Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

ok, reliablity comes from product as a whole, not engine alone. Let's look at 150cc scenario now, didn't honda have ruined a great engine. Atleast I believe so. Even some people aren't aware the old uni 150 has been stopped. They buy 160 thinking it's the same old uni, but since it's not, you might have noticed it in various uni 160's ownership experiences mentioning several issues like gearbox issues, engine heating/ stalling issues, oil leakage etc even in brand new bikes > reliablity comes into question, Also the sales of uni160 have already taken a hit, only 700 bikes moving out in december. Let's hope hornet turns their fortunes..

Coming to hero, Though hero uses the same engine, they have played safely and have retained their old standards. Xtreme/Hunk are still as solid as older versions. Even the achiever is still gold and comes close to older uni150, it sells consistently 4000 units every month. A person buying the new xtreme or hunk won't be disappointed like uni 160's buyer. Hence reliablity is retained....

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

Hero plays safe with older honda technologies. They just follow, if it is not broken don't fix. Not sure how long it will work. Still their Maestro,passion xpro are honda designs.

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

every bike has its own issues. so do the HONDA and HERO bikes. but generalizing things should not be done just pointing out some issues.
we cant say Honda is not reliable just because thry has stopped few models which failed to do good in numbers. the same goes for Hero.
they are still using tweaked old honda engine but its not only engine but as a whole package still they are good.
Karizma is still a good bike but nowadays we look into the spec sheet rather than the real world performance.

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

Honda: I feel they are positively moving ahead with their models, just a little less value for money. Any new product is gonna have small niggles, which are not serious.

Hero: Using same engine tech as Honda's, with modifications. New 2014 Karizma's have Increased Camshaft lobe angle & changed piston crown are design fault & also their production was halted just after a year of launch. Hero desperately needs to gain back its flagship models. By sales numbers wise, Hero is always ahead in smaller displacement segment, & has sold largest number of bikes in the world.

But otherwise both Hero & Honda bikes have 5 year warranty + they have proven to be highly reliable vehicles. Spares & service wise Hero is MUCH better than Honda in almost all parts of India. Spare cost is also affordable.

So we can say that quality wise, both Hero & Honda are very good with very refined & reliable engines.

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

Agree with you, and added to that they should also consider today's market expectation and develop product accordingly, atleast for the sake of sales volume..

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

Take example of Bajaj: They produce what the market & customer wants. Example: Bajaj releases awesome feature loaded performance bikes in amazing price range. BUT the quality is apparently inferior.

But again, the majority of Indian masses have proven that, they need 'excitement, features, VFM' and durability factor doesnt count much, because research shows, an average Indian is gonna sell his bike within 2-4 years of owning. This is the reason why Bajaj Pulsar is extremely popular. It offers class leading features, performance & value for money.

To keep the prices low Bajaj reduces the quality accordingly. We cannot complain Bajaj for deliberately providing inferior quality products. We have to blame ourselves for this, because we ask for it. Bajaj has ability produce anything from lowest quality product to highest quality world class motorcycles. We just need to show our maturity by respecting the quality & willing to PAY for better quality.

But Hero & Honda go with their "principles" which define their company. They never compromise critical quality & reliability, hence their prices are slightly higher & with lesser features. Thus the people find these bikes 'boring' Therefore less sales.

One Indian manufacturer who does not compromise much on quality & yet release value for money product is: none other than TVS. TVS too has it's own principle & vision which it always has followed. Their products & components are of high quality, but spares availability is slightly less & price is comparatively more than Bajaj. TVS was also not aggressive in marketing & product expansion leading to restricted popularity.

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

Couldn't have been any more true . Bajaj is famous because it makes cheap and thrill packed products . ( cheap here is cost of ownership ) . While hero and Honda are more focused towards commuter segment. Ask any commuter which bike would he prefer while upgrading from Splendor he will say unicorn. One thing that people blindly believe is Honda is king and nothing comes close. To me i dont feel it should be respected so much , i own a Honda unicorn and also its twin brother Xtreme. But difference between both is quite a lot. While both bikes were driven and maintained identically , Honda started to lose compression much earlier. Reason here is quality. Not that its inferior by any means but Hero makes engines which are 100% bulletproof . They took the classic CRF150 Honda engine and made it better that's it. But was it enough to capture market ? Nope.

Bajaj is and will remain favorite of huge Indian population because it gives what they want at low cost. When you combine Reliability and Quality that results in YAMAHA, it has the best quality made bikes i have seen in India and their products are aptly priced. But we start comparing it with segment of 150s and 200s and say Yamaha is grossly overpriced. No man , its aptly priced . look at the paint quality , fit & finish of Yamaha bikes , they are just too good.But now people are earning more and hence spending more, There was a time when owning 150cc was a matter of pride , now its seen as a beginner level class and even laughed upon . Times have changed but Hero is playing it safe by focusing more where its good at - Spares and service , frankly nothing comes close to spare availability of Hero, i can even get factory painted Blue Fuel tank for splendor even after 15Yrs what else is there to ask ?

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

in india good things dont sell muh,see achiver bike very good engine good pickup much cheaper,still sells less

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

Hi Guys..

Well everyone has their own perception towards every Manufacturer and their bike..

I have Bajaj Pulsar 220 in my Group that has run for 85000kms+ and is 5 years old..
and still running smooth and fine and can easily do speeds of 130+
Even on long rides no Breakdown as of now..

The reason Bajaj is more preferable is because its spares and parts are priced less as compared to Honda and Yamaha..

Bajaj knows what the youth is looking for in terms of Performance and Looks..

And coming to riders commenting about Honda.. Honda has Priced its Hornet at 89k having more power and performance than its CBR 150 which has Less power figures and is prices at about 1.2 lakhs.. Agreed it is FI and has DOHC.. Which is not needed.. Well you can call it Honda Logic.. Not Blaming Honda.. The CBR 250 is one masterpiece machine from Honda..

Every Manufacturer maintains their Standards of quality when manufacturing their Bikes... Yamaha has racing dynamics and Track Oriented bikes.. Honda is In commuter as well as Sports segment believing in Smoothness and quality.. And quality comes at a Price..

I have owned Hero Hunk for 2 years and rode for 19k kms and my Hunk never gave me Mileage above 45kmpl..even though after following Proper Run-in.. Run in needs to be done so that the bike stays with you in the long run without any trouble.. Hunk was smooth and had Power and pickup too good..

I now Own a Pulsar 200AS which is just a Week old.. I am loving each and every mile with it.. And Bajaj is also at par in terms of quality finish and refinement as well.. When compared to Hero Hunk.. I have done Lavasa ride on My AS200 and my bike was in service center the next day of the bike ride.. It is More refined and smooth after its first Service..

Bajaj is easy to maintain and has durability as well compared to other bikes.. Every bike is made with a Purpose.. So buy the one that suits your needs and budget... Dont just blame stuffs..

Thank you..

Said what i felt like looking at the Blame Game..

Cheers 🍻

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

Here is my bit
I own CBZ Xtreme since last 4 years, which has clocked 68K till now. As far as maintenance is concerned, it hasn't been pocket friendly. Here is a brief description:

1. Clutch plates, Clutch Center, Clutch cover replaced @ 22K.
2. Cylinder kit replaced @ 29K, which included piston, rings, valves, bore, timing chain etc. due to engine oil consumption
3. Because of new cylinder kit, clutch plates gave away early, so replaced them with local ones @ 31K along with rocker arms.
4. Local plates started giving jerks and there was no pickup, so replaced the complete clutch kit again @ 35K with genuine ones.
5. Genuine chain kit lasted only 23K
6. Replaced rear shocks @ 50K which were quite expensive
7. Conditioned the front shocks 4 times till now, and it's leaking again
8. Replaced the major kit of rear disc caliper @ 25K due to leakage
9. Faced wiring issue, due to which 15A fuse was blowing again and again.
10. Handle weights have been installed n number of times as they keep falling down.
11. Both the tyres replaced @ 45K and 55K(Lasted really long)
12. Left side switch is really bad.
13. Headlight beam is not up to tge mark. Currently using Osram Silver star, but no improvement.

Never achieved more than 45 Kmpl, whatever the riding condition may be. Currently its giving 41 Kmpl.

I've maintained this bike to the best of my capability, but IN MY PERSONAL OPINION it's not really the best in it's segment. Still I love my bike, and I am hoping to achieve the next milestone which is 1L kms.

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

Even being a quality machine it gives Maintenance when compared with Bajaj.. It is the way we deal with the problems faced with our ride matters..

Cheers

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

wow.. Too much replacements.. Believe some service center guys messed your bike or abused bad, since honda engine is virtually rock solid, at least i believe due to our herohonda splendor.

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

It seems like you are ridden xtreme like hooligan. In my case till date I replaced fork oil seal left side fork (started leaking within 2000 kms), rocker arm & valve (replaced by HERO FOC under warranty. Reason: Talented hero Mechanics: P ), crankcase o ring (both bigger & smaller), shifter spring as faced problem in downshifting, need to tap 3-4 times (cost just 60 Rs. but labor cost 200 Rr. :P), head gasket twice. Apart from that did brass bush job (Overnighting of head cover head screw slipped thanks to hero ASC mech which again failed due to workmanship of mechanic who brass bush job). Later during in one long ride head started leaking which stopped after one mech @ HERO ASC at small village did wonderful job. From that day, no leaks around head area. Overall very fewer parts were replaced. Overall after reading all pages in forum what I learned is don`t care too much about her & don`t even abuse her too much. Keep running her as normal. Change oil at every 2000 kms, filter @ 8000 kms, spark plug @ 10000 kms (if required) , tappet setting every 5000 kms, chain lubing every 300-500 kms & through cleaning with kerosene/diesel in every 1000 kms.
Update about my ride:
Last weekend did MUMBAI-PUNE-MAHABALESHWAR-PUNE-MUMBAI. Distanced covered 640 kms. Petrol consumed worth 1100 Rs & average around 38 kmpl which seems ok as I did MUMBAI-PUNE solo, then PUNE-MAHABALESHWAR-PUNE pillion & back to PUNE-MUBAI solo with speed almost 85 kmph+ with some slot in triple digit speed. Touched 118 kmph with pillion ( While coming towards pune, courtesy: Ghat slope sectionJ). Overall satisfied with xtreme. Now using elf 10w40 semi synth, bike feel smoother @ higher rpm. Thinking to change cam carrier in next month as bike is touching 20,000 kms mark. At this point what things I should replace, check, service to avoid future problem?

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

I need suggestion regarding couple of electrical issues
1. Horn sound becomes feeble during low rpm and while indicator is on. Battery is around an year old, and bike starts with one self.
2. Headlight is insufficient for highway riding. Currently Osram Silverstar 35/35 is installed. Do I need to change the alternator's coil or RR unit?

Re: CBZ xtreme / Hunk

Unlike other bikes extreme battery is just a temporary juice. Once the bike starts the load is carried over to alternator.

Since you said your battery is one year old i would not doubt it, but if its amaron then can't say as some amarons show fault earlier.
Get the battery checked at a battery svc.

Else do these tests. Press the pass light, switch on the indicator, press brake light and then self start it. Tell me the results.

Your low light is also the reason of above problem. Solve the above problem and your low light problem will go.