Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!

Topic Approved.


If touring is in your blood, get the new Karizma ZMR. The older Karizma is a proven tourer. And on it, is based the new Karizma ZMR.
With time a lot has changed, and the ZMR has a fairing and it makes more power now.



Let me tell you, all the above bikes can get touring done.
Karizma just has better credentials and reliability belief among most bikers. Its more comfortable and smoother too.


If full fairing is not a big motivator for you, you may save some cash by trying the new Karizma R too, which is seen in the picture below:




As a third option, you may consider P220F, in my humble opinion.

Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!

I'd suggest you to go with Karizma R. Fairing is not there - you'll feel comfortable. Also, pillion seat is very comfortable. Apart from that, this machine is tried and tested in Indian market for long. Touring capabilities are also commendable.

Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!

Thank you for the approval [MENTION=11482]Samarth 619[/MENTION] . I have to admit, I didn't consider the old Karizmas because they looked, well, old. But almost everyone has been consistently heaping praise on it for years on end. It just could not be ignored and I had to include it in my list. Plus the ZMR looks quite good.

I've heard that the ZMR has improved handling. How does it fare as a corner-carver w.r.t. the other bikes in this list? I'm not much of a speed addict, but I would like improve my cornering skills on my bike. Would the ZMR fit the bill then?

Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!

ZMR is not a corner carver by design. Doesn't mean you can't do it though!


Sent from my phone. Kindly avoid it while riding.

Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!

Please test drive
1. R15.(highway).
2. New karizma (not old).
3. 200ns.
While you test drive ,take all bikes to 100 or more kmph, and ride for a min .see how you feel.then choose the one .

Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!

Karizma was a good handler (in comparison to Pulsar series) even much before the recent upgrades, ever since its launch... The thing was that it was just made to handle high speeds easily, without losing composure, and staying in control of its rider.
Knee down corners weren't kept in mind while designing either the Karizma, or its donor bike, the off roading Honda CRF 230.


Believe me, to be a good rider, or to improve your cornering all you need is correct direction, knowledge & practice. The bike matters but doesn't matter much.


Take my example, for 7 years I was handling my Pulsar like a devil handles a horse! During the 6th or 7th year, I did read on Xbhp and tried improving cornering and I was still facing hassles like flickery frame of the Pulsar and the Main stand scraping the ground and lack of confidence in mid corner.

But I did focus on the main points of good cornering, as I read on Xbhp, like keeping arms low, pushing the bike inside with the foot, counter steering, etc.
And I kept handling the Pulsar the best I could.


So, what happened when I got to ride a YZF R15 for the first time? I was almost knee down at the very first attempt within 1-2 minutes of my first ride's start. I knew what I had to do. The highly rigid chassis didn't lose composure mid corner or anywhere until I gave inputs.
It was then that I realised, that it was actually the Pulsar that was making me a better rider.... not the single date with a demo R15.



So, if being a better rider is your focus, you can easily do it with a Karizma, just get the basics right, because what we do regularly becomes a habit.
And a good rider would not want a regular mistake to become a habit.

So, focus on knowledge and continuous improvement. And to make good cornering a natural habit.

Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!

@offtopic

Bro! We both have the same requirements and i have also shortlisted the same 3 bikes and i am also planning to take a touring bike in next couple of months.

I was more inclined towards the ZMR. I test drove all three bikes. I too am not much of a corner craver, but would like to hone my cornering skills. For the purpose of mostly highway riding and little bit of city riding, I would like to share my views on the all these three bikes.

ZMR:
I felt the ZMR to be the most comfortable bike of all three. I took it to a speed of around 85kmph and it was stable and smooth and very responsive. From a long touring perspective we dont need top speed capability. The bike should be able to cruise at 100-110 for long hours without strain to itself and to the rider. This is where the ZMR was excellent. It also has a record of being with the same refinement and smoothness even after hours of continuous driving. Seats both rider and pillion is comfortable.
I have been following the ownership thread from the launch of the new 2014 ZMR. quite a few people(not all) have been reporting tappet issues and vibration issues and many other issues. After reading all these, I am bit taken aback since the bike which i test drove was utter smooth. Even other members who own previous version of ZMR(rreneav, abhi7013 etc.,) have driven the new ZMR and have felt it to be one heck of a smooth bike.
Can someone please confirm whether the new ZMR is having more vibes. It will be helpful for both of us. For touring we just need which stays calm till 110.

Pulsar 220F:
I had ridden my friends 2010 pulsar 220F quite well to understand the bike though been proven with touring ability, is a bit on the harsher side. Moreover i have owned pulsar 150 in the past and still owning a discover to know that Most BAL engines lose their refinement and smoothness with just few hours of riding.
But, I was just blown away with th new 2014 version of 220F. The engine now is really butter smooth(I daresay, it was almost honda engine smooth) and i took it upto a around 7000RPM ( speed unknown because speedometer was disengaged) and it was smooth even then. No, unwanted vibrations anywhere. Both seats are comfortable(but not as good as the ZMR)
Only concern about the 220 is, its proven history of BAL engine becoming harsh after sometime. It never stays the same. And with my 1 year old discover the smoothness of engine is very erratic. Sometimes its butter smooth after some hours of riding and it will be harsh after a cold start even after 1 min of idling. Its not constant at all.

Next generation pulsar- the 200NS
I am around 170 cms in height and it was comfortable enough, but didnt feel as much comfortable as i flt on the ZMR and 220F. Don't know why. May be it is me, but felt strange. The torque in lower RPMs is just enough to potter around city. It is a high revving engine, so you have to take it to a high RPM to feel the grunt. Many people are doing long tours in this bike, but i have been touring with naked bikes for long enough to understand the need of a wind shield (which many people claim they dont require) to safe guard me from wind blast. I require atleast a quater fairing in this case. Trust me bro, the comfort of long ride with wind shield is totally at a different level. But the engine was smooth enough and had no vibes.

I have taken the 200NS off my list just because I didnt feel as much comfortable as i was in other two.

New ZMR and 2014 P220F have same amount of brownie points. I have always liked and had a soft spot for the ZMR. It also has a Fi, which is originally of Honda PGMfi and it is one of the most reliable and less expensive Fi in town. It also has the most complaint ride of all. The suspension soaks in any bumps on the road. The 220F has a very good Headlamp throw and a carb is always less on the pocket to maintain and also to do DIYs with. It too has a soft ride.

Lucky for me all three bikes which i test drove was in impeccable condition without any issues. But reading reviews makes me think again about the vibes in the new ZMR.
Still need some more clarification.

With all the suggestion in mind I would ask you too to take test drive of all three and before you go, make your priorities of what you need from the bike. Because the test drive will be over very soon and the sales guys, unless known to you will not give enough time with the bike.

Cheers Bro!

Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!

Wow! That was really helpful, and most of the people so far have also recommended the Karizma, which to me comes as not much of a surprise. I've also been following the new ZMR thread. The tappet issue was, I think, reported by one-two people, which is within reasonable limits. The vibes have been reported by a few more people, and what I'm interested in knowing is whether it is at the same level as that of the RTR 180. I'd like something smoother than that.

PS: I'm not bashing the RTR here. It has a certain rawness to it that I like, and pickup is really good, but right now I need a more refined ride.

Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!

Those vibes are no where near rtr. Rtr is the king of performance and vibes as well.

If you are concerned about refinement then go ahead with karizma because numerous p200 owners are complaing about vibrations in its ownership thread. I don't know much about 2014 lot of p220 but yes, some people are highly impressed with its refinement.

Sent from my GT-I9082 using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!

Whelp..an impromptu date with the highway road (read: accident) has brought down my budget a little. My choices have narrowed down to the Pulsar 220 and I am now strongly considering the Avenger 220 as well (have had a soft spot for it for a long time). Both seem like good highway tools, which suits my commuting and budding touring needs. Will test ride once the cast comes off and injuries are sorted out and choose what I liked better.

Let me know what you guys think. Please chip in, guys..

Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!


Get well soon and take care bro!! Let us know once you are OK and taken a ride.

Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!

Hey Folks!!

It feels like forever since I posted here, but last week I finally got around and took a test ride of these bikes:

• Karizma ZMR
• Pulsar 220F
• Pulsar 200NS
• KTM Duke 200

The Duke 200 was a late entry to my list, I admit, but I couldn’t resist it.

Here are my impressions of the test rides

*Mind you, these are just my personal points, and are in no way objective

Karizma ZMR

• Its big and heavy, and I felt both while riding
• It felt quite powerful, though
• And power delivery is relatively linear and doesn’t take you by surprise
• Smooth performance, although I couldn’t crank it up completely to check for vibes on the higher end
• It is a little difficult to maneuver in tight city roads

Pulsar 220F

• Easier to maneuver and handle, possibly because of its lighter weight and size
• Surprisingly smooth performance
• Lots of power on tap here too
• Pretty good-looking

Pulsar 200NS

• Wheeeeeee!!!!
• Light and nimble, making it seem faster than the 220F, even though I’m pretty sure both of them are a match
• Flickable, and just overall a fun and easy experience

KTM Duke 200

• OH MY FRIKKIN GOD WHAT THE FAAAAAAAAAaaaa…..!!!
• So responsive
• So easy to ride
• So, so, so good!!!

*Ahem* So, you can see that I’m in a bit of a dilemma, and the wheels are already in motion; documents are being prepared, funds being moved. I need to make a decision quickly, and I am utterly, completely torn between my heart and mind.

Right now, I’m looking at either the P220, NS or Duke.

The heart says Duke: it felt well-proportioned as soon as my butt was on the saddle, and everything about it seems well put-together. I just love it, simply put. It is over the budget, but my parents, the supportive buggers, are willing to give me a leg up. It isn’t unattainable, but it is a reach. It is what I want.

The mind says go for the Pulsars: both are within your budget and get the job done. It is what you need.

So, people. Fellow riders. Saged gurus. A penny for your thoughts.

Or for free, please; I’m kinda saving up for a bike, you see.


EDIT: If the post seems a little childish or exaggerated (It did to me when I read it again, but I'm not changing it), keep in mind:

1. I have little experience in riding bikes
2. I tend to exaggerate almost everything (it's instinctive, really)
3. I'm very, very excited about buying my own first bike; it has been a dream for years

Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!

KTM duke it is. Worth the money. If you can, then you should. Second option should be 200ns.

Re: Look out! Newbie (maybe?) tourer coming through!

Thanks Jazzy..

I know that I might be opening a can of worms here, but...

how 'different' is the experience between the Duke and the 200NS, from a long-term perspective?

With the Duke, I'll have to wait a few months at least to get the funds and the right riding gear.

With the 200NS, I can get them all faster since the bike is well within the budget.

So, I want to know a bit about how much I would be compromising by going for 200NS? In the long term, would the Duke be worth the wait for months?

My question may seem a bit vague, but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.