The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Biking pleasure redefined

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Thursday, Aug 14, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Biking pleasure redefined

Abhijit Dev Kumar

Be it cruisers or sports models, there is something for every biker

— PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

BEAUTY ON WHEELS: Royal Enfield’s Thunderbird is one of most sought after bikes in the cruiser category.

Hyderabad: Biking is surely being redefined in the twin cities by young Hyderabadis. Gone are the days when parents had to shell out a few thousand rupees and get a 100 cc bike for their children. Today youngsters are not settling for a machine that is no less than a combination of speed and power.

Amidst increasing vehicular traffic, a bike zooms past other vehicles, finding its way with ease while others just drive.

The thrill of finding one’s way between vehicles is what young bikers look for and there is no dearth of mean machines to help them ride like that.

Be it cruisers or sports models, there is something for every kind of biker.

A slick Pulsar 200cc or the elegant cruiser, Thunderbird from Royal Enfield -- these stylish bikes are in the league of their own.

Showrooms selling these bikes have witnessed a gradual increase in sales in the last few months.

Waiting period

“The Thunderbird appeals to people who are laid back and like to go on long drives. The comfort factor is a major decision maker for anyone buying the bike,” says R. Srinivasan, a dealer of Royal Enfield.

The demand for the bike is such that there is a 45-day waiting period for Thunderbird (cost Rs. 1.03 lakh on road).

The sporty two-wheelers such as Pulsar 200 cc (Rs. 76,200) and 220 cc (Rs. 92,700) and Hero Honda’s Karizma (Rs. 83,780) are also most sought-after by college students thriving on speed. “Such bikes are stylish and more comfortable and the saving grace is that they come with tubeless tyres,” says P. Simon, a B.Com student, who owns a Pulsar.

With the craze for such bikes increasing by the day, youngsters don’t mind long waiting period is terribly long.

“These machines are equipped with the latest technology which is quite an attractive feature. Moreover, the buyers don’t mind waiting for 10 to 15 days for the motorbike to be delivered to them,” says a staffer from Bajaj Probiking.

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