Bike : Hero Honda Karizma ZMR
Year : 2010
Category : Sports tourer
Specs:
About the bike :
The Hero Honda Karizma is perhaps one of the most desired bikes of India since its launch in 2003. Karizma once used to be a benchmark in performance biking in India. But as years passed by, the market seemed to grow up faster than Hero Honda, and the battleground needed a newer, better Karizma to enter the race. As a competition Karizma came out with this fully faired, fuel injected bike, which they called the ZMR. Let us see, does the new Karizma ZMR stand up to its brand name and how practical are the changes.
Features :
• Advanced PGMFi, with 12-port fuel injection
• Oil-Cooling fins, for engine oil cooling
• iGRS (inverted gas reservoir suspension)
• Full Digital console
Styling & Finish :
Unfortunately, the first column that we write in our reviews is the most criticised aspect of the ZMR. The Karizma has been always known for its amazing sports touring capabilities. But the attachment of a full fairing doesn’t really give it that sports-tourer look, and neither does it look like a sports bike either. Infact, the addition of the extra 10kgs has hugely hampered the ZMR as a sports-tourer. The fairing on the ZMR has a strong resemblance to the Suzuki Hayabusa, and even tails look somewhat lifted from a not so talked about Indian bike. However, the ZMR if looked from certain angles can still be a heart throb, especially the beautiful single piece clear lens head lamp is a beauty and does lend the bike a bigger look.
The fairing, apart from taking lots of criticism for the added weight, also gives the owner lots of headache owing to its very un-realistic one-piece design. The aero-dynamics are however taken care of, but is not up to the mark. Apart from the design aspect, the plastic and paint quality also deserves some serious concern from Hero Honda. The ZMR gets two-piece clip-ons as a feature which is a welcome move and it does look good from the pilot’s seat. One of the best-looking gadget of the Karizma ZMR is the full digital console, that accommodates a welcome message that flashes when the ignition is turned on. The console takes up a very generous space and is pretty easy for the rider to look up. It accommodates a clock and a real time mileage indicator. The real time indicator might seem like a cool gadget, but to us it seemed like just a way to fill-up that huge console. The mileage shown by the meter varied from 20 to 80 kmpl every 5 minutes. However, the feedback might be quite stable and acceptable on long cruises. Although looks are subjective, we didn’t like the impractical design.
Engine & Performance :
The most talked about upgrade that was expected by the Karizma lovers was on the engine. Many were disappointed by the move of Hero Honda when they launched the ZMR. Infact it was evident from our test-ride, why the performance lovers were disappointed by the meagre 0.7bhp power increase. The added weight of this big hunk is what spoils the sport, and the extra power cannot be felt at all. But when comparing it with other bikes, the Karizma’s low power-to-cc ratio is compensated by the very well worked out gearing and torque spread out. It wouldn’t be wrong if we say that the torque delivery of the Karizma ZMR throughout its rev line is one of the best in its class. The engine effortlessly pulls away at any RPM with ease and even at high RPM it has a relatively relaxed nature. The ZMR also has a PGM-Fi system, which marginally improves the fuel-efficiency and throttle response of the bike. The major breakthrough in the fuel-injected engine is the refinement of the engine and its smooth operation. The addition of the oil-cooling fins that cool down the engine oil further adds to a more refined engine. The feel from the clutch too is very good and even the gear operation is fairly good (one would have expected a better gear-box at the price it sells).
The ZMR has very good low-speed riding characteristics; one can easily pull away at 5th gear even at speeds as low as 25kmph. It very easily climbs to speeds close to 95-100 and does push well to 110-115, but past that it seems to give up and you have to push real hard to get to that company claimed top-speed. We clocked a top speed of 110 in our test ride and the bike didn’t seem fatigued. When commenting on the overall engine and performance of the bike, it isn’t a standout from its cheaper brother, but for the tourers concerned with reliability and smoothness on long rides, the ZMR wins a brownie for the added fuel-injection which eliminates any need of tuning the air-fuel ratio for high altitude climbs. Though not the fastest, the ZMR’s engine deserves its tag of being one of the best touring machines in India which can be ridden continuously at speeds of 90-95 effortlessly.
Handling & Ride Quality :
Adding 10kgs to your physique all of a sudden does hamper your agility and fitness. The same goes for the ZMR, the added flab does hamper its handling characteristics and the disproportionate structure of the bike steals away some confidence from the rider. However, the amazing riding posture of the Karizma brand name is carried forward by the ZMR as well and even with clip-on handle bars Hero Honda have stuck to the upright and relaxed riding posture on it. The pillion now gets to hold on to a stylish and sharp looking grab rail and the pillion comfort too is well taken care of by the wide seats on the ZMR. Further improving its comfort level is the iGRS rear shock absorbers which are very effective and do not have any tendency to bottom out. The rear shock absorbers are 5-step adjustable and you can tweak it for a cruise on the highway or for a rough ride on the rocky deserts. Though the rear suspension provides excellent comfort, but the need of a mono-shock suspension is felt on corners, and that’s what you expect on a premium segment bike. However, it has incorporated a very important feature for a premium segment bike, a 240mm rear disc brake. The brakes on the Karizma have a soft feeling and miss the bite, but provide excellent straight-line braking performance. The rear brakes are the largest in its class in India, and are remarkably good.
A ride on the Karizma ZMR is very very stress free, and due to a good sitting posture it further helps its image as a tourer. The added weight and its big chassis do give the bike good stability at high speeds and you will feel planted to the road, till almost 110kph after which the aero-dynamics don’t seem to impress much. To sum up, you won’t feel like a speedster on this bike who spends his energy zipping through the traffic, you would rather feel like a responsible man who would keep a lot of power under his belt to use it for overtaking the hooligan traffic when he feels like. This is a bike for a serious person who wants no-nonsense ride quality with good power under his tap.
Maintenance & Mileage :
Hero Honda spares are most easily available ones in the market and service quality of the company is also one of the best, because of its amazing network of service centres all around the nation. But, the spare parts of any Hero Honda bike come at good price when compared to other manufacturers. The major concern in the ZMR is its full fairing which is constructed as a single unit. Thus, damage to the plastics, how small is rewarded with a hefty bill.
The ZMR has a recommended engine oil of SAE 10 W 30 SJ Grade, which needs replacement every 2500-3000kms. The Karizma even after being a 223cc bike manages good fuel economy of around 35-38kmpl, thanks to the fuel injection and a somewhat detuned engine with good torque spread requiring minimum gear changes.
Approximate Mileage 35-38kmpl
Regular service charges Rs.250-300 (at free services)
Rs.500-600 (at paid services)
Overall Impression:
The Karizma brand name has been an iconic representation of a premium sports tourer in India since 2003. Hero Honda gave its ZMR some features in the lights of fuel injection, iGRS shock absorbers, rear disc brakes; that are a boon to the avid travellers. But somehow in the competition, Hero Honda messed up with the bike’s ergonomics and came out with a not-so-agile sequel to the most successful sports tourer of India, the Karizma ZMA-R. It still retains the exact feel of its un-faired sibling and is any day a dream machine to ride, but maybe all the advancements with a more agile physique could have made this lion, a leopard.
If you are built heavily, and keen on a bike with lots of muscle & skin, Karizma ZMR is your bike; but if you are the rider who loves to take the unknown trail and love the Karizma for its touring capabilities, its better you stick to the cheaper alternative, the ZMA-R.
Pros: PGMFi, smoother engine and better throttle response
Very good torque distribution
Relaxed engine
Comfortable riding posture
Very effective shock absorbers for Indian roads
Good braking
Cons: Bulky and disproportionate built
Poor plastic and paint
Loss of power at high speeds
Handling isn’t impressive at corners
Pricing & Competition :
City Price
Delhi Rs.92,500 (ex-showroom)
Mumbai Rs.97,000 (ex-showroom)
Chennai Rs.92,500 (ex-showroom)
Kolkata Rs.92,500 (ex-showroom)
Pune Rs.94,500 (ex-showroom)
Other bikes in the league:
The Karizma ZMR should honestly have only two competitors in the market, the Karizma ZMA & the Yamaha FAZER (which are the only sports-tourers in the Indian market). As the FAZER clearly loses out to the ZMR, the ZMA fights neck to neck when we compare the product-price ratio. However, these comparisons wouldn’t sound well to the common people as bikes in India are compared mostly on their price tags & power. The Yamaha R15 & the Pulsar 220 remain the major threats to the ZMR.
