IMO ZMA is not the only brand neglected by Hero, add CBZ to it. They simply sat & watched it, while Pulsar just kicked it out of the market. And then after seeing Pulsar gaining from strength to strength, they again launched CBZ extreme, with Unicorn's engine. As far as I know, Hero or for that matter Honda's bikes are not really made for enthusiast, just like someone mentioned they are faithful.. majority of them will keep going without issues.

cbz with the recent face-lift looks fresh,although not cutting-edge,but it looks way better than previous extreme.seeing too many new extreme these days,the idea of upgraded xtreme seems to have clicked.
. honda's indian portfolio looks conservative,but come on cbr duo is there,we can't complain.
their international portfolio tells different story though.

Yes offcourse Karizma has lost its Charm,

1)Today we have enough bikes to perform and handle in International standards, while Karizma is just a Jack of "few", Master of none.

2) Honda's divorce may add up a little.

3) HH was not chasing behind BHP figures like others, which makes the ZMA a static product just like the Splendour.

4) Not sure what would have happened if the RD350 was sold till date, May be it would have lost its charm too .

With the RD350, maybe just because it was discontinued at its prime probably adds to its exclusivity/old school charm.


Coming back to the Karizma, it was an awesome package when it was launched in 2003. the Pulsar might have started the revolution of affordable performance bikes for the middle class biker, but it was the Karizma which started the trend of "Affordable Premium" (I know the words are kind of oxymoron) bike for the middle class biker in India.

Just check out this following pic (probably from 2003): P.S: Try to find out (Sundeep Gajjar) Sunny and Bunny Punia in the pic.

I think the fact that even 9 years after it was first launched, with zero upgrades, people still have to ask this question; it shows just how good a bike the Karizma is.

I have personally never liked the Karizma, but if a bike still has new buyers after 9 years, then I am sure there is something very special about this bike.

And about the above pic, Bunny is the guy on the extreme left in grey tracks and white t shirt. And I am guessing Sunny is the guy fifth from the left, with his arms crossed across his chest. How thin boys become fat uncles after marriage

Sunny is fifth from left and bunny is second from left in white T-shirt. Where has bunny gone from xbhp?

i bought my karizma in 2004 when they dropped the price by 10000rs
it was a dream and a "big bike"

nothing like it at the time it was the king till they launched the 220
and even then people were not really happy with the P220 and it remained every boys dream to own a ZMA.

however they failed to upgrade it and the competition learnt and improved.
ZMA lost it appeal a long time ago. and now while i still have my 04ZMA its lost in the crowd between all the Pulsars and RTRs and R15.

i see the end of the road for this once most desirable bike. the market has expanded tremendously to more hitech and foriegn bikes which are now affordable as well.

i still have my ZMA (it was my first bike) and i will never sell it

but alas it will fade away into time and be remembered as the first " big performance " bike for india which made way for the indian biking and biking culture to grow.

From a Karizma lover.

Yes, the Karizma has lost its sheen, but its apart from the crowd.

[Slightly OT, but the jist has its heart with the topic.]
I loved the Karizma since 2003, when Hrithik raced with an aircraft in the advertisement. It was a beauty. I used to stand in the showroom and ogle at it for a long time. I was just 13 then.

Pulsars came. 150s and 180s. Still I loved the Karizma. Come college, a friend of mine bought the P200. Wow!!! Then came a P220... (breathtakingly!)
But I still loved the feeling when a Karizma passed by.

I rode a P200, P220 in college days, but never the Karizma. Never got a chance. My friends who owned them were too proudy to lend them for a ride.

Come R15. Man, wow!!! I rode it. My uncle bought it. It simply blew my mind.
But the Karizma was still etched in my mind.

August 2010, I got my first job. My dad wanted to gift me a bike. He needed some time to arrange resources and asked me which bike I wanted.
My mom's reply came within a second - Karizma!

I had a hard time deciding what bike to choose, R15/P220/ZMA-R/ZMR.
I did an extensive internet research but finally gave in to Karizma ZMR.

I know I've the slowest premium bike. I know a 150cc R15 beats it. I know 'P' owners mock at it. But I'm a proud lover!
I loved this bike since it came to existence. Yes, the market has grown, there are better products and more VFM, but they form the crowd.

Karizma is not lost in the crowd. It'll be remembered always. But its sad how HMC lost 2 of their biggest brands (CBZ/Karizma) because they were too busy painting/stickering their god foresaken Splendors!

Peace!

I myself ride a pre-used 04ZMA which I bought a year ago. Though the heart aged but still thrills me with its handling & comfort over long rides(only done max of 140kms at a go). People talk about drum brakes fail while panic braking. But the disc/drum combination of ZMA adds to its handling.

Now when I can afford a new bike, I am confused betwee Zma-R & CBR. One is a head turner with latest tech, the other is a proven allrounder. God knows what I would opt for....God help me.

Somewhere in all this premium segment mayhem, the karizma still holds it's own as a well built product. Hero bungled up big time with the product and Im sure they're regretting it too..A brand, once recognized and applauded should never be relegated to sticker jobs.What if there are no engine upgrades(thanks to honda),those clip-ons, digi meters,leds could have made it onto the Zma-R when P-220 launch was around the corner. Instead,they launch a bulked up ZmR, a product born out a little too late..Same story with the CBZ..

No point blaming Hero here now, but they lacked the will to act when the time was right. As of now, I still see a lot of new Zma-Rs on road, and will continue to do so till they take it off the market. Hopefully, a new karizma will rise out of some partnership and "hopefully", it'll be able to take it's place..

The bandit of Indian motorcycling in the below the 1 lac mark still marks it's name in the history of Indian motorcycling as being one the best.
Forget all the madness,sit back,putter along

Yes ofcourse the Karizma has already lost its appeal. Personally I never liked the Karizmas and never dreamt of owning one. I remember when it was launched then it was the only bike which had a big bike look and was also the first half faired bike. That was good launch by hero but they never upgraded the engine nor changed its looks and it became dated. The ZMA was later shattered by the Faired P220. Faired P220 had the power and fun to ride factor which Karizma seriously lacked. Also I don't think the half fairing on ZMA looked nice. To me never the design of Karizma appealed and its one of the bad designed half faired bikes we have. For half faired bikes I would have rating on their beauty like this
1- Fazer-16, 2- Stunner, 3- P220F and then the final remaining choice 4- Karizma

Coming to ZMR, it had good touring abilities but the skinny 125cc tyre did not do justice to the big bike. They made it overbulky. I dont knw why the std. 17"" wheels didnt come with the bike. ZMR was overpriced and lacked seriously in competition to a 150cc bike (~75cc less) the R15. R15 almost manhandled ZMR. The later to be launched CBR250 even made the game worse for them. The upcoming P200NS is a hell lot of a mindblowing product and has the prowess to kill the ZMA like anything.
Im sure the Karizma's would be extinct. They might be not since Hero doesnt have any other bike to call their flagship. They might keep it for namesake in the showrooms to sell their 97cc mopeds.

Has the Karizma lost its appeal?

Well, maybe not.


I was recently confronted with 3 choices, and an unlimited budged(Well, technically upto 1.6 lakh, so not unlimited in the true sense)

The choices I narrowed down to were:
R15
Karizma ZMR
CBR 250


And surprisingly, it is the Karizma that got my vote(and my money pretty soon, if all goes well)

Well, let me elobarate.

I am a Punjabi, and built like 1.
6 foot tall, broad, and heavy.
R15 ruled out. No matter how awesome it looks.

The CBR hasnt been getting very good reviews, the A.S.S. is pathetic. The build quality is un-honda like. And it doesnt really look very good either.

The next option was Bajaj 220. Well, about Bajaj's A.S.S., thhe less said the better.(Dnt go on about "I have never owned a bajaj and blah blah. I am a Platina owner. The worst decision of my life")

The Apache(same points as R15)

That left me with the ZMR and the rather ugly looking KTM.


So the ZMR seals it.

And the Karizma will continue to cater to the niche of people who are large enough not to fit onto a R15 or an Apache, and those dissatisfied with Bajaj, or not rich enough to afford a CBR.

these are history,issues have been sorted out.
i know looks are subjective,but lets not call duke ugly,it's rather
extra-terrestial.

Karizma might not be the fastest Indian bike but still it has more then decent enough power for Indian roads & still its quicker then many other bikes on roads even after so many years but then main thing which it can do better than any of its competitor is "touring", it still is no doubt one of the best sports tourer available in the country & ZMR took it one step further with a most important tech according to me for high altitude locations i.e Closed loop FI,few other features are helpful too while touring..

given an another chance I personally will go for ZMR again..or might go for CBR250 that's it, there's no other product which can replace a bike like ZMA/ZMR..

There's no doubt that R15 is a great machine but they both have different kind of byers..i mean how can you tour on R15 like a ZMA or How can you score smashing time laps on ZMA like R15..they both are VERY different products & if a buyer has to buy a bike for touring then it'll be a foolish decision to choose a sports bike like R15 over a sports tourer like ZMA/ZMR..

According to me Karizma is an overall package which might not over-shine its competitor on any perimeter but still it has power,touring capabilities,reliability,looks(which are subjective though,i love how ZMR look as well I still love ZMA-R),good FE in an improved Karizma & every other ingredient which a biker want from a bike like it..

Karizma HAS its charm in the heart of its lovers..though even we are sad to see how Hero is treating a bike like legendary Karizma..

to summarize all - Karizma is Rahul Dravid among Indian Bikes..few other bikes may exceed it in "numbers/digits" but still its reliable & dependable as "The Wall"

Well technically you missed the chance of owning two of the best bikes out there within your budget and of course they are Duke 200/CBR250. But, of course you liked ZMR, enjoy your ride.