Wednesday, February 27, 2013

KTM DUKE 390 .. Launching by June in India .. Bleed ORANGE !!

KTM DUKE 390



Ever since KTM took the covers off the Duke 390, Indians have set their eyes on the bike. If its smaller brother’s prowess is anything to go by, then the Duke 390 is sure to be a cracker of a naked bike.The Duke 200 had a great run it its first year in India, selling over 8,000 units and placing KTM at the top of the most successful premium bike makers’ list in India. The Duke 390 is expected to graduate the novice bikers and form a gateway into the world of power biking.
KTM motorcycles are generally known for their strong performance and agility. Peter Gorbach, the head of engine development at KTM says that there is significant difference between the Duke 200 and Duke 390. He comments that both the motorcycles are for those buyers who need performance oriented riding with more output over the Duke 125. The Duke 200 is meant for riders who ferry around the city and clock up to 100 km/h often, whereas the Duke 390 is perfect for long distance journeys offering good amount of power all the time to overtake other vehicles on open stretches. 
The KTM Duke 200′s frantic power delivery and affordable price tag has made the Austrian marque the most successful of the premium bike makers. KTM’s entry into India with Bajaj’s full support, both in terms of local production and retailing has enabled this achievement.Now with the launch of Duke 390 KTM is sure to take the lead role in the premium segment.KTM has established 70 Orange Stores (retail outlets) across the country which is the highest among the premium bike makers. Not resting on its laurels, the Europe’s largest bike maker is all set to launch two more bikes in India.


The first one will be the Duke 390 which, according to the company, will be launched by June 2013. The Duke 390 packs in a healthy 44 bhp. The light weight chassis means the motorcycle would be a riot to ride. The bike will inaugurate a whole new segment between 250cc to 600cc categories in India.
Coming to the engines, the Duke 125 and 200 share the same base with a different bore and the Duke 390 is fitted with a completely different engine but boasts the same design elements as seen on its smaller displacement siblings. The Duke 390 features a bigger crankshaft, clutch and gearbox because it produces more torque comparatively. The piston is forged instead of cast and the cylinder head is also slightly different over the other KTMs featuring different valves and springs but sharing the same finger followers. One of the biggest challenges for the KTM Duke 390 was to increase the output figures of the similar engine and same chassis as the Duke 125 and 200 with more bench tests to make sure everything works in place with the bigger displacement bike. Currently KTM only offers the Duke 200 in India, which is working well in the market with a price tag of Rs. 1.30 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi). The Duke 390 uses a 373cc single-cylinder engine to produce 44 PS of power and 35 Nm of torque. 



Commenting on KTM’s achievements on its 1st launch anniversary Mr. Amit Nandi, Vice President (Probiking) Bajaj Auto, said “When someone wants a normal street bike he has a lot of options in the market but when he wants to buy a thorough-bred racing machine he knows that KTM is the only one. The number of motorcycle racing enthusiasts in India is much larger than what most people think.” This is the target group that KTM has been focusing on. The orange style is set to become a trend with the launch of DUKE 390.

The KTM Duke 390 is set to be priced in the range of Rs. 2-2.25 lakhs, then it would be the best value for money sports bike on sale in India.


KTM DUKE 390


KTM DUKE 390

KTM DUKE 390

Image and Information Courtesy - KTM INDIA


Monday, February 25, 2013

Mahi Racing Team India , owned by Captain cool MS DHONI wins the first race of the season at WSS , Australia



Mahi Racing Team India won the first race of the season at Philip Island, Australia in the World Super Sport (WSS) Class, with Kenan Sofuoglu.
Kenan Sofuoglu won the race over pole sitter Sam Lowes, after a race long battle. The shortened 15 lap race was a thrilling spectacle as the Yamaha battled the Kawasaki. The Indian team won the first race of the season and Sofuogle won his 32nd race. He is the reigning World Champion in WSS and is known for his aggressive overtaking maneuvers! The second Mahi Racing bike ridden by Fabien Foret finished fourth, giving the team a fantastic beginning.


Sofuoglu’s also turned in the race’s fastest lap, coming home in 1’33.283 on the 15th and final lap. The Turkish rider had a see-saw battle with Lowes untill the 12th lap, when he overtook him for good. “It was a near perfect race for us and I am very happy that me and the team have started the campaign on the winning note,” Sofuoglu said in the statement.



“Despite finishing second and third in qualifying we knew that we had a very good chance to finish at the pole and Sofouglu was fantastic today,” Chairman and Managing Director of the team, Arun Pandey, said. Mahi Racing is the first Indian team to take part in the World Super-sport Championship, a 15-round championship.




Sunday, February 24, 2013

YZF R15 Version One Performance Tuned ! 0.15 litre Bombshell !



My 0.15 litre bombshell

It was two years back I bought my limited edition Yamaha YZF-R15 . I rode it stock till last December, and I loved it. Talking about the stock R15, its tuned good with less torque below 5,000 rpm. It’s good for city rides or commuting. And after 6000 rpm there is considerably good torque delivery towards the end of the limiter that is 10500 rpm. The stock R15’s ECU is locked or limited at 10500 rpm.
I always wanted a performance upgrade. So when I took a decision that I’m going to stay with this bike for a bit long like a 100000 km on the ODO I decided to upgrade the performance. Or say the STAGE 2-R15. I searched for plenty of options. I found plenty indeed. I wanted the best for the bike. It took almost 2 months for me to decide on the 1st mod that is changing the air intake manifold. Finally I found the great COSWORTH cold air intake. Efficient and delivers good performance. If you are changing the air filter there are chances of misfiring as the AF ratio is slightly changed. So for better sparking I changed the spark plugs to NGK iridium plugs. This was the basic mod I did. I had to wait long after this for the next mod.



The performance upgrade

At first I thought I’ll go for Daytona racing parts. Searched for it big time. But couldn't find any for my LUCK! That is when I came across Race concepts. Joel Joseph a racer himself and a race engineer building the best tuned products for the R15. Read the reviews. Found it good. Rode all the way to Bangalore. Met him, and installed the stage 2 camshaft and clutch springs. Also I installed Powertronics RS ECU.
Talking about the upgrades the best 3 things you can do on your bike is change the air intake, fuel control, and the exhaust. They are the best triplet. Everything else is added power. Those are the basic and the best mods. But I had some change of plans about the exhaust. I can’t install it now or rather afford it now. So I went with the ECU, camshaft, and clutch springs.
Joel’s camshaft was designed in a way to give the power delivery after 6000 rpm. And indeed it’s a huge torque gain. Works well in the mid range and the top end. You get a wide power band. And Joel’s clutch springs are stiffer to reduce the losses in transmission and to give you faster split-second transmission. These products are just awesome. Worth every penny.
Now the ECU, Powertronics RS. It’s another awesome thing I’ve experienced. The mapping is like you see in the Power commander (fuel controller) in Superbikes, these ECU s have preloaded maps to give you best results. We can select the maps using the throttle and by watching the lights blink on the dash. 1st map is a mileage map, 2nd for air filter change, 3rd for cam + air filter , 4th for cam + air filter + exhaust, and 5th cam + air filter + exhaust + big bore. All the maps have 10% more fuel injected. As I don’t have exhaust and big bore I can only try till map 3. Map 1 gives me around 45+ mileage and map 3 gives me around 38kms mileage. Sad to hear uh? But I can clock 95+km/hr in the 3rd gear. And although I haven’t measured perfect, I guess it clocks a 100km/hr in less than 10 secs.
The ECU has a perfect shift light blinking on the dash for transmission without much rpm loss. And also the radiator is turned on when the engine is hot. All these are not included in the stock ECU and above all I can now rev happily till 12000 rpm, without much strain. All together the bike is pretty good.

All these performance upgrades have given me a new feel altogether. My bike just blows me off now. Huge torque in the mid-range and above. Thank you for putting a big smile on my face and a sad one on the others. Thank you for your wonderful mind-blowing performance parts.
Now, you will surely be interested and anxious to know the total cost for these upgrades, right?
INR 20,000 is what it takes to change your R15 into a beast !


Bike and Image Courtesy - ANGILO PORUTHUR




With Thanks & Regards
Abey Daniel Abraham
Ride Safe


Please do leave your comments  suggestions and feedback's


Monday, February 18, 2013

KAWASAKI NINJA 300R .. coming soon to INDIA !



Ninja 300R offers the style, performance and technology to overshadow all bikes in its class. Race inspired clutch technology plus genuine big bike looks and handling are underpinned by a powerful and hard pulling 296cc fuel-injected engine. Make your move and make it on a Ninja 300R. Designed to overshadow all other bikes in its class, the new Ninja 300 offers increased performance and riding excitement, stunning new styling, and ride quality and comfort that eclipse the 250-class.
With the launch of the new Ninja 300R, the manufacturer will discontinue the current Ninja 250R from the product line-up in India. With increasing demand of sports oriented motorcycles and rising competition in the segment, Kawasaki is taking a clever move to introduce the Ninja 300R for the Indian market. The bike will cost between INR 3,50,00 - 3,75,000 in India. The bookings are open for Ninja 300R unofficially among a few dealers.


Key Features

Radiator Fan Cover
The new fan cover located behind the radiator directs hot air down and away from the rider, significantly increasing comfort when stuck in heavy traffic. Redirecting the air also helps keep the tank, frame and other parts that contact the rider cooler, further increasing rider comfort.
Dual Throttle Valves
Like the Ninja ZX-10R and Ninja ZX-6R, the new Ninja 300 uses dual throttle valves. In addition to giving natural, linear throttle response, dual throttle valves also contribute to high performance, combustion efficiency and fuel economy.
Modern Instrumentation
Sporty new instrument panel design contributes to the advanced-technology and high-quality image of the Ninja series. Muti function LCD screen functions include: speedometer, clock, fuel gauge, dual trip meters, odometer and ECO Economical Riding indicator. White LED back lighting ensures clear meter visibility at night.

Latest-spec ABS
For additional rider reassurance, an ABS model is also available. Its high-spec system designed by Nissin specially for motorcycles, delivers precise control and is extremely compact. A size of only 40% of previous Nissin ABS system makes it the world's smallest ABS unit.
Petal disc brakes
Large-diameter 290mm front petal disc brake operated by a 2-pistons caliper delivers powerful braking and a natural feel at the lever. 220mm rear petal disc and 2-pistons caliper give dependable stopping power. Petal discs like those on the larger-displacement Ninja supersport models offer excellent heat dissipation.


The Ninja 300R will be launched in June as per the latest report. The launch has been postponed due to the KTM 390 launch in India.

ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS


Displacement:296cc
Engine:Four-stroke, Parallel-twin
Maximum Power:39 Bhp @ 11000 rpm
Maximum Torque:27 Nm @ 10000 rpm
Gears:6 Manual
Clutch:Wet multi-disc, manual
Bore:62.0
Stroke:49.0
No. of Cylinders:2
Cylinder Configuration:Parallel Twin
Valve Per Cylinder:4
Engine Block Material:Aluminum Alloy
Chassis Type:Tube diamond, Steel
Cooling Type:Liquid Cooling





Sunday, February 17, 2013

TomTom Launches “TomTom Rider” - A New Navigation Device for Bikers




“With TomTom Rider, bikers can not only choose where to go, but more importantly how they want to get there”


TomTom today introduces TomTom Rider, a new portable navigation device created especially for bikers. Based on feedback from the motorcycle community, TomTom Rider has been designed to give bikers the ability to choose the type of route they want to ride - from the fastest to the most scenic to their own personalized route.

Additionally, TomTom Rider includes a feature that feeds audio instructions directly to the user’s helmet via Bluetooth®, meaning riders can fully concentrate on the road ahead. The device also includes the introduction of a new 4.3’’ glove-friendly screen, which responds instantly to touch and is designed for riding in any weather conditions, including rain or bright sunlight. The device also comes with a new charging bike dock that turns it on or off with the ignition of the bike.

TomTom Rider Key Features:

Winding Roads
TomTom’s Winding  Roads feature allows bikers to select routes with the most turns for a more exciting ride.
Upload Routes and Go
TomTom’s Upload Routes and Go feature enables bikers to upload preferred routes captured online to the TomTom Rider device. These routes can be shared with other riders via Bluetooth®.
PC Route Management via Tyre®
Users can download Tyre® interactive software to search, create and edit routes on a PC before uploading them to the TomTom Rider device. These can then be shared with friends.
All-Weather Device
TomTom Rider has a glove-friendly screen that responds instantly to touch. It is designed for any weather conditions, including bright direct sunlight.
Free Lifetime Maps
TomTom Rider includes free Lifetime Maps. For the life of the product, users can download four or more full updates of the map on the device every year, which includes all updates to the road network, addresses and Points of Interest.
Map Share
Users benefit from free Daily Map Changes from the TomTom Map Share community, which includes dynamic changes such as new speed limits and blocked roads. Map Share helps overcome the more frequent road changes and so avoid delays or detours.
Points of Interest
Via TomTom Rider, users can access the Points of Interest feature to find interesting places to stop en-route, such as restaurants, motels and fuel stations. Personalized Points of Interest can also be added, for future reference.
IQ Routes
TomTom’s IQ Routes uses real travel times for each and every road shared by millions of bikers, providing the optimum route and arrival time.
Price & Availability : In India the device is expected to be priced between INR 11,000-14000.


Saturday, February 16, 2013

YAMAHA RAY REVIEW - its offers more than hope:) ...for the skirts and tea party crowd !




The Japanese bike maker YAMAHA has at last decided to crash the party of the  true Racing Blue Fans by introducing a 113cc scooter in the Indian market - RAY. YAMAHA unlike the scooters they have launched globally claims RAY is targeted at the girls ageing between 18-24 and not meant for the Denim types. RAY is a very crucial launch for YAMAHA in India,not only because its their first scooter but also for the booming growth seen in this segment. The class of YAMAHA is too good to miss this opportunity. RAY is ready to take on the market, concentrating at the women folk and taking the risk of avoiding a lot of potential male buyers with its female oriented marketing strategy. So lets keep the market aside, Does RAY satisfy the buying criteria of their targets ? Lets take a look. 


ENGINE & PERFORMANCE

The YAMAHA RAY is powered by a 113cc engine that produces 7bhp power and 8.1Nm of torque. The scooter weights only 104kgs , so translating the basic specs means that RAY is quick. Riding around the city and in heavy  traffic  conditions  RAY  will be quick of its feet giving the rider an advantage. The RAY can hit a top speed of 86kmph and gives out a mileage ranging between 45-47kmpl. The engine sounded smooth and well refined even after continuous travelling in cities and climbing the hills.

DESIGN & HANDLING 

YAMAHA insists that the design and handling of RAY is suited to the taste of the women folk and I do feel the same after riding. But and argument against this can be that the RAY is not curvy and smooth in its design, instead it is sharp in design makeing it look sporty.May be the teenage girls would really appreciate this aspect. It has a few similarities in design with the Honda Dio but its really different in ride.Compared to the competition it has a larger wheelbase. The seats are a tad lower than the other scooters in this segment so that its easy to control especially for the ladies and the shorter ones.The boot space up front has been comprised while achieving this. To add to this the floorboard is a little sloppy that would again be a constrain to carry luggage up front.The tail lamp looks attractive and the rear grab bar has been designed in such a way that it can act as a hip rest too. Yamaha shows its love to pillion riders again ;).


This light handling coupled with the Ray’s low weight makes it a breeze in the city.When it comes to handling the Ray definitely shows its true Yamaha DNA, it’s such an easy scooter to ride around the city. Its light weight and small dimensions help you zip through traffic ever so easily. The telescopic forks at the front definitely made an impression, as it made the ride quite comfortable and even with some spirited riding the suspension kept up.Ray marches through the tightest spots and emerging victorious on the first row right below the red light.It’s adequate for most city runs, and on those short highway bursts that the Ray has done, it felt composed even at 70kph. It soaked up most of the bumps that the roads had to offer, and felt composed on uneven surfaces too, thanks to the telescopic suspension upfront. The ray feels confident to steer and a pretty small turning radius makes it apt for commuting. The front and rear brakes were on the spot in every braking situation and its does not get locked unless we want it to.

KEY FEATURES & ACCESSORIES



YAMAHA has not set any benchmarks here , normally that is what everyone would expect. They have stuck to the basics. Everything that you would need is present. The Ray does not boast of a charging point , a shutter for the ignition or a front mounted fuel filler. Infront of the foot space is an inner box large enough to hold a 600 ml plastic bottle,and there is convenience hook designed for uses like hanging a day pack.While providing plenty of mud protection, the leg shield has a design with little intrusion into the inner panel. Its design accentuates the look of compactness and lightness.The instrument panel has an analog type speedometer and fuel gauge plus indicator lamps for the high beam and turn signals. It features a crystal lens for an added look of quality and radiance.But YAMAHA could have made up a few changes in the panel that would have differentiated RAY from its competitors. One commentable aspect here is the longer rear fender, that means you will not have to splash of dirt from your rare end always.This not only inhibits mud splatter but also has a structure that helps prevent clothing like the sari from getting tangled in the wheel which is very important for women folks.

The RULING

After you ride the Yamaha Ray for a while, you appreciate what a fun scooter it is. Apart from all the basic commuting that it’s good for, the Ray also offers the pleasure of some spirited riding. Its fits all the basic requirements of the target customers, add to it the YAMAHA DNA of handling I would really fit this scooter as a Buy! It is a fun scooter and I guess YAMAHA will be highly successful in the scooter segment.

Price : 56,400 (OTR , Cochin)

Specifications

Engine typeAir-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve
Displacement113 cc
Bore & Stroke50.0 × 57.8 mm
Compression ratio9.2:1
Maximum horse power7.1PS / 7,500 rpm
Maximum torque8.1N.m / 5000 rpm
Starting systemElectric and Kick
LubricationForce-feed Lubrication , wet sump
Cylinder layoutSingle cylinder
Clutch typeDry, centrifugal
Ignition systemC.D.I (Capacitor Discharge Ignition)
Fuel supplyCarburetor
Battery12 V, 5 AH (10 AH)
HeadlightHalogen bulb 12V,35W/35W X1
Primary/Secondary reduction ratios1.000/9.388
Tranmission typeV-belt automatic
Caster/Trail27.5 degree/103 mm
Gear ratios2.259~0.824

Chassis

Frame typeUnderbone
Front suspensionTelescopic
Rear suspensionUnit swing
Front brakeDrum brake, 130mm dia
Rear brakeDrum brake, 130mm dia
Front tyre90/100-10 53J(Tube type)
Rear tyre90/100-10 53J(Tube type)
Battery Type12MX5L-B /AB5L-B
Brake/tail light12V,21W/5W X1
Turn signal light(Front)12V, 10W X2
Turn signal light(Rear)12V, 10W X2

dimensions

Overall length x width x height1,835mm x 675mm × 1,075mm
Kerb Weight104 kg
Wheelbase1,270mm
Minimum ground clearance128mm
Engine oil volume0.8 litres
Fuel tank capacity5 liters
Seat Height760 mm

                                                      


Test Drive and Image Courtesy - Richu Roy

With Thanks & Regards
Abey Daniel Abraham


Please do comment on your suggestions and feedback's


Friday, February 15, 2013

YAMAHA listen to customer feedback's again :) New pillion seats for R15 v2 !



Yamaha Motor India Ltd listens to the customers again. The company at the moment is going by "CUSTOMER IS THE KING" philosophy. 

So what has happened to the R15 v2 ? The R15 along with the new colour editions gets a slip resistant pillion seat cushioned to perfection. I think this is the best seats that the company can offer keeping in mind the height factor at the rear. There were complaints rising from customers about the difficulty to ride with a pillion. The thing was that braking with a pillion turned to be nightmares for the rider. The pillion hits your back pushing you forward, Oops boys who are concerned about their future know what happens next. So now you dont have to worry that much. Thanks to the new slip resistant seats. 

Yamaha had recently improved the seats of FZ series also, widening the seat making pillion riders more comfortable. That too was a result of constant market research by YAMAHA , attending to even the smallest of issues. Even the R15 v2 design was exactly the changes that the customer wanted to the earlier R15. Its seems that YAMAHA takes customers seriously than the other companies or may be they love pillion riders :P.


Thundering Green Special Edition

Invincible Black 

Raring Red
MotoGP edition Racing Blue

The R15 dressed in Thundering Green which is a special edition color will retail at INR 1,12,750 while the MotoGP edition Racing Blue will command a premium of INR 1,000 over the former. The other new colors Raring Red and Invincible Black are standard and will be available at a price of 
INR 1,10,750.

* all prices being ex-showroom Delhi

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Excited about Air Filter ? Review of the best Air Filters available in India !


Excited by the sensational sound of K&N air filter ? Loving the extra bhp that the bike produce ... Planning to install new K&N filters for your bike!! ??

Does installing new air filters affect the bike ?
Are they worth that much ?
How long do they last ?
Which companies filter do I choose ?

Get all answers and many more exclusively right here !!

>>Lifeon2wheelz<< reviews the worlds best air filter , K&N , and the competitors for K&N in the Indian Market !

K&N -- Green -- Pipercross -- UNI -- Cosworth !!


Coming Soon ......

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Yamaha R15 V2 vs Hero KARIZMA ZMR vs BAJAJ PULSAR 220 .. the clash of the titans !!



This is one heck of a comparison , not because I am doing it :p , its because of the line up we have here. The one the only affordable and reliable sports bike YZF R15 V2 takes on the fastest Indian P220 and the ultimate sports tourer ZMR. Let me steady myself.
Before entering into the review let me tell why the DUKE 200 , CBR150R and the 200NS were left out when i picked my best top end bikes available within an affordable range, even thou there is minor price gap between the 3. I felt that DUKE 200 is a touch priced on the higher side , the reason behind the high pricing is that it has the quality and capability to be. So if your father is rich , and you are a naked bike lover you can seriously think of Duke too. But, according to me the Indian two wheeler market at the moment  thinks that the bikes with fairings are sexy , this is also another reason why i did not include DUKE 200.Then you might ask , hey CBR150R has fairings? Yes they do , but i dont think they are made of Gold ;) to be priced around INR 1,40,000 when you have the R15 at a much less rate.At last the 200NS, I am still not convinced that it can compete consistently with these bikes,in nooks and corners yes but I dont give it a 100% go. 

So, now coming to the crunch matter ,

Power


When it comes to the flagship brands , the motorcycle manufactures seem to smoke it an extra bit. Power and Performance is one critical factor that every prospective buyer  looks at. The P220 produces 21.4bhp power @ 8500rpm making it earn the tagline 'the fastest Indian'. The P220 races past any rival on the road without any doubts. The ZMR on the other hand produces 17.6bhp power @10500rpm, the ZMR has the lowest power to weight ratio among the three. But do not rule the Karizma out , it can make cruising a breeze.The differentiating factor that ZMR brings here is the delivery of power at low rpm which neither the P220 nor the R15 does.The R15 V2 offers 17bhp power @ 8500rpm , to be frank R15 is the slowest starter among the 3, but this is typically how a sports bike behaves. Once you  take it to over a 100kmph mark u feel the real punch of R15. Unfortunately the Indian road conditions does not suit a consistent speed of over 100kmph. So going by the figures, P220 leads the pack at this point of time. But hey wait I have something in store , check out the drag race we had between the ZMR & the P220. Apologies for the poor video clarity :)



What happened there was that, the ZMR had the P220 pinned till the 112 kmph mark , which really amazed us all. But the P220 showed its real character when it raised passed ZMR to a top speed of 142 kmph leaving behind the ZMR that hit a top speed of 131 kmph. We did not test it with R15. You guys by now will know the reason, it is not a bike that can race for power on roads, its more of  track bike. It has power but the power delivery is pretty late and most of the Indian roads finish by then. R15 can compete but it would always be second best in terms of power, but were it really outscores is the handling ability which we discuss later on. Then if u ask me the top speed R15 , hmmmm it can reach upto 140 kmph.

                                Pulsar 220                Karizma ZMR          Yamaha R15
0-60   kmph             3.9   secs                    3.7 secs                    4.0 secs
0-100 kmph            12.9 secs                    13.10 secs                13.20 secs




Engine

The ZMR has one among the best engines, a world class Honda. This is as refined as an engine can get and can handle whatever you throw at it. R15 on the other has has also got an extremely reliable engine that is fine tuned.But dont you see a break through here?A tuned 150cc Vs relaxed 223cc. This is where the ZMR has got the real advantage that makes it the most preferred tourer .Both the bikes have extremely refined engines, deliver great power and are fuel injected. However the greatest difference is how they deliver power. The ZMR is around 20kg heavier so the higher torque and power are offset, but the difference is the 1500rpm  between the two engines. In real world this makes a lot of a difference for the normal biker. In the R15 you have to wrung out pace like a racer, whereas the ZMR is a lot sedate in its power spread.The ZMR has got a 12 hole PGM-FI engine and the 6 high tech sensors working on the bike.Although ZMR's oil cooler cannot be compared to a liquid cooled engine but it’s decent enough like a nice breeze blowing that cools the engine better than the air cooled one. Considering the Bajaj P220's engine against's ZMR's and R15's is as equal to suicide. From experience I guarantee that the P220 engine gets tired and all sorts of noises come out from the engine after 15,000kms. Even though it does its job decently BAJAJ will have to put in a lot more care to gain stability and trust especially for the engines they produce.



Handling

This  is where the R15 stands a class apart. The bike uses rigid perimeter frames , regular telescopic forks at the front with mono shocks at the rear. The cornering ability and stability is where the R15 storms past. But when u are at high speeds taking on a corner the only problem you will have is that you will have to down the gear to get it roaring again.This is because of the comparatively low rev that the R15 has.But keeping this apart the R15 can stop at will with its brilliant braking facility. Whereas the ZMR is more about road presence, for the size and weight that ZMR has the handling is easy but no way comparable to the R15.The rev-friendly engine always entices you to throttle hard while you are exiting the corner, but its difficult to throw the bike into corners. The average MRF stock tyres adds to this disadvantage , replace it to a Michelin Sirac or Pilleri Sports Demon to minimize this disadvantage.The Karizma ZMR has got a slightly softer suspension making it an apt bike for long tours as well. The Pulsar 220 on the other hand, has a stiffer suspension which makes it not so good for long journeys but great for fast cornering. However, take both the bikes to whatever speed you like, both offer equally good stopping power according to their stature.The Nissin disc brakes of ZMR offer better braking than the P220. The Pulsar 220 gets 260 mm disc brakes at the front and 230 mm ones at the rear while the Karizma ZMR gets 276 mm disc at the front and 240 mm discs at the rear.



Styling & Comfortability

There is no other better looking bike in India in this category than the Yamaha R15 v2. The stunning looks of R15 is hard to match. Its simply brilliant. But the issue for a normal biker is the seating position of R15. A 30km ride in this bike would ache your back and palms. But once you get adjusted to the riding position its a little more comfortable. Still, Long drives in R15 is not the most comfortable.The pillion seat is almost unusable.Want to give a payback to your friend, take him on a long drive in R15:p. But for hardcore racing enthusiasts this is the only bike available.The ZMR on the other hand is sweet and comfortable as you bedroom. Long Drives in the bike is just as comfortable as travelling in a car. The amazing engine along with this riding position earns it the tag 'ultimate sports tourer'.The looks of ZMR may not be liking to all. Especially the rear. But the thing with ZMR is that , there is no double feelings in looks you either hate it or love it.The P220 is a looker , from the sides and the front. But the family design at the rear similar to the other Pulsars are disappointing. You cannot differentiate between a Pulsar150 and a 220 from rear view.The Powerful engine makes a comfortable city ride, you can throw in an overtaking maneuver every now and then. ZMR and the P220 provide comfortable seating for the pillion rider also.Long drives in P220 is better than in an R15 but is no match to the pleasing comfort offered by the  ZMR.

  

Mileage & Service Cost

With fuel prices at an all time high Mileage is a factor that has come into consideration for most of the prospects. Even the performance segment bikes such as these need to deliver a descent mileage to impress the buyer.Most of the customers are influenced by the Maruthi Suzuki television commercial,I think  the last question before you decide upon the bike would be 'Kithna Milega?' :D. The ZMR provides a mind blowing mileage ranging from 42-45kmpl on average. Push this bike to the limits and you still are assured good mileage.In long drives the mileage would be above 46kmpl. Thanks to the 12 hole PGM-FI engine and the 6 high tech sensors working on the bike.The R15 on the other hand offers a mileage averaging 38-40kmpl. Even though its fuel injected the lesser mileage is beacuse of the pressure handled by this 150cc engine.In city rides the mileage may even drop to  below 35kmpl. The 220 offers the least mileage among the 3.The reason being the oil cooled carburetor engine. The average mileage you can expect is between 34-36kmpl, which may even reduce if you push the bike to top speeds.
The P220 offers the lowest servicing costs , followed by the ZMR. R15 incurs high maintenance cost. The brake pads rear & front cost around INR 2700. But the service quality of Yamaha and Hero stands apart from the Bajaj.

  

VERDICT

The ZMR , R15 & P220 has a strong fan following in India. Its difficult to give a verdict on this. So let me put it this way :

YAMAHA R15 - For people who need style more than anything. You get the Yamaha Quality assurance and service. But the difficulty for the rider may cause back problems in future. Practically unusable pillion seat makes it even more worse. Overall the best bike among the 3 for short dashes, cornering and a rare style packed long trip.
HERO ZMR    - An excellent choice for a peaceful ownership experience. The bike may not make your heart skip , but it can push the limits when u really want to. Undoubtedly the best touring bike among the 3. But difficulty to ride in heavy traffic conditions is something the rider will have to compromise on, you will have to stay patient in the cities.The mileage that this 223cc bike offers is also creditable.
BAJAJ P220   -  When it comes to the horsepower-to-money ratio, nothing beats the P220 and it’s still quite a brilliant buy. The ease of use in heavy traffic conditions adds to the merit. But the overall quality of the bike still needs to improve. The Engine sound, vibrations , poor service will all be the factors that stand against the P220.



    



Thanks & Regards
Abey Daniel Abraham

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