Most Affordable faired tourers in India
Modified On Oct 29, 2018 By Naveen Soni
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After the huge success of its naked sport Gixxer, Suzuki Motorcycle India Ltd. (SMIL) has launched its faired version, christened as the Gixxer SF. Instead of providing it a supersport type stance, the company has kept the faired motorcycle as a sport tourer like the Yamaha Fazer, Hero Karizma and Bajaj Pulsar 220. It means that now we have one more options as an affordable sport tourer in India, so which one is better? Let’s compare both of them and find out the answer.
Styling and Appearance:
India loves fairing, it was proved almost a decade ago by Hero Karizma and continuing the trend are Yamaha R15 and many other semi or full faired machines available in the market today. The latest addition to the faired fleet is Suzuki Gixxer SF, which is a full faired tourer competing with the existing semi-faired tourers- Yamaha Fazer, new Hero Karizma and Bajaj Pulsar 220.
The new Suzuki Gixxer SF looks much sportier than its competitor and gives the feel like a supersport motorcycle. Design of the fairing is inspired by the mid-weight performance motorcycle- GSX-R600, while the other body work has been retained from the naked sport Gixxer. The same headlight has been fitted in the new fairing with a wind screen and mounted ORVMs. Overall, the new arrangement gels well with the interestingly shaped fuel tank and other style features. It has the same 3-split-spoke wheels and the dual-port muffler, which now gets pinstripe and new end cover respectively. The bike has been made available in Glass Sparkle Black and Pearl Mirage White along with a special MotoGP edition Metallic Triton Blue, which cost around Rs. 1,650 extra over the standard colours.
Recently, Yamaha also launched a new model of its Fazer, christened as Fazer FI Version 2.0 and now the bike comes in two different trims. In overall appearance, both the models look much similar, however, they have a lot of major cosmetic changes. As it is also a semi faired version of its naked sport sibling, like the Gixxer SF, it shares all the body work with FZS apart from this streamlining. The bike has muscular fuel tank with split seat and edgy body panels. The aerodynamic semi-fairing on the bike features split pattern headlamps, pilot lamp and a wind screen. The bike also gets a mid-ship style muffler, which appears well with the overall styling of the motorcycle. It is available in three colour options- White Cloud, Black Hawk and Red Dawn.
The new Hero Karizma is a semi-faired tourer, which is also available in the full-faired option as Karizma ZMR. However, according to the price range, we will talk about the semi-faired motorcycle. Design of the motorcycle is inspired by the superbike of EBR (Erik Buell Racing), which is Hero MotoCorp’s partner as well. The fairing has a large windscreen, vertically mounted twin round headlamps big turn indicators with LED DRLs. Other body panels and fuel tank of the new Karizma are also sharper and sportier than the previous model and now it features split type seat as well. Overall styling of the bike is not as much appealing as the two others, however, it is more practical for touring. It is available in Power Black, Ebony Black, Sports Red, Daring Yellow and Spotlight White.
The oldest in the competition is the Bajaj Pulsar 220, however, it is the most powerful machine in the competition. The semi faired motorcycle has good wind protection with its upper-body fairing and has best-in-class headlight arrangement with a normal, a projector and two pilot lamps. The split pattern seats of the bike are longer enough to provide a comfortable space to both the rider and the pillion. It features clip-on handlebars, however, they have been raised enough to provide an easy reach. Overall appearance of the bike is stylish and it looks aggressive at the front. It has been made available in Ebony Black and three dual tone paint schemes- Pearl Metallic White, Sapphire Blue and Cocktail Wine Red.
Design and Engineering:
Where the design and engineering of the Suzuki Gixxer SF and Yamaha Fazer is almost identical, Hero Karizma and Bajaj Pulsar 220 have been built quite different. However, all the three bikes have been assembled on a single downtube, diamond type frame.
The Suzuki Gixxer SF has been designed compactly, providing near to supersport like grip during seating. However, the thing making it a tourer are its wide single handlebar with a comfortable seating posture. The fairing of the motorcycle has been claimed to be tested in the same wind-tunnel, where other big GSX machines and Hayabusa are tested for optimum aerodynamic efficiency. It runs on lightweight 3-split-spoke, 17” alloys with 100/80 section front and 140/60 section rear MRF tubeless tyres, which gives excellent traction and grip to the bike. It has large diameter (43mm) telescopic forks at the front and 7-step adjustable mono-shock suspension at the rear, which performs quite well in any road condition. Braking system of the bike combines a 266mm front disc brake and a 130mm drum type unit at the rear, which works well and provides sufficient braking power. The only con in the design of the motorcycle for touring purpose is its compactness, which also doesn't matters if you are not traveling with a big luggage.
The Yamaha Fazer has been specially proposed by the company as a sport tourer in India, which also reflects in the designing of the motorcycle. Engineering of the motorcycle is almost similar to the Gixxer like it gets the same MRF tyres on its 5-spoke alloys, 43mm front telescopic forks, rear mono-shock suspension, front and rear drum brake, wide handlebar and more. However, there are lots of changes in these equipment of the Fazer FI, which makes it a little different than the Gixxer SF.
Engineering of the Hero MotoCorp Karizma is bit like a track runner and it also has the lowest handlebars among the 4. However, the overall riding posture and design of the motorcycle makes it a perfect touring machine, which can be taken on the long routes. It offers best wind protection compared to its competition and it has the best-in-class space for the ride as well as to tie the luggage. It has bigger 18”, 5-spoke alloy wheels with 80/100 section front and 120/80 section rear MRF tubeless tyres. The bike comes with 37mm telescopic front forks and dual 5-step adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers at the rear. To control the bike, a 276mm disc brake has been provided at the front, while the rear gets a 130mm drum type unit. The whole engineering works well for the touring machine and you can enjoy your ride without any trouble.
The Bajaj Pulsar 220 has never been proposed as a tourer by the company, however, it is one of the most used faired machines for the purpose. The bike has dynamics of a sportbike, however, its less aggressive seating posture with adequate wind protection made it a sport tourer in India. It runs on 17”, 6-spoke alloy wheels having the MRF tyres similar to the Karizma. Suspension set-up of the bike is also quite similar to the competitor like 37mm front forks and adjustable dual shocks at the rear. However, the rear shocks are Nitrox (gas charged) suspensions. It offers dual disc brakes combining 260mm front and 230mm rear disc, which gives best in class stopping performance.
Engine and Performance:
The Suzuki Gixxer SF and Yamaha Fazer are 150cc motorcycles, having a little difference in the performance. However, the Bajaj Pulsar 220 and Hero Karizma are above 200cc and scores much higher in this field. When it comes to the fuel efficiency, all the 4 delivers near 40kmpl in actual with their single-cylinder, air-cooled engines.
The new Hero Karizma has the same legendary 223cc motor, which comes mated to a super smooth 5-speed gearbox. Using a carburetor type fuel system it deliver power upto 19.2bhp at 7,500rpm and torque upto 19.35Nm coming at just 6,000rpm. The motor feels well refined and power delivery remains smooth all the time, and it delivers around 39kmpl.
Propelling the Bajaj Pulsar 220 is a 220c DTS-i engine, mated to a 5-speed constant mesh gearbox, which works well but not as much as the others here in the competition. It has a carburetor type fuel supply system, which makes it capable to churn out upto 20.8bhp of power at 8,500rpm and torque delivery upto 19.12 Nm at 7,000rpm. Actual fuel efficiency of the bike is around 40 kmpl.
Pricing:
Pricing of all the 4 motorcycles are between Rs. 80,000 to 87,000.
Suzuki Gixxer SF - Rs. 83,439 for Standard and Rs. 85,388 for the special MotoGP Edition.
Yamaha Fazer - Rs. 80,910 for the old model and Rs. 86,805 for the new FI Version 2.0
Hero Karizma - Rs. 83,900
Bajaj Pulsar 220 - Rs. 86,699
(All prices are Ex-Showroom, Delhi)
Verdict:
The latest Suzuki Gixxer SF is aerodynamically the most efficient bike, Yamaha Fazer has a smooth performance but with least in figures while Bajaj Pulsar 220 has highest power figures and better features. However, the Hero Karizma seems best value for money among these 4 and will serve your touring purpose best. The bike has the best performance for a tourer with better comfort and convenience, and all this at a very competitive pricing.