HOME RUN
Final report The power-packed Graptor will be missed despite its myriad flaws.

The SMART-looking Graptor has lost little of its stylish appeal in the year it has spent with us. This handsome, distinctive bike remains quite an eyeball-catcher. It's one of the lonely bikes to offer a hazard light switch in India and the only one with a blue-lit dashboard.
The Graptor’s 150.8cc engine has got ample power, but could do with a better-spaced gearbox, this malady seemingly common to other recent LML products as well. The gearbox itself has lost some of its allure from the day it arrived, sometimes slipping into gear of its own accord at traffic crossings, and is now plagued with regular false neutrals as well.
The bike has a comfortable and commanding riding position but then ride quality does little to enhance that pleasure. The rear suspension has proved a little too far on the firm side for our comfort in recent days. Deft manoeuevres in the city are heavy thanks to its unconventional frame and the single biggest complaint from day one is a certainly dangerous tendency to wag its tail when braking hard.
Fuel economy, as expected for a bike as fast as this, is not too disappointing, the Graptor managing to deliver an average 41kpl.
We can't help but feel that LML has to improve the Graptor considerably before it can successfully compete with segment competitors like Bajaj's Pulsar and Honda's Unicorn.

BACK TO THE TUTOR
Final report The unimpressive Prima 125 returns to the LML factory.

THIS WAS A long-termer that the ones who lost bets bagged. Our top-of-the-line Prima 125's garish styling didn’t endear it to staffers. It doesn’t feel as solid as the day it arrived, with a couple of regular reliability issues raising their ugly heads. Paint quality can surely improve, with bubbles and rust gnawing their way under its skin at this early a stage in the bike’s life. It's creditable that this gearbox has five speeds rather than most 125cc bikes that settle for four. There is a drawback here as well — the ratios are ill-matched to the motor — as fourth and fifth feel like one gear, instead of two. There's another sobering problem — the engine needs to be kept revving disconcertingly high at all times, failing which it displays the dangerous tendency to ditch its rider and stall and die on the situation.
There are reasons to smile though. The Prima 125 is agile and nimble, plowing through rush-hour traffic with ease and steering with a nice and neutral feel. Ride quality is all right and handling will pass as well. Economy brings back a smile on the accountant’s face, with the LML still managing credit-worthy figures at an average 46.2kpl. However, seen overall, we’re sure LML has a long way to go before it can claim the Prima 125 to be a competent motorcycle for its segment.
Rishad Cooper