Bike

Subterms

    More stories

    • 150 Shares169 Views

      in Bike

      Harley Davidson Dealers Unhappy Post Hero Alliance – Might File Legal Case

      by

      File Photo.
      Harley Davidson dealers in India have hired a law firm and are looking at legal options

      While the Harley Davidson & Hero MotoCorp deal is a positive development for customers and motorcycle enthusiasts, many Harley dealerships are facing an uncertain future.
      Harley dealers are even more worried now because there’s a growing possibility that the total number of dealerships may be reduced to just 13-15 dealerships. This will be a major setback to Harley dealers who may be asked to shut shop.
      Demand for higher compensation
      One of the primary complaints of Harley dealers is that the compensation package is not enough to cover their losses. The compensation offered by Harley-Davidson management includes two components, one of which is Rs 1,500 per sq. ft., after adjusting for 10% annual value depreciation. The second component is reimbursement of sales margins for a period of 6 months.
      Harley dealers claim that this compensation is significantly lower than their collective investments over the last decade, which amounts to around Rs 300 crore. Moreover, since the lockdown was lifted in August, the dealers have been incurring huge losses of around Rs 30-40 lakh every month.
      Harley Davidson India Dealer
      In the domestic market, Harley’s bestselling product was Street 750 mid-sized motorcycle. It contributed around 70-80% of the company’s sales in the country.
      Earlier, dealers used to sell around 20-25 Harleys every month, but the numbers are down to single digits. As new Harley products may take some time to be launched via Hero MotoCorp partnership, dealers are demanding higher compensation for their investment and losses.
      Law firm appointed
      With the possibility that on-going talks may not lead to favourable developments, the Harley-Davidson Dealers Association has appointed a law firm AZB & Partners. The plan is to explore legal options to safeguard their investment and probably get higher compensation to recover their losses. However, this is a preliminary move to assess potential options. The dealers have not filed any case against either Harley or Hero MotoCorp.
      Harley Davidson dealers are hopeful that things will be resolved in a favourable manner for all stakeholders. They are currently waiting for a formal announcement to be made by either Harley or Hero MotoCorp. The dealers say that they need to be clearly told about the next steps, so that they can make adjustments accordingly.
      As per the deal between the two companies, Hero MotoCorp will be taking over the sales and service operations of Harley. This will be done via the existing Harley outlets.
      Hero will also be retailing original parts, accessories, riding gear, apparel and general merchandise. Hero also gets the license to develop and sell premium motorcycles with Harley Davidson brand name. The first of these products could be a 350cc – 500cc motorcycle that will challenge the supremacy of Royal Enfield. More

    • 138 Shares139 Views

      in Bike

      Triumph Tiger 850 Sport Teased Ahead Of Global Debut – Official

      by

      Triumph Tiger 850 Sport Teaser
      The Triumph Tiger 850 Sport is reported to be road focused and is likely to forgo several features to arrive at a competitive price point

      Triumph Motorcycles is busy introducing new products amidst the full blown pandemic crisis that has been greatly affecting the automotive industry. The British sportsbike marque just unveiled its most affordable three-cylinder motorcycle, the Trident, last month, and is already gearing up to introduce a new Tiger variant.
      Triumph Tiger 850 Sport
      Triumph India has released a teaser image of a new Tiger variant without furnishing any details. The image shows a red finished adventure tourer with the Tiger’s instantly recognizable LED light signature. International media expects the new variant to be called as the Triumph Tiger 850 Sport.
      The new Tiger 900 is currently available in four variants with a strong focus on all-terrain riding. The Tiger Sport 850 is expected to serve as a new entry level model with heightened focus on tarmac touring.
      However, new motorcycle does appear to be sporting 19-inch front wheel dual-purpose tyre. We expect the Tiger 850 Sport to feature some significant cost cutting measures to arrive at a competitive price point.
      Triumph Tiger 850 Sport Teaser
      Specifications
      With the Euro 5 emission norms forcing OEMs to go for slightly higher displacement, it is unlikely that the Triumph Tiger 850 Sport will feature an engine that is smaller than the 900 variants. The in-line three-cylinder, liquid-cooled motor displaces 888 cc and produces 95 hp and 87 Nm of torque. Transmission is a 6-speed unit. We expect the new variant to carry forward this configuration despite the ‘850’ in the nomenclature.
      If the Triumph Tiger 850 Sport is road focuses, then we expect the inverted telescopic front fork and rear monoshock to feature tweaked stiffness and damping coefficients. Triumph may likely delete some electronic features such as Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and related systems to make the 850 Sport more accessible than its 900 siblings.
      For reference, the fully loaded Triumph Tiger 900 variants are equipped with a 7-inch colour TFT instrument display, IMU-powered cornering ABS, cornering traction control, Triumph Shift Assist (bi-directional quick shifter), 6 riding modes, cruise control, heated grips and seats, mobile charger, tire pressure monitoring system, and so on.
      Rivals
      The Triumph Tiger 850 will lock horns with the likes of BMW F900XR and Yamaha Tracer 900. Pricing is expected to be competitive. The road-focused tourer will make its online debut on November 17th and is expected to be ready for the market sometime in first half of 2021. We expect Triumph to introduce the new Tiger variant in India sometime early next year. More

    • 175 Shares189 Views

      in Bike

      New BMW G 310 GS Vs KTM 390 ADV Vs RE Himalayan – Comparison

      by

      New BMW 310 GS
      With the launch of the updated BMW G 310 GS, a comparison is in order with its nearest rivals- KTM 390 Adventure and Royal Enfield Himalayan

      BMW Motorrad has finally launched its entry-level G 310 twins in India. While the G 310 R is a naked roadster, G 310 GS is an adventure tourer. With growing popularity and demands for Adventure bikes in India, this is currently a hotly contested space with big players such as KTM 390 Adventure and Royal Enfield Himalayan fighting it out.
      By launching a much affordable BS6 iteration of G 310 GS, BMW has announced its entry in a grand fashion. It is even more affordable than its KTM counterpart and that has left many biking enthusiasts surprised. So let us find out by comparing it with its nearest rivals in this segment how it fares against them.
      Engine
      All these bikes now comply with the latest BS6 emission norms. While all are powered by single-cylinder units, the Himalayan gets a single overhead camshaft instead of double cams like the rest. Therefore the Himalayan has the lowest power output among the three ADVs even though it carries the largest displacement. The 373.2cc engine of KTM 390 produces the highest output of 43.5 PS of power and 37 Nm of peak torque.
      While the Himalayan gets a five-speed gearbox, the 390 Adventure and G 310 GS get a six-speed unit. The latter two come with a slipper clutch and assist alongside clutch by wire system as standard. These have been new additions in the BMW adventure motorcycle.
      BMW G 310 GS Engine Specs vs Rivals
      Dimensions
      Dimensions of a bike turn out to be very critical when one to go in beaten tracks and these bikes are made for that. There is no considerable difference in their heights, widths and lengths. However, when it comes to their kerb weight, Himalayan is a lot heavier than its peers at 199kg while the KTM and BMW weigh 175kg and 169kg respectively and that can be felt in its performance as well.
      Features
      KTM 390 Adventure continues to lead the segment in terms of features on offer. However, BMW has made some valuable additions too in its latest iteration of G 310 GS. Both these motorcycles come with a throttle-by-wire technology and full LED lighting setup whereas Himalayan is offered with a conventional cable-operated throttle and halogen lamp setup.
      BMW G 310 GS Dimensions vs Rivals
      All three bikes are equipped with common features such as dual-channel ABS with switchable rear-wheel ABS deactivation. However, KTM 390 clearly leads with the equipment list consisting of a 5-inch TFT colour infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, Off-Road Mode, MTC (lean angle sensitive), bi-directional quick shifter, traction control and cornering ABS.
      Hardware
      While none of these motorcycles can’t be defined as hardcore off-roaders meant for trail bashing, the Himalayan is definitely more suited to take on the rough paths. Whereas the KTM and BMW are more touring friendly which can manage occasional off-roading. The KTM 390 and BMW G 310 are equipped with upside forks at front with 43mm WP Apex and 41mm USD suspension units respectively.
      On the other hand, Himalayan gets 41mm telescopic at front with a travel of 200mm way more than 180mm and 170mm available in BMW and KTM respectively. All three motorcycles are equipped with a mono-shock at rear with preload adjustable units for 390 Adventure and G 310 and a multi-link unit for Himalayan.
      The G 310 and 390 Adventure ride on 19-inch front and 17inch rear wheels while Himalayan rides on 21-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels. While the former two use alloy wheels wrapped around by tubeless tyres, Himlayan gets tube tyres which are wrapped around spoke wheels. Anchoring duties are carried out by disc brakes at both ends on all three bikes with dual-channel ABS on offer.
      BMW G 310 GS Price vs Rivals
      Price
      Royal Enfield Himalayan is by far the most affordable in this space with its prices starting at Rs 1.89 lakh. However, it is also the least powerful and least specced model too in comparison to its compatriots. KTM 390 Adventure is now the most expensive in this range at Rs 3.04 lakh, however, it is also the most powerful of the lot and gets the most number of features as well. (Prices mentioned are ex-showroom) More

    • 175 Shares119 Views

      in Bike

      Hero Xtreme 200S BS6 Launch Price Rs 1.15 L – Rivals Bajaj Pulsar 220F

      by

      BS6 Hero Xtreme 200S
      Hero Xtreme 200S will lock horns with Bajaj Pulsar 220F, which is priced at Rs 1.24 lakhs

      Hero MotoCorp has finally launched its fully-faired bike Xtreme 200S in its BS6 derivative. The bike was not yet been upgraded to the latest emission norms and, therefore, has not been in sale since April this year. Now, the brand has launched the latest iteration of its flagship motorcycle in India. Price is Rs 1,15,715, ex-sh; making it about Rs 9k cheaper than Pulsar 22F.
      Powertrain & Tranmission
      Hero utilizes the same 199.6cc single-cylinder motor on Xtreme 200S which has been upgraded to BS6 emission norms in Xpulse 200. This unit is also set to receive an oil-cooler as seen on the adventure tourer. It will continue to be mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
      As in the case with most updated BS6 two-wheelers, power figures on the new Xtreme 200S will be slightly altered. Output figures on the BS4 version read as 18.4 PS of maximum power and 17.1 Nm of peak torque. In its BS6 avatar, it now delivers 17.8 BHP @ 8500 RPM and an impressive torque of 16.4 Nm @ 6500 RPM. This means, power and torque figures, both have declined in BS6 avatar, when compared to BS4 figures.
      Design & Features
      Speaking of design, the BS6 Xtreme 200S sports the same styling with similar fairing as seen on its predecessor. Although, it now gets a new paint scheme called Pearl Fadeless White. Earlier two colours of Sports Red, Panther Black, which were on sale in BS4 avatar, continue to be on sale in BS6 avatar as well.
      BS6 Hero Xtreme 200S
      Equipment offered on the bike is also expected to remain same which shall consist of LED headlamp, LED taillight and an all-digital instrument console that comes equipped with Bluetooth-enabled turn-by-turn navigation, call alerts and gear position indicator. The Xtreme 200S comes with a 7-step adjustable mono shock suspension that offers superior ride handling, 276 mm Front Disc with single channel ABS and 220 mm Rear Disc for added safety.
      Commenting on the launch, Naveen Chauhan, Head – Sales and Aftersales, Hero MotoCorp, said, “The new Xtreme 200S showcases our focused approach to the premium segment. Our premium products like the Xtreme 160R and XPulse 200 BS-VI are receiving an overwhelming response from the customers. I am confident that the Xtreme 200S will build on their success.”
      Malo Le Masson, Head of Strategy, Hero MotoCorp, said, “Our horizontal strategy catering to all customer categories has worked really well and has allowed us to grow our market share in the premium motorcycle segment. We are confident that the BS-VI Xtreme 200S will continue its strong performance and further fortify our presence in the segment.”
      Hero Xtreme 200R No More?
      Hero Xtreme 200S is a fully faired bike based on its naked version Xtreme 200R; which in all likelihood is discontinued. Thanks to Xtreme 160R. Its smaller sibling Xtreme 160R made its debut a few months ago and has received a generous response overall. The naked roadster is offered in two variants at a starting price of Rs 99,850 going up to Rs 1,03,500 (ex-showroom).
      Hero Xtreme 160R is based on the Hero 1.R concept showcased at EICMA in Milan, Italy in 2019. The smaller Xtreme 160 is much sportier than its bigger sibling. The 160R attempts to be a sportier rendition of its elder faired sibling with minimum body panels, LED headlamp, heavily contoured single-piece seat, smoked-out LED taillight with ‘H’ signature and prominent chiseled fuel tank with contrast coloured extensions.
      The Xtreme 160R is powered by a 163cc single-cylinder, SOHC engine which produces 15 bhp and 14 Nm of peak torque. Same 5-speed gearbox used in Xtreme 200S is offered in Xtreme 160R.  More

    • 150 Shares169 Views

      in Bike

      Okinawa, Ampere To Increase Electric Scooter Production – Set Up New Plant

      by

      Okinawa Electric Scooters
      Tamil Nadu has grown into a promising hub for EV manufacturing in India with 100 percent tax exemption

      Electric Vehicle (EV) revolution has surely kicked in recently with many EV startups and manufacturers scaling up their operations in recent times. This has been boosted by the fact that the central and many state governments have drafted in respective EV policies that offer incentives to companies as well as buyers in order to encourage sales of EVs.
      Tamil Nadu, like many other states, has been trying to pitch itself as a potential EV manufacturing hub. Hence it is on radar of several EV brands and startups who are looking to expand their production capacity with tax concessions in picture. The latest brands in line are Ampere Electric and Okinawa.
      According to a report, Ampere and Okinawa are looking to make fresh investments in Tamil Nadu. Both brands have demonstrated immediate or long term interest in investing in the Southern state. Principal Secretary of Tamil Nadu, N Muruganandam, recently stated that the state government is under discussions with several EV manufacturers including Ampere Electric.
      Ampere, Okinawa look to invest in Tamil Nadu
      Ampere, a subsidiary of Greaves Cotton, is planning to invest around INR 400 crore in order to expand its existing capacity to 2.50 lakh units per annum. Currently, the company is running a facility with an annual production capacity of 50,000. The company will decide on the investment depending on incentives offered by Tamil Nadu government.
      Ampere Electric Scooters
      Other than Ampere, Okinawa as well is thinking of investing in Tamil Nadu as 60 percent of its sales come from the southern states of which Tamil Nadu itself accounts for 20 percent alone. The company is seriously considering setting up an assembly line in Tamil Nadu, its second in the country after the Bhiwadi-based plant in Rajasthan.
      Other prospective brands in line
      Tamil Nadu government recently announced its decision to offer a 100 percent tax exemption to all electric vehicles. This has attracted many other EV as well as charging companies to set up their business here.
      In a few years time, Hyundai Motor Company and Groupe PSA, which have their respective Hyundai and Citroen manufacturing facilities in the state, could also assemble EVs here. The former could also announce investments to manufacture EVs under its Hyundai Smart EV project in future here in Tamil Nadu.
      At some point American automaker, Ford could also manufacture EVs at its Tamil Nadu facility with platforms and powertrains licensed from Mahindra Electric. More electric mobility solutions providers such as Sun Mobility which is known for installation of charging infrastructure and swappable batteries will also look to set up its operation in the southern state.
      Source More

    • 150 Shares119 Views

      in Bike

      Yamaha Fascino, RayZR, FZ, FZS Prices Hiked – Nov 2020 Price List

      by

      Yamaha Scooters
      Yamaha India has been enjoying a steady growth in sales post the lock down and is poised for yet another strong result in November

      Yamaha India has increased the prices of its automatic scooter range and its popular 150 cc FZ series. The price increases for are marginal but this is not the first time the Japanese two wheeler maker implemented a price hike. The latest round of price hike comes when the entire two wheeler industry is enjoying a significant improvement in demand during this festive season.
      Yamaha India price hike
      The Yamaha FZ-FI and FZS-FI are now dearer by INR 1,000. The base FZ-FI is now retailed at INR 1,02,700 lakh while the sportier FZS-FI is priced at INR 1,04,700. The FZS-FI Dark Knight edition carries an updated price tag of INR 1,07,700 (both prices are ex-showroom, Delhi).
      Yamaha Price List Nov 2020 – Fascino, Ray, FZ, FZ-S
      Yamaha’s BS6 family of automatic scooters which received a brand new 125 cc fuel-injected engine has been doing pretty well in the post-lockdown rush. The Fascino 125 FI and RayZR 125 FI witnessed a price hike of INR 800. Depending on the variant, the Fascino is priced between INR 69,530 and INR 73,060. The sporty RayZR ranges from INR 70,330 to INR 74,330 (all prices are ex-showroom, Delhi).
      Specifications at a glance
      The Yamaha motorcycles and scooters which received significant updates earlier this year continue without any recent changes or additions for the festive season. The FZ-FI and FZS-FI twins are powered by a 149 cc air-cooled engine which puts out 12.4 hp and 13.6 Nm of torque. Transmission is a 5-speed unit.
      Yamaha FZ-S FI
      The duo is equipped with telescopic front fork, rear monoshock, alloy wheels with 100/80-17 front and 140/60-R17 rear tubeless tyres, 282 mm front disc and a 220 mm rear unit. Feature highlights include a negative LED instrument console, single-channel ABS and LED headlight.
      The Yamaha Fascino 125 FI and RayZR 125 FI are propelled by a fuel-injected 125 cc air-cooled motor which is good for 8.2 hp and 9.7 Nm of torque. The scooters employ a V-belt CVT. They are also equipped with Start Stop Sytem (SSS) and a Smart Motor Generator.
      Yamaha India sales
      Yamaha India witnesses an impressive YoY sales growth of over 30% in October 2020. The company has been posting increased sales for four consecutive months and is poised for yet another strong result in November and December, thanks to Diwali and Christmas.
      Yamaha’s track record in highly competitive 100-125 cc commuter motorcycle segment has been forgettable to say the least. The company’s strategic shift in focus from commuter motorcycles to premium motorcycles and scooters seems to have worked well in its favor. More

    • 150 Shares119 Views

      in Bike

      TVS Raider Name Registered – Apache ADV To Rival Hero Xpulse 200?

      by

      Image for reference
      The Hosur-based bikemaker has already filed four new trademarks which suggest that TVS might be planning on a number of big launches in future

      TVS Motor Company is currently on a spree to file trademarks for its upcoming products in future. These include Zepplin R, Fiero and Retron. The first one is most probably based on the Zeppelin cruiser concept presented at the 2018 Auto Expo. The latter two are still very uncertain as lots of options in terms of body style and segments can be considered for them.
      TVS has also filed a trademark named ‘Raider’, suggesting that the company might use it for its upcoming adventure motorcycle. If it turns out to be true, then this would be the first ADV bike in the Hosur-based bikemaker’s lineup.
      TVS’ Plans for the upcoming Raider
      Although there has been no official information shared by the brand, it is likely that TVS has been planning to develop a rugged off-roader or in other words an ADV bike for a long time now. It will be wrong to say that TVS has no experience in building an ADV.
      TVS has a rich legacy in motorsports including cross-country rallies like Dakar rally. The TVS motorsport team has won many laurels in national and international motorsport events.
      TVS Raider Registered
      In addition, they have also been manufacturing the BMW G 310 GS for the German automaker for some time now. The latest iteration of it was launched a couple of weeks back. Therefore, an adventure motorcycle does make very good sense for the company to widen its range of bikes and portfolio.
      Expected Powertrains
      Unlike the G 310 GS, the TVS Raider could be positioned as an entry-level ADV to compete against Hero Xpulse 200 and KTM 250 Adventure. This is an interesting segment for ADVs, and is expected to get good demand in coming years. Apart from Hero, Honda has also suggested to launch Hornet 2.0 based sub 200 cc adventure motorcycle in this segment.
      In all probability, the Raider ADV could be powered by a 198cc single-cylinder four-valve oil-cooled motor which generates 20.2bhp of power at 8,500rpm and 18.1Nm of peak torque at 7,000rpm. This unit will be paired with a 5-speed gearbox. This same unit also powers Apache RTR 200 4V which recently got an update.
      It will be easier to launch Raider 310, since there is already a platform for this engine which is utilised for an ADV (BMW G310GS). Raider 310 will be powered by the same engine used in the Apache RR 310 and BMW G 310 Twins. This motor cranks out 34 PS and 27 Nm of peak torque. The new ADV from TVS is expected to get a more off-road biased chassis with large spoked wheels, knobby tyres and high ground clearance. It is expected to feature functional styling with more focus on utility than flair.
      There is quite a bit of ambiguity regarding the specifications of this upcoming two-wheeler. In time, we expect TVS to share a few more details regarding its upcoming projects. If things do materialise then this ADV is expected to bridge the gap between Hero Xpulse 200 and Royal Enfield Himalayan. More

    • 163 Shares119 Views

      in Bike

      Royal Enfield Meteor vs Classic 350 Vibration Test – New vs Old Engine

      by

      Credit – Nitin Autoroids
      Classic 350 is the most preferred cruiser motorcycle in the country and the primary volumes and revenue generator for Royal Enfield

      However, just like everything else, it is not completely perfect. One issue that has often been pointed out is the significant vibration that the motorcycle generates. This issue has acquired even more prominence in recent times, as rivals like Jawa and recently launched Honda CB350 seem to be doing relatively better in terms of vibration.
      Is Meteor 350 vibration free?
      To take on rivals and meet evolving customer expectations, Royal Enfield recently launched its Meteor 350 motorcycle. This is the first of the several next-gen products that the company will introduce in the coming years.
      While Meteor 350 comes with a long list of features, the basic thing that many people want to know is whether the vibration issue has been fixed. The answer to that is quite clear in this video uploaded on YouTube.
      While a vibration meter would have provided scientifically verifiable evidence, this test utilizes a more basic tool – a glass of water. However, this test methodology seems quite effective in comparing vibrations coming from two motorcycles. A plastic glass has been used in this test, which is more sensitive to vibrations as compared to other materials such as metal or glass.
      [embedded content]
      When kept on Meteor 350 rear seat (with the engine on), the glass of water creates just a few ripples on the surface. There is no movement of the glass or water drops bouncing off the surface. When the engine is revved up, the vibrations seem to be even lower. The test is then carried out on the front seat with similar results.
      Things change dramatically on Classic 350, as the glass of water kept on the rear seat starts to move as soon as the engine is started. When revved up, the glass takes just a few seconds to move and fall from the motorcycle. This clearly shows that Meteor 350 has significantly less vibration, as compared to Classic 350.
      Reasons for low vibrations on Meteor 350
      There are several factors that have helped reduce vibrations on Meteor 350. The motorcycle utilizes an entirely new J series platform and completely new engine with SOHC setup that generates smooth tractable power. The engine is also equipped with a counter balancer that minimizes vibrations.
      Another factor is the enhanced chassis setup, which is stiffer, more durable and stronger. High specification suspension and improved seat cushioning could also contribute to low vibration on Meteor 350.
      With close to zero vibrations, Meteor 350 will be a lot more enjoyable on long journeys. Royal Enfield will also update its other products including Classic and Bullet with the new engine and chassis. Features like integrated Bluetooth powered navigation system are also expected to be offered as standard with several next-gen Royal Enfield motorcycles. More