The Eliminator inspires confidence in her as well as your capabilities. Even when cranked over there is sufficient feedback from the front end and sufficient warning before the front end begins to push. If you overcook corner entries, you can depend on the excellent brakees to bail you out of contingency. The 240mm KBX disc (a Brembo design) is superb and alli3d to the Eliminator geometry and stretched wheelbase, results in excellent retardation figures and superb stability even when both pedals are squeezed to the max.

Enticed so by the Eliminator I was reluctant to hop on the Enticer, post lunch. However in between mouthfuls, Bertie didn’t have a denigration or epithet about the Yamaha so my reservations seem to be misplaced.

Astride the Enticer I’m instantly aware of her Performance limitations, but we’re still up in the hills and I manage to keep the Eliminator in sight through the twisty bits. This si purely by virtue of handling that runs the Eliminator close and is every bit as confidence inspiring. The only thing that hampers her fighting for the handling crown is the higher C-of-G, most of it due to the bigger rims (by an inch) both front and rear that naturally raises saddle and overall height and consequently the C-of-G.

In time though I lose sight of Bertie. The superior acceleration of the Eliminator sees Bertie monster away at the exit and more importantly he brakes much deeper into the corner than I can (or dare) on the Yamaha, which is down to the 13Omm drum. No matter how good these drums are, they simply can't match up to discs. Discs however will be offered in time on the Enticer so one drawback can be cured, no sweat.

Settling into rhythm on the Enticer, 1 realise that my feet rest more comfortably than on the Kwacker. One paint scored for footboards then. However operating the gear lever is an exercise in ankle dexterity so half a point must be deducted from the kitty.

Road testers often used clichéd lines to describe bike ergonomics, the best being 'light switches fail easily to hand'. 1 found the light switches in the dark without too much groping, so ergonomics of both bikes must rate as pretty good. While we on the subject, let me state that the light on the Eliminator is the best on any Indian bike while the Enticer's rate as average.

By sundown 1 reach Pune and head for our petrol pump to catch up with Bertie. Ramu, the filler man, has just begun tanking up the Eliminator, surprising since Bertie had scampered off by the time we passed Panchgani. Questions flew thick and fact and to cut a long story short, Bertie made it to the pump on his own steam, the tank having run dry. If you care to refer the spec sheets of both the bikes you will notice that the Enticer can eke out 800krn from its 13.5-Iitre tank, while the Eliminator will go 630km before its 14-litre tank runs dry. Do the math or refer to the spec page to know why the Enticer gets 10 points for superior Fuel Efficiency.