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Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR
I have changed both my tyres in my Karizma ZMR, wanna share my thoughts with my fellow xbhp mates. I was really tired of the pathetic grip of the MRF stock tyres in my motorcycle. As any ZMR rider knows, the rear tyre gives away too easily. I have driven it around 11000 Km in the last 3.5 years, and i was thinking of changing the tyres since the day of purchase. 1 month back i changed the front stock tyre to Michellin Sirac street, same size as the stock. Immediate improvement in grip and braking, with no change in weight or steering dyanamics. The stock tyre was neutral in corners, but the Sirac street is much more comfortable while on corners. As soon as i tilt the motorcycle, the front screams- tilt more, tilt more! And now i can just squeeze the front disc brakes with all my power, provided i keep the handle arrow straight. Its tread design is excellent for on road as well as off road driving. Although it a soft rubber compound and will not last as long as the stock, i am extremely happy with the grip, handling and braking.
Last week i decided to change the rear tyre too. Read all about ZMR and rear tyre combinations, thanks to my fellow xbhp members. Finally i decided to get Pirelli Sport Demon 110\80\18, for both grip as well as looks! But i enquired all the tyre sellers in my city, all keep the 120 version of sport demon, not the 110. And though the seller told me that there is negligible difference in price and weight between 110 and 120, i know that he was just trying to sell what he had in stock. I am planning a 450 km trip in the next week, and i wanted a new rear tyre immediately. So i agreed and bought the pirelli sport demon 120\80\18. It is not as heavy as MRF zapper Q, but not as light as the stock mrf zapper either. Its weight is quite less than the other 120 wide options (mrf, michellin, ceat etc). Bought it for Rs.3600 from the biggest tyre showroom in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
I had decided to remove the chain cover entirely, as i ride solo always. I have promised myself to take care of the chain with washing and oiling at least every month. Now the rear is slightly heavy, just a negligible difference as Karizma has excellent low end torque. But i could easily accelerate slowly from 1500 rpm in any gear with the stock gear (i know driving at such low rpm is not recommended!). Now i can't do it without getting knocking from the engine. Other than that i can ride comfortably in any gear without any acceleration loss. In fact i find the acceleration to be more linear and exciting with the pirelli (maybe its cuz my mind doesn't expect such acceleration after installing heavier tyre and when it does accelerate, my mind is fooled in thinking it to be more than before!). Loss in mileage is around 4-5 kmpl in city driving and 2-3 on the highway, but i am not much of a mileage caring guy, although i always drive in a relaxed manner so as to not waste fuel by unnecessarily accelerating. I drive it more like a bullet, mostly at low rpms with gear changes at around 2500 - 3000 rpms!
The braking is perfect for me now, i slam both the brakes with all my power without worrying about wheel locks! (Of course the braking force is much higher in front than in rear). The rear just refuses to leave the road. I drive like a maniac on empty straights sometimes (not my riding style, but just do it for testing the new rear tyre), swaying and tilting crazily, and the rear tyre slips a little and gets back on track! I immediately get the feeling (while in a highly tilted position) that the rear end was just skidding away and has gained grip again! Although the life of this tyre is only 20000-25000 Kms, i am okay with it. I don't like the idea of getting a durable hard rubber compound tyre so that it can last more than 40000 kms but doesn't provide any grid or stability at all. That is the reason i avoided MRF Zapper Q, also it was way heavier than all the other tyres i saw.
I have an elephant(121KG) for a cousin, my maternal uncle's son. He rides pillion with me on rare occasions, and i used to rev a little more than usual with him (gear change at around 3500 rpms) when i had the stock tyre. Today he sat behind me again, and the acceleration loss was huge! I had to change gears at above 4500 rpms!
P.S. I think i have the best combination of front and rear tyres for a karizma. If anyone else has got the same satisfactory results from any other brand/model (but same size as mine, stock 80 in front and 120 in rear) please post it here.
I have changed both my tyres in my Karizma ZMR, wanna share my thoughts with my fellow xbhp mates. I was really tired of the pathetic grip of the MRF stock tyres in my motorcycle. As any ZMR rider knows, the rear tyre gives away too easily. I have driven it around 11000 Km in the last 3.5 years, and i was thinking of changing the tyres since the day of purchase. 1 month back i changed the front stock tyre to Michellin Sirac street, same size as the stock. Immediate improvement in grip and braking, with no change in weight or steering dyanamics. The stock tyre was neutral in corners, but the Sirac street is much more comfortable while on corners. As soon as i tilt the motorcycle, the front screams- tilt more, tilt more! And now i can just squeeze the front disc brakes with all my power, provided i keep the handle arrow straight. Its tread design is excellent for on road as well as off road driving. Although it a soft rubber compound and will not last as long as the stock, i am extremely happy with the grip, handling and braking.
Last week i decided to change the rear tyre too. Read all about ZMR and rear tyre combinations, thanks to my fellow xbhp members. Finally i decided to get Pirelli Sport Demon 110\80\18, for both grip as well as looks! But i enquired all the tyre sellers in my city, all keep the 120 version of sport demon, not the 110. And though the seller told me that there is negligible difference in price and weight between 110 and 120, i know that he was just trying to sell what he had in stock. I am planning a 450 km trip in the next week, and i wanted a new rear tyre immediately. So i agreed and bought the pirelli sport demon 120\80\18. It is not as heavy as MRF zapper Q, but not as light as the stock mrf zapper either. Its weight is quite less than the other 120 wide options (mrf, michellin, ceat etc). Bought it for Rs.3600 from the biggest tyre showroom in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
I had decided to remove the chain cover entirely, as i ride solo always. I have promised myself to take care of the chain with washing and oiling at least every month. Now the rear is slightly heavy, just a negligible difference as Karizma has excellent low end torque. But i could easily accelerate slowly from 1500 rpm in any gear with the stock gear (i know driving at such low rpm is not recommended!). Now i can't do it without getting knocking from the engine. Other than that i can ride comfortably in any gear without any acceleration loss. In fact i find the acceleration to be more linear and exciting with the pirelli (maybe its cuz my mind doesn't expect such acceleration after installing heavier tyre and when it does accelerate, my mind is fooled in thinking it to be more than before!). Loss in mileage is around 4-5 kmpl in city driving and 2-3 on the highway, but i am not much of a mileage caring guy, although i always drive in a relaxed manner so as to not waste fuel by unnecessarily accelerating. I drive it more like a bullet, mostly at low rpms with gear changes at around 2500 - 3000 rpms!
The braking is perfect for me now, i slam both the brakes with all my power without worrying about wheel locks! (Of course the braking force is much higher in front than in rear). The rear just refuses to leave the road. I drive like a maniac on empty straights sometimes (not my riding style, but just do it for testing the new rear tyre), swaying and tilting crazily, and the rear tyre slips a little and gets back on track! I immediately get the feeling (while in a highly tilted position) that the rear end was just skidding away and has gained grip again! Although the life of this tyre is only 20000-25000 Kms, i am okay with it. I don't like the idea of getting a durable hard rubber compound tyre so that it can last more than 40000 kms but doesn't provide any grid or stability at all. That is the reason i avoided MRF Zapper Q, also it was way heavier than all the other tyres i saw.
I have an elephant(121KG) for a cousin, my maternal uncle's son. He rides pillion with me on rare occasions, and i used to rev a little more than usual with him (gear change at around 3500 rpms) when i had the stock tyre. Today he sat behind me again, and the acceleration loss was huge! I had to change gears at above 4500 rpms!
P.S. I think i have the best combination of front and rear tyres for a karizma. If anyone else has got the same satisfactory results from any other brand/model (but same size as mine, stock 80 in front and 120 in rear) please post it here.
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