[niks_devil666]

Final part (6) of our Leh trip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpGADcliJNg

[niks_devil666]

I am tempted to go for the big bore kit (180cc) from raceconcepts.

Anyone tried it on impulse/unicorn? hows the performance and reliability?

[ashwin.terminat]

Originally Posted by niks_devil666

I am tempted to go for the big bore kit (180cc) from raceconcepts.

Anyone tried it on impulse/unicorn? hows the performance and reliability?

I've contacted Joel for my Hunk and he said the 165cc bore is preferred. The 180cc bore is not a plug and play and needs some more alterations. He didn't get into specifics on what kind of alterations would be required though.

But yeah, lots of positive reviews regarding Joel's work. With of course, the odd, one-off bad review(s). Here's a video of the Dazzler with their 160cc kit:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150544540959609

[naveenroy]

Anyone got a GIVI box for the Impulse? Considering it? Any pointers?

[rk_sans]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Anyone got a GIVI box for the Impulse? Considering it? Any pointers?

I have seen a very smaller GIVI box on an impulse around Girinagar area. I can try to get more info on it as it was owned by one my friend's friend.

[naveenroy]

Originally Posted by rk_sans

I have seen a very smaller GIVI box on an impulse around Girinagar area. I can try to get more info on it as it was owned by one my friend's friend.

That will be great! Can you check and let me know the model number, where he got it from and mount points - pain or no pain

[naveenroy]

Finally got my bike today - Green.

I will start an ownership thread soon - as soon as possible.

[redeye]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Finally got my bike today - Green.

I will start an ownership thread soon - as soon as possible.

congrats naveenroy , waiting for your ownership review please do share your experience with the bike. I'm planning to buy an hero Impulse in few months.

[raghutk]

Congratulations on your new bike!! I am also too keen on considering buying Hero Impulse. I would like get information on following points.
1. I am 6ft with a big frame, will it be alright for my height ?
2. How are you feeling drive on a daily basis ? Do you commute to work using the impulse.
3. What is the FE ?
4. How is the dealer experience on your purchase of the impulse ?
5. Are you facing any difficulty without the center stand ? Can we retro fit it ?
6. Any deals and goodies you got from the dealer ? What to ask for ?

Please share as much info as possible.

Thanks in Advance

[am1m]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Finally got my bike today - Green. I will start an ownership thread soon - as soon as possible.

Hey, hope you're enjoying the new Impulse. Waiting for your impressions, how does it compare to the Thunderbird on long rides?

[nitro.1000bhp]

My Impul-Zma on a recent trip to Leh.

[ringoism]

Originally Posted by xerxxx

I expected hero motors to do a lot better than offer a good bike the milkman could ride to his remote village with 13 odd bhp. Either make a bike purely for a purpose or dont do the same mistake bajaj did with the small funny plastic enduro

I realize I'm getting to this thread/post a couple years late, but couldn't let that one go! The so-called Bajaj "Endura" was known internationally as the KE100, and I think it was Kawasaki's longest-running production model (started in the mid-1960's with the G series, and ran through 2004, I think, in the U.S. market), with a large and loyal following in many quarters worldwide. Obviously quite a lot of people had a higher opinion of it than the quote above would suggest.

In case nobody else noticed it, all dirt / dual-sport bikes do have a lot of plastic, and for good reasons (though the Endura's rear mudguard, in contrast to most, was actually metal), and "small" (read: light -only 85kg) is pretty ideal under mixed-use city/off-road/dirt-track conditions. The KE was only 11bhp, by the way, but people still ride them on the roads a bit even in the U.S. Not sure what was so awfully "funny" about it.

I've modified my Indian-made KB100, which has the same engine, pretty much to KE100 specs (suspension mods, in particular), and have been all over Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarkhand, and even to Nepal on it. 40kpl and enough power in the hills (been over 18,300ft. Kardung-La), and can handle a pillion all right (did it some between Leh and Zanskar). Better as a solo tourer, obviously, but the bike never failed to impress fellow riders on Bullet 350s (who said more than once they wished they were riding something like my machine instead of theirs).

As far as the Indian market is concerned, the Endura was simply ahead of its time. And when the time finally came (2012, apparently), light-weight two-strokers were dead.

The Impulse seems to be generally considered a bit underpowered, but in truth, CD100's and Calibers have done the Manali-Leh route well enough, their owners having plenty of fun doing it. A good suspension (which the Impulse has) makes things a lot easier and more pleasant under rough conditions, and if 40-50kpl (double vs. what 500cc Bullets do up there) and Hero reliability makes the difference between touring being affordable or not, I'd say the company has pretty well succeeded in "making a bike purely for a purpose".

I test-rode one twice and was not exactly thrilled, but I may yet buy one...

Regards,

-Eric

[ringoism]

Originally Posted by niks_devil666

a few strands of wire are put in the main jet of the carb which reduces the orifice and hence reducing the fuel going into cylinder . are u going to high alti areas that you wish to do this mod?

It would be far better to buy a new main jet for Rs10 and install that when you get above 10,000ft. or so. No risk of the wire dislodging and getting up into the needle jet - or worse, getting sucked into the engine. And since it's made to a particular size, it's something that can be repeated with precision (wires come in all sizes, you know...). I lived in rural Andrha earlier and could get jets of various sizes from the local parts shop. Go to Karol Bagh in Delhi, and you'll actually find the manufacturers, whom I've also bought from. But in my experience, it's often effective enough to just open up the idle screw (anti-clockwise) a half or full turn (which adds more air to the mix), and move the c-clip a notch higher (which reduces fuel flow especially in midrange) on the needle jet. Both of these are a little less invasive than removing the float bowl to get at the main jet. Anyway it's really only when you're spending a lot of time at maybe 3/4 to WOT (wide-open-throttle) that the main jet becomes an issue. In that case, going a size down (ex: from #97 to #95, or #95 to 92) is generally sufficient. At any rate, the Hero has a CV carb, which compared to older carb designs is (I think) a little less affected by changes in atmospheric pressure (i.e., altitude).

Regards,
Eric

[ringoism]

Originally Posted by DesertKing

Is anybody thinking to plonk a Karizma ZMA 220 cc carburetor engine. How much should a good conditioned engine cost?? ZMA is better or ZMR?? What about engine mountings, are they at same place in both engines??

I have a friend here from Mumbai who says he's seen it done, and that the mountings were identical. Legality, of course, would be another unfortunate issue. He also has ridden the stock Impulse and notes (re: the above post) that while his RE 500cc classic vibrates pretty objectionably at 90kmph, the Hero was nice and smooth at that speed. I do wonder whether big-bore kits considered elsewhere in the thread would compromise that some, due to the heavier piston. Moreover, the link is for a U.S. supplier, and the kit cost is $539!!! So if you wanted a dual-sport bike of 200cc performance in India, it might work out just as well to buy a second-hand Duke and throw some knobby tires and long-stroke fork-pumps on it!

-Eric

[xerxxx]

Eric.
I just mentioned my opinion in what I thought abt the impulse.
ive been astride enduro and motocross bikes and do know that these machines have a lotta plastic. Ive owned a yz125 and a suzuki rmx250. U may luv the impulse for what it is.... but I just expected a lot better.
everyones entitled to their opinion.....
No 2 bikers r alike.....

cheers.
xerxxx

Originally Posted by ringoism

I realize I'm getting to this thread/post a couple years late, but couldn't let that one go! The so-called Bajaj "Endura" was known internationally as the KE100, and I think it was Kawasaki's longest-running production model (started in the mid-1960's with the G series, and ran through 2004, I think, in the U.S. market), with a large and loyal following in many quarters worldwide. Obviously quite a lot of people had a higher opinion of it than the quote above would suggest.

In case nobody else noticed it, all dirt / dual-sport bikes do have a lot of plastic, and for good reasons (though the Endura's rear mudguard, in contrast to most, was actually metal), and "small" (read: light -only 85kg) is pretty ideal under mixed-use city/off-road/dirt-track conditions. The KE was only 11bhp, by the way, but people still ride them on the roads a bit even in the U.S. Not sure what was so awfully "funny" about it.

I've modified my Indian-made KB100, which has the same engine, pretty much to KE100 specs (suspension mods, in particular), and have been all over Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarkhand, and even to Nepal on it. 40kpl and enough power in the hills (been over 18,300ft. Kardung-La), and can handle a pillion all right (did it some between Leh and Zanskar). Better as a solo tourer, obviously, but the bike never failed to impress fellow riders on Bullet 350s (who said more than once they wished they were riding something like my machine instead of theirs).

As far as the Indian market is concerned, the Endura was simply ahead of its time. And when the time finally came (2012, apparently), light-weight two-strokers were dead.

The Impulse seems to be generally considered a bit underpowered, but in truth, CD100's and Calibers have done the Manali-Leh route well enough, their owners having plenty of fun doing it. A good suspension (which the Impulse has) makes things a lot easier and more pleasant under rough conditions, and if 40-50kpl (double vs. what 500cc Bullets do up there) and Hero reliability makes the difference between touring being affordable or not, I'd say the company has pretty well succeeded in "making a bike purely for a purpose".

I test-rode one twice and was not exactly thrilled, but I may yet buy one...

Regards,

-Eric