DESIGN AND STYLE:
Putting a bunch of very opinionated road testers amongst a gang of tough biker chicks with the aim of crowning the most visually appealing bike was a bad idea to start of with, one man's (or woman's) relish could be another's poison. The arguments could go on forever with no consensus emerging on this front, though I must add separating the eyesores was easy as eating cake in the absence of bread. Clearly out of contention for the beauty crown is the Yamaha YBX125, looking distinctly dated in this crowd. The YBX which has been given a recent facelift now sports an attractive chequered flag sticker job but there is no disguising that she is mid '80s vintage, with razor sharp creases, lack of fluidity and what not.

If the YBX125 is out of contention on account of being too dated, the TVS Fierois ruled out on account of being overstyled; looking gawky with too many moped influences in evidence. This is most apparent in the design of the front fairing with the integrated headlamps while the dummy air-scoops don't look like they belong. The rear end doesn't impress either and on the whole the bike could do with some more muscle, a dose of steroids injected up the designers' backsides, if you wish.

The Hero Honda CBZ could still win crowns at a beauty contest with some of our testers rating her as the best looker of the lot. The headlamp treatment together with the fluidity of the tank and the side panels gives her an impression of speed even at rest, with the right doses of muscle at the right spots.

The Kinetic GF125 was a hit with the ladies though the men were a little reserved in their judgment. The ladies preferred the GF with her clothes on while the men preferred her stripped naked. Let me elaborate, the plethora of chrome on the headlamp and clocks along with the excellent shade of red appealed to the ladies' sense of aesthetics. On the other hand the men loved the silver finish rectangular section perimeter frame cradling the engine finished entirely in black, making for a mighty attractive naked look.

But we had to choose a winner here so a gun was put to everybody's temples and it was either a winner or the bullet. The Pulsar emerged the unanimous favourite. The guys loved the muscular tank, the visual weight balance onto the front, the large headlamp and the infinity shaped side panels giving her a muscle bike stance while the ladies loved the paint shade and finish in addition to the fuel tank architecture. The only criticism thrown the Pulsar's way is that from a distance she looks a little similar to the Caliber. A little secret here, log onto the Honda motorcycles website and check out pictures of the Hornet; you will be amazed by the visual similarity between the Hornet and the Pulsar.

FIT, FINISH AND ERGONOMICS :
Yamaha bikes have never disappointed in terms of fit, finish and overall quality levels and the YBX doesn't deviate from this trend, with no niggles or quibbles. However the Kinetic GF125 was a disappointment when these parameters are taken into account. On one hand the lustrous red finish on the bike is brilliant while on the other the weld seams on the frame are most unseemly and unbecoming of a bike that has been in development for over two years! Even the castings and the chrome finish are not up to the mark. The rear grab rail looks cheap while the rubber seals around the rear taillamps don't look like they will last the distance. Ergonomically too the GF isn't perfect. The footpegs are rear set for a sporty feel while the handlebar is too high and wide resulting in an awkward anduncomfortable pseudo-sports/pseudo-commuter riding position which is thebiggest disappointment and suggests bike enthusiasts haven't been consulted while designing it. The pillion footpegs are positioned too close to the rider and the slope of the seat sees the pillion splattered all over the rider. Nice, only if you have a cute bird behind.
The Fiero scores very high on the fit and finish front. Quality of all components, the switchgear, the materials employed, is excellent. Ergonomically too the Fiero is a class act with no jarring details to spoil the party. The CBZ doesn't leave much to be desired on the fit and finish front. However ergonomics are a bit iffy, especially the kick lever that can be actuated only with the footpeg folded up and in the absence of a self starter this is a major hassle. No such worries with the Pulsar. It's hard to fault the Pulsar on any of these parameters. Ergonomics are top drawer while fit and finish are first class. The only blemish in an otherwise perfect package is the quality of switchgear that's no match for that of the Fiero and GF125.