Bajaj Pulsar 200 vs Yamaha Sparkz 135 vs Honda Phantom TA200

[AKUTERRER]

Hello People!

 

I own a Vespa PX150 and COE is ending next year. I am thinking of getting a new ride but need some advise as I am not too sure on which bike can cater to my needs. My work requires the following :-

 

1) I travel all over SG for meetings.

2) Requires to bring bulky equipments at times so a big top-box is a must and if side panniers are available, will be good too.

3) Fuel efficient

4) Low maintenance

5) Must be a 2B bike

 

I am torn between the 4 bikes in the subject of this post. Pls advise the pros and cons of the above bikes and also do post your views and suggestions. Would love to hear your opinions!

 

Thanks!

Edited December 16, 2011 by AKUTERRER

[shahrul_azmil3]

Spark 135

 

Can place big box plus center basket plus front basket. No need to worry about no space already.

 

Gd pick up. Gd fuel consumption. Easy maintenace. Semi syn every month is good enough. Cheap2

[Pulser]

Each bike has its pluses and minus.

 

Spark is probably technologically the best out the 4 and also the fastest and the best Power/FC ratio( This means although it is powerful doesn't consume too much fuel. It is fuel injected, oil cooled engine and has oil filter so techically cutting edge. But end of the day a cub is a cub. Its strange that in south east asia people dont feel ashamed riding a cub. Any other country outside south east asia people wouldn't even want to be a pillion on a cub. They look down upon it

 

The other 3 bikes are old school. Although Phantom has 6 gears and rear disk brake and is good power and smooth cruising. Bajaj Pulsar is good FC but cruising is not good at 100+. Both Bajaj Pulsar and Honda Phantom look better than the other 2. I like Bajaj Pulsar looks the most.YBR lacks in almost all deparments except FC.

 

So they are very different bikes and the choice is yours hehe. I would personally choose them in the following order:

1)Honda Phantom(Powerful, looks good, decent FC, 6 Gears , Its a Honda!)

2)Bajaj Pulsar(Powerful, looks good, Awesome FC)

3)YBR(I hate it, but then I hate cubs more )

4)Spark(I just hate the looks of a cub )

Edited December 16, 2011 by Pulser

[naim]

my experience with phantom: fix 3 boxes and still looks good. stable at speed. FC nt as good as the others but still not bad. cheap maintenance (1L EO per mth). cheap parts and can be fixed by virtually all bikeshops in SG. but most of all, SUPER COMFORTABLE!

[AKUTERRER]

Naim,

 

You mentioned that you rode Honda Phantom. Can advise on the following:

 

1) Fuel consumption, 1 litre of petrol can clock how many KM?

2) What are the maintenance done regularly?

3) Which of the parts wear out faster and roughly how much it cost to replace?

4) Any prbs you encountered with the bike before?

 

Sorry for asking so many questions as I am thinking of getting another bike since my current bike COE will end nxt year and COE prices are astronomical.

 

Thanks!

[AKUTERRER]

I am interested in Sparkz but my main concern is tht the tank is too small. As I travel from Pasir Ris to Jurong East everyday, apart from going to client's places, a bigger tank would be good so I do not have to refuel everyday. Is there any aftermarket bigger tank for the Sparkz?

[revhappy]

I am interested in Sparkz but my main concern is tht the tank is too small. As I travel from Pasir Ris to Jurong East everyday, apart from going to client's places, a bigger tank would be good so I do not have to refuel everyday. Is there any aftermarket bigger tank for the Sparkz?

 

For big tank just buy the Pulsar, lah. 18Ltrs tank. Full tank you can go to KL and come back without topping up

 

Phantom although is 10Lrs, its FC is about 35-40 so even though it is double the size of spark, it will last you almost same.

[Jehuty]

Spark is the fastest because its very light but only has a 4l tank.

YBR is slow but it has a bigger tank. Maintenance wise should be the same as spark, or even lesser.

Bajaj is ok but I hear there's many probs with its EFI.

 

All of them have roughly the same FC, 35-40, maybe more if you run lean.

[crazydj]

Don't get a YBR. Everyone here is dissing it, so it must be lousy.

[swashylahs]

Don't get a YBR. Everyone here is dissing it, so it must be lousy.

 

but i thought you ride YBR one.

[naim]

Naim,

 

You mentioned that you rode Honda Phantom. Can advise on the following:

 

1) Fuel consumption, 1 litre of petrol can clock how many KM?

2) What are the maintenance done regularly?

3) Which of the parts wear out faster and roughly how much it cost to replace?

4) Any prbs you encountered with the bike before?

 

Sorry for asking so many questions as I am thinking of getting another bike since my current bike COE will end nxt year and COE prices are astronomical.

 

Thanks!

 

1) Average about 35km/l

2) 1L engine oil every 1500-2000km and maybe spark plug every 3 mths.

3) Nothing that wears out abnormally fast. Just the usual wear & tear stuffs like brakes, tyres, chain + sprockets, etc.

4) In my 1.5 years riding it, nothing has happened to my bike that has made it unrideable or broke down halfway on this 7-year old bike. very reliable bike for sure.

[crazydj]

crazydj,

 

You mentioned indirectly that you rode Yamaha YBR125. Can advise on the following:

 

1) Fuel consumption, 1 litre of petrol can clock how many KM?

2) What are the maintenance done regularly?

3) Which of the parts wear out faster and roughly how much it cost to replace?

4) Any prbs you encountered with the bike before?

 

Sorry for asking so many questions as I am thinking of getting another bike since my current bike COE will end nxt year and COE prices are astronomical.

 

Thanks!

 

1) 40+ km/l for the regular guy.

2) What maintenance? You just check oil level can already. Spark plug use one year also no problem.

3) The usual wear and tear parts. Cheap to replace anyway. But you got to watch out for the magneto. Every 2 years MIGHT need to replace. Those who own YBR knows this. Less than $100 for a good original one with labour.

4) The magneto. Other than that, just wear and tear. Things will spoil on it eventually.

 

Its a very boring bike ah. Too boring. You dunno how bored you will get riding it. Wah, stress sia because so boring. And i dunno why people say slow. I always see those dispatch rider at traffic light with dunno what they load their bike with always beat me at traffic light. Then one day i try, actually can go very fast, its just whether you dare or not. I normally change gear at 4.5-5k so i am kinda relieks already.

 

I got friends who owns pulsars. They say that the parts expensive and the electricals, i forgot one particular component, will tend to spoil more often. Like the YBR magneto coil. Dunno whats it called on the pulsar though.

 

The Phantom is like YBR in terms of parts and maintenance. Its faster but fuel consumption is more. Long wheelbase. Rear disc brake. Not my cup of tea. Funny handling and turning radius. You must like chopper to like this bike. I dun like choppers so yeah.

 

The kapcai, well, its a kapcai. I don't like the tiny fueltank and the no fueltank in front of you. If you ride everyday, you will appreciate how you don't need to keep pumping petrol. If right infront of your house got petrol station, then the kapcai is for you.

 

Ultimately, its up to your preference. You got to sit on the bike and 'try' it out to see if you like. If you small and cute, you will like kapcai. If you tall, big, fat or whatsoever, you will like the other 3.

[Fried Rice]

why not get a 2a? a s4 would fulfill everything

 

2b bikes are very underpowered, somemore you have to travel daily and carry a lot of of stuff with you as well.

[Rempit10]

Phantom vs Bajaj

 

Phantom : big seat ,lepak, full tank can go simei to tuas for 1 week plus ..

Bajaj : spare parts I heard not easy to find.Full tank can go back kuala lumpur ..

[Allen]

why not get a 2a? a s4 would fulfill everything

 

2b bikes are very underpowered, somemore you have to travel daily and carry a lot of of stuff with you as well.

 

Fuel consumption is also part of his factor.

[Jehuty]

Fuel consumption is also part of his factor.

 

S4 consumption not bad la, as good as standard 2B 2 strokes or better.

[CSV]

go with phantom la. bigger size, more stable than kups. average fc is around 35-40kmpl.

 

can go fast but once hit 120km/h the bike starting to protest liao.

 

top box side box can contain lots of stuff. cheap to maintain with 1l of eo, 1 spark plug and then air filter(6 months),

 

cheap to buy, market range from 800-2800 dependant on COE.

[alvinyansg]

Spark is the fastest because its very light but only has a 4l tank.

YBR is slow but it has a bigger tank. Maintenance wise should be the same as spark, or even lesser.

Bajaj is ok but I hear there's many probs with its EFI.

 

All of them have roughly the same FC, 35-40, maybe more if you run lean.

 

Pulsars are running on carb...

there was once a short period where the P220(sg don't have) running on EFI but they stopped it and revert back to carbs for all the pulsars...

FC wise i can hit 40-45km/l with 3 boxes loaded...

avg travel speed of 85-90km/h...

 

1) 40+ km/l for the regular guy.

2) What maintenance? You just check oil level can already. Spark plug use one year also no problem.

3) The usual wear and tear parts. Cheap to replace anyway. But you got to watch out for the magneto. Every 2 years MIGHT need to replace. Those who own YBR knows this. Less than $100 for a good original one with labour.

4) The magneto. Other than that, just wear and tear. Things will spoil on it eventually.

 

Its a very boring bike ah. Too boring. You dunno how bored you will get riding it. Wah, stress sia because so boring. And i dunno why people say slow. I always see those dispatch rider at traffic light with dunno what they load their bike with always beat me at traffic light. Then one day i try, actually can go very fast, its just whether you dare or not. I normally change gear at 4.5-5k so i am kinda relieks already.

 

I got friends who owns pulsars. They say that the parts expensive and the electricals, i forgot one particular component, will tend to spoil more often. Like the YBR magneto coil. Dunno whats it called on the pulsar though.

 

The Phantom is like YBR in terms of parts and maintenance. Its faster but fuel consumption is more. Long wheelbase. Rear disc brake. Not my cup of tea. Funny handling and turning radius. You must like chopper to like this bike. I dun like choppers so yeah.

 

The kapcai, well, its a kapcai. I don't like the tiny fueltank and the no fueltank in front of you. If you ride everyday, you will appreciate how you don't need to keep pumping petrol. If right infront of your house got petrol station, then the kapcai is for you.

 

Ultimately, its up to your preference. You got to sit on the bike and 'try' it out to see if you like. If you small and cute, you will like kapcai. If you tall, big, fat or whatsoever, you will like the other 3.

 

Phantom vs Bajaj

 

Phantom : big seat ,lepak, full tank can go simei to tuas for 1 week plus ..

Bajaj : spare parts I heard not easy to find.Full tank can go back kuala lumpur ..

 

for bajaj parts there have a lot of talk about hard to find,expensive,not reliable etc...

well i admit the parts are slightly more pricey as compared to the more common honda,yamaha parts but the pricing is still reasonable...

for parts can head to Universal Motors at Bt Merah they are the main distributor for bajaj bikes...

parts breaking down...hmmmm....

seen bajaj bikes at universal motors for overhual and the owners complain why bike breakdown and no good...

but after checking with the mechs, the owner did not change EO for almost 10k,oil come out in chunks,piston jam,chain never oil & tighten at all for the last 5k,super loose and rusty chain etc...

so is bike problem or owner problem?

just do the regular oil change,servicing and take care of you bike i am very sure your bike will take care of you...

[crazydj]

Pulsars are running on carb...

there was once a short period where the P220(sg don't have) running on EFI but they stopped it and revert back to carbs for all the pulsars...

FC wise i can hit 40-45km/l with 3 boxes loaded...

avg travel speed of 85-90km/h...

 

 

 

 

 

for bajaj parts there have a lot of talk about hard to find,expensive,not reliable etc...

well i admit the parts are slightly more pricey as compared to the more common honda,yamaha parts but the pricing is still reasonable...

for parts can head to Universal Motors at Bt Merah they are the main distributor for bajaj bikes...

parts breaking down...hmmmm....

seen bajaj bikes at universal motors for overhual and the owners complain why bike breakdown and no good...

but after checking with the mechs, the owner did not change EO for almost 10k,oil come out in chunks,piston jam,chain never oil & tighten at all for the last 5k,super loose and rusty chain etc...

so is bike problem or owner problem?

just do the regular oil change,servicing and take care of you bike i am very sure your bike will take care of you...

 

I think you can do all these on a honda and yamaha and it wont fail as bad. 10k and the oil comes out in chunks? Its either the oil suck crap or the bike is running way too hot.