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Datsun RediGo – Ownership experience after 5000 kms in 2020

Few long trips (Chennai to Trichy) in this car, completely changed my view about RediGo.

I usually drive around or below 2000 rpm or 70 km/hr speed. So i under estimated the power and pickup of this car. During long trips in highway i went past my sedate speed. I cruised around 90 or 100 km/hr speed with ease and without any vibrations, and the car was stable, all windows closed with AC on. From 2000 to 3000 rpm, acceleration is super. 100 km/hr speed comes at 3000 rpm. During overtakes, acceleration is excellent in this small car segment, mine is 1000cc S variant.

The peppiness, power, pickup are far better than other cars i had driven – Alto 800, Alto K10. RediGo is better.

RediGo may not be sold in numbers when compared to Altos, but it is better than Altos. This is my personal view, experience after driving the car in different speed, went few long trips.

If you want mileage drive below 2000 rpm, if you want fun, performance, peppiness then drive above 2000 rpm. Two in one.

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Cruising in Pulsar NS160

Today, i did a short ride with NS160 – around 80 km round trip. I cruised between 55 to 65 km/hr speed in highway, mostly above 60km/hr. Bike went steadily even in crosswind at these speed range. For quick overtake, i ride upto 70 + km/hr speed, then settled down. Bike inspired confidence while cruising, and overtakes.  I maintained around 5000 RPM to cruise around 60km/hr  speed. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride today. My 5 years of highway quest is satisfied. I am planning for 120 km round trip post monsoon. Probably mid or end of December, i will do this trip.

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Realisation after riding Pulsar NS160

After spending one lakh and thirty thousand rupees for purchasing brand new Pulsar NS160, i realised my comfort zone in riding motorcycles.

My comfortable speed in highway cruising on motorcycles is around 50 km/hr. Both my body and mind is relaxed at such speed. Beyond that wind blast starts which make me uncomfortable while riding.

I rode CT100, Discover 100, Discover 150F, Honda Shine in past. For many years, i was riding around 40 km/hr speed. When bike touring culture obsessed me, i decided to increase my speed. CT100 and Discover 100 did not meet my rising biking spirit. So i purchased Discover 150F.

I was able to cruise between 50 to 60 km/hr speed in highways in Discover 150F. It gave me mileage of 70 km/ltr in highway and 50 km/ltr in city. The problems with this bike were No stability and not inspiring confidence beyond 60 km/hr speed.  Its engine has power to reach 70, 80 km/hr speed easily, but bike lacks stability and not confidence inspiring at such speed.   So this bike did not meet my expectation to cruise above 60 km/hr.  Due to back pain caused by this bike, I sold it and purchased Honda Shine – four gears variant.

Back pain was relieved in Honda Shine.  I was able to cruise at 50 km/hr in Shine.  Beyond that, engine was not smooth and bike was not stable.  So I could not ride above 60 km/hr with Honda Shine.  But Honda shine is the best bike among the bike I ride for city commuting.  Practicality and Handling is beyond comparison in city rides with Honda Shine, If you compromise to ride around 50 km/hr in highway, then Honda shine is best bike for both city and highway.  But my highway quest was not satisfied with Honda shine.  So after riding honda shine for three and half years, I sold it. Then I purchased Pulsar NS160.

For a long time or till I ride Pulsar NS160, I do not know how it is to be cruise at 80 km/hr.

Pulsar NS160 meets my expectation, it could cruise around 80 km/hr( I ride at 70 km/hr), the bike is stable in highways and inspiring confidence to ride.

Now the problem is with me, My body get tensed and mind develops fear while riding at high speed. I get tired soon if I cruise beyond 60 km/hr. Wind blast is more and disturbing beyond 60 km/hr. Physically and Psychologically I am comfortable at speed between 50 to 60 km/hr. Discover 150F kept me cool at its comfort speed. Without any fatigue and tiredness, I was able to ride discover 150F for hours and hours between 50 to 60 km/hr speed. More speed require more attention and conscious. For many years, i was longing to ride a motorcycle at 80 km/hr speed at highway. Now I have the motorcycle with such capability – NS160. Now I know how it is to be cruise at 80 km/hr. But to me the enjoyable speed is 50 to 60 km/hr. I realized this after riding at 80 km/hr. Many sleepless nights with youtube watching about bikes, sold the best bike for my city riding – Honda Shine, sold the best engine i ever ride with power and mileage – Discover 150F (Bajaj should be proud for making this Discover 150F engine) which suits my riding style and comfort speed perfectly.

Now , i have a machine – Pulsar NS160 – which meets my dream in highway cruising but excels my physical and mental speed limit. There is a conflict between dream and reality. Conflict between expectation and practicality. My dream was to ride at high speed, but practically I enjoy slow speed. Until I experience how it is to be cruise at 80 km/hr, I did not realize my comfort speed is between 50 to 60 km/hr.

I spent 1 lakh an 30 thousand to know my comfortable speed, which was satisfied by Discover 150F.

We desire for something without knowing that which will not suit us. We put lot of effort, spend time and money to attain our dream, possess what we desire. After attaining it, we realize, it does not suit us. We can not reverse now.

Luckily, I did not buy 200CC, 250CC, 300CC, 390CC+ motorbikes. They are like over killing , over dose to my riding style. I might be suffering from – Compulsive Speeding urge – if I bought higher CC bikes. I notice many guys speeding their higher capacity bikes in small or narrow streets for the sake of speed.

NS160 is more than sufficient to my riding style. 150/160CC bike is more than enough to me.

Money spent can be earned. But time, time spent is spent, which can not be earned again, the time I spent for watching youtube videos about bikes, the time I spent for reading bike content in internet are lost, and can not be recovered. This hurts me.

If I have not purchased Pulsar NS160, if have not experienced ridding the bike in 80 km/hr, I will be still living with my Riding Illusions, wasting time with youtube and internet.

I stopped watching YouTube videos about bikes, i stopped reading about bikes in internet. I am not passionate about higher CC bikes now, i know my speed now. I am satisfied with the power of 160CC bike which meet and excel my expectation in both city and highway.

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More fun with Pulsar NS160

The bike perform aggressively post 6000 rpm.

If I want mileage, I have to ride around 3500 to 4000 RPM max. I do this while riding in within city – a sedate riding with lot of grunt/pulling power from NS160. In Highway, I cruise between 60 to 70 km/hr speed. In these speed range in city and highway, I get mileage of 50+ km/ltr. My previous honda shine gave 55 km/ltr with less power.

If I want mileage, I ride like below 50km/hr, If I want fun, I ride around 70km/hr.

The bike cruise at 80 km/hr effortlessly and stable. I did not push the bike beyond that, though NS160 BS6 can do more speed, but my personal speed is limited.  I dont want to ride at high speed even in highway.

I did not buy NS200, it is a right decision for my sedate riding style.  I am not going to ride beyond 70 km/hr continuously in highway.  I may touch 80 km/hr for quick overtaking, but not consistently ride at such speed.  Pulsar NS 160 gives sufficient mileage as well power, speed when demanded for matured rider like me.  I dont need NS200 since I am not going to ride at 100+ km/hr speed.  I am not a flash speedster like NS200 guys ride in city or highway.

Pulsar NS160 is inspiring confidence for riding and has sufficient stability for decent speeds.   

Riding posture relieves my tail bone pain, which I used to have when riding in upright posture of commuter bikes.  This is subjective.  I have tail bone pain, so I preferred a slightly forward lean posture, which NS160 provides correctly.

I am planning for a 300km round trip in this bike, post monsoon, mostly in January, I will set out for long trip, till then short trips only.  January, February, till Mid-March are good time for bike touring, there would not be raining or hot Sun in these months.

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I purchased Pulsar NS160 BS6

After 3 years of patiency with Honda shine i bought Pulsar NS160 recently.

Pulsar NS 160

I ride this bike around 70 km/hr in highway. This bike can do more, but my comfortable speed is 70 km/hr in highway.

One has to ride this bike to experience its pick up and power as a 150cc motorcycle.

I will write more about my experience with NS160 as i ride more. Stay tuned.

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What to buy – NS 160 or Hornet 2.0

What to buy NS 160 or Hornet 2.0 ? I was obsessed with NS 160 for long time. But, i am afraid to ride Bajaj bikes after having bad experience with Discover 150F. But my passion for NS 160 is not stopped until Hornet 2.0 launched.

Launching of Hornet 2.0 by Honda, shakes my obsession with NS160. Hornet 2.0 is a 180cc bile. It has better torque than NS160. It has broader rear tyre than NS 160. It has upside down forks. It has gear position indicator. But Hornet 2.0 is approximately 20000 rupees more than NS 160

NS 160 has almost same horse power as Hornet 2.0. It has perimeter frame. It has lessor torque than Hornet 2.0. It has less high speed stability compared to Hornet 2.0. It has four valve engine. It has oil cooled engine. It is approximately 20000 rupees cheaper than Hornet 2.0. It has better mileage than Hornet 2.0.

If i purchase NS 160, then i will retain my Honda shine for a while untill I settle down with NS 160 both physically and mentally.

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Datsun Redi Go Ownership Experience after 1700 KM in 2020

Last March 18th 2020, I purchased Datsun Redi Go 1 Litre S variant, with Manual transmission

I have already driven Alto, K10, and Swift.  My opinion is mostly in comparison with these cars.

Back seat of the car is similar to Alto.  Two passengers can sit comfortably.  Three passengers can sit little stressfully

Front seat is more comfortable than Alto, K10, and Swift.  In Alto, I feel like going down and sit.  But in Datsun Redi Go, front seat is taller.  I can sit comfortably in a taller stance.

I get mileage around 19 km/ltr.  I drive within 2000 RPM.  In fifth gear with AC on, car can cruise in 70km/hr at 2000 rpm comfortably.  I believe as long as I maintain the speeds below 2000 rpm, I will get good mileage.

Due to lockdown, I did not have the chance to drive long distance, say 400 to 500 km stretch.

I feel, fuel tank capacity should be equal to Alto.  I often refill due to smaller fuel tank.

Datsun Redi Go 1 liter S variant has gear shift indicator – Downshift or upshift –this was very useful to me during initial days with the car.

Car has speed alert.  If you drive beyond 80 km/hr, you will be alerted.  I like this speed alert since I like to drive below or around 80 km/hr speed in highways.

As far as the engine, It is above Alto but below K10.  Refinement and peppiness of K10 is missing in Datsun Redi Go.  But it is better than Alto in Power and refinement.

In Redi Go, you will not get the feel of Alto.  Driving feel of Redi Go is different.

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Buying Datsun Redi Go in 2020

Can I buy Datsun Redi Go in 2020?  The car never sells in numbers.  In roads, I hardly see this car.  More Nano runs than Datsun Redi Go. I am afraid anytime this model might be discontinued, due to poor sales.  How would be service and support if production stopped for this model?

But, march month offers enticed me.  I saw Nissan advertisement in Internet/Google for Datsun cars.  Upto 85000 rupees cash benefits and 6.99 rate of interest for loans.  I am attracted by the cash benefits and rate of interest for loan.

I submitted the enquiry form in Datsun website.  Later sales rep from Datsun called me and speak with me for 10 minutes.  He concluded that nearest dealer to my residence, will call me and provide more details.

If car’s final onroad price after discounts come to 3.5 lakhs then I will think of purchasing this car.  Will Nissan continue this car for another 5 to 10 years?  Will Nissan be in business in India for next 5 to 10 years?  We all know Chevrolet story. 

I can not predict now, I should not be surprised even if this model car discontinued post march when BS4 vehicles can not be sold any more in India.  Right now, the offer is for BS4 vehicle.

There was a great bike called GS150R from Suzuki motor.  It was not adorned by Indians. The bike sold in few numbers.  Suzuki discontinued this bike.  My friend owns this bike even today. He rides it for commuting.  For maintaining the bike, he struggle to source spare parts.  Authorized service centers of Suzuki abandoned this bike.  My friend has to depend on roadside mechanic or private workshop to repair it.

There are cars, which still running even after their manufacturer stopped production. Old alto, Maruthi Ritz, Chevrolet vehicles.  Discontinued cars still run on roads and their owners find clever mechanic to maintain, repair it. Chevrolet still support the service and maintenance of their vehicles.

I am taking a risk if I am buying Datsun Redi Go in 2020.  The car may be discontinued any time due to lackluster sales.

I have a tight budget, so, I have to take risk.  I will be safe if Nissan continued the sales and support of Datsun Redigo for minimum 5 years from now.  My car loan EMI will be completed by the time.

Let me hope for the best.  Assume, sales, service, support, spares will be available for 5 to 10 years for Datsun Redi Go car.  Even production stopped, let me hope Nissan may continue the service support like Chevrolet.

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Nothing wrong with the bike

Nothing wrong with Bajaj Discover 150F bike.  I had severe back pain when I was riding that bike.  I tried this and that to resolve the back pain.  But nothing worked.  Without having any clue as why that bike gave me back pain, I sold that bike for cheap price.

Then I purchased Honda Shine.  No back pain with honda shine.  I am riding Honda shine for the last three years.  Everything went well.

Last six months, I am riding Shine for 50 kms up and down per day for commuting.  Saligramam to Okkiyam Duraibakkam.  I started having back pain nowdays.  I am not blaming Honda Shine for back pain.  The same bike I used ride for three years without any problem.

50 KMS ride – 5 days a week, irregular sitting posture in office, restless weekend, latenight or till midnight mobile addiction, job stress – all causing back pain.  Nothing to do with Honda Shine.

In the same way, something wrong with me, my life style, triggered back pain, when riding Discover 150F.  But, I mistaken as bike was the problem.  It was a good bike with strong bottom and midrange speed, gave 70+ km/ltr mileage in highway if ridden around 60+ km/hr speed.  I was using the bike in both city and highway. Only problem I noticed was, bike was not stable and not confidence inspiring beyond 60 km/hr speed.  I sold Discover 150F without knowing why I had back pain.

Honda shine is a good city bike, but it struggles in highway, engine feel stressed above 50 km/hr speed.  We should not push honda shine beyond 50 km/hr speed.

Now, I am looking for second bike to ride in highway.  When I searched Discover 150F in quikr, olx, I hardly see it.  Even listed but overpriced.

Today I saw an ad for Discover 150F in OLX for 18500 rupees – six year old bike. Suddenly I noticed another ad for pulsar 220F for the same price – 18500 rupees.  It is a 10 year old bike.

Pulsar 220F is a far better bike than Discover 150F.  I oscillate.  My quench for riding a bike in highway is not satisfied yet.  The crush for highway machine is still burning.  My speed is not 100 or above 100 km/hr.  My speed is around 60 to 70 km/hr.  But I want a stable machine in highway against cross or head winds.  Engine should not stressed.  It should be relaxed at those speeds.

Discover 150 F engine is not stressed at 70 km/hr speed, but not stable and confidence inspiring at those speed.

I could push Honda Shine for 70+ km/hr speed, but engine is stressed, bike is not stable and shaky in winds.

Since, I already ridden Discover 150F, I know it was stable in 60+ speeds, engine relaxed.  It matches my speed and expectation.  But, it is hardly sold in used bike market,  that too not in affordable price.  15000 to 20000 is my budget, 50 to 10 years old, spare parts should be available. Any mechanic can maintain it.  I prefer the highway machine with kick starter.

Discover 150F, pulsar 220F, pulsar 180 are my choices now.  Budget less than 20000 rupees.  I will keep my honda shine for city usage, agile, nimble, and light weight bike.

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Buying a Car

I am planning to by a car for a while.  Today I visited three show rooms – maruthi, renault, nexa.  Cars enquired are swift, expresso, kwid, triber, baleno.  On road price will come from 5 to 7 lakhs.  I have to pay down payment and remaining will be paid in EMI for several years.

My car usuage is simple.  Daily commute to office, monthly once or twice city outting with my family – total four members.  Yearly once or twice travelling to native place – to Trichy from Chennai, That’s it.

Challenges in having big car is parking, driving in city traffic, highway cruising will be a bliss.

Challenges in having a small car is congested and cramped travel when driving with five passengers – three in back seat. Riding in hills too is challenge.  Highway cruising will be boring, we have to maintain 60 to 80 km/hr speed.  Parking and driving in city will be blissful.

I have a craze for Tata Nano.  Many times, I felt I missed purchasing tata nano.  The thought of buying second hand used tata nano car instead of buying new premium hatch bag car, haunting me often.

I could usily buy a old nano within one lakh rupees and without committing big long EMIs.  But reliability of used car is a question – especially Nano, which is discontinued.

I postponding buying a car.  It is a decision paralysis now.  I do not have eperience and knowledge to take a decision in buying a car.  I am not ready to go for big EMIs now.  I have a craze for Nano.

Commuting by bike gives pain to my hip and back.  Switching to four wheeler for office commuting is a must now.

So, Let me take the risk of buying old nano.  Low risk, low gain, low loss too.  It is like a upront decision.

If my experiment with used nano goes well, after six month or one year, I could buy a new nano by exchanging the old car.  If the experiment does not go well, sell it.  Either case loss will be less.

We do not know, what is right decision.  State of decision will change from time to time.  Sometime our decision looks good and other time it looks bad and vice versa.

So, I will follow my will, buy a old nano within my budget, no need to avail loan. Due to my simple usecase with car, I don’t want spend too much and commit EMIs for years.

Spare parts availability is another challenge for tata nano.  Because of this spare parts fear I missed Suzuki GS150R bike, but it is still running on roads.

Even If I get finance for my second hand Nano, then I could keep my lumpsum money with me.  EMI will be around 3000 rupees and tenure would be 3 years.  I could keep my one lakh with me for safer side.

I am stuck by decision paralysis many times.  Henceforth, I have to follow my will or fear to move on from decision paralysis.

I followed my fear in buying a used car, and I did not buy used Tata Nano.