Bike – Mileage Reviews

Hero Splendor iSmart 2014

Hero Motocorp introduced a new variant to its bread and butter model, Splendor earlier this year. Called iSmart, the bike is primarily made of the same components that have been used on Splendor for years. However one crucial addition is the i3S technology which stands for ‘Idle Start Stop System’. The objective of i3S is to help you save fuel when your bike stands idling at traffic signals. Typically, i3S enables the bike or car to shut off the fuel supply system when you press in the clutch at a signal. And when you want to start moving again, release the clutch to restart the supply – it’s a huge fuel saver. But on iSmart, things are a little more clumsy – you will need to bring down the gear to neutral in order to effect a fuel supply stop. When you are in slow moving traffic, it’s not always possible to bring the gear down to neutral, and so this diminishes the effect of the i3S technology. But if you obsess over fuel economy, this is one bike you should consider.

So, let’s get started on the specifications first. Like every other variant in the Splendor line, the Splendor iSmart is powered by a 97.2 cc engine that can power a maximum power of 5.74 kw (that’s 7.8 PS) at 7500 RPM. In terms of torque, this engine can provide up to 8.04 Nm at 4500 RPM. If you hadn’t guessed it already, it’s the same old 4 stroke single cylinder engine at play here. The bike measures 1965 mm x 770 mm x 1095 mm in dimensions, has a wheelbase of around 1235 mm and a ground clearance of 160 mm. The kerb weighs around 110 Kg with the fuel tank capable of holding 8.7 liters with 1.8 liter reserve. The starting price of the Hero Splendor iSmart (ex-showroom, Delhi) is at Rs. 47,550 for the Self Spoke model, with Self Cast costing a thousand rupees extra. Do note that the on-road price will be much higher and will include local levies, octroi, and other taxes.

Manufacturer Mileage Claim

Given that the Splendor iSmart is primarily no different from any other Splendor in the market; but with the i3S technology, one should expect the mileage to be typically higher than what other Splendor bikes offer. Although there is no claim about the mileage from Hero on their official website or in the press release, from what I have gathered from other websites, Hero is claiming a a standard mileage of between 85-90 kmpl on the iSmart. Note that this is not very different from the other Splendors. That’s because mileage studies are not performed under traffic conditions – the i3S kicks in only when there is heavy traffic (when you have to stop-start a lot). So there is nothing out of the ordinary here.

Reviews from Customers & Test Rides

OverDrive in their review call the iSmart “the best looking Splendor ever”, although the i3S decal in the middle of the tank may seem like an eyesore. In terms of fuel efficiency, the i3S appears to save under 5% of fuel over a 50 km test run. With i3S disabled, the reviewer clocked 46.25 kmpl in peak hour Mumbai traffic on the iSmart. When it was enabled, the mileage increased to 48.46 – it might not seem like a lot, but if you are someone who has to endure long traffic signals every day of the week, you can realize that the benefits can easily add up.

In the review on TopGear, reviewer Christopher Chaves commends the “funkier-looking” headlight cowl on the new iSmart, the comfortable seating and the close handlebars that allow for upright riding. In terms of mileage, the reviewer was able to extract 64 kmpl from the bike, although this appears to be at a speed of around 50 kph on the highways. The review from MotorBeam, on the other hand, is much more positive about the mileage. The writer says that this bike is “99% sure” to deliver a 70 kmpl mileage – sounds like a lot and I presume they are talking about the bike’s performance on the highway.

Motoroids is equally excited about the bike. They point out that they tried their best to emulate a typical highway riding scenario without focussing on extracting maximum mileage. Even with that, they noticed a mileage of 67-69 kmpl, which is commendable and on par with what has been said in the earlier reviews.

Finally, let us see what the regular customers have got to say. Sadly, MouthShut doesn’t even have a category for iSmart yet. However, there are a couple of reviews from real customers on BikeWale – the reported mileage from these people is between 70-72 kmpl which is quite impressive. However, one customer points out that the i3S technology sometimes causes the engine to stop when riding at the 40-50 kmph mark. I could not find similar comments elsewhere, but if this were true, Hero seriously have an important task at hand to fix the problem.

So there you go. As usual, here is a summed up version of mileages as reported by different reviewers. Do let me know what you think in the comments below.

Source	City (kmpl)	Highways (kmpl)
Manufacturer	–	85-90
OverDrive	48.46	—
TopGear	–	64
MotorBeam	–	70
Motoroids	–	67-69
Bikewale	–	70-72

Yamaha SZ-R Vs. Honda CB Shine

Yamaha SZ-R and the Honda CB Shine are bikes in two entirely different engine ranges. However, I decided to put this comparison up here because I noticed a lot of people looking for this specific comparison. The Yamaha SZ-R is just slightly different from the Yamaha SZX – except for a few changes in the way the bikes look and the accessories made available, both bikes come with a 153cc four stroke air-cooled engine, a power of around 12.1 PS at 7500 RPM and a max torque of 12.8 Nm at 4500 RPM. In comparison to these specs, the Honda CB Shine comes with a 124.7cc engine that delivers 10.3 PS power and a torque of 10.54 Nm.

Specs	Yamaha SZ-R	Honda Shine
Engine displacement	153cc	124.7cc
Max Power	12.1 PS	10.3 PS
Max Torque	12.8 Nm	10.54 Nm
Price (Ex-Delhi)	Rs. 57500	Rs. 54782

Mileage Comparison

The manufacturer claim on mileage is always to be taken on an optimistic note. That’s evident because these claims are tested under “standard test road conditions” which are very different from the regular city roads and traffic we actually ride the bike on. According to Yamaha, the SZ-R is capable of delivering 62.4 kmpl FE. In comparison, the Honda CB Shine with a lower engine displacement is claimed to deliver 65 kmpl. It doesn’t seem like a big difference considering that the power offered by the Shine is noticeably different from SZ-R.

To see what the bikes actually deliver on city roads, let us look at the various test-ride and customer feedback reports. On the IndiaGarage forum, the SZ-R customers report a decent fuel consumption of between 43-55 kmpl. In comparison, the Shine customers on the same forum report 50-55 kmpl on city roads and 58-62 kmpl on highways. So as we can see, the city road performance of both the bikes is not very different.

Let us take a look at the MaxAbout reviews. The website claims that the SZ-R has a pretty good performance on city roads. They claim a figure of between 55-60 kmpl on the Yamaha bike. The report on CB Shine is not too different either and they report 58 kmpl on city roads.

The similarity in mileage delivered on the two bikes is also noticeable on the BikeAdvice reports. A report from one of the SZ-R customers on the website reports a city FE of around 45-49 kmpl. Another reader, who owns a CB Shine reports 50 kmpl – marginally better but not enough difference to make a 125cc value for money compared to the 150cc alternative.

MouthShut has always been a popular place to check out user reviews of bikes. For the SZR, the customers posting on the site report a city fuel consumption of anywhere between 40-52 kmpl. This is a huge range and is not sufficient to draw a conclusion on the bike performance. In comparison, the reviews for the Honda CB Shine are at a more consistent range of 50-55 kmpl. I guess this is the only comparison that makes the CB Shine look like a better bike from a mileage perspective compared to the SZR.

There are several other reports for both the bikes. For the SZR, MotorBeam reports a city figure of 55 kmpl while for the CB Shine, the Yahoo user reviews, the reported number is between 55-60 kmpl. All the reported figures from various sources are tabulated below.

Source	Yamaha SZ-R (kmpl)	Honda CB Shine (kmpl)
Official	62.4	65
IndiaGarage	43-55	50-55
MaxAbout	55-60	58
BikeAdvice	45-49	50
MotorBeam	55	—
MouthShut	40-52	50-55
Yahoo	–	55-60

Overall, I think the mileage delivered by both the bikes is more or less comparable. Honda CB Shine is slightly better. But given that at a price of around Rs. 3000 more, you can get a higher cc engine with much better power and torque, the SZ-R seems to be a better choice. What do you think?

Bajaj Discover 125T

Bajaj has been focusing on reaching out to more customers with their Discover brand and the new 125T is a step in this direction. The new Bajaj Discover 125T was launched just last month and is a lower spec variant of the popular Discover 125ST. The biggest difference between the 125 ST and 125 T is the mono-suspension on the older bike which has been replaced with a simpler Nitrox twin shockers at the rear. So technically, the difference with respect to things such as the mileage should not be very different on the two bikes. If you are eager to read our mileage report on the Discover 125 ST, click on the link.

Let’s first talk about the specifications of the Bajaj Discover 125 T. This is a bike with a 124.6cc engine displacement that delivers a max power of 12.5 PS @ 9000 RPM and a torque as high as 10.8 Nm at 6500 RPM. You can reach a top speed of up to 105 kmph which is not much but very decent on a bike of this category. The bike has a 10 liter fuel tank with a 3.5 liter reserve. Measuring 2035x714x1070 mm in dimensions, the Discover 125 T weighs around 124 kg (kerb) with a ground clearance of 165mm. The bike is priced at Rs. 55,500 ex-showroom Delhi which is around 1000 rupees lower than 125 ST.

Manufacturer Mileage Claim

In our discussion on the Discover 125 ST, we had noted the manufacturer’s claim on FE to be betwen 65-70 kmpl under standard test conditions. According to Bajaj, the new Discover 125 T is built for great power without compromise on mileage. According to tests done in standard conditions, the manufacturer claim you should be able to see 77.1 kmpl. That’s quite a benchmark to beat if it were true. We will need to look at customer test rides and feedback to see if the fuel consumption in real world conditions match up to this.

Customer Feedback

Let us start with the review on IamaBiker. The author does not offer any independent review of the bike other than providing a gist of the basic features. So it is difficult to ascertain if he has tested it himself. As far as fuel efficiency goes, he claims 60 kmpl could be the norm on the city roads.

According to BikeDekho, mileage is an area where the bike performs best. According to their review, the Discover 125 T should be able to deliver 50 kmpl on city roads that can go as high as 60 kmpl on the highways.

We do not have reviews from too many other sources. We will revisit this page when the bike is a few months older and we have feedback from many more people. Till then, keep posting your feedback and personal reviews in the comments section below.

Source	City (kmpl)	Highways (kmpl)
Official	–	77.1
IamaBiker	60	—
BikeDekho	50	60

Honda CB Trigger

The CB Trigger is one of the latest entrants to the 150cc segment. This bike was unveiled just around April this year and was launched a month later. Positioned by Honda as a premium motorbike, the CB Trigger comes equipped with a 4 stroke 149.1cc engine that cranks up a power of up to 14.2 PS at 8500 RPM and on a curve, can travel at a max torque of 12.5 Nm at 6500 RPM. The bike is built with an advanced design diamond frame with telescopic front suspension and a monosuspension at the rear. The CB Trigger measures 2045mm x 757mm x 1060mm with a wheelbase of 1325mm and ground clearance of 175mm.

In terms of fuel capacity, this 137 kg bike can hold hold up to 12 liters at any given point. The new Honda CB Trigger is available at a starting price of Rs. 67384 ex-showroom, Delhi. The on-road price translates to Rs. 74828. The price mentioned here is for the STD variant – the DLX and CBS (Combi brake sytem) variants are available at an additional cost of a few thousands.

Manufacturer Mileage Claim

The power delivered by the CB Trigger puts this right in the middle of the 150cc bunch which has bikes delivering power of over 17 PS as well as those that are under-powered at around 12 PS. In terms of fuel efficiency too, Honda says that the bike lies somewhere in the middle with a claimed mileage of 60 kmpl. In comparison, one of the highest FE is claimed by Bajaj for the 150cc Discover (72.3 kmpl).

Test Drive Report & Customer Fuel Consumption Feedback

Let us begin with the review on Overdrive. As the author notes, the Trigger is targeted at the younger customers looking for a stylish 150. The CB Unicorn Dazzler was supposed to be targeted at this group but considering its poor traction, the company has replaced it with the new Trigger. While the reviewer himself has not reported a tested mileage, the commenters who have tried the bike report to be seeing around 50-56 kmpl on city roads (if lower, you should see this post the first servicing) and around 63 kmpl on the highways.

Let us take a look at MaxAbout next. In their review of the Trigger, the website calls the bike the ‘advanced version of the outgoing CB Dazzler’ in terms of style and design. That was expected considering both these bikes are targeted at the same segment. The review also notes the ‘slow performance’ although I feel accelerating from 0-60 kmph in 6 seconds is not too bad. Speaking of fuel consumption, MaxAbout reports 45 kmpl on city roads and 60 kmpl on highways.

MotorBeam in their review commend the bike for its aesthetics and dynamics while noting that the absence of DC lighting is a dampener on the coolness factor. The mileage reported by the website is between 50-55 kmpl and most of the commenter agree. The reported FE by Trigger customers commenting on the website ranges between 48-55 kmpl under city road conditions.

Technology Heat is all praise for the power, aesthetics and braking system. On the topic of mileage, the reviewer reports a city road figure of 45 kmpl which can go as high as 60 kmpl on the highways.

Finally, let us talk about what MouthShut has got to say. Considering that this is a new bike, there aren’t too many reviews – just 6 of them to be precise. These reviewers have given the bike an overall 4/5 for fuel consumption. Some of the points mentioned by the reviewers about the bike are “powerful pickup”, “awesome” brakes and a complete value for money. While most reviews are positive with respect to mileage, one reviewer reports to be seeing only around 25 kmpl on his newly purchased Trigger. Other reviewers are reporting somewhere between 45-55 kmpl on city roads which is totally in synch with reports from the other sources we have till now.

Overall, I think the reviews are mostly positive – both about the fuel consumption as well as the bike in general. I have summed up the reported FE from various sources below. Are you planning to get a Trigger? Tell us what you think of the bike in the comments below.

Source	City Mileage (kmpl)	Highways (kmpl)
Official	–	60
MaxAbout	45	60
MotorBeam	50-55	—
MouthShut	45-55	—
Overdrive	50-56	63
Technology Heat	45	60

KTM Duke 200

We have hardly discussed power bikes on this blog considering that the customers of these bikes are not really mileage conscious. If I remember right, the only 200cc+ bike that we have ever discussed on Mileage Info is the 225cc Hero Kariza ZMR. Today we will discuss another 200cc bike – the KTM Duke. We are writing about this mainly because the manufacturers are calling it a ‘low fuel consumption’ bike despite the power engine range it belongs to.

Let us scan through the specs of this bike first. The KTM Duke is equipped with a single cylinder 4 stroke engine that has a displacement of 200cc and drawing a max power of 25.8 PS – do note that this is way more than what the ZMR can achieve (17.8 PS). The Duke has a pretty broad wheelbase of 1367mm and a ground clearance of 170mm. Weighing just over 129 kg, the bike can hold up to 11 liters of fuel at any point. The KTM Duke is available at an ex-showroom price of around Rs. 1,30,219 in Delhi. The price elsewhere could be higher.

Official Manufacturer’s Claim

As I have noted earlier, most manufacturers do not bother marketing the fuel consumption factor for a bike in this range. However, well knowing the Indian market, KTM has used the mileage as a point to showcase in their marketing material. According to them, you can drive well over 300 kilometers at full tank. That translates to a mileage of 27.27 kmpl. At face value, this seems pretty lower than the 51 kmpl marketed by Hero Karizma. But do note the higher power that this bike garners and as I have always said, with greater power comes a lower mileage and this is something you just cannot escape with motorbikes.

Customer Feedback and Test Ride Reviews

ZigWheels has the KTM Duke among its top 5 bikes in the 200-250cc in terms of mileage. According to the reviewer, this bike can reach the 100 kmph speed in just about 8 seconds and can deliver 363 kilometers on a liter of petrol. That makes it FE just around 33 kmpl. I have doubts on if this was tested on road or has been sourced from elsewhere. But in any case, that’s the claim.

MaxAbout is effusive in its praise for the bike’s naked looks which the reviewer notes is “extremely new” for Indians. Unlike ZigWheels which claimed a 8 second lead up to the 100 kmph mark, MaxAbout claims this can be done in 9.2 seconds. In terms of fuel consumption, the review reports a figure of 28 kmpl on city roads and 34 kmpl on the highways which is where this bike belongs.

MotorBeam in their review of the KTM Duke 200 have not included the mileage factor. However, one commenter there has posted that he can do 35-40 kmpl after second servicing. Now don’t quote me on this since the veracity of the claim cannot be validated.

Another KTM Duke owner who was interviewed by BikeAdvice claims that he can see a mileage of 41 kmpl. Now while I don’t doubt the owner’s claim, please do note that this figure was reported on the bike console and so may not be accurate. As a number of comments in the post have noted, if one were to do a “full tank”-to-“full tank” calculation, you could see a more realistic mileage of between 21-25 kmpl.

BikeDekho in its review says the looks of the KTM Duke 200 is “straight out of a Hollywood sci-fi” which I think is a little exaggerated but you can understand why. We have not seen a similar looking bike on Indian roads before. In terms of FE, the website gives a figure of between 28-35 kmpl on city roads which I think is a bit on the higher side.

There are seven reviews of the Duke 200 on MouthShut and these users have given the bike an overall fuel rating of 4/5 which is extremely impressive for a bike in this range. While the reviews are very useful from other aspects, only one review talks about mileage and the claim there seems too optimistic. The reviewer reports a figure of 30-35 kmpl on city roads and 40 kmpl on highways. I am not refuting this and you could possibly see this on your bike as well. However, for new buyers, do note that you may not always see this figure on your bike and so take this claim with a grain of salt.

So there you have it. Do you think the KTM Duke is value for money? Do tell us in the comments.

Source	City (kmpl)	Highways (kmpl)
Official	–	27.27
BikeAdvice	41	—
BikeDekho	28-35	—
MaxAbout	28	34
MotorBeam	–	35-40
MouthShut	30-35	40
ZigWheels	–	33

Yamaha SZ R

There is not much of a difference between the Yamaha SZ R that we will be discussing today and the SZ-X that we had discussed a while back; except for a few variations in the looks and accessories. Anyway, we will discuss the SZ R independently to see what customers have got to say about it.

In terms of specs, the SZ-R is very much like the SZ-X. It comes with a 153cc air-cooled 4 stroke engine delivering a max power of around 12.1 PS at 7500 RPM. This effectively gets you a max torque of 12.8 Nm at 4500 RPM. Unlike the SZ X that has drum brakes on both the front and the rear wheels, the SZ R has a disc on the front and a drum on the rear. The bike measures 2050 x 730 x 1100 mm and weighs 134 kg. Equipped with a wheelbase of 1320mm, ground clearance of 165mm and seat height of 802mm, the other specs are mostly the same. The SZ-R can hold 14 liters of fuel at any point. You can purchase the motorcycle at a price of Rs. 57,500 ex-showroom Delhi.

Manufacturer’s Mileage Claim

Given that there is not much to choose between the SZX and the SZR, the manufacturer’s claim has stayed unchanged. As a matter of fact, Yamaha has one standard fuel economy claim for all their SZ variants – 62.4 kmpl. Do note that this is under test conditions and the real world FE would definitely be lower than this. Only a few other bikes like the Pulsar, Xtreme and Achiever have a higher mileage at the 150cc level.

User Reviews & Test Ride Reports

On Indiagarage, a customer reports that his SZR gives an unsatisfactory 43 kmpl on city roads. However there are more than a couple of other users who think the SZR is probably the best in class and they note a much higher FE of between 50-55 kmpl on city roads.

MaxAbout in their review say the SZR is “virtually identical to its younger sibling SZ-X” without any element of surprise when it comes to engine that they say lacks power. In terms of mileage, the SZR is reported to offer 55-60 kmpl on city roads and 65 kmpl on the highways. I feel the author has been too generous in this case. Anyway, let’s go through what the others have to say before jumping in on a conclusion.

In a customer review report back from 2011, BikeAdvice writer Naren calls the bike Sporty and ‘one of the hottest chicks’ in the Indian bike market. The review, which is overall very positive, does not specify the mileage. However, the readers reporting their FE claim it to be somewhere in the 45-49 kmpl mark.

On Motorbeam once again, the reviewer points out that the power delivered by the bike may not be up to the mark. However, there is a lot of thrust at low rev which is good in the city traffic conditions. On the mileage front, the reviewer notes 55+ kmpl overall which is extremely good which makes me rethink what I said about MaxAbout’s review.

Anyway, the final word needs to come from the customers themselves. On MouthShut, there are over 133 reviews for the SZR. The reviewers have together rated the bike 3/5 in fuel consumption which is not really a good figure. However, reading through the latest reviews, it seems like customers are happy with the mileage offered. The reported figure has hovered between 40-52 kmpl which is a pretty wide, yet good number to go with.

The summary of reports from various sources is tabulated below. Overall, the SZR looks like a decent bike to go with. Do you agree? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source	City (kmpl)	Highways (kmpl)
Official	–	62.4
IndiaGarage	43-55	—
MaxAbout	55-60	65
BikeAdvice	45-49	—
MotorBeam	55	—
MouthShut	40-52	—

Mahindra Pantero

Mahindra has always been known for its sturdy commercial vehicles and SUVs. Of late though, they have been getting aggressive on the two wheeler front. One of their latest launches in the Pantero. Derived from “Panther”, the Pantero is an entry-level motorcycle that is designed for agility and efficiency. Equipped with a 106.7cc 4 stroke MCI-5 engine, this bike can deliver a maximum power of 8.5 PS at 7500 RPM that translates to a torque of 8.5 Nm at 5500 RPM. The closest I can think of is Yamaha Crux which is an 106cc motorcycle too. However in terms of power, the Crux only delivered around 7.6PS which puts the Pantero in a better position. Speaking of other specs, the Pantero measures 2000mm x 1265mm x 735mm, weighs 120kg and offers a decent ground clearance of 165mm. With a 13.7 liter capacity fuel tank, you can be assured that you wouldn’t be running out of petrol anytime soon. The Pantero is available at a starting price of Rs. 39,650 ex-showroom Delhi.

Fuel Economy Claim From Mahindra

Mileage is a huge concern for bikes in the entry level sub-110cc bikes. The Pantero is no different and as I said earlier, Mahindra claims efficiency to be a huge selling factor for its motorcycle. According to ARAI certified tests publicized by the company, the Pantero can deliver 79.4 kmpl under standard testing conditions. While the real world conditions are likely to pull this figure down to more practical levels, the official claim puts the Pantero in the middle of the pie – if you read our note on the top 100cc bikes in India, you will notice that the official claim on most 100cc bikes range from 70kmpl to 91kmpl.

Customer Feedback & Test Ride Reports

Now let us take a look at what some of the third party test rides and customer reports have got to say. Let us begin with what the folks at MaxAbout have got to say. In their review, the website commends the powerful engine that can potentially beat a lot of competitors. However, as a rider, you may not feel the power possibly due to the low throttle response. The website also notes that the instrument console is pretty futuristic. The city mileage reported on the website is 60 kmpl while the corresponding number on highways is close to 79 kmpl.

ZigWheels in their report do not have too many things to say about the bike although they note that the Pantero is priced very competitively for the commuter segment. They report a fuel economy of 68.25 kmpl. The review has not specified if this was tested on city road conditions or on the highways.

On city roads, you should ideally be expecting a lot less FE. According to the report on TopGear, the Pantero is not too good on the city roads in terms of fuel consumption. Their test ride revealed a figure of 48.9 kmpl which is well below the manufacturer claim of 79.4 kmpl. However, the writer does note that performance-wise, the Pantero is pretty refined with great suspension and very little vibration at high speeds on the highway.

The report on ProdEase does not comprehensively cover the performance of the Pantero. However, on the mileage front, the website notes that the motorcycle should be able to deliver between 65-70 kmpl although I am not sure if this was independently tested by the reviewer.

Most commuter segment bikes on MouthShut receive a 4/5 rating for fuel consumption. However, Pantero seems to be a rare exception. Users have rated it 3/5 which is not a good sign. There are just 8 reviews though and not too many mileage reports. One user reports 49 kmpl on city roads and 57 kmpl on the highways, which is similar to what TopGear has posted but which is again not anywhere close to what the manufacturers claim.

Source	City (kmpl)	Highways (kmpl)
Official	–	79.4
MaxAbout	60	79
ZigWheels	68.25	—
TopGear	48.9	—
ProdEase	65-70	—
MouthShut	49	57

So there you have it. The mileage is not exceptional on the Pantero. I really do not know if there is any one aspect that should make you pick the Pantero over its competitors. In any case, if there is a reason, go for it. It’s not too bad either.

TVS Metro 100cc

The TVS Metro is an entry-level motorcycle that is available for the international market. The bike was launched around 2009 and comes with a 99.7cc 4-stroke engine that is capable of delivering a max power of around 7.5 PS at 7500RPM and a max torque of 7.5 Nm at 5000 RPM. The bike is available in a number of countries outside the home country including Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. Speaking of specifications, the Metro comes with a standard wheelbase of 1250mm and a kerb weight of 108 kg which is light enough to optimize the consumption of fuel. The fuel tank itself is capable of holding 16 liters including a 2.5 liter reserve. The TVS Metro is available at an on-road price of approximately Rs. 45,000.

TVS Metro Manufacturere Claim On Mileage

As an entry level bike with a 100cc engine, the TVS Metro is made for the fuel-conscious customer. However I have not been able to get an official claim from the manufacturer. But from what I have researched, the mileage that is claimed on the bike is around 75 kmpl under standard testing conditions. As I say always, this fuel efficiency is derived from superior driving conditions which is different from your city roads. So what you actually get on road may be different.

TVS Metro Customer Feedback & Test Ride Reports

There are a few Bangladeshi customers who have reviewed the mileage of the metro on MotorcycleValley. According to them, the Metro is expected to deliver anywhere between 50-70 kmpl although there are some who report noticing over 75kmpl – I am assuming this is on the highways.

On Bikroy, another bikers blog in Bangladesh, the reported number is slightly lower. The reviewer says the fuel consumption on his Metro is somewhere around 65 kmpl which is still pretty good. This report is also supported by a classified ad on the site ClickBD where the customer selling his Metro reports 60-65 kmpl on his bike. But do note that sellers are often known to claim an FE better than what they get; so take this report with a pinch of salt.

Here is a short summary of what I have discussed above. I have not been able to get too many other reviews about TVS Metro. If you own a Metro and would like to share information about its mileage, do tell us in the comments below.

Source	City Mileage (kmpl)	Highways (kmpl)
Official	–	75
MotorcycleValley	50-70	75-80
Bikroy	65	—
ClickBD	60-65	—

Yamaha FZ-S Vs. Yamaha FZ-16

The Yamaha FZ-16 was introduced way back in 2008 and has been around for a good 5-6 years now. The FZ-S model on the other hand was introduced less than a year back. This 150cc model is an improvisation upon the older FZ-16 model in that it comes with minor changes like an aerodynamic windshield, a longer pillion seat which is also relatively wider, a chain protector and a wider rear fender. You should know that none of these improvements would impact the mileage of the bike by a great deal since the engine has been kept practically unchanged. In any case, let us first compare the specifications of the two bikes.

Tech Specs Comparison

Both the bikes come with a 153cc displacement engine that offers a max power of around 14PS at 7500RPM that translates to 13.6 Nm torque at 6000 RPM. Everything – right from the seat height to the wheelbase and the kerb weight are the same on both the bikes. It goes without saying that both the FZ-S and the FZ-16 are bikes with the exact same interiors and just minor changes on the exterior. Let me just put down the major specifications side-by-side for your reference.

Specification	Yamaha FZ16	Yamaha FZS
Displacement	153cc	153cc
Max Power	14PS @ 7000	14PS @ 7000
Max Torque	13.6Nm @ 6500	13.6Nm @ 6500
Dimensions	1973mm x 770mm x 1045mm	1973 mm × 770 mm × 1090 mm
Wheelbase	1334mm	1334mm
Kerb Weight	135kg	135kg
Fuel Tank	12L	12L
Price (ex-Delhi)	Rs. 69500	Rs. 71500

So there you go – except for a few millimeters difference in the height of the bike, there is not much change as far as the specs go. The Yamaha FZS is also priced slightly higher at Rs. 71500 (ex-showroom Delhi).

Mileage Comparison

The manufacturer’s claim on fuel efficiency is done via ARAI certified tests that are conducted in standard test conditions. These are usually much different from the riding conditions you experience within the city. Therefore you need to take these numbers with a pinch of salt since the numbers that you will be seeing could be much lower. In any case, according to Yamaha, both the FZS and the FZ16 are expected to deliver 50.81 kmpl under standard test conditions. For a better understanding of how the bikes would perform on city roads, let us take a look at what the various test rides and customer reviews have got to say.

BikeAdvice has official reports as well as usage reviews to put forth their claim. In their review of the FZ16, they report a figure of 40 kmpl on city roads that goes as high as 54 kmpl on highways. The corresponding FE for the newer Yamaha FZ-S is between 35-40. The latter figure has been derived from reports from a couple of real customers, one of whom though commends the bike saying the FZ-S feels like a 180cc bike although it belongs to the 150cc category.

The reports on MouthShut have been pretty positive for both the bikes. According to these reviewers, the FZ-16 can be expected to deliver anywhere between 38-47 kmpl on city roads. This is an extremely good figure considering that this is very close to the official manufacturer claim. The FZ-S does a notch better on MouthShut. Aggregating the reports from various customers, the FZ-S is expected to deliver somewhere between 38-53 kmpl. I doubt all this testing was done on city roads though.

Various other reviewers report the mileage on Yamaha FZ-16 to hover around 40. According to MotorBeam, you should count yourself lucky if you get 40 kmpl on the bike. BikeDekho says the figure on city roads should be around 35 kmpl while on the highways, this can go up to 46 kmpl.

Things are not looking very different for the FZ-S either. Users on xBHP note that the average fuel consumption should be in the range of 35-40 kmpl on city roads. On IndiaMart, customers have reported around 38 kmpl on city roads and 48 kmpl on highways. While MaxAbout is in love with the bike exteriors and the silent engine, the reported fuel consumption is not very different from other reviewers. They report 35-40 kmpl inside the city and 45 kmpl on highways.

Here is a summary of mileage reports from various sources. If you are someone who would love a more judicious use of fuel, neither of these bikes are for you. Check out our report on the best 150cc bikes – there are over half a dozen bikes that offer over 50 kmpl. Maybe you could take a pick from there.

Source, Yamaha FZ16, Yamaha FZS
Manufacturer, 50.81, 50.81
BikeAdvice, 40, 35-40
BikeDekho, 35, —
IndiaMart, –, 38
MaxAbout, –, 35-40
MotorBeam, <40, -- MouthShut, 38-47, 38-53 xBHP, --, 35-40 [/table]

Bajaj Discover 125 ST Vs. Honda CB Shine

Today we will compare two bikes in the 125cc engine category – the Discover 125ST from Bajaj and Honda CB Shine. The Discover 125ST is the more recent entrant to the market having made its way only in the mid of last year while Honda Shine has been around for around 3 years now. While both bikes are in the 125cc segment, Bajaj has had the luxury to extensively study the market before launching their new 125cc Discover. Consequently, they have been able to offer quite a few better specs in comparison to the peers.

The Discover 125ST arguably offers the best power in the 125cc bike segment. According to company brochures, the Discover 125ST delivers close to 13PS max power at 9000 RPM whereas the CB Shine only offers around 10.3PS @7500 RPM. The difference is not much in terms of torque though. While the Discover 125ST claims to offer a max net torque of 10.8 Nm at 7000 RPM, the corresponding value for the CB Shine is 10.54Nm at 5500RPM. The price of the lowest available variant on CB Shine is Rs. 54,782 while the price of Discover 125ST is Rs. 55,500 – both ex-Delhi. So as you can see, no one winner here. I shall tabulate all the major specs for a side-by-side comparison below.

Spec	Bajaj Discover 125ST	Honda CB Shine
Displacement	124.6cc	124.7cc
Max Power	13PS @9000	10.3PS @7500
Max Torque	10.8Nm @ 7000	10.54Nm @ 5500
Kerb Weight	124.5kg	120kg
Fuel Tank Capacity	10L	10.5L
Ground clearance	170mm	157mm
Price (ex-Delhi)	Rs. 55500	Rs. 54782

Mileage Comparison
Let us first start with the manufacturer claims. According to Honda Motorcycles, the CB Shine can deliver about 65 kmpl under standard test road conditions. In comparison, the Discover 125ST delivers around 67.5 kmpl under similar conditions. Do note that the fuel economy that you derive on real world conditions may be vastly different.

To check how the two bikes fare on city roads, let us look at what third party blog and customer reviews have got to say. On MouthShut, both bikes have received a 4/5 rating for fuel consumption. The reviews have been extremely positive for Discover 125ST with the lowest reported mileage around 48kmpl and the highest over 60kmpl. The average is around 55kmpl. In comparison, the lowest reported figure for CB Shine is around 42kmpl while the average reported figure lies between 50-55kmpl. So the Discover wins by a slight margin on this one.

We do not have many other common sources that have reviewed both the bikes. Let us first take a look at websites that have reviewed the Discover 125ST. MotorBeam in their test reports around 55kmpl on city roads that goes up to 60kmpl on highways. ZigWheels reports a much better experience having seen around 62kmpl just on the city roads. The highway mileage is reported to be 77kmpl which seems quite unbelievable and I would term this is an exception and not a rule. BikeDekho in their review report a much lower figure. On city roads, the reviewer was able to see only around 50 kmpl although on highways this was much better at 65kmpl.

With Honda CB Shine, the story is not very different. The official review on BikeAdvice notes that the fuel consumption could improve after servicing although in their test, the reported figure was around 50 kmpl on city roads. The figures are slightly better on the Yahoo user reviews where the number lies between 55-60 kmpl on an average. The FE on highways though was noted to be higher at 62kmpl.

There were a couple of more sources that reviewed the CB Shine from a fuel economy perspective. IndiaGarage users claim to be seeing between 50-55 kmpl on city roads and 58-62kmpl on highways whereas the reviewer on MaxAbout reports 58kmpl on city roads and a massive 73kmpl on highways – again, this appears to be an outlier and do not expect your bike to reach this level of efficiency.

Here is a snapshot of what various reviewers of these two bikes have said. From the outset, the fuel consumption do not appear to be too different on both the bikes. Considering that the prices are not vastly different either, I would pick the Discover 125ST over CB Shine considering a better power on this bike for the same economy. What will be your pick?

Source	Bajaj Discover 125ST	Honda CB Shine
Official	65-70	65
BikeAdvice	–	50
BikeDekho	50	—
IndiaGarage	–	50-55
MaxAbout	–	58
MotorBeam	55	—
MouthShut	55	50-55
Yahoo	–	55-60
ZigWheels	62	—