Indian Bikes Review

Hero - Xtreme Sports vs Passion Xpro - Specs battle

2016-10-09T12:21:00.001-07:00

It might seem wierd today to compare a 150cc sports bike with 110cc commuter bike. However let me put it from specs perspective as presented in Hero Website!!!

Xtreme Sports vs Passion Xpro

lets start with Passion Xpro:

According to Hero, The Passion XPRO combines great power and awesome power (Lol!!!). The 110cc engine with APDV Ignition system and enthralling graphics quite easily makes Passion XPRO one of the most slick bikes in the category. So, take it our for a ride. EXPERIENCE ITS POWER. LET YOUR STYLE SPEAK FOR ITSELF (How can my style attribute to the bike, If so Will Hero pay me for driving the bike with my style!!! Lol! again)

For Xtreme Sports, (Hero assumed that there is no much description required for the bike and hence they use a single liner!!!) LIVE OFF THE EDGE as opposed to Xpro's single liner STYLE KA COOL ANDAAZ

Initially, I thought Xpro is going to be a local bike and Xtreme is for international customers, but the things started to get wierd once i try to understand the single liners used by Hero. Lets forget it!!! This is not the target audience fight just a specs fight.

Engine	Xtreme Sports	Passion Xpro
Type	Air Cooled, 4 - Stroke Single Cylinder OHC	Air Cooled, 4 - stroke single cylinder OHC
Displacement	149.2 cc	109.1 cc
Max. Power	11.64 KW (15.6 BHP) @ 8500 rpm	6.4 kW (8.7 Ps) @ 7500 rpm
Max. Torque	13.50 NM @ 7000 rpm	9.36 N-m @ 5500 rpm
Max. Speed	107 Kmph	87 Kmph
Bore x Stroke	57.3 x 57.8 mm	50.0 x 55.6 mm
Clutch	Multiplate wet	Multiplate Wet
Gear box	5 Speed constant mesh	4 Speed constant mesh
Chassis Type	Tubular , Diamond Type	Tubular, Diamond Type
Suspension
Front	Telescopic Hydraulic Type	Telescopic Hydraulic Shock Absorbers
Rear	Rectangular Swing Arm with 5 step Adjustable Gas Reservoir Suspension	Swing Arm with 5 step adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers
Brakes
Front Brake Disc	Disc Dia 240 mm	240 mm Dia
Front Brake Drum	Internal expanding shoe type ( 130 mm ), Optional Disc Dia 220 mm	Internal expanding shoe type (130 mm)
Dimensions
Length	2100 mm	2005 mm
Width	780 mm	765 mm
Height	1080 mm	1115 mm
Saddle Height	800 mm	785 mm
Wheelbase	1325 mm	1265 mm
Ground Clearance	163 mm	170 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity	12.1 Ltrs ( Min )	9.5 litres, 2.1 litre (Usable Reserve)
Reserve	1.5 Ltrs ( Usable reserve )	2.1 Ltrs ( Usable reserve )
Kerb Weight	146 Kg (Brakes - FR/RR -> Disc/Drum) 147 Kg (Brakes - FR/RR -> Disc/Disc)	113 Kg (Spoke Kick), 114 Kg (Spoke Self), 115 Kg (Cast Kick), 116 Kg (Cast Self)
Max Payload	130 Kg	130 Kgs.

Provided above the complete specification of the bikes.

Xtreme sports on one hand hold 150cc engine with 15.6Bhp output power vs 110cc engine with 8.7bph. It might look like Passion Xpro is not a good performer.

But looking at the top speed, dimensions it seems Passion Xpro looks like a winner by itself and commuter also carries sports element which makes it more value for the money! Yes!!!

Xtreme Sports is available for 72,000 (average price in india for single disc version) vs 56000 for the Passion Xpro for self start, alloy wheel and disc brakes!!!

What do you want? Bigger engine with 16,000 more or Perfect Engine that is sufficient enough for Indian Roads!???

Cheers!!!

Yamaha Fazer FI - Look at me Now!

2016-10-09T11:56:00.002-07:00

Yamaha Fazer FI - Look at me Now!

FAZER FI gets its DNA from the global FAZER series known for their awesome sporty looks. It has a "Look-at-me" appeal with the triple macho design concept giving it a concentrated form with excellent ergonomics. Its beautifully contoured and color - coordinated aerodynamic cowling keeps the blasting wind at bay. With its comfortable riding position and seat the rider can enjoy a weekend getaway or head off on a touring holiday.

Engine

YAMAHA’s Fuel Injection System contains sensors, actuators and an Engine Control Unit (ECU). Sensors detect temperature, atmospheric pressure and engine condition. Based on this, ECU commands the optimal amount of fuel to the engine. It helps deliver the best engine performance at all speeds by providing fuel calculated at 1/1000 sec based on inlet pressure / throttle position / engine rotation speed and more. It also ensures high-efficiency combustion by providing the right amount of fuel, depending on riding conditions and contributes to increased mileage and cleaner emissions.

Front Disc Brake

The two-pot caliper makes full use of the outer perimeter of the disc to provide strong stopping power.

Comfortable monocross suspension

FAZER FI’s 7-times adjustable Monocross suspension are of World Motocross Championship standards. This type of suspension gives the rider an exhilarating & stable riding experience.

Large Fuel Tank

FAZER FI’s large fuel tank with a capacity of 12 liters helps the rider continue without worrying about refueling every now and then, even during long distance journeys.

Graphics

Cool and exciting graphics make the bike look super-stylish. The graphics give the bike a contemporary and sporty look and make sure that it’s an absolute head-turner.

Advanced midship muffler

The advance midship muffler in the new FAZER FI adds a sporty attitude and enhances the street presence of this powerful bike.

Split tandem seats

More seat space provides a more comfortable riding experience. The seat is long, comfortable and specially designed for the pillion rider. The easy to grasp aluminium handle grab bars give the pillion rider extra support during long rides.

Twin headlights

The stylish & sporty twin headlights of FAZER FI are designed keeping in mind the YAMAHA DNA. They don’t just look good but also give clearer vision at night.

Aerodynamic Cowl:

The aerodynamic cowl’s carbon pattern enhances its sporty image and allows for a better and resistance-free riding in any condition.

Here is the Full specification:

Engine

Engine type

Air cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve

Displacement

149cc

Maximum output

9.7 kW (13.1PS) / 8000 rpm

Maximum torque

12.8 N.m (1.3 kg f.m) / 6000 rpm

Starting method

Electric

Lubrication type

Force-feed lubrication, wet sump

Fuel supply

Fuel injection

Clutch type

Wet, multiple-disc

Transmission type

Constant mesh 5-speed

Cylinder layout

Single cylinder

Battery

12V, 4.0AH (10H), sealed type

Dimensions

Overall Length x Width x Height

1,990mm x 760mm x 1,115mm

Seat height

790 mm

Wheelbase

1,330 mm

Minimum ground clearance

160 mm

Kerb weight

137 kg

Fuel tank volume

12L

Chassis

Frame type

Diamond

Suspension (front/rear)

Telescopic / Monocross

Brake type(front/rear)

Disc/Drum

Tire size (front)

100 / 80-17M / C (52P)

Tire size (rear)

140 / 60-R17M / C (63P)

Headlight

12V, 35 / 35W x 1, 35W x 1

Cheers!!!

Bajaj V - What does it stand for?

2016-10-08T22:54:00.002-07:00

Hello All,

It's been a pleasure meeting you all again through my blog post again after a gap.

Let's not waste our time and let's have a look into our Bajaj's new model - V.

What does V really stands for - Victorious? Violent? Vivider? This was the question came into my mind. Well, am right! it is Victorious and in Hindi it is Vikrant!!!

Vikrant is actually a Ship (An Aircraft carrier to be more specific), it's actual name is Hercules which was included to Indian Navy in the 1961 and for 36 years it was doing its job.

It's not just a carrier, but a pride! and Heritage! for India.

Psst!!! These words are just words! In truth - In January 2014, the ship was sold through an online auction and was scrapped for metal^.

Now back to the bike! What does Bajaj says about Vikrant by introducing the new motorcycle V?

Here is the answer!

So what shall we say, do we need to speak more about the specs of the motorcycle?

No, the value of this motorcycle just rests with the name - Vikrant!!!

Hats off! Bajaj to remind that we (Indians) have something to feed proud about!

Jai Hind!!!

Cheers!!!

Hero ZIR vs Honda PCX - Clash of 150cc Titans

2015-08-14T01:23:00.001-07:00

Well is it really deserving for the scooters to call as Titans? Yes It's true that these guys are really titans?

With the huge 150cc engines in scooters packed with excellent juice of horse power blended with very good torque.

Our comparison on these bikes sorry Titans is classified based on five aspects:

1. Engine: It might look like there is no difference between engine size between these bikes but really it makes difference. Honda even when smaller in engine size managed to make sure that there is no feeling of less power or pulling power. Anyhow Honda did not win in this aspect. Hero's 157cc engine wins!

2. Design/Styling: Style of both the bikes are almost same however Hero's beefy look adds few more points to the looks of the bike. More over Hero has a smaller wheels compared to Honda PCX150 however the looks were not sacrificed. Hero took a bold decision to beef up the bike which eventually increased its weight, so what the extra engine cc will match it up in the race. So again Hero Zir wins!!!

3. Engine Performance: Honda leader in making efficient engines and Hero just borrowed their knowledge and still with the borrowed knowledge they have not overcome Honda. Honda PCX is the true winner none can beat the initial pickup honda provided and the smooth engine still. Honda wins! (Hands down! :))

4. Mileage: Since we don't expect much from a scooter, both Honda and Hero promises 50kmpl+ for both vehicles. However for our analysis we assumed Honda's mileage as 48kmpl and Hero's mileage as 45kmpl (considering engine size and weight). Well so who won? Hero!!!

What??? Why??? Range that we are going to travel is going to be increased because of its 9l fuel tank compared to 8l in honda. Hero ZIR provides a range of ~380kms with guage from full tank to empty for which Honda PCX can provide only ~310kms (considering 1.5L reserve for both the bikes)

5. Value for money: Not sure what is going to be the price. From the Independent websites who estimates the Honda PCX's price to be 70-90,000. However the price of the product in USA Market starts from $3500 which proves the figures shown by independent websites are fake and if at all it is launched in Indian its price should ~2.5Lacs.

Coming back to Hero - Am pretty sure Hero is going to make sure that they keep the prices less than 1L and by any means it is going to be the best value bike your money can get.

HERO ZIR is the winner.

Get your bike once it is available in Hero Showroomssss!

Cheers!!!

TVS Jupiter - Is it really big in features?

2015-08-14T01:12:00.000-07:00

Finally a competent scooter from TVS competing with Honda and Suzuki. Before starting with details about this scooter, we shall learn few technical terms.

Honda activa, Suzuki access and Jupiter are actually variomatic scooters (Well they have a automatic transmission engines) so what is different? Unlike our regular Gear transmission we step up the gears to switch to higher gears. Where as these variomatic transmission scooters there is no such steps instead the single gear itself continuously moves to reflect our multiple gear vehicles.

Well with this knowledge about transmission, let's see what this vehicle has got?

Engine Capacity: 110cc engine
Output Power: 7.88bhp @7500rpm
Torque: 8nm @5500rpm

Woah... wait!!! Isn't it the same package that came with Wego??? Yes, it is the marketing strategy to bring in a scooter which is just a cosmetic remake of Wego. So what can we say, has it overtaken Wego - of course yes! This one is the better version of Wego. Is it better than Activa and Access and the answer is No. Activa and Access has the same position above Jupiter.

Mileage claimed to be 62Kmpl (Honestly? TVS???)

Expect ~50Kmpl on highways and ~45 on city roads - Thanks to a very well improved CVT transmission the vehicle seems to much more smoother compared to Wego.

"Bike of the Year 2013" - Is it really true? Hmm... not sure. From the real performance perspective pretty skeptical. TVS still has many places to improve especially interms of providing features.

5 years warranty and 1hr service guarantees is pretty impressive however from the scooter's perspective this is not something new.

Not the same line, we need something new, something innovative... Like how Apache entered sports bike market bring something new. All the best TVS!!!

Over all Rating :7/10

Hyundai EON - Perfect Small Car - Part 2

2013-08-03T18:44:00.000-07:00

The Hyundai EON - The perfect small car which has been already visited by indian bikes review comes again for further review with specs analysis in detail.

EON is the second entry level car from Hyundai. 800cc cars in the segment already well established and with cars ranging from 624cc (Nano) to as high as 1100cc(Santro) the segment is really wide and deep. Understanding the current scenario of the segment with Santro, its quite old elder sibling hyundai has the responsibility to introduce EON.

Well without disappointment, Hyundai has done their job. The result is the excellent car in the segment.

Ok, we are not going to speak about the regular features that are already available in this segment and the analysis will more compare the cars around 800cc since EON falls into the lower end entry level cars.

Exterior Design: Fluidic design is really an awesome design by the hyundai starting from verna. Really EON gives you an impression like you are looking at the mini version of the Verna with extra fluidic curves.
Dashboard & Cockpit: Dashboard again derived from Verna but it provides more premium looks such that it really improves the value of the car looks. Cockpit which is the most exciting part which gives a very good welcome once u enter the car (Really impressive!!!)
Entertainment System: Entertainment system is another value add even it can be discussed with the dash board wanted to mention it specifically. Added with 2 din speaker, USB port and AUX port which is best shot for the current day users.

Well, If it is 800cc car, then it is Maruti 800 or Alto is the current day trend. With simple design and not much value adds they created a trend. This is what the market knows but no more since the EON has created a new standards as usual which forces aggressive competition for the segment.

Best thing is market is growing healthy.

Kudos Indian Automobile Market!!!

Cheers!!!

FORD - ECO SPORT - Truly ECO

2013-07-29T01:36:00.000-07:00

The Ford EcoSport is a mini sport utility vehicle (SUV), originally built in Brazil by Ford since 2003 at the Camaçari plant. A second generation concept model was launched at the 2012 Delhi Motor Show and is intended to be assembled in a new factory in Chennai, India (It's my native city)

Let's speak about the engine:

The list of powertrains includes Ford's newest, most advanced engine-the 1.0-litre EcoBoost-3 cylinder, turbocharged, cast-iron engine. Ford's decided to use cast-iron for the engine block instead of aluminium improved engine warm-up time by 50 percent. However, The 3-cylinder engine design causes inherent vibrations, which Ford overcame by incorporating a deliberately unbalanced flywheel. Employing the unbalanced flywheel conserves energy more efficiently than employing the more commonly-used balance shafts to ensure smooth running. Additionally, an internal timing belt bathed in engine oil ensures longer life and even greater efficiency. The EcoBoost engine design is quite compact, with the entire engine block's height and width dimensions comparable to an A4 size sheet of paper.

Along with the 1.0 L EcoBoost engine, the Indian market also gat a 1.5 L Ti-VCT petrol engine, which produces 108 bhp and 140 Nm. The EcoSport will also feature a 1.5L TDCi diesel engine that outputs 90bhp power and 204 Nm of torque at 2000-2750 rpm

Fuel Economy:

Real economy is determined by the fuel consumption and the ford really made it true this time also.

22.7 kmpl (1.5L Diesel)
18.9 kmpl (1.0L EcoBoost Petrol)
15.8 kmpl (1.5L Petrol)

Conclusion:

Ford ECO Sport is really a ECO car interm of Engine size, Engine design, Price, Mileage whatelse not?. Hence it is really a sure shot for the ford to win the market hands down.

This is not all. I want to review more about this car in my future post. Wait till then.

My Score for Ford Eco sport

1.0L Eco Boost Petrol - 9/10
1.5L Petrol & Diesel - 8/10

Cheers!!!

Mahindra Centuro 110cc - Let's innovate

2013-07-29T01:16:00.002-07:00

Hmmmm.... The caption looks innovative usually bikes have a single caption and for centuro we have a sequence of caption. Jokes apart, lets look at Centuro with serious thought!!! ;)

Mahindra auto marks its re-entry into the motorcycle segment with two new revolutionary 110cc bikes: Pantero and Centuro. Pantero is like any other normal motorcycles in the market however the Centuro is not like the rest. This is our matter of discussion about a fact called innovation which is always attained by Mahindra in the recent years especially in autos segment.

So what is new in Mahindra Centuro...

Muscular golden Rib & Graphic Design: Ufff... Nothing is special in it. First of all Who said Golden Ribs makes it muscular? I should see the Marketing guy who expresses anything that comes in his mind. Agreed that the Golden finish makes it posh look, but muscular looks is a word that need not be used for this motor cycle. Graphics design is ok!!! not the best in the market.
Flip Key: India's first flip key. Is it really true??? I dont care whether it is first or second or just 1000th what matters is that whether it is useful and the answer is "YES it is". The best thing a bike can get is its remote and Mahindra understood the need and catered it without anything less. The torch light kind of light is added value. Hats off Mahindra. The Keys not only going to ignite your bike, it also helps to locate your bike and lock your bike (funny... like ur car u can central lock ur bike)
Alarm feature - All bikes & bikes equipped with remote has also the alarm feature. However this one is first of its kind from manufacturer directly.
Engine: MCI5 Engine with nearly 107cc is really a small wonder with 8.5Bhp and 8.5nm as peak output power and peak torque respectively. What is wondering is not the power and torque. it is the MCI5 which makes me say that. Micro Chip ignited 5 curve is the full form of MCI5, since its the micro chip that ignites the chip makes sure how the spark plugs going to behave not compared to Pulsar 200NS this can perform job better and clean than any other 110cc engines. Especially mileage is 70+ even when it is city ride and 80+ in highways (100% very good)
Last but not lease the dashboard - Most advanced dashboard makes it feels like you are driving a premium bike, but the driving will make you feel the underpowered or smaller premium feel.

Conclusion:

Mahindra has done a great job with 110cc bike with all innovative features (50% innovative features) however we like the engine to be bigger since the thirst for racing will be more if we have a bike with all sophisticated features. Even when these are priced low these bikes will be below average since the engine is too small. Not sure about the info that Mahindra is looking forward in building out a motor cycle in 150cc segment. For sure if it is release then these innovation matters a lot to the crazy racing lovers :)

My score for Mahindra Centuro - 7/10

Cheers!!!

Hero Maestro - Does the name really mean it?

2012-10-18T00:07:00.000-07:00

Hero Motor Corp's new addition - Hero Maestro. The 110cc scooter will all new feature ready to rock the city roads. But does the name Maestro really fit for the bike. Let's review and find out.

1. Design:

The Outlook of the Maestro doesnot disappoints you. Not so big as activa but not as small as scooty. The cosmetics have been well taken care by Hero so you get the blend of both the ends, like trendy colours, stylish lights, rear view mirrors but also bold look and solid body.

So the first step towards Maestro doesn't disappoint us.

2. Engine:

The Engine is smaller when compared to the market conqueror Access but equal in size to Honda series. :) no further comments on this point. However Hero Maestro managed to provide few more extra output power and torque to the bike. Not sure that there will be a huge difference in the pickup. Also the top speed should be lying farther to Activa. Also maestro is expected to deliver a mileage of 50+Kmpl on an average.

Second step also failed to disappoint since the engine more or less replicated our famous and successful Honda scooters.

3. Ground clearance & Wheelbase:

Most important aspect for Indian roads while choosing a scooter. Maestro doesnot beat Access in both ground clearance and wheel base but beats Honda Activa (specifically) which has a low ground clearance. Also wheel size 90/100 ensures that the bike is more stable.

Third step satisfactory.

All in all for a mid-range scooter I would say that Maestro really means that it is "Jack of all trades, but winner of none".

However compared with rivalries from 125cc scooter which are in the same price range Maestro has to be given a serious second thought.

The 125cc scooters provide better power in a lessr price to be chosen. Even when you think you are happy with 100-110cc scooters we have better option with Honda - Activa, Aviator.

Not sure how Maestro going to manage by placing a prodcut between this small gap.

All the best Maestro!!!

Cheers!!!

Tata Nano vs New Alto 800 - Fight Again?

2012-10-17T07:05:00.003-07:00

The latest news in the Indian cars market is the new Maruti Alto 800. This is the first time real revamping in the design of Alto for which Maruti is eagerly looking forward the sales figure to go high.

The New Alto 800 looks exactly like the mini A-star which was the coin for capturing all the Maruti customers to go for the better alto.

Ok before calling Maruti Alto 800 as the better alto lets compare it with Alto K10. Ufff. Alto K10 beats Alto 800 in all aspects except that Alto 800 carries a new design. So what only the exterior is different interiors is again not so exciting. It gives you the same old feel of getting in to a Alto K10.

So which one is the right car to compare yes our Tata Nano LX (to make any car in the world superior we can just compare with nano) because no cars are sold @ a price as low as 2 Lacs.

Ok, the New alto 800 carries 3 cylinder engine with 798cc and goodness of 47.5bhp and 69nm support the engine like the older one. No significant change. Again Nano with 2 cylinder but with 612cc with 37bhp and 51nm is far behind the 800cc engine.

Ok! The price factor was also one of the factor putforth by maruti with Alto starting from 2.4Lacs and 3Lacs for the Higher end version. But nano is avalable from 1.6Lacs to 2 Lacs (Both are in ex-showroom).

On-road price for Maruti Alto will reach 3.5Lacs and Nano will be around 2.5Lacs nearly 1 Lac lesser than the new alto.

So there is a huge price difference and there is no difference in the engine specs. So again Alto doesnot compete with the Nano.

So for whom the redefinition happened? Is there any fight that Alto is expected to manage?

Yes, The real fight of Alto is with Eon!

Will be updating you soon with all details...

Cheers!!!

KTM Duke 200 vs Pulsar 200NS - Who's the hero?

2012-10-14T14:11:00.000-07:00

Pulsarmania has been there in India for the past 10 years and it still dominates Indian roads no matter whatever bikes enter the Indian market.

It is the pulsar fans who still don't want to change their mind to a new bike cos of its raw power and oozing speed and design. Also, Bajaj never lets their fans down by giving serious upgrades every year or two and most of the upgrades had a higher CC version. First 150cc and 180cc launched and rocked for nearly 5 years in Indian market later came 200cc which was again defeated by 220Fi and in year or two came 220F (not a fuel injection- carbueretted version)

Finally 200cc engine was eradicated from pulsar market. so we had 150, 180, 220 and smaller 135 version. It was rumoured like the 200cc engine was donated to Bajaj RE60. However bajaj proved that they did not remove the 200cc for the reason it didn't go well.

The real reason was identified when KTM Duke 200 (oops sorry i've uttered the truth).

The real reason was identified when Pulsar 200NS was announced. Every one knows that Duke is the top performer in 200CC segment and the only competitor will be Pulsar 200NS.

The Engine specs of Pulsar 200NS is exact replica of KTM Duke 200, however the chassis, body, etc... was built by Bajaj. So you will have the rich essence of pulsar and smoking power of KTM Duke.

So what is the difference between them!!!

Here comes the difference of whopping Rs. 44,000 (on Ex-showroom price).

Yes! Pulsar 200NS will be available @Rs.88K and Duke 200 will be available @Rs.132K (point is both available at PulsarMania showrooms)

So the decision is simple, when we are able to get the same power for nearly 33% lesser price, the Real hero is here the Pulsar 200NS.

Cheers!!!

Discover 125 ST - Mini Beast!!!

2012-07-15T19:54:00.001-07:00

Discover 125 ST is the new beast from Bajaj. Well! When we say about the beast it is not the best in this segment however not like the rest of the bikes.

In 125cc segment of bikes in india, the most prominent criteria will be the mileage followed by power which should be (much) better than what an 100cc bike offers. Also a little flavor of sporty looks added to it will be the mantra for the success of a 125cc segment.

The new face lifted Discover i.e., Discover ST can be called as the best of all discover bikes that existed in the market. The reason behind it was the four valved engine which ensures capability of the bike taken to the next level.

Bajaj being leader in introducing new technology into india, they are now very cautious in implementing them one by one in their bikes. Pulsar 135 LS first of the four valved engine – already proved in the market both in sales and in performance. Now its younger sibling has launched with even more features that are not provided by its predecessor. The Looks of the Bajaj Discover 125 ST seems to be borrowed from Suzuki GS150R and Bajaj Pulsar 135LS. However the mixture has really brought up a better bike.

Direct competitors for Dicover 125 ST is CBF Stunner however because of its poor mileage and cost, the bike too fails to shine. One more important aspect CBF Stunner looses again to Dicover 125 ST is the higher end speed like when both the bikes crosses 6500rpm, the difference can be noticed where in the Stunner struggles to maintain the speed where is Discover rocks even after 6500rpm till 8000rpm.

Mileage of the Discover 125 ST should be on an average of 55KMPL (53KMPL in city, 58 KMPL on highway)

Well! From the technical perspective Discover 125 ST has won all the 125cc bikes in current scenario. Let hope for the same in sales figures too!!!

Cheers!!!

Engine Oil- How to choose the best one for your bike

2012-04-23T19:59:00.001-07:00

Hi All, Happy to see you all after a long break. This time lets speak about the engine oils. Everyone owning a bike has their concern towards choosing the right engine oil for their bikes.

Even for Indian Bikes Review we could see that most of the comments are regarding the same.

Well! coming to motor cycle engine oils, we have not worried much since most of the bikes in indian market hold tiny engines (compared with other grown countries). However situaion is not the same nowadays as the demand for performance is growing more from the consumer perspecive even pro-sports bike started to show their faces in our market. Meanwhile the engine oils for the tiny engines also has slowly improved in standards and proved worthy enough to suit indian motorcycles.

We have many brands for Engine oils alone such as Castrol, Shell, Elf, Mobil, Motul, etc... because of these many brands in market choosing the right engine oil is always a confusion particularly when we can't find our usual engine oil in shop.

Let me support our friends who need help in this part

Viscosity is the most important attribute for any engine oils (e.g.:20w40).

For new engines:

1. 20w40 oil for normal engine size (<125cc)
2. 5w40 to 15w40 for bigger size (>125cc)

For old engines:

1. choose engine oil with high viscosity 20w50 (<125cc)
2. For bigger engines make it 10w50 Next, standard plays an important part.

Generalising the standard API SL will be the base and greater (API SM or even higher standard) can be used. This standard helps corrosion resistance, preventing sludge formation and make engine healthier even in long runs.

Additional advice:

1. Never change engine oil brands frequently (use same brand engine oils)
2. Change engine oils every 3000kms to 3500kms (If fully synthetic - contact seller for the life of engine oil)
3. Frequently check engine oil levels every 1000kms (Especiall when you use engine oils with lower viscosity, when the level decreases switch o engine oil with higher viscosity.

For more info. or queries feel free to comment in this post.

Cheers!!!

Pro-Sports bike Challenge - CBR150R vs R15 v2.0

2012-03-10T09:14:00.003-08:00

Review follows very soon...

Tata Nano - What's in for 2013

2012-03-07T19:33:00.004-08:00

Well! It's going to be a tough time for Tata to renovate their Tata Nano. Tata Nano 2012 changes has brought a slight change the way Indians look at Tata Nano. Tata is also very serious in evolving the all new Tata Nano for the Indian market!

What are the strategies taken by Tata to make nano evolve and catch the position of India's no.1 car!

*************************************************************************************

Hi All,

Its nice to see you back all with this post on the India's (sorry) world's cheapest car.

It's a known issue that criticism is one of the major factors that affect sales of Nano in the Indian Market. The reason is that Indian people unable to adopt Nano as a car since they have already accepted Tata Magic as their auto (Share-auto) even when they are from MUV segment (MUV - Multi Utility vehicle). When Tata Nano came up with the similar type of engine with resembling noise people isinterpreted Nano as an auto with Car body.

However the refined engine noise of 2012 which was far more better than Magic as well as old nano currently lifted up its face in sales and also people's opinion.

So it was the right time for Tata to bring up the brand name Nano in the Indian market.

How Tata is going to bring up its brand Nano after 2012 i.e., in 2013 is going to be our point of discussion.

Well! As per the updates we gathered about the next set of Tata Nanos are (i.e., Tata Nano 2013 and there after)

Tata Nano Diesel
Tata Nano CNG
Tata Nano 800

Tata Nano Diesel:

Diesel variant of Tata Nano is a known news and already they are manufactured and by the year end they are expected to hit the roads. The specs that was expected was 700CC Dicor engine (exact small version of Tata Safari Engine).

Tata Nano CNG:

It is one another version that was released in Auto Expo 2012 as a concept car. However not sure if there is an requirement for an CNG version of car which is again ultra cheap Tata ould surely consider bring it up to the market. Speculation is that CNG version will be combined with next version of Tata Nano i.e., Nano 800.

Tata Nano 800:

In India, the most successful small cars are loaded with the 800cc engine (M800, Omni, Alto...) and the Nano will soon join the team with its similar 3 cylinder engine but with the better power and torque. It s also hyped that this version will be released on 2013 along with the Diesel version of Nano.

Whatever be the new releases the New Tata Nano 2012 sounds pretty good to me!!!

Cheers!!!

Pulsar 200 NS - New Male

2012-03-07T19:12:00.003-08:00

Well! Pulsar 200NS is the new Male of the Indian Motor cycles!

Let us review the new male this time!

In the series of spots bike from Bajaj - We had many technologies like DTSi (Digital Twin Spark Ignition) and Four Valved tiny engines (Pulsar 135).

After the success of both the technologies bajaj wanted to bring in a new technology where it should combine both twin spark and Four valve technology and bring a little more better bike in the market.

This paved way for the all new Pulsar 200NS. The Twin spark ignition went to a level up with Triple spark ignition and it really worked for the bigger 200cc engine which will ensure more smoother drive than Twin spark ignition at slower speeds. The Four valves of the engine also improved easier breathing of the engine at higher revs (which is already proved in P135).

Well what is more?

You also have a six speed gear box with satisfactory gear ratio.

Was that's all?

No, you have one more! Its the price of the bike which is going to be as low as 85k-90K.

Also we have one more good news, mileage!!! which is the most important aspect of this bike. Even when it drinks a lot in the higher revs breathing high with four valves, at lower speeds it would be very conservative with the help of the Triple spark which allows us to reap the fruits of mileage in city traffic!

Even when all the specifications favours, riding comfort cannot be reviewed unless or until we have a test ride on it!

Am eagerly waiting for the test ride on Pulsar200NS.

Will update very soon on my experience!

Cheers!!!

New Pulsar 150 vs New CBZ Xtreme

2011-12-16T12:30:00.001-08:00

Hi All,

They are again new now! So I should give a new review now!

Who is the best! The New Hero or the New male! :)

First reviewing the Pulsar 150 new - The Dual color of the bike makes it more attractive (even when it has not been liked by all). The output power has improved a bit and torque has been reduced but still the pickup difference was no compromising.

Coming to the CBZ Xtreme - Nothing has been changed in terms of engine. however you can find the complete change in the body styling. The Beefy CBZ-Xtreme has become more techno with the advanced digital console and even the silencer has been renovated.

So the CBZ Xtreme gives us a new face this time than the Pulsar which has not shown us a major upgrade other the color options. However the engine refinement is more required for the CBZ-Xtreme.

So this time neither the CBZ Xtreme nor the Pulsar 150 loses and they share the first position!

Cheers!!!

Top 3 Indian Diesel Hatchbacks

2011-12-16T11:42:00.001-08:00

Well discussing about the top 3 hatchbacks in the country i included the top factors of Fuel efficiency, Power and Pricing.

The Third position goes to Tata Indica Vista.

Sedan Class is the advertising caption given for the all new Tata Indica vista. Yes! of course it is the right caption for it because of its excellent interior space which is an additional point which make the car to be in the third position a head of other competitors. The music system in the Tata Indica vista is also awesome with the 2-Din speakers gives the best in class music experience. The Engine performance and mileage need not be proved again since t

he already proved Fial 1300cc diesel engine was used also in the Tata Indica Vista. T

he Price is also leass when compared to the other company cars who fails to provide the features which Vista provides. So effortlessly Tata Indica Vista captures the third position with the only drawback of Tata's poor servicing quality.

The Second position goes to Ford Figo:

Ford Figo captures the second position not because of its power or mileage (since both disappoints slightly) when compared to most of it competitors. The Price is the main feature that attracts every one. The reason might be because of the old common rail engine, however we wont feel the old engine. One of the most decent car and the perfect choice of people who want everything from a car can go for it. The peppy colors and design adds more points to the car. Ford service quality is at the next level with excellent life time of the engine really its tough to beat the ford figo from the second position.

The First position goes to the All new Swift:

No body can disagree from the fact that swift is the no.1 hatch back car of India. with its extra ordinary mileage, power, stability at highspeeds, driving comfort, Peppy design which makes it the unbeatable leader, supported by the brand name maruti suzuki in India - what else an indian driver can think of. Believe me its really a small heaven in car. You need to feel it to understand. However one point defavors it - The price which is very high when compared to Figo which is in the second position. Also am not sure if we can get the car with in 2 months after booking. :(

Cheers!!!

Hyundai Eon - Perfect small car

2011-12-15T11:57:00.000-08:00

Hyundai Eon is the latest arrival in the small car (A) segment of Indian Car Market. As of today (16-Dec-2011) Eon is the smallest car launched by Hyundai for the Indian Market. So I chose it to be the best car to start my review activity again!

First point - With meagre capacity greater than M800 or Alto - The car was perfectly placed with an extra ordinary power and mileage in the segment.

Well! coming to power the car churns out an amzing 55Bhp of output power @ 5500rpm, which would allow us to reach 100Kph much earlier than any of the cars in the segment. Even when the engine churns out abnormal power the engine remains conservative. With an average mileage of 19Kmpl astonishes the consumers of this segment. The runner-up model in this segment even gives out 15kmpl on an average.

The price of the model is also convincing - much equivalent to the other competitors and to be honest with the power-mileage ratio the price is very reasonable ranging from 3.5lacs to 4.5lacs,point to be noted that Alto 800cc version ranges from 2.75Lacs to 3.5

The Ergonomics of the car also ensures the stability even at higher speeds. Styling of the car is also excellent combination to its specifications.

Conclusion:
Hyundai Eon is the perfect blend of Style, Ergonomics and power assuring the best buy for the money.

Cheers!!!

13 Reasons why Tata Nano is better than M800A/C

2011-10-25T20:41:00.000-07:00

Tata Nano LX vs Maruti 800AC

1. On road Price
2.37 Lacs
2.47 Lacs

2. Fuel Efficiency
24Kmpl
16Kmpl

3. Engine capacity per cylinder
312cc
265.3cc

4. Engine Compression Ratio
9.5:1
8.8:1

5. Size of the Car
3099*1495*1652
3335*1440*1405

6. Power Steering
Yes
No

7. Power to Weight Ratio
35Bhp for 635Kgs
37Bhp for 683Kgs

8. Fog Lamps
Yes
No

9. Central Locking
Yes
No

10. Tyres
Front: 135*70; Rear: 155*65
Front and Rear: 145*70

11. Ground Clearance
180mm
170mm

12. Turning Radius
4m
4.4m

13. Metallic colors + Flashy colors
Yes
No

Hope the Points mentioned above are clear to all. However I would like to give some clarity on some of the points mentioned above.

· Engine Capacity – Higher the engine capacity of cylinder higher the output power

· Compression ration and Power to weight ratio – more or less similar. Both specify the pulling power of the cars.

· Tyres: Nano has smaller tyres in the front which assures good turning radius and swifter driving in city traffic conditions. Also the broader the rear tyres ensure stability at high speeds. M800 has same set of tyres in front and back which would cause over steering very easily.

Conclusion: The points portrayed speak only about the points in which Nano beats M800; it doesn’t means that Nano is better than M800 in all means. In short, both are best in their own way.

Cheers

Analysis on Powerful Indian Scooters

2011-05-26T20:57:00.001-07:00

dont be too excited! its going to be about scooters between 80cc to 125cc

Will be updated soon...

Tata Nano - Not like the rest, to be honest best too...

2011-05-21T11:13:00.001-07:00

Tata Nano - world's familiar car name for being the cheapest car in the world. The Euro ncap rating of 4 has added up overwhelming expectations too...

( it is to be noted that i10, swift also have rating of 4 and alto has just 3 in a scale of 5 for Euro ncap)

The Tata Nano carries a engine which is as small as that of a share auto in cities. it is just .2 litres smaller than Alto. so its right to compare it with the Alto.

Alto is a small car however Nano is a well built share auto says many. but its not so. Tata is very careful in building the car too but due to the cost efficiency limitation they cant build a better car rather than this.

it is also to be noted that alto has better length then nano however the width and height makes us to feel alto a cramped one.

also it is not worthy to compare alto with nano. so lets compare it with the premium commuter motorcycles say honda cbr250r, huh! that means stupid but should think of cbr250r with 5 seats and having a roof. cool hun! ( just for fun)

the real comparitive vehicle for nano is a 3 wheeler auto rickshaw which costs more than 1.5lacs same to nano. so what? nano gives you better deal for loans too!

The 35bhp and 48nm torque makes the car the best companion for beginners in indian city traffic, alto has 46bhp and 62nm torque.

My suggestion is Tata Nano is not the one which has to be neglected instead a masterpiece of technology at its best. Rather than criticising it stand in the neutral part and evaluate the car you will understand.

Hats off!!! TATA...

150cc - Handling - Comfort Comparison

2011-05-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

Handling refers to the fact how easy the bike is to ride in traffic, cormering or to do twists on the roads.

Comfort is determined by the riding position comfort which doesnot pain you even after a long ride.

Apache and pulsar are the most vibrating and hence they are not surely comfortful, but they both make the best in handling, particularly pulsar gives you extremely good handling even at excellent speeds.

The true comfort is best in GS150R where you'll even doubt whether the engine is running or not. the broad handle gives you irritation as far as handling is considered.

Honestly speaking Dazzler comes as Jack of all trades but winner of none, usually we refer pulsar like this, blend of handling and comfort comes together in Dazzler and Hunk.

So Dazzler and Hunk holds good for comfort and Pulsar and Apache for handling.

Cheers!!!

150cc - Mileage - Pickup comparison

2011-05-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

Pickup can be measured by the time taken by the bike to reach the average speed(of indian bikes) which is 60kmph.

Mileage can be determined by the torque of the engine, as early the maximum torque is achieved mileage will be better. Here early refers to the rpm of the bike engine rotor.

The leader in the torque will be FZ series but am sorry the broader tyres flops the pickup of the bike which again degrades the mileage as well. Mileage was recorded at 42kmpl as the best.

So the follower GS150R Leads it with excellent combination of torque, mileage and pickup.

The best pickup provided by Apache RTR160 which reaches 60kmph in just 5secs, followed by Pulsar and Hunk. Then GS150R, Dazzler and finally FZ series enters.

Am again wondering the FZ series which has best torque and optimum output power compared to rivalries has lost the game in speed and pickup too.

Its sure that SZ-X has taken all the goodies which we expect from FZ on the mileage side and R15 on performance side. However they both dont belong to the segment which is not covered by us in this post.

Following GS150R, PULSAR gains the advantage of mileage even when the torque is lesser compared to other competitors followed by Dazzler and Hunk.

CHEERS!!!

150cc - POWER & WEIGHT Comparison

2011-05-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

Considering power and weight together is for the reason determining the pulling power of the bike. (note: this is not exactly about power-weight ratio)

The leader for this comparison was apache with output power of 15.4bhp @ 8500rpm and weight of 136kgs. The least weighed and most powerful engine makes it the leader. Closely followed by pulsar150 (2010) with 15.06bhp @ 9000rpm and weighing just 137kgs.

The third position for CB Dazzler, followed by HH Hunk, Fazer and GS150R.

GS150R is the least powered bike and hence comes the last not only engine power but also the weight of the bike which makes is far behind its predecessor FZ-Series.

It is to be noted that as the output power increases, the mileage will be decreased as they are inversely proportional.

BUT AM WONDERING WHY FZ SERIES GIVES POOR MILEAGE?

Cheers!!!