Re: Weird starting problem - ZMR

Since you hear the tick, it means engine is turning over.

Issues could be:
1. Blown fuse in the starter relay. Replace fuse/relay.
2. Low battery charge. (valid for most cases but not yours probably)
3. Carbon build up in the starter switch gear. Open up the assembly and clean with WD40.

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

The RTMI is not wrong, it is just delayed by 10 seconds. It shows your mileage as per your riding conditions 10 seconds ago. In case you pull hard, it will keep showing 10 Kmpl for the next 10 seconds, even if you let go the throttle after that. The RTMI works as a guage, it gives you an idea about mileage and economy.

Bro 4.5 to 5k is too high for city traffic! It will also result in mileage of 30 - 35 only. When I said I drive at around 3k, I meant I shift at 3.5k and don't drive below 3k generally. But if I always shift at 5k, it would be a waste of power and fuel, as the torque at 3.5k is good enough for shifting. I drive solo mostly and weigh around 68 kgs.

Still if the experts INSIST on shifting gears at/above 4.5k, I would be happy to oblige.

BTW I am sure that the snorkel effect is not pseudo. After installing PSD rear tyre (18 months ago), I couldn't drive at 2.5k at all, the engine would start knocking, I had to drive it like a pulsar i.e. at much higher rpm than before. After removing the snorkel, I can easily cruise around at rpm as low as 2k!
NOTE: I rarely drive at 2 to 2.5k, I do it for the sake of testing low end torque only.

Have you guys seen the inside of the snorkel? There are two elliptical tubes (2"x1") inside, bent at two places. It creates a bottleneck for the air. Although I am sure there is zero effect at mid and high rpm, but the engine is definitely breathing better at low rpm's. I ain't installing it ever again.




psr sir,
I like the soft suspension in our zmr a lot. But nowadays I am thinking of making it more dampened for better cornering and stability, just like those in Fz, gixxer. I don't know much about suspension (I do understand dampening though). In my brother's pulsar 150 dtsi, I got the fork oil changed to castrol fork oil and told the mechanic to fill lesser amount to make it softer. I was pretty impressed with the result, the front is now as soft as a karizma, but not that soft so as to smash the headlight to the mudguard upon braking. This was done 4 years back.

Based on that, I am thinking of changing the fork oil in my ZMR and filling around 25% more than stock. AFAIK it would make it firm, more dampened. What do you think, is it logical?

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

If you want a slightly stiffer front suspension, then you can add 1~2 inch spacers to the inner spring in the fork. The oil in fork is only for damping the return action of fork after it moves in ....so excess amount of oil or thicker oil increases the return damping ...so the better way to do things is to add solid spacers like I had suggested inside fork, above the spring....Mechanics will be able to help you when you tell them ....Excess oil may cause early demise of Sealing "O" rings

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

I never heard of spacers before. Thanks a ton, will learn more about it and see how it goes.
Btw u said that thicker oil increases the return dampening. Isn't that better for handling? I think the return dampening in fz, gixxer etc is much more than zmr, that's one of the reasons why they are better at cornering.

While on the topic of suspension and handling, I want to ask something else. While driving (solo) my cousin's gixxer, I noticed something weird. While leaning (using counter steering) in a corner, as soon as I apply front brakes, the handlebar tends to straighten up on its own. Is that a good thing? If yes, guess all superbikes must be like that?

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

That is physics at work.
More the entry speed, greater the lean angle in a corner. That is ALWAYS achieved by counter steering (even if the rider isn't aware of it).

Now when you apply brakes, the weight of the bike comes to the front wheel, thereby asking for more traction to continue the motion.
(A lot of gyroscopic factors play a role here.)
It is here, that the lean angle is auto corrected to keep the motion going! (handle straightens up a bit)

P.S - your motorcycle auto corrects your faults ALL the time. It is the rider who makes mistakes. If you're daring enough, take your bike to 45-50 kmph in 3rd or 4th gear and leave both handlebars. Then just poke one of the bar ends but DO NOT hold either of the ends. You'll see that the bike corrects itself!

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

Not just superbikes, ALL bikes are like that.

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR


Thanks for the explanation. I had seen a YouTube video explaining counter steering few years back. That rider explained it exactly like that, driving at decent speed and poking the handlebar. And YES I have done it several times at speeds around 50 kmph. Felt scary as a beginner, now I am accustomed to it. I even show it to my friends and cousins to encourage them to use counter steering proactively.

Now I think I feel the auto correction more while cornering gixxer cuz of its wide handlebars (leverage). Still gixxer has got much better handling and stability than zmr, right?



I have got another query regarding air pressure in tires. I had installed Michelin sirac street in the front and PSD at rear, around 2 years back. I can't figure out the optimum air pressure for them. Company recommended for front is 29 psi, but handling feels heavy at that level. I have tried 32 and that makes the bike feel light and nimble, but I guess that is too much for the front tire, especially in summer.

Similarly, the recommended pressure for the stock rear tire was 29 psi, no idea how much to keep in this 120 mm wide tire. Right now I keep 32 psi for both single and double seat. Feels ok, not too hard or soft.

What is the optimum pressure level so as to get good handling and mileage as well?

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

Replies inline.

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

Visualize the front wheel going over a bump on road...after the bump the bike is still in forward motion,the bump had passed and what position will the wheel be IF return damping is high and wheel returning back to original position is slow ?....The wheel will be still in air till forward weight and momentum pushes it down.....At the same time if the return is not damped at all, the energy in the compressed spring ,going over a bump, will push the wheel down at great speed and wheel will bounce. So you have to understand that Damping will vary with speed, object encountered, shape of object,etc.,
To understand more of the subject kindly read the contents of the Link...Technicalities: Suspension Damping | Sport Rider

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR


I am confused. First you said that you stick to 28 front and 33 rear. Then you say that 32 is a bit too high for my rear tire.
Do you mean to say that 33 is ok for your zapper Q rear tire, but 32 is tad higher for my PSD 120?
If yes, please explain.

Btw I have tried keeping 30 in the rear, it feels sluggish, as if I am driving with 25 kgs extra weight!

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

Na na. You read it wrong. I mentioned that Sirac Street is a heavy tire. 20/30 should be fine. You had mentioned that you filled 32 psi in the front tire, right?
I replied for that part, not the rear tire.

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

Guys, something urgent:

I'm about to hit the highway in 10 days and my bike has started knocking!!!
Exact scenario:
1. Only with pillion.
2. While accelerating up on an incline between 3800-4500 RPM ONLY in 5th gear.
3. No extra sound if revved in neutral.
4. Doesn't knock any other time.

P.S - it never happened earlier. Noticed it 2 days back and today.

Pls help!

Sent from my phone. Kindly avoid it while riding.

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

my suggestion, since it is an urgent request. Contact [MENTION=32286]psr[/MENTION] sir or [MENTION=28527]sibun[/MENTION] over phone for quicker assistance..

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

Same issue with me in 5th gear only and sometimes in 4th. Its persisted since past 2.5 years. Still have not tracked the issue. And happens with pillion only. When engine heats a lot, it happens when am single too. And happens ONLY on inclines.. Sorry, for i don't know the reason. But its been there since 2.5 years of my ownership with no effects other than the knocking sound.. Hope there are no other ill-effects which may have missed my attention!

Sent from my C5502 using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

Could be Engine oil ?

Sent from Tin Box using Pigeon carrier.