Makes Joe Average feel like Valentino Rossi!

This is as best as I could get to describing the handling prowess of the Karizma in one line but modesty aside, the Karizma has been built to cater not just to those who crave Performance but also to riders used to Splendours and Passions who have suddenly come into the money! The manners of the bike are totally undaunting for anyone, even a newcomer to take to it and ride away smug and safe.

All throughout the duration of the test, the Karizma really let everyone exploit its complete Performance envelope and this was only due to its brilliant no-fuss handling and steering plus that big braking advantage she packs in. First off into the handling package you have to factor in the riding position and the weight distribution, both of which are so critical on any high Performance motorcycle and on the Karizma these are standout items. Sure the bike is not a quick snappy turner like the Pulsar but she is well planted and can do its rider's bidding in a surefooted manner ten tims out of ten. Lay her down in the corners and she grips true and powers out of them quicker than a Pulsar. But thanks to the way it has been configured and also the way she seems to roll along, the feeling of speed is not magnified enough to scare the man at the helm - somewhat like Honda's superb NSX mid-engined supercar which did everything better than an equivalent Ferrari but didn't quite measure up in enthusiasts' esteem because of being so civil. I think that the Karizma though will not suffer this fate at all because it is far more capable than anything Hero Honda has done before.

The stiffer swing-arm, the longer (1355mm) wheelbase and the excellent rubber on both ends makes for a surefooted athlete with staying power. Factor in those brakes - effective without being grabby - and one can use them not just to scrub off speed but also to steer into and out of corners as also out of trouble. Just for the record let us mention another detail in which superlatives are brought in: the Karizma being the best braker in the business with it coming to a halt in just 30.68 metres (in a time of 2.7 seconds) from 80kmph to rest. In the 60kmph to rest test, she stopped in just 21.75 metres in 2.07 seconds flat!

The throttle response is another willing ally and while I did have some reservations about shift actuation (no missed gears or false neutrals or such but only very stiff clunky shifts into second and third), the bike was a dream searing away into its high power band. Another aspect of the bike which is a definite plus, concerns its two-up abilty, with no bottoming of the rear suspension and also great rock solid handling with the front end well weighted yet to afford good control. Take it for a spin thus and you'll concur on this count though if you really want to enjoy it, you have to ride it solo.