Reviews of Hero [2003-2014] Karizma

Karizma had always been my dream machine as i am a avid fan of sports touring bike. The day came when i finally got my 2012 black karizma r on my birthday as a surprise gift from my parents and within a few weeks i took the bike to my favorite hill station.

Karizma r has a jet fighter looks coupled with aerodynamically designed dome. The stylish fairing and the body graphics adds beauty to the bike and its bright red alloys are really attractive.

Engine performance, fuel economy and gearbox

talking about engine, the 225cc motor is quite powerful in its class and its a refined and torquey engine that glides at high speeds easily and so making overtakes effortless even at high gears. I could easily drag my bike upto 140 kmph. However i could feel the vibrations after crossing 125kmph. The gearbox is so smooth like a hot knife running through butter. The lack of fuel injection doesn't have a big effect as i never have had starting problems with the carburetor even in cold conditions.

Ride quality & handling

coming upto the ride quality, i'll say its the best ergonomic sportz bike with a powerful engine. The seats are very comfortable for both the rider and the pillion. Unlike the r15 and pulsar 220, the karizma has a bit relaxed riding position and does not strain your body even after long hours of rides. While in the mountain, the bike was stable at curves and it really handles well when i threw my bike over the sharp hairpin bends. Even i was surprised by the punchy engine which doesn't hesitate while climbing up the steep mountains. The only defect i felt was the inadequate lighting during the pitch dark night but however i had fitted projector lamps for my bike.

Despite the absence of the rear disc brakes the retardation is pretty good as it has the largest front 276mm discs. But the presence of rear discs and pgm-fi would have made the bike a good deal.

Regardless of the powerful 225cc mill, the bike returned around 40kmpl as an average. I would say that its a pretty decent mileage considering the displacement of the engine. Thus this bike holds good both in maneuvering in the city traffic and also cruising in open highways as its motto says always cool, always ahead!!!

pros

excellent comfort, relaxed riding position, smooth gearbox, torquey engine

cons

inadequate headlight, no fuel injection, no rear disc brakes

Style

a well-maintained karizma r is still a head-turner in any part of the country. Paint is also of good quality, the glossy finish on the body panels and tank looks great. Hero has made some changes to the stickering to differentiate it from the erstwhile hero honda karizma, part of its re-branding exercise i guess. But the stickering/graphics don’t look out of place, infact it adds to the overall stance of the bike.

Engine performance, fuel economy and gearbox

the chassis is a gem considering prevailing indian road conditions; it provides the level of comfort needed on a sports tourer without sacrificing too much on the handling front. The chassis is infact derived from the infamous honda vfr sports touring series, making the karizma r extremely potent for both touring and commuting.

Karizma’s engine capacity, though 223cc doesn’t arm the bike with the kind of grunt evident on the pulsar 220 dtsi or 200 ns. On the contrary, it’s an extremely refined engine wherein vibrations are barely felt even when it is pushed to the redline. The 17 bhp might not sound interesting from a 223cc engine but, considering the liquid cooled r15 also pumps out the same; but the hidden gem is the 18.35 Nm of torque that’s evident on the karizma r right from the word go.

The bike accelerates briskly till 100 kmph even with a pillion, but the going gets slow beyond 110 kmph. The max bhp is produced at 7000 rpm making it easier to blip the bike through fast paced highways at not-so-ample throttle inputs. On the contrary, to keep the r15 on the boil, one has to wring the throttle hard making it an arduous task within city limits; the karizma definitely excels in this regard. Top speed achieved was approx 125 kmph on the speedometer (122 kmph measured on android gps).

Gearbox is easy to operate during highway stints. However the gearbox does tend to behave a little erratic in city traffic. Finding neutral when the engine is hot is a tough task at times. The 5th gear allows easy cruising at 60 kmph within city limits as there is abundant torque to play around with.

Fuel economy recorded was 37-40 kmpl in the city (with a gentle throttle) and 33-35 kmpl on highways (maintained 90-100 kmph). Above 100 kmph, fuel economy nosedives at alarming rates, it could hit as low as 27-28 kmpl if ridden hard. Best option is to change gears at 4000-5000 rpm to achieve a good balance of power and fuel economy.

Ride quality & handling

the handling can be called at best neutral, though much better than the cbr250r. Setting the rear shocks to no.3 Position improves handling considerably as opposed to the no.2 Factory setting. The front and rear shocks are tuned towards comfort, bad roads and potholes don’t upset the rider’s rhythm much. Even with a pillion, the suspension does a great job at keeping jerks and jolts at bay from the rider’s palm or butt.

The seat is a tad too soft, slightly stiffer foam would have made a great difference on a long ride (nothing that an aftermarket job can’t fix). The unicorn’s seat is ideal in terms of foam density. However the seat is good enough for daily use within the city. The soft foam on the seat allows the butt to sink in considerably, but riding 150-200 kms at a stretch would be an issue soft seat causing the butt to go numb.

The stock tyres do a great job in providing stability in long sweeping corners and sharp turns even during wet weather conditions. The karizma might not be an aggressive corner carver like the r15, but it’s not lagging behind either. An experienced rider on the karizma can give the r15 a run for its money when ridden on twisties.

Brakes are excellent, the front disc provides sufficient bite and the rear drum is pretty effective too. Even under a panic braking scenario, the brakes are up to the task. The absence of a rear disk brake was rarely felt; the drum was functional enough riding in bombay or on highways. However, i consider it mandatory to warm the brakes a bit by pumping both brakes a few times when riding in wet weather, this allows better braking efficiency and reduces chances of the brakes locking-up.

Final words

the karizma can be a great companion for a rider who is on the lookout for a motorcycle that strikes a balance between good power and great comfort, besides its one hell of a looker too. If maintained well, the karizma r is a reliable bike over all terrains and weather conditions. There are riders who have successfully scaled leh, pangong and khardung la on this gorgeous looking work-horse.

The latest slew of launches from competitors has to an extent dented the karizma’s sales figures. A ktm duke or a p200ns or a cbr250r owner might claim their steed’s technological supremacy over the karizma, but the fact remains that none of the modern-day machines (considering the karizma is almost 10 years old since its inception) can strike that “perfect balance” between performance and comfort that the karizma still offers.

Areas of improvement

• headlight requires to be upgraded to 55/60w for better visibility. The philips blue vision or the osram silverstar is a possible after-market upgrade.


• Horn requires an upgrade to the dual horn type, similar to the one on the zmr. The zmr horn can be directly fitted, but extensive usage takes its toll on the battery which leads to starting issues later. Its good as long as used judiciously.


• Engine heating up in city traffic situations and during sustained high speed rides. A simple solution is to switch to the mak 4t nxt synthetic engine oil from bpcl, best results on the karizma (tried & tested) and zmr. The 10w30 hero engine oil doesn’t hold for more than 3000 kms. Mak 4t nxt holds well for over 5000 kms on the karizma, even in extreme ride conditions; it also ensures better starting in cold weather.


• Tyres are a disappointment in wet weather conditions; straight line braking under an emergency causes a spill. Serious tourers switched to the pirelli or michelin brands and found it a good fit. I personally didn’t feel the need to change the tyres as they have very good grip in sweeping and tight corners. Maintaining a 28/28 psi (front/rear) tyre pressure whether riding with or without pillion allows sufficient grip in wet weather, anything above this might cause a spill under hard braking.


• Cross wind stability of the bike isn’t great under hard winds. The karizma sways substantially during harsh cross-winds that are often found on our national highways. My mechanic was of the opinion that removing the fiber belly adjacent to the engine should cure this problem, but i wasn’t too keen on experimenting this as it spoils the look of the bike to an extent.


• Cost of spares is exorbitant; a spill on the karizma can cost a bomb depending on the intensity of impact due to the accident. I seriously don’t find enough justification for hero to charge this steep an amount for karizma’s fiber parts or brake pads. It’s not as if the bike’s body panels last a decade, rather the fiber parts are quite flimsy and their contact/meshing points give away even without a fall or impact.

Pros

acceleration, looks, chassis, brakes, handling, comfort & suspension, meter console

cons

tyres, headlamp intensity, horn, cross-wind stability

I had bought my karizma r on 2014 and since it is producing excellent result for me. Karizma r has 225cc engine, maximum torque and heavy weight which gives smoothing and speedy riding experience. Yet it has heavier engine, though it is giving a decent mileage. My karizma r is near about 4 years older and already come across about 22, 000 kms, but till now it crosses the 100 effortlessly in speed meter and i am getting near about 45km/litre as mileage. There are many bikes on road and now a days lots more coming but karizma r is the best bike i ever used. Rock for karizma r.

About the Reviewer

first of all i have to tell you about my riding experience
riding a karizma is awesome..
mileage is superb 35plus is good for this category 223cc engine..
feel the engine eagerness when you rev the engine in 2nd and 3rd gear.
maintenance is not much higher if you change the engine oil,air filter after every 1000km..
this is the best bike ever in this category.

About the Reviewer

Great bike with best comfort in long rides. If hero could relaunch this bike with fuel injection and dual channel abs it will be a hit. The longer wheelbase gives good control and comfort. Easy to maintain hence there is no complex electronics. Only problems i faced with the bike is carburettor problem and cold start. Introduction of fuel injector will solve the problem. Please bring back this karizma r.

About the Reviewer

I feel sad because i can't buy the updated version of karizma r old model.When i ride her i fill awesome . The head of bike is look like king . No other bike can replace her place in my heart. She is my gf. No back pain problem while and after ride just like cbr and r15 . I request to hero company to restart the production of r.

About the Reviewer

It all started when i was in to college, i come from a middle class family & use to commute by road/walking as college too was nearby to my house. It was love at first sight when i saw this bright yellow beast making its way from the traffic, as if its roaring upon other bikes to make way for her.. Yes that was karizma r !Since then it got parked in my heart forever. I was aware i could not afford it & that's when i started nurturing my dream.. My dad bought me a splendour & was very happy with it as i knew that's the best my dad could gift me & i respect that.. Its been 18 years since then i still have the splendor fit & fine letting me hop from place to place.. But even god knew i had a special place for karizma r for all these long years By grace of god today i am in a position wherein i could even go for a re himalaya/cbr 250 but heart had something else to tell my mind, Yes, i have changed my dream into a reality ! today i am a proud owner of a 2013 karizma r !!I cannot express my feelings/emotions as this was into my heart for half of my life...

About the Reviewer

This is one of the best bikes i have ever drawn. I wanted to purchase one more bike but just got to know hero has stopped the production. I am so disappointed with this. You should have one karizma r old model mind-blowing performance.No maintenance as such.Just need to change the engine oil after every 3k kilometre.

About the Reviewer

It's an amazing bike, about style, look, power and performance are very good, it's first semi fairing bike in Indian motorcycle history there time. Hero, please relaunch this beats. Because present time many companies brought a cheap motorcycle.No quality, no stability, no long life,no value for money, only hero honda bike is my favourite.

About the Reviewer

Karizma had always been my dream machine as i am a avid fan of sports touring bike. The day came when i finally got my 2012 black karizma r on my birthday as a surprise gift from my parents and within a few weeks i took the bike to my favorite hill station.

Karizma r has a jet fighter looks coupled with aerodynamically designed dome. The stylish fairing and the body graphics adds beauty to the bike and its bright red alloys are really attractive.

Engine performance, fuel economy and gearbox

talking about engine, the 225cc motor is quite powerful in its class and its a refined and torquey engine that glides at high speeds easily and so making overtakes effortless even at high gears. I could easily drag my bike upto 140 kmph. However i could feel the vibrations after crossing 125kmph. The gearbox is so smooth like a hot knife running through butter. The lack of fuel injection doesn't have a big effect as i never have had starting problems with the carburetor even in cold conditions.

Ride quality & handling

coming upto the ride quality, i'll say its the best ergonomic sportz bike with a powerful engine. The seats are very comfortable for both the rider and the pillion. Unlike the r15 and pulsar 220, the karizma has a bit relaxed riding position and does not strain your body even after long hours of rides. While in the mountain, the bike was stable at curves and it really handles well when i threw my bike over the sharp hairpin bends. Even i was surprised by the punchy engine which doesn't hesitate while climbing up the steep mountains. The only defect i felt was the inadequate lighting during the pitch dark night but however i had fitted projector lamps for my bike.

Despite the absence of the rear disc brakes the retardation is pretty good as it has the largest front 276mm discs. But the presence of rear discs and pgm-fi would have made the bike a good deal.

Regardless of the powerful 225cc mill, the bike returned around 40kmpl as an average. I would say that its a pretty decent mileage considering the displacement of the engine. Thus this bike holds good both in maneuvering in the city traffic and also cruising in open highways as its motto says always cool, always ahead!!!

pros

excellent comfort, relaxed riding position, smooth gearbox, torquey engine

cons

inadequate headlight, no fuel injection, no rear disc brakes

Style

a well-maintained karizma r is still a head-turner in any part of the country. Paint is also of good quality, the glossy finish on the body panels and tank looks great. Hero has made some changes to the stickering to differentiate it from the erstwhile hero honda karizma, part of its re-branding exercise i guess. But the stickering/graphics don’t look out of place, infact it adds to the overall stance of the bike.

Engine performance, fuel economy and gearbox

the chassis is a gem considering prevailing indian road conditions; it provides the level of comfort needed on a sports tourer without sacrificing too much on the handling front. The chassis is infact derived from the infamous honda vfr sports touring series, making the karizma r extremely potent for both touring and commuting.

Karizma’s engine capacity, though 223cc doesn’t arm the bike with the kind of grunt evident on the pulsar 220 dtsi or 200 ns. On the contrary, it’s an extremely refined engine wherein vibrations are barely felt even when it is pushed to the redline. The 17 bhp might not sound interesting from a 223cc engine but, considering the liquid cooled r15 also pumps out the same; but the hidden gem is the 18.35 Nm of torque that’s evident on the karizma r right from the word go.

The bike accelerates briskly till 100 kmph even with a pillion, but the going gets slow beyond 110 kmph. The max bhp is produced at 7000 rpm making it easier to blip the bike through fast paced highways at not-so-ample throttle inputs. On the contrary, to keep the r15 on the boil, one has to wring the throttle hard making it an arduous task within city limits; the karizma definitely excels in this regard. Top speed achieved was approx 125 kmph on the speedometer (122 kmph measured on android gps).

Gearbox is easy to operate during highway stints. However the gearbox does tend to behave a little erratic in city traffic. Finding neutral when the engine is hot is a tough task at times. The 5th gear allows easy cruising at 60 kmph within city limits as there is abundant torque to play around with.

Fuel economy recorded was 37-40 kmpl in the city (with a gentle throttle) and 33-35 kmpl on highways (maintained 90-100 kmph). Above 100 kmph, fuel economy nosedives at alarming rates, it could hit as low as 27-28 kmpl if ridden hard. Best option is to change gears at 4000-5000 rpm to achieve a good balance of power and fuel economy.

Ride quality & handling

the handling can be called at best neutral, though much better than the cbr250r. Setting the rear shocks to no.3 Position improves handling considerably as opposed to the no.2 Factory setting. The front and rear shocks are tuned towards comfort, bad roads and potholes don’t upset the rider’s rhythm much. Even with a pillion, the suspension does a great job at keeping jerks and jolts at bay from the rider’s palm or butt.

The seat is a tad too soft, slightly stiffer foam would have made a great difference on a long ride (nothing that an aftermarket job can’t fix). The unicorn’s seat is ideal in terms of foam density. However the seat is good enough for daily use within the city. The soft foam on the seat allows the butt to sink in considerably, but riding 150-200 kms at a stretch would be an issue soft seat causing the butt to go numb.

The stock tyres do a great job in providing stability in long sweeping corners and sharp turns even during wet weather conditions. The karizma might not be an aggressive corner carver like the r15, but it’s not lagging behind either. An experienced rider on the karizma can give the r15 a run for its money when ridden on twisties.

Brakes are excellent, the front disc provides sufficient bite and the rear drum is pretty effective too. Even under a panic braking scenario, the brakes are up to the task. The absence of a rear disk brake was rarely felt; the drum was functional enough riding in bombay or on highways. However, i consider it mandatory to warm the brakes a bit by pumping both brakes a few times when riding in wet weather, this allows better braking efficiency and reduces chances of the brakes locking-up.

Final words

the karizma can be a great companion for a rider who is on the lookout for a motorcycle that strikes a balance between good power and great comfort, besides its one hell of a looker too. If maintained well, the karizma r is a reliable bike over all terrains and weather conditions. There are riders who have successfully scaled leh, pangong and khardung la on this gorgeous looking work-horse.

The latest slew of launches from competitors has to an extent dented the karizma’s sales figures. A ktm duke or a p200ns or a cbr250r owner might claim their steed’s technological supremacy over the karizma, but the fact remains that none of the modern-day machines (considering the karizma is almost 10 years old since its inception) can strike that “perfect balance” between performance and comfort that the karizma still offers.

Areas of improvement

• headlight requires to be upgraded to 55/60w for better visibility. The philips blue vision or the osram silverstar is a possible after-market upgrade.


• Horn requires an upgrade to the dual horn type, similar to the one on the zmr. The zmr horn can be directly fitted, but extensive usage takes its toll on the battery which leads to starting issues later. Its good as long as used judiciously.


• Engine heating up in city traffic situations and during sustained high speed rides. A simple solution is to switch to the mak 4t nxt synthetic engine oil from bpcl, best results on the karizma (tried & tested) and zmr. The 10w30 hero engine oil doesn’t hold for more than 3000 kms. Mak 4t nxt holds well for over 5000 kms on the karizma, even in extreme ride conditions; it also ensures better starting in cold weather.


• Tyres are a disappointment in wet weather conditions; straight line braking under an emergency causes a spill. Serious tourers switched to the pirelli or michelin brands and found it a good fit. I personally didn’t feel the need to change the tyres as they have very good grip in sweeping and tight corners. Maintaining a 28/28 psi (front/rear) tyre pressure whether riding with or without pillion allows sufficient grip in wet weather, anything above this might cause a spill under hard braking.


• Cross wind stability of the bike isn’t great under hard winds. The karizma sways substantially during harsh cross-winds that are often found on our national highways. My mechanic was of the opinion that removing the fiber belly adjacent to the engine should cure this problem, but i wasn’t too keen on experimenting this as it spoils the look of the bike to an extent.


• Cost of spares is exorbitant; a spill on the karizma can cost a bomb depending on the intensity of impact due to the accident. I seriously don’t find enough justification for hero to charge this steep an amount for karizma’s fiber parts or brake pads. It’s not as if the bike’s body panels last a decade, rather the fiber parts are quite flimsy and their contact/meshing points give away even without a fall or impact.

Pros

acceleration, looks, chassis, brakes, handling, comfort & suspension, meter console

cons

tyres, headlamp intensity, horn, cross-wind stability

I had bought my karizma r on 2014 and since it is producing excellent result for me. Karizma r has 225cc engine, maximum torque and heavy weight which gives smoothing and speedy riding experience. Yet it has heavier engine, though it is giving a decent mileage. My karizma r is near about 4 years older and already come across about 22, 000 kms, but till now it crosses the 100 effortlessly in speed meter and i am getting near about 45km/litre as mileage. There are many bikes on road and now a days lots more coming but karizma r is the best bike i ever used. Rock for karizma r.

About the Reviewer

first of all i have to tell you about my riding experience
riding a karizma is awesome..
mileage is superb 35plus is good for this category 223cc engine..
feel the engine eagerness when you rev the engine in 2nd and 3rd gear.
maintenance is not much higher if you change the engine oil,air filter after every 1000km..
this is the best bike ever in this category.

About the Reviewer

Great bike with best comfort in long rides. If hero could relaunch this bike with fuel injection and dual channel abs it will be a hit. The longer wheelbase gives good control and comfort. Easy to maintain hence there is no complex electronics. Only problems i faced with the bike is carburettor problem and cold start. Introduction of fuel injector will solve the problem. Please bring back this karizma r.

About the Reviewer

I feel sad because i can't buy the updated version of karizma r old model.When i ride her i fill awesome . The head of bike is look like king . No other bike can replace her place in my heart. She is my gf. No back pain problem while and after ride just like cbr and r15 . I request to hero company to restart the production of r.

About the Reviewer

It all started when i was in to college, i come from a middle class family & use to commute by road/walking as college too was nearby to my house. It was love at first sight when i saw this bright yellow beast making its way from the traffic, as if its roaring upon other bikes to make way for her.. Yes that was karizma r !Since then it got parked in my heart forever. I was aware i could not afford it & that's when i started nurturing my dream.. My dad bought me a splendour & was very happy with it as i knew that's the best my dad could gift me & i respect that.. Its been 18 years since then i still have the splendor fit & fine letting me hop from place to place.. But even god knew i had a special place for karizma r for all these long years By grace of god today i am in a position wherein i could even go for a re himalaya/cbr 250 but heart had something else to tell my mind, Yes, i have changed my dream into a reality ! today i am a proud owner of a 2013 karizma r !!I cannot express my feelings/emotions as this was into my heart for half of my life...

About the Reviewer

This is one of the best bikes i have ever drawn. I wanted to purchase one more bike but just got to know hero has stopped the production. I am so disappointed with this. You should have one karizma r old model mind-blowing performance.No maintenance as such.Just need to change the engine oil after every 3k kilometre.

About the Reviewer

It's an amazing bike, about style, look, power and performance are very good, it's first semi fairing bike in Indian motorcycle history there time. Hero, please relaunch this beats. Because present time many companies brought a cheap motorcycle.No quality, no stability, no long life,no value for money, only hero honda bike is my favourite.

About the Reviewer

Karizma had always been my dream machine as i am a avid fan of sports touring bike. The day came when i finally got my 2012 black karizma r on my birthday as a surprise gift from my parents and within a few weeks i took the bike to my favorite hill station.

Karizma r has a jet fighter looks coupled with aerodynamically designed dome. The stylish fairing and the body graphics adds beauty to the bike and its bright red alloys are really attractive.

Engine performance, fuel economy and gearbox

talking about engine, the 225cc motor is quite powerful in its class and its a refined and torquey engine that glides at high speeds easily and so making overtakes effortless even at high gears. I could easily drag my bike upto 140 kmph. However i could feel the vibrations after crossing 125kmph. The gearbox is so smooth like a hot knife running through butter. The lack of fuel injection doesn't have a big effect as i never have had starting problems with the carburetor even in cold conditions.

Ride quality & handling

coming upto the ride quality, i'll say its the best ergonomic sportz bike with a powerful engine. The seats are very comfortable for both the rider and the pillion. Unlike the r15 and pulsar 220, the karizma has a bit relaxed riding position and does not strain your body even after long hours of rides. While in the mountain, the bike was stable at curves and it really handles well when i threw my bike over the sharp hairpin bends. Even i was surprised by the punchy engine which doesn't hesitate while climbing up the steep mountains. The only defect i felt was the inadequate lighting during the pitch dark night but however i had fitted projector lamps for my bike.

Despite the absence of the rear disc brakes the retardation is pretty good as it has the largest front 276mm discs. But the presence of rear discs and pgm-fi would have made the bike a good deal.

Regardless of the powerful 225cc mill, the bike returned around 40kmpl as an average. I would say that its a pretty decent mileage considering the displacement of the engine. Thus this bike holds good both in maneuvering in the city traffic and also cruising in open highways as its motto says always cool, always ahead!!!

pros

excellent comfort, relaxed riding position, smooth gearbox, torquey engine

cons

inadequate headlight, no fuel injection, no rear disc brakes

Style

a well-maintained karizma r is still a head-turner in any part of the country. Paint is also of good quality, the glossy finish on the body panels and tank looks great. Hero has made some changes to the stickering to differentiate it from the erstwhile hero honda karizma, part of its re-branding exercise i guess. But the stickering/graphics don’t look out of place, infact it adds to the overall stance of the bike.

Engine performance, fuel economy and gearbox

the chassis is a gem considering prevailing indian road conditions; it provides the level of comfort needed on a sports tourer without sacrificing too much on the handling front. The chassis is infact derived from the infamous honda vfr sports touring series, making the karizma r extremely potent for both touring and commuting.

Karizma’s engine capacity, though 223cc doesn’t arm the bike with the kind of grunt evident on the pulsar 220 dtsi or 200 ns. On the contrary, it’s an extremely refined engine wherein vibrations are barely felt even when it is pushed to the redline. The 17 bhp might not sound interesting from a 223cc engine but, considering the liquid cooled r15 also pumps out the same; but the hidden gem is the 18.35 Nm of torque that’s evident on the karizma r right from the word go.

The bike accelerates briskly till 100 kmph even with a pillion, but the going gets slow beyond 110 kmph. The max bhp is produced at 7000 rpm making it easier to blip the bike through fast paced highways at not-so-ample throttle inputs. On the contrary, to keep the r15 on the boil, one has to wring the throttle hard making it an arduous task within city limits; the karizma definitely excels in this regard. Top speed achieved was approx 125 kmph on the speedometer (122 kmph measured on android gps).

Gearbox is easy to operate during highway stints. However the gearbox does tend to behave a little erratic in city traffic. Finding neutral when the engine is hot is a tough task at times. The 5th gear allows easy cruising at 60 kmph within city limits as there is abundant torque to play around with.

Fuel economy recorded was 37-40 kmpl in the city (with a gentle throttle) and 33-35 kmpl on highways (maintained 90-100 kmph). Above 100 kmph, fuel economy nosedives at alarming rates, it could hit as low as 27-28 kmpl if ridden hard. Best option is to change gears at 4000-5000 rpm to achieve a good balance of power and fuel economy.

Ride quality & handling

the handling can be called at best neutral, though much better than the cbr250r. Setting the rear shocks to no.3 Position improves handling considerably as opposed to the no.2 Factory setting. The front and rear shocks are tuned towards comfort, bad roads and potholes don’t upset the rider’s rhythm much. Even with a pillion, the suspension does a great job at keeping jerks and jolts at bay from the rider’s palm or butt.

The seat is a tad too soft, slightly stiffer foam would have made a great difference on a long ride (nothing that an aftermarket job can’t fix). The unicorn’s seat is ideal in terms of foam density. However the seat is good enough for daily use within the city. The soft foam on the seat allows the butt to sink in considerably, but riding 150-200 kms at a stretch would be an issue soft seat causing the butt to go numb.

The stock tyres do a great job in providing stability in long sweeping corners and sharp turns even during wet weather conditions. The karizma might not be an aggressive corner carver like the r15, but it’s not lagging behind either. An experienced rider on the karizma can give the r15 a run for its money when ridden on twisties.

Brakes are excellent, the front disc provides sufficient bite and the rear drum is pretty effective too. Even under a panic braking scenario, the brakes are up to the task. The absence of a rear disk brake was rarely felt; the drum was functional enough riding in bombay or on highways. However, i consider it mandatory to warm the brakes a bit by pumping both brakes a few times when riding in wet weather, this allows better braking efficiency and reduces chances of the brakes locking-up.

Final words

the karizma can be a great companion for a rider who is on the lookout for a motorcycle that strikes a balance between good power and great comfort, besides its one hell of a looker too. If maintained well, the karizma r is a reliable bike over all terrains and weather conditions. There are riders who have successfully scaled leh, pangong and khardung la on this gorgeous looking work-horse.

The latest slew of launches from competitors has to an extent dented the karizma’s sales figures. A ktm duke or a p200ns or a cbr250r owner might claim their steed’s technological supremacy over the karizma, but the fact remains that none of the modern-day machines (considering the karizma is almost 10 years old since its inception) can strike that “perfect balance” between performance and comfort that the karizma still offers.

Areas of improvement

• headlight requires to be upgraded to 55/60w for better visibility. The philips blue vision or the osram silverstar is a possible after-market upgrade.


• Horn requires an upgrade to the dual horn type, similar to the one on the zmr. The zmr horn can be directly fitted, but extensive usage takes its toll on the battery which leads to starting issues later. Its good as long as used judiciously.


• Engine heating up in city traffic situations and during sustained high speed rides. A simple solution is to switch to the mak 4t nxt synthetic engine oil from bpcl, best results on the karizma (tried & tested) and zmr. The 10w30 hero engine oil doesn’t hold for more than 3000 kms. Mak 4t nxt holds well for over 5000 kms on the karizma, even in extreme ride conditions; it also ensures better starting in cold weather.


• Tyres are a disappointment in wet weather conditions; straight line braking under an emergency causes a spill. Serious tourers switched to the pirelli or michelin brands and found it a good fit. I personally didn’t feel the need to change the tyres as they have very good grip in sweeping and tight corners. Maintaining a 28/28 psi (front/rear) tyre pressure whether riding with or without pillion allows sufficient grip in wet weather, anything above this might cause a spill under hard braking.


• Cross wind stability of the bike isn’t great under hard winds. The karizma sways substantially during harsh cross-winds that are often found on our national highways. My mechanic was of the opinion that removing the fiber belly adjacent to the engine should cure this problem, but i wasn’t too keen on experimenting this as it spoils the look of the bike to an extent.


• Cost of spares is exorbitant; a spill on the karizma can cost a bomb depending on the intensity of impact due to the accident. I seriously don’t find enough justification for hero to charge this steep an amount for karizma’s fiber parts or brake pads. It’s not as if the bike’s body panels last a decade, rather the fiber parts are quite flimsy and their contact/meshing points give away even without a fall or impact.

Pros

acceleration, looks, chassis, brakes, handling, comfort & suspension, meter console

cons

tyres, headlamp intensity, horn, cross-wind stability

I had bought my karizma r on 2014 and since it is producing excellent result for me. Karizma r has 225cc engine, maximum torque and heavy weight which gives smoothing and speedy riding experience. Yet it has heavier engine, though it is giving a decent mileage. My karizma r is near about 4 years older and already come across about 22, 000 kms, but till now it crosses the 100 effortlessly in speed meter and i am getting near about 45km/litre as mileage. There are many bikes on road and now a days lots more coming but karizma r is the best bike i ever used. Rock for karizma r.

About the Reviewer

first of all i have to tell you about my riding experience
riding a karizma is awesome..
mileage is superb 35plus is good for this category 223cc engine..
feel the engine eagerness when you rev the engine in 2nd and 3rd gear.
maintenance is not much higher if you change the engine oil,air filter after every 1000km..
this is the best bike ever in this category.

About the Reviewer

Great bike with best comfort in long rides. If hero could relaunch this bike with fuel injection and dual channel abs it will be a hit. The longer wheelbase gives good control and comfort. Easy to maintain hence there is no complex electronics. Only problems i faced with the bike is carburettor problem and cold start. Introduction of fuel injector will solve the problem. Please bring back this karizma r.

About the Reviewer

I feel sad because i can't buy the updated version of karizma r old model.When i ride her i fill awesome . The head of bike is look like king . No other bike can replace her place in my heart. She is my gf. No back pain problem while and after ride just like cbr and r15 . I request to hero company to restart the production of r.

About the Reviewer

It all started when i was in to college, i come from a middle class family & use to commute by road/walking as college too was nearby to my house. It was love at first sight when i saw this bright yellow beast making its way from the traffic, as if its roaring upon other bikes to make way for her.. Yes that was karizma r !Since then it got parked in my heart forever. I was aware i could not afford it & that's when i started nurturing my dream.. My dad bought me a splendour & was very happy with it as i knew that's the best my dad could gift me & i respect that.. Its been 18 years since then i still have the splendor fit & fine letting me hop from place to place.. But even god knew i had a special place for karizma r for all these long years By grace of god today i am in a position wherein i could even go for a re himalaya/cbr 250 but heart had something else to tell my mind, Yes, i have changed my dream into a reality ! today i am a proud owner of a 2013 karizma r !!I cannot express my feelings/emotions as this was into my heart for half of my life...

About the Reviewer

This is one of the best bikes i have ever drawn. I wanted to purchase one more bike but just got to know hero has stopped the production. I am so disappointed with this. You should have one karizma r old model mind-blowing performance.No maintenance as such.Just need to change the engine oil after every 3k kilometre.

About the Reviewer

It's an amazing bike, about style, look, power and performance are very good, it's first semi fairing bike in Indian motorcycle history there time. Hero, please relaunch this beats. Because present time many companies brought a cheap motorcycle.No quality, no stability, no long life,no value for money, only hero honda bike is my favourite.

About the Reviewer