In broad terms the suspension systems on the Honda, the Bajaj and the Yamaha are identical with telescopic front forks and swingarms controlled by two coil over shock absorbers at the rear. Similarly the brakes employed on all three are the internally expanding type and both the Joy and the Boxer make do with 110mm drums at the front and the rear while the Crux-R is equipped with slightly larger 130mm drums, front and rear. Although the systems are similar, the Performance of all three bikes differs enough to be able to tell them apart, the differences arising mainly from the individual set-up and the ergonomics of the bikes. The Joy seems to the odd one out here with the handlebars set higher and much closer to the seat, which gives a cramped feel compared to the Boxer and the Crux-R, both of which have rather conventionally positioned handlebars, making for a more relaxed riding position.

There is very little to choose between the bikes when comparing ride quality - all three will tackle minor road irregularities without transmitting any discomfort to the rider and if the rear end does seem harsh at times it is because people tend to forget that road bikes have their systems built to carry a pillion and need to be fairly stiff as standard. Each one of these bikes has the five-way adjustable spring pre-load facility at the rear and can be tailored to make it behave more to individual tastes to a great extent, especially when riding single, so this trio of economy segment inhabitants do best what they are meant for, which means that all of them are easy to manoeuvre in the cut and thrust of today's oppressive urban traffic environment. Handling at the outer edge of a utility bike's Performance envelope is rarely experienced by the everyday user or even considered an important issue when making a choice. But remaining within the confines of the trio's intended usage, there is very little to choose between them from a handling standpoint. Pushed to the limits, all three show up their individual traits. The Crux-R remains neat in the corners but once leaned over needs to be held to its line by restraining its natural tendency to lean more.

The Boxer too can be cornered hard but the front lightens a bit and gets slightly twitchy higher up. The slower steering Joy needs more effort than the other two to be put down into a corner, making it less fun. The front and rear drum brakes on all three bikes offer reasonable Performance under normal everyday use but put them to the gruelling test against the stopwatch and you can separate them conclusively. From 60kph to stop, between the Crux-R and the Boxer there is a microscopic difference of just .01 sec - so the Crux-R travels half a metre more than the Boxer before it comes to a standstill. The Joy surprisingly takes half a second more, which equates to 10 metres before it can dissipate 60kph into zero. The results are tied in closely to the actual feel on the bikes also. The Boxer and the Crux-R respond well with a firm feel linked to the braking effort, while the Joy's brakes seem to suffer from a dead feel at the levers, probably through poor leverage ratios or just a poor set-up on the test bike.