I guess no bike can be liked by everyone and this argument could run and run :)

I just know mine is a £400 smasher that pushes a bow wave of grins and waves before it wherever it goes. And I know there are plenty of owners out there who'll agree with me! ;)

Matt

Karizma-schmarizma!
 

Depends what you want from your time in India but (of the bikes you can get out here) I'd recommend a Pulsar (made by Bajaj)...

I've only pottered around south India, but it seems that:

- Pulsars and Bajaj are fairly common (good for parts, if needed...Bajaj showrooms in every town)
- mine has been very reliable (4 months now, and all ok - touch wood!),
- at 150cc, they're as fast as you want to go (sitting at 70-80km/h is fine)
- mine was 3 years old and cost me 400 quid
[- and the vast majority of the other bikes out here are 100cc work-horses]

Whereas, in the past four months I've only seen about 6 Karizmas (and all have been parked) and of the handful of Westerners i've talked to with Enfields, everyone has experienced mechanical problems...

Like i say, it depends on what you want from your time in India...what price 70cc of extra (possibly mechanically suspect) kudos and rarity value?

Bulleteer!!
 

Own a bullet 500. Ride to work every god-darn day in 40C temperature. MY suzuki Katana can't take it (it's air-oil cooled) the ZZR can't take that sort of abuse (it's liquid cooled) and hell most cars can't take it.
It's not perfect, but it's just right for India. Get a good mechanic who knows his stuff and make him understand you know yours and he will keep your bike running good.
I'm with Matt on this one guys. The bullets got character, it might be flawed but it's character none-the-less.
Cheers.

Enfielder
 

Hi A1arn,

Come on. Bullets aren't as bad as you are making them out to be. Just returned from a 12day journey with not-a-single-breakdown. Must confess, was a little surprised and disappointed [didn't get to us my spare cables!].

Prash

Well I guess spares availability for the Karizma would be slightly better than for a 500cc Enfield in small towns.

Don't know about quality issues because I've personally found the Karizma and the Bullet to be pretty reliable provided they have been well looked after.