Sport bikes: April 2009

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Imported Bikes In India

Bikes are a great passion among Indian men. The high-performance, stylized bikes are being purchased despite their exorbitant price, by boys, especially in their youth. Though often much talked of, imported bikes likes Kawasaki and Suzuki are seen on roads in much lesser number than Hero Honda and Bajaj Bikes. Indian bikes are more commonly seen or roads, whereas the Imported bikes, because of their heavy price, remain only with the rich businessmen and sports persons. The reason such bikes are being imported and not produced in India is because Indian manufacturers are not yet ready to launch such automated, futuristic high-speed bikes. Though Hero Honda has produced some revolutionary bikes like Hero Honda Passion Plus, Karisma and CBZ, Suzuki Hayabusa and Yamaha bikes are often been imported to India, keeping in mind their wide demand. Few impressive Imported Bikes in India are:

Suzuki Hayabusa: It’s a sport bike introduced by Suzuki in 1999. After that Suzuki developed various Hayabusa bike versions like Suzuki Hayabusa 2007, Suzuki Hayabusa 2008 and others. All are till date famous for their high speed and engineered build.

Kawasaki Ninja: This is a revolutionary, high performance, impressive bike that is revered by the bike aficionados in India. Mainly the prerogative of rich kids and sports freak, the Kawasaki Ninja (ZX12R) has 1199cc DOHC, liquid cooled 4-cylinder engine that gives 178 bhp. The speed stability and comfortable handling experience makes Ninja a challenging and adventurous riding experience. Its popularity can be judged from the fact that celebrities like Salman Khan stylishly ride it on the roads. The price has been high, but even this has not been able to steal thunder from this stylized bike.

Yamaha R15: The Yamaha YZF R15 is a revolutionary bike launched in 1998. With an inflated price of (average) Rs.90,000, it became an instant hit in the national market. More than performance and mileage, the YZF R15 is famous for its killer looks. Prior to Yamaha R15’s entry to Indian Automobile industry, Hero Honda Charisma and Bajaj Pulsar had captured the roads, but after the curtains were raised, Yamaha R15 managed to absorb all the attention.

The Imported Bikes can make a pretty good hole in your pocket, as you have to pay heavy duties/taxes too, but if you have the money to buy them, these bikes are worth the hype and price.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Bike Helmet Safety

It was a year or so ago, but I can’t forget about the news story I saw on television about the bike helmet. I can’t remember the show, but I think it was 20-20. What it had to say about the helmets was interesting, and once someone said it, it was not all that surprising. However, it was not something most would realize on their own though it made a lot of sense. They said it was not always safer to wear a helmet while on a bike, and the reason made a lot of sense.

They did some experiments and came to the conclusion that drivers are not as careful around riders that are wearing a bike helmet because they assume they are more advanced riders. Those without a helmet will find cars giving them a lot of room when they go by, but the ones with a bike helmet got about half of the space, if that. The reasoning behind this is that the helmet signifies experience, and that means drivers don’t have to be careful. That’s not true, but that seems to be the unconscious thought for more drivers.

Does that mean that most should not wear a bike helmet? Certainly not, especially when it comes to children. They should always have one because there is nothing funny or easy about a head injury. Some parents think their children should take their bumps and bruises, which is true for the most part, but they should always have their heads protected when riding a bike. It might not be cool, but it can save a life.

When buying a bike helmet, think about function before style. I have looked at them, but have yet to buy one because my daughter does not ride very often. However, if friends start coming around to ask her to go riding, she will be wearing a bike helmet. I have noticed that some are better than others, and this is one thing you may not want to buy from a discount store. For the reassurance that you are buying something that will work if an accident were to occur, get your helmet from a sporting goods store. That way you know you are getting a better quality item. If you don’t have such a place near you, you can get them online. You can also look for recommendations online to see what other parents think are the best brands and styles.