A Sober Beast

A dusky day was in its midst,the highway had a sheet of rain water giving it a matt silvery finish on the tarmac. I was on my way back home,it was then when I decided to call my friend & go for a ride on his new ride the Honda Unicorn CB Dazzler. "A sober beast" were the 1st words that came in my heart when I first saw it,that was due to the PEARL NIGHTSTAR BLACK colour which caught my attention. Originally offered by the company from its range of total four colours

1)Armour Gold Metallic

2)Pearl Siena Red

3)Pearl Nightstar Black

4)Sword Silver Metallic

The speciality of these colours is that in spite of being metallic,they give a special sparkled effect,that dazzles when projected under sunlight or any other light source.I guess its when the company might have thought of a name as CB Dazzler. The Batman shaped cowl fitted on the tank makes it look like a superhero's machine.

CB DAZZLER is lighter as compared to other bikes & its elder sibling, the Honda Unicorn. It is faster, meaner, agile & along with the above features it is very much stable.
The idea to lauch the CB DAZZLER was to completely capture the market of the 150 cc segment. Dazzler is powered by 14 horse powered engine with a newer cam shaft that makes the ride more refined & redifined. Being light, it has a feather like handling in the traffic & also on the highway it is pretty amazing. With very good gear ratios, the knocking phenomenon is avoided to a great extent even at low rpm's. It has a very good acceleration even when decently loaded.

The suspension has three modes, that can easily set by the tool given by the company. The 1st mode is the neutral or the normal mode, where the bike can be driven in the normal conditions, the 2nd mode makes the ride stiffer. Compatible for those who constantly travel with a pillion & the third mode makes the spring softer making it the best for a single rider travelling in any conditions, yes I mean any conditions.

Our journey was a joy ride of 110 km, to a hill station known as Lonavala, which is a preferred destination for all automobile enthusiasts, as it is not only the road but also the eternal climate during the monsoons. The bike weighs 138 Kg unladen, it was further loaded with a weight of 185 kg, no guys you are getting it wrong 'yokozuna' wasn't our test rider, it is the combined weight of the rider & the pillion. Since it was the 1st month after its purchase, we were under the impression that till the running-in period or till the 1st service the speed shouldn't exceed more than 55-60 km/hr. The average speed of our journey was 60 km/hr, that was achieved @ 4500 rpm. Later did we realized that the company did not prescribe any speed limits or rev limits. Had we known about no pumping limits, we could have completed the trip sooner.

The goodwill of the extra 0.7 bhp is seen when the ghats began, on the turns it does not require to be shifted down at every corner, this is because of the crisp engine, amazing gear ratios, the diamond chassis & above all the mono shock suspension when put together speak for themselves. The handling was simply amazing even when it rained, there was no such turn or curve or an instant where I couldn't lose faith in its handling, especially braking thanks to the rear 220mm disc brakes. Apart from the conventional KBX brakes previously offered, they have been successfully replaced by 'Nissen', the same set of brakes are installed in Kawasaki Ninja 250R & Yamaha R15.
The overall economy was 47.1 Km/L & it was even before the 1st service. However the company claims 60 km/L which is not difficult to achieve in a HONDA, with proper driving habits. The blue display is soothing while riding through the night & is not flashy at all. The mirrors are in an attractive SEPTAGON shape mainly to avoid braking in case of a minor fall.

The dazzling baby had no great issues or complaints, the only issue could rise would be the electrical buttons if not properly covered with separate plastic covers. Tyres are originally fitted with MRF NYLON ZAPPER SOFT COMPOUND TYRES, these tyres are not the best but they are fitted by maximum companies due to its competitive cost in its segment. The best suited for the purpose is DUNLOP, as it offers the best grip & life period in every season & driving conditions. The major issue that caught my notice was the fogging of the turning indicators in such a less period of time. HONDA popularly known as "THE POWER OF DREAMS", has surely not compromised in its power but a bit in its plastic quality.

My verdict is that it would be a wise decision to go for the CB DAZZLER, a few thousands would rarely matter, because for the price you pay, you get it all. Power , Pick-up , Fuel Economy , Looks, Modern styling & design, A trusted name like HONDA. Do note that discounts offered are very less, as it is a hot new launch but you can definitely give it a try. There are a few dealers claiming a waiting period of over a month but as my friend had directly picked up his bike from company stock yard, they have more than enough bikes at hand to fulfill the demand.

I would like to thank Dinesh Motwani, as this blog could not have been written without him.

The bike has following specifications as given by the company.

Weight/ Measurements/Chassis:

Kerb weight: 138 kg

Fuel tank capacity: 12 litres

Width: 754mm

Length: 2073 mm

Height: 1085 mm

Ground clearance: 162 mm

Wheelbase: 1328mm

Chassis: Advanced Design Diamond Frame

Tyre type: Tubeless

Front suspension: Telescopic fork

Rear suspension: Mono suspension 3 step adj

Rear tyre: 110/80 17- M/C 57P

Front: 80/100 17-M/C 46P

Rear Brake tyre: Disc 220 mm dia

Front Brake tyre: Disc 240 mm dia

Engine & Transmission:

Transmission: Constant Mesh, 5 speed gear

Gear shift pattern: 1 Down- 4up

Engine: Air cooled, 4 Stroke, SI engine

Torque: 1.3kg@ 6500 rpm

Displacement: 149.1 cc

Net Power: 14 bhp@ 8500 rpm

Air filter: viscous paper filter

Carburettor/ fuel injection: Carburettor

Starting system: self

Electrical:

Chain case: Half

Ignition: Digital CDI (Multi Mapping)

Headlamp: Halogen 12V 35/35 W

Battery: 12V-4AH Maintenance Free

Inst panel: Blue Din Digital

Overall HONDA offers a very intelligent & a smart deal with the following prices

Delhi: Rs 62,900 (Ex-Showroom)

Mumbai: Rs 74,000 (On-Road)

Bangalore: Rs 70,715 (On-Road)

Kolkata: Rs 64,390 (Ex-Showroom)

Guys do read the next blog addressing the high speed & extreme performances of the HONDA UNICORN CB DAZZLER.

Till then

DRIVE SAFE..BE SAFE..

- Vikas Bhatia

Bugatti Veyron SS, the fastest production car in the world

About a month ago, history was created. Bugatti clinched back the prestigious record of the world’s fastest production car. And their weapon of choice was the new Veyron SS (Super Sport). If you may remember back in 2005 Bugatti introduced the Veyron. And what amazing figures it has! Quad turbo, 1001hp, 8L W-16 engine and top speed of an amazing 408.5 km/hr!!

But then a bunch of Yankees thought, well even we can come up with a fast car! And the SSC Ultimate Aero TT was brought to life.They stole the record from Bugatti and went up to the speed of 412 km/hr. This I think infuriated the German bosses of Bugatti and the engineers were summoned to take back the pride. And this was the outcome... It may look like an ordinary Veyron, but it is actually a Veyron on steroids. So instead of 1000hp it now has 1200hp! And it’s lighter too. And the outcome? Top speed of 431 Km/hr, the take off speed for the Boeing 747 is around 300km/hr!!

These numbers are simply mind boggling. But all this makes me wonder...the sophistication and space age level engineering that has gone into the production of this amazing piece of machinery. But that is the thing about engineering; it’s dynamic and ever evolving. Today we are amazed by the Veyron SS, but 60 years ago people were equally amazed by the 1949 Jaguar XK120, the fastest car of that era, and it went up to 200 km/hr. So it is only a matter of time that someone comes up with a new car, with more power, more carbon fibre better aerodynamics and take the title away. So Bugatti make hay while the sun shines...and they will because I am absolutely sure there are 30 freakishly rich idiots who will buy the 30 odd Veyron SSs at the price of around Rs 12 Cr. But kudos Bugatti job well done.

Skoda Laura 10/10

The Skoda Laura has been around in India from quite some time. Since its debut in 2005 this car has helped Skoda establish firmly in the India market. Recently in mid 2009 the company decided to give the Laura and Superb a face lift which has proved a blessing as both the models are leading in their respective segments.Skoda Laura also known as Skoda Octavia in UK any other foreign markets has gone through a number of changes from its predecessor. Old Skoda Laura & New Skoda Laura 10/10

The most distinctive change is the front headlamps which gives the car a new elegant yet muscular look. The lines on the hood remain unchanged which is the distinctive styling of Skoda's. The overall look of the car has been given a face lift but the car makes its new presence felt.

Ground Clearance provided is ideal for Indian roads

From the technical point of view the overall lenght has been decreased by mere 3mm whereas for the wheelbase & ground clearance remain untouched. The new Laura has an improved turning radius of 5.1m which is quite helpful in city. The initial version of Laura 10/10 has more refined but same 1.9 l PD (Pump Duse) diesel engine, however since the new regulations on car emission standards were passed the Laura got a new heart in form of 2.0 l diesel CRDI and 1.8 l TSI petrol which was previously available only in their flagship Volkswagen Passat. The new engines have more oomph! diesel giving 110bhp@4200rpm and petrol having 160bhp@4500-6500rpm along with 6 speed gearbox, previously given with their Ocatvia RS model. If u have seen the new Maruti ads which asks the Question, 'Kitna Deti Hai?' which made me ask the same to Skoda's Technical advisor , well it averages 13-14 kmpl in city any about 17-18 kmpl on highway, it pretty much depends on your driving as few owners have claimed to get average in range of 19-20 kmpl. Now for the laid back people who do not depend on the numbers while buying their cars, this car certainly fulfills all the requirements for its segment. Those who love the driving (like me) the front seats come with 8 way adjustable system which is standard and L&K offering 12 way adjustable seats. The steering is telescopic mounted with a large accelerator pedal for those long drives. the glove compartment also serves as a chiller box for those chilled beers!! Company is offering a good quality music system with 8 speakers along with ipod connectivity but the space utilisation is seen here too, storage space in between the front seats which also can be used as small chill box.

As soon as I opened the rear doors it gave a very welcoming feeling with its well furnished seats with leather upholstery and wooden panels, the spacing was inch perfect with proper under thy support and comfortably inclined back. its has a centre armrest with small storage space along with access to the boot which is given standard with all variants.

The rear passengers are well taken care off with air vents in between the front seats. However the only pace where the car could be better would be buy removing the hump in the rear leg space which would accommodate three people comfortably. The boot space offered by Skoda is always class leading with 560 ltrs with notch booth for those who like to carry extra luggage.

If you are seriously thinking of buying then be ready to pay between 14 to 19 lakhs ex-mumbai. Skoda Laura is available in Ambiente, Elegance, L&K variants. We tested the Ambiente and Elegance MT Diesel models with the base model being Ambiente at Rs 14.11 lakhs (ex-mum) and Elegance at Rs 15.63 lakhs (ex-mum), both offer relatively same features only extra being dual climate control, 16" alloys, leather upholstery and wooden decor. These extra features for elegance can be made available just by adding around Rs 60-70 grand in Ambiente. The L&K model is prices at Rs 18.46 (ex-mum) but comes fully loaded with lost of features, just to name a few are Tiptronic gearbox, TCS(Traction Control System), ESP(Electronic Stability Programme), Touch Music System,etc. Owning a Skoda is just not that easy, ask any Skoda owner about its maintenance charges and you might give it a second thought.

According to our research you will be likely to spend around Rs 1.5 to 2 per km on maintenance apart from fuel running cost and depreciation cost. Overall running cost can be estimated to around rs 7-8 per km all inclusive (based on our calculations). As for the discounts you can get up to Rs 30000 to 40000 based on your negotiations, our dealer informed us that they were offering additional discounts if you are already a Skoda car owner. As per our negotiations we were able to squeeze out discount in excess for Rs50000 along with mudflaps, film and matting being complimentary. For those considering Skoda Laura L&K, do have a look at the Volkswagen Jetta Comfortline before buying. As for me, I am waiting for Laura RS with 2.0l TSI petrol with 200PS and 2.0l TDI diesel with 170PS (check out the pics)

- Nitesh bansal 
  The Grease Monkey