Re: The Honda H'ness CB350, priced at Rs. 1.90 lakh (page 6) Not sure why Dull and devoid of Character would be an insult.
Back when I was in the market for a 250 CC motorcycle, I rode the Duke 200, 250 and the 390 as well as the the Honda CBR 250 extensively which a friend owned as well as at a showroom.
Let me talk about the Honda first; the bike was wheeled out of the showroom for me (they didnt have a dedicated test ride bike) and fired up. As soon as I got onto the motorcycle, engaged the clutch and accelerated away - I felt the Honda Engine go "purr" as the Revs climbed higher. 2nd gear, 3rd gear and more throttle - the roar of the engine increased in volume - but the noise was never loud or harsh. The "Purring" became more pronounced as I crossed to higher RPM's and sped up but it was always still a "Purr" and never a "Snarl". The acceleration was always linear but never frantic.
At a traffic signal - the motorcycle was so silent that I wasnt even sure that the engine was running. The Clutch and the Gear Engagement was butter smooth and had robotic precision. There was never a half-locked clutch or a nasty "thunk" while downshifting or even an upshift/downshift caught between two gears.
The Suspension - Very Soft and supple. It was comfortable, predictable but didnt give me enough feedback on the type of surface I was travelling on. The handlebars too did not transmit the changes in road surfaces to my hands.
Long Story Short- The CBR was a meticulously crafted Japanese Robot which did what it was supposed to do with absolute pin point precision. However, it lacked something which I will come to when I test drove the KTM's
The KTM's - I test drove the KTM's and came back with the following feedback
(a) The Engine: The KTM's were quite silent at Idle (not as much as the Honda) but the moment you went up the RPM range or at higher speeds, the engine would change its nature from the puttering sound to a snarl. The acceleration was in no way as linear as the Honda. Throttle opening and closing made the bike jerk around and if you were not careful - the sudden opening of a throttle could make the rear wheel spin or go sideways. The motorcycle also heated up at traffic signals and the 390 especially would throw out hot air directly into the rider's legs. It was an exciting thought initially - the fact that I had to always caress the throttle or it would throw me off ; a temperamental girlfriend if you will.
(b) The Suspension: The bikes had a rock hard suspension which made me aware of every smallest undulation, pebble, crack in the road or even the tiniest of bumps. My butt and my hands knew exactly what sort of road surface we were riding on and the feedback it gave me was excellent. The Honda's Suspension was made-for-all in terms of giving it the best of all worlds in terms of comfort, feedback and travel. The KTM on the other hand had a suspension which only was made to give the rider feedback. The Comfort and Travel were not even on the Menu
(c) The Clutch and Gearbox - The KTM's with all its tech-loaded (especially the 390 with the Slipper Clutch) were still no contest for the smooth and absolutely hot-knife-through-melted-butter clutch and gearbox combination of the Honda. There were no false neutrals on the KTM but the Clutch Closing and Opening combined with the Throttle Position could either make or break you. There was no familiarity, no ability to predict or even no linearity in how the KTM's Clutch, Gearbox, Acceleration and Brakes operated vis-a-vis the Honda's Clutch, Gearbox, Acceleration and Brakes. And I am talking about all 3 KTM's - not just the 390
All in all - what I'm trying to say is when I was in bed thinking of which motorcycle to buy (a) the super friendly Honda which would never scare me, whose behavior I could always predict, whose suspension would always comfort me despite whatever road conditions I was on and whose engine would always be ultra-reliable or (b) the KTM's which snarl and rebuke me at the slightest of mistakes, which would handle like it was on rails but which would also make me suffer everytime the road conditions deteriorated slightly, which would give my internal organs a jolt everytime I accelerated hard or braked hard. But all in all - would just ask me to treat it with caution or else it would make me pay for my mistakes.
The KTM will never act like a Honda and will never be one as its character is not that of a Honda in terms of the smooth non-fussy way a Honda goes about its job with full reliability, familiarity, linearity and loyalty. But do these attributes make a bike devoid of character? Thats what the question is.
What did I do - I bought a KTM 390 as I wanted a bike which would not only keep my hands and feet busy but also my brain (or it turns into a devils workshop)
With the KTM - I HAVE to think in advance about how the motorcycle will react before I do anything at high speeds or I may be sharply rebuked.
With the Honda - I don't have to do so. It is a very forgiving, friendly motorcycle.
However, I have suggested the Honda CBR 250 to two of my friends who purchased it in 2017 because they needed a bike for long distance touring which they could trust and it would keep delivering day in - day out.
As of 2020 - They are very happy with their steeds and I ride with them a couple of times a year and whenever we exchange bikes, as I am approaching my 40's - I feel that in my life, I don't need so many attention-seeking hot heads around me but I need more predictability, friends and loyalty.
Never say Never.
Last edited by rahul4321 : 28th November 2020 at 15:44.
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