60000 kms on my Kawasaki Caliber 115 - Hoodibaba!!!

abdriver2000 · 28th July 2007, 23:40

I was caught in the unpredictable Mumbai monsoons last night when the odo on my bike crossed the 60000 mark. I reached this figure in about 52 months. Could have reached it about 6 months earlier but I shifted my job to a closer location last year!

THE HUNT
It was early 2003 and I had saved enough from my 4 figure salary to buy my first bike. I never liked the Splendors and Passions because of their shorter wheelbases and gear shift patterns. I had test driven the Victor but it was too small and my knees touched the handlebars when I turned.

Then Hoodibaba ads flashed on the idiot box. I took a test drive and immediately fell in love with it. I took a test ride and booked it the next day. The bike was to be delivered on 21 March 2003. Mine was from the first batch with the Kawasaki etching on the silencer. The later batches came with a Bajaj badging. I chose the Star Blue color.

THE BEGINNING
Inital few days were spent trying to avoid people shouting HOODIBABA in my ears. The euphoria was expected. There were not many bikes those days that looked good and performed great. Occasionally, I would be pulled over by the cops asking me 'How is it?'. Few months later, Mumbai cops got a batch of Calibers with a weird look.

The run-in of 1000 kms took me about 45 days. My first service happened at 570 kms. My mileage fell from 71 to 65. Next service happened at 2580 kms, and mileage fell by another 5 kms!. I had learnt it the hard way. Took my fathers advice next time and went to the friendly neighbourhood mechanic and the bike was back to its original state.

MAINTENANCE
So far maintenance has been minimal. Oil change every 2500 kms. Air filter change every 15000 kms. 1 front and 5 rear punctures so far. Changed tyres at 43750. They still had about 15000 kms left, but I was bored of them anyways. Changed battery at 54000 kms. Chain and sprockets replaced at 57500 kms because the chain was too loose. Brake pads replaced every 20000 kms. Waxed every 2 months.

THE RIDE
This bike is my primary transport, and my car is used only for weekend drives. My first date happened with it. It is also my kids first ride. My daily commute has varied between 45 to 100kms. I have taken it to Amby valley in 2004. It has the most comfortable seat in its class. The engine is super smooth even now.

THE FUTURE
I plan to keep it atleast until the odo reads 0 again. That would mean another 3 years atleast. I have been toying with idea of modding it. But then on second thoughts, it is in its showroom state. Can I have some ideas please? Would love to know your thoughts.

HOODIBABA

CrAzY dRiVeR · 28th July 2007, 23:57

Nice review!

For all those who say Bajaj bikes dont last too long.

Mpower · 29th July 2007, 00:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by abdriver2000

MAINTENANCE
So far maintenance has been minimal. Oil change every 2500 kms. Air filter change every 15000 kms. 1 front and 5 rear punctures so far. Changed tyres at 43750. They still had about 15000 kms left, but I was bored of them anyways.

What do you think about the scooter vs bike delima for city riding. A scoot would have you fuming much less with all those punctures?

esteem_lover · 29th July 2007, 00:24

Hmm. .. 60k in 4 years +, eh ? My brother bought the same bike in 2002 end & guess what, he has done an awesome 5k kms till date. i took it for service once & the guy there was dumbfounded. he had to check with me twice before he noted that down.

black12rr · 29th July 2007, 00:44

, keept it stock ,may be upgrade to better sticky tyres.Thats it . Its goes!!!!

akroy · 29th July 2007, 07:55

I too have a Hoodibaba and its an awesome bike... Well balanced in highways...

I did some memorable trips in it:
Blr - Pondy - Blr
Blr - Mlr - Blr
Blr - Mysore - Blr
Blr - Talakkad - blr
Blr - Hogenakkal - Blr

I enjoyed every moment... THough the longer trips have stopped after I bought the car but the bike still gives me bliss in the city traffic...

Abhi

abdriver2000 · 29th July 2007, 11:50

Hey All,

Thanks for your comments. I can see that the bike is quite popular down south. Even in Mumbai, the Blue and green colors are not uncommon.

I have always wondered if upgrading to the Platina alloys would be a good idea? They are from the bajaj stable and allow drum brakes instead of discs.

Also, if you get a nice paint job in a different color, do we need to get it reflected in our RC book? I know we have to, but how many people actually do it?

Mumbai guys, please share a thought here.

Thanks.

abdriver2000 · 29th July 2007, 12:27

BTW, 60000kms is roughly 1.5 times the circumference of our planet!

mithun · 29th July 2007, 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Nice review!

For all those who say Bajaj bikes dont last too long.

Just wanted to repeat the same words !

Ajaybiz · 6th August 2007, 09:52

Nice man as even i was having a impression that Bajaj bikes wont do 50K Kms without overhaul as seen many of my friends and my Brothers Wind125 getting things like Piston rings, Clutch plates changed below 30K.
Best of luck for your 100k mark.

28th July 2007, 23:40	#1
abdriver2000 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 330 Thanked: 30 Times View My Garage	60000 kms on my Kawasaki Caliber 115 - Hoodibaba!!! I was caught in the unpredictable Mumbai monsoons last night when the odo on my bike crossed the 60000 mark. I reached this figure in about 52 months. Could have reached it about 6 months earlier but I shifted my job to a closer location last year! THE HUNT It was early 2003 and I had saved enough from my 4 figure salary to buy my first bike. I never liked the Splendors and Passions because of their shorter wheelbases and gear shift patterns. I had test driven the Victor but it was too small and my knees touched the handlebars when I turned. Then Hoodibaba ads flashed on the idiot box. I took a test drive and immediately fell in love with it. I took a test ride and booked it the next day. The bike was to be delivered on 21 March 2003. Mine was from the first batch with the Kawasaki etching on the silencer. The later batches came with a Bajaj badging. I chose the Star Blue color. THE BEGINNING Inital few days were spent trying to avoid people shouting HOODIBABA in my ears. The euphoria was expected. There were not many bikes those days that looked good and performed great. Occasionally, I would be pulled over by the cops asking me 'How is it?'. Few months later, Mumbai cops got a batch of Calibers with a weird look. The run-in of 1000 kms took me about 45 days. My first service happened at 570 kms. My mileage fell from 71 to 65. Next service happened at 2580 kms, and mileage fell by another 5 kms!. I had learnt it the hard way. Took my fathers advice next time and went to the friendly neighbourhood mechanic and the bike was back to its original state. MAINTENANCE So far maintenance has been minimal. Oil change every 2500 kms. Air filter change every 15000 kms. 1 front and 5 rear punctures so far. Changed tyres at 43750. They still had about 15000 kms left, but I was bored of them anyways. Changed battery at 54000 kms. Chain and sprockets replaced at 57500 kms because the chain was too loose. Brake pads replaced every 20000 kms. Waxed every 2 months. THE RIDE This bike is my primary transport, and my car is used only for weekend drives. My first date happened with it. It is also my kids first ride. My daily commute has varied between 45 to 100kms. I have taken it to Amby valley in 2004. It has the most comfortable seat in its class. The engine is super smooth even now. THE FUTURE I plan to keep it atleast until the odo reads 0 again. That would mean another 3 years atleast. I have been toying with idea of modding it. But then on second thoughts, it is in its showroom state. Can I have some ideas please? Would love to know your thoughts. HOODIBABA
	() Thanks

28th July 2007, 23:57	#2
CrAzY dRiVeR Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore / TVM Posts: 18,045 Thanked: 79,162 Times View My Garage	Nice review! For all those who say Bajaj bikes dont last too long.
	() Thanks

29th July 2007, 00:24	#4
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 513 Times View My Garage	Hmm. .. 60k in 4 years +, eh ? My brother bought the same bike in 2002 end & guess what, he has done an awesome 5k kms till date. i took it for service once & the guy there was dumbfounded. he had to check with me twice before he noted that down.
	() Thanks

29th July 2007, 00:44	#5
black12rr Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ridin earth now Posts: 1,280 Thanked: 349 Times	, keept it stock ,may be upgrade to better sticky tyres.Thats it . Its goes!!!!
	() Thanks

29th July 2007, 07:55	#6
akroy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA, USA Posts: 2,424 Thanked: 88 Times View My Garage	I too have a Hoodibaba and its an awesome bike... Well balanced in highways... I did some memorable trips in it: Blr - Pondy - Blr Blr - Mlr - Blr Blr - Mysore - Blr Blr - Talakkad - blr Blr - Hogenakkal - Blr I enjoyed every moment... THough the longer trips have stopped after I bought the car but the bike still gives me bliss in the city traffic... Abhi
	() Thanks

29th July 2007, 11:50	#7
abdriver2000 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 330 Thanked: 30 Times View My Garage	Hey All, Thanks for your comments. I can see that the bike is quite popular down south. Even in Mumbai, the Blue and green colors are not uncommon. I have always wondered if upgrading to the Platina alloys would be a good idea? They are from the bajaj stable and allow drum brakes instead of discs. Also, if you get a nice paint job in a different color, do we need to get it reflected in our RC book? I know we have to, but how many people actually do it? Mumbai guys, please share a thought here. Thanks.
	() Thanks

29th July 2007, 12:27	#8
abdriver2000 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 330 Thanked: 30 Times View My Garage	BTW, 60000kms is roughly 1.5 times the circumference of our planet!
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 09:52	#10
Ajaybiz BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,440 Thanked: 321 Times View My Garage	Nice man as even i was having a impression that Bajaj bikes wont do 50K Kms without overhaul as seen many of my friends and my Brothers Wind125 getting things like Piston rings, Clutch plates changed below 30K. Best of luck for your 100k mark.
	() Thanks