The F2, despite its move forward from the Fiero, still retains one of the original’s biggest failings: the skinny rear tyre. This is not a bike that likes high speeds too much. However, it fights back decisively in the city. It feels light and nimble, easy to thread through urban traffic. It changes direction easily, responding to the briefest of rider inputs, and tracks true and straight. Ride, too, picks up in the city. The braking was on par with the others, but its brakes give better feel and feedback.

The Pulsar, in general, feels heavy, particularly while entering corners possibly due to the rudimentary steering damper, the presence of which we found quite unnecessary. The dampers seem suspect as well: when riding two-up, the bike tended to bottom out too often for our liking, making the ride uneven and bouncy.

If a bike is to be a fun ride, it needs a well-sorted chassis, and the CBZ has just that. An excellent set-up makes the perfect compromise between sharp handling and a comfortable ride. Plus, the rear tyre —widest of the three here — gives it grip of a kind simply unavailable on the others. Take the CBZ off the leash on a snaking road, and neither the Bajaj nor the F2 will see which way it went. Chassis flex is minimal and stability is impressive too: were we heading for the racetrack, the CBZ is the bike we’d take along. Its brakes were the strongest as well, bringing the bike to a halt from 60kph in 16.3 metres; the other two were not far behind, so close as makes no difference. This isn’t a shock, however, as all three had identical brake set-ups: 240mm discs in front, and 130mm drums at the rear. The F2 and Pulsar are also available with 130mm front drum brakes.