Seen the GF125, seen the GF170.

The styling of the GF170 is going to pose one big headache for Kinetic. A headache in the sense that she looks bang identical to the GF125, albeit with a few detail changes. Don’t get me wrong, there was nothing wrong with the styling of the GF125, and I quite liked her loads-of-chrome look, but this tends to evoke past memories of the GF, not all of which are pleasurable.

Detail changes are minor incorporating graphics (the 125 didn’t have any) while the engine and chain cover are no longer finished in black. Consequently the unique rectangular perimeter frame is no longer a prominent design element (an element I quite liked). The rear grab rail is a much better and meatier unit while the exhaust shield has Kinetic etched on it (a la Bajaj Caliber 115) along with a ‘do not tamper’ warning note. The familiar and distinctive double-barrelled tail lamp has been retained to good effect.

The most important change though is the revised riding position with the footpegs moved forward by a foot for an ergonomic riding position. However the way the foot pegs are mounted (a pipe bent and twisted attached under the chassis) not only reeks of inferior quality (welds, brackets etc) but also reduces the ground clearance by over 10mm (on early prototypes it was over two inches). Worse still it results in the side stand jutting out, reducing lean angles and raising a safety issue (the first thing to touch down is the side stand and not the foot pegs). Check out the cornering shots where the side stand is just waiting to grind itself into the tarmac.

Instrumentation is comprehensive incorporating the speedo and tacho along with the fuel gauge, the unique digital gear indicator (readable only in the night) and side stand down warning light. The controls and switches are high quality units though the same can’t be said about the paint finish. The green GF170 had a paint finish that wouldn’t compete with even a local paint shop job though our long term bike (finished in a more sober blue) does have a better finish. The weld quality also lacks the finish that factory-produced bike is supposed to sport while overall finish levels are a notch below the acceptable standard.