The Hindu Business Line : Lining up the 150 cc bikes

The story in the 150cc segment or the performance bikes category is clearly that size matters. Bike buyers in no other segment are as swayed by snob value as members of this club.

So, features that distinguish bikes in this segment from the rest of the crowd in the comparison chart below will be appreciated. Honda realised it after launching the Unicorn without disc brakes and self-start as options and had to make amends by offering these as additional features.

Despite the manufacturer's advertising and marketing focusing on the youth, it does not preclude older buyers from eyeing the bikes in this category. That means that though a large section of the buyers comes from the younger, unmarried section of the population, a big chunk of sales will also come from the family man looking for mass transport.

There is a curious, unique mix of attributes that define the 150cc segment. The bike that has managed the best fit, not too surprisingly, has been the Bajaj Pulsar. Much before the other biggies in this segment rolled out, the Pulsar had already managed to set a benchmark in fit and finish as also in ride quality.

As can be seen from the technical comparison chart, the new TVS Apache is the smallest of the lot, in terms of wheelbase. This translates into a slightly less imposing presence on the road. So, while the Pulsar and the Unicorn manage to look big on the road without any effort, the Apache has to rely on some oversized side panels and advertising photographs that have been taken from angles to trick the eye.

But size isn't everything and, as the table shows, the Apache is no underdog in the engine performance department. This TVS bike's suspension set-up is also similar to the Pulsar's gas shocks. Fit and finish and other visual appeal elements are equally good, including the five-spoke alloys, though the quality of switches could have been better.

A big jump for TVS in the Apache is the five-speed gearbox, which is uncharacteristically slick and free from false neutrals.

Despite featuring the same 149cc engine as the Honda Unicorn and carrying forward some of the other features offered by this bike, the Hero Honda Achiever has not managed to capture the bike buyer's imagination. It is a capable bike and could have been a strong contender, but for its relatively less aggressive styling and the image of Hero Honda as being largely an entry-level bike manufacturer.

The duo that ruled the segment will now have to make room for the third musketeer. The Apache will find its own footing. With its more squat, burly looks, the Apache will also find willing takers amongst those who are intimidated by the Pulsar's tall and front heavy stance.