I was losing hope in indian Auto Journalism with the usual Motovlogger masala channels, and then comes these two behemoths of my childhood, a childhood spent reading Indian Auto, Auto India, BS motoring, and they completely induce so much moto-dopamine in my system, yet again, after 20 years!
For me, FZ16 was the benchmark when it came to 150cc bikes. It was game changer for Yamaha, and i remember lusting after it for years. I actually had to buy it secretly without telling my father because he wanted me to be more conservative and buy a splendor. And tell u what, now I have owned it for 10 years, and still don't want to get rid of it.
Driving like splendor is best way to hide from father 😂 . I did same with Gs150r when my father wanted to me to drive bajaj boxer or cd dawn . Thankfully GS 150r drove like 100 cc most of times 😂 .
@@vikasshelke5544 it was good one smiley 😌. My father actually sat only once as pillion on my fz and immediately started complaining that if he sat any longer, he will get piles, that much he hated it.
@@Rzshaikh88gmai agreed … I was a class apart … of all the bikes I used to borrow from friends and batchmates during college … the FZ16 was the most thrilling, most comfortable ever… for me …
The moment the R15 conversation started I had tears , the v2 was my first bike complete black and as you guys said I had no issues with it , not even a single puncture ever. In case if you could crack how to position yourself on the bike you could go miles on it . Thanks for reminding me of my beautiful memories.
R15 was only bike that made FZ sales . It was indeed game changer to Yamaha who were struggling with stupid 100 -125 bikes , people literally ignored Yamaha altogether until FZ and R15 made showrooms shining till today . R15 also reminded us of Yamaha the company that left the legacy of RX 100 Rd350 behind . Yamaha now needs another mass market bike .
Another masterpiece podcast. I'll buy a Hero Splendor with my salary. It'll be my first dream bike to own because of the emotion & the feeling it provides me whenever I look at that bike. I automatically feel happy just by looking at that simple classic bike. It's a true legend for me.
It's so nice to hear someone else other than me talk about the LML Freedom. My dad used to work for LML and so we got the Freedom 110. And it was a fantastic bike. It feels effortless to drive in the city, feels engaging, and even after numerous long rides on highways, extremely sporty riding in the city, and driving it to the absolute limit, it has never let me down once. It's the bike I learnt to ride on and will always have a soft spot in my heart. I still have it alongside my new Hunter 350 but have no plans of selling it just yet. I just made it to the next part of the podcast where Kartikeya talks about the Figo, our first car. My dad has made some excellent choices with cars and bikes.
Still remember doing a wheelie on the Graptor during the test ride and the sales advisor sitting behind was like "Yenu sirrr".... LML bikes were super fun. This was in 2004 or early 2005 when Bajaj was harping about 13 horses in the Pulsar and LML was like "We have 15"
I just appreciate the way they talk about NOT JUST the SUPERBIKES Or CARS, but they talk about the real deal. ❤ thank you so much for these podcasts, they are a bliss to the ears 💯💯
Hey Shumi and Kartikeya, Being a hardcore bike enthusiast, My daily ride is still a '97 Suzuki Shogun. Owned multiple of them at one point in time. I discovered the Shogun in 2014 when I was about 20. I own the Second gen Shaolin(Gear indicator meter model) as well. I restore Motorcycles for a living and keep saving them one at a time. Being a Shogun fanboy, I so wanted you guys to talk about it. This made my day!!! If you guys ever need a bone stock shogun for the channel, would be more than happy to help.
10:04 as a shine owner i got goosebumps when you took the name, My mom bought me that bike when i was in college in 2014 now it's been 10 years 90k kms, i used to go for trips with my friends later with my colleagues, they used to ride 350s 411s 250s but my 125 never failed to keep up with those biggies. Now i can afford big bikes but after taking my shine for a spin that urge fades away.
My dad bought a new Swift in 2005 for our family. Every summer we used to go from Pune to Mumbai, I used to be like wow this car is no nice(we had 3 second hand cars before the swift). By the time I started to drive it, it already had 1.2lakh kms on the odo but it still felt so good to drive. The compactness, gearbox,visibility and the 1.3l engine(first generation) just made it so exciting.Since then I am fond of hatchbacks that can give a bit of fun too.A swift sport in the market like u guys said could be a very nice addition. My first bike was an Apache 160 4v, I bought it for the sole purpose of going to good mileage with a decent ability to ride at highways. I was taken aback when my friend let me ride his 2018 Duke 390 and then I had completely made up my mind that I want this. So I bought a second hand Duke 390(6 months ago) and I am absolutely enjoying it. Thanks to Shumi,he made me realise the fun aspect of riding and having an emotional relation with a vehicle I had after we had to sell the Swift. (PD podcast)
In my honest opinion, 1. Splendor. 2. Stunner 125. 3. FZ 4. Apache RTR 160 5. CBR 250 6. Hunk 7. Thunderbird 8. Apache RR 310 (2019) 9. Karizma In cars, 1. Polo 2. Duster 3. Civic 4. Jazz 5. Scorpio 6. Thar 7. Nano (In no particular order). Set a benchmark in their respective class. I remember watching Shumi do a video on Stunner 125, Pulsar 135 and FZ. Shumi says (comparing the stunner and FZ), "what if you want something in the middle?" rider enters the fram right in the middle with a wheelie on a pulsar 135. I think Auto Journalism peaked at that very moment. Bless you man. Keep up the good work.
Personally I think the first generation Hero Honda CBZ was ahead of its time - It was a dream bike for all the 90s kids like me to be able to ride one which I eventually did as the first motorcycle I ever rode... I was star-struck.
CBZ started the 150 cc performance trend but failed to gain masses due to issues from where Bajaj launched Pulsars that took market by strome . Hero literally lost the 150 cc maket there on.
It has not failed because of issues. Other one gained market (maybe due to easy Bajaj finance making it affordable for someone who doesn't have good own place to stay). 1st gen CBZ without sporty sticker was the best performance bike. Thanks to Honda collaboration
The way their faces lit up when they mentioned R-15, brought an immense sense of pride in me as a proud owner of the V3. Glad I feel the same about my Yammy the way the experts feel. 😊
This is what is called pure knowledge and experience; very few can connect the dots. What I think is missing is inserting a reference image or video in between the conversation . Great work, by the way.
We had a zen in the family for 12 years ...in the end had to sell it off due to rattling issues. But that thing still ran. Crazy to think such a small car could happily fit a family of 4. PS- I remember it also came with a sports mode, which was switching off the AC 😂
Stability and build quality: Fiat Palio. That joy of overtaking heavy vehicles, w.o. having to 'swirl away' when next to them. A tank in literal sense. Had a leakage in coolant hose right next to a clamp in my (then) 7 yr old 2nd hand Palio. The original 'made in Italy' clamp had to be cut as it refused to budge, half an inch of hose was cut out and put back again with a new clamp. Its stability was my benchmark for a new car, and i landed up with Classic /Fiesta in 2014. The handling, nimble driving, steering feedback - absolute pleasure!! 1.25L on odometer, still going strong.
Despite being a new entrant in the 125cc segment, TVS raider has managed to grab eyeballs with how fun and youthful a 125cc commuter can be without missing out on practicality too much.
The OG hero honda splendor.. my friend inherited one from his father, and almost all of my friends learnt to ride a bike on that. he still has the bike, it's quite well maintained. hope to ride it again some time.
Great work! The benchmark for me would be the MG Hector. The car that started the internet inside hype. The hype created so much with the app, the gizmos, the creature comfort, body quality and the quality of materials used inside was literally a start for a healthy competition from the other brands. I know people call it Chinese and stuff due to the parent company's nationality. But if you look in dept, the car was actually based on Audi Q7 and the floating indicators directly from the VAG again. So are many parts that literally make it feel European. The engine from GM ( developed by Daewoo and Suzuki) is thirsty and is slow but if you consider the weight of the car, it is respectable. The suspension was developed jointly with Multimatic - a good brand known for exceptional suspension tuning for comfort . It may not be a driver's car but a car to be driven in comfort and appreciated.
1. 1st Gen Figo (owned petrol). That hydraulic steering made me a good listener because it spoke so much! 2. Polo GT TSI. That engine and dsg mating was a match made in heaven 3. Palio 1.4 multijet, one which had god of cricket in its advertisement 4. Fiesta 1.6 s, only if they offered this same engine with chassis upgrades in the 1st Gen Figo 5. Linea Tjet 6. 2nd Gen Figo S ( The PD video about Figo S and Abarth still sends shivers down my spine) 7. Fiat Punto Abarth 1. 1st exp with Duke 390 was just manic. Being an inexperienced rider it was like riding an angry bull. But own Svartpillen 401 now😊 2. Dream is to own Street Triple R
This was the Gold Episode ❤ Coming to the milestones for me its going to be a Karizma (was a powerhorse for its time, reliable & comfy, a complete package)
Here's me - started learning riding a 2 wheeler on Hero Honda Splendor. Got my first motorcycle in college - Bajaj CT 100. Have fond memories riding it in and out of college at Balewadi, Pune. First job - got myself Yamaha FZ16. That fat tyres was love at first sight. I loved its braking ability. Second job - got classic 350 during its first launch in 2011. Rode it cross country. Got married, bought myself a Suzuki Access 125. Loved its acceleration. Now contemplating a new purchase. The motorcyclist in you never dies! By the way - I have kept all of them, I am a keeper and have an emotional attachment with my rides! Thanks Shumi, Kartikeya for these sweet lovely conversations. I am a big fan!
I have an unusual kind of benchmark : the visual benchmark. For me it’s the Continental GT 535. I first saw it at a petrol pump in Goa and immediately went “good lord that bike looks incredible!”. Clip-on handlebars, single seat, bright yellow shocks, this motorcycle looked like a massive middle finger to practicality, and it blew my mind away. So ahead of its time. So classy, so beautiful. This motorcycle for me was motorised art.
I used to own a gt 535 and yes visually it was a piece of art but as a bike it was a piece of crap. That bike showed me all the possible ways a bike could break down. Just a pain through and though
8:29 LML Adreno was my Dad's First Bike. Childhood memories get refreshed when I used to get a 2 rounds of ride everytime he went for office. Great Bike Loved it
Shumi actually recommended me the impulse (with a jc moto brace😅) when I reached out to him 5-6 years ago. The bike is still as eager and not tiring away any time soon❤️
It felt so so good to hear about the shogans, freedoms and adrenos. These were the bikes I saw in my childhood and they did instil a love for them. According to me Yamaha placed a benchmark in Indian biking with r15 and fz 16. As a teen I got to know how to differentiate bikes on character there was a sport bike and then there was a naked bike. Before this, there were just commuters.
Not gonna lie, podcast is amazing. I have a Honda CBR 150R 2013 version. I have not seen a single competitor being so reliable for more than 10 years now. Having ridden so many bikes now, that one is still my fav. Soft comfortable commuter. Can do 140+ on good days still. Drive safe everyone.
I still have my 2013 Yamaha Ray Z. It's just so fun to drive and extremely reliable. 10 years later it's as exciting, as thrilling as it was and hasn't gotten any issues whatsoever.
Watching this a month later. I can't explain how happy I am to see such a professional, high quality and yet passionate indian podcast talking about Indian vehicles and stories... Please don't stop. Please keep these going.
Simple answer. For Scooters, it's the Dio. It was the first time riding a scooter where I felt that a scooter could be fun. It's why I actually agreed to a scooter being bought as a teenager. And now, it's my current bike, the Adv 390. I'd been test riding bikes left right and centre, and though so many were good bikes, I never felt the sense I was buying something powerful, or special. The Gixxer SF 250, Vstrom SX, Himalyan, FZ 250 and G310 GS all felt like nice comfortable bikes to ride. But they were disppointing the 15 year old me who had vowed to buy an amazing fast bike. One test drive if the 390 Adv sealed the decision that I couldn't take in almost 2 years. It's good to use your mind when buying a thing, but the heart is where the bike is finalised.
A bike worthy for discussion was the benchmark set by herohonda splendor a staple work horse of India. I think another benchmark set by ktm Duke 390 man what a machine the handling the braking the confidence it gives on corners literally gives goosebumps. And I really hope there comes a worthy competitor in the 350cc category because we deserve more than these.
I felt about the KB Boxer 100 the same way like Kartikeya sir felt about LML CRD100. Man it is a fun bike to ride and can act great both as a commuter and an exciting machine when you want to! My friend's dad owns it and whenever the bike is free, I'm always eager to get a ride on it..
I was extremely enthusiastic and excited about automobiles from as young as 5 year old. I was born in Arunachal Pradesh so obviously I did not see a lot of variety on roads except for gypsy and Maruti 1000 but there was once my parents took me for a vacation in Trivandrum and I saw this car called the standard 2000. My father literally had to pull me away from the car, I would have been 7 year old or something. I was flabbergasted. I remember it so clearly. The next time this happened was when I saw the CBZ in flesh for the first time when I was in 10th standard. I just wanted the bike. Though by this time I already had posters and knew about cagiva v raptor, Benneli tornado, the fire blade and the R1s, seeing the CBZ in flesh blew my mind. These are the two instances I will never ever forget in my life. Today I have a tiger 800, new Thar and a creta but I never had that excitement ever again. You guys reminded me of those days.
1 bike and 1 car I wanna highlight is the Suzuki Gixxer 150 which I got in 2015. Smooth AF. And Wagon R. My mother and sister did a 9000km India tour in our 8year old Wagon R and had smooth sailing throughout. Fantastic headroom for tall guys.. great space..
The Hero Xpulse 200 4v has become a benchmark for me as it allows me to accomplish things on the bike that I once could only imagine, such as riding on both on-road and off-road terrains with ease. It has truly enhanced my riding experience.
I learnt to drive on my dad's second hand Freedom. I also had the opportunity to drive first gen Apache, Pulsar, XCD etc. There was no engine, and I mean no engine that felt as smooth. It wasn't a very punchy engine but just the fact that when you were cruising on it at ≈ 50kmph, there was almost non existent NVH. Man do I love and miss that bike so so much. Our family had gotten an Aviator around that time (we are all 6ft+) and that became the default driver. The Freedom was almost never serviced and had a faulty clutch. But man, it never did die on me. It didn't look very aspirational, yes but just for the engine, I am very happy to see someone discuss this long forgotten machine.
My benchmark: Yamaha SS125 (Gladiator), the last variant before Yamaha decided that they'll focus on selling scooters. It had a five-speed gearbox, an engine kill switch, dream-like handling, comfortable seating and rock steady even at above 100 km/h. The Honda Shine and SP could learn a thing or two from it.
The Gladiator was truly a good machine. Could have been slightly more exciting to ride but Shumi says he remembers his long term test Gladiator very fondly indeed.
For me its fz v2 , i was struggling a lot to learn and master two wheeler riding untill i got a chnace to ride my friends v2 the moment i put second gear and throttle it was a bliss there after i gained lot of confidence. Then after few years owned yamaha r15 v3 clocked 35 kms. Needless to say how amazing was that machine. Since we are talking about benchmark this channel is a bench mark for automotive journalism.🎉🎉
Nice episode. Fiat Punto and VW Polo were missed- these cars redefined and set standards to what driving dynamics in basic daily drivers should look like.
A late commer of course but couldnt resist this video. Royal Enfield Classic 350 Reborn has set a benchmark for how you feel that a retro bike can talk back to you. As Shumi said, I felt here ❤ and i bought it. I never regretted even once for about 2 years.
Appreciate you for including the Shogun, it was a very special motorcycle, derived from the rally spec Supra SS, a fully TVS-developed bike. The Shogun had a megaphonic black chrome (not black paint) exhaust that worked like an expansion chamber, something I believe was the first and last 2 stroke motorcycle in India to have them, the handlebar & front mudguard were of black chrome as well. TVS actually gave the Samurai meter console in 1993, where they started taking customer requests & added the electronic tachometer which had a habit of frying itself when your battery got weak lol, damn fun bike! Very rare to spot one, but some people still have them, parts are very hard to get. It's a damn shame to what happened to TVS Suzuki, the Shogun that they showcase at Motosoul, has no Suzuki badges, it is maintained so badly, TVS themselves couldn't source parts like RVMs, headlight bikini.etc
The content that you guys are making just keeps me getting hooked to your channel. Even though I'm having very little knowledge about bikes and I don't own a car/bike and don't know how to drive a car, it still attracts me to listen to the conversations of enthusiasts, it's just phenomenal! Kudos to all the efforts put by you all and I will definitely be considering of buying a better machine for myself and feel the connection with it, rather than going with the market trends like sheep :)
Sir the podcast was awesome and I believe a few minutes about Volkswagen Polo would have increased the magnitude of that awesomeness. Thank you. -Aranga
To me, the R15 V2 represents the ultimate benchmark, not only because of its performance but also because of the memories it holds. It was back in 2015, during my first year of university, when my best friend and I moved to the city together. He owned a CBR250, and I remember feeling excited about this new chapter in our lives. It was a time of joy and new beginnings, like a song that when you hear it again, takes you back to that special moment. Thinking about it now makes me feel so happy.
same here , but I have 09 v1. still rules the streets. still goes on rides and hold on with bigger bikes. but when twisties come the boss music starts.
I've enjoyed this thoroughly. What I would appreciate more is what are the bikes you are looking forward to in the years 2023-24. And I am saddened that not even once the TVS apache RR310 came into conversation, after being praised so many times by you two to be the perfect balance to have fun and practicality.
I watched this episode closer to when it came out. I am watching it again now because despite all of the mammoth knowledge these guys have accumelated over the years, it feels like a conversation, I , a non techincal guy can relate to. I just hope this channel doesn't fade away and you folks continue on the path you began on. Cheers bro 🍻
Have noticed your conversation never misses Duke 390. I fell in love with it and own one now Shumi your conversation gave me assurance that I will not go wrong in choosing the right bike for me The Duke 390 is fun. Multistrad never had a chance to ride one but my dream benchmark is Africa Twin.Omg you spoke about Showgun that was awesome bike it was capable of doing whelee in second gear. You guys truly connect.
Wow.. Hearing those LML bike names brings nostalgia. Had the chance to sit on the petrol tanks of Adreno and Freedom as a child 😂 Sharukh khan posing with the Freedom Poster. For me Pulsar 200 had the same feel as Adreno.. Stick half fairing to the front 😂 And Graptor and Glamour/Hunk had the same looks for me.. Inshort this episode was like ROAD TO PAST ❤ I really wish we could get some Uncut episode where you guys can go all out 😂 would love to see that sometimes.
In 2006 I got a Hero Honda Karizma and that was a game-changer motorcycle for me. Butter smooth engine and cruising at 100kmph felt effortless. Rode it for 7 years & later bought Bullet Electra in 2014 & then realised that i did big mistake going with Enfield.
Opel Vectra needs a special mention in terms of creating a benchmark for tech in cars. It was way ahead of its time, and threw real good punches at the C-series, A4 & 3-series available at that time
Since you recommend R15, Can I go for MT 15 v2? I am on the taller side. I want a fun, reliable and efficient machine primarily for city purposes without a committed riding position . Thanks in advance Great podcast once again 👌
For me the game changer has to be the re 650 cc twins. After having ridden a 200 cc bike for a large part of my life, the twin felt like something straight out of a dream. It was smooth, it was fast, it was classy and it felt personal! Felt connected! Its crazy how something like that can form a connection that’s even stronger than humans at times 😂
I've owned two vehicles, the Chevy beat and a Ford figo (latest gen) Both of them left the country but ford's service is still spot on. "the family wali feeling" They're still maintaining unlike Chevy. Kudos to ford. The service experience is phenomenal.
For me it is the fz16. Underpowered yes. Always felt needed more power. The best part to me about this bike is the way it handles. It's like dancing with your partner. Getting in sync. And she syncs well. The way the bike goes into the corners, that sense of stability and corner it carries. Amazing. I have memories of overtaking bikes, cars, Rickshaws in corners. Where they went slow, I could just overtake them. It was a budget Mt 15 before the real Mt 15🤣 love it.
The Polo/Vento and their DSG and the beautiful 1.6/1.5 TDI. Daily drivers that became madness. Man that 1.2L TSI + DQ200 7 speed DSG had people hooked to tuning cars which initiated a revolution and a car culture! the City and the Octavia did have its moments in the 2000s but this was a full blown change!
For me Maruti Omni Van is a benchmark, when considering a multi utility vehicle Whether it is people, or cargo it always did the job In fact it was a benchmark vehicle for criminals too😂
I feel the shogun as benchmark for fun, raw power motorcycle in it's segment. Everytime I think it can't do this, it surprises how easily it does. The yezdi roadking changed my perception when I took it on a mountain trail with above medium track where himalayan, xpulse, 390 adventure struggling to keep a pace, falling down and getting stuck. But this old machine easily made up the 2.5 km mountain without even stopping, falling or even bottoming out. That day it opened a whole new world what this beauty can do. Suzuki fiero with it torquey power if fitted with right tires was a competitor for Impulse. The first generation of Karizma showed me how a simple 220cc engine can be so smooth, reliable, bulletproof and exiting every single day. Hats off to those motorcycles, scooters and cars which moved Indian automobile industry and few who were literally awesome but couldn't get the recognition. Had real fun watching this podcast. Cheers!!!
I owned a Pulsar 180 and I felt it was a such a fun and forgiving bike. During my college days when money was tight I used to not put that bike for service for 8-9 months. I remember I once serviced the bike after a year and it never gave me a major problem. Many mechanics told me to change the piston and the piston block back in those days all the mechanics used to say that for Bajaj bikes, be it Pulsar, Discover or XCD, I never changed it and after 12yrs with that bike I did not complaint. Infact sold it at a decent cost. During that time my friend had an Apache RTR, to be honest I found it's handling much more sportier, the pegs were high, it was nimble and handling was better but that bike was not so good at higher RPMs. My benchmark from the Pulsar became a forgiving bike that could do all things with me and not just few things. And so currently I own a Bullet Std 500, believe it or not even that is almost the same 😊
My Benchmark would be Yamaha FZ 16 v1 bs3. I own it since 2020(pre-worshipped). It has a grunt in its engine that put smile on my face every time i open the throttle. I absolutely loved it❤
You people just bring back my childhood memories of when I wanted to buy all those great bikes if I could convince my dad. Those Pulsars, Impulse, and the Legendry LML Freedoms.
Personally I think the Volkswagen Polo is a benchmark and I am pretty confident that a lot of people will agree. Specifically the 1.2 TSI with 7 speed DSG.
We bought the 1st gen Figo diesel just before the launch of 2nd gen. Clocked 1.6 lac km in 8 years and still counting. It is the second car in our family and the one on which I learned to drive. It’s only after driving other cars from the same segment I realised what a quality car we have. Ford left India just a month after my father told me “Ab next Ecosports hi lenge”. Such a sore scar we have there.
I may sound like an abarth fanboy but man that scorpion abarth punto was just phenomenal. Surely gearbox was not light and took a while to get used to that heavy and clunky gearbox but when you get the hang of it, even the mighty polo gti would had a tough time against that scorpion. Also the figo s and Baleno rs were those serious enthusiastic car sadly no one bought it then and now we can only remember those. Rightly said by shumi sir that now when the people are quite mature and there are more young enthusiasts these projects will make more sense and if brands stick by those projects it will be an amazing thing. Introduction of things like an option for short throw shifter in the models would be amazing.
I'm so happy that I share a similar mindset to these two wise men. My Garage: 1995 Suzuki Shogun 2011 Ford Figo (1st gen) 2016 Ford Ecosport 2019 Yamaha R3 Scooters: TVS Wego TVS Jupiter 125
Great podcast as always loved it ❤ mine my dad's OG vespa 2 stroke, CBZ, R15V2, and now speed twin 1200 (2022). In cars always fan of vtec first gen honda city (i actually have a poster), ford Mondeo, and lastly lancer. I have memories of my neighbour owning RX100 and suzuki samurai when i was a kid and god the sound, it always made me peek the bike through the window. Thank you for bringing some memories back.❤
Benchmark was my ‘05 Thunderbird. Exploration skyrocketed. My mechanic literally went through 10 motorcycles at the dealership to find the one. Two days later to Ooty for our usual MBMC/RTMC stuff. I still remember looking at 100 kmph for the first time during that ride. That AVL engine truly helped us munch miles. PS: the meaning of test rides were different then.
My Benchmarks: 1) 100 CC Bikes - Yamaha RX100 - I was in 9-10th Std-1992-93, a neighbour of mine had bought wine red colour and the way it used to sound, it still vibrates in my head...it's still benchmark but dead...I liked it's retro styling, well rounded looks, solid build...eternal looks...awesome, I couldn't ride it as that time I was still young...and by the time I got to purchase a bike it was gone...best two stroke engine I remember in my lifetime 2) 125 cc bike - Yamaha RX125 - My Chacha purchased it in our village of Maharashtra, it was always a pleasure riding it...it used to give same RX100 kind of experience, we used to take it for a test ride in inner village roads, easily touching 100 kmph speeds...it was four stroke engine... 3) 125 cc bike - Honda Shine - I had one while I started working in Mumbai, 2004 onwards...I instantly liked it's super pick-up, soft ride...it was a well rounded package...in Mumbai rains I used to drive it from Kalyan to Dadar, Thane, Bandra, everywhere...via Bhiwandi highway...mileage was also good....it was overall a value for money package... 4) 100 cc - Bikes that impressed me during my teenage years - TVS Suzuki Samurai - for its looks and the way it sounded, it was too refined sound TVS Suzuki Showgun - for its immense power and performance, the way it was marketed in those times, racing it with a Geetanjali Express Train which was considered a kind of Rajdhani Express train at that time, very high speed.... 5) Yamaha R15 - Version 1.0 - with Flat Seat - Commuter plus enthusiast bike, it was nice that Yamaha re-introduced this bike as version 1.0 or something...truly first mover in terms of performance, I remember that it was launched in Chennai first and I called up my friend to check how it is, he told there was huge rush at the showroom and the bike looks awesome.... 6) LML Vespa Scooter - It was way way way ahead of its time, the way it looked, the features it had, the way it used to ride, its bright beam like headlight in those days of Bajaj bulb based headlights....it was all awesome...one of our Advocate Uncle had it and he came to our house and I just couldn't ignore it, I took it for a test drive and man how it used to ride....ah haa, awesome 7) Kinetic LUNA / TFR / TFR Plus - What a commute friendly moped...one of my friends in BSc college in Akola, Maharashtra used to bring it and when I was in 1-5th std in Gwalior my Nana Ji used to have it...sometimes I used to ride it, it was so easy to drive and how can we forget it had bycycle mode - just press a button and it used to ride like a bicycle with the help of chain...in case you are out of petrol....so innovative and basic design, petrol tank inside the frame or chassis, single seat, double seat then single long seat option...it was well built too... 8) TVS 50 / TVS XL - India's longest warrior still alive - second only to Luna, its nice to know that it's still around with 100 cc engine and now purely used for transportation and utility purposes, but the fact that it is still in production speaks a ton about TVS commitment to the people who love it and to the brand...so happy 9) Suzuki two wheelers - I agree with the discussion that they had some of the best machines but some how very lousy marketing...they need marketing of a Honda...Suzuki Access is I agree that one of the best scooters in India since long....all the negatives of Active taken care of and much more to look for...well balanced design, looks flat instead of activa's lean forward design and Access is easy for the pillion too as it is not too much wide bodied...as Active is so wide that whenever I sit on the back, my legs get cramp!
Amazing episode. I generally don’t watch a TH-cam video nowadays for more than 2 mins. But watching you episodes without a break. I think one great benchmark is the Chevy Cruze which was quite affordable and amazing bang for the buck as it just blew the C segment cars out of the water.
Quite late to the party, I know. Haven't missed a single video since I discovered the channel recently. Now binging on the older videos because it is therapeutic to listen to these two amazing gentlemen discuss on any automotive topic! Coming to the context of this particular video, I feel it is a little incomplete without mentioning Hyosung. They were kind of like a flash in the pan, but the Comet and GT250 left their mark on the Indian motorcycling community. They were relatively affordable performance monsters (for that time). Of course they had lots of issues and niggles, not helped by the very limited dealer/service network. But the performance they offered, and the exclusivity (affordable compared to the big names, but still inaccessible to the majority) made these machines a milestone in the history of Indian motorcycling.
Idk why even though these videos are really long, its so good. Some sorta peaceful feeling, listening to interesting topics and i just dont feel the time passing by and in fact its very interesting POV and meditative at the same time. Also, I think POLO was a benchmark too. It was such a beautiful machine to drive.
Benchmarks for me Moped - Kinetic Luna Commuters - Hero Honda CD100SS and Hero Glamour Off-roading - Hero Impulse Do it all bike - Ducati Multistrada Hatchback - Abarth Punto Sedan - Fiat Linea SUV - Mercedes G-wagon
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
I was losing hope in indian Auto Journalism with the usual Motovlogger masala channels, and then comes these two behemoths of my childhood, a childhood spent reading Indian Auto, Auto India, BS motoring, and they completely induce so much moto-dopamine in my system, yet again, after 20 years!
I love you guys for giving us time stamps, you don't know how cool you have to be to do that!
Haha! You're welcome!
Exxxxactly!!
This channel is paving a path to next gen automobile content
Literally a blessing to enthusiastic ppl
♥️ Thanks Sriram!
For me, FZ16 was the benchmark when it came to 150cc bikes. It was game changer for Yamaha, and i remember lusting after it for years. I actually had to buy it secretly without telling my father because he wanted me to be more conservative and buy a splendor. And tell u what, now I have owned it for 10 years, and still don't want to get rid of it.
Oh wow! Hiding a bike from a parent is not easy!
Driving like splendor is best way to hide from father 😂 . I did same with Gs150r when my father wanted to me to drive bajaj boxer or cd dawn . Thankfully GS 150r drove like 100 cc most of times 😂 .
@@vikasshelke5544 it was good one smiley 😌. My father actually sat only once as pillion on my fz and immediately started complaining that if he sat any longer, he will get piles, that much he hated it.
@@Rzshaikh88gmai agreed … I was a class apart … of all the bikes I used to borrow from friends and batchmates during college … the FZ16 was the most thrilling, most comfortable ever… for me …
The moment the R15 conversation started I had tears , the v2 was my first bike complete black and as you guys said I had no issues with it , not even a single puncture ever.
In case if you could crack how to position yourself on the bike you could go miles on it .
Thanks for reminding me of my beautiful memories.
900% It's such a great bike because of it!
R15 was only bike that made FZ sales . It was indeed game changer to Yamaha who were struggling with stupid 100 -125 bikes , people literally ignored Yamaha altogether until FZ and R15 made showrooms shining till today . R15 also reminded us of Yamaha the company that left the legacy of RX 100 Rd350 behind . Yamaha now needs another mass market bike .
Same with me brother.
I got tears when they talked about the r15...
Really tremendous bike
Another masterpiece podcast. I'll buy a Hero Splendor with my salary. It'll be my first dream bike to own because of the emotion & the feeling it provides me whenever I look at that bike. I automatically feel happy just by looking at that simple classic bike. It's a true legend for me.
♥️ All the best Deepak!
Off course something bought with our hard earned money is too precious for our heart .
It's so nice to hear someone else other than me talk about the LML Freedom. My dad used to work for LML and so we got the Freedom 110. And it was a fantastic bike. It feels effortless to drive in the city, feels engaging, and even after numerous long rides on highways, extremely sporty riding in the city, and driving it to the absolute limit, it has never let me down once. It's the bike I learnt to ride on and will always have a soft spot in my heart. I still have it alongside my new Hunter 350 but have no plans of selling it just yet.
I just made it to the next part of the podcast where Kartikeya talks about the Figo, our first car. My dad has made some excellent choices with cars and bikes.
He has! Kudos Dad!
Still remember doing a wheelie on the Graptor during the test ride and the sales advisor sitting behind was like "Yenu sirrr".... LML bikes were super fun. This was in 2004 or early 2005 when Bajaj was harping about 13 horses in the Pulsar and LML was like "We have 15"
I just appreciate the way they talk about NOT JUST the SUPERBIKES Or CARS, but they talk about the real deal. ❤ thank you so much for these podcasts, they are a bliss to the ears 💯💯
It’s what moves you! They all do!
Hey Shumi and Kartikeya, Being a hardcore bike enthusiast, My daily ride is still a '97 Suzuki Shogun. Owned multiple of them at one point in time. I discovered the Shogun in 2014 when I was about 20. I own the Second gen Shaolin(Gear indicator meter model) as well. I restore Motorcycles for a living and keep saving them one at a time. Being a Shogun fanboy, I so wanted you guys to talk about it. This made my day!!!
If you guys ever need a bone stock shogun for the channel, would be more than happy to help.
Lucky lucky lucky! We're envious Darshan! Thanks for the offer! That is super kind! If you don't mind us asking... where is the bike physically?
@@motorinc The bike is in Bhiwandi, Thane. Got 2 at the moment. One is a factory paint black Shogun and one is a recently restored Silver gun.
Oh wow! We're definitely going to plan something special!
@@motorinc Looking forward to hearing back from you.
Please do this.. we are waiting for an episode on Shogun
10:04 as a shine owner i got goosebumps when you took the name, My mom bought me that bike when i was in college in 2014 now it's been 10 years 90k kms, i used to go for trips with my friends later with my colleagues, they used to ride 350s 411s 250s but my 125 never failed to keep up with those biggies. Now i can afford big bikes but after taking my shine for a spin that urge fades away.
It's a wonderful motorcycle @yashaswis3529! Thanks for sharing.
Its lovely❤
My dad bought a new Swift in 2005 for our family. Every summer we used to go from Pune to Mumbai, I used to be like wow this car is no nice(we had 3 second hand cars before the swift). By the time I started to drive it, it already had 1.2lakh kms on the odo but it still felt so good to drive. The compactness, gearbox,visibility and the 1.3l engine(first generation) just made it so exciting.Since then I am fond of hatchbacks that can give a bit of fun too.A swift sport in the market like u guys said could be a very nice addition.
My first bike was an Apache 160 4v, I bought it for the sole purpose of going to good mileage with a decent ability to ride at highways. I was taken aback when my friend let me ride his 2018 Duke 390 and then I had completely made up my mind that I want this. So I bought a second hand Duke 390(6 months ago) and I am absolutely enjoying it.
Thanks to Shumi,he made me realise the fun aspect of riding and having an emotional relation with a vehicle I had after we had to sell the Swift. (PD podcast)
Ohhhh sweet! That’s an awesome read! Stay safe and have fun!
In my honest opinion,
1. Splendor.
2. Stunner 125.
3. FZ
4. Apache RTR 160
5. CBR 250
6. Hunk
7. Thunderbird
8. Apache RR 310 (2019)
9. Karizma
In cars,
1. Polo
2. Duster
3. Civic
4. Jazz
5. Scorpio
6. Thar
7. Nano
(In no particular order).
Set a benchmark in their respective class. I remember watching Shumi do a video on Stunner 125, Pulsar 135 and FZ. Shumi says (comparing the stunner and FZ), "what if you want something in the middle?" rider enters the fram right in the middle with a wheelie on a pulsar 135.
I think Auto Journalism peaked at that very moment. Bless you man.
Keep up the good work.
Great list Rudra!
Personally I think the first generation Hero Honda CBZ was ahead of its time - It was a dream bike for all the 90s kids like me to be able to ride one which I eventually did as the first motorcycle I ever rode... I was star-struck.
♥️
CBZ started the 150 cc performance trend but failed to gain masses due to issues from where Bajaj launched Pulsars that took market by strome . Hero literally lost the 150 cc maket there on.
It has not failed because of issues. Other one gained market (maybe due to easy Bajaj finance making it affordable for someone who doesn't have good own place to stay). 1st gen CBZ without sporty sticker was the best performance bike. Thanks to Honda collaboration
The way their faces lit up when they mentioned R-15, brought an immense sense of pride in me as a proud owner of the V3.
Glad I feel the same about my Yammy the way the experts feel. 😊
Couldn't agree more!
This is what is called pure knowledge and experience; very few can connect the dots.
What I think is missing is inserting a reference image or video in between the conversation .
Great work, by the way.
exactly and the approx price as well
We had a zen in the family for 12 years ...in the end had to sell it off due to rattling issues. But that thing still ran.
Crazy to think such a small car could happily fit a family of 4.
PS- I remember it also came with a sports mode, which was switching off the AC 😂
Stability and build quality: Fiat Palio. That joy of overtaking heavy vehicles, w.o. having to 'swirl away' when next to them. A tank in literal sense. Had a leakage in coolant hose right next to a clamp in my (then) 7 yr old 2nd hand Palio. The original 'made in Italy' clamp had to be cut as it refused to budge, half an inch of hose was cut out and put back again with a new clamp.
Its stability was my benchmark for a new car, and i landed up with Classic /Fiesta in 2014. The handling, nimble driving, steering feedback - absolute pleasure!! 1.25L on odometer, still going strong.
Thanks for reminding us of the Palio, Ankur! ❤️
Despite being a new entrant in the 125cc segment, TVS raider has managed to grab eyeballs with how fun and youthful a 125cc commuter can be without missing out on practicality too much.
♥️
The OG hero honda splendor..
my friend inherited one from his father, and almost all of my friends learnt to ride a bike on that. he still has the bike, it's quite well maintained. hope to ride it again some time.
That would be special! All the best!
Great work!
The benchmark for me would be the MG Hector. The car that started the internet inside hype. The hype created so much with the app, the gizmos, the creature comfort, body quality and the quality of materials used inside was literally a start for a healthy competition from the other brands. I know people call it Chinese and stuff due to the parent company's nationality. But if you look in dept, the car was actually based on Audi Q7 and the floating indicators directly from the VAG again. So are many parts that literally make it feel European. The engine from GM ( developed by Daewoo and Suzuki) is thirsty and is slow but if you consider the weight of the car, it is respectable. The suspension was developed jointly with Multimatic - a good brand known for exceptional suspension tuning for comfort . It may not be a driver's car but a car to be driven in comfort and appreciated.
Figo❤ so underrated but the best or one among top 03 hatchbacks that was ever available for sale in India..! #TDCi was a 💎
Agree. Agree. And agree. ❤️
1. 1st Gen Figo (owned petrol). That hydraulic steering made me a good listener because it spoke so much!
2. Polo GT TSI. That engine and dsg mating was a match made in heaven
3. Palio 1.4 multijet, one which had god of cricket in its advertisement
4. Fiesta 1.6 s, only if they offered this same engine with chassis upgrades in the 1st Gen Figo
5. Linea Tjet
6. 2nd Gen Figo S ( The PD video about Figo S and Abarth still sends shivers down my spine)
7. Fiat Punto Abarth
1. 1st exp with Duke 390 was just manic. Being an inexperienced rider it was like riding an angry bull. But own Svartpillen 401 now😊
2. Dream is to own Street Triple R
What a great list!
This was the Gold Episode ❤
Coming to the milestones for me its going to be a Karizma (was a powerhorse for its time, reliable & comfy, a complete package)
Indeed! Unmatched at launch too!
Here's me - started learning riding a 2 wheeler on Hero Honda Splendor. Got my first motorcycle in college - Bajaj CT 100. Have fond memories riding it in and out of college at Balewadi, Pune. First job - got myself Yamaha FZ16. That fat tyres was love at first sight. I loved its braking ability. Second job - got classic 350 during its first launch in 2011. Rode it cross country. Got married, bought myself a Suzuki Access 125. Loved its acceleration. Now contemplating a new purchase. The motorcyclist in you never dies! By the way - I have kept all of them, I am a keeper and have an emotional attachment with my rides! Thanks Shumi, Kartikeya for these sweet lovely conversations. I am a big fan!
What a sweet garage SP! That's awesome! Let us know what you get next!
I have an unusual kind of benchmark : the visual benchmark. For me it’s the Continental GT 535. I first saw it at a petrol pump in Goa and immediately went “good lord that bike looks incredible!”. Clip-on handlebars, single seat, bright yellow shocks, this motorcycle looked like a massive middle finger to practicality, and it blew my mind away. So ahead of its time. So classy, so beautiful. This motorcycle for me was motorised art.
True! The 535 and now the 650GT are both insanely good looking machines
Bought me a Yellow 2015 GT 535 just this January (First job savings kinda purchase) and man oh man! the attention she grabs is just maddd!
That is the Jawa 42 Bobber for me! Middle finger to practicality as you said.
Nice!
I used to own a gt 535 and yes visually it was a piece of art but as a bike it was a piece of crap. That bike showed me all the possible ways a bike could break down. Just a pain through and though
8:29 LML Adreno was my Dad's First Bike. Childhood memories get refreshed when I used to get a 2 rounds of ride everytime he went for office. Great Bike Loved it
Shumi actually recommended me the impulse (with a jc moto brace😅) when I reached out to him 5-6 years ago. The bike is still as eager and not tiring away any time soon❤️
Glad we helped! ♥️
It felt so so good to hear about the shogans, freedoms and adrenos. These were the bikes I saw in my childhood and they did instil a love for them. According to me Yamaha placed a benchmark in Indian biking with r15 and fz 16. As a teen I got to know how to differentiate bikes on character there was a sport bike and then there was a naked bike. Before this, there were just commuters.
🤜🏽🤛🏽
Still Driving My Dad's 2011 Ford Fiesta 1.6 Petrol🔥 it' s a GEM💎
💯♥️
Not gonna lie, podcast is amazing. I have a Honda CBR 150R 2013 version. I have not seen a single competitor being so reliable for more than 10 years now. Having ridden so many bikes now, that one is still my fav. Soft comfortable commuter. Can do 140+ on good days still. Drive safe everyone.
You drive and ride safe too!
The R15 can smoke it easily 🤣
I still have my 2013 Yamaha Ray Z. It's just so fun to drive and extremely reliable. 10 years later it's as exciting, as thrilling as it was and hasn't gotten any issues whatsoever.
💯🤜🏽🤛🏽
Enthusiastic people speaking about automobiles, that's how i would like to spend my evening everyday, talking passionately about these stuff.
i still remember the starting of the ad for the LML Freedom and we had an LML vespa for almost 30 years. the best memories were on that scooter.
same, vespa and then freedom we had
Good old days!
Kinetic Luna - Yamaha rx135 1998 - Maruti 800 - Ford Fiesta 2007, - RE cast iron electra 350 - Street 750 - ktm 390- XUV 2013 -Skoda Octavia 2017. (My garage)
Nice garage!
One vehicle i would have wanted in India is Ford explorer
♥️
Watching this a month later. I can't explain how happy I am to see such a professional, high quality and yet passionate indian podcast talking about Indian vehicles and stories... Please don't stop. Please keep these going.
Season 02 is coming soon! Glad you love ThisConnect!
This is longest auto video I have seen completely without getting drifted out of the conversation even for a minute
Awesome! Thanks Mallik!
These podcasts from the series have now become the best companion for my daily evening walks.
Awesome work Shumi sir and Kartikeya Sir!
Thanks Vikrant! Glad you're enjoying the 'cast!
Simple answer. For Scooters, it's the Dio. It was the first time riding a scooter where I felt that a scooter could be fun. It's why I actually agreed to a scooter being bought as a teenager.
And now, it's my current bike, the Adv 390. I'd been test riding bikes left right and centre, and though so many were good bikes, I never felt the sense I was buying something powerful, or special. The Gixxer SF 250, Vstrom SX, Himalyan, FZ 250 and G310 GS all felt like nice comfortable bikes to ride. But they were disppointing the 15 year old me who had vowed to buy an amazing fast bike. One test drive if the 390 Adv sealed the decision that I couldn't take in almost 2 years. It's good to use your mind when buying a thing, but the heart is where the bike is finalised.
Truly smitten with the ADV then!? And the Dio is a classic.
A bike worthy for discussion was the benchmark set by herohonda splendor a staple work horse of India. I think another benchmark set by ktm Duke 390 man what a machine the handling the braking the confidence it gives on corners literally gives goosebumps. And I really hope there comes a worthy competitor in the 350cc category because we deserve more than these.
💯♥️
I felt about the KB Boxer 100 the same way like Kartikeya sir felt about LML CRD100. Man it is a fun bike to ride and can act great both as a commuter and an exciting machine when you want to! My friend's dad owns it and whenever the bike is free, I'm always eager to get a ride on it..
I was extremely enthusiastic and excited about automobiles from as young as 5 year old. I was born in Arunachal Pradesh so obviously I did not see a lot of variety on roads except for gypsy and Maruti 1000 but there was once my parents took me for a vacation in Trivandrum and I saw this car called the standard 2000. My father literally had to pull me away from the car, I would have been 7 year old or something. I was flabbergasted. I remember it so clearly. The next time this happened was when I saw the CBZ in flesh for the first time when I was in 10th standard. I just wanted the bike. Though by this time I already had posters and knew about cagiva v raptor, Benneli tornado, the fire blade and the R1s, seeing the CBZ in flesh blew my mind. These are the two instances I will never ever forget in my life. Today I have a tiger 800, new Thar and a creta but I never had that excitement ever again.
You guys reminded me of those days.
Nice garage though, Rajesh!
1 bike and 1 car I wanna highlight is the Suzuki Gixxer 150 which I got in 2015. Smooth AF.
And Wagon R. My mother and sister did a 9000km India tour in our 8year old Wagon R and had smooth sailing throughout. Fantastic headroom for tall guys.. great space..
Wow! That roadtrip sounds fantastic Vivaswan!
The Hero Xpulse 200 4v has become a benchmark for me as it allows me to accomplish things on the bike that I once could only imagine, such as riding on both on-road and off-road terrains with ease. It has truly enhanced my riding experience.
♥️
I learnt to drive on my dad's second hand Freedom. I also had the opportunity to drive first gen Apache, Pulsar, XCD etc.
There was no engine, and I mean no engine that felt as smooth. It wasn't a very punchy engine but just the fact that when you were cruising on it at ≈ 50kmph, there was almost non existent NVH.
Man do I love and miss that bike so so much. Our family had gotten an Aviator around that time (we are all 6ft+) and that became the default driver. The Freedom was almost never serviced and had a faulty clutch. But man, it never did die on me.
It didn't look very aspirational, yes but just for the engine, I am very happy to see someone discuss this long forgotten machine.
My benchmark: Yamaha SS125 (Gladiator), the last variant before Yamaha decided that they'll focus on selling scooters.
It had a five-speed gearbox, an engine kill switch, dream-like handling, comfortable seating and rock steady even at above 100 km/h. The Honda Shine and SP could learn a thing or two from it.
The Gladiator was truly a good machine. Could have been slightly more exciting to ride but Shumi says he remembers his long term test Gladiator very fondly indeed.
@@motorinc thanks for that reply guys, you just made my weekend.
For me its fz v2 , i was struggling a lot to learn and master two wheeler riding untill i got a chnace to ride my friends v2 the moment i put second gear and throttle it was a bliss there after i gained lot of confidence. Then after few years owned yamaha r15 v3 clocked 35 kms. Needless to say how amazing was that machine.
Since we are talking about benchmark this channel is a bench mark for automotive journalism.🎉🎉
Nice episode. Fiat Punto and VW Polo were missed- these cars redefined and set standards to what driving dynamics in basic daily drivers should look like.
♥️
A late commer of course but couldnt resist this video.
Royal Enfield Classic 350 Reborn has set a benchmark for how you feel that a retro bike can talk back to you.
As Shumi said, I felt here ❤ and i bought it. I never regretted even once for about 2 years.
Appreciate you for including the Shogun, it was a very special motorcycle, derived from the rally spec Supra SS, a fully TVS-developed bike. The Shogun had a megaphonic black chrome (not black paint) exhaust that worked like an expansion chamber, something I believe was the first and last 2 stroke motorcycle in India to have them, the handlebar & front mudguard were of black chrome as well. TVS actually gave the Samurai meter console in 1993, where they started taking customer requests & added the electronic tachometer which had a habit of frying itself when your battery got weak lol, damn fun bike! Very rare to spot one, but some people still have them, parts are very hard to get.
It's a damn shame to what happened to TVS Suzuki, the Shogun that they showcase at Motosoul, has no Suzuki badges, it is maintained so badly, TVS themselves couldn't source parts like RVMs, headlight bikini.etc
What a neat history lesson BB! We know that TVS-Suzuki days' bikes maintenance isn't easy... not even for TVS themselves!
The content that you guys are making just keeps me getting hooked to your channel. Even though I'm having very little knowledge about bikes and I don't own a car/bike and don't know how to drive a car, it still attracts me to listen to the conversations of enthusiasts, it's just phenomenal! Kudos to all the efforts put by you all and I will definitely be considering of buying a better machine for myself and feel the connection with it, rather than going with the market trends like sheep :)
Sir the podcast was awesome and I believe a few minutes about Volkswagen Polo would have increased the magnitude of that awesomeness. Thank you.
-Aranga
Haha! Noted!
Watching your videos is like sitting and talking to friends about something you are really passionate about
Excellent discussion…For me my Polo GT TSI (1.2), been 6 years, a benchmark in ride & handling
Thanks for sharing Pranav! Good choices there!
To me, the R15 V2 represents the ultimate benchmark, not only because of its performance but also because of the memories it holds. It was back in 2015, during my first year of university, when my best friend and I moved to the city together. He owned a CBR250, and I remember feeling excited about this new chapter in our lives. It was a time of joy and new beginnings, like a song that when you hear it again, takes you back to that special moment. Thinking about it now makes me feel so happy.
You and so many youngsters all over the country!
both are legends I used to own a v2 and rode twice my friends 250r .... Man I relate to you so much ... more or less the same story and same bikes
@@chinmaytikhe1643 memories to cherish forever and be nostalgic.
Damn that's nice to hear.
same here , but I have 09 v1. still rules the streets. still goes on rides and hold on with bigger bikes. but when twisties come the boss music starts.
I've enjoyed this thoroughly. What I would appreciate more is what are the bikes you are looking forward to in the years 2023-24. And I am saddened that not even once the TVS apache RR310 came into conversation, after being praised so many times by you two to be the perfect balance to have fun and practicality.
It still is a good bike in many ways. But did it set a benchmark? No, not really, TKS.
I watched this episode closer to when it came out. I am watching it again now because despite all of the mammoth knowledge these guys have accumelated over the years, it feels like a conversation, I , a non techincal guy can relate to. I just hope this channel doesn't fade away and you folks continue on the path you began on. Cheers bro 🍻
Thank you so much @ਰੋਹਿਤਸ਼ਰਮਾ-ਭ8ਰ
Love your conversations, I would not mind this going on for more than an hour.
Thanks Prasad!
Have noticed your conversation never misses Duke 390. I fell in love with it and own one now Shumi your conversation gave me assurance that I will not go wrong in choosing the right bike for me The Duke 390 is fun. Multistrad never had a chance to ride one but my dream benchmark is Africa Twin.Omg you spoke about Showgun that was awesome bike it was capable of doing whelee in second gear. You guys truly connect.
The 390 will be a milestone for decades and decades for sure!
I loved 2 scooters named bajaj legend and kinetic blaze. Those were so cool scooters, powerful, stylish. Probably overshadowed by activa.
Ahh!
I must yet again show my love and appreciation for the diecasts on the centre table
Hell, the entire set is freaking gorgeous. The small round table especially.
Thanks Daksh!
Wow.. Hearing those LML bike names brings nostalgia. Had the chance to sit on the petrol tanks of Adreno and Freedom as a child 😂 Sharukh khan posing with the Freedom Poster. For me Pulsar 200 had the same feel as Adreno.. Stick half fairing to the front 😂 And Graptor and Glamour/Hunk had the same looks for me..
Inshort this episode was like ROAD TO PAST ❤
I really wish we could get some Uncut episode where you guys can go all out 😂 would love to see that sometimes.
These are uncut! They're not edited down and nothing's been cut out!
I think Yamaha FZ16 V1 was a benchmark. It's the bike which started the trend for Naked Streets
💯
Top quality content..!
When we are talking about benchmarks, I think S Cross 1.6 DDiS should have a mention. 😊
♥️
In 2006 I got a Hero Honda Karizma and that was a game-changer motorcycle for me. Butter smooth engine and cruising at 100kmph felt effortless. Rode it for 7 years & later bought Bullet Electra in 2014 & then realised that i did big mistake going with Enfield.
The Karizma did indeed change people's mind about what bikes could do a lot!
2 very underrated yet powerful cars according to me are Tata Nano and Ford Freestyle. Sadly both of them are no longer available.
Thanks for sharing Dhanesh!
Would like to hear from you guys about these 2.
My first bike was FZs battle green. It was ICONIC. It was the most reliable machine I ever had!
Each episode is a master class, hats off guys!, i really wish you guys more subscribers
Thanks Abhishek!
Opel Vectra needs a special mention in terms of creating a benchmark for tech in cars. It was way ahead of its time, and threw real good punches at the C-series, A4 & 3-series available at that time
Since you recommend R15, Can I go for MT 15 v2? I am on the taller side. I want a fun, reliable and efficient machine primarily for city purposes without a committed riding position . Thanks in advance
Great podcast once again 👌
Yes you can! Got get a test ride and let us know what you thought!
For me the game changer has to be the re 650 cc twins. After having ridden a 200 cc bike for a large part of my life, the twin felt like something straight out of a dream. It was smooth, it was fast, it was classy and it felt personal! Felt connected! Its crazy how something like that can form a connection that’s even stronger than humans at times 😂
Karthikeya’s English is so much better to understand.. the other guy needs to slow down and stop talking English like Hindi😂
Thanks for the feedback @YOURS1
need a podcast on accidents and how to deal with them, basic first aid, what medical supplies to pack, etc
Great suggestion!
I've owned two vehicles, the Chevy beat and a Ford figo (latest gen)
Both of them left the country but ford's service is still spot on. "the family wali feeling" They're still maintaining unlike Chevy.
Kudos to ford. The service experience is phenomenal.
🤜🏽🤛🏽
For me it was the Pulsar 135 ls... For a 60k motorcycle it was just awsm
For me it is the fz16. Underpowered yes. Always felt needed more power. The best part to me about this bike is the way it handles. It's like dancing with your partner. Getting in sync. And she syncs well.
The way the bike goes into the corners, that sense of stability and corner it carries. Amazing. I have memories of overtaking bikes, cars, Rickshaws in corners.
Where they went slow, I could just overtake them. It was a budget Mt 15 before the real Mt 15🤣 love it.
True! Yamaha should have given the FZ(16) more performance by now because the basis of a sweet commuter is there!
The Polo/Vento and their DSG and the beautiful 1.6/1.5 TDI. Daily drivers that became madness. Man that 1.2L TSI + DQ200 7 speed DSG had people hooked to tuning cars which initiated a revolution and a car culture! the City and the Octavia did have its moments in the 2000s but this was a full blown change!
Vehicles spelling needs change in the thumbnail
Done! Thanks for pointing it out!
@@motorinc well done team 👍
You guys put so much into this...sometimes i just feel bad that i watch this stuff for free
To kinds you are Aditya! 😊
Now that's need to go on a t shirt, "Practicality! Buy a car man. If you want to live get a 390."
Haha! Great idea!
For me Maruti Omni Van is a benchmark, when considering a multi utility vehicle
Whether it is people, or cargo it always did the job
In fact it was a benchmark vehicle for criminals too😂
RX100 & POLO GT - without mentioning these LOVES, this conversation is incomplete, who all think so?
Over rated stuff these two don’t talk about. Polo gt ❌ abarth punto ✅
@@akashpalani216 In India, Polo GT had more cultural impact than Abarth Punto. This video is about that impact, right?
I loved this episode allot , I think this subject(Cars & Motorcycles That Changed the Game) deserves whole season not just one episode.
Hmmm... maybe a revisit is needed in the next season of the podcast!
I feel the shogun as benchmark for fun, raw power motorcycle in it's segment. Everytime I think it can't do this, it surprises how easily it does. The yezdi roadking changed my perception when I took it on a mountain trail with above medium track where himalayan, xpulse, 390 adventure struggling to keep a pace, falling down and getting stuck. But this old machine easily made up the 2.5 km mountain without even stopping, falling or even bottoming out. That day it opened a whole new world what this beauty can do. Suzuki fiero with it torquey power if fitted with right tires was a competitor for Impulse. The first generation of Karizma showed me how a simple 220cc engine can be so smooth, reliable, bulletproof and exiting every single day. Hats off to those motorcycles, scooters and cars which moved Indian automobile industry and few who were literally awesome but couldn't get the recognition. Had real fun watching this podcast. Cheers!!!
Great to read your message! Thanks a ton!
We still own the first gen Figo from 2011. What a gem of a car, the VFM it was just for 5L back in the day. The highway stability was just ♥
💯🤜🏽🤛🏽
I owned a Pulsar 180 and I felt it was a such a fun and forgiving bike. During my college days when money was tight I used to not put that bike for service for 8-9 months. I remember I once serviced the bike after a year and it never gave me a major problem. Many mechanics told me to change the piston and the piston block back in those days all the mechanics used to say that for Bajaj bikes, be it Pulsar, Discover or XCD, I never changed it and after 12yrs with that bike I did not complaint. Infact sold it at a decent cost. During that time my friend had an Apache RTR, to be honest I found it's handling much more sportier, the pegs were high, it was nimble and handling was better but that bike was not so good at higher RPMs. My benchmark from the Pulsar became a forgiving bike that could do all things with me and not just few things. And so currently I own a Bullet Std 500, believe it or not even that is almost the same 😊
Wow! Nice garage Bumpy Stories!
My Benchmark would be Yamaha FZ 16 v1 bs3. I own it since 2020(pre-worshipped). It has a grunt in its engine that put smile on my face every time i open the throttle. I absolutely loved it❤
Super! FZ’s chassis and suspension are stunning!
You people just bring back my childhood memories of when I wanted to buy all those great bikes if I could convince my dad. Those Pulsars, Impulse, and the Legendry LML Freedoms.
♥️
Personally I think the Volkswagen Polo is a benchmark and I am pretty confident that a lot of people will agree. Specifically the 1.2 TSI with 7 speed DSG.
We bought the 1st gen Figo diesel just before the launch of 2nd gen. Clocked 1.6 lac km in 8 years and still counting. It is the second car in our family and the one on which I learned to drive. It’s only after driving other cars from the same segment I realised what a quality car we have.
Ford left India just a month after my father told me “Ab next Ecosports hi lenge”. Such a sore scar we have there.
Oh no! What timing! On the flip side, glad you're enjoying your car!
I may sound like an abarth fanboy but man that scorpion abarth punto was just phenomenal. Surely gearbox was not light and took a while to get used to that heavy and clunky gearbox but when you get the hang of it, even the mighty polo gti would had a tough time against that scorpion. Also the figo s and Baleno rs were those serious enthusiastic car sadly no one bought it then and now we can only remember those. Rightly said by shumi sir that now when the people are quite mature and there are more young enthusiasts these projects will make more sense and if brands stick by those projects it will be an amazing thing. Introduction of things like an option for short throw shifter in the models would be amazing.
Spot on Manthen!
I'm so happy that I share a similar mindset to these two wise men. My Garage:
1995 Suzuki Shogun
2011 Ford Figo (1st gen)
2016 Ford Ecosport
2019 Yamaha R3
Scooters:
TVS Wego
TVS Jupiter 125
Thanks for sharing! And, awesooomme!
Great podcast as always loved it ❤ mine my dad's OG vespa 2 stroke, CBZ, R15V2, and now speed twin 1200 (2022). In cars always fan of vtec first gen honda city (i actually have a poster), ford Mondeo, and lastly lancer. I have memories of my neighbour owning RX100 and suzuki samurai when i was a kid and god the sound, it always made me peek the bike through the window. Thank you for bringing some memories back.❤
No worries! Glad we woke up memories for your Vijay!
I have said this and I will keep saying it. It somehow feels wrong to listen to this content for free.
MotorInc Team Thankyou ❤️
Hey Vignesh! ❤️ Thank you!
Benchmark was my ‘05 Thunderbird. Exploration skyrocketed. My mechanic literally went through 10 motorcycles at the dealership to find the one. Two days later to Ooty for our usual MBMC/RTMC stuff. I still remember looking at 100 kmph for the first time during that ride. That AVL engine truly helped us munch miles.
PS: the meaning of test rides were different then.
Simpler days!
My Benchmarks:
1) 100 CC Bikes - Yamaha RX100 - I was in 9-10th Std-1992-93, a neighbour of mine had bought wine red colour and the way it used to sound, it still vibrates in my head...it's still benchmark but dead...I liked it's retro styling, well rounded looks, solid build...eternal looks...awesome, I couldn't ride it as that time I was still young...and by the time I got to purchase a bike it was gone...best two stroke engine I remember in my lifetime
2) 125 cc bike - Yamaha RX125 - My Chacha purchased it in our village of Maharashtra, it was always a pleasure riding it...it used to give same RX100 kind of experience, we used to take it for a test ride in inner village roads, easily touching 100 kmph speeds...it was four stroke engine...
3) 125 cc bike - Honda Shine - I had one while I started working in Mumbai, 2004 onwards...I instantly liked it's super pick-up, soft ride...it was a well rounded package...in Mumbai rains I used to drive it from Kalyan to Dadar, Thane, Bandra, everywhere...via Bhiwandi highway...mileage was also good....it was overall a value for money package...
4) 100 cc - Bikes that impressed me during my teenage years -
TVS Suzuki Samurai - for its looks and the way it sounded, it was too refined sound
TVS Suzuki Showgun - for its immense power and performance, the way it was marketed in those times, racing it with a Geetanjali Express Train which was considered a kind of Rajdhani Express train at that time, very high speed....
5) Yamaha R15 - Version 1.0 - with Flat Seat - Commuter plus enthusiast bike, it was nice that Yamaha re-introduced this bike as version 1.0 or something...truly first mover in terms of performance, I remember that it was launched in Chennai first and I called up my friend to check how it is, he told there was huge rush at the showroom and the bike looks awesome....
6) LML Vespa Scooter - It was way way way ahead of its time, the way it looked, the features it had, the way it used to ride, its bright beam like headlight in those days of Bajaj bulb based headlights....it was all awesome...one of our Advocate Uncle had it and he came to our house and I just couldn't ignore it, I took it for a test drive and man how it used to ride....ah haa, awesome
7) Kinetic LUNA / TFR / TFR Plus - What a commute friendly moped...one of my friends in BSc college in Akola, Maharashtra used to bring it and when I was in 1-5th std in Gwalior my Nana Ji used to have it...sometimes I used to ride it, it was so easy to drive and how can we forget it had bycycle mode - just press a button and it used to ride like a bicycle with the help of chain...in case you are out of petrol....so innovative and basic design, petrol tank inside the frame or chassis, single seat, double seat then single long seat option...it was well built too...
8) TVS 50 / TVS XL - India's longest warrior still alive - second only to Luna, its nice to know that it's still around with 100 cc engine and now purely used for transportation and utility purposes, but the fact that it is still in production speaks a ton about TVS commitment to the people who love it and to the brand...so happy
9) Suzuki two wheelers - I agree with the discussion that they had some of the best machines but some how very lousy marketing...they need marketing of a Honda...Suzuki Access is I agree that one of the best scooters in India since long....all the negatives of Active taken care of and much more to look for...well balanced design, looks flat instead of activa's lean forward design and Access is easy for the pillion too as it is not too much wide bodied...as Active is so wide that whenever I sit on the back, my legs get cramp!
Well said! That's a great explanation of the bikes we've seen in the market. Some of them are icons and they did revolutionise the two-wheeler market.
Your faces and expression says it all , taking us back to that era. Yamaha RX-100 for me and Zen first version
Reflex! Your choices are making us smile here! Thanks!
Amazing episode. I generally don’t watch a TH-cam video nowadays for more than 2 mins. But watching you episodes without a break. I think one great benchmark is the Chevy Cruze which was quite affordable and amazing bang for the buck as it just blew the C segment cars out of the water.
Thanks Suraj! The Cruze’ turbo diesel engine was wonderful! ❤️
Quite late to the party, I know. Haven't missed a single video since I discovered the channel recently. Now binging on the older videos because it is therapeutic to listen to these two amazing gentlemen discuss on any automotive topic!
Coming to the context of this particular video, I feel it is a little incomplete without mentioning Hyosung. They were kind of like a flash in the pan, but the Comet and GT250 left their mark on the Indian motorcycling community. They were relatively affordable performance monsters (for that time). Of course they had lots of issues and niggles, not helped by the very limited dealer/service network. But the performance they offered, and the exclusivity (affordable compared to the big names, but still inaccessible to the majority) made these machines a milestone in the history of Indian motorcycling.
Idk why even though these videos are really long, its so good. Some sorta peaceful feeling, listening to interesting topics and i just dont feel the time passing by and in fact its very interesting POV and meditative at the same time. Also, I think POLO was a benchmark too. It was such a beautiful machine to drive.
Glad you like them!
Benchmarks for me
Moped - Kinetic Luna
Commuters - Hero Honda CD100SS and Hero Glamour
Off-roading - Hero Impulse
Do it all bike - Ducati Multistrada
Hatchback - Abarth Punto
Sedan - Fiat Linea
SUV - Mercedes G-wagon
Great list!
@@motorinc ❤