Technocrat

Hi guys,

Just got my RTR back from its first service & while riding I was just thinking about various aspects of My Steeds that I Have owned in the last 5 years

Few details on the bike

Pulsar 180 DTSi V1

Bought - 8 November 2003
Mileage- 42000 kms
Sold - February 2006




Karizma

Bought - 11 May 2005
Mileage- 13000 kms
Sold - May 2007



Apache RTR

Bought - 30 September 2008
Mileage- 700 kms



Here is a small comparo on various aspects of these bikes based on my ownership experience.


RVMs: Best on ZMA, RTR comes 2nd & worst on Pulsar as on Pulsar at higher revs you cant make out much due to vibrations. The RTRs dont vibrate but doesnt have as good coverage as the ZMA's which are though non stylish but fully functional

Vibrations: Pulsar had them on higher gear, ZMA at idle & at around 6-7k band which could be felt on footpegs, the RTR has it around 5k rpm.

Gears: The P180 I distinctly remember had a very powerful 4th cog & ZMA had good 4th & 5th cogs. The RTR has overall better distribution in all gears & the fifth is good right from as low as 28kph to all the way to top speed(have touched 120kph so far :-D)

Lights: Pulsar worst, ZMA has good spread but not enough bright. The RTRs headlight has slightly less span but is bright.
After ZMA I would prefer to have DC lights on RTR too, I want to do DC headlights for RTR? will help in putting HIDs (if at all) later. ofcourse I would like to know if there are any cons.

Seat Comfort: Best is ZMA. RTR(after getting used to) & Pulsar are same, may be pulsar had slightly better comfort.

Brakes: All the bikes are more or less same, while I simply loved the bite of Pulsar's front disc The RTR ups the game with an even better bite. The ZMa had more relaxed braking.
The rear brakes are best on Pulsars then on RTR & last on ZMA

Steering: Best ZMA being so light, then RTR & then Pulsar due to its weight.

Mileage:
ZMA - Best 33, worst 25
Pulsar - Best 50, worst 34
RTR - Best 50, worst 42 (too early to say actually)

City Riding\Flickability: Pulsar worst, ZMA good but due to its length is problem at times, RTR best thanks to small size, clipons & decent torque

Highway Riding: ZMA best , Pulsar good & RTR might be worst based on the riding I have done so far but will confirm once I do some highway stint

Pillion Comfort: Best ZMA, Pulsar good, RTR scores last

Tires: Best was ZMA, RTR seems second as Pulsar was nervous on stock tires but still too soon to say for RTR

Bricks & bats welcome please ask if I have missed out on any aspect

__________________
Racing Throttle Response

gaurav_3000ad

Topic approved

__________________
ALWAYS LIVE ON THE BIKE SIDE OF LIFE

pranay

hmm. It's been hell of a long time since I saw you post, Techno. Welcome back!! And congrats on the RTR...!

__________________
DoN\'t LivE tO DiE, dIe tO LiVe

satyenpoojary

Woah... I have had a chance of using (abusing) these bikes as well, but Gears and Steering are simply big pluses for RTR.... nobody comes even closer....!

I am pretty sure once you ride the RTR for a decent while you will end up going ga ga over its highway performance....

Ride it with sanity till the run in is done.... and then let the insanity begin!

Rip it on 3rd gear and when you do a clutch less shift to fourth you will know what I mean

PS: I was told that the vibes in RTR Refresh are lot lesser than the original RTR, even the Tyres have been changed if I am not wrong!

__________________
Super CommuTOURer™ - Talk less, Ride more

.: Facebook :.|.: iTweet :.|*Do Not Click!*|I follow PowerToTheRider:.

#Give thy opinion, write em, dont throw em
#Everyone errs, accept it, defending/cribbing about it only makes it worse
#Dont defend a manufacturer as if you work for them
#Write. Think. If relevant hit submit. If not hit yourself
#Be kind in your choice of words, you never know who would make you gulp em
™ Satyen Poojary

SARAB_FI

Rtr is simply the best in its class!!!


Kudos to rtr !!

nav75

You don't need DC lights for HID on RTR. The installation on the RTR I have worked without any issue during the entire night long ride with hid on.

PS: I got last few days left with the silver machine in my garage, any plans before I say bye bye to it?

__________________
2000 Suzuki Fiero | 2004 Bullet Electra | 2004 RX135 | 2005 CBZ | 2009 Karizma | 2009 Punto 1.4 Petrol | 2011 Yamaha YZF-R15

Nav is back !!!
Getting Leh'ed. Since 2007...

Joel

you are wrong!

Nice review techno. But what do u mean by this,
"The P180 I distinctly remember had a very powerful 4th cog & ZMA had good 4th & 5th cogs"

Whats powerful cogs now? Do the gears themselves gives some extra ponies?
I know what u meean, but you do read a lot of auto magazines. You could phrase it better

About the DC/HID for RTR, its doable. Just pick a good 35w HID kit and get a good electrician to wire it put for you. Dont get a 55w kit, will drain the battery big time.

* Looking at the topic name, I thought it was an interesting performance comparo. Looked like a flashy road test title by auto mags.

Joel

__________________

joel@raceconcepts.in

need4torque

Good honest comparo techno!
But why did you sell the Zma?
I hope this thread doesnt turn into a flaming contest though!

__________________
RIDE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!
04' PULSAR 180 DTS-i
09 ZMA-R

Technocrat

Thanks Gaurav

Thanks Pranay yeah man long time

Satyen: The steering on ZMA is very light & with the additional torque its a breeze Yes the gears are very good on the RTR. The vibes are there but they are not bothersome. The RVM dont vibrate which they do in Pulsar. Yes I am expecting the bike to get smoother over the next 2000 kms

@sarab: this is not about just the RTR

Nav: Any weekend next month is doable I want to put Headlights directly dont like them dimming at idling.

@joel: lol man you got me there, my bad. For others what I meant is that on the 180V1 the fourth is the gear which you can use from a low speed till 100+ with good pickup & 5th gear behaves more like an overdrive which is not the case with ZMA & RTR.
HID I will wait for some time(even then will go for 35w only) but would want to put headlight directly like ZMA, you have any tips on that?

@need4torque: Thanks buddy, well at that point of time I thought my biking days are over & hence sold the zma. It was only once I sold off zma that I relaized how wrong I was

Guys this is not a bashing of one bike & praising of another thread. These are merely my ownership experiences on these bikes

Please ask any question that you may have but please avoid any flames, thanks

__________________
Racing Throttle Response

need4torque

I guess you just missed the Rtr Fi! I am yet to test ride it, but i feel it would have been smoother.

__________________
RIDE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!
04' PULSAR 180 DTS-i
09 ZMA-R