Hero Honda has done a Bajaj with the Ambition. Or more precisely, raided the parts bin to create the Ambition. The engine is the unit normally doing duty in the CBZ, with the bore scaled down to 58.5mm. In effect this gives the 4-stroke unit a swept volume of 133cc and a max power of 11bhp developed at 8000rpm. Max torque of 10.5Nm is developed at 4500rpm. In a nutshell, the unit comes across as far more refined than the one on the CBZ and most of that top end harshness has been ironed out.

A digital CDI ignition system is employed for precise ignition timing as also to balance out the power and mileage requirements. However we feel more work needs to be done on optimisation as our test bike refused to idle properly and after a hard ride she refused to idle, the revs remaining steady in the region of 4000rpm way up over the 1400rpm idle speed.

The five-speed 'box is one of the finest I have come across, precise in actuation, slick in operation and sans any mis-shifts or false neutrals whatsoever. In fact once on the move there is absolutely no need to use the clutch, either for upshifts or down shifts.