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S. Muralidhar

"CHANGE is the only continuum!" That is fast becoming the reality in the biking world. With companies such as TVS Motors and Bajaj Auto taking to this maxim, their products too are evolving continuously.

Despite the fierce, firangee advertising for the TVS Fiero, the product's awkward, old world design meant that the bike only received lukewarm response. After a complete redesign, the Fiero F2 is seeing better acceptance and is a strong contender in the executive commuter segment of bikes.

The Pulsar DTSi itself is Bajaj's "change for the better" story and partly the response to the relaunch of the Fiero. The Hero Honda CBZ in the 150cc category and the Hero Honda Karizma in the 180cc plus category are again running, or rather riding, the race with the Pulsar DTSi. So, here is a comparison between these four that are really the only bikes worthy of a "headlamp to headlamp" confrontation. The "also ran" would be Kinetic's GF Laser and GF 170.

Fiero F2

Before the launch of the Pulsar DTSi, the Fiero F2 was the best reworked bike in the category. The Fiero F2, in classic TVS style, focusses squarely on fuel efficiency despite being in the executive commuter segment where customers are typically a little less sensitive to this aspect.

However, TVS has ensured that the fit and finish quality of the Fiero F2 and, of course, its new-age design is far superior to the predecessor.

The engine continues to be the same old 147.5 cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke burner, which pumps out a maximum 12 bhp.

The Fiero F2's engine alongwith the Hero Honda CBZ's 156.8cc engine are probably the more refined ones compared to the Pulsar's powertrain.

The Pulsar 150 also has the smallest 143.9cc burner amongst its peers in this class.

Despite the good engine and in spite of the criticism that the previous version of the Fiero met with, the four-speed gear-box has been retained in the new F2. A pity, considering the power that is available and the considerably improved stability and ride quality of the new version.

The Fiero F2's pluses are clearly the fuel efficiency, the broader seats, the taller riding posture and the excellent quality of its switches and electricals.

Minuses are comparatively lower appeal to the more adventurous rider, the thin rear tyres that will not help in tight cornering and the gearbox.

A mileage of 55-60 kmpl in city riding and 5-10 per cent more on highways may be expected from the F2. For a bike in the performance category, the F2's design is also a bit lacking in oomph!

CBZ

At the time that the 156.8cc Hero Honda CBZ was launched (about four years ago), it was the largest bike and the only one in the executive segment.

However, now, with more modern and snazzier competitors, the CBZ's two big minuses are: One, the dated design and finish quality of the bike, and for the more mileage conscious, the poor fuel efficiency.

The engine's max power at 12.8bhp is still higher than the F2, though a shade lower than the Pulsar DTSi's 13.02bhp.

The CBZ's gearbox is slick, in fact, the best in its class. The rigid, yet adapting chassis and good suspension allows nimble handling.

However, running and maintenance costs are likely to be higher than for the Fiero F2 or the Pulsar DTSi. The CBZ's mileage would also only be a low 45-50 kmpl in city.

Pulsar DTSi

Since we have already been through the pluses of the Pulsar DTSi last week, the minuses would be the comparatively less refined engine and gearbox, the thinner seat and more inclined riding posture. The five-speed gearbox also continues to be nagged by false neutrals and shifting the gears back has to be done cautiously. The DTSi is also slower on the uptake compared to the CBZ, though it is on a par with the F2. The Hero Honda bike would still be the first off the block.

Despite these problems, the DTSi will be our choice. For its new age styling, improved engine performance, better power delivery and for the sheer pleasure that it affords the biking aficionado, while bringing in more mileage than its predecessor, the Pulsar DTSi 150 is the real performance bike that can also be expected to be light on your wallet. As for the Pulsar DTSi 180cc, its slightly more refined engine offers a max power of over 16PS, just a notch lower than the 17PS offered by the 223cc burner in the Hero Honda Karizma.

Unless you are passionately in love with the Karizma and its stocky styling and do not mind paying about Rs 25,000 more than the on-road tag for the DTSi 180, the more powerful Pulsar twin will be the better of the two choices.

Prices on road (approximate): Bajaj Pulsar DTSi 150cc ES - Rs 58,000, TVS Fiero F2 - Rs 54,500, Hero Honda CBZ -- Rs 58,000, Bajaj DTSi 180cc ES - Rs 62,500, Hero Honda Karizma - Rs 86,500.

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