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In front of Graptor?s racing edgy design, the GF 170 is early ?90s chic

The 150cc and above segment is perhaps the most important segment for bike manufacturers, even though the volumes are the lowest. The products in this segment are the flagships for the respected manufacturers. That is where competing products are differentiated. Take, for example, the Kinetic GF 170 and the LML Graptor. Both are as different as chalk and cheese.

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The Graptor is new and it shows in the styling. In front of Graptor’s racing, edgy design, the GF 170 is early ’90s chic. And yet the bikes are similar in using the chassis as a design element – the GF started the trend with its rectangular section chassis members in brushed aluminium, which made the chassis members stand out. The Graptor continues from where the GF left and uses the Extruded Steel Technology as a complete styling member. Stick to dark shades and exploit the bikes’ styling to the max, choose grey and you may as well as buy a Pulsar.

While the GF 170 has a throaty note; the Graptor is the perfect foil in an exhaust note that sounds the most energetic in the market. It sounds busy at low revs, and simply goes ballistic with a blip of the throttle. The Graptor has the best raunchiness to power ratio, the 13-bhp, 150cc mill does not disappoint. And when you really open the throttle wide, the GF 170 will leave the Graptor behind.

Seating looks good on the Graptor but is more comfortable on the GF. However, the Graptor seems to have been put together better. Switchgear is competent on both bikes though a tad better on the GF. The GF will also give more to your litre of fuel. With both nearly evenly placed it is up to you to decide between power (GF) and looks (Graptor).