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S. Muralidhar

I AM 24 years old and live in Anantpur. I want to buy a new 125cc or 150cc bike. Though I have previous experience with riding bikes, I find it difficult to handle them in heavy traffic and some times when I have a pillion riding with me. But I would love to own bikes like the Bajaj Pulsar or the Yamaha Fazer. I am 164 cm tall and weigh 52 kg. Please suggest which bike will be more comfortable. Do you think I will be better off riding 100cc bikes? I am not fussy about mileage and more focused on performance.

Aslam Khan

Between the two bikes that you have listed, we will recommend the Yamaha Fazer for its excellent finish, class-leading performance and particularly, in your case, for its lower saddle height compared to the Bajaj Pulsar's. The Yamaha Fazer is also the lighter of the two and the more manageable seat height position makes it possible for riders of even relatively shorter stature to be able to comfortably handle the bike.

A detailed analysis of the Fazer and a comparison of this bike with the other 125cc offerings is available in the archives section of this column at the web site www.blonnet.com. The Pulsar is not just inherently heavier, it also tends to be a bit more difficult to handle when the rider has just tanked up on fuel. The large tank tends to increase the distribution of weight to the front of the two-wheeler.

I have made up my mind to buy a bike. For me the toss up is between the Hero Honda Passion Plus and the TVS Victor 125 GLX. Although they have different engine capacities, my criteria for choosing them are mileage expectations, ease of maintenance, overall life of the bike, availability of spares and cost, service quality, and resale value. The average run will not be more than 6-7 km a day. My projected budget is around Rs 50,000 on road. Can you throw up a comparison based on the above criteria?

Purnendu Lal Bose

Our recommendation will be the Hero Honda Passion Plus for its build quality, great styling and promise of good resale value. Yes, it is a 100cc bike and it is a tad bit lower in terms of peak power, but if you are not really looking for that edge in performance, the Passion Plus should be good enough. Another big plus with the Hero Honda bike is its silky smooth gearbox. The gearbox shift quality and refinement in the Victor GLX 125 is a notch lower than that of the Passion Plus.

The price of the Passion Plus would also be lower than the Victor GLX. With your on-road budget of Rs 50,000, you will be able to afford the disc brake version of the Passion Plus. The other issues that you have listed including maintenance cost, life and mileage expectations would also be adequately met by the Passion Plus.

I have my mind firmly set on buying a second-hand Daewoo Matiz. I have fallen for the car's cute looks. Notwithstanding the fact that the manufacturer has shut shop in India, would it be advisable to buy this car? Also, is it okay to switch the air-conditioner on and off intermittently in a running car?

Johny Brigenza

The Daewoo Matiz is a looker and had won a number of design awards in its heyday. It is an outstanding example of a compact car design that best leverages exterior dimensions to maximise interior cabin space.

It is also one of the most aerodynamic small cars currently available in the market. What is even better, the Matiz's air-conditioner is one of the best in its class.

The Matiz has been off the market for new cars ever since the Indian subsidiary Daewoo Motor India shut down production at its plant near Delhi. GM has acquired Daewoo Korea and as such the erstwhile Korean company's cars are being kept alive after some changes by General Motors. The Chevrolet Optra is an example. This car was the Daewoo Nubira before GM put it through a remodelling exercise.

Consequent to the shut down of production, the Daewoo Matiz has been suffering in the used-car market due to the sudden slide in image. Prices of used Matizs have also fallen due to the resultant worries about after sales service and availability of spare parts.

Those are risks and issues that you may have to consider before you decide to opt for a used Matiz. There is a possibility that GM may consider launching a remodeled form of the Matiz branded as the Chevrolet Spark. But while there are rumours that GM India is testing both the Aveo sedan and the Spark, there are no clear indications about which of the two will make it here. Buy it if you are not unduly worried about resale value and maintenance costs. If GM launches the Spark, you worries may ease, but not by much.

Switching on and switching off the air-conditioner often may only lead to switch wear. It is unlikely to affect the air-conditioner's performance significantly.

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