Comparo Test : CBZ Vs. Fiero Vs. YBX

Beginning with the Hero Honda CD 100, almost 15 years ago, four stroke bikes were looked upon as economy champions. This continued even with the launch of the Bajaj (4S and Caliber) and Kinetic (K4-100) four stroke bikes. Indeed, the Kinetic K4-100 took this concept even farther by doing kashmir to Kanyakumari in less than 40 litres, returning a mileage of over 90 kms per litre ! All these bikes had less than eight horsepower (BHP). This concept persisted till Escorts launched its YBX @ two years ago when people discovered that four stroke can also mean power and speed. When Hero Honda launched the CBZ last year, people learnt what style and comfort meant. And with the launch of the Suzuki Fiero last month, people learnt that power, beauty and ECONOMY can be combined in a four stroker !

Thus today, apart from Enfield Bullet, you have the three above-named modern four stroke bikes producing double digit power (BHP) from three Indo-Japanese motorcycle majors.

How do you decide which one to buy? Which is the best? Which is the fastest? Which is the cheapest? Which gives the best mileage? Which gives best value for money?

Suzuki Fiero	Hero Honda CBZ	Yamaha YBX

I did comprehensive tests on all three bikes over an extended period and distance and measured a lot of parameters. These parameters were then put thru mathematical models to arrive at the final result(s) as you can find from the tables below. The specifications of these bikes as claimed in the manufacturers literature are as follows:

In these above five parameters derived from manufacturers specifications, the higher the figure, the better the EXPECTED performance. Thus on paper, CBZ is best, next is Fiero and last is YBX.

I actually raced each bike to the limit to see what top speed it could do. I did panic braking. Locking the wheels and skidding, to measure the distance in which it comes to a complete stop. I used a stop watch to measure the time which it took to achieve a speed of 60 kph from zero. Then I rode each bike in different traffic conditions with measured amounts of petrol to find out its fuel consumption. Thus I have actually measured performance figures on fuel consumption, top speed, zero to sixty acceleration and braking distance. For braking distance and time for zero to sixty, lower the figure better it is, while for top speed and fuel average, higher figure is better. To convert top speed and fuel average figures into laterally add-able (lower is better) numbers, I have taken their reciprocals i.e., divide 100 by the obtained figure.

Lateral addition of all "lower is better" figures gives the best performer. Thus Fiero is best, followed by CBZ and trailed by YBX.

Reciprocal of above total, divide 100 by each figure to give higher is better figure (for later use). Results remain same.

Having seen best from specifications and best on-the-ground performer, let us look at rider conveniences and quantify them.

RIDER CONVENIENCES : (5=best ; 3=less than best ; 0=non existent)

Since higher figure is better in terms of rider conveniences, Fiero is best, followed by YBX and trailed by CBZ.

Finally everything boils down to price. So what do these bikes cost?

On Road Pune prices on 20 May 2000 were as follows:

Now in order to find out the best value for money, just add the four HIGHER IS BETTER totals of all the four dimensions Thus :

From the above figures, SUZUKI FIERO IS BEST.





INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

Four dimensions were considered. These are
(1) Effect of specifications on rider response – as on paper
(2) Actual On-ground performance
(3) Actual Rider convenience features and
(4) Actual Price.
Out of these four dimensions, the CBZ comes out best on (1) Effect of on-paper specifications.
Please note that the conversion of manufacturer's specs. to in-use effect has been done ONLY mathematically without any relation to ground realities. , on this dimension CBZ is only THEORETICALLY best.

On the next two dimensions, (2) Actual on-ground performance and (3) Actual Features, the Fiero is ACTUALLY best.

On the fourth dimension i.e., price, YBX is cheapest to buy.

Overall, the Suzuki Fiero comes out to be the best double digit BHP four stroke bike in the country today.