This year I had finally started giving serious thoughts to retiring my Bajaj Pulsar 180 classic (almost seven years old now) from touring duties and buying a new Hero Honda Karizma.
However as I ponder over whether or not to buy a new motorcycle next year (2009), I can not help but feel a bit uneasy about going with Hero Honda Karizma, a motorcycle which was launched in India in May 2003, and has so far only receive couple of minor upgrades. Not that it really needs any, because it is as potent a touring machine, as it was in 2003 and is one of the best, if not the best touring motorcycles in India.
However with government’s plan to introduce stricter emission norms in 2010, which could be strict enough to require majority of motorcycles to turn to Fuel Injection or other methods to comply or risk being phased out, I am unable to decide which way to go.
On the one hand, waiting for a new motorcycle could mean a more powerful and fuel efficient Karizma with Fuel Injection or it could just mean, Hero Honda scrapping Karizma altogether in favor of a “newer†model, which tries to compete with the likes of Yamaha R15 and FZ16 and concentrates more on bling factor than the robustness that a tourer like me needs and something almost no Indian motorcycle manufacturer is currently aiming for. This would leave me with almost no choice, since currently there is not a single motorcycle I would consider buying for my touring needs, other then a Hero Honda Karizma.
On the other hand, if Hero Honda does launches an entirely new motorcycle, instead of tweaking Karizma. It would mean that I might start facing spare part shortage in future, if I buy a Karizma now, less than a year before it might reach its end of life. This is a worrying scenario for me, because I intend to keep my motorcycles forever, and would be using the next motorcycle I buy, for majority of my touring for at least next 5-6 years. Based on that, easy spare part accessibility and servicing is major part of any purchase decision I make.
I wish I could just peak into the future and see how it would play out, however, unfortunately I can’t…
22 Comments
What is your take on Bajaj Avenger? I am thinking of one for a while, but need to make some monetary considerations before buying any bike.
Avenger is an ok option if you are looking mainly at highway and city riding with little to no off-road and hill riding, where Avenger’s handling starts showing some serious flaws.
The rear seat is absolutely pathetic, so if you are going to take a pillion with you on rides, this is not the bike for you. One of my friend, who used to own an Avenger 180 (same riding position), also used to complain a lot about the amount of bumps that get passed on to the rider, thanks to the positioning of the rear suspension, though it is quite comfortable otherwise.
Major plus point is the head light (55w) which is quite good for touring at night. Looks are a plus point as well if you like cruisers. However in that scenario, you should also check out Thunderbird, more expensive but at the same time, more powerful.
Hey thanks for the info. Heavy vehicles like TB are not for me. May be I will just wait and watch and postpone bike buying plans..
In that case just pickup a Honda Unicorn, best sub 200cc touring motorcycle in India at this moment.
Only yesterday, I borrowed a friend’s Unicorn and rode it for around 10kms. Was very impressed. I think wl go for it sometime this year.
Good decision, you won’t be disappointed 🙂
Hi,
i am planning to buy a bike of above 200 cc.
my basic needs are as follows:
1). I am in mumbai (for job), so i required it for going office.
2). long drive (mum to nashik or mum to pune ..etc.) i shld feel comfortable riding.
3). looks and power matters to me.
4). i hate maintenance.
1. Does anyone has tentative date of Karizma FI launch?
2. Karizma or pulsar 220 dtsfi
Dhiraj, based on the above criteria, Karizma would certainly be the best option for you. Though if you are not into off road riding, R15 might also be an option, especially if you want style and power.
As for Karizma Fi, there have been rumors of one for ages now and it is not yet clear whether Hero Honda would launch an entirely new motorcycle or upgrade the Karizma, when the next set of stringent pollution norms are adopted next year.
I have the same problem dude,as you said,there is no bike worth buying right now…
HI Plz somebody help me out m bit confused, m planning to change my bike tired of riding mid range bike so planning to buy karizma but the problem is, I go on bikes only on weekends so is it worth of going for new one or a second hand Karizma which of 2007 made and owner is ready to sell it for 60 k.
Great read… Will be telling my brother about this one.
hi yogesh,
Royal Enfield Thunder Bird Twin Sparkplug is a very good option for touring, the cost is high but then the bike lasts for a long long time !!
wat say ?
Personally I don’t find Thunderbird’s seating and handle positioning comfortable for the kind of touring I do (tough routes) and then there is that added weight without a dramatic increase in power and of course the reliability of Royal Enfield isn’t all that good either.
As for bike lasting a long time, well my current motorcycle (Bajaj Pulsar 180) would be celebrating its seventh birthday in a month’s time.
Hi this is Suresh from Chennai, and i’m going buy a hero honda karizma but still i’m waiting for new karizma(with disk brake in rear wheel,bottom fairing,oil cooled engine etc…) Please tell me, in 2009 it’ll come or not with above mentioned features
when i was a kid (may b 10 yr old) i would c these group of dirt bikers having fun…some 12/14 yr olds riding 350cc above 2 stroke bikes. i would dream that some day i’ll have one of those bikes… then we returned to india and from then started my wait for that dream bike.. parents being against bikes, i had to wait till i started earning and that was when i bought my 1st RX100. The place was hilly and RX100 lacked torque to smoothly take 2 on its back when climbing those hills…. that is when i thought that i needed a powerful bike (not a bullet !).. a bike with the reliability/efficiency of jap bikes and i sold that RX100… Many years later came the Karizmas and Pulsars which were affordable but i still wanted to wait for slightly more powerful ones and i stuck to my waiting..and now we have those monster 1000 cc plus bikes which may be affordable to some but not me… and then i thought i had had enough and now i really needed a bike and was willing to compromise even for the karizmas and pulsars…but it had to incorporate at least the latest technology…i had heard of the the Karizma fi (din’t like the pulsar looks.. karizma looked better) and started inquiring abt the karizma fi… To tell u the truth… HH seems to be enjoying the commuter segment so much that it does not care much for others. Nothing Jap ever comes that touches the 300-400cc (some silly policy of the Govt or some sort of an arrangement betweeen manufacturers and the Govt)… Now i am 38 and still don’t c any bike that is reliable/efficient/good looking/powerful/torquy/affordable…. so either take what u get or forever hold ur calm and say amen to bikes and biking … Own a car instead !!!!!
Tush,
You just summarized the feeling of me and several of my friends.
My vote is for that government which will take away the crazy import duty on CKDs & Completely Build Units
– Anoop
i want to know that hero honda will launch 250cc or 3oocc bike
hi m varun
buyed 223cc karizma r 2009 model
but was rethinkin dat 220cc pulsar wid fuel injection technology is also not a bad option but at da end of the day i’m happy wid mah karizma.
wats the maximum distance unicorn can cover at a single stretch.
i own a honda unicorn 2007 model.
i live in delhi,on a single day the maximum distance covered by me once was 125 kms in a single day,
so far i am very haapy wd the bikes performance and will surely keep loving it.
my two close frnds recntly purchased new bikes,one is tvs apache 180 and another is yamaha r15.
we friends have decided to go on for a long trip in our respective bikes,most probably to agra appxrmtly 280 kms frm delhi,is it possible for a honda unicorn to cover the whole stretch at once(both up and down wd little breaks in between[a 20 mins break aftr evry 40 kms continious riding],we will be leving early morning and try returng the same night)
though my friends are not fearing much because of their new machines,but i am under some dielama as my bike has already done 26000 kms so far.do you finD it advisable to plan for such tours,even if you feel its fine then plz let me know wat odr precautions need to be taken for efficient engine performance fr the whole journey,do i need to take an extra spare parts wd me,like spark plugs or so
PLZ ADVICE SOMETHING VERY USEFUL
WAITING FR UR RESPONSE…
WAT DO YOU THINK
Bhuvnesh, there is no issue whatsoever in covering as many kms as you can, provided the bike is in good condition and you aren’t riding her at max speed all the time.
Just get the bike serviced before the trip, make sure all lights etc. are working properly and air pressure in tyres is alright.
Just carry the usual toolkit, along with a spare bulb (in case riding at night), sparkplug and chain link and you and your bike will be alright. Oh yes, make sure to tank up at a good petrol pump in Delhi and don’t rely on the highway ones.
thank you mr. abhishek sarkar…
THANX