Pulsar 220 or Karizma FI

In last couple of years we have observed a clear shift from 100cc to 125cc / 150cc bikes and 150cc to 180 to 220cc performance oriented bikes. Altough the first question a average Indian commuter asks while going for a new bike is "Average kitna hai?" (whats the fuel economy), the priority for our Desi-Biker has now changed. He expects power, performance, riding comfort, features and technology. This is surely a welcome sign and as the demand for such bike grows we will surely see world class bikes being imported or manufactured in India.

Recently i have received lots of queries like:

Hi,
I got your e-mail id from the confused programmer website.
I am about to buy a bajaj pulsar 220 in jan 2008.But some of my friends and some information on the internet suggests that a few indian bike manufacturers are taking over some european giants like ducati,triumph,etc.
Since i have a budget of around 1.5 lakhs and this is the only bike i will be using for a long time i want to make a good investment.can you pls let me know if actually any of these deals might work out and could launch a bike in 2008 in my budget.And pls let me know if my choice of going for a bajaj p220 is good or not or should i go for the new karizma f1 or others if any pls suggest.
I hope you will reply soon.
-Yours sincerely,
Ishan M.

So question usually the question is Pulsar220 vs Karizma FI and in this case we are also considering any future launches from Ducati,Triumph, KTM, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki.

Following are few points that we all can consider before making any decision:

• Karizma Fi is not yet launched and there is no confirmed news from anywhere that it will ever be launched.
  
• The Pulsar 220 Dtsi is by far the best Indian bike we have right now and much more advanced and powerful than any other bikes including Karizma R. (Keeping aside the Bullets and Kinetic Comet).
• Bajaj was earlier in talks with Ducati and Triumph, but no updates on that.
  
• Bajaj recently acquired a 17% stake in KTM. 250cc to 990cc bikes like super duke would be available in pro biking showrooms from mid next year. But these would be purely imports and imports attract a duty of 105%. Even the 250cc bike from KTM is expected to cost 2 lakh upwards.
• Yamaha R1 which costs about 5 lakhs in the foreign market will costs 11 lakhs here. Harley Davidson has dropped its plans for India because of such high import duties. So any bike like Yamaha YZFR125 / Ninja 250 / CBR 125 will all cost 3lakhs+ in India even if imported by any of the Indian company. No company has any confirmed plans of jointly manufacturing them in India.

So Bajaj definitely have plans of manufacturing bikes 300cc to 600cc with tech from KTM and Kawasaki but i don't see anything hitting the roads in next 2 years at the very least.


Related Links:-
1)Bajaj Pulsar DTS FI 220cc
2) 2008 Honda CBR1000
3) Super Bikes Comming soon
4) Yamaha R1 and MT01 in India
5) 2008 Kawasaki Ninja250R
5) Yamaha YZF-R125 VS Honda CBR125 VS Kymco KR Sport
6) Harley Davidson
7) Bajaj acquires stake in KTM
8) Bajaj chasing Ducati, Triumph
9) Bajaj likely to acquire Triumph

Yamaha YZF-R125 VS Honda CBR125 VS Kymco KR Sport part 3

Part3
Kymco KR Sport 125cc



Taiwanese manufacturer Kymco has introduced the KR Sport 125 as the competition from its side for the Honda CBR125. But is there a competition at all ??
The engine is a relatively low-tech unit, air- rather than liquid-cooled, but it does have four valves and a five-speed gearbox, and it works fine. The throttle response is crisp and it has a proper power band, whereas some learner-legal machines feel desperately flat at higher revs. Kymco will win over some potential Honda customers for its size, the CBR 125 is small and so is YZR R125 and is about £300 cheaper.
But thats the end of it. There is nothing that can be compared with the japs in terms of build quality, ride and performance.
Features:-
* Digital Display
o Fuel Level
o Temperature Gauge
o Clock
o Speedometer
o Trip Meter
* Steering Lock
* Painted 5-Spoke Alloy Wheels
* Electric Start
* Dual Seat
* Analogue Rev Counter
* Twin Halogen Headlights
* Rear Grab Rail

Specification:
Dimensions and Weight: Length: 2080mm
Width: 710mm
Height: 1160mm
Seat Height: 780mm
Net Weight: 141kg
Maximum Speed: 65mph
Engine : Air and Oil Cooled Single Cylinder
Type : 4 Stroke, 4 Valve - OHC
Cylinder Capacity : 124.1cc
Maximum Power : 9.6 Kw / 10000 rpm
Maximum Torque : 9.9 Nm / 8000 rpm
Ignition : CDI (Condenser Discharge Ignition)
Gear box : 5 Speed - Manual
Chassis : Lightweight Steel/Alloy Frame
Tyres (Front / Rear) : Fr 110/80-17
Rr 140/70-17
Front Suspension : Hydraulic Front Forks
Rear Suspension : Adjustable Monoshock
Front Brake : 276mm Diameter Disc
Rear Brake : 220mm Diameter Disc

You may also find the following interesting:-
1) 2008 Honda CBR1000
2) Super Bikes Comming soon
3) Yamaha R1 and MT01 in India
4) 2008 Kawasaki Ninja250R
5) Yamaha YZF-R125 VS Honda CBR125 VS Kymco KR Sport
6) Harley Davidson
7) Bajaj acquires stake in KTM

Yamaha YZF-R125 VS Honda CBR125 VS Kymco KR Sport part 2

Part2
Honda CBR





For years the NSR125R was Honda's offering in the 125cc supersports market. Made exclusively for Europe it was styled for performance with an impressive 2-stroke engine. But with growing environmental concerns and the implementation of Euro 1 emissions, the NSR had to be discontinued in 2003.

Meet the new CBR125R, which is set to take up from where the NSR left off. The new 4-stroke 125cc replacement is sure to appeal to a wider segment of new and young riders looking for some competitive spice in their first real motorcycle. The CBR125R takes its style lead from the CBR600RR and new CBR1000RR Fireblade, mimicking their supersports styling and colour schemes. The aggressive race replica style dual headlights and stepped seat only add to the supersports image.Other features include electric start for ease of use, a 6-speed gearbox and disc brakes front and rear.

Specs:-
Engine Type Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 2-valve SOHC single
Engine Displacement 124.7cc
Bore & Stroke 58 x 47.2mm
Compression Ratio 11 : 1
Carburation VK-type carburettor
Max. Power Output 13 bhp at 10,000 rpm
Max. Torque 10.1Nm at 8,000 rpm
Ignition Capacitor Discharge (CDI)
Starter Electric

Gearbox 6 speed
Final Drive O-ring sealed chain

Length x Width x Height 1,920 x 675 x 1,070mm
Wheelbase 1,294mm
Seat Height 776mm
Ground Clearance 172mm
Fuel Capacity 10 litres
Dry Weight 115kg72mm

Wheels Front U-section 6-spoke cast aluminium
Wheels Rear U-section 6-spoke cast aluminium
Tyres Front 80/90 17M/C 44P
Tyres Rear 100/80 17M/C 52P
Suspension Front 31mm telescopic fork, 109mm axle travel
Suspension Rear Monoshock damper, 120mm axle travel
Brakes Front 276 x 4mm hydraulic disc with dual-piston calliper and sintered metal pads Brakes Rear 220 x 4mm hydraulic disc with single-piston calliper and sintered metal pads

You may also find the following interesting:-
1) 2008 Honda CBR1000
2) Super Bikes Comming soon
3) Yamaha R1 and MT01 in India
4) 2008 Kawasaki Ninja250R
5) Yamaha YZF-R125 VS Honda CBR125 VS Kymco KR Sport
6) Harley Davidson
7) Bajaj acquires stake in KTM

Yamaha YZF-R125 VS Honda CBR125 VS Kymco KR Sport

Yamaha YZF-R125 VS Honda CBR125 VS Kymco KR Sport

Part 1 : Yamaha YZF-R125
Part2 : read here
Part3 : read here

Let me make one thing clear that Yamaha currently has no concrete plans for bringing this bike in India any time soon. The bikes that its bringing to India are YZF R1 and MT01.
The battle is between the Japs and a Taiwanese challenger Kymco for the best entry level sports bike in 125 cc. The segment had been dominated by Honda CBR125 in most of the markets around the world so far. But with the Yamaha YZF-R125 equations are about to change.

R-Series styling

MotoGP tech

Part 1 : Yamaha YZF-R125

This is the all-new 2008 Yamaha YZF-R125 motorcycle which will go head to head with the top-selling Honda CBR125R.

The Yamaha YZF-R125 uses an all-new liquid-cooled 124cc, four-valve, short-stroke single cylinder engine, which is claimed to be the most powerful 125cc four-stroke motorcycle available. It has a six-speed gearbox and fuel injection, and a Yamaha YZF-R6 style stubby exhaust with twin catalysts is fitted.

A full size Deltabox beam frame is used to make the Yamaha YZF-R125 feel and ride closer to a full size bike than the Honda CBR125R, and an aluminium ‘banana’ style swingarm, 33mm diameter forks and a 292mm brake disc/Brembo caliper and wide tyres complete the mini-sportsbike chassis.

The styling is close to the new 2008 Yamaha YZF-R6 – the short tail and aggressive looking twin headlight fairing are almost indistinguishable from the 600 at distance. Colours are blue/black, red/white, grey/black or yellow/black.

YZF-R125

• R-series engine and chassis technology
• 6-speed gearbox
• Aluminium swinging arm
• Midship muffler

Tech specs:-

Engine type: Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, 4-valve, single cylinder, SOHC
Displacement: 124.66 cc
Bore x stroke: 52.0 x 58.6 mm
Compression ratio: 11.2:1
Maximum power: 11.0 kW (15 PS) @ 9,000 rpm
Maximum torque: 12.24 Nm (1,25 kg-m) @ 8,000 rpm
Lubrication system: Wet sump
Carburettor: Fuel injection
Clutch type: Wet, multiple-disc coil spring
Ignition system: TCI
Starter system: Electric
Transmission system: Constant mesh, 6-speed
Final transmission: Chain
Fuel tank capacity: 13.8 L
Oil tank capacity: 1.15 L
Chassis: Steel Deltabox
Front suspension system: Telescopic forks
Front travel: 130 mm
Rear suspension system: Swingarm (monocross)
Rear travel: 125 mm
Front brake: Single disc, Ø 292 mm
Rear brake: Single disc, Ø 230 mm
Front tyre: 100/80-17 M/C
Rear tyre: 130/70-17 M/C
Length (mm): 2,015 mm
Width (mm): 660 mm
Height (mm): 970 mm
Seat height (mm): 818 mm
Wheel base (mm): 1,355 mm
Minimum ground clearance 155 mm
Dry weight (kg) 126.5 kg

The HONDA CBR125 And Kymco KR Sport

The YZF-R125 is definitely most advanced 125 supersport!
It will surely leave the CBR behind
YZF-R125 = 15 PS @ 9,000 rpm. torque 12.24 Nm @ 8,000 rpm
as compared to
BR125 = 13 bhp @ 10,000 rpm. torque 10.1Nm @ 8,000 rpm
as compared to
KR Sport 11.8 bhp @ 10,000 rpm. torque 9.9Nm @ 8,000 rpm
note that KR sports is about 15 to 20 kgs heavier than the 2 bikes above.

You may also find the following interesting:-
Yamaha YZF R15 and FZ unveiled at Auto Expo
1) 2008 Honda CBR1000
2) Super Bikes Comming soon
3) Yamaha R1 and MT01 in India
4) 2008 Kawasaki Ninja250R
5) Yamaha YZF-R125 VS Honda CBR125 VS Kymco KR Sport
6) Harley Davidson
7) Bajaj acquires stake in KTM