Glad you're here

PITSTOP

Yamaha have seriously reworked the refined Fazer's 125cc motor, boosting compression ratio, tuning the intake and exhaust paths to come with a refined, but likeable 10.84 bhp motor.

On the move, the Gladiator feels vibe-less and comfortable and its mid-range prowess makes for involving riding. Staying with the Fazer chassis but firming up suspension has given the Gladiator a well-damped ride quality.

But the scene stealers are the looks "" the Gladiator looks very personable in the flesh "" and the handling, which is superb. Combined with strong, friendly braking and a super-stable feel, the Gladiator is easily one of the best handlers in the country. It is on sale now, for Rs 41,990 and Rs 43,990 (ex-showroom Delhi), around the country today. Check it out!

Heat stroke

Suzuki started the sales of their Heat/Zeus duet of 125cc motorcycles on a much quieter note. The official launch is next week, but already, the motorcycles seem poised to create some buzz. Climbing off after a short ride, there is no escaping the effortless, refined engine that is the heart of both the bikes.

The motor feels refined, and feels like it will last forever. Gearshift quality is slick too. Suzuki have opted for an uncomplicated handling and ride quality package and on the short rides we took, it felt quite comfortable, even roomy.

On the other hand, the Zeus gets all the goodies, and taller price tags. In feature terms, the Zeus gets better tyres, a proper pillion peg subframe, the fairing, more comprehensive instruments, disc brake and a small plastic guard/cowl under the engine.

We think the Heat looks a bit too retro, but there is a catch. Suzuki is expected to release absolutely killer prices early next week. Stay tuned, this one's gonna be good.