my vote goes to the gladiator.. you can rev that engine to your hearts desire!!!

second up the stunner...

rest all need a makeover!!!

@ TS

If u can cope with decent looks & need a good bike for city commuting go ahead & book Zeus.. my friend has one & believe me it has good low end torque & has got a decent mileage of 55kmpl

Occasionally If u want to hit highways.. Gladi it should be.. wonderful bike to take it on highways.

Go for the Gladi it s a beautiful all round performing 125cc you could also consider the Honda Stunner the carb version.

Get a Stunner carb.. if you can get 1 fast enough (didn't the HMSI Plant resume production only today? )

If the waiting for that is very long (which it will be), get a Gladiator. This is the only 125 which can keep up in the sea of 150s the Indian market has become.

gladiator is the bike to go for considering your requirements....It's got the big bike feel,gives good fuel economy,rides like a 150cc motorcycle(less power is obvious)...Even the stunner is worth it but I personally didnt like it's ride quality,compared to the gladi ie...

Thanks guys! The choice has been neatly nailed down! I will look at Zeus and Shine as alternatives. I hope to post in the owner thread before the year ends

I'd have recommended the XCD 135 if it wasn't for the tiny front disc. It's smooth, gives excellent mileage, and looks good too. In fact, I'd suggest that you give it a test ride before settling on anything else. I liked the engine, and the mileage is also very tempting.

If you don't like that, then either the Stunner or the Gladiator SS/RS would suit you fine. Both are good bikes.

^^ Well, i've the same opinion.. XCD 135 = all your 4 parameters.. It's a decent, small bike. Take a TR, & feel it.

Heeding to advice (thanks thunderbird_m6), I have decided to go in for a 2nd hand bike. This way I will get all my thrills and spills and enjoy my first biking monsoon; and then around Diwali next year, make a more informed choice as to my next bike.

There are two 2nd hand bike dealers near where I live in Mumbai. I visited one yesterday. Star Auto Centre (near Goregaon Telephone exchange). This guy specializes in 'bank-seized' bikes. Saw a few Unicorns, Pulsars and the following two bikes.

Yamaha Gladiator - Rs 31,000 - done 8700+ KM. But it did not have a tachometer. Dealer said factory date was late 2007, bike "can be said" to be late 2008/2009. No idea if it was a Graffiti or Type RS/SS. The bike was parked in a long row and it was dark and raining, so I didn't take a long look then.

Bajaj Discover 135 - Rs 37,000 - also done 8700+ KM. It had analog dials for speed and RPM, so probably not a DTS-Si version.

I will visit the other dealer soon.

Now guys, I know this is my judgement call to make, but I need some "parental" advice - considering that I am not yet good enough to take a bike on to the road (still learning), is it OK for me to buy right now (because, well, as quite a few have pointed out - I need a bike to practise, don't I) ? I would test if the bike falls to my hands and butt nicely but I would be asking a friend to do a test ride in my stead.

I got my 1st bike when i didnt know how to ride yet. It doesent matter.. you will get the knack in 3-4 to a max of 7 days. 2nd hand probably is the best thing to do.

Yes, a second hand bike is a good idea. That way, you won't have the fear of crashing a new bike. Take a mechanic with you when you go for the purchase so that he can check the bike thoroughly and will let you know about the problems in the bike. Just buy the bike soon and start practicing. Select the one which you feel is comfortable for you. After riding this bike for about 6 months to a year, you can shift to a new bike.