When I bought my new Yamaha SZ, I was initially happy with my purchase. Initially, the ride quality was good and I had no problems. However, after a few thousand kilometers, I started to experience some issues with the engine. It became increasingly noisy, and I had to change the carburetor at 10000 km. Even after getting the service done on time, the service center technician was unable to identify the problems. The mechanics were inexperienced and could not provide a proper diagnosis. This was not the experience I expected from a Yamaha product. I will never buy a Yamaha again.
After using the XPulse 200 2V BS6 for over 10,000 km, I can vouch for its performance as a pure off-road machine. Its sweet spot is around 80-90 kmph, which can be a bit boring at times. However, when the roads get bad, the XPulse 200 comes into its own and it’s a joy to ride. I’ve found it to be comfortable for touring up to 150 km a day, with the suspension doing a great job on rough terrain. Fuel economy is decent too, with around 44 kmpl on roads between 60-75 kmph, 42 kmpl on 70-80 kmph, and 38 kmpl on 80-95 kmph. It all depends on how you ride and how much throttle you give it. I wouldn’t recommend it for pillion riding, as it is best enjoyed as a solo ride.
Back in December 2005, my father purchased a secondhand LML Freedom DX. It had just been out of the showroom, having only travelled 600km, and was manufactured in December 2004. Fast-forward 13 years and my bike has covered a total of 48000km - I use it every day, travelling 25km on average. At the time, the Freedom DX was the hottest bike on the Indian market, and it still looks great after all this time. The shock absorbers were fantastic when I first got it, though they don't work as well these days. Despite this, it's still a comfortable ride and it has quite a bit of power - although it only averages 45km per litre. Its maintenance costs are low, and parts are still available, though not as readily as for other models. The sad thing is that there are no Freedom service centres in my area, and the resale value is low due to lack of demand. But for everyday use, it's a great family bike and I'm glad to have it.