Thread: New Hero Honda Karizma

For a long time now, the Karizma has been known and admired as one of the best performance bikes of the country. Ever since it hit the market, no bike has really been able to authoritatively snatch the performance crown from it. The Pulsar Z20, though slightly better in terms of outright performance, doesn't really have a substantial enough advantage over the Karizma to be the undisputed champion in this department. Moreover, for two bikes so closely matched, it ultimately boils down to each bike's handling, stability and grip to determine the faster motorcycle around the circuit.

The Karizma, as our track test suggested, is an amazingly accomplished bike when it comes to handling and stability around corners. It really inspires the rider to try and push it to the limits. The refined engine doesn't resist being revved hard, though it isn't exactly as rev happy as the Apache's screamer mill or the RIS'S Crazy revving liquid-cooled motor. Its handling around corners is better sorted out and more neutral than the 220. The Karizma's low end power and torque is the strongest of the quartet here. While that may be a virtue for commuters, it's absolutely useless on the racetrack.



When pitted against the P220, which has a really strong mid and top end surge, the Karizma starts looking somewhat feeble. And that's just for starters. The well-sorted handling, the torquey engine and the reasonably punchy engine fail to undo some of the things that hamper the pace of the Karizma around the track. Make no mistake, the bike gives you loads of confidence but it cannot really be ridden hard. The low footpegs and the awkwardly high handlebar make it difficult to lean the bike hard and push it beyond a certain limit. Around the corners, as you lean in, the commuter oriented handlebars truly feel inept. I have ridden the Karizma hundreds of times earlier and never found the position of the handlebars too bad while riding through those twisties on the highways. On a racetrack, however, especially after riding the RIS and the RTR, you realise that there's crying need for the handlebars on the machine to be positioned lower than they are now.

Your arms are raised high up while cornering, disturbing the natural racing position on a bike. Higher footpegs; proper clip-ons and a deleted centre stand will help the Karizma post reasonably quicker lap times around the track. Not that a time of 2.22.3 is bad, but with the aforementioned changes we're sure it'll improve substantially. The MRF Zapper rubber up front and at the rear is satisfactory at best. The bike could be equipped with better tyres. The Karizma has its basics right and with just a little more power from the engine, repositioned footpegs and handlebars and grippier rubber the ZMA will record much better track timings.