Karizma review

karizma my view:

The HERO HONDA KARIZMA was the first real sports bike to be launched in INDIA and although initial prices were really high,the response was great and the CBZ’s styling looked childish alongside it’s elder sibling,the KARIZMA.The bike was targetted at the higher end of buyers who were eager on getting a good sports bike at a reasonable rate in INDIA.The KARIZMA addressed all those who had a passion for speed and styling and head-turning looks.One of the best looking bikes around in INDIA then and now.Although the PULSAR is being considered as a competition to this BEAUTY,you will come to a conclusion that the PULSAR 180 DTSF-i doesn’t even stand a chance against the HERO HONDA KARIZMA.This review concentrates on

LOOKS AND STYLING
RIDE COMFORT
RIDE AND HANDLING
SWITCH-GEARS AND
INSTRUMENTATION
ENGINE PERFORMANCE
FUEL EFFICIENCY
FINAL VERDICT

Each section will have it’s own rating and the overall rating and tester’s notes will be provided at the end of the review.JET SET GOOOOO……
LOOKS AND STYLING
The first thing anybody would notice in the KARIZMA is the styling aspect of the bike.The immensely aerodynamically efficient lines on the bike will catch you off guard.Especially when you take into account the amount of effort put into the design of the front fairing which incorporates/houses the indicators,two air pockets on either side and the head lamp.The fairing is not a full one which can be seen on SPORTS BIKES but nevertheless it was never before there on any INDIAN BIKE.Except for the ADRENO which was one dumb bike.Worsht possible DESIGN.Gave the feeling of riding a bike designed for ROAD RASH games.Yuck.Then the lines are amazing and extends into the fuel tank.Which has recesses for the rider’s legs.The tank doesn’t look big like the PULSAR’s bulky tank but it holds 15lts of fuel.And the tail-light design needs some mention over here.As is the case with most of HERO HONDA’s bikes,the tail part is one that catches the eyes of the on-looker the most.The KARIZMA’s tail section isnt an exception.It is equally popular wid all and you can even see them fitted onto PULSARS and other bikes too.The tail light is a split one.And the lenses are brilliant.Wow!!!Then come the trapezoidal headlamp unit up front.Illumination is brilliant which is unmatched by any bike in the country.The guide lamps are superb and borrowed from the ROYAL ENFIELDS.A nice addition though.The first bike other than the ENFIELDS to use the 2 guide lamps above the headlamp unit. The silencer/exhaust tip is mounted in a really sporty manner and gets an almost slash-cut finish.It is chrome plated and gold coloured.The pipes for the exhaust are powder coated in black.
MY RATING : 9 / 10


RIDE COMFORT
The confort on this bike or shall I call it a beast is awesome.The sporty position of the seat offers the best possible seating position for the rider although the pillion seat could have been a little bit more longer.Even on long journeys,the back support is splendid and the front shock-absorbers do a splendid job of damping the vibrations.The rear shock-absorbers are perfect for INDIAN ROAD conditions which mostly consist of pot-holes and speed breakers.The rear rider’s comfort levels aren’t all that great and could have done with some more thinking and concentration on that aspect.There a few chinks in the armour of this wonderful monster.The foot-pegs for the pillion rider are placed a little too high for comfort.And there is a mark on the front mud-guard everytime you hit a pot-hole because the number plate hits the mud-guard and makes a mark on it.
MY RATING : 8 / 10



RIDE AND HANDLING
Well if you wanted for a bike which you could rely on at all speeds,it is the KARIZMA.Relentless and impeccable on straights and cornering.The bike stands firm on its feet even @ speeds reaching up to 130kmph.There is not a single twitch.The skimpy rear tires of 100/90 spec could be upgraded to 4.00″ MICHELINS race tread-ed ones.The skimpy company fitted rear offers lower levels of grip but as always said,it is what the bike was built for.The company fitted tires will give the least drag and highest possible efficiencies under normal driving conditions in city and on highways.The ride is superlative and the braking is simply terrific.The bike can come to a standing halt in around 30m from 60kmph in around 2-3 secs.And the bike does twitch at the rear if too much of braking is applied.The braking is to be as gradual as possible.The brake pads wear out slower than when you brake hard all the time.It is also advisable to keep atleast 3 cars gap to the vehicle ahead in dry conditions and atleast 8-10 vehicles gap during the rainy season.And well the handling of the KARIZMA in the wet tarmac is as good as that when it is dry.The braking efficiency is hampered to an extent though due to the water film being embedded on the tire treads and the braking distances increase considerably.The Corners can be attacked with tenacity and the bike will respond with aplomb.The bike is simply terrific.There is no competition for the KARIZMA among the BIKES in this aspect.Although the ENFIELDS corner and are much more stable than the KARIZMA.It can be said that it is unexpected of a bike of INDIAN origin to have such high capabilities of handling and cornering.A highly reliable bike in all situations.
MY RATING : 9 / 10





SWITCHGEAR AND INSTRUMENTATION
The next thing that comes to mind is the quality of the switch-gears.The positioning of the switchgear is just about perfect with a sense of usability.The blinder switches are placed superlatively and the horn,indicator(push cancel type),choke lever are all placed on the left side and the electric start and light switch is on the right side.
As for INSTRUMENTATION,it is a superb three pod instrument cluster.The first ever digital instrumentation on any INDIAN bike.A digital indiacator for the fuel levels,ODO and an in-built digital clock find their place in the DIGITAL INSTRUMENTATION.The speedometer and tachometer are anologue and are well placed.The neutral and high-beam indiacators are positioned on the speedometer dial.The displays are backlit in Orange lights and are well visible at all times of the day/night.The speedometer is the most accurate on available in the country.It shows the exact speeds till 100kmph.After that it varies by a small value of 2-3kmph which is highly negligible compared to the speed one’s travelling.What the buyer gets in one helluva informative instrument cluster.
MY RATING : 10 / 10





ENIGINE PERFORMANCE
Another wonderful part of any bike or automobile for that instance has to be the motor on which the vehicle thrives on.In this case, it is 17BHP 223cc SINGLE CYLINDER ENGINE from the stables of HONDA,who are possibly the best engine manufacturers world-wide.The motor doesn’t disappoint those who feel a gush of blood flowing in their veins.Open the throttle up and she’d fly to 60kmph in around 5 secs and with a top whack of around 130kmph(real road conditions,no delta V-BOX USED), the speed lovers will have a splendid time with this beautiful beast/monster.The most power being developed in 3rd gear.So if you are dragging with somebody,just kick her into the 3rd at around 4000rpm and vrooom.The competitor is a speck of dust and eating your dust already.The gear shifts are smooth and silky.The shift lever is a sporty one.And has a 1 down 4 up sports-bike like shift pattern.The motor is silky smooth across all bands of power and never shows signs of tiring and goes on and on and on.It seems as if you still have loads of power even at speeds of 100kmph.Zooming past other cars like the zen and 800 on highways is simple with this bike.Jus open your throttle up and she’d be ready to respond to your calls.The idling speed of the engine is best set around 1200rpm after running the engine in idle for 5 mins.At this idling speed,the optimum performance can be attained with optimum fuel efficiency.
MY RATING : 10 / 10






FUEL EFFICIENCY
A bike built for power and not just power.But RAW POWER,scintillating speeds shouldn’t be brought into the topic of fuel efficiency.But the first thing that gets noticed by others is the fuel efficiency of superbly styled bikes.Well this beauty returns a mileage of 43-45kmpl on steady driving at 60kmph in city conditions.And atleast 47kmpl on highways on maintaining 80kmph speed.As for those who doubt these figures,I cannot do anything bout your astonishment or amazement with which you are reading that a 223cc bike returns 45kmpl in the city conditions.Well gentlemen it is the truth.But the main important things are that you shouldn’t open up the throttle and try speeding away.Gear shifts and acceleration should be gradual.A smooth driving style with minimal gear shifts is to be followed.
MY RATING : 10 / 10





FINAL VERDICT
Well for all the initial rough roads that this wonderful piece of man-made machinery travelled through,people would have thought the journey would be over sooner rather than later.BUt then the LEGEND LIVES ON to conquer the hearts and lives of many a guy/gal.This is one piece of amazing machinery one can ever get to imagine in the days of the PULSARS and UNICORNS.And with the recent drop in prices for the KARIZMA,this is one bike that is worth more than what you pay.The bike is expected to be upgraded sooon.And the bike is supposedly going to be sporting FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM,MONO-SHOCK SUSPENSIONS AND MANY MORE.So watch out for the hidden competition.Most of the people think that the PULSAR 220DTSF-i will prove stiff competition for the PULSAR.Well that’s how far you guys who are BAJAJ lovers can afford to get.The WORLD’s LARGEST MANUFACTURER ain’t gonna sit and watch the PULSARS attack the MONSTER.The KARIZMA ROCKS whatever be the situation,whatever be the competition.KING OF THE INDIAN ROADS.
MR.MAJESTIC IS THE WINNER BY A WHOPPING MARGIN.PRESENT COMPETITION ISN’T EVEN CLOSE.
HERO HONDA SURE GOT THEIR TICKETS RIGHT.AND THE KARIZMA IS A SURE WINNER IN EVERY OWN RIGHT.And expect a rise in levels of competition with the arrival of the PULSAR 220DTSFi,YAMAHA’s 250cc bike and a possibility of a big bike from TVS too.It’s going to be stiff competition by all means and hoping for a fight back from HERO HONDA.


OVERALL RATING : 9.5 / 10



TESTER’S NOTES


Optimal Gear shifts:(Ain’t from the manual for those shit heads who think it is) >:)
1st——0kmph to 15kmph
2nd—–15kmph to 30kmph
3rd—–30kmph to 40kmph
4th—–40kmph to 50kmph
5th—–50kmph to 80kmph
All gear shifts are best done when the tacho reaches 3600-4000rpm.Never let the rpm drop below 2000rpm for optimum performance.
DRAWBACKS/FLAWS:


Number plate hits the mud-guard while encountering pot-holes.
Cold start isn’t all that an easy affair.Needs a considerable amount of choking.
Position of rear foot pegs.
Cost of front fairing.(Costs 945.Rs,300.Rs,949.Rs each for left center and right pieces respectively..It is a three piece fairing)
Very feeble horn.Not audible at all.
The company fitted rear tires can get a bit skiddy under heavy braking.

HOPE THE REVIEW WAS A PLEASURE TO READ.DRIVE SAFE.DRIVE WITH A SMILE.




JET SET GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO