Kawasaki Bajaj 4S Champion Review by Santanu : BikeAdvice

Kawasaki Bajaj 4S Champion Review by Santanu
Yamaha Fazer 150cc Review by Muralikrishna
Hero Honda CBZ Xtreme Review by Jovito Cardozo
Hero Honda Karizma R Review by Chaitanya
Honda CBF Stunner 125 Review by Sankesh

Kawasaki Bajaj 4S Champion Review by Santanu

Posted: 11 Mar 2011 06:07 AM PST

Hi everyone, this is Santanu (22yrs) from Kolkata. I am a final year engineering student and yet to join Infosys this year. This review is about a very unusual and old bike. But truly speaking I just love this bike and it has been with our family for past 15 years & I have been riding it for past 8 years.

Its a 1996 Kawasaki Bajaj 4S Champion. Apart from this I also own a Hyosung GT250 and Yamaha Rx135 (with performance upgrades).

But this bikes occupies a special place in my heart and so I am writing this review. The review has less technical terms and more of my own ride experiences.

Style & Build Quality

There is nothing to boast of in this section. As compared to any modern bike the 4S looks pretty outdated with its all-square looks. Square headlamps, tail lamp, indicators, mirrors and near square body panels. Front mud guard, rear shocks, grab rails, knee guard and silencer is chrome coated.

The thing I like is the 3D Kbajaj logo and the company has revived it through its pulsar brand. But overall it has a charm of its own. It's simple and attractive in my eyes. It is small compared to modern 100cc bikes and has got a low seat high but high ground clearance of 150mm.It has got spoke wheels & an Instrument cluster with speedometer calibrated up to 110km/hr, high beam indicators neutral and turn indicators.

Build quality is surprisingly good. The paint and chrome on my bike is original. Though I have spent nothing on the maintenance, the body looks pretty decent and there are no rusts. The bike is all metal expect the mudguard flaps, instrument panel and lights.

Engine & Transmission

It has a 99.35cc 4-stroke over head cam single cylinder engine and produces 7.02b hp@8500 rpm, a Radical Aluminum Combustion Engine (R.A.C.E.) (for newer models), which is fitted vertically on the tubular chassis. The engine is tuned for fuel efficiency and not performance. So don't expect awesome acceleration and top speed. Its mated to a 4 speed gearbox and transmission is all-down which is very smooth.

The bike accelerates very well within the 0-60kmph range. The engine doesn't knock at 20km/hr in top gear on a single ride and then pulls all the way. It feels a bit out of breath after 75km/hr. The maximum I did on this bike was 95km/hr on the Speedo (may be 85km/hr-87km/hr actual).

Maximum I have covered on this bike at a stretch is 175kms from my home at Kolkata to my college at Durgapur via Kona Expressway-NH 2 with a 15mins break in between. I steadily cruised (like a tortoise on the highway) at 55-60km/hr. Engine is tuned for city riding and it is not fit for highway riding. The silencer has got a unique note similar to HH CD100 but a deeper note.

Milage

This is the test the 4s fares very well. When my father bought this bike back in '96 it returned an amazing 85km/l. After 15years of service the bike returns 65+ km/l averages under city riding and I have even got 75km/l for long drives (say 50-60kms at a stretch on highway). It has a fuel tank capacity of 9.3 liters which gives it a range of around 600kms with a single fill.

Handling, Ride Quality & Braking

The bike weighs merely 101kgs and the sitting position is upright and handle bar is wide and raised. This owes to very easy handling and small size of the bike ensures u can slice through heavy traffic with ease. Ride quality is good and seats are wide and soft enough for an average sized man (like me 5'9" 70kgs).

This bike comes with Gabriel shock absorbers and rear one is 5step adjustable. Due to its light weight its bit unstable after u cross 65-70km/hr mark on a single ride but with a pillion it's steady. The bike comes company fitted with 2.50×18 front & 2.75×18 rear MRF tyres.

I recently upgraded the rear tyre to a 3.00×18 Dunlop JAP 350 which offers superior ground grip. The bike has drum brake at both ends and this result in not so good braking. Also owing to its light weight the bike tends to skid under panic braking at speed of 60km/hr+.

Maintenance

This is an absolutely zero-maintenance bike. The only thing u need to run is petrol. Every 5000kms I change my engine oil (I use Castrol active for this bike), clean my air filter foam with petrol and tune the carburetor. I wash it once every 15 days. The only part I have replaced was the rear tyre (it was worn out). Except this every part is original. Only 2/3 fused bulbs, seat covers, cables have been replaced since then.

Final Verdict

This bike is not what a performance freak craves for. It's a simple bike which fulfils the basic commuter requirements as a good city bike which is reliable, easy to ride and cheap to run. There is nothing special in this bike, but the simplicity is what you will fall in love with.

Pros

Reliable
Superb fuel efficiency
Excellent commuter
Easy handling

Cons

Performance
Outdated looks

Thanks for reading

Regards
Santanu

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Yamaha Fazer 150cc Review by Muralikrishna

Posted: 11 Mar 2011 05:59 AM PST

Hi readers, I am K.Muralikrishna from Chennai and am a proud owner of Yamaha Fazer 150CC. She looks amazingly hot and really helps getting the maximum out of her. It's been advertised with the punch line 'touring spirit' and 'may the weekend never ends'. I do agree with the tagline because I and my beast have gone on nearly 5 long drives till now form past 1.6 years.

I guess you must have already found the information about this bike from sources like Internet and showroom but you see I want to narrate my personal experience with my bike. I used to drive motorcycles from my schooling days. In those days, I had a fantasy of driving all motorcycles and feeling their beat. Now those fantasies have become my passion.

I started peddling from Hercules cycle to driving Bajaj Chetak scooter, Bajaj Discover and Royal Enfield. Now I am lucky to ride my dream bike which I purchased on my birthday and it is really very special for me. After driving Bajaj Discover for 3 years, I thought of upgrading my bike from 135cc to 150 or 220 CC. and so I started searching for my dream bike. I used to drive bikes of all major brands to check which will suit me the best.

I do remember once Deepak in his article compared Bikes with the mode of bonding scene in avatar movie. During my research I saw Yamaha Fazer 1000CC displayed at a Yamaha promotional campaign @ Nehru stadium Chennai long back.

At that campaign I had a discussion with Yamaha officials and came to know that Fazer was going to be launched in India at an affordable price. That day I decided to wait for the launch. I waited for nearly 2 year for the launch and finally I bought my Fazer on Aug 2009.

To get the real feel of the bike, I used to drive a lot and check articles, online forums and also used to speak with other owners. During such course of interaction I met with some more passionate bikers who also own Fazer and on Orkut we used to share our experience about Fazer.

After getting a good response from bike lovers, we started a bikers club Roadrockerz (www.RoadrockerZ.com). We as a team used to plan for long distance trips, Route Suggestions, Tips etc. We were just beginners and used to share news, feedbacks, problems and solutions, accessories, Biking photos and Videos etc.

I want to now share my long driving experience with my Fazer. My 1st long ride was Chennai- Puttur- Chennai (300km) with a Pillion rider. I felt very uncomfortable driving with pillion rider because of very small pillion seat. My 2nd trip was Chennai- Pondicherry- Chennai (350km) under inclement weather with heavy rain but for Fazer and its controlled handling the riding was very safe experience.

My 3rd long trip was our official long trip from RoadrockerZ and the rout was Chennai to Pondicherry and back. On my 4th trip I was accompanied by my friend (RoadrockerZ member). We planed a trip to cross upto500km, so the plan was to travel form Chennai to Hogenakkal Falls-Chennai (700km) and in this trip the speed was the only constraint. We planned for our 5th trip for RoadrockerZ from Chennai-Goa-Chennai on the eve of New Year (around 3000km).

Unfortunately the 5th trip was cancelled but since I had already made up my mind for a long drive on the eve of New Year I was rearing to go. Even my bike was roaring for the ride after a complete service. Though there was no one to accompany me I decided to go on with the plan of a long drive with my baby. Although I had no one with me, I could not give up the plan because I promised my Fazer to spend the New Year's Eve with her. I decided to make my 5th trip on NH4 between Chennai- Vizag and back (1890km).

In this trip the constraint was speed (Max 115); had to halt (every 50 to 60km); petrol (mileage only 35 km/l). In spite of the short comings the trip was a most unforgettable one in my life.

When we speak about Fazer the things that comes to our mind are fat tyres, bulky tank and dual headlight which gives her an aggressive look. The ride on this bike is smooth, vibration free and feels like heaven if you drive with a speed below 90 km/h. Even the Power is always on top as long as you drive below 90Km/h.

Overtaking usually doesn't require a downshift even if you are in the top gear. Overall one can instruct the bike as per our driving style. Yamaha has marketed Fazer as a touring bike with a max speed not crossing 115km/h but Yamaha needs to work on this feature and try to fine-tune the engine so that the speed increases to some higher number. If Yamaha does this anytime soon then Fazer will be a true example of a touring bike.

The seat is quite good for city ride but not that comfortable as far as long drives are concerned. Moreover, no storage space is provided under the seat. Despite of all this, the look of Fazer is stunningly catchy and is stands out amongst all the 150cc bikes. Back in Aug 2009 the bike was priced at 81,000 and now it is priced at 85,000.

Specifications

Yamaha Fazer sports a 4-stroke air cooled, SOHC 153 cc engine. The bike has its MidShip Muffler placed towards the central area of the bike which not only improves in exhaust efficiency but also handling. The bike has telescopic front suspension and monocross rear suspension. The bike also sports front 267mm hydraulic disc brakes and rear drum brakes.

The bike weighs 141 kgs and has a ground clearance of 160mm. The fuel tank limit of the bike is 12 liters with a wheelbase of 35mm. The length of the bike is 1975mm and its width is 770mm while its height is 1045mm.

Mileage

We can expect a mileage of 40 km/liter in the city and around 45 km/liter on highways if the speed is maintained at 90 km/h. The mileage will be around 35 to 38km/l if the speed crosses 90km/h. This average depends on maintenance and air pressure also.

Braking

The gearbox and clutch are easy to use. The single gear shift lever gives a good feel while driving. The braking system of this bike is relatively good compared to other bikes. I once encountered an emergency situation where I had to brake at a speed of 100Km/h on the highway NH4. As soon as I applied both brakes, I could feel the effectiveness of wide tyres and braking system of my bike, which saved my life.

Handling

It's really a pleasure to ride on any type of road. Even soft suspension also works well on twists and Hairpin bends, which equips this beast with much required comfort and handling. The ride quality on broken and damaged roads is also excellent. The riding position is good, but not for continuous long trips. You would often end up hurting your knees if you would like to go nonstop for over a 50 to 60Kms

Health

Last but not least, health plays a major role in driving. Many of us suffer from back pain while driving a bike. Even I do have some back pain issues, so I can strongly recommend the following bikes for those who suffer from back pain; Yamaha Fazer (premium bike), Honda Unicorn (Family Bike) and Bajaj Discover (Budget Bike).

Negatives

As a true bike lover, its not fare to speak only about the positives. So I just want to share some negative points of Fazer.

Price – High under 150cc segment. Under the same pricing u can find even 220CC Bikes from other brands.
Speed – a max speed not crossing 115km/h.
Mileage- Average 35 – 40Km/l depending riding conditions.
Headlights- They can be switched on only one at a time.
Drivers Seat- Too Hard but comfortable.
Pillion seat as featured on the Fazer is really small.
Lacks the ladies footrest, crash guard and engine guard.
Open chain– At the time of service we must lubricate by paying extra.
Paint- Black paint on mirrors is of poor quality.
Rust- the disc brake is getting rust Very Soon.
Storage- There is no place for storage and even there is no option for accessories.
No Kicker to start the engine.

Special thanks to Deepak Raj for motivating me to pen down and express my love towards Fazer. Happy biking

Regards,
K.Muralikrishna

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Hero Honda CBZ Xtreme Review by Jovito Cardozo

Posted: 10 Mar 2011 10:02 PM PST

The Hero Honda CBZ Xtreme is my first bike. It’s absolutely something like ‘Neighbours envy – Owners pride!’ Well here’s a short review.

Looks: It wont be love at first sight when you look at this bike for the first time but over time you’ll get used to its looks. Very stylish from the rear I must say. Hero Honda could have could done better with this legend.

Performance

Engine is quite responsive and has a good pickup with good enough grunt and does 0-60 in 5 seconds. I still marvel my CBZ after 3 long years.

Paint Job

Hero Honda has done a good paint job except for I must say the engine paint which chips off early. But nothing serious to worry about. I must complain that the absence of a candy blazing red color does leave many paople disappointed. Though initially they did make provision for candy blazing red color limited numbers were sold and then HH gave excuses that the paint was no longer available.

Handling

Feels and handles absolutely like a charm. I faced some dangerous situations but the front disc did it’s job perfectly. Tyres too makes handling curves easy. Without having prior experience with geared bikes I took this bike from the showroom home riding solo and didn’t take much getting used to.

Mileage

Fuel consumption is also pretty decent and returns a decent 50 kmpl if you keep the speed at 40-50 kmph. I used to commute daily to office – a trip which makes 24 kilometres back and forth. 500 Rupees was enough for the fuel to last atleast 20 days before falling into reserve.

Electricals

It’s never let me down except for some minor electrical problems. Hero Honda should have given the CBZ Xtreme a DC powered headlamp like the one doing duty in the Yamaha FX. Headlight is pretty weak I must say at nights.

Overall

Overall CBZ Xtreme does fairly well and is suitable for tall riders who like to be king of the road while riding this beast.

Rgeards,
Jovito Cardozo

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Hero Honda Karizma R Review by Chaitanya

Posted: 10 Mar 2011 09:50 PM PST

Hi friends, this is Chaitu from the beautiful city of Hyderabad located in Andhra Pradesh, India… but presently staying at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh because I am pursuing my B.Tech here. I own the most comfortable, rocking the stunning street racer Karizma R (Moon Yellow).

First of all in one word to describe the bike its “Mind blowing” regarding the performance. And about the looks – one can say by looking at it. It captures every one’s attention. One advantage of having a Moon yellow color is that it is more attractive than other colors because it is bright and shiny and the graphics a clearly visible which make the bike more beautiful than others.

The most unique look which you cannot observe in any other bikes is that of the entire doom including the side of the tank. This is the main attractive part of Karizma R. Coming to the comfort of the bike the seat is designed in such a way that you feel like you are sitting in a luxury car and driving it.

But the only difference is that you won't be having a round steering and a hand control gear system. As visible the bike is little long and the seat is also lengthy which allows the rider and also the pillion rider to sit comfortably and enjoy. The other most attractive part is that of the engine safety guard below which gives it perfect sports look. The chain is covered by a guard which does not allow dust to accumulate on it.

The other most attractive part of the bike is the goldenish silencer. Other attractive part when it comes to night is the speedometer. Its yellowish background with lights beneath black lights which it awesome to watch. The mini lights are very stylish and the indicators are unique of its kind and glow with huge intensity of light.

Next coming to the handling of the bike. It's very comfortable, light and allows the free movement since the doom is not fixed which makes sharp cuts very easy. The disk brakes are the most safe ones and is very effective when both front and back breaks are applied together. It can reach a maximum speed of 125 kmph as observed with my bike.

Coming to mostly viewed feature of the bike in India before buying is “Fuel Efficiency” that is the mileage. If you want a good looking and awesome bike with all features you should sacrifice a little bit. Not so fuel efficient as some bike my bike gives a mileage of 35-38kmpl even if I ride at a speed of 100-120kmph.

If I ride at a speed of an average of 60kmph I would get a mileage of 42-44kmpl. Since Visakhapatnam is a place where the roads are almost empty such as the beach road, I prefer riding at higher speed but safety first, so I wear Helmet.

The tires are alloy rims with tube tires. Good pressure should be maintained for smooth running and should be checked frequently. There are 6 free services provided by Hero Honda. Till now I crossed 2600 kms in three months. It's a great pleasure with the bike. I recommend any one planning to buy a good looking bike to but this. It's safe, good looking, and high performance when compared to other bikes. Last but not the least .

“You have to own it to enjoy its real pleasure”. I enjoy it since it own it. Do you? Thank you for reading my review. Please Comment.

Regards,
K.Chaitanya Krishna

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Honda CBF Stunner 125 Review by Sankesh

Posted: 10 Mar 2011 09:38 PM PST

Hello everyone! This is Sankesh, 20 year young guy studying to be a Mechanical Engineer from BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore. Am a hardcore automobile enthusiast & this is my first bike review though I stepped into this heavenly world of biking at the age 12. My bro's legendary RX-Z was both my master & pet for a long time!

And now I am a proud owner of The New Honda CBF Stunner 125 – Absolute Sensation! I badly needed a bike to travel 20 kms to college everyday & here is my journey of 2100 kms that I have passionately drove in MY bike. Feels so proud to say that! We booked on 17/01/2011 & got it home very next day. The moment I sat on my bike I promised her that I'll look after with utmost care till the rest of her life!

As there are already a lot of reviews on this mean machine in this website, few things you might feel repeated. So please bear with me! My priorities were:

Fuel economy (as I had to travel 40 kms daily)
Performance
Looks
Maintenance
Cost

150cc engines & above were ruled out & pulsars were out of my interest for reasons. When I saw the first Stunner on road, it was love at first sight & without knowing the technical details I just wanted to buy this beauty. I did a bit of research & came to choose between Stunner & Pulsar 135.

Also the delivery period made me not to think of the New CB Unicorn. I took a test drive & felt everything as expected. After reading few reviews everything was in favour of my stunner & decided to go for it! Also BikeAdvice played an important role in deciding to choose CBF Stunner. Thanks Deepak!

For those interested in technical stuff, here are the specifications:

Dimensions

Overall length 2012
Overall Width 734
Overall height 1111
Wheelbase 1271
Ground Clearance 173

Weight

Kerb weight 128 kg
Maximum weight 170 kg

Capacities

Fuel Tank 10 L
Reserve 2 L

Engine

Bore & Stroke 52.4 X 57.8 mm
Compression ratio 9.2 : 1
Displacement 124.7 cc

Performance

Acceleration (0-60 kph) 5.2 s

Chassis – Advanced Design Diamond Frame

Front suspension Telescopic Fork
Rear suspension 3 step spring loaded Hydraulic shocks.

Engine & Transmission

Net Power 11 BHP @ 8000 rpm
Torque 11 Nm @ 6500 rpm
Air filter Viscous type
Primary Reduction 3.35
Gear Ratio - First 3.076, Second 1.944, Third 1.473, Fourth 1.19, Fifth 1.038
Final Reduction 3.071

Electrical

Battery 12V 3A (M.F)

Looks, Styling & Handling

The launch of upgraded version of Stunner with new features like tachometer, engine cowl makes it more competitive & sporty. Everything looks sporty, the handlebar, fuel tank, head lights, black coated engine, instrumentation, mirrors, indicator lights, split seats, tail guard & shocks.

It is the best looking bike in its segment & the sharp fairing kills me from every angle! Other bikers still gaze at this bike in traffic & few couldn't make it out to be a 125cc engine.

Thanks to superb cornering due to separate handlebars & no dead weight, am always first to head out of traffic. One can easily take sharp turns with a pillion & at times have managed to escape the traffic cop! Well, everyone has praised about the handling aspect in this bike.

Ergonomics is well taken care. The muscular fuel tank is designed such that the knee sticks to it. The foot pegs are in correct position, your knee & joints will never get stressed.

Engine & Performance

11.15 bhp & 11 Nm – most powerful – 125cc – 0-60 @ 5.2 s – 5 speed gear box => these say it all.

Great low-end torque – acceleration equivalent to a 150cc bike – good pick up. Engine is very smooth, refined & gear shifts butter smooth! Am sure all know this Honda's trademark. I just love the roar of this engine.

No difficulty in gear shifting, requires a minimum force to tap it & one can easily bring back to neutral position. Coming to the main point – vibrations. I haven't crossed 65kph yet (waiting for second service) & till now Han No Vibrations at all & hope the same above 65kph. This brought a big smile on my face!

Brakes & Control

I opted for discs at front & drum at rear. The efficient 240 mm discs are must for college hunks. 130 mm drum brake is not powerful, I had to adjust them. The braking system is perfect unlike powerful front discs in pulsar. The bike will never let you lose control in any harsh braking conditions.

The normal shocks are perfect & do their job well unlike those stiffer suspensions in pulsar. My bike has TVS tires but you can also insist for MRF tires.

Maintenance & Mileage

Honda – so zero maintenance – viscous air filters – maintenance free battery (no top-up no leakage) – tubeless tires => No worries! Am getting 56-60 kpl in Bangalore's heavy traffic, driving at 55-60 kph. In highways its 68-70 kpl @ 45-50 kph. The figures might come down once you cross 65kph.

I suggest go on a long trip for 400-500 kms @ 45-50 kph for better fuel efficiency & enhanced engine life.

My Dislikes

Though the pillion seat looks sporty, it can be really dangerous during sudden braking at high speeds due to its height compared to the rider's seat.
I felt the need of 6th gear due to shorter gear ratios.
A 150cc engine would have done justice, probably would have become the best seller!
Digital console with Honda Logo embossed would have been attractive (though I had no issues.)
Bit costly. OTR price in Bangalore- Rs.65,482/- But has got the best features & of course – Honda brand & reliability. So worth it. I managed to get Rs. 1500/- worth of accessories free!
Low mileage in its segment.

My Advice

Honda CBF Stunner is the best bike in its segment, no doubt in that! There are already lots of reviews here & few points might be the same.

But I have written what I have experienced on my lovely bike. It's a perfect blend – commuter-performance packed – fuel efficient in most styled & powerful segment – international fame. I strongly recommend stunner for college guys.

Please Keep These Points in Mind

Avoid harsh riding in city & pillion riding till your first service.
Avoid use of clutch for longer periods & excessive braking.
Accelerate & decelerate smoothly at least till your run-in period.
Shift gears at appropriate speeds & RPM both during acceleration & deceleration. This will ensure good life of the gearbox.
Warm up the engine during cold start by idling for at least 2 mins.

Dear bikers, respect & love your bike, it will treat you the way you treat it. Modifications on this beauty will be great like mono shocks, full fairings etc… But don't get disheartened if your bike gives low mileage than expected. Please clean your bike before a journey. Where there is a will, there is a bike!

Wear proper helmet, Ride safe & enjoy every moment of riding! Please comment. Thanks Deepak!

Regards,
Sankesh

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