Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

Approved!

I'll leave the choices for our members out here to help.
Regarding the service intervals, it is because a 2 wheeler has faster moving internals compared to a 4 wheeler.

In cars, you have turbos spooling at 1500-1800 RPM whereas most bikes idle at 1200-1400 RPM. Also, the kind of engine oil matters.
Bikes having mineral oil as standard require frequent oil change, i.e., every 2000-2500 kms. Ones with fully synthetic oils require oil change every 6000 kms.

Bajaj engines have improved a lot. They are no longer notorious as earlier models. The new 220 is very silent, yet powerful. 200NS is wonderful. Just that its stock tire is bad!
Also, what do you refer to NVH levels on a bike?
You'll have noise, vibrations as well as harshness (at some point of the powerband).

I'd say, get a cheap bike and learn riding in city. Any <125cc bike would do. Then, get a proper tourer for long tours with your better half.
P.S - Get your riding gear sorted out before you buy the bike.

Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

Thanks for the reply and for clearing up why bikes need to be serviced more often.

After reading your comments about Bajaj's quality improving, I began reading about the 200NS, and it's now moving up my wishlist.
How are off-roaders like the Hero Impulse? Are they good for touring too?

Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

From your post above, I'll suggest you not to reject 200ns out of your list so easily. With few more bucks you get a good allrounder and having great engine. Just consider it too.

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Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

Impulse is a fun to ride bike. That SUVish stance! But, it desperately needs a 200+cc engine. It is awesome with whatever it has got, but not enough for straight highways.

Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

Impulse is for pure off-roading and is pretty good at it.
BTW, why don't you consider GS150. The pillion seat is better than Gixxer's and the 6th gear will be a boon on highways. Go through [MENTION=47733]Hoodibaba[/MENTION] sir's t'logs and you'll come to know. He has covered almost the entire country on a GS150R.
P200NS is perhaps the best VFM bike in India right now.
Take a test ride and decide.

Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

Thanks for sharing the link to Hoodibaba's logs. They were really inspirational. I'm bubbling with excitement now!!

The GS150R does make sense. It fit's my needs, and it's reliability has been proven as well. And, it looks like it'll be easier to attach luggage racks to it (or the Unicorn 160) than either the Gixxer or NS200.

I'm a bit iffy about the Pulsar because it'll practically be the first bike I've ever ridden and I'm not so sure if it's a suitable bike to learn on. Also, I've come across many complaints about it's vibrations, and tough/false gear shifts which scare me a bit. And it's liquid cooling could be a problem in remote places, if it gets damaged by debris. However, it's still, by far the most desirable bike in my list. It's extra horse power will probably allow me to cover 50-100kms more per day than a less powerful bike.

The Gixxer is still second on my list, because it looks nicer and has a longer service interval than the GS150R. 4000kms to the GSR's 2000. Bajaj's have the longest interval of 5000kms, which is a big plus point in my book. I'll check the pillion comfort level on my test ride and see if it meets my requirements.
I'll start paying visits to showrooms and taking test rides rides this week and see which bikes I like and what, if any deals are being offered on them before taking a decision.

Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

I went to look at bikes this afternoon, and visited the Yamaha, Suzuki, Bajaj and Honda showrooms.
1) I went to the Bajaj showroom first and was taken aback by how big the NS200 is. It's definitely got road presence, and the finishing looked pretty good. I couldn't take a test ride because they don't do that on Sundays. I did test the ride height, and I think that I may be a little too short for the bike. I'm 5ft8in tall. I'll know for sure when I take a test ride.

2) The Suzuki showroom was across the road, and the dealer (Dhruv@Bharat Suzuki at Fatima Nagar, Pune) was really helpful, and answered all my questions very patiently. He said he'd help me with the delivery time, and work out a time slot where I could collect the bike when there wouldn't be much traffic. He'd probably have to stay open late to accommodate me. He took me for a test ride so that I could test the pillion seat, and it didn't inspire confidence. It wasn't uncomfortable, but there wasn't much of a seat. Dhruv's being a pretty big guy occupying a lot of space didn't help, and neither did the fact that I didn't want to put my arms around him for support. Also, he was riding the bike pretty hard. I'll probably be driving more sedately, and my better half will have her arms around me, and she's pretty tiny, so the seat may not be too small for her, even on long rides.
I liked the size of the Gixxer, and it seems to be a really easy bike to ride. The braking wasn't as sharp as I'd have hoped, but then I'm comparing it to a car. I'm not really sure how bikes are supposed to handle.
The only thing I didn't like about the Gixxer was the finishing. You could see where the bars of the frame had been welded to each other, and the paint seemed to be chipping in some corners, around the welds. However, the bikes were slightly dusty, and the chips I was seeing could have just been dust. The dealer told me that the GS150R wasn't available any more.

3) I went to the Honda showroom next. The Unicorn 160 was on display, but they didn't have a test ride vehicle, and wouldn't have one for another couple of weeks. The bike looked pretty good, and the finishing on the body was good, with most welds invisible. It wasn't as muscular or sporty as the the Pulsar and Gixxer, but it wasn't ugly by any means. The seat height seemed fine, and the pillion seat was very comfortable. But it also looked like just any other bike out there.

4) I went to the Yamaha showroom next, and saw the FZ-16-FI. I think this is this bike - the FZ FI. I don't see a FZ-16-FI on the Yamaha site. Anyway, it seemed to have the best workmanship of all the bikes I saw today. The ride height seemed good, and the pillion seat was bigger than the Gixxer. I didn't take a test ride because I'd parked my car in a bad place (another reason why I want a bike) and because the salesman side-tracked me.

I didn't think buying a bike would be a problem, but it turns out it can be if you're staying in your parents second home in a different city to the one in your documents. I'm from Bombay..sorry...Mumbai, and moved to Pune almost 10 years back. I used to stay in my own house, which I sold, and now live at my parents place. They still live in Bombay ..sorry..Mumbai, and all my documents, PAN card, voters ID, passport bear my Mumbai address.
The sales person at the Bajaj place said that wouldn't be a problem. I'd just have to make an affidavit on a Rs.100 stamp paper, and that should suffice.
The Suzuki dealer said I'd need more than the affidavit, but when I told him that I didn't have anything, he said that he could work around it. The Suzuki showroom was the smallest of the lot, so it could be that the dealer was just trying to make a sale.
I didn't inquire about documents at the Honda showroom, because the Honda didn't appeal to me much.
The guy at the Yamaha showroom said it wasn't possible to get the bike registered in my name, unless I had some document with my Pune address on it. He said he's been doing this day in and day out for years, and never heard about this Rs.100 affidavit. He also warned me that if there was a problem with the RTO because of lack of documents, then I'd be the one left high and dry, so he advised me not to buy a bike till I had some proof of address in Pune, like my Aadhar card.

Is he right? Will I not be able to buy a bike in Pune using the affidavit the Bajaj dealer told me about?

Anyway, here are the on-road prices I was quoted:

Bajaj Pulsar NS200 - Rs. 1,02,000 (1 year warranty on bike, 2yrs on engine)
Suzuki Gixxer - Rs.86,590 + Rs.650 leg guard + Rs.600 extended warranty (5yr warranty)
Honda Unicorn 160 - Rs.83,970 (with standard fittings and extended warranty)
Yamaha FZ-16-FI - Rs. 89,787 (5yr warranty)
Yamaha FZ-16 - Rs.83,537 (5yr warranty)
Yamaha FZ S R2 - approx Rs.92,000 (5yr warranty)

Right now, I like the Yamaha's look and finish the best, but the Gixxer beats them in all reviews. I did see an Apache RTR160 parked outside the Bajaj showroom, and it looked really good too. I like the Bajaj for it's looks, powerful headlights, integrated fuel lock, and power, but it's the only bike that doesn't come with an extended warranty, and is the brand with the most issues.
The Honda and Gixxer are reputed to be the most fuel efficient, followed be the Yamaha, and then the Pulsar NS200. The Gixxer and Unicorn are more powerful than the Yamaha, and consume less fuel producing that power. Will the small difference in BHP be evident on long drives up winding mountainous roads at high altitudes?

I'll try and figure out about the documents, look at the Apache's and go for test rides on the Yamahas and Bajaj's, and revisit the Suzuki showroom, take all the advice I get from the forum, and then make my decision.
Sorry about the long post, and thanks for all your help everyone!

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Oh..and I asked about financing, and the interest rates charged are ridiculous. They can easily add over Rs.25000 to the cost of your bike for a 1-2 year loan. Bajaj quoted the lowest rate (11.5%) but I didn't ask them about additional costs, or the EMI. I don't think it makes any sense to buy a bike on EMI if you end up paying almost 30% more than the on road price in just 1-2 years.

Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

I just checked the price for the Pulsar in Mumbai, and it's marginally cheaper there than Pune, even though other bikes are more expensive. Strange!

Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

AFAIK, the person @ Yamaha is correct. You must have a valid residential proof of the state you presently reside in to purchase a two-wheeler.

Sent from my Xperia L.

Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

Hi

You can go for P200 NS also. I am not recommending Suzuki GS 150R as they have launched Gixxer and very few showrooms would he having any GS 150R now.

Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

How do you define "extremely long rides"

Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

Thank you for your reply. I've seen your travel logs, and value your advice highly.
I like the NS200 a lot and it's no.1 in my list, but I'm not sure about two things. It's reliability, and whether I'll be able to learn how to ride on it. I'll take it for a test ride and see if I can manage.


1) From Pune to Leh, and back. Taking diversions to various places in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, HP, Chattisgarh.
2) From Pune to Itanagar and back. Visiting Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, UP, Bihar and stopping at interesting places along the way.
3) From Pune to Kanyakumari
4) From Pune to Chennai and Pondicherry.
5) Occasional trips to Goa, and regular trips to Bombay.

That's what I want to do, for a start, but considering I hated driving on holidays, and I don't know how to ride a motorbike, I don't know if I'll ever get down to doing it.
I hope I do, and want a bike that'll allow me and even tempt me to fulfil my plans.
In the end, I know, it's not about the bike, but the rider. But since I am buying one now, I'd rather buy one that'll make my trips enjoyable, instead of a struggle.

Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

I went to see bikes again today, and test rode, or rather attempted to test ride 2 bikes.

1) The Pulsar NS200, which is awesome, but not when I'm at the wheel. It accelerated like a beast (when the KTM mechanic was riding it) and is reasonably quiet till about 3500 RPM, but after that it roars. I tried riding it, but couldn't get it to move. I kept stalling it. I should have just gone for it, but didn't want to damage somebody else's bike. It was also a little tall, and heavy for me. But after going for a short ride on it, I love it. It feels more stable, and planted to the ground than any other bike I've been on. And the pillion seat is reasonably comfortable. But I could see it vibrate, when the throttle was opened. I'd love to buy it, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to learn to ride on this bike.

a) I visited 2 Bajaj showrooms. The NS200 at the first wouldn't start as the battery was down. And I saw two mechanics taking an NS200 brought in for servicing for a ride. They must have been taking it to see if they'd sorted out it's problems.....

b) The second showroom was more professional. They had KTM bikes, and their service centre looked well managed, and very busy. The hooked me up for a test ride in a few minutes, and got someone to come along with me, when I told them I'd never ridden a bike before. However, I went for a test ride on a bike that had covered only 12kms, and we accelerated to over 100 on it. I'd assumed that test-bikes would show signs of wear, but this looked brand new. Which is a bit discomforting.

2) The Apache RTR 160. The showroom was opposite Bajaj, so I had a look. The Apache is shorter and lighter, and I was more comfortable on it. I could get the bike to move, and the pillion seat was more comfortable, but it just didn't wow me. However, the test bike looked like a test bike, and I could be reasonably certain that they wouldn't try and sell it off as a new vehicle.

3) I had a look at the Karizma R, as the Hero showroom was on the way. It hasn't aged well, but it looks solid and well put together. It was the only bike of the lot to come with a 5yr warranty on engine parts as standard. I went during lunch time and couldn't take it for a spin.

I really want to buy the NS200, but I don't know if I'll be able to learn on it. However, I do stay at the end of a lane with no traffic on it, so it may be possible for me to get comfortable on it, without causing harm to anyone else. But the Gixxer seems the safer bet. It's lighter, more my size, and not a Bajaj. But it doesn't excite me. But then, it probably won't kill me either!

Re: Advice for bike for a new rider for extremely long rides.

Go for 200ns and you won't regret it. :-)

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