sasen

After a real long break I am planning to come back to biking again. The yellow Karizma I sold off almost two years is fading from memory. On my 2nd stint I was looking hard at my requirements. This time budget is a constraint. I did not want to spend more than 65K. Also along with the items like power, looks, milage, I am now most concerned with one factor "COMFORT". At 39 years of age I did not want a beautiful or powerful bike which will break my back. I am 5'11" weights 83 KGs will commute about 30 KMs at day out of which 75% woluld be in thick stop & go kind of traffic. Long rides spannig multiple days are out and at at best I am looking at Sunday morning rides thru' highways covering some 150 KMs odd. Considering my budget I looked at options available in 150cc segment. I did not want a Bajaj, Unicorn is too old fashioned, Hunk's tank flanks were not upto my liking, Xtreme was good and comfortable too. Then I came across the Suzuki GS150. It was kind of love at first sight. The moment i sat on the saddle i knew that the bike was custom built for me. It fitted me like a glove, sitting posture was very comfortable and I liked the huge tank and the beautiful instrument cluster. And aha the six speed gear box. I found myself a tailor made bike and almost placed the money on the dealer's table. Then behold, suddenly the RTR 180 took my fancy and I don't know how. This was beyond my budget but I liked the white colour and what I read and heard of it's performance.

Now I could not get a test ride. The dealer here claimed that he does'nt have one for test ride(Is TVS listening?). But there are two negative things which i have heard of this bike. First the forward biased sporty riding position isn't comfortable and constant riding over 30 mins gets uncomfortable and will take a toll on the back. Secondly the bike suffers from vibrations beyond 6000rpm which makes prolonged high speed riding uncomfortable.

I am requesting all, particularly Apache 160 / 180 owners to share there experience on this. If there is a issue in riding comfort I settle for the Suzuki GS150. I have explained my riding needs and body weight and height. Please suggest in this context.

Aryan

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lijok

@sasen... I have a RTR 180 for the past two months... and I just LOVE it. As a youngester its fits the bill for me with its power, acceleration, looks and styling. The forward lean while sitting goes with the 'Racing DNA' of the bike.... so to say. its 17.3 bhp at a high rpm of 7.5k mean riding at high rpms and higher speeds... and I'm more than satisfied with the consistent 40kmpl that it gives me. its low end and mid end torque is a great advantage in city traffic - twist the throttle and the traffic get left behind . And when you go on the occasional long ride, the bike can take you at 3 digits without any sort of problems...
If you wouldnt mind the sub 50 mileage and the fwd lean while sitting I suggest you go for it.... come on... you are only 39
-lijo

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chicane1879

Looking at your requirements, i would suggest you the GS150R which is a great bike in its respect.

Coming to the 180, it's a stonker of a machine but then it's more of an extremely fast urban warrior. So prolonged riding is only possible if you are used to the bike or more importantly, if you are in 'love' with the bike!!

Yes, vibrations are there and the riding position is what most people wont find sealing well into.

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Jithu

RTR is an awsome machine with good power and mileage but for your requirement GS 150 or CBZ extreme is the best choice.

DOnt take RTR 160/180 expecting a vibration free comfortable ride.
Since you have owned a karizma in the past you know the pleasure of owning a powerful bike go for RTR if you want that pleasure of owning a powerfull bike . But it will not be as comfortable as karizma or GS150 or cbz extreme.

SO my suggestion is not to take RTR hoping comfort and vibration free drive . Take RTR 180 a test drive , CHeck if you are ok with the vibrations it has around mid speeds and sporty riding position it has .

Again dont expect the comfort cbz or gs 150 gives from an RTR .
i think cbz or GS150 is the best suited for your needs.

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sasen

Thanks all for their valuable feedback. What I understand that RTR is not exactly a machine for the comfort seekers. Sadly outright power is not on top of my wish list this time and mentally I am ready to sacrifice the RAW power for comfort. A machine like Karizma or P220 would have given me both but I had owned a Karizma once and don't want to repeat this time. I am skeptical about Bajaj and any way both are out of my budget. So GS150 it shall be.