Is Gladi' for real?!!. Review on Yamaha Gladiator SS

The first thing that came in my mind when I heard the news that Yamaha motors gonna launch a new bike titled 'again' as Gladiator was "Bullshit". Hang on, this is the reason why, I hope most of you have ever heard somewhere about the Gladiator 165 or Gladiator 150. Ask yourself when was the time when you heard that.

Oh! man I was seriously waiting for that bike to hit the indian market but hell No! what they did, they disappointed millions of gleaming people like me. My friend saw that bike for real when he had visited the 8th Auto Expo. And yes I was fida..!! over it when I saw the pics on xbhp.com.

They disappointed me. Now recently the new rumour was overheard and that was YZF R-15. I just fear to dream of owning that bike coz I know there are people who doesn't think that there are few people worth of owning those kind of class bike in India. I am from Nepal and in our counry only those bikes that hit indian market are imported or rather say that exported from India. SO am not happy with what ever speculation is being heard here and there. Well regarding the SS and RS I started murmuring are these people for real, they all think that we are fools waiting for all new launched bikes. Now what yamaha does is that they just throw their products to everyone and lands themselves being reached to no one. But this time, they might have hired some people who are good in entreprenurial skills and YES! this time they have focussed the niche market rather than hitting the market with the comcept that " If we build a product, the customers will come all like that."

Well fingers crossed I pray and hope for the best for them and yes this time also am really expecting a lot from them to deliver YZF R-15 in the indian market. I am not worried about the price even though it might cost just below lakh rupees (remember the concept of tata ratna Lakhtakiya car) But here in Nepal, we just love bikes and we don't care about price. You won't believe how much Gladiator SS without the registration and taxes cost over here. The price is marked oddly at NRs. 1, 38, 900/- (1R.s =1.6 NRs) costs a hell lot right???

Bike importers over here don't even fear about the lakhtakiya car coz they know even if car costs less than a bike, people over here still opt for the dream machine bikes. Gladiator SS and RS( The RS model will never hit Nepali market thats what it was clear when I visited Yamaha Showroom in Kathmandu). Ah! there's much not to differ from the two except for the stickering job.

Why Gladiator SS?

*My friend wants to buy a 125cc mean machine with an overall package and damn he is seriously waiting for TVS Flame to hit the market. He happened to visit one of the showrooms and on top of that I had seen few bikes groozing past me in the crowded streets. The first visual impression that I got when I saw that bike was I was astonished to see Gladiator 165 on road. It was only second time that I was able to clear out that no my dreams are still shattered. Overall the style is awesome, its a head turner, I could see some of the girls turning the head to see that bike(but not the riders even they are young like me) ask anyone, even my dad liked it and he has already took the initiatives to buy that bike by selling his 11years old HH Splendor for NRs. 48500. But still he was confused between Honda Shine and Gladi' SS. Now I wont say that Honda Shine is not a nice bike, hell NO! its a gud byk but only thing that made me stop my dad from buying that bike is that its little outdated and besides it is too small for the build type like my dad!

*Performance wise:-

A 125cc 11BHP the same engine like YBX and Enticer, what more to expect. It is really a tough and durable engine coz before I bought my bike 3 years ago I was confused wih YBX. Besides My dad have the experience of riding RX100 for 10 years before buying HH Splendor. You push the bike it will give you nice feed back from the engine - Push me and push me harder! The exra notch of 5th gear- first in class is simply grool!!! to match the efficiency which it promises. The things like 30mm lower head fairings than the old Gladiator to give it a class of Sports is true to Yamaha DNA. Engine cowl gives the whole byk the concept of aerodynamically designed bike. The aluminium foot pegs and rest adds glory to this bike. The sealed chain is extra features and also you need not keep oiling your chain all time even though its left wide opened. The handle bar and indicators are again from the Yamaha R1 inspired. Tachometer Short base height of handle bar, new designed muffler, common stop wasting reading all this, you should visit your nearest showroom asap. When I visited the near showroom, there was this girl who asked me very politely, I know you came to look for the new Gladi'...

She started buffling out all its specs and features on to which I was smiling and laughing from inside coz she was doing that as if she was reading some scripts to read out to customers. Poor girl what to do, that was her job, even though I know what all new features that it bestows I was listening to her politely with sarcastic smile at times coz she was doing her job well.

Mileage I have tested on my uncles Gladiator Dlx model its 52kmplin city conditions and it is alright for a 125cc in city. Don't know about highway coz never took it out. The handling is superb, common stop wasting time again reading this, move on... and hit the road. But also, its simply agile and crispier turns and twists. The bike seem ok for any Asian people whether from Nepal or India. Well for college goers, do expect some tough competition from pulsar and Hunk. It also comes up with high terrain Wide filter to intake more air mixture for better combustion thus embarking the efficiency...

Now comes the cons: Well I would be a diplomat  over here coz I don't think there's any visible cons or defect that she possess. Yeah! at times you feel that more re-engineering was needed looking at its back side from where you sit to the tail light parts and the wheels. Yamaha people should really have worked out on the prototypes of those byk and then should have reconsider it. Who knows there is another re-modifications waiting to pile up in already busy market. I heard the black one looks cool with black and silver tone color but when I asked about that they said that they have no idea about it and currently there's only two colors choices available (remember no RS in our market) but their fellow colleague do know that the new YZF R-15 gonna hit somewhere in june-july. I am not sure how sure they are...

Stop wasting any more time, go see this bike for real and for yourself. Mark my words.. you will not regret buying her. You will be a proud and feel satisfied when you will  be riding her.

One warning!- Do expect some head turners around the corner, don't forget to wear your goggles to hide from the young girls staring at you.! At last happy riding.. Ride safely...

Always ride to care not to dare!