 v2



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