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P180 DTSi V1 VS KArizma VS Apache RTR

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  • P180 DTSi V1 VS KArizma VS Apache RTR

    Hi guys,

    Just got my RTR back from its first service & while riding I was just thinking about various aspects of My Steeds that I Have owned in the last 5 years

    Few details on the bike

    Pulsar 180 DTSi V1

    Bought - 8 November 2003
    Mileage- 42000 kms
    Sold - February 2006




    Karizma

    Bought - 11 May 2005
    Mileage- 13000 kms
    Sold - May 2007



    Apache RTR

    Bought - 30 September 2008
    Mileage- 700 kms



    Here is a small comparo on various aspects of these bikes based on my ownership experience.


    RVMs: Best on ZMA, RTR comes 2nd & worst on Pulsar as on Pulsar at higher revs you cant make out much due to vibrations. The RTRs dont vibrate but doesnt have as good coverage as the ZMA's which are though non stylish but fully functional

    Vibrations: Pulsar had them on higher gear, ZMA at idle & at around 6-7k band which could be felt on footpegs, the RTR has it around 5k rpm.

    Gears: The P180 I distinctly remember had a very powerful 4th cog & ZMA had good 4th & 5th cogs. The RTR has overall better distribution in all gears & the fifth is good right from as low as 28kph to all the way to top speed(have touched 120kph so far :-D)

    Lights: Pulsar worst, ZMA has good spread but not enough bright. The RTRs headlight has slightly less span but is bright.
    After ZMA I would prefer to have DC lights on RTR too, I want to do DC headlights for RTR? will help in putting HIDs (if at all) later. ofcourse I would like to know if there are any cons.

    Seat Comfort: Best is ZMA. RTR(after getting used to) & Pulsar are same, may be pulsar had slightly better comfort.

    Brakes: All the bikes are more or less same, while I simply loved the bite of Pulsar's front disc The RTR ups the game with an even better bite. The ZMa had more relaxed braking.
    The rear brakes are best on Pulsars then on RTR & last on ZMA

    Steering: Best ZMA being so light, then RTR & then Pulsar due to its weight.

    Mileage:
    ZMA - Best 33, worst 25
    Pulsar - Best 50, worst 34
    RTR - Best 50, worst 42 (too early to say actually)

    City Riding\Flickability: Pulsar worst, ZMA good but due to its length is problem at times, RTR best thanks to small size, clipons & decent torque

    Highway Riding: ZMA best , Pulsar good & RTR might be worst based on the riding I have done so far but will confirm once I do some highway stint

    Pillion Comfort: Best ZMA, Pulsar good, RTR scores last

    Tires: Best was ZMA, RTR seems second as Pulsar was nervous on stock tires but still too soon to say for RTR

    Bricks & bats welcome please ask if I have missed out on any aspect
    Racing Throttle Response

  • #2
    Topic approved
    ALWAYS LIVE ON THE BIKE SIDE OF LIFE

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    • #3
      hmm. It's been hell of a long time since I saw you post, Techno. Welcome back!! And congrats on the RTR...!
      DoN\'t LivE tO DiE, dIe tO LiVe

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      • #4
        Originally posted by Technocrat View Post

        Here is a small comparo on various aspects of these bikes based on my ownership experience.

        RVMs: Best on ZMA, RTR comes 2nd & worst on Pulsar as on Pulsar at higher revs you cant make out much due to vibrations. The RTRs dont vibrate but doesnt have as good coverage as the ZMA's which are though non stylish but fully functional

        Vibrations: Pulsar had them on higher gear, ZMA at idle & at around 6-7k band which could be felt on footpegs, the RTR has it around 5k rpm.

        Gears: The P180 I distinctly remember had a very powerful 4th cog & ZMA had good 4th & 5th cogs. The RTR has overall better distribution in all gears & the fifth is good right from as low as 28kph to all the way to top speed(have touched 120kph so far :-D)

        Steering: Best ZMA being so light, then RTR & then Pulsar due to its weight.
        Woah... I have had a chance of using (abusing) these bikes as well, but Gears and Steering are simply big pluses for RTR.... nobody comes even closer....!

        I am pretty sure once you ride the RTR for a decent while you will end up going ga ga over its highway performance....

        Ride it with sanity till the run in is done.... and then let the insanity begin!

        Rip it on 3rd gear and when you do a clutch less shift to fourth you will know what I mean

        PS: I was told that the vibes in RTR Refresh are lot lesser than the original RTR, even the Tyres have been changed if I am not wrong!
        Super CommuTOURer� - Talk less, Ride more

        .: FB :.|.: TW :.|*IG*| Ex
        PowerDrift:.

        #Give thy opinion, write em, dont throw em
        #Everyone errs, accept it, defending/cribbing about it only makes it worse
        #Dont defend a manufacturer as if you work for them
        #Write. Think. If relevant hit submit. If not hit yourself
        #Be kind in your choice of words, you never know who would make you gulp em
        � Satyen Poojary

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        • #5
          Sarab

          Rtr is simply the best in its class!!!


          Kudos to rtr !!
          BIKING ??? " A RELIGION "

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Technocrat View Post
            Lights: Pulsar worst, ZMA has good spread but not enough bright. The RTRs headlight has slightly less span but is bright.
            After ZMA I would prefer to have DC lights on RTR too, I want to do DC headlights for RTR? will help in putting HIDs (if at all) later. ofcourse I would like to know if there are any cons.
            You don't need DC lights for HID on RTR. The installation on the RTR I have worked without any issue during the entire night long ride with hid on.

            PS: I got last few days left with the silver machine in my garage, any plans before I say bye bye to it?
            2000 Suzuki Fiero | 2004 Bullet Electra | 2004 RX135 | 2005 CBZ | 2009 Karizma | 2009 Punto 1.4 Petrol | 2011 Yamaha YZF-R15

            Nav is back !!!
            Getting Leh'ed. Since 2007...

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by satyenpoojary View Post
              ..
              even the Tyres have been changed if I am not wrong!
              you are wrong!

              Nice review techno. But what do u mean by this,
              "The P180 I distinctly remember had a very powerful 4th cog & ZMA had good 4th & 5th cogs"

              Whats powerful cogs now? Do the gears themselves gives some extra ponies?
              I know what u meean, but you do read a lot of auto magazines. You could phrase it better

              About the DC/HID for RTR, its doable. Just pick a good 35w HID kit and get a good electrician to wire it put for you. Dont get a 55w kit, will drain the battery big time.

              * Looking at the topic name, I thought it was an interesting performance comparo. Looked like a flashy road test title by auto mags.

              Joel
              sigpic
              [email protected]

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              • #8
                Good honest comparo techno!
                But why did you sell the Zma?
                I hope this thread doesnt turn into a flaming contest though!
                RIDE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!
                04' PULSAR 180 DTS-i
                09 ZMA-R

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                • #9
                  Thanks Gaurav

                  Thanks Pranay yeah man long time

                  Satyen: The steering on ZMA is very light & with the additional torque its a breeze Yes the gears are very good on the RTR. The vibes are there but they are not bothersome. The RVM dont vibrate which they do in Pulsar. Yes I am expecting the bike to get smoother over the next 2000 kms

                  @sarab: this is not about just the RTR

                  Nav: Any weekend next month is doable I want to put Headlights directly dont like them dimming at idling.

                  @joel: lol man you got me there, my bad. For others what I meant is that on the 180V1 the fourth is the gear which you can use from a low speed till 100+ with good pickup & 5th gear behaves more like an overdrive which is not the case with ZMA & RTR.
                  HID I will wait for some time(even then will go for 35w only) but would want to put headlight directly like ZMA, you have any tips on that?

                  @need4torque: Thanks buddy, well at that point of time I thought my biking days are over & hence sold the zma. It was only once I sold off zma that I relaized how wrong I was

                  Guys this is not a bashing of one bike & praising of another thread. These are merely my ownership experiences on these bikes

                  Please ask any question that you may have but please avoid any flames, thanks
                  Racing Throttle Response

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                  • #10
                    I guess you just missed the Rtr Fi! I am yet to test ride it, but i feel it would have been smoother.
                    RIDE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!
                    04' PULSAR 180 DTS-i
                    09 ZMA-R

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                    • #11
                      Techno :- Very good comparo. Please keep updating this thread frequently. I would like to know if the RTR feels under powered when compared to 180. I know this is not a fair comparision, technically the 180 should feel more powerful cause of a bigger engine.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by bprags View Post
                        Techno :- Very good comparo. Please keep updating this thread frequently. I would like to know if the RTR feels under powered when compared to 180. I know this is not a fair comparision, technically the 180 should feel more powerful cause of a bigger engine.
                        Not really. The p180 could have been better, but sadly looses to the RTR. Although, its higher on cc the engine struggles to keep pace. The low end torque feels better than an RTR but once the revs build, the story changes. "bigger is not always better"
                        sigpic
                        [email protected]

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Joel View Post
                          Not really. The p180 could have been better, but sadly looses to the RTR. Although, its higher on cc the engine struggles to keep pace. The low end torque feels better than an RTR but once the revs build, the story changes. "bigger is not always better"
                          I knew u were gonna reply.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            ^^ There is hardly anything to choose from between the stock RTR and 180 V2 in a straight line. I cannot comment on 180 V1 as I have not extensively ridden it. I have dragged with a friend's RTR with my previous bike. 3 runs with me riding the RTR twice. RTR looses out very slightly after 80 kmph.

                            But getting back to Techno's comparo, is there any specific reason you got yourself the RTR Refresh instead of the RTR Fi?
                            Last edited by pranay; 10-27-2008, 06:30 PM.
                            DoN\'t LivE tO DiE, dIe tO LiVe

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by pranay View Post
                              ^^ There is hardly anything to choose from between the stock RTR and 180 V2 in a straight line. I cannot comment on 180 V1 as I have not extensively ridden it. I have dragged with a friend's RTR with my previous bike. 3 runs with me riding the RTR twice. RTR looses out very slightly after 80 kmph.
                              Thats something I have always echoed on the threads about the way how the RTR should be kept in boil to get the best performance. The p180 has more low down torque and will not bother much with short shifts, but the RTR will. Its funny that most have never found the right way to keep the RTR and the R15 in boil and then u get the wrong figures.
                              The RTR FI will be a more fun bike to drag against the p180 or even the p200 for that matter.
                              If there is a comparo with the RTR and p180 by the wrong rider, then the p180 will surely win. In the right hands, the p180 stands no chance. Heck in our comparo runs, a bone stock RTR was barely loosing to a p220.
                              sigpic
                              [email protected]

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