Yamaha Motor India has had a bit of a satisfying success with their motorcycles doing well in the market. The products like the FZ Series as well as the R15 bikes gave a lot of impetuous to the company. This gave some breathing space for the company to concentrate on something more. This time, they have their eyes set on the scooter segment for the Indian market.

Yamaha plans to have gearless scooters in India by the next year. The scooters are likely to be in the 125cc category. Some other scooters in the segment are the Honda Activa. The Activa alone has a market of around 40 per cent. The launch of a similar bike from Yamaha will give a healthy competition to Honda.

Yamaha already has one such two wheeler in their kitty. The Ray model that launched they launched this year has targeted the female class. Yamaha is indeed very serious about such models that target the women in the society. It can be proved by the fact that the assembly line of the company used for manufacturing the bikes is operated by none other than women themselves.

Coming back to the launch of the new scooter launching next year, Yamaha Motor India has made a bit of a change in their policy. Though the scooter will be a gearless auto, they will also target the men as their customers. The launch of the bike will mean even tougher days for the other brands in the market like the Honda Aviator, the Honda Activa and the Suzuki Access.

There are not many things yet known about the two wheeler. However, whatever is known is this that the scooter is expected to have telescopic front forks coupled with styling that will suit the young guys of today. There is no wondering that the company is targeting the macho men in the society.

Now finally, let us move to the all important aspect of the scooter – the price tag. The price of this new scooter is likely to be anywhere in the region of Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 50,000.

The people using petrol as fuel for their vehicles have got a little respite due to a cut in the petrol prices across the country. The new decreased prices have come into effect from today – Friday, November 16. The fuel per liter has been brought down by as much as 95 paise.

This cut is applicable for the capital city of India. This is the second cut in as many months and a welcome decision, though it has come after the festival of Diwali. The reason for the cut in the prices has been attributed to the fall in crude oil prices in the global market. The prices of the fuel will be different in various cities thanks to the presence of the local taxes.

The price in Mumbai has seen a better decrease of Rs. 1.20. Now the one liter petrol in the economic capital of the country will cost Rs. 73.53. Chennai will have the least price tag for a liter at Rs. 70.57, which was Rs. 71.77 earlier. Kolkata has also seen a healthy price cut of Rs. 1.19 and now the fuel there will cost Rs. 74.55 per liter.

Due to this cut, the per liter price of petrol in Delhi is Rs. 67.24 as against the Rs.68.19 before the cut. The previous decrease in the prices took place on October 9 when the prices fell by 56 paise. However, though there were two price cuts including the current one, there was also a hike of 29 paise in between.

The price was hiked to look after the interest of the petrol pump dealers. The objective of the hike was to make room for the commission for the pump dealers. The prices of the crude oil on the international front are steady. So, it was the right time to bring about the price cut.

The KTM 200 news kept the entire media busy in the world of automobiles, especially the two wheelers. The fire of the KTM 200 is still not doused and there is something more to it. Reports were doing the rounds after a conference in the US that there could be a KTM bike with bigger displacement.

The bike could be the 305cc KTM two wheeler. The news has finally come true. However, the displacement issue is a bit different. As a matter of fact, the KTM bike is more powerful than expected. When there was news that there would be a 350cc bike, the news is that there would be a 375cc bike from KTM.

However, the bike might be christened as 390 Duke. The bike will share its engine with Bajaj Auto. The Indian company has made statements time and again that there would be a bike with a higher power. There is hardly any doubt left that the bike that Bajaj was constantly talking about was the Duke 390.

The engine of the Duke 390 will be a liquid cooled one with fuel injection and dual overhead camshaft. It is expected to generate 45 PS of power and is likely to weigh about 150kg. However, there are not many details available regarding the performance of the bike at the moment.

But the wait for the performance related details might not be too long. In the month of November, there will be the EICMA Milan Motorcycle show. It is very possible that the details might have been kept under the wraps until then. But, momentarily, we can speak a word about the power-to-weight ratio, which is of 300 PS/ton.

As far as the launch of the bike for the Indian customers is concerned, like the other KTM Duke bikes, the 390 version will be assembled in India only. The work will be carried out at the Bajaj factory in Chakan near Pune. It will be from here that the export to all the destinations will be carried out. Though the launch date is still not known, it is projected that the bike might cost anywhere between Rs. 1.8 lakhs and Rs. 2.5 lakhs.

There will be tougher competition from the likes of Yamaha, Kawasaki and Honda. They all will be bringing in their own bikes with powerful engines. It remains to be seen who emerges as the ultimate winner.

There have been bikes that were especially designed for stunt biking. The KTM Duke 125 as well as the Bajaj Pulsar 180 is a couple of bikes that have been known for stunt riding. However, these bikes are not exclusively used for stunting. In fact, they were never designed with stunts in mind. The development of these bikes was like any other sports bike, that’s it.

However, stunt riding is gaining a lot of popularity. Therefore, there arises a need for a company to have a production of bikes that could be used for stunt riding. However, there should be no worries as this drawback will not remain in the market from now on. The reason is that the popular bike manufacturing company Yamaha has come forward with one such concept.

The Moto Cage-Six should be the dream bike for the adventurous lot. If you remember the INTERMOT 2012, the bike was displayed there for the first time. The bike is based on the XJ6 and is proud to be the first ever bike that has been entirely developed keeping the stunt riding in mind. The very avatar of the bike shows that it is specially designed for one purpose only.

Some of the highlights of the bike that can be easily described are the front axle footrests, then there is the reinforced swing arm apart from the four crash pads. The XJ6 has a major say in the styling of the new bike. A lot of cues have been inherited.

There have been bouquets and brickbats for the bike on a global level. When on one hand the fans are showing excitement, on the other hand, some people feel that a stunting bike is customized to a greater extent and should be modified to suit the needs of the rider. It is a question how much popularity this bike gets as professional stuntmen prefers to have their own custom bike. However, that should go well with the newbie in the game.

For those who do not know, Kawasaki has already made an announcement that the Ninja 300R will soon take the place of Ninja 250R. The new bike will be a new beginning in the world of motorcycling. Even when there are so many bikes with different displacements in the market, there are the 300cc bikes that are seriously missing.

However, there are some 250cc bikes on the roads currently. This means, the Kawasaki Ninja 300R will be taking on the 250cc bikes. Bike manufacturing companies like Hyosung and Honda are high on the 250cc bike segment. This segment is indeed rich with lots of bikes and various variants.

It should be admitted that the Ninja did have its share of monopoly in the 250cc bike segment. No doubt, the bikes certainly cost a bulk of an amount. However, the high price tag was seconded by the rich features the bike had to offer. They were excellent in condition, always stood out in their category and the other bikes simply could be no match to them.

The 300R is expected to hold on to the exclusive nature it already has. The modern styling and the personality of the bike is expected to be seen in the upcoming variants as well. To help the bike to make an impression, there have been some minor changes in the styling. It will make the bike look more aggressive than ever before. The headlamps and the fairing integrated indicators are the ones to watch out for.

The 250cc vehicle has been upgraded to 296cc with the help of drilling so that it can deliver longer strokes. The piston and the piston rings apart from the cylinder heads have been tuned for getting lower compression ratio of 10:8:1. A slipper clutch along with a novel throttle body injection is a couple of more things the bike will have.

The new bike is expected to be launched in India in June 2013. However, for more fine points we will have to wait for some more time. The exact date of the launch is still to be known.

The bike of your dreams, the Royal Enfield Thunderbird is here. Even with a high price tag, it promises you enough of high quality pleasure when riding. It is pure leisure when one is atop the bike. But what is it that makes riding the Royal Enfield Thunderbird such a joyful activity?

There are lots of novel features in the bike. The foremost important thing is that there is no compromise on safety. That is why the rider can be at ease when riding. The bike has a powerful engine that can have a huge power output. The bike is blessed with 500cc Unit Construction Engine. It belts out 27.2 bhp of power.

The chief ignition lock of the bike has also the function of a central locking for the steering. According to the company reports, the bike is built its own following amongst the many bike lovers in the country. The Royal Enfield has its loyal fan base and the same is expected of the Thunderbird 500. It will prove to be a comfortable motorcycle worth touring.

The bike is built with a basic black theme. However, there are three more shades in the bike for you to choose from. Flicker, Twilight and the Stone are the options available for the customers. The Flicker is the blackest of the color available in its shade. The Twilight is a mixture of blue and black finish. The Stone comes with a matte finish with the rugged texture to give the perfect look that would go with a brand name like Royal Enfield.

The Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 comes with hazard lamps in switch gears. This is one feature that could be seen for the first time ever in a bike produced in India. And if you are dreaming of owning the bike, you will have to pay a cool sum of Rs. 1, 82,571, which happens to be the on road price of the bike for Mumbai only.

]]> http://www.bikespace.in/2012/10/now-you-can-own-a-royal-enfield-thunderbird-500-for-rs-1-82571/feed/ 0 http://www.bikespace.in/2012/09/india-doesnt-feature-in-recently-released-motogp-2013-calendar/ http://www.bikespace.in/2012/09/india-doesnt-feature-in-recently-released-motogp-2013-calendar/#comments Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:55:28 +0000 Faizan http://www.bikespace.in/?p=4714

The calendar for the next year MotoGP has been announced. Though it is still a tentative itinerary, India does not find any place in the MotoGP world. India will not be playing host to not a single of the 19 races. The first race will start from Losail Circuit, Qatar on March 31.

India now has its very own racing circuit known as the Buddh International Circuit. It was very optimistic to know that the Jaypee Sports would be making a bid make India a MotoGP racing destination. It was expected to happen sometime next year. However, as of now, there does not seem to be any hope of India getting a race.

However, the racing schedule is only tentative yet. That is why there could be a possibility that India might get a race finally. As there are a couple of races either to be confirmed or subject to contract, one can hope that India gets a race.

Here is the list of the races to be taken place in 2013:

31 March 2013, – Qatar, Doha/Losail

14 April 2013, – TBC TBC

21 April 2013, – TBC TBC

05 May 2013, – Spain (STC), Jerez de la Frontera

19 May 2013, – France, Le Mans

2 June 2013,– Italy, Mugello

16 June 2013,– Catalunya, Catalunya

29 June 2013,– Netherlands, Assen

14 July 2013,– Germany, Sachsenring

21 July 2013,– United States, Laguna Seca

18 August 2013,– Indianapolis, Indianapolis

25 August 2013,– Czech Republic, Brno

01 September 2013,– Great Britain, Silverstone

15 September 2013,– San Marino & Riviera di Rimini, Marco Simoncelli Misano

29 September 2013,– Aragón, Motorland

13 October 2013,– Malaysia, Sepang

20 October 2013,– Australia, Phillip Island

27 October 2013,– Japan, Motegi

10 November 2013, – Valencia, Ricardo Tormo-Valencia

The well-known bike maker from Italy – Ducati, has brought out the 2013 version of the Multistrada bike range. There is an entire range of bikes that include the Multistrada 1200, the Multistrada 1200 S GranTurismo, the Multistrada S Pikes Peak and the Multistrada S Touring. It was the Ducati Multistrada that was first brought on the roads a couple of years ago.

There is a bit of a similarity between the Ducati Multistrada and the 2013 model. Both sport the 1198cc engine. It is sheer power at this level as far as a two wheeler is concerned. However, the difference is that the 2013 Multistrada has had to be tweaked up to some extent to make it feasible for the common road use.

Another difference is in the name of the engine, which has now been converted to Testastretta 11°. The company has also brought the ABS system for the new bike. There is the semi-active suspension system deployed by Ducati. This is known as the Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS).

There will be some upgraded equipment for the next year’s bike, which include the heated grips, a center stand as well as the added side luggage. Apart from that there will also be LED illumination and a better protection from the wind. The tires are better and are improved to work seamlessly for long distance travel as well.

The bikes will be out for viewing for five days – from October 3 to 7 in Germany. The occasion will be the INTERMOT motorcycle show in Cologne. As far as the design of the bike is concerned, it looks extremely attractive. The black color of the body gives it the much needed impetus and the personality. The digital dashboard is full of a range of information and is the mirror of the bike.

On September 13, Kawasaki will launch its new bike at the Times Square in New York. Though the date of the launch is confirmed, the version of the Kawasaki Ninja bike is still a mystery. However, it is expected that the bike will be the 300cc bike that is known as the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300.

The bike has a displacement of 296cc and has a liquid cooled, parallel twin engine. The engine can produce a top power of 39 bhp at 11,000 rpm and can generate a high torque of 29 Nm at 10,000 rpm. The engine of this new bike is a powerful machine, which has a great acceleration at high rpm.

The heating problem has been addressed by having sleeveless aluminum die-cast cylinders. There are the dual throttle valves, which resembles the Ninja ZX-10R as well as the ZX-6R. The slipper clutch in the bike makes it easier to handle. The clutch operation is smooth and simple. There is the radiator fan cover that helps in having good and improved air direction.

The suspension used in the bike is superb for good riding conditions. For the front wheel, the 37 mm telescopic fork does the job while for the rear wheel there is the Bottom-Link Uni-Trak with gas-charged shock which has 5-way adjustable preload.

The ground clearance of the bike is 140 mm – seems okay for a bike like this one. The wheelbase is 1405 mm and the seat height is 785 mm. The bike has a huge fuel tank of 17 liters. There are a lot of positives that can be seen in this heavy-looking bike. It can even make life for the 250cc segment bikes difficult quite easily.

Just as the bike gets launched and it comes on the roads, only then we will be able to know its impact. But one thing is for sure, it is here to stay.

The news reports of Economic Times have reported that Hero MotoCorp – the largest two wheeler producer of the country, will be bringing down the production by about 15 per cent to 18 per cent for the current month of September. The cut will be done according to the average figures for April to August – the first five months of the current fiscal.

The cut has been implemented with a view to normalizing the inventory levels at both the plants as well as the dealers. The retail sales for the company have gone down for the last couple of months and Hero expects it to continue for this month too. As per the plans that have been sent to the vendors, Hero will manufacture about 4.48 lakh units in this month.

The need to cut down the production has arisen due to the company’s premier and model – the Splendor. The demand for Splendor has dipped to its lowest in this year. The company has decided to send 1.20 lakh units for September as compared to 2.2 to 2.4 lakh units from April to July.

Mr. Pawan Munjal, who is the MD & CEO of Hero Motocorp, also spoke about the cut in the production. The slowdown is expected to continue in this month as well and that is the reason why the production needed to be slashed, he said. That would also avoid the inventory from piling up. However, he said that the stock will be in sufficient proportions available.

The slowdown for the two wheeler segment was started to show up from April itself. However, the company kept dispatching more and more units during the period from April up to July. The company was of the view that the demand will perk up during the monsoon season at least. However, the weak monsoon also deteriorated the demand for the bikes, resulting in lower sales.

It also looks like consumers are now more inclined towards owning a Honda Dream Yuga and the Hero MotoCorp’s Splendor. It now remains to be seen how the ensuing months fair for the largest two wheeler company in India.