THE TEST:

The fuel measurement was on a tankfull to tankfull basis. I filled up each bike right up to the brim, so that when the tank lid was closed, some petrol was spilled. This is essential for accuracy. During the journey also, I filled exactly equal quantity of petrol in each bike from the same petrol pump. Not up to the brim, so no overflow or leakage. The tanks were filled up to the brim once more only after reaching Pune, at the end of the journey. There was no need to record the amount of petrol that went into each bike (up to the brim) in the beginning before we left Pune. Only odometer reading of each bike was noted at that time. Then when I refilled (up to the brim) at the end of the journey (back in Pune), that quantity was noted (and the odo reading was taken). To this quantity was added whatever petrol was filled during the journey. Thus the total petrol consumed by each bike was known and the total distance covered was also known. Dividing the petrol quantity by the number of km covered, gives the "fuel average" of each bike.

ON ROAD PERFORMANCE
The Bajaj Boxer gave maximum problems. We were doing pretty high speeds. Roads were mostly very good (state highways) and we were doing between 80 and 90 kph on the highways. But the Bajaj boxer engine was dying off after a few minutes of sustained high speed riding. So it had to stop. Therefore everybody else also had to stop. This was causing much irritation. After a couple of minutes and it would start again. The problem was fuel flow, or rather the lack of it. The boxer was in mint condition and had just been serviced. Secondly its narrow seat caused irritation (and boils) on the inner thigh of one of the riders, so that he refused to ride the boxer any more. Thirdly, the boxer speedo cable broke. I had to buy a new one.

There were two punctures. The rear tyre of HH Dawn, and the front tyre of LML Energy FX. However, this is not a consideration. Punctures can happen to any bike anywhere. It is not the bike's fault. Also one Crux rear view mirror broke because the bike fell while parked. Rider's mistake.

There were no other problems. One thing I would say is that the Indian motorcycle industry has come of age. On the whole I am quite satisfied with the quality of all the six bikes and all of them can well be exported to countries where fuel economy is a big criterion like in India. All of them would earn our country a good name and a good amount of money.

There were also patches of extremely bad roads, such as between Sindkhed Raja and Lonar, especially the last stretch from King Gaon Raja to LONAR, about 15 km. About 40 km was extremely bumpy and another 15 km (the last part) was absolutely kaccha - and strews with rocks. This part was so bad, that I am grateful to the lord that none of the bikes broke down or punctured. If it had, the nearest ANNA (puncture-wala) would be at least 15 km away.