Kawasaki Z250 Review

Photo Courtesy: Kawasaki India

Old or young, a lion still has claws!

Kawasaki is one of the most known brands in the world, especially for its superbikes. Kawasaki was having the title of ‘producer of fastest motorbikes’ for many years, and even now if you search for the fastest bike in the world you can see the name Kawasaki in the top 5 list; may be on top 3.

On Dec 2014 Kawasaki launched its most affordable bike the Kawasaki Z250, and on April 2017 they re-launched its better version with a facelift.

Now all youngsters are curious about this bike, especially who like push bikes to their limits on the road. Those who care about the looks and style are keen on the launch of every Kawasaki versions.

Well in this review you are about to have a different news about this model, different from its predecessors.

Is this bike is good or bad; fantastic or a turn off for riders? Read further to know about the final verdict.

Photo Courtesy: Kawasaki India

Specifications

On Sale                              Now

L/W/H                                2010/750/1025mm

Wheelbase                          1400mm

Fuel tank capacity              17 litres

Kerb weight                       168kg

Engine layout                     Four-stroke, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled

Displacement                     249cc

Power                                 31.1bhp at 11000rpm

Torque                                2.2kgm at 10000rpm

Specific output                  124.9bhp per litre

Power to weight                185.1bhp per tonne

Gearbox                             6-speed, 1-down, 5-up

Front suspension                Telescopic forks

Rear suspension                Monoshock, box section swingarm

Front brake                        290mm petal disc

Rear brake                         220mm petal disc

Wheels                               5-spoke alloy

Rim size (f-r)                     17inches

Tyre size (f-r)                    110/70 x 17- 140/70 x 17inches

Looks and Design

First of all guys, the looks!

It’s really awesome. It is definitely from the Z family. It has that same aggressive headlamps and stance that you can see in Kawasaki Z800. If you look closer, the front and sides are similar to Z800 but not exactly same, well, a bit low on aggression.

From the back side, you might think it as Ninja 250R as the rear end is almost same as 250R. Overall, the bike looks great and it is for the big boys.

The instrument panel looks awesome as I guessed and has a sporty and aggressive feel. The big analogue rev indicator the middle in which a red line starts past 12.5 rpm and a small panel at the right bottom side. All these setups look really good and in place, and the headlamps gives good illumination for the road.

Photo Courtesy: Kawasaki India

Dynamics and Performance

Let’s talk about dynamics and performance. Z250 has got the same chassis as that of Ninja 250R, and Ninja 250r delivers good handling and the same can be said about the Z250.As Z250 got shorter wheelbase than that of Ninja 250R, you can say that it's much better than Ninja 250R in handling. It’s more agile then Ninja 250R, and it can make you feel like you have enhanced driving skills.

As most of its parts are borrowed from Ninja 250R, even the engine which has been detuned which is a liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine producing 32bhp at 11 k rpm, and a torque of 21 at 10 k rpm.

It comes with a six-speed gearbox which is good, and once it passes 7k rpm, the engine really comes to life. This engine really loves to be revved and revved, only then this bike feels sporty.

But the performance is not that impressive. When looking at the price, the performance is not up to our expectations. It doesn’t come with ABS, which is a big negative. Even though the suspensions have been softened but without compromising the agility, still it's not that comfortable on the seats.

The seating position is not that comfortable especially for long rides, and the pillion seat is also not that comfortable.

There is no slipper clutch still that’s not the big concern as the gearbox is good. Even the tyres which are given as standard are not doing justice to the bike’s superb handling. This bike is best suited for a curvy track or smooth highway where it can rev.

Price:- 3,78,000(INR)

Photo Courtesy: Kawasaki India

Final verdict:

Looks and design: 9/10

Specs & features: 6/10

Dynamics & performance: 8/10

Safety & quality: 8/10

After-sale service: 7/10

I am not going to recommend this bike as this one is not worth the money you pay for. It should only be bought by the people who are looking for style and require handling and brand name and not comfort and performance.

I would suggest you to either increase your budget and buy ninja 300R or other brands bikes. You can also wait for Ninja 250R.

If you like this review, subscribe to our blog to receive quick notifications of our updates.  And comment below if you have any doubts regarding this article and let us know if you wish to see a review of any particular automobile. And e-mail us for further queries.

Audi A4 review

Photo Courtesy: Audi India

Now let’s talk about the ‘Horch’, oh yes horch.

Horch is the Latin word for Audi; well what does Audi means?

The company’s name Audi is based on the Latin translation of the Surname of the founder August Horch. In German ‘horch’ means ‘listen’, and, when we translate it to Latin, it becomes ‘Audi’.

The 9^th generation of Audi A4 came in 2016 with petrol version, and later we saw the diesel version in 2017.

It is a line of compact executive car manufactured in Germany since 1994. Being a member of Volkswagen group, and having 11 production facilities in 9 countries worldwide, Audi is one of the most preferred luxury cars in the world.

Photo Courtesy: Audi India

Specification

ENGINE
Torque to Weight Ratio (Nm/tonne)	250Nm at 1500-3500rpm(P) 400Nm@1750-2500rpm(D)
Hybrid type	1395cc, turbocharged, inline four-cylinder with direct injection(P) 2.0-litre 188bhp 16V TDI (D)
Power	150hp at 5000-6000rpm(P) 188bhp@4200rpm(D)
TRANSMISSION
Gearbox Type	Front-wheel drive
No of Gears	Seven speed dual-clutch automatic

EFFICIENCY
Tank size (lts)	54 litres
Mileage	17.84 kmpl(P) 18.25 kmpl(D)
BODY
Weight (kg)	1450kg
Rear Tyre	225/50 R17

SUSPENSION
Front	Independent, five-link with anti-roll bar
Rear	Independent, five-link with anti-roll bar
STEERING
Type of power assist	Electric

BRAKES
Anti-lock	Yes
Dimensions
Length (mm)	4726mm
Width (mm)	1842mm
Height (mm)	1427mm
Wheelbase (mm)	2820mm
Boot Capacity (Lts)	480 litres

Photo Courtesy: Audi India

Looks, Design and Interior

If you have noticed, you would be aware of the fact that, Audi’s designs are always elegant and a bit aggressive. It looks pretty and aggressive at the same time. Headlamps are sporty and classic, and you can see a thin line on both sides connecting the headlamp and tail light, which looks really sexy.

When it comes to stylish interiors, Audi has never disappointed us. They have really done a good job in the looks as well as the quality of the interior. Leather seats, which are well positioned and supportive. Back seats are spacious and comfortable, easily accommodating 4 people. Though one more person can hop in the rear seat, it will lessen the comfort of everyone.

Photo Courtesy: Audi India

Tech and Ergonomics

Air conditioning is very good, with the system which adjusts the temperature according to the angle of the sun and combined with 3 zone AC control, you feel like home.

Audi’s digital instrument cluster which they call the virtual cockpit is nicely arranged with all information. It also has 12.3-inch infotainment system that’s crisp, precise and functional. It doesn’t look fancy but it’s elegant.

The dashboard is good, it has got really long AC went. Interior of every Audi is really a looker, combined with its elegant sharp looks.

Photo Courtesy: Audi India

Performance and Driving Experience

Let’s now talk about performance.

Audi has really disappointed us in the petrol variant, it’s just 1.4 litter Skoda Octavia engine which produces a mere 150 bhp, not even close to its competitors. While diesel engine has 180 bhp as its acceptable and good to compete in the market.

A4 is a bit slow in acceleration but, the weight has been decreased and the new 7-speed dual automatic gearbox is amazing. The A4 that are launched in India will have more ground clearance but, it has not affected the dynamics of the car.

It feels short footed and sharp, cornering feels good and in dynamic mode the weight of the steering wheel gives confidence.

But Audi was not planning to play a sports car card and then to gets criticized in the performance department. That’s why they decided not to give powerful engine. What they have done is, giving it refinement and comfort, but not at the expense of driving experience. It’s not sporty but it’s not that bad unless you put the foot down to get some power.

While trying to go fast you can feel the car is a bit under-powered and as you pass 4000rpm, performance doesn’t match the sound (means the acceleration is increased the sound increases but the speed doesn’t increase) even in dynamic mode the rev is held till red line but this doesn’t help you can even hear it inside the car which can be really annoying.

 And overtaking can be a bit underrated at high speed. But until you stay soft with the accelerator it will please you well. The cabin is well finished and well damped.

Photo Courtesy: Audi India

Price: 52,27,473-59,21,248 INR (ex-showroom)

Final verdict

Looks and design: 9/10

Specs & features: 8/10

Dynamics & performance: 7/10

Safety & quality: 9/10

After-sale service: 8/10

It’s a great car to be with and it can be called a semi-luxury sedan, and not for people who are looking for acceleration and top speed. If you want comfort quality and dynamics, Audi A4 is your car.

If you like this review, subscribe to our blog to receive quick notifications of our updates.  And comment below if you have any doubts regarding this article and let us know if you wish to see a review of any particular automobile. And e-mail us for further queries.

POWER TO WHEELS AND HOW TO HANDLE IT

Know your wheels.

We all love to drive, well almost everybody loves to drive. We ride motorbikes, cars, trucks, and anything on wheels.

We know that the wheels are an integral part of any vehicle, well it is the thing that moves the vehicle. Wheels have been the first and most important thing in the movement of vehicles.

And when it comes to the four wheelers, do you know how wheels move, rotate or which of those four wheels actually move.

I would like to start with a basic question about your car; do you know where the power is transferred from the engine? Is it to the front wheels or to the rear wheels or to all of them?

If you know the answer that’s really good, if not, it doesn’t really matter in most of the cases, as the people who are living in big cities are stuck in traffic or in their city or town limit where the car is well below the speed limit. So there are not many reasons to know unless you are in a snowy area where there can be a few traction issues.

But before the movement of wheels, let’s talk about the understeering and oversteering.

There are two main terms which you should know if you’re driving a car; understeer and oversteer.

Understeer: It happens when the front set of tyres has lost traction and even after giving more steering input to the car it continues to go straight.

Why does the understeering happens, it happens when we head to a corner or when turn very fast because of which front end loses grip and the car stops responding to the steering input while you start turning and the car keeps going straight. It mostly happens in FWD (front wheel drive) cars as those are heavier at the front portion.

Oversteer: it happens when the rear set of wheels have lost traction while going around the corner because of which car turns sharper then intended or you might spin the if there is too much oversteer.

Why does oversteer happen? It happens when a car loses front end grip or can be because of a sudden increase in power or sudden increase in speed or sudden change in direction because of which backend loses grip and you might end up going sideways or turning sharply. It mostly happens in front engine RWD cars (FR).

But, if you are a frequent rider, you should know whether your car is FWD, RWD, AWD or 4WD because if you don’t in some cases you might not be able to get your car back in control if you accidentally lose it. Loss of control can happen at any time and in anywhere, and especially if you are travelling to different places frequently. Unknown road and strange curves and hurdles may hinder a smooth drive as well as put tour life in danger if you are not aware of your car’s engine and wheel connection.

Let’s start with the Forward Wheel Drive cars.

Forward Wheel Drive (FWD)

FWD cars are heavy at the front, hence front wheels have to bear more weight than the rear wheels. And talking about the pros and cons of FWD, we can list a few points.

Pros:

- FWD cars are cheap, as it is cheap to make.

- FWD cars give really good mileage as it is lightest in the category.

- Really good traction as maximum weight is on front wheels.

Cons:

- Is not good for performance and handling.

- Torque steering.

- As front wheels are doing both steering and pulling, front wheel tend to wear out quickly.

- Half-shafts and constant velocity joints have more chance of getting damaged.

FWD cars are really good for the people who are just starting to learn how to drive and for people who are only looking for mileage. FWD cars can also be good for the places with a low traction but can’t do as good as 4wd or AWD

Now let’s see if you get in some situation and how to handle it.

If you’re at a dry or wet surface, first of all, if the car tends to understeer you should identify it and never lose your cool. After identifying never apply brakes really hard, because you’re turning and there will be another car on the road and there’s a good chance of you hitting them or them hitting you from behind.

So what you should do is get off the accelerator and apply light break, (not to stop the car but just to lose some weight) and what it will do is the weight is transferred to front wheel; giving you the grip back and then you can steer your car where you want.

If you are at lose surface like snow, don’t even think of applying brakes. Just get off the accelerator press your clutch (if manual) align you wheel straight for once then give steering input gently without accelerator or brakes.

IN FWD cars, in any condition, if you happen to get an oversteer, you can either get off the accelerator or apply brakes, but best is to hit the accelerator as it is front wheel drive and the front wheel will pull you out straight just give proper direction before you give some power.

Now let’s talk about RWD cars.

Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)

Mostly, all RWD cars behave the same but the position of the engine changes the nature of the car slightly. Most of the RWD cars are having their engine in the front called as Front engine Rear wheel drive(FR), and most of the super-cars and hyper-cars which are RWD has positioned the engine in middle behind driver but ahead of the rear wheels, and these are called as MR, but there are only a few cars which have engine in rear and powers rear wheel (like Porsche) these are called Rear engine Rear wheel drive (RR).

Pros:

- RWD cars are simple and rugged.

- Easy to maintain.

- Well balanced.

- Once mastered, it is really fun to drive.

Cons:

- Fully mastering RWD cars are difficult especially with modern day’s traction control system.

- Because of transmission tunnel and driveshaft, RWD cars have less space inside, and also less storage place in trunk/boot.

- Because of extra parts like drive shaft and transmission tunnel RWD cars are a bit heavier then FWD cars.

- Bit costlier then FWD cars because of extra parts.

- Difficult to handle on a slippery surface, but with good tyres and modern traction control system, it gets a bit better.

RWD cars are much suited for people who are looking for performance and fun because RWD cars are well balanced. As putting down power is done by rear wheels and directions are given by front wheels, the wear and tear of tyres are less.

Now let’s see what to do when you lose control!

Handling the understeer is same as that of FWD cars, but for an RWD car, chances of the car going into understeer are very less. Now let’s talk about oversteer. RWD cars have a bit of high tendency of going into oversteer if you’re not careful with the throttle or even while downshifting while turning. 

What you have to do is as soon as oversteer starts, just get off from the accelerator and change the direction of steering in which you want to go. 

Once the car’s backside stops sliding, give gentle throttle to keep moving.

And yes, you are safe!

Finally, we are left with the all wheel drive or the four-wheel drive cars.

All Wheel Drive (AWD)/ Four Wheel Drive (4WD)

In AWD the power is transferred to all the wheels, but the system(embedded e-chip) keeps in check of the transfer of power on each wheel, less the transaction less power is given to that wheel. These types of cars are mostly used in the for performance on road and for rally stages. The position of an engine can be front mid and rear.

Pros:

• Increased traction
• Well balanced
• Can also be used in light vehicles.

Cons:

• Heavier then FWD or RWD cars.
• Less mileage.
• Costlier.
• Cannot do proper off-roading.

4WD just like AWD all wheels get power, but unlike AWD in 4WD power is equally distributed to all wheels all the time. The position of the engine is fixed in front. And mostly used for serious off-roading.

Pros:

• Increased traction.
• Best for serious off-roaders.
• We can switch between 2WD and 4WD depending on requirement.

Cons:

• Cost of maintenance and making.
• Less mileage.
• Long braking distance.
• 4WD system is not good for the road as equal power is given to all 4 wheels on-road cornering is not well suited as it tends to understeer.

Let's see now what to do when you get in a situation with AWD and 4WD?

During understeer you can correct it in the same way as of FWD cars are managed. To correct an oversteer you can correct it in the same way we explained for RWDs.

That’s it guys, you know how to handle a car now, irrespective of which of its wheels move, or don’t move as you wish (Lol).

Understeering and oversteering will happen and you can control it without panicking. Wish you a great ride!

If you like this review, subscribe to our blog to receive quick notifications of our updates.  And comment below if you have any doubts regarding this article and let us know if you wish to see a review of any particular automobile. And e-mail us for further queries.