Franklin Wallace
07-20-2011, 05:32 AM
love good motorcycles. I am lucky enough to be able to get my fix of sporty motorcycles here at Autocar India, but the fact is that.my life and job in Pune city are more likely to make me gravitate towards a bike like the CB Twister that has just returned to Honda. Why? Because I do more than my fair share of duties in zipping across town on various assignments, and the chockablock (and also indisciplined) traffic usually gets me down.
That's why the Honda CB Twister made good sense, making commuting in town a lot more pleasurable than it usually is. The extroverted motorcycle was always eager to get into the thick of the action, weaving through choked streets and zipping across open stretches with ease. The bantamweight and agile Twister was also aided by a feather-light clutch which made point-and-shoot ahead an exercise in two-wheeled pleasure. And, thanks to its edgy styling and Ferrari-red colour, it always stood out in parking lots without any need for a 'search and rescue' operation.
The good bits about the bike are really good. A willing 109cc, 9bhp engine, light clutch and responsive throttle make this small Honda a treat to ride. At the traffic lights, all you have to do is twist and shout for a light twist of the throttle is all it takes to propel the Twister ahead of other surprised motorists.This Honda will happily cruise at 80kph without a murmur and, when mixed with a diet of sober riding, will return a wallet-friendly 59 kilometres to the litre.
7698
Ergonomically, the bike's riding position is perfect, making for comfortable outings even if they happen to be on a hard day's night. The suspension set-up also feels just right, the Twister soaking all road undulations in its stride while also inspiring confidence around corners. And when it comes to traction, the skinny looking tyres surprisingly provide ample grip. The switchgear works well too.
Overall build quality, like on most Honda bikes, is top-notch and little details like the premium fuel filler cap help embellish the Twister ownership experience further. Not so good was the absence of a pass-light flasher. While the illumination from the Twister's small headlight is adequate, I often found myself fumbling whenever I needed to ride past slower-moving motorists.
On the maintenance front, the Honda needed little assistance other than a refreshing oil change, which helped restore the engine's silky nature. However, service at the Kothari Honda dealership in Pune was rather lax. In itslast month with us, the Twister's speedometer and odometer remained in a state of disrepair simply because the technicians first failed to set them right, and then added insult to injury by
not informing us about the availability of the part.
Overall, though, the CB Twister shone through its 5,000km with us. This versatile Honda was a popular choice among all staffers for its wide repertoire of talents and most were loathe to let go of its keys. Not for nothing was the CB Twister voted Autocar India's Bike of the Year 2011.
That's why the Honda CB Twister made good sense, making commuting in town a lot more pleasurable than it usually is. The extroverted motorcycle was always eager to get into the thick of the action, weaving through choked streets and zipping across open stretches with ease. The bantamweight and agile Twister was also aided by a feather-light clutch which made point-and-shoot ahead an exercise in two-wheeled pleasure. And, thanks to its edgy styling and Ferrari-red colour, it always stood out in parking lots without any need for a 'search and rescue' operation.
The good bits about the bike are really good. A willing 109cc, 9bhp engine, light clutch and responsive throttle make this small Honda a treat to ride. At the traffic lights, all you have to do is twist and shout for a light twist of the throttle is all it takes to propel the Twister ahead of other surprised motorists.This Honda will happily cruise at 80kph without a murmur and, when mixed with a diet of sober riding, will return a wallet-friendly 59 kilometres to the litre.
7698
Ergonomically, the bike's riding position is perfect, making for comfortable outings even if they happen to be on a hard day's night. The suspension set-up also feels just right, the Twister soaking all road undulations in its stride while also inspiring confidence around corners. And when it comes to traction, the skinny looking tyres surprisingly provide ample grip. The switchgear works well too.
Overall build quality, like on most Honda bikes, is top-notch and little details like the premium fuel filler cap help embellish the Twister ownership experience further. Not so good was the absence of a pass-light flasher. While the illumination from the Twister's small headlight is adequate, I often found myself fumbling whenever I needed to ride past slower-moving motorists.
On the maintenance front, the Honda needed little assistance other than a refreshing oil change, which helped restore the engine's silky nature. However, service at the Kothari Honda dealership in Pune was rather lax. In itslast month with us, the Twister's speedometer and odometer remained in a state of disrepair simply because the technicians first failed to set them right, and then added insult to injury by
not informing us about the availability of the part.
Overall, though, the CB Twister shone through its 5,000km with us. This versatile Honda was a popular choice among all staffers for its wide repertoire of talents and most were loathe to let go of its keys. Not for nothing was the CB Twister voted Autocar India's Bike of the Year 2011.