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S. Muralidhar

I WANT to buy a 125cc bike. When I was almost ready to buy the Bajaj Discover, Hero Honda launched their Super Splendor. So I decided to wait to know about its performance. A few days back, I happened to hear that another 125cc bike, Glamour, has been introduced by Hero Honda. Please suggest which one I should buy — Discover, Super Splendor or Glamour. I wish to have a blend of power (around 10 bhp) and mileage (around 65 kmpl or so...).

M. J. Vishal

The Bajaj Discover DTS-i is clearly the most powerful and torquey in the 125 cc class of bikes. Though the Glamour and Super Splendor share the same 125 cc engine, the former is styled and built to appeal to the more discerning type of buyer and the latter to the more economy and price conscious buyer in the segment.

Yes, the Glamour and the Super Splendor can both offer better fuel efficiency than the Bajaj bike, but the difference will be a marginal 3-4 kmpl only. Despite the Glamour's fresh new looks (we had profiled the Glamour in these column), the Discover still manages to hold its own, thanks to its relatively clean design and sturdy build quality.

What is more, the Discover is scheduled for an upgrade this month after cumulative sales crossed the two-lakh mark in June. The new Bajaj Discover will feature new colours and graphics. It will also see the addition of alloy wheels and a new, advanced spring-in-spring (SNS) type rear suspension. But the Discover may be priced higher.

The Glamour is neck and neck with the Discover on most parameters, save engine performance. So, if you are willing to compromise a bit of mileage for higher power, the Discover may be the better option. The Glamour, on the other hand, is a good-looking bike that will also give you class leading mileage.

I am currently looking at the option of buying a C segment diesel car and I only have a few choices. My budget is close to Rs 6 lakh. After researching I find that the Tata Indigo Marino fits my bill and is better on performance than any other car in its league. Is this a right choice? Also, can you give me a few pointers about the maintenance cost and resale value of this car?

Sujay Kar

We will recommend the Tata Indigo Marina only if you are clearly the type who does a lot of weekend travel or a businessman who likes to travel in comfort even while you lug a lot of luggage. Buying an estate or weekend version, instead of the car's sedan variant does not make sense otherwise. Paying more for the estate version and having to contend with a lower mileage too is not practical, if the extra space is only going to be used (to its optimum extent) once in a way.

Further, since the estate car market has not really taken off, even after the Indigo Marina was launched, the resale value of cars in this segment generally tends to be lower than the their sedan variants — the Fiat Siena and Weekend, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Altura, and so on, all of which suffer from poor demand and low residual values.

We will recommend the Tata Indigo sedan as the more practical option. On the contrary, if you are clear about the cost-benefit trade-off that the Indigo Marina offers, then go for it, there are no other options currently available in the diesel estate market in that price segment.

I plan to buy a 100 cc bike in the next couple of months. After a bit of research I have narrowed down my list to Hero Honda CD-Dawn, Bajaj CT-100 and TVS StaR.

I am considering the deluxe variant model available for all the brands (since basic versions are hardly appealing; except CT-100). The main deciding factors are fuel efficiency, decent performance and the prospect of a low-maintenance engine. Further, re-sale value would also be considered to certain extent. Which one will you recommend?

Rengaraja

If engine and gearbox refinement are high on your priority list, the Hero Honda CD-Deluxe will be the one to choose. But as a good-looking product with overall appeal, that also offers high fuel efficiency, the Bajaj CT-100 is the bike to buy in this segment.

Just like the Discover, the Bajaj CT-100 is also set to get the face-lift treatment. The upgraded CT-100 will incorporate Bajaj's own ExhausTec technology to improve low-end torque and the newly developed SNS suspension at the rear will be added to enhance the ride quality for this entry-level 100 cc bike.

So, you may want to wait for the new upgraded Bajaj CT-100 to hit the showrooms before the decision is taken.

I am planning to buy a new bike. At 6 feet and 4 inches, suggest a bike that will be suitable for me. How about the Bajaj Pulsar DTS-i? My budget is around Rs 55,000.

Anil B. Pai

Being this tall will make riding any of the existing bikes a bit uncomfortable. Most bikes in the market are designed to fit the average Indian height of about 5 feet 8 inches or thereabouts. So, the fuel tank knee recesses and riding posture that the bikes offer are designed to cater to riders who are shorter than you are.

The Bajaj Pulsar DTS-i will be a fairly good choice from amongst the bikes that are currently in the market, for its slightly taller riding posture and its sturdy build quality. Else, you may want to choose the cruiser bikes that are currently available both in the economy segment (such as Bajaj Avenger and Yamaha Enticer) and in the higher priced, more powerful segment (such as the Royal Enfield Thunderbird).

Cruiser bikes with their laid-back, legs stretched riding posture may afford a more comfortable ride for someone as tall as you. You may look at the option of replacing the original short handlebars with a taller, curved back one, available in the after market, for getting better grip and a relatively more comfortable ride quality.

(Queries may be sent to: q&a@thehindu.co.in or by post Q&A, Business Line, 859/860, Kasturi Buildings, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.)

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