hi Brat,
I went for the red one...wanted to go for black...Blacks my colour but its a ***** to keep clean in the city. My black lancer is living proof of that.

Hey thomas, few days more I hope....just waiting to get bk home and take delivery of this baby...she's waiting at the showroom for me!!!

@Cruizer
What are other bikes you consdered before making a decesion on ST7. Could you please tell what are main points to go with the ST7? I am aslo planning to buy one and my budget is 6L-9L.

Regards
TG

Hi Thomas,

The following bikes were considered.
Hyosung ST7
HD Superlow and HD iron 883
Suzuki intruder 800
Triumph Bonneville and triumph Storm
also buying a RE thunderbird and getting it customised by Vardenchi or by Mr Adil Dumasia of Transfigure.

I did a lot of readingand reviewing on websites across different countries for 3/4 months before short listing.


When I got back home,I went and had a look at Hyosung ST7 at Parel, Ronit motors. It was love at first sight. the price was on the higher side when compared to harley but availability was immediate. It looks and feels like a cruiser, which it is. Brand name had taken quite a beating the last time it was in india with kinetic. Also quite a bad name earned due to experiences posted in this website by different owners.Took all that with a pinch of salt as nobody can keep everyone happy all the time..you can only do that with some people some of the time and this holds true across the board in all walks of life and for any brand of vehicle under the sun.

Anyways, went to HD showroom after that...Met an owner just outside the showroom. He had an Iron 883. He had come in to change his shock ups.
Clearance is only about 100 mm on the HDs(Ground clearance on ST7 is a good 155mm) Bottom had been scraping all over town and the guy looked like he was gonna break down in tears. Saw the bikes in the showroom. They look good but at the end of the day, the mileage is not great(got info regarding mileage from another friend of mine whose friend owns a superlow in new bombay. I dont want to quote the mileage here as I have not heard it from the horse's mouth).
I'm a practical guy. I prefer riding a good bike without thinking about the next speed breaker or about the money I'm blowing on gas. The HD definitely does not fit in that category.Build quality wise the HD beats the Hyosung any day. But the ones that were in my budget(the superlow and the iron883) were not cruisers ,they are sportsters. .And the HD cruisers are too expensive to buy and way too expensive to maintain!!
Did not enjoy the posture on them(sportsters) as much as I did on the ST7 . Also delivery time for HD was 6 months.

Bang opposite the HD showroom is the RE showroom. Didn't need to go there coz I knew enough about RE to not need going in there.and also the delivery time was 6 -8 months.

Visited Vardenchi workshop in andheri(i hope u know Vardenchi. If not, then google it) They are awesome. They also claim to be able to get a new RE directly from the makers within 7 days, of course after paying 10K extra.Checked out their customised REs. They look great but again I did not enjoy the posture or the position of my legs and the angle at which my knees were(I dont know how to put this any better yaar) as much as I did on the ST7. Asked them if anything could be done about it. They said that's the maximum they can take the foot peg forward.

Enquired about the intruder and the OTR was well over my budget.

That left the triumph. Sent an enquiry on the website as I didn't know where the dealer was. Got a reply saying that they were still looking for a dealer and things will start moving after august 2012. i did not want to wait that long. But if you are willing to wait, then wait for the bonneville before you make your decision.it is a great bike but looks more like an RE than a classic cruiser.But it is a beautiful bike.I also asked Vardenchi if they would custimize a bonneville.They were not very keen as their experience has been mostly on the enfield platform.
The Triumph storm I would have waited for had it been within my budget.by its 17 lakhs ex-showroom!!! so was out of the question.
I don't have a lot of experience with big bikes so 680CC on the hyosung sounded good to me.

I read a lot of reviews on the ST7 on the Australian and American websites as well.They were quite satisfactory. I went to the Hyosung workshop in Dadar east.There was an ST7 there which had come for 3rd service.Fully loaded it looked awesome.Spoke to the owner. He was getting an average of 30kmpl and he was using it as an everyday bike.That really brought a smile to my face..30 kmpl on a 700CC bike...... I can live with that!!!!
Then got in touch with another owner in delhi(one Mr Kalra)via this website. I spoke to him.He had been riding this bike for the past 4/5 months and was raving about it..Told me to blindly go and buy it, reviews and bad press be damned...He too confirmed that he was getting 25 to 30 kmpl on his bike.

So finally decided to go for it. Now whatever happens, I'm going to love her, for better or for worse man....coz I havepaid for it with my blood money..

Just another thing off my bucket list..

Hope the above helps you in making a decision.
Happy researching and safe riding...

Thanks

@Curiser
Thank you very much for the very detailed report. I appreciate your effort very much to put everthing in detail. Each and every line is very valuble to me and for many other Xbhp members. I have short listed 4 bikes after all the research and reading. I am planning to use the bike only for weekend crusing not for any day to day commuting. Personally I like to have a chrome finished look, not a fan of blacked out bikes like Iron. After reading your post I am moving Hysoung ST7 to 2 place in my priorty list. I have to read your riding experience as well to make a final decision.

1. HD SuperLow
+ive attractive price (5.5l), Brand Value, compact, power full (883) crhome finish lot of customisation possible
- ive Low ground clearnece), not a cruiser bike.
2. HD Dyna Super Glide Custom
+ive Cruiser Bike, Brand value, chrome finish, 120mm Gound clearence, customisation possiblities
-ive price (11.5l) low fuel efficency, 6 gears )
3. Suzuki M800
+ive good looking,Cruiser Bike, Shaft drive -ive price (10.5L)
4. Hysoung ST7
+ive good looking, cuiser Bike,good fuel efficiency (30K/L), price (6.5l), Ground clearence (155mm)
-ive no brand value, even though it got a chrome look most of the parts are chrome finish plastic.

Kindly share your thoughts.

Thanks
TG

Hi Thomas,
You are bang on the money, though it depends on how much you want to shell out even for weekend cruising. dyna gives what, 12/15 kmpl?? not sure.will have to check..It's a beauty no doubt about it and I would have gone for it if I had money to throw..Depends on what is ur idea of weekend cruising is..even if it's just 100-200 kms, you are shelling out around 1.5 to 2k on petrol...every weekend. I used to shell out that kind of money on booze every day when I was single...Now it doesn't make sense to me. Also I'm looking to use this bike as a day to day bike so mileage was a very important factor in making my decision.And I would consider 6 gears also a plus. Some of the reviews on the ST7 did mention the need for a 6th gear(st7 has only 5). This again did not affect my decision as I don't think I am ever going to require the 6th gear!!! (Don't have the balls to go at very high speeds on a two wheeler)
I would consider the shaft drive on the intruder as a big plus..Nothing ever happens to them for long long periods of time.
You are absolutely right about the chrome look parts on the ST7 being of fibre glass and not metal...I really didn't have an issue with that, especially since, in mumbai, with the amount of salt in the air(I live 500mtrs from the Sea)the less metal the better. Makes the bike lighter thereby giving a better mileage...I'm sure , a lot of people see this as a negative, but the bike has proper chrome on the metal parts that matter to me.

Hi Thomas,
You can also check this link if you are interested..
2012 Motorcycle Model Fuel Economy Guide in MPG and L/100km

Thanks

Dyna will give 17.85 kilometer per liter as per the link you sent and suplerlow Fuel Ecconomy is only slightly better than Dyna 21.7 km/l. 6th gear for long high ways it will be usefull but do you thik it is good for our
driving conditios in India? I did not make up my mind yet.11.5l it is lot of money for a bike. Could you please tell me what is on road price of ST7?
Even though my heart is with Dyna, I don't think my pocket will allow it.

When you are going to have your ST7?

Regards
TG

Hi Thomas,
Pls check page 1 of this thread for on road price..As I mentioned before , we here in India, look for the road on our potholes and not potholes on our roads..So please talk to some Dyna owners before you part with the moolah...They hopefully will give you an honest opinion regarding Ground clearance issues with the DYNA..

36 hrs for my baby to come home!!!!

^^ keep us posted

Finally!!!! My baby's where she belongs ....in my arms!! Welcome home sweetheart.
Guys how does one post pics here?

Congrats on your Cruiser steed!! For posting pics, see additional options tab below thread msg box and select "Manage Attachments" in Attach Files; thats it!! You are all set..!!

Waiting for those pics....! loads of them...!!

Congrats

Cruizer,

Waiting for the pictures..

Regards
TG

Ok guys couldn't wait to post this. So photos in the morning in daylight...
Its 2 am and I'm just back after doing 100 kms.
First a confession. I have never ridden a bike before...Unless you can call riding my cousin's RX 100 for 50 Kms, some 12 years ago. So practically speaking , this is my first bike.
She came into my life at 5 pm last evening... A real stunner...
Was a bit apprehensive whether I would be able to handle her. So decided to wait until midnight to take her out. Couldn't hold myself beyond 10:30 pm.
Put on the gear. Already had a helmet and a leather jacket. Had picked up riding gloves and boots from the Harley davidson clothing store in Abu Dhabi. Took her to the 1 km cul de sac next to my building. Nice wide concrete road(courtesy the proposed Kandivali metro rail station that is supposed to come at the end of this road).She handled like a dream.Did not need to race after engaging 1st gear. She just started moving as soon as the clutch was released. Handles very well on the straight. Taking U-turns will need some getting used to.Gradually mustered enough courage to get into the main road. Still quite a bit of traffic. For some reason felt like people were giving me space, (probably wanted to get a good look).Went to Borivili cruising at a comfortable 40 kmph. Absolutely no problems at low speeds. Phenomenal amount of torque at very very slow speeds as well.
Ride was very very comfortable. Shockers are excellent(please bear in mind that most of my experience comes from riding pillion on bikes and riding a wego for the past 6 months). They smooth away the potholes and breakers very very comfortably. One thing I noticed is the heat emanating from the engine when at a signal. I was advised by the mechanic who delivered her, that if waiting at a signal for a very long time then it is prudent to switch off the engine. However I didn't need to as the waiting was very little. Once on the move the heat dissipates very rapidly.
After reaching Borivili, garnered enough courage to head for the western express highway. By then I was feeling capital!!! with a K !!!...

Lots n lots of admiring looks all the way. Got on the highway and did'nt realize when I touched 60, then 70 then 80..I found myself looking for the 6th gear...Not because I wanted to go any faster but because I did not realise that I was on the top gear already!!!. Riding posture is phenomenal and the bike behaves like she is my long lost soul mate(janam janam ka saathi of the filmy types!!!). One thing though, the exhaust note is nothing to write home about. Maybe this is because I wear a helmet that seals outside noise to quite a large extent..Have to try hearing the exhaust note after wearing my other half helmet.
All in all it took me about 25 kms before the engine sounds and whines became second nature to my senses and I started realising when the right time to change gears was.By this time i was at the Mumbai domestic airport.
Bike was delivered to me with 94 kms on the clock.By the time I reached the airport it was 125. Stopped at the pump there and topped up the tank. Filled speed which they said was Octane 91.
Started off from there and headed for town. By this time was getting used to the looks and the photos being taken from cars passing by!!!
Rode all the way to the Taj President at Colaba and then decided to turn back(actually wife decided for me!!! after giving lots of gaalis on the phone and telling me to get my ass back home)
Turned her around and headed for marine drive. Met a few kids on REs, celebrating a friend's birthday. I stopped and had a chat with them. They posed with the bike and were really freaked out that some total stranger would allow them to sit n pose on a brand new bike. After lots of photos and lots of friendly waves from Harley riding guys passing by, came back home.
On the return trip, after finishing about 70 kms, my butt had completely frozen...May be I need more cushioning as my butt, unfortunately is Non-existent!!!! Will try and finish 200 kms tomorrow and then top up the tank. I think that should give us a reasonably error free mileage.
All in all I loved the bike. Paisa Vasool. All I hope n pray is that kids in the compound don't f#cK around with it. I think they won't coz they like uncle Gary...

I don't know what this is guys, whether it is the fulfillment of a long awaited dream or whether it is a mid-life crisis at 35!!! whatever it is, I know that I'm never gonna stop riding as long as I am able to.
Anyone thinking about it, wait a couple of days more until I give you the mileage, then you can blindly go n buy it, if you can live with an engine that doesn't wake the entire neighbourhood and has some fibre glass coated with chrome, gives you a very luxurious ride, doesn't scare you in potholes or on bumpers, with brakes that work very well(did I mention that I did touch 100 kmph...I did and felt very good about it!!), Gears that change smoothly( except when you put in 1st gear , it gives you a very reassuring clank), headlight that's not great but gets the job done very comfortably, horn that sounds like a mouse squeaking( am planning to install a double Skoda horn soon), My wego horn is louder than this!!! sounds like a bull elephant whose balls have been cut off!!!
One more thing, serious wind blast once you hit 80 kmph.If cruising above 80 continously, then would definitely need the windshield.

That's it guys, now will go to sleep with some peace of mind and a wide smile on my face.Actually the smile never left my face since 10:30 pm last nite!!!