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Re: Hero Xtreme 2014
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Dear if you are in Palakkad today, try to do a test ride of TVS RTR 180 with ABS(this is a life saver), you will love that(I do). and check if Palakkad Showroom have those machines and they have expertise in servicing that. (Alappuzha and Cherthala Showrooms won't sell and service them and its the sole reason that I refrained from taking the same.).
Another choice is Karizma R 2014. In one word it was Exceptional to ride.
Edit: I Quoted Deemash's reply, but last two Questions Didn't came in. So edited to add that
Answers in Bold
Originally posted by deemash
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Hi Vishnu..I am from palakkad...We have only one showroom here. Actually, my native is cherthala(Alleppey) and I went to coir city motors there for a test ride. The sales person said I can test ride in their compound. 
..So I did not get a good feel of the bike.
You have to be tactical there.. Say that you will be taking the bike only after doing a test ride on roads(Say you are ready to meet the sales manager for that, offer fuel and your license as security)
The sales guys does not know much about the new features.
New features include the immobilizer, Stand on Bike off feature(if the bike is in gears), Service due warning lamps(with lousy service that will be a pain as they tend to forget to reset it), The all new console(good to look at and functional as well), Dual tone mirrors(though small have good visibility),
I have a pillion too who travels with me. So I need both rider as well as pillion comfort. Highway ride I only have 35 kms and 15 kms city. But the highways are filled with trucks so you cannot go above 70 kmph.
This saturday (tomorrow) I have planned for a test ride of both GS and Xtreme with the pillion. Generally, how far we can do a test ride? some dealers say within their compound..etc..some rules..None of my friends having both the bikes...worst case
2 weeks before a guy walked in to the "Shymas Honda" in Alappuzha for test ride. He came with his mother and when out for test drive, he dropped his mobile and asked the sales guy who was his pillion to pick that up. He just dashed off when the sales guy got down! he was caught from NH near Pattanakad. That May be the reason that dealers have the inhibition in offering test ride.
In alappuzha, Rajaselvam Suzuki near SD College offers test ride on the byepass road(it is pretty long stretch, no traffic as byepass is not yet opened, and you can reach reasonable speed there).
Pillion comfort is ok in xtreme(I have tried that for a 21 Km stretch from Kochi till Eramalloor.). But you always have a fear of falling down(But for my wife, it was good except that steep climb before and after ride)
Few clarifications on Xtreme 2014:
1. I asked about seat covers and all for the new xtreme. The sales guys said parts are not available as it is a new bike and it will take some time to stabilize. No big deal..but are the parts really available?
Yes they are available and i have fitted the seat cover last day. Pillion step(Sideways, is already available), engine guard is the same as of HUNK and tank bag is the same as old xtreme(took that off). Other parts take around 3 months to "stabilise". And the latest news is that when I was around the parts department, they were telling that all "Hero Honda" branded parts are getting withdrawn. So getting this machine won't hurt much.
2. What is the FE that you are getting mix of Highway and City AND Highways?
Around 60 kmpl on economy drive(claimed 67 by Hero) and around 50 in rash drive in lower gears and occasional dashes hoping for an improvisation after 2nd service.
3. What I observed is that the back mudguard is too thin. I believe dirt will be spilled on the back of the pillion rider.. Correct?
Yes, you are correct, and without the pillion, mud will reach the riders back I have mentioned that in my post. Please note that that happened when I rode hard for around 85kmph in rain.
4. What are the color choices of this bike? (Ad showing blue..etc..But the coir city, cherthala guys told me only red and black colors have started coming.)
Correct. Orange,blue and silver haven't reached the Alappuzha/Cherthala showrooms yet
5. Have you felt any vibrations? If yes, after how much speed? From the reviews of GS I understand that the GS comes with engine balancer and all. But I am not sure how far it works. I dont like vibrations to come in.
Vibrations are not that felt hard. But in fifth gear from 50-60 range there is vibration and gets faded away with speed. Even in 90KMPH, bike is behaving cool. GS Scores here
6. Regarding the engine? Is it the same engine which is being served for xtreme and hunk since few years ? I mean is it the same honda engine or the engine is newly developed by Hero ?
Same Engine
..So I did not get a good feel of the bike. You have to be tactical there.. Say that you will be taking the bike only after doing a test ride on roads(Say you are ready to meet the sales manager for that, offer fuel and your license as security)
The sales guys does not know much about the new features.
New features include the immobilizer, Stand on Bike off feature(if the bike is in gears), Service due warning lamps(with lousy service that will be a pain as they tend to forget to reset it), The all new console(good to look at and functional as well), Dual tone mirrors(though small have good visibility),
I have a pillion too who travels with me. So I need both rider as well as pillion comfort. Highway ride I only have 35 kms and 15 kms city. But the highways are filled with trucks so you cannot go above 70 kmph.
This saturday (tomorrow) I have planned for a test ride of both GS and Xtreme with the pillion. Generally, how far we can do a test ride? some dealers say within their compound..etc..some rules..None of my friends having both the bikes...worst case
2 weeks before a guy walked in to the "Shymas Honda" in Alappuzha for test ride. He came with his mother and when out for test drive, he dropped his mobile and asked the sales guy who was his pillion to pick that up. He just dashed off when the sales guy got down! he was caught from NH near Pattanakad. That May be the reason that dealers have the inhibition in offering test ride.
In alappuzha, Rajaselvam Suzuki near SD College offers test ride on the byepass road(it is pretty long stretch, no traffic as byepass is not yet opened, and you can reach reasonable speed there).
Pillion comfort is ok in xtreme(I have tried that for a 21 Km stretch from Kochi till Eramalloor.). But you always have a fear of falling down(But for my wife, it was good except that steep climb before and after ride)
Few clarifications on Xtreme 2014:
1. I asked about seat covers and all for the new xtreme. The sales guys said parts are not available as it is a new bike and it will take some time to stabilize. No big deal..but are the parts really available?
Yes they are available and i have fitted the seat cover last day. Pillion step(Sideways, is already available), engine guard is the same as of HUNK and tank bag is the same as old xtreme(took that off). Other parts take around 3 months to "stabilise". And the latest news is that when I was around the parts department, they were telling that all "Hero Honda" branded parts are getting withdrawn. So getting this machine won't hurt much.
2. What is the FE that you are getting mix of Highway and City AND Highways?
Around 60 kmpl on economy drive(claimed 67 by Hero) and around 50 in rash drive in lower gears and occasional dashes hoping for an improvisation after 2nd service.
3. What I observed is that the back mudguard is too thin. I believe dirt will be spilled on the back of the pillion rider.. Correct?
Yes, you are correct, and without the pillion, mud will reach the riders back
I have mentioned that in my post. Please note that that happened when I rode hard for around 85kmph in rain.4. What are the color choices of this bike? (Ad showing blue..etc..But the coir city, cherthala guys told me only red and black colors have started coming.)
Correct. Orange,blue and silver haven't reached the Alappuzha/Cherthala showrooms yet
5. Have you felt any vibrations? If yes, after how much speed? From the reviews of GS I understand that the GS comes with engine balancer and all. But I am not sure how far it works. I dont like vibrations to come in.
Vibrations are not that felt hard. But in fifth gear from 50-60 range there is vibration and gets faded away with speed. Even in 90KMPH, bike is behaving cool. GS Scores here
6. Regarding the engine? Is it the same engine which is being served for xtreme and hunk since few years ? I mean is it the same honda engine or the engine is newly developed by Hero ?
Same Engine
Another choice is Karizma R 2014. In one word it was Exceptional to ride.
Edit: I Quoted Deemash's reply, but last two Questions Didn't came in. So edited to add that
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