The need to do a Karizma!

The CBZ was the very first bold move by the leader in Indian motorcycles to offer a Performance offering. On its own, the CBZ was a standout and even today in the aesthetic sense and when ergonomics are taken into account, nothing comes close to it. Sadly its weaknesses in power delivery, harsh engine straining at its top end and a slight handling imbalance when at full chat were shown up when first the Fiero from TVS came up and impressed with it engine and fluid power delivery and then the Bajaj Pulsar came and zapped all to show what all round Performance was all about.

Mind you the Pulsar was yet just 180cc and Hero Honda knew that it had to make a bike appeal to those who lusted after the Pulsar but wanted more. Also the Pulsar being much too single minded in its focus - that of being a super streetfighter - there was always the opportunity of someone coming up with a proper conventional sportsbike. Hero Honda had been given the basic Honda building block of a strong bottom end which could employ cylinder blocks varying in capacity from 133cc right up to 223cc and this modular unit was already used by the company to come up first with the CBZ and then with the Ambition. The frame was similarly versatile for being used all across this displacement spectrum and using these and understanding where customer preference was headed, the Honda boffins alongwith the marketing men from Hero Honda came up with the Karizma. I have always maintained that a good quarter-litre bike could be the best useable machine in the Indian perspective and maybe this thought was also prevalent in the minds of the Hero Honda team when they were developing the Karizma. As it has turned out, the bike is still 27cc shy of the 250cc mark but it is a good step towards getting there.