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While there’s been a deluge of new bikes in this segment in the last couple of years, choosing one out of the pack has become more difficult than ever, what with every manufacturer offering almost the same quality, style and performance ina slightly different package.Saeed Akhtar and Piyush Sonsale help you narrow down the choices
Design Design plays an important factor here, and more so in less expensive models. While being a very subjective factor, racy design cues that hint at sportiness and aggressive aerodynamic enhancement are appreciated the most here.
The FZ-16 is the bad boy of the lot here. With tyres so phat they almost don’t need a centrestand. With over-engineered suspension bits and muscular styling borrowed directly from the FZ1, this is one mean streetfighter. The resemblance to its bigger, much bigger, sibling is uncanny.
Ever since its launch, TVS has continually kept on tweaking the Apache, both cosmetically and mechanically. And it shows. The RTR we have here is a far cry from the original, let’s say a sportbike minus the fairing. The GS 150R borrows styling cues from Suzuki’s global superbikes, especially the shape of the tank, the tail section and the headlamp assembly.
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What good is stylish design without solid build quality to back it up? While it goes without saying that careful maintenance can expand a bike’s lifespan and save you from recurring maintenance headaches, production methods matter too. Honda has rightly earned a reputation for solidly built bikes and it shows in their products here. No unsightly welding points are visible on these, the paintjob is deep and lustrous enough to be a mirror, and the electricals are tucked away neatly in place. Interestingly, the Yammie and the Suzuki has retained the legendary build quality that made them so popular here in their two-stroke heydays and is every bit as good as the Dazzler when it comes to build quality.
Then there’s the Hunk. While its over-the-top styling is not to everybody’s taste, there’s no denying the fact that it is very solidly built and the fit and finish is also very good. Finally we have the Bajaj and TVS bringing up the rear end in this category.
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The Pulsar 180 sports clip-on handlebars, a toe-only gear shifter and a stepped two-piece seat to offer a charging stance and does feel sporty. However, the seat tends to be hostile to your rounder side during long rides and the gas charged rear shock absorbers help but little, while the Pulsar 220-derived tail grab rails still lack utility and body vibrations are noticeable. The Hunk gives a tucked- in feeling with its huge, ‘well carved in for the thighs’ tank shell and the scooped seat for the rider which has just the right cushioning and contours for your behind. The footpegs are rear biased and the handlebar is on the shorter side giving a sporty edge ride. The Dazzler is more of a 150-cc commuter with forward set footpegs and an upright riding posture. However, the scooped single piece seat induces seating discomfort in time. The FZ 16 has the streetfighter character. The single piece handle bar is wide and straight and the tank shell provides a good grip but the 140/60 rear tyre’s low profile makes the ride stiffer than expected. Taking note of the negatives, the FZ has rather small mirrors, a very painful pillion seat and the grab rails come right under your bottom. The RTR 160 scores high on ergonomics when on the track but feels too focused on the streets. The engine revs high and tickles you throughout the ride and the rear gas-charged suspension is stiffer than expected. Also, the bike’s small size doesn’t suit tall riders. For them the king size GS 150R is the answer. It lends an upright but relaxed riding posture with its wide seat, huge tank shell and high handlebars, while the toe-heel ‘rocker’ gear shifter stamps its commuter nature, but as an executive one.
