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    Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor Modified As A Cruiser – Named Hummingbird

    Royal Enfield 650 Modified – Hummingbird
    Royal Enfield plans to launch multiple new motorcycles every year in India

    We already know by now that Royal Enfield is developing a full-blown cruiser based on the 650cc platform which underpins Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650. Also referred to as KX650, launch is expected next year.
    Images of RE’s cruiser 650 test mule have already been out. However, before Royal Enfield launches their 650cc crusier officially, a custom-made cruiser on the same platform has already been made.
    While Interceptor 650 has been a fan favourite ever since its launch in 2018, there are loads of room for improvement in order to classify itself as a tourer. Its uncomfortable seat and stiff suspension setup make for an unforgiving riding experience for long distances.
    However, if it were modified into cruiser things might be different. An aftermarket customisation firm called Bulleteer Customs has modified an Interceptor into a proper cruiser and posted its images on its Instagram handle.

    Modified Design
    It has taken more than a year for Bulleteer Customs to complete this job, from designing to actual execution. The bike adopts a design of an authentic bobber with wide handlebars and a very low stance. Handlebars here use extenders to provide a comfortable riding position. Wheelbase has been increased by providing a slight rake to the front suspension unit thus feeling more planted on straight roads and highways.
    Tyres have been upgraded from 100mm to 120mm at front and 130mm to 180mm at rear. This also lends a distinct road presence to the motorcycle. Saddle has been lowered and flattened out with proper cushioning therefore making for a more comfortable ride. The customised bike gets a split seat instead of a single piece as on the stock Interceptor.

    Side body panels have been changed as well, which bear the name ‘Highway’. Fuel tank is of a similar tear-drop shape however, like Continental GT, it comes with cuts on either side for a more aerodynamic look. The motorcycle wears a nice contrasting look thanks to a colour scheme of hue green and black with pinstriping used.
    Engine and alloy wheels are painted in Black with a white accent matching the aesthetics of the cruiser. A different exhaust system which is more straight than being up-swept has been used.
    Powertrain Details
    Clearly, time and effort invested in this modification have paid off nicely and the bike looks quite tasteful. Interceptor is powered by a 648cc parallel-twin oil/air-cooled motor which gives out 47 bhp and 52 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a 6-speed gearbox and offered with a slip and assist clutch. As of now there has been no official word from Royal Enfield regarding KX650’s launch but we expect to hear more about it in coming months.

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    New Honda CB 250cc Under Development – Patent Leaks

    Honda CB350 In India – For reference
    The recently launched CB350 in India competes with the likes of Royal Enfield Classic 350, Jawa and Benelli Imperiale

    Honda has been reaping benefits from the introduction of H’Ness CB350 introduced a couple of months ago in the India market. Despite being available in limited numbers through its premium chain of dealerships BigWing, it has found a decent amount of buyers.
    Now, the Japanese auto giant is looking to expand its popular CB range of bikes. Patent images of a new motorcycle possibly of the new CB250 have leaked and surfaced on the internet. Going by the images, it resembles closely to CB300R which is slated to launch in India soon.
    Design Expected
    Although it seems to share most of its working components with its elder sibling CB400 SF including its frame and bodywork. The frame in discussion here is a conventional double cradle type and the swingarm seems fairly simple. Lots of focus has been put into the rear suspension setup which gets a mono-shock unit and has been mounted directly in the swingarm with no rising-rate linkage.
    Thus the cycle part is mounted on the frame directly behind the machine’s fuel tank, something which is common to more modern Honda motorcycles. Rest of the components are similar to the CB400 SF like the seat, wheels and tail section.
    Honda CB 250cc patent leaks
    Development on this seems to be in nascent stages since details available are very limited. However, it looks Honda might be serious about this because if it weren’t so important a more generic image of this could have been drawn.
    CB250 legacy
    The first generation of CB250 came out in the 1970s with its latest incarnation coming out in 1992 and staying in global markets until it got replaced by CBF250 in 2003. Despite its modest power and torque figures, it performed its duties without any complaints and became one of the most popular middleweight classic motorcycles.
    Honda 250cc engine patent
    Chances of production & arriving in India
    As of now, Honda’s CB range extends from the entry-level CB125R to top of the line CB1000RR which recently got updated. Question arises whether this bike will indeed see a production version soon and if it will arrive in India or not. Honda is surely looking to expand its premium range of motorcycles in India and the new CB250 could be an enticing option since the much loved and endeared CBR250R got discontinued earlier this year.
    Currently, Honda premium range of BigWing motorcycles starts from the new H’Ness CB350 and the new CB250 could be placed under it. The challenge for Honda will be to heavily localise this bike just like it did with the CB350 which is claimed to be more than 90 percent localised in India.
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    Aprilia eSR1 Electric Scooter Name Registered – Launch Expected In 2021

    Image for reference
    E-scooter offering from Aprilia is expected to share its technologies and mechanicals with Vespa Elletrica

    Piaggio has filed a trademark for its upcoming electric scooter from its Aprilia brand. The Italian two-wheeler manufacturer has registered the trademark ‘eSR1’ at European Union Intellectual Property Office. The latter published a trademark application showing the ‘eSR1’ name in stylised font and logo.
    However, the applicant’s name hasn’t been revealed yet although it is indicated to be the Piaggio Group. The evidence being the ‘SR’ portion of trademark which resembles the SR logo in Aprilia brand of scooters.
    Furthermore, the eSR logo looks straight out of the books for the logo of SR-GP Replica which was revealed last year. The other major hint given is that the trademark has been registered on Piaggio’s behalf by Jacobacci & Partners S.P.A, the firm which handles all intellectual property matters for the Italian brand. Aprilia currently retails the SR range of scooters in 50cc, 125cc, 150cc and 160cc configurations around the world.
    Aprilia’s e-Scooter plans
    It is also being speculated that Aprilia eSR1 will share its powertrain and technology with other Piaggio group of products, specifically Vespa Elettrica which is already on sale in many international markets. Since it is a common practice by Aprilia to share technologies among its sibling brands this shouldn’t come as a surprise. This means Elettrica’s electric motor and batteries could be repackaged for Aprilia eSR1.
    Vespa Electric Scooter At 2020 Auto Expo
    Trademark filings don’t guarantee a production-spec model launch as they don’t reveal if or when a specific model will arrive at markets. In this case, however, chances are pretty high since electric scooters have been in trend and a global brand like Aprilia will surely garner a lot of attention which is likely to translate into a high consumer base.
    If eSR1 borrows its powertrain and technology from Vespa, much of its development would already be complete even though the e-scooter hasn’t yet been revealed in flesh. This means that launch of the new Aprilia scooter could be as early as next year for European markets.
    Vespa Elettrica details
    Speaking of specifications, Vespa Elettrica draws its power from a 4kW electric motor paired with a lithium-ion battery pack. Peak torque available at wheels stands at an impressive 200 Nm and provides a range of 100 km in Eco mode and 70 km in Power mode in a single charge. It takes 3.5 hours for the battery to get juiced up using a 220V socket.
    Its underpinnings are similar to its petrol-powered counterpart assisted by a trailing link front suspension and single shock absorber at rear. It rolls on 12-inch front and 11-inch rear alloy wheels. The model was showcased at this year’s AutoExpo but there are no signs of its launch in India anytime soon.
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    Mahindra Mojo 300 ABS Buyers To Get Free Shiro Helmet Worth Rs 5k

    Image – @vijaysandaraj7
    Mahindra Mojo 300 directly rivals Bajaj Dominar and the upcoming Hero Xpulse 200T

    Towards the end of the year, auto manufacturers race against time to clear their inventories. In order to do that, they offer multiple benefits to consumers to attract them to showrooms and make a purchase during this period. Mahindra Two-wheelers have resorted to something similar.
    Mahindra is offering a special safety offer with Mojo 300 for the month of December. This safety will encompass all consumers looking to buy a Mojo during the month of December 2020. Offer is applicable till the end of this month.
    Details of Offer
    Under this offer scheme, Mahindra will be offering every new Mojo owner a Mojo Branded Helmet (by Shiro) worth Rs.4,901 absolutely free of cost. Additionally, under the offer of Mojo Tribesman, a Mojo consumer who refers his/her friend to a nearby Mahindra Mojo dealership will get rewarded with Mojo Branded Long Riding Gloves worth Rs.2350 absolutely free.
    Mahindra Mojo BS6 was launched a few months ago. Sales have not been great, despite the reduction in price. Since launch in Aug, BS6 Mojo sales are at 146 units. With this new offer, Mahindra aims to increase sales in the last month of the year 2020.
    Mahindra Mojo Offer – Dec 2020
    Mojo 300 Details
    Mojo 300 is powered by a 295cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine which puts out 25.35 bhp at 7,300 rpm and 26.0 Nm of peak torque at 6,000 rpm. This unit is linked to a six-speed gearbox. The bike is mounted on a twin-tube Exposed Frame which is assisted by a suspension setup consisting of telescopic front forks and a mono-shock unit at rear. Braking duties are handled by front and rear disc brakes of 320mm and 240mm respectively assisted by dual-channel ABS offered as standard.
    It rolls on 17-inch wheels with 110/70-17 M/C 54S front and 140/70-17 M/C 66S profile of tyres. It gets a curb weight of 186 kg and a wheelbase of 1,460 mm alongside a ground clearance of 165 mm and a seat height of 300 mm. It can hold up to 21 litres of fuel. The tourer gets its signature dual-pod halogen headlamps which give it a menacing look.
    Mojo Sales
    FY 2020/21
    FY 2019/20
    April
    0
    0
    May
    0
    1
    June
    0
    1
    July
    0
    1
    Aug
    32
    25
    Sep
    37
    11
    Oct
    77
    40
    Total
    146
    79
    It is available in four colour schemes namely- Red Agate, Rube Red, Garnet Black and Black Pearl. Prices for the tourer motorcycle start at Rs 2.00 lakh and go up to Rs 2.11 lakh (both prices are ex-showroom).
    Other Bikes by Mahindra
    Mojo is currently the only bike in the market which is retailed under Mahindra’s brand name. Apart from Mojo, Mahindra owns a majority stake at Classic Motorcycles which builds Jawa motorcycles in India.
    Currently, Classic Motorcycles retails three Jawa motorcycles in India- Jawa Standard, Jawa Forty-Two and Perak. The bikemaker is also going to start production of Yezdi brand of motorcycles most probably from next year. The company will also be manufacturing bikes for the redundant British brand BSA Motorcycles in the United Kingdom from next year. More

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    Honda Activa 6G, Hornet, CD110 Rs 5k Cashback Offer Dec 2020

    Hamsa Honda
    December 2020 offers from Honda Two Wheelers is in the form of cashback on card purchases

    It’s no surprise that as the year comes to a close, those awaiting December discounts and offers usually find an end of year purchase to be one that suits the pocket. With the new year almost here, 2021 vehicles but naturally dated as MY21 ones.
    As such, the need to sell MY20 stock by 2020 end is a major focus area for manufacturers. And the excitement around such a purchase is fuelled by time bound December deals.
    Honda Two-wheelers cash back offer
    Honda two wheelers has curated special offers for a number of its products this month. This comes with 5 percent cashback up to Rs 5,000 on credit card/ debit card EMI. Ease of purchase is outlined with no requirement for a down payment, no documentation, and no hypothecation. The easy process is made possible by the fact that the purchaser already has a verified bank account.
    Purchases are obviously defined by bank balance, and/or credit card limit, and quite naturally the purchase amount is converted to EMIs. With multiple finance partners on board, terms and conditions would be applicable as per preferred financier’s guidelines. The above offer is certainly available for the ever popular Honda Activa, and new Hornet, and CD110 Dream Deluxe.
    Honda Activa 6G Cashback
    Honda Activa isn’t just a product that’s evolved with vehicle lifecycles, but it has kept toe to toe with everything the larger market offers. So much so, that having led from the front from its first innings, it continues to rule the roost in its latest avatar. The journey has spanned two decades, and only last month the manufacturer launched a special edition to celebrate its 20 glorious years.
    Last month, the company reported wholesales at 4,33,206 units, at just under 10 percent growth from 3,96,399 units sold a year earlier. Though not comprehensive, retail sales data provided by FADA puts numbers at 3,80,088, down 17.33 percent from 4,59,774 units in Nov ‘19. And it goes without saying that such numbers are possible only because Honda Activa is an unchallenged bestseller.
    Honda Hornet Cashback Offer
    Q4 2020 Cashback and offers
    In essence, the cashback offer is part of the manufacturer’s ‘Super 6’ offer that was on offer until end of November, 2020 as a special bouquet offer to augment festive season sales. That included saving of upto 11k, 100 percent finance with low-interest rates, 50 percent discount on EMI plan, cashback up to Rs 5,000 on a credit card or debit card EMI, or upto 2.5k in benefits for purchases through Paytm.
    End of year sales, especially one with a clearly outlined benefit makes sense considering new MY21 vehicles will be costlier, even if marginally. It can be expected that in January 2020, product portfolios across manufacturers will see a price revision on account of various aspects including input costs. As such, knowing the prices will rise, buying a vehicle in the next few days presents a clear monetary benefit from a purchase made in three weeks time.
    Honda CD110 Cashback Offer More

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    KTM 250, 390 ADV Get Spoke Wheels As Accessory – Launch Soon

    KTM 390 Adventure Spoked Wheels
    KTM 390 Adventure shares its mechanicals with 390 Duke while 250 ADV shares with Duke 250

    KTM 390 Adventure is one of the best selling adventure motorcycle in India. Not only does it offer an implanted ride both on and off-road, but it also provides loads of gizmos making it a technologically enhanced bike. However, it is also one it priciest in its segment and bad news is that it just got a tad more expensive.
    Price Hike
    The Austrian bikemaker has hiked the prices of its ADV by Rs 1,878. Following the latest price hike, 390 Adventure now costs Rs 3,05,878 as opposed to previously priced Rs 3,04,000 (both prices are ex-showroom). The marginal price hike does not bring any significant change to the bike.
    What is good news is that, there is a more affordable adventure motorcycle from KTM in town. New KTM 250 Adv has just been launched in India, at a starting price of Rs 2.48 lakh – making it Rs 60k cheaper than the 390 ADV. In addition, there is now a new package on offer with the KTM ADVs.
    New package on offer
    While the KTM Advs are decently capable to take on the undulated paths, it surely isn’t meant for hardcore trail-bashing and a major reason for this are its alloy wheels. But for all those adventure seeking enthusiasts, the company is now offering a special package which includes a pair of spoked wheels. Available under KTM’s Powerparts catalogue, price of this package hasn’t been announced yet.
    Spoked Wheels for KTM 390 Adventure and 250 Adventure
    This spoke wheels kit offers all additional components required to convert stock alloy wheels into spoke wheels. Inclusion of spoked rims accentuates the 250 and 390 Adventure’s off-roading prowess by offering better balance and stiffness thus instilling more confidence riding off-tarmac.
    Along with spoked rims, it includes both front and rear discs and a sprocket in order to increase the bike’s bottom-end performance. Size of the sprocket hasn’t yet been specified though.
    Features & Specifications
    390 Adventure is built on a lightweight steel Trellis frame which is assisted by 43mm inverted telescopic forks at front with a travel of 170mm and a mono-shock unit at rear end with a travel of 177mm. It offers disc brakes on both ends assisted by a dual-channel ABS. It offers knobby tyres and a high ground clearance of 200mm both of which are critical for off-roading.
    The bike is packed with first in class electronic aids such as off-road ABS for better steering control, cornering ABS, multiple ride modes, ride-by-wire and an ECU that offers functionalities such as lean-angle sensitive Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC). It also gets a quick shifter for smoother gear shifts. Apart from these, it offers a Bluetooth-enabled TFT colour display that is compatible with KTM My Ride smartphone connectivity which allows one to manage his/her calls, music and also turn-by-turn navigation.
    It is powered by a BS6 compliant 373.2cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine which generates 42.3hp and 37Nm of peak torque and is paired to a six-speed gearbox. More

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    Royal Enfield 650 Twins To Get Alloys By Feb 2021 – Ahead Of Cruiser Launch

    Royal Enfield 650cc Cruiser Red Colour Render
    Ever since the launch of 650 Twins, select customers have been waiting for alloys wheels option

    To ensure that customers have access to all options they might wish for, Royal Enfield will soon be launching alloy wheels for its popular 650 twins, Interceptor and Continental GT. The alloy wheels will be offered as an accessory. 650 twins currently utilize spoke wheels, which is one of the key design elements that give the motorcycles their retro flavour.
    Testing and validation
    In response to an owner of Interceptor 650, Royal Enfield said that they are currently carrying out extensive durability and validation testing for the new cast alloy wheels. Once that is complete and if things progress as per plans, the new alloy wheels could be launched around February 2021.
    It is also to be noted here, that the upcoming Royal Enfield 650 Cruiser, which has been spied on test in Chennai, was seen with alloys wheels. Most likely, it is this alloy wheel design, which will also be seen on board the 650 Twins Interceptor and Continental GT. Launch of the Cruiser 650 is scheduled for sometime next year.
    Customers wanting the new alloy wheels will be able to select the same via the company’s MiY (Make It Yours) customization platform. It can be done via the company’s website, mobile app or at the dealership. In addition to 650 twins, the personalization platform is also available for Classic 350 and recently launched Meteor 350. Other motorcycles such as Bullet and Himalayan will be included in the online configurator program in the future.
    Image for reference. Credit – Royal Spares
    Alloy wheels more practical?
    When launched, the new alloy wheels will be shod with tubeless tyres. Many users will find this as a more practical choice, as tubeless tyres don’t need to be taken out in case of a puncture. However, true-blue retro enthusiasts are unlikely to ditch the spoke wheels. Apart from being more elegant, spoke wheels also offer other benefits such as better ability to absorb shocks and vibrations. They are also considered more rugged than alloy wheels.
    Earlier, Royal Enfield had done something similar with its top selling Classic 350 motorcycle. As customers would often install aftermarket alloys and exhausts on their Classic 350, Royal Enfield launched its own range of official and legal aftermarket accessories. These included multiple options for exhausts and alloy wheels.
    Tripper navigation
    In the near future, 650 Twins are also expected to get Tripper navigation that is standard equipment on-board Meteor 350. This is a first-in-segment feature and has been appreciated by several users. With the Tripper system, users don’t need to mount their smartphones on their motorcycle. For 650 twins, a larger version is currently under development. Along with the directions, the updated Tripper system will also display notifications. Meteor’s Tripper system is expected to be introduced in other Royal Enfield motorcycles as well.
    Launched in 2018, 650 twins share several components including the engine. The 648-cc, parallel twin cylinder unit is capable of generating 47 bhp of max power and 52 Nm of max torque. It is mated to a 6-speed gearbox and equipped with a slipper clutch.
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    Ola Electric Scooters To Be Launched In NewZealand

    Ola acquired Etergo electric scooter
    The Government of New Zealand has set a target of 64,000 new electric vehicles by the end of 2021

    As Bengaluru based cab hailing app, Ola makes its foray into the electric scooter segment, it has announced its e-scooter range for New Zealand. This is a part of the Government of New Zealand’s target to have around 64,000 new electric vehicles on road by the end of 2021.
    Ola announced its entry into the electric vehicle segment following the acquisition of Etergo BV, a Netherland based electric scooter maker in May 2020. Finance for the same of around $400 million (Rs 2,950 crores) is via funding from Tiger Global, Matrix India, Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata, and others.
    World’s Largest Scooter Factory
    As a part of the electric mobility plan, Ola is in final stages of setting up what will be considered as the world’s largest scooter factory. Once complete, this plant will have to capacity of 2 million units per annum.
    Ola e-scooters in India will be competitively priced; so as to take on the current range of petrol powered scooters. With this, the company seeks to tap into the ’20 million units per year’ two wheeler market in India. Industry sources claim that the company will launch its range of electric scooter in New Zealand over the next 6-9 months.
    Etergo electric scooter image for reference
    Besides New Zealand, Ola’s electric scooter will also be making its way to other global markets. Etergo e-scooter has won several design and innovation awards which also includes the prestigious Consumer Electronic Show (CES) and the German Design Awards.
    Along with outright sales, leasing and subscription options along with shared mobility services like scooter sharing/renting and bike e-hailing must all be thought out clearly. Ola already has quite the experience in the shared mobility front. Ola’s tech prowess, and data access along with its cab hailing app outreach, all work together to help the company glean important info regarding the evolution of mobility.
    Ola e-scooters in India
    Ola Electric is planning launch of its new electric scooter in India in 2021. It plans to keep pricing in the sub Rs.1 lakh category so as to compete with existing two-wheeler players such as Ather Energy, Ampere, Okinawa, Tork Motors and Hero Electric.
    ‘AppScooter’ in India will have support for home charging and public charging with an inbuilt port and will come in with three interchangeable battery modules each of which will have capacity of 600 W to offer a range of 80 km. This is owing to the currently fledgeling public infrastructure for swappable batteries in India being low.
    The e-scooter is expected to be priced competitively against the current petrol scooters, as the company is looking at tapping into a the large two-wheeler market in India. Currently, the growing electric two-wheeler market in India is small, and dominated by scooters. More