r00kie

Hi guys,
I have been riding Discover 135 and Gladiator for past 5 years. Time to upgrade. What would be the most suitable motorcycle (available in India) for Manali-Leh trip?

Budget - upto 1.5 lakhs

Thanks

Aryan

Topic Approved.

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payeng

For a 1.5 lakh budget, I'd suggest


[1] Karizma ZMR

Reasons:

[a] Reputation of the Karizma Engine
[b] Relaxed upright riding posture
[c] PGM-Fi which should make it easy for the engine to breath at high altitudes

(But probably I'd suggest to remove the full fairing to protect it from damage from stones)



[2] Another option for 1.5 lakh could be the Royal Enfield Bullet Classic 500

Reasons:

[a] Ton and tons of TORQUE..!!
[b] Relaxed upright riding posture
[c] It also has the Fi-tech

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Jaykumar Bhardwaj

With no doubts RE Bullet. Especially 500cc. You can go for Classic 500cc for best of engine and performance. Torque and comfort is definitely upgraded.

Karizma / Pulsar 220 will be my second preference. Nothing regarding performance and comfort but if it falls, you will have to deal with lot of fiber makeover.

Although you can have a trip to Manali-Leh on any 150cc bike, but these 2 will definitely make your riding pleasurable and memories of your ride.

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r00kie

Thanks for your inputs. Few things -

RE CL500 looks like a good option, but I heard the basic FI system is having some problem in cold weather (running rich?).

ZMR is the next best option, but for all the plastics. Can the fairing be removed temporarily? And can be just assembled back whenever required?

P220 is the next option. Will the carb require any special tuning for high altitudes?

Grease Monk

The classic 500 is a bad example of what can be taken for a Leh ride. Although it does have FI, our Indian version is not a closed loop FI system. That is, it does not have the sensor(s) required for it to adapt to its environment, which, to be frank, is the only advantage FI has over carbs in a situation like Leh. This is the same reason the Classic is having trouble in colder environments where the plugs are being fouled because its running rich (not adapting to the environment).

I would also suggest you do some research on the ZMR before finalizing it as a valid contender. Confirm if it is a closed or open loop FI system. Just because it is programable, it doesnt mean that it is necessarily closed loop.

Since an open loop FI cannot adapt to its environment, and it doesn't have an AFR screw to turn to compensate for changing oxygen levels, I would definitely suggest a carbed bike over an open loop FIed bike for the climb to Leh.

r00kie

Okay. What about TBTS? Low ground could be a problem. Also it is quite difficult to stand and ride TBTS (on rough terrain).

Another question - how easy it is to tune the carb for high altitude? Link to any guide?

antz.bin

So.. P220 DTS-fi it is.. that i think has a closed loop fi system which is adaptive of the environment.

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vishnups17

1.RE bullet
2.zma or zmr
3.p220

antz.bin

Anyways.. i have read somewhere (in Overdrive mag i think) that the seat on the new RE Classics.. both 350 and 500 is not the most comfortable in the world.. and certainly not for long distance touring. That.. they guessed is the price we have to pay for the classic looks. IMO.. the Thunderbird (Twinspark) is a much better buy as a cruiser. And it has the same engine + everything under the tank... as the Classic 350..

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