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    in Bike

    Top 10 500cc+ Motorcycles July 2022 – 650 Twins, Hayabusa, Tiger, Versys

    Royal Enfield 650 Twins are still the highest-selling motorcycles on this list out-selling the rest by a gargantuan marginRoyal Enfield Sultan by Neev Motorcycles500cc+ motorcycle sales chart is one of the most interesting as it gives us an understanding of how big bikes are selling. Royal Enfield is still the elephant in the list with 650 Twins topping the charts like clockwork.With immense value and vast accessibility along with a nationwide dealer network, RE Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 have been the de facto choice of big bikes in India. But how do the others fare? Let’s take a look.500cc+ Motorcycle SalesRoyal Enfield 650 Twins command a staggering 82.78% of this segment. With 1,394 units sold in July 2022, registered a 71.89% growth YoY while it only sold 811 units in July 2021. Taking 2nd and 3rd spots are Kawasaki’s Versys 650 and Z900 respectively. With booming ADV segment, 2022 Versys 650 sold 54 units in July 2022 over 14 units in July 2021 registering 285.71% growth YoY.Z900 is currently the cheapest 4-cylinder bike in the country and draws attention. It sold 34 units in July 2022 with 22.73% dip in sales YoY as it sold 44 units last year. At 4th spot, we have the legendary “Dhoom Bike” Suzuki Hayabusa with 24 units sold and registering a 22.58% drop YoY. Triumph’s Tiger 900 sold 22, Tiger 660 sold 18 and Trident 660 sold 14 units each and stood at 5th, 6th and 7th respectively. Both Tigers register drop in sales while Trident gains 180% YoY.500cc + Motorcycle Sales Jul 2022Next, we have Kawasaki Vulcan S, Triumph Street Triple and Harley-Davidson Iron 883 at 8th, 9th and 10th spot and all of these sold 11 units each in July 2022 and each also registered positive growth too. Suzuki’s V-Strom 650XT and Katana sold 10 units each.Motorcycles With Single Digit SalesStarting with Kawasaki Ninja 650, it sold 9 units, Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 sold just 8 units, Triumph Tiger 1200 only sold 7 units, Harley-Davidson Fat Bob sold 6 units and Ducati Street Scrambler sold 5 units only. Of these five, only Fat Boy 114 has positive growth YoY. Triumph Bonneville T120 and Honda CBR 650R sold 4 units each while T120 saw 100% growth YoY. Next, we have Kawasaki ZX-10R and from Triumph, we have Street Twin, Speed Twin and Rocket III. All of these only sold 3 units each in July 2022 and all of them registered negative growth in sales as well.Next in line are Kawasaki’s Z650, Ninja 1000, Triumph Speed Triple, and Harley-Davidson RoadKing. All of these sold just two units each while registering a drop in sales YoY except for Speed Triple which saw 100% growth YoY. Then, we have Kawasaki’s Versys 100, Z650RS, Aprilia RS660, Honda Africa Twin, Triumph Bonneville Bobber and from Harley-Davidson, 1200 X-Forty Eight, Heritage Classic and Street Glide. All of these sold just 1 unit each and registered a drop in sales.No500cc+ Motorcycles SalesJul-22Jul-21Growth % YoY1650 Twin1,39481171.892Versys 6505414285.713Z9003444-22.734Hayabusa2431-22.585Tiger 9002225-12.006Tiger 660180–7Trident145180.008Vulcan S11757.149Street Triple11683.3310883 Iron11837.5011DL650XA100–12Katana100–13Ninja650920-55.0014Fat Boy 11481700.0015Tiger 120070–16Fat Bob67-14.2917Street Scrambler56-16.6718CBR 650F427-85.1919Boneville T12042100.0020Ninja ZX-10R318-83.3321Street Twin320-85.0022Speed Twin30–23Rocket III36-50.0024Z65025-60.0025Ninja1000216-87.5026Speed Triple21100.0027Roadking23-33.3328Z650RS10–29Aprilia RS66010–301200 X-Forty Eight15-80.0031Africa Twin110-90.0032Versys 100016-83.3333Boneville Bobber16-83.3334Heritage Classic110.0035Street Glide15-80.0036Low Rider013-100.0037GL1800011-100.0038Pan America010-100.0039Low Rider Special06-100.0040Scrambler 120005-100.0041Fat Boy 10705-100.0042Electra Glide04-100.0043Boneville T10001-100.0044Road Glide01-100.0045Standard01-100.00–Total1,6841,17343.56Coming to the end of this segment, we have motorcycles that didn’t sell a single unit. We have Honda Goldwing, Ducati Scrambler 1200, Triumph Bonneville T100 and from Harley-Davidson, we have Low Rider, Pan America, Low RIder Special, Fat Boy 107, Electra Glide, Road Glide and lastly, Standard. All-in-all, 500cc+ motorcycle sales recorded 43.56% growth YoY with 1,684 units sold in July 2022 and gaining 511 units over 1,173 units sold in July 2021. Even though this segment saw 43.56% YoY growth, most of the hard lifting is still done by Royal Enfield 650 Twins. More

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    in Electric Cars

    New Bajaj Electric Rickshaw, Electric 3W Cargo – Spied Testing

    Bajaj Auto has a wide range of products in its portfolio like 2W, 3W, electric scooters and a lot moreBajaj Electric Rickshaw SpiedIndian automotive giant, Bajaj Auto is one of the largest 3W manufacturer in the world in terms of sales volumes. In India though, Bajaj is the undisputed champ in 3W segment. If we look at sales charts, Bajaj sold 13,016 units in July 2022 while Piaggio which is currently the second highest-selling 3W manufacturer in India, only sold 4,164 units in the same time.But a new breed of 3W rickshaws are on the rise and Bajaj being the absolute giant of this segment, can’t ignore its potential. We’re talking about electric 3W rickshaw segment that is gaining popularity by the day, owing to rising fuel prices. So, what is Bajaj’s answer to this demand? Let’s find that out.Bajaj RE EV 283 Electric RickshawWe have seen multiple test mules of Bajaj’s electric rickshaws dating as far as 2018. While players like YC Electric Vehicle and Mahindra have been clocking over 2,000 unit sales each per month as seen in sales charts, Bajaj is taking its sweet time to bring out RE EV series of electric 3W.Bajaj RE EV had also received type approval by NCT Delhi in 2020 but its launch was delayed due to Covid-19-related delays. But new test mule for rickshaw has EV 283 sticker on it suggesting that this is an updated model to RE EV. While the same sticker is not visible on RE EV Cargo. Spy shots are credited to automotive enthusiast Bhargav Mhatre.Bajaj RE EV 283 Front2020 NCT-approved Bajaj RE EV measured 1,714mm in length, 1,350mm in width, 1,772mm height and has a wheelbase of 2,010mm. RE EV has a gross weight of 732 kgs and the rickshaw can seat four people including the driver while Cargo will only seat the driver.Newly spied Bajaj RE EV 283 seems like the same vehicle and might retain the dimensions. But 283 badging on spotted rickshaw suggests that it gets a new battery with a longer range than RE EV from 2020. Bajaj RE EV gets power from a 4.3 kW electric motor. A top speed of 42 km/h can be maintained for 30 minutes. Also, the company is testing a cargo version of the same that is likely to be called Maxima Electric. It is likely to launch alongside its rickshaw counterpart.Specs & LaunchWhile exact battery specifications are not known, RE EV 283 seems to get a larger battery than 2020’s RE EV. It is still placed in driver’s compartment, though. Driver still has to sit on this battery like on RE EV 2020.Bajaj Electric Three Wheeler CargoLooking at the competition, YC Electric Vehicle products top the charts. But are not proper rickshaws and get a barebones platform for cost efficiency. Mahindra Treo Electric, however, is a proper electric rickshaw and has a claimed range of 141 km on a single charge. If Bajaj electric rick delivers higher range on a single charge, it would be better for inter-city operations. Higher range also benefits the cargo version of RE EV too.Pune and Bengaluru might be the first cities to get Bajaj RE EV 283 and RE EV Cargo as earlier RE EVs test mule spottings were more frequent there. But now, Bajaj might launch it nationwide in 2023. Pricing might see a slight jump from Mahindra Treo if it has a longer range. More

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    in Motor News

    1966 Oldsmobile Toronado Is Our Bring a Trailer Auction Pick of the Day

    • This 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado is currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer.• The 1966 model year was the first for the massive front-wheel-drive coupe.• The no-reserve auction ends August 30.In the mid-1960s, General Motors was a market-dominating colossus, and its industry-leading design department was arguably the engine of its sales success. Of all the many designs turned out by GM’s five passenger-car divisions during that period, one of the cars that best demonstrates the company’s styling prowess under design boss Bill Mitchell is the Oldsmobile Toronado, particularly in its debut year of 1966. A look at this Autumn Bronze example currently up for sale on Bring a Trailer—which like Car and Driver is part of Hearst Autos—shows why.

    Bring a Trailer

    Bring a Trailer

    Bring a Trailer

    First, there’s the sheer scale of the thing. Riding on a 119-inch wheelbase, the Toro stretched 211 inches from stem to stern, making the close-coupled coupe about as long as today’s Cadillac Escalade. A good portion of that length is the miles-long hood, at the leading edge of which are the hidden headlights. Despite the ultra-long nose, the proportions are remarkably balanced, with the backlight sweeping almost uninterrupted into the decklid. More impressively, the Toro is noted for its complete absence of a shoulder at the window line. In a feat of body engineering, the wide C-pillars merge seamlessly into the quarter panels. The body’s shoulder line is pushed down almost to the mid-point of the wheels, giving the car a particularly low-slung appearance.

    Bring a Trailer

    The Toronado wasn’t just a styling tour-de-force, the car is also famed for being the first U.S.-built front-wheel-drive car since the Cord of the 1930s. At the time, the exotic technology was seen in just a handful of cars sold here, such as the BMC Mini. Oldsmobile was the spearhead, with the Cadillac Eldorado following suit on the same platform for 1967 (the Buick Riviera, meanwhile, was also built on the E-body platform but was rear-wheel drive).

    Bring a Trailer

    A 425-cubic-inch V-8 provided more than ample thrust. One auction commenter recalls riding with his father (an Oldsmobile rep) in a first-year Toronado when his dad was pulled over for doing 95 mph on a desert highway. The brakes, however—power drums at all four corners—are widely regarded as a fade-prone weak point, and several commenters recommend swapping in front discs, which Oldsmobile soon made available. Note that a C/D test of the facelifted ’68 model equipped with the optional discs still noted some pretty hairy stopping behavior, so careful following distances may be advised.

    Bring a Trailer

    The interior eschews bucket seats and console in favor of a front bench seat, the better to show off the novelty of the car’s flat floor. The speedometer is a rotating drum, and the gargantuan doors are so long that they feature a second inside door handle at the rearmost point of the armrest, to allow rear-seat passengers to exit.

    Bring a Trailer

    Bring a Trailer

    This car is said to have been restored under previous ownership, but it’s not quite perfect. The selling dealer notes an inoperative horn, wipers, and radio pushbuttons. None of that seems to have dampened bidder enthusiasm, however, as the price currently sits at $23,500 with four days to go. More

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    in Motor News

    Audi Entering F1 in 2026

    Audi has officially announced that it will enter Formula 1 in 2026 as an engine supplier.Which team Audi will supply its F1 engine to will come by the end of 2022, but Sauber—which also announced the end of its partnership with Alfa Romeo today—seems a likely candidate.Audi said F1’s new power unit regulations, which will bring a 100 percent sustainable fuel and increased use of electric power, were crucial to its desire to join the sport.A little more than a week after Formula 1 approved new engine regulations that will go into effect in 2026, Audi officially announced its plans to compete in the premier open-wheel motorsport series. Audi’s entry into F1 coincides with the start of these new engine rules, with the German automaker announcing its intent to start supplying engines for the 2026 season. Audi will develop its power unit at the Audi Sport facility in Neuburg, the first time in more than a decade an F1 powertrain will be assembled in Germany.

    Formula 1

    One of the stated goals of F1’s revised engine regulations is to attract new power unit suppliers. Starting in 2026, the turbocharged 1.6-liter V-6 engines used in Formula 1 will run on a 100 percent sustainable fuel, while the electric portion of the hybrid powertrain will produce three times the power as today’s setup, two factors that Audi explicitly stated were critical to its decision to join F1.Starting in 2026, the MGU-K, which harvests kinetic energy and deploys electrical energy via the crankshaft, will see its output nearly triple to 350 kilowatts, or about 469 horsepower. This will boost the total system output to well over 1000 ponies. The MGU-H, which currently harvests heat energy via exhaust gases in the turbocharger and can deploy electrical energy to reduce turbo lag, will be removed from the F1 power unit in 2026. The increased reliance on electricity will see the amount of fuel used in a race drop from 100 kg to 70 kg, while the removal of the MGU-H, along with other measures, is intended to decrease costs.

    Formula 1

    The announcement came with images of a Formula 1 car mocked up with Audi livery. That said, take this image with a grain of salt as it may not be indicative of what the actual Audi-powered F1 cars will look like during the 2026 season. Audi will not field its own team, but it will provide powertrains to at least one team. The brand said it will reveal which team they plan to partner with by the end of 2022. This team will likely be Sauber, which also announced today that its technical and commercial partnership with Alfa Romeo will end after the 2023 season. Alfa Romeo-Sauber is currently in sixth in the championship, which would be the team’s best result since 2012 if it can maintain this position.

    The possibility of Audi joining Formula 1 has been rumored for years. Audi says it is currently focused on hiring personnel and sourcing the technical infrastructure and buildings needed to develop the power units. These components should be in place by the end of the year, giving Audi three years to prepare its power unit before the 2026 season kicks off. With Porsche also said to be entering F1 as an engine supplier, potentially with Red Bull Racing, 2026 is set to be an important year for the biggest global motorsports series.
    This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

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    in Motor News

    We Blew Up the Engine in Our Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing During Initial Testing

    We took delivery of a long-term Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing in March of 2022.After respecting the 1500-mile break-in period, we hit the track for initial performance testing.After about 15 standing-start launches, the LT4 V-8 started misfiring severely. Our elation after taking delivery of a 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing for a 40,000-mile long-term test quickly turned to despair after its 668-hp supercharged V-8 suffered a catastrophic engine failure during our initial test session. After respecting the 1500-mile break-in period—keeping the revs below 4000 rpm and not sitting at a constant speed for extended periods—we hit the test track with just over 1800 miles on the odometer to log its initial performance figures.

    General Motors

    General Motors

    We took our time playing with the Blackwing’s exceptionally adjustable launch-control feature that allows the driver to select separate launch-rpm and slip-target settings, and then tried a few unassisted dances on the pedals with our ham hocks to see if we could beat it (we could). After about 15 launches, we were almost ready to call it when disaster struck. While coasting to the far end of the straightaway after a run, a host of warning messages popped up on the gauge cluster, all tied to a severe misfire.

    The LT4’s even cylinder bank where all the damage occured.
    General Motors

    What happened? That’s a good question, one that wasn’t answered conclusively even following a complete teardown at GM’s powertrain headquarters in Pontiac, Michigan, where the engine went after it was removed by our local Cadillac dealer. The damage was limited to the even-numbered cylinder bank, with cylinder six taking the brunt of the carnage; its cylinder walls were scored, and aluminum plucked away from the edge of the piston and sprayed on top of it as well as on the exhaust valve. The severe temperature and pressure also blew off the ground strap at the end of the spark plug, and even the cast-iron cylinder liner showed some pitting.Bad fuel could have caused this kind of pre-ignition or knocking, but then both banks would have been affected. So small-block assistant chief engineer Mike Kociba thinks it was likely one of two things that happened: Either the fuel supply on that side of the rail was somehow depleted—a contaminant restricting the flow somewhere—or a similar blockage in the cooling system that allowed things to get too hot. But, during the teardown, they didn’t find such a blockage in either system.

    General Motors

    General Motors

    Kociba assured us it had nothing to do with the severity of our use, and that the engine can happily do standing-start launches all day. Furthermore, he said that of the roughly 20,000 supercharged LT4 variants of the Gen V small-block V-8 the company has sold to date—in the C7 Corvette Z06, Cadillac CTS-V, Camaro ZL1, and now the CT5-V Blackwing and Escalade V—ours is the first and only such failure.However, this isn’t the first time a Gen V small block let go in our hands. The naturally aspirated LT1 V-8 in our long-term 2014 Corvette needed to be replaced after a connecting-rod bearing failed, likely due to a metal burr that originated from the block or oil-filter threads. With our CT5, it took about six weeks for our local dealer to remove the engine, receive a new one from GM, and install it. And then, of course, we had to take it easy once again during a second break-in period. Then we again hit the test track for much hard running, and this time it took it in stride, clocking a sprint to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and 11.7 seconds through the quarter-mile at 124 mph, and shrugging off repeated runs. Just as we’d expect from one of the fiercest-ever sports sedans. More

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    in Bike

    KTM India Sales, Exports Jul 2022 – Duke, RC 125, 200, 250, 390 ADV

    KTM may not be doing very well domestically, but when it comes to exports, reported good YoY and MoM sales growthKTM India SalesKTM has been on the verge of rejigging its product lineup in India. In that regard, we have seen the launch of 2022 versions of most of their lineup. Speaking about KTM’s Indian lineup, the Austrian brand has three variations in its body style. They are RC, a sports machine, Duke, which is a street machine and lastly, we have Adventure, which is a, well, adventure machine.All three body styles get a different set of engines too, ranging from 125cc to 373cc. KTM has registered a mixed bag of sales figures with both dips and growth in sales. But that is likely to change soon when 2023 Duke range is launched in India which is in testing phase right now.KTM Sales – Domestic & ExportsWhen we take domestic sales into account, we see a sharp dip in sales YoY. KTM 200 series (Duke + RC) models sold 1,607 units in July 2022 while they sold 2,019 units in July 2021 with a 20.41% drop in sales YoY. But they sold just 767 units in June 2022 and hence registers 109.52% growth MoM with a difference of 840 units. But when it comes to exports, 200cc models follow a similar pattern. With 1,840 units sold in July 2022, they register an 11.33% drop in sales YoY and 10.18% growth in sales MoM.KTM 250 series (Duke + ADV) models follow the same pattern. In domestic market, with 847 units sold in July 2022, 250cc models register a dip of 15.47% YoY and gain 288.53% MoM with just 218 units sold in June 2022. But with exports, with 1,056 units sold in July 2022, 250cc models see a drop in sales of 12.58% YoY and 24.03% MoM. When it comes to KTM 125 series (Duke + RC) models, with just 14 units sold in July 2022, they have been a hard sell domestically and hence are likely to not be updated to MY2022 in India.KTM Sales & Exports July 2022 – DomesticBut 1,010 units of KTM 125 range models have been shipped in July 2022 with 33.25% YoY growth and a 10.46% drop in sales MoM as it shipped 1,128 units in June 2022. In domestic markets, 200cc models take up 54.25% share of all KTM products and are followed by 250 with 28.60%, 390 with 16.68% and 125 with 0.47%. But 390 (ADV + Duke + RC) is the most shipped at 48.62% share of all KTM bikes followed by 200 with 24.20%, 250 with 13.89% and lastly, we have 125 with just 13.29% share.KTM Sales & Exports July 2022 – ExportsTotal SalesWhen we take into account the total sales of all KTM models, things get a little interesting. At the top, we have 390 series with 4,190 units sold in July 2022 registering a 30.86% YoY growth with 988 units difference from 3,202 units sold in July 2021. It also register 53.59% MoM growth in July 2022 with just 2,728 units sold in June 2022.200 models take second spot with 3,447 units sold in July 2022 registering a 15.80% drop YoY and gaining 41.44% MoM in July 2022 with 2,437 units in June 2022. 250 series are next with 1,903 units sold in July 2022 registering a 32.05% drop YoY and gaining 18.35% with a difference of 295 units in July 2022. But 125 series loses 32.05% YoY and 9.30% MoM with just 1,024 units sold in July 2022.KTM Sales & Exports July 2022 – TotalTotally, KTM registers a dip in sales of 4.08% YoY with just 10,564 units sold in July 2022 and 11,013 units sold in July 2021. But KTM gains 33.69% MoM because it only sold 7,902 units in June 2022 and gained 2,662 units. KTM’s 390 series is by far the most popular of the lot with a 39.66% share of all KTM products sold. 390 range is the only one to register growth everywhere, be it domestic or exports or YoY or MoM charts. More

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    in Bike

    New Honda Shine Celebration Edition Launch Price Rs 79k – Golden Theme

    Just like Activa in scooter segment, Shine is Honda’s primary volume generator in motorcycle spaceNew Honda Shine Celebration EditionAhead of the festive season, Honda has introduced a fresh new look for its popular Shine 125cc motorcycle. The new Honda Shine Celebration Edition packs in a range of cosmetic updates. In terms of equipment list and hardware, the bike is largely the same as the standard model.Shine Celebration Edition has been launched at a starting price of Rs 78,878 (ex-showroom, New Delhi). That’s a premium of Rs 1,500 in comparison to standard Shine drum variant that is priced at Rs 77,378.With Shine Celebration Edition, Honda will be looking to leverage positive consumer sentiments generally seen during festive season. Shine is already a bestseller and consistently ranks among top 10 two-wheelers in the country. In July, it was in third place, trailing behind Hero Splendor and Activa.Honda Shine Celebration Edition featuresHonda Shine Celebration Edition gets two new colour options – Matte Steel Black Metallic and Matte Sangria Red Metallic. The special edition bike also gets a new golden theme. While the graphics have the same layout, they are done in a striking golden shade.New Honda Shine Celebration EditionThe golden theme extends to other components such as the golden wingmark emblem, Shine logo on tail section and celebration edition logo on the tank top. The headlamp cowl and side panels also get golden garnish.Among the two new colour options, the golden theme stands out with the Matte Sangria Red Metallic. The overall look and feel is more agreeable on this one, as compared to Matte Steel Black Metallic colour option. This is especially true, taking into account the brown colour seat.If the seat had the standard black shade, the Matte Steel Black Metallic colour option would have worked better with the golden theme. Users looking for a sprightly colour option are most likely to go with the Matte Sangria Red Metallic shade.New Honda Shine Celebration EditionAnother update is matte axis grey metallic muffler cover, which complements the golden theme of Shine Celebration Edition. In the standard model, the muffler cover comes in glossy chrome finish. Honda Shine Celebration Edition will be available in both drum and disc variant.No functional improvementsApart from the cosmetic updates, new Honda Shine Celebration Edition is the same as standard model. The bike is powered by a 123.94cc motor that generates 10.74 PS of max power at 7,500 rpm and 11 Nm of peak torque at 6,000 rpm. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox with multiplate wet clutch. The bike is preferred for its reliable performance and good mileage numbers that are around 50-55 kmpl in city conditions and around 60-65 kmpl on highways.New Honda Shine Celebration EditionHonda Shine packs in advanced tech features such as eSP (enhanced smart power), silent start with ACG, side stand engine cut-off and engine start-stop switch. Other key features include DC headlamp, integrated headlamp beam and passing switch, longer seat, 5-step adjustable rear suspension, combi-brake system with equalizer and seal chain. More

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    in Bike

    RE Bobber 650, Himalayan 450 Spied Together – Cruising At 100+ Kmph

    New products like Bobber 650 and Himalayan 450 will help Royal Enfield maintain its dominance in middleweight motorcycle segmentRoyal Enfield Bobber 650 and Himalayan 450 spied togetherEven with more than 85% market share in middleweight segment, Royal Enfield doesn’t seem to be infected by a complacency bug. On the contrary, the Chennai-based manufacturer is working aggressively by launching new products at regular intervals. This approach has become all the more necessary with availability of new rival products such as those launched by the likes of Honda, Jawa, Yezdi and TVS. In the future, Royal Enfield is likely to face new challengers from Hero MotoCorp and Bajaj as well.Over the next five years, Royal Enfield will be launching an average of one new product every quarter. Things seem to be going as per plans so far, as Scram 411 and Hunter 350 have already been launched this year. Other upcoming Royal Enfield bikes include Himalayan 450 and Bobber 650, which were recently spotted on road test by happinessperkm.Himalayan 450 featuresHimalayan 450 has undergone some major transformations, helping achieve a design that’s a lot more pleasing to the eyes. As compared to the sharp profile used for Himalayan 411, new Himalayan has a more rounded appearance. While Himalayan 411 is hard to miss on the streets, new Himalayan 450 has a more agreeable design that can easily blend in the crowded streets.Another key change can be seen in the design of racks, which also get a rounded appearance. Rear racks seem to be missing on the test mule, which indicates that some of these components could be made optional. They could be offered as an accessory via the company’s MIY personalization platform. It makes sense, as not everyone may be planning long-distance touring on Himalayan 450.[embedded content][embedded content]Other changes that are evident include new fuel tank design, single-piece saddle, compact exhaust and longer front beak. Retro bits are largely the same such as round headlamp and rear view mirrors and wire-spoke wheels. Most significant upgrade will be the new 450cc motor, which is likely to generate around 40 bhp of max power and 45 Nm of peak torque.Bobber 650 featuresFor wide open roads, Royal Enfield Bobber 650 seems like the perfect cruising machine. Its large size exudes powerful vibes and the bulk keeps it firmly planted on the tarmac. Even when cruising at high speeds, absolutely no turbulence or vibrations are noticeable. Some key features of Bobber 650 include round headlamp and rear view mirrors, classic tear-drop shaped fuel tank, single-piece seat, dual chrome exhaust, broad rear mudguard and circular tail lamp and turn signals.Bobber 650 is equipped with dual instrument dials, something similar to that of Meteor 350. The smaller unit on the right is likely to be Tripper navigation screen. The bike has a comfortable riding stance with pulled back handlebar and forward-set footpegs. USD forks at front will make the rides a lot safer. While the test mule does not have a visor, it could be offered as an accessory.Powering Bobber 650 will be the 648cc parallel twin motor that makes 47.5 PS and 52 Nm. It is mated to a constant mesh 6-speed transmission. It is possible that some engine retuning may be done in line with Bobber 650’s cruising needs. The bike is expected to be launched at a price of around Rs 3 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh. More