First the Kinetic. The 98.8cc two-stroke engine of the Kinetic is coupled to a CVT transmission (commonly known as a variator). Unlike an automatic, there is no gearchange lag in a variator, simply because there aren't any gears! That's the theory at least. In practice though, there is a distinct half-a-second lag after turning the throttle when pulling away from a standstill. Strange! This takes a toll on its Performance, specially on its 0-60kph time where it is the slowest of the pack at 19.79 seconds. Mid-range Performance is tolerable, with a 20-40kph time of 4.87sec, while the 40-60kph jog takes 11.76sec. Yet, Performance was rarely the criterion for a Kinetic buyer over the years. Being the first two-wheeler in the country to have an electric start, the Kinetic was in favour right from its inception and much hasn't changed since. This was further enhanced by not having to fiddle with awkwardly placed leaky fuel taps, no manual choke to deploy on cold mornings, and no gearshifts to grapple with.
  
Armed with an electric start as standard, the Saffire was aiming right for the Kinetic when it was launched. And a four-stroke 92.2cc engine promising better fuel-efficiency was the icing on the cake. Firing up the Saffire is never an issue, since the bypass supply valve with its temperature sensor detects a cold engine and enriches the mixture automatically. The engine is astonishingly smooth and barely audible at idle.
  
Throttle action is light, and just a hint of a twist is enough to get the wheels rolling. However, once you twist the throttle and keep it there, the noise from the engine is enough to drown out a hive of bees, never mind the engine vibration giving your feet a steady massage. For all its racket, the Saffire is a mediocre performer - the 0-60kph dash is covered in just over 16sec which, though faster than the Kinetic, is no match compared to the hot Honda. In the 40-60kph run, it posts a respectable 9.13sec, thanks to its top gear kicking in.
  
The Activa's 102cc four-stroke engine - the largest of the three - is an absolute gem. It whirs into life with just a gentle depression of the starter and quickly settles down to an unwrinkled purr of an idle. The initial throttle response is quick, but once on the move, the experienced rider will notice a slight drop in engine rpm as the variator changes the ratio, before it starts to build up again and stays so to the very end. Noise and vibration are nearly non-existent, even at full throttle. Performance, to say the least, is shattering for its class and the 0-60kph sprint takes a mere 13.27sec, over 6sec faster than 'king' Kinetic. Overtaking is a joy, with 20-40kph dispatched in just 3.56sec and 40-60kph in 7.87 seconds. Simply exhilarating!