Ok, here’s the thing…
I am interested in knowing what exactly would a motorcycling enthusiast like you, want to see on tele in an auto show; for bikes, of course.
But, before I get into the details, let me share with you where I am coming from - I have been part of an auto show for almost two months now, and have a done few bike stories on the show as well. As there’s very limited time, four maybe five minutes for a story, it’ impossible to talk about everything.
So, I’d like you to tell me what I should focus on in the future.
To make things simpler, I am listing a few aspects and would like you to rate these in terms of what you’d like to see, hear and know.
Want to know about…
1- features
2- engine specs
3- performance
4- ride & handling
5- pricing
6- competition
7- and whether you ought to buy it or not.
Want to see more of…
1- more stills showing all angles and various details of the bike
2- tracking shots (moving shots taken from a car ahead or behind: these mostly lack drama)
3- Passing shots (camera is stationary,while the bike comes from a distance and zooms past)
4- Cornering shots
Want to hear about…
1- More of me talking into the camera
2- More of bike shots with a person talking about the bike in the background – in tele terms it’s called voice over or VO in short.
I am really hoping, I’ll get some feedback here. Will also put a poll for it soon.
Thanks for your time.
Cheers,
RPM
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
TVS Flame road test
I don’t quite like the Flame ad, because plainly, I don’t quite understand it. But, it isn’t me all the way. You see, when a motorcycle advert shows a guy racing through twisty roads on a bike, being hunted down by a women coming down a parachute, for a date, there’s something seriously wrong somewhere. And then to learn from a company insider that the bike and the advert, both are targeted at the self employed lot; well, it just leaves me tragically confused.Thankfully, the bike herself isn’t as confusing.
She is brilliantly styled: the fuel tank along with those ‘delta’ styled side flanks with turn indicators incorporated, adds a sense of occasion to the Flame’s presence. She does get an alien like face though, which when viewed head-on looks good, but otherwise fails to gel with the overall design.
Having said that, besides the tank, the rest of the design isn’t as gorgeous; it’s nic
e of course, but it’s more regular than outstanding. The clocks are part analog (for the speedo), part digital (for everything else), like on the XCD. It’s much better executed though – looks more up-market, is easier to read and has a yellow hue to it as well.Get on board, and you aren’t really sure what the designer and engineers set out to do. The racy styling notwithstanding, they wanted to make this a smarter commuter, now that I am sure off, but an uncomfortable one? Don’t think so!
It’s, therefore, a case of the ergonomics going bad – the handlebar and the footpegs are set low, and the latter are set too far forward as well. The only thing that seems in the right place then, is the seat. And the complete ergo comes across as if it were meant for a long legged masochist.
To the designers’ credit, they did think of a lockable cubby hole as part of the tank. It’s not big enough for a lot of things, but will house your cell phone, wallet, and even a tiny water bottle (200ml or something). Neat touch. But, it has robbed the tank of its fuel capacity all the same, which is now down to just 7.5 litres.
Thankfully, there’s nothing embarrassing about the bike’s cycle parts. The Flame uses a single downtube chassis suspended on the customary telescopic forks up front, but at the rear, in come gas charged dampers to offer a better compromise between good handling and cosseting ride.
And the Flame delivers: the handling is predictable and relatively sharp. She also has a good turn in, a must really, if she is going to be ridden aggressively. And the tyres offer good grip too. The bike does have a longish wheelbase for a 125 and as a result it blossoms in a straight line. Ride too is comforting.
The performance from the all new 125cc engine, developed with the help of AVL of Austria could have been better though. The single spark plug, three valve head – two for intake and one for exhaust- layout develops 10bhp and 10Nm of torque, which is pretty much the same as the most powerful 125 currently, the Gladiator. The Flame also uses a trick carburettor to feed the intake valves – with the throttle partially open, the carb only feeds one valve, through its single open tract. Wring the throttle open further, and the second tract comes into play and the juice is now being feed into the combustion chamber through both valves.
The idea here is to save fuel in the initial stages, and then pump in more air and fuel when the rider wants to up the pace. However, the theory hasn’t really translated all that well in the real world – the bottom end isn’t great, and there’s nothing to grin about the Flame’s top speed either.
To add insult to the wound,
the engine is harsh as well, and the well-shifting gearbox has only four gears, limiting the engine’s flexibility.
And the Flame delivers: the handling is predictable and relatively sharp. She also has a good turn in, a must really, if she is going to be ridden aggressively. And the tyres offer good grip too. The bike does have a longish wheelbase for a 125 and as a result it blossoms in a straight line. Ride too is comforting.
The performance from the all new 125cc engine, developed with the help of AVL of Austria could have been better though. The single spark plug, three valve head – two for intake and one for exhaust- layout develops 10bhp and 10Nm of torque, which is pretty much the same as the most powerful 125 currently, the Gladiator. The Flame also uses a trick carburettor to feed the intake valves – with the throttle partially open, the carb only feeds one valve, through its single open tract. Wring the throttle open further, and the second tract comes into play and the juice is now being feed into the combustion chamber through both valves.
The idea here is to save fuel in the initial stages, and then pump in more air and fuel when the rider wants to up the pace. However, the theory hasn’t really translated all that well in the real world – the bottom end isn’t great, and there’s nothing to grin about the Flame’s top speed either.
To add insult to the wound,
the engine is harsh as well, and the well-shifting gearbox has only four gears, limiting the engine’s flexibility. The Flame then is a good attempt by TVS – she is brilliantly and thoughtfully styled, rides and handles very well too, but is she really worth going for? Well, if you base your buying decision on how the machine looks, and what the world thinks of it; buy it, now!
But if you are slightly sensible, wait for another week, cause the Gladiator vs Flame comparo is round the corner…
But if you are slightly sensible, wait for another week, cause the Gladiator vs Flame comparo is round the corner…
Specs
Engine
Capacity: 124.8cc
Max power: 10.5bhp
Max torque: 10Nm
Gearbox: 4-speed
Performance
0-60kmph: 6.64s
0-80kmph: 12.47s
0-100kmph: 30.42s
0-400m: 21.37s
Top speed: 101.68
Cycle parts
Chassis: Single downtube rectangular cross section
Suspension F: Telescopic forks
Suspension R: Coil springs and gas charged dampers
Brakes F: 240mm disc
Brakes R: 130mm drum
Tyres F&R: 2.75 x 18” & 3.00 x 18”
Price: Rs 45,990 ex-showroom
Engine
Capacity: 124.8cc
Max power: 10.5bhp
Max torque: 10Nm
Gearbox: 4-speed
Performance
0-60kmph: 6.64s
0-80kmph: 12.47s
0-100kmph: 30.42s
0-400m: 21.37s
Top speed: 101.68
Cycle parts
Chassis: Single downtube rectangular cross section
Suspension F: Telescopic forks
Suspension R: Coil springs and gas charged dampers
Brakes F: 240mm disc
Brakes R: 130mm drum
Tyres F&R: 2.75 x 18” & 3.00 x 18”
Price: Rs 45,990 ex-showroom
Friday, April 18, 2008
Where have all the riding roads gone?
I am not completely pleased with all this road development that’s been happening. It’s adding to such monotony. Imagine, negotiating never-ending stretches of arrow straight roads, with just the road markings and the odd stray dog to keep him company. It’s scary, I know!
Cause riding, as the adage goes, is about the journey and not the destination. The journey therefore, needs to have a potent mix of flat-out straight stretches to open up the bike’s lungs and of course, winding roads, with the latter dominating the mix.
Bikers need roads with corners. Roads where we can put our bikes down scraping footpegs, and even the odd knee. Roads that need us to continuously work the bike’s handlebar to make the bends successfully, one after the other, in quick succession. Roads, where there is a hint of danger lurking behind every cliff, crest or trough; the danger of going into oncoming traffic or going off the edge if we were to overdo it. Roads, which are involving but more importantly, intoxicating.
Sadly, such roads are fast disappearing as the development authorities go about their road widening work with vigour; changing great, enthralling roads into safe and comfortable but equally boring means of commute.
Was riding in Maharastra the other day, a road I have ridden on for years. And when you spend a lot of time on the same stretch of road, no matter the distance, you tend to have your favourite sections. I had mine too. But to my horror, the road widening work had taken away my much-loved corners, blasted them into tedious straights!
This isn’t just a one off instance. I am sure the Golden Quadrilateral has taken a few great riding roads away, and so have the North-South and East-West corridors.
This fascination with road expansion, reminds me of the cartoon movie Cars, wherein part of the old Route 66 leading to the sleepy town of Radiator Springs which promised excitement and charm in the way it wrapped itself around the hills, is left abandoned in favour of an eight-laned motorway. But as it happens in all good family movies, the road is back in action thanks to one Mr Lightening McQueen.
However, in the real world, our great biking roads are going away forever. Bikers now need to travel further each year to enjoy riding. There are a handful of good sections around Delhi I am told, the road to Simla is one, then there’s one leading up to Shivpuri and beyond. But these are a long way off, and a long way off through painfully boring roads.
I do have a humble request: please somebody help me out with some good riding roads in this part of the world – in and around Delhi!!!
Cause riding, as the adage goes, is about the journey and not the destination. The journey therefore, needs to have a potent mix of flat-out straight stretches to open up the bike’s lungs and of course, winding roads, with the latter dominating the mix.
Bikers need roads with corners. Roads where we can put our bikes down scraping footpegs, and even the odd knee. Roads that need us to continuously work the bike’s handlebar to make the bends successfully, one after the other, in quick succession. Roads, where there is a hint of danger lurking behind every cliff, crest or trough; the danger of going into oncoming traffic or going off the edge if we were to overdo it. Roads, which are involving but more importantly, intoxicating.
Sadly, such roads are fast disappearing as the development authorities go about their road widening work with vigour; changing great, enthralling roads into safe and comfortable but equally boring means of commute.
Was riding in Maharastra the other day, a road I have ridden on for years. And when you spend a lot of time on the same stretch of road, no matter the distance, you tend to have your favourite sections. I had mine too. But to my horror, the road widening work had taken away my much-loved corners, blasted them into tedious straights!
This isn’t just a one off instance. I am sure the Golden Quadrilateral has taken a few great riding roads away, and so have the North-South and East-West corridors.
This fascination with road expansion, reminds me of the cartoon movie Cars, wherein part of the old Route 66 leading to the sleepy town of Radiator Springs which promised excitement and charm in the way it wrapped itself around the hills, is left abandoned in favour of an eight-laned motorway. But as it happens in all good family movies, the road is back in action thanks to one Mr Lightening McQueen.
However, in the real world, our great biking roads are going away forever. Bikers now need to travel further each year to enjoy riding. There are a handful of good sections around Delhi I am told, the road to Simla is one, then there’s one leading up to Shivpuri and beyond. But these are a long way off, and a long way off through painfully boring roads.
I do have a humble request: please somebody help me out with some good riding roads in this part of the world – in and around Delhi!!!
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