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    Yamaha FZ X 250cc Adventure Motorcycle Render

    Yamaha FZ-X Adventure Motorcycle – Render by @d.by.akash
    Apart from mechanical configurations, Yamaha FZ-X is likely to borrow certain design cues from its 250cc naked street racer siblings

    A few weeks ago, we had reported that Yamaha has registered a new trademark named ‘FZ-X’ which is speculated to be the company’s upcoming adventure bike offering in India. The bike is said to be based on the brand’s 250cc platform which currently underpins FZ25 and FZS-25.
    A digitally rendered image of the upcoming motorcycle has surfaced on social media courtesy of ‘D by Akash’ in which the bike has been imagined as an ADV. The designer, as expected, has taken FS25 as the donor model and tweaked its styling to make it look like an adventure tourer.
    Updated Styling
    From the looks of it, the designer has taken certain inspirations from Yamaha Tracer series of motorcycles. The design gets a slightly different headlight cluster with the addition of a windscreen above it to prevent the wind burst. It gets the same fuel tank and tank shrouds as FZ25 and FZS-25.
    Other design elements such as raked-up split seats have been carried forward from the naked street twins. It receives a new belly pan instead of the engine cowl along with knuckle protectors around the handlebar, a new upswept exhaust pipe and a new rack to load up the luggage.
    Yamaha FZ-X Adventure Motorcycle – Render by @d.by.akash
    Instead of single-point fixed grab rails, this design render showcases dual side-bolted grab rails for pillion convenience. Another major difference is the use of wire-spoke wheels as opposed to alloy wheels since the former provides better traction to tyres when venturing off-tarmac.
    Interestingly, profiles of both tyres are very different as the rear is much knobbier than the front one. Other subtle but notable changes include a shortened fender and a flatter number plate mount.
    Mechanical Configurations
    The designer has confessed that this rendering is a more road-biased version of the adventure bike. Mechanical specifications of this upcoming bike are expected to remain the same as those in the naked streetfighters. It will derive its power from the same 249cc single-cylinder, air-cooled unit that returns an output of 20.6 bhp and 20 Nm of peak torque. This unit will be mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Suspension setup is also likely to remain similar albeit with a slight tweak, in order to provide a little more travel.
    Entry-level adventure motorcycles have been raking in good numbers in recent times with new options in the fold. As popularity increases, many manufacturers are eyeing this segment with their new offerings. TVS Motor too is planning to develop an entry-level adventure tourer which is expected to be named ‘Raider’. Upon its launch, FZ-X will most likely rival the likes of Royal Enfield Himalayan, KTM 250 Adventure and BMW G 310 GS.
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    BS6 Benelli Leoncino 500 India Launch Price Rs 4.59 Lakh

    BS6 Benelli Leoncino 500
    2021 Benelli Leoncino 500 comes with the same design and specifications

    Benelli is currently on a launch spree as it had previously announced that it will be launching seven new models in India. The company last month launched its mid-displacement adventure tourer- TRK 502 in a BS6 updated form. Now, the bikemaker has launched the BS6 compliant Leoncino 500 in India.
    In its latest iteration, the urban scrambler is offered at a starting price of Rs. 4,59,900 (Ex-showroom, India). It is offered in a solitary trim with two colour options- Steel Grey and Leoncino Red. The former is offered at a base price while the latter has been pegged at a price of Rs. 4,69,900 (Ex-showroom).
    Interested customers can book the updated Leoncino 500 at a token amount of Rs 10,000 through the company’s official India website or by visiting the nearest Benelli India Dealership. The Chinese-owned Italian brand is also offering a 3-Year Unlimited kilometer warranty with the naked street racer as standard.
    Design
    The BS6 updated Leoncino 500 is similar to its BS4 predecessor in terms of its styling. The scrambler carries forward the neo-retro design which lends a unique identity to it. Its design is inspired by lovable and easy-to-ride ‘Lion Cub’ models from the 1960s although with a modern approach.
    BS6 Benelli Leoncino 500
    There are a few design elements which make this bike stand out in a crowd. For instance, its front fender which presents the tiny ‘Lion of Pesaro’ ornament. Other notable highlights include a LED headlamp and slightly redesigned seats and fuel tank.
    Mechanical Specifications
    In terms of specifications, it still retains its 500cc DOHC, in-line twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine which returns an output of 47 bhp at 8500 rpm and peak torque of 46 Nm at 6000 rpm. This output is similar to what it produced in its BS4 guise. The 8-valve motor is paired with a six-speed gearbox. Its hardware setup is also identical with a steel trellis frame underpinning the bike.
    Suspension duties are handled by upside-down 50mm fork at front and a laterally mounted preload adjustable at rear. Stopping duties are carried out by radially-mounted 4-piston brake callipers which are clamped down by 320mm discs at front.
    BS6 Benelli Leoncino 500 Specs
    While the rear is handled by a single-piston floating calliper with a 260mm single disc. The braking setup is assisted by a dual-channel switchable ABS. it rides on 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped around by 120/70 and 160/60 profiles of tyres at front and rear respectively.
    BS6 compliant Leoncino 500 will be available as a CKD product in India and will be retailed through the company’s 39 dealerships across the country. Earlier last month, the Italian brand also launched the 2021 Imperiale 400 which is almost Rs 10k cheaper than the previous model due to high levels of localisation. More

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    Top 10 Two Wheeler Sales Jan 2021 – Splendor, Activa, Pulsar, Jupiter

    New Hero Splendor
    Top 10 two-wheeler wholesales reported at 4.49 percent growth in January 2021

    Two wheeler wholesales for the top 10 entries improved 4.49 percent in January 2021. Total wholesales grew to 10,26,175 units, up from 9,82,035 units at volume gain of just over 44k units.
    As always Hero Splendor tops the chart at 2,25,382 units at 1.26 percent growth. Volumes grew by just under 3k units, up from 2,22,578 units. This ensured that in the top order, Splendor accounts for 21.96 percent market share. While the motorcycle remains an all time high seller, as always
    Honda Activa sales decline
    Honda Activa scooter maintains its top-selling scooter position. Wholesales last month were reported at 2,11,382 units. Not only did volumes decline by about 10 percent, the contraction meant Honda lost its top of the chart position from a year earlier.
    It’s not always the the scooter is able to pip Splendor to the post. Sales fell from 2,34,749 units, down by 23k units for a market share of 20.63 percent. The leading duo comfortably claims over 40 percent of this table.
    Top 10 Two Wheeler Sales Jan 2021
    Hero HF Deluxe sales fell noticeably at about 30 percent. Volumes dwindled to 1,34,860 units from 1,91,875 units at volume loss of 57k units. Honda CB Shine sales for than doubled having gained the most last month. Wholesales grew to 1,16,222 units, up from 50,931 units at volume gain of 65,291 units. Growth was reported at 128.20 percent.
    Bajaj Pulsar sales growth
    Bajaj Pulsar series sales maxed out at juts under a lakh units. The voluminous data totals to 97,580 units, up from 68,354 units at volume gain of over 29k units. This took its market share to a gainful territory of just below 10 percent.
    While mopeds have long being axed by leading manufacturers, TVS XL continues to buck the trend. Being a one of its kind two-wheels is its value proposition. Wholesales are reported at 59k units at 12.84 percent growth. Sales grew from 52,525 units at volume gain of 6,482 units.
    No
    Top 10 2Wheelers
    Jan-21
    Jan-20
    % Growth
    1
    Splendor
    2,25,382
    2,22,578
    1.26
    2
    Activa
    2,11,660
    2,34,749
    -9.84
    3
    HF Deluxe
    1,34,860
    1,91,875
    -29.71
    4
    CB Shine
    1,16,222
    50,931
    128.20
    5
    Pulsar
    97,580
    68,354
    42.76
    6
    XL Moped
    59,007
    52,525
    12.34
    7
    Jupiter
    51,952
    38,689
    34.28
    8
    Access
    45,475
    54,595
    -16.70
    9
    Passion
    43,162
    26,905
    60.42
    10
    Classic 350
    40,875
    40,834
    0.10

    Total
    10,26,175
    9,82,035
    4.49
    TVS’ bestselling scooter, Jupiter sits 7th on the list. Wholesales is reported at 51,952 units, up from 38,689 units at volume gain of 13,263 units. Growth stood at over a third.
    Suzuki Access scooter sales decline is at 16.70 percent. Wholesales fell to 45,475 units, down from 54,595 units at volume loss of 9,120 units. Hero Passion motorcycle sales grew significantly at the tail-end. Wholesales are reported at 43,162 units, up from 26,905 units at volume gain of over 16k units. Classic 350, Royal Enfield’s sole entry in the top order saw wholesales remain flat at 40,875 units. A year earlier that number was reported at 40,834 units. More

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    2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan First Batch Delivery Starts Across India

    Image – Nidhin
    2021 RE Himalayan adventure tourer gets three colour options, Tripper Navigation and Make It Yours personalization options

    Royal Enfield has launched the new Himalayan adventure tourer in India. It is priced from Rs 2.01 lakh, ex-sh; and comes in with some feature updates and technology while engine remains unchanged. Deliveries have commenced across India. First batch owners have now taken delivery of new Himalayan.
    Colour Updates on 2021 RE Himalayan
    The new RE Himalayan gets some design changes and new colours. It is seen in colour options of Mirage Silver, Pine Green and New Granite Black (in a mix of matte and gloss) along with existing colours of Rock Red, Lake Blue and Gravel Grey.
    Though the instrument cluster layout and design remain unchanged, it sees the addition of a Tripper Navigation Pod. The new tripper navigation was first seen on the Meteor 350. This system allows users to get turn by turn directions which can be connected to the rider’s smartphone.
    Tripper Navigation is powered by Google Maps and Royal Enfield App. Feature updates also include tank guards which double up as carriers for extra fuel tanks or luggage while a luggage rack is added at the rear as a part of these updates.
    Image – Nidhin
    The 2021 RE Himalayan is priced depending on its colour options. The Mirage Silver and Gravel Grey variants are priced at Rs.2,36,286. The Lake Blue, Rock Red and Granite Black carry price tags of Rs. 2,40,285 while the top of the line Pine Green colour is priced at Rs.2,44,284. These are on-road Delhi prices.
    Seating is seen in high density foam and finished in optional Tan colour scheme offering not only better comfort over longer distances but also a striking colour contrast as well. New and improved windscreen protects the rider from the blast of wind relating to a more comfortable ride. It also receives a rear carrier with an additional plate for fastening any luggage and an ergonomic front rack offers better comfort to the rider.
    Royal Enfield has also updated the new Himalayan with Make-it-Yours feature allowing customers to personalize and accessorize their motorcycles which can be accessed through the RE App, the company website or at authorized dealerships.
    RE Himalayan Engine, Suspension and Braking
    Like its earlier counterpart launched in 2016, the Himalayan gets its power via a 411cc, single cylinder, 4 stroke, air cooled engine. This engine makes 24.83 hp power at 6,500 rpm and 32 Nm torque at 4,000-4,500 rpm and gets mated to a 5 speed gearbox. It receives telescopic fork in the front and mono-shock at the rear while braking is via dual channel anti-lock braking system with ABS switchable on the rear wheel for better off-road use
    Upcoming RE Launches
    Earlier this year, Royal Enfield revealed that they would be expanding their product portfolio with one new bike in the 250-750cc every three months. The new RE Classic 350 is expected to launch in April 2021 which will be followed by the launch of the Interceptor 350, Cruiser 650. Facelifted Interceptor/ Continental 650 are also expected this year. More

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    Stolen KTM Motorcycle Found In Just 30 Hours – Owner Thanks Mumbai Police

    Image – Sujay Shivan Warrier / HVK
    Vehicle theft is a big problem, with maximum number of cases remaining unsolved

    Having one’s motorcycle stolen can be a hugely stressful experience. It not only results in financial loss, the owner also has to follow a tedious process of lodging an FIR and following up with police officials. Till they find their vehicle or buy a new one, their everyday routines could go for a toss.
    However, such experiences can also bring joy if the motorcycle is found within a reasonable time limit. Most vehicle theft cases go unsolved, but some lucky ones do get their possessions back.
    How KTM got stolen
    In a recent case that had a happy ending, a KTM owner has been able to find his stolen motorcycle in just around 30 hours. This is remarkable considering the fact that some stolen vehicles are recovered months or even years after they were stolen.
    In this particular case, the owner had left the keys on the bike. This made it easier for the thieves to put their plans into action. The culprits have not been caught yet, so it’s not certain what they intended to do with the motorcycle. It is possible that the theft could be the work of some random people who came across an opportunity and acted on it.
    Owner shares update about his stolen KTM motorcycle
    In the past, there have been cases where youngsters were found to be stealing premium motorcycles just for fun rides. Once they had exhausted the fuel, they would simply ditch the bike and leave. In comparison, hard-core vehicle thieves are in the business purely for money. The stolen vehicle is either sold in remote locations at cheap rates or parts are removed and sold in black market.
    In this case, there’s a greater possibility that amateurs were involved in the theft. The owner has stated that the culprits have been captured on CCTV and the police are actively looking for them. Their intentions will be revealed when they are caught and questioned by the police.
    Owner thanks Mumbai Police
    Expressing his gratitude, the KTM owner has thanked Mumbai Police (Juhu Branch) for finding his bike in a prompt manner. It is likely that the police had used their network of informers to trace the motorcycle.
    The bike had eye-catchy decals, which could have made it easier to spot it. Had it been a standard KTM, the job to identify it would have become a lot more challenging. That’s because there are quite a few of these in streets of Mumbai.
    Lessons learned, the owner will surely double-check here onwards, not to leave the keys on his motorcycle. It’s also necessary to ensure that KTM’s inbuilt GPS system is in working condition and related services have not expired. It’s not clear if the GPS was active in this case or if it was used to trace the stolen motorcycle. More

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    Ather Space Now In Pune – Watch 450x Electric Scooter Manufacturing At New Factory

    Ather 450X Electric Scooter At New Factory
    The new Ather Energy Plant in Hosur is spread over 123,000 sq ft with annual capacity 1,10,000 scooters and 1,20,000 battery packs

    Ather Energy moves to a new manufacturing unit in Hosur, Tamil Nadu from a smaller plant in Bengaluru. Production commenced at this plant on 2nd January and deliveries have also been initiated across cities of Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
    This new Hosur plant is spread over an area of 1,23,000 sq ft and has installed capacity of 5 lakh units per annum. It is from this plant that Ather has started production of the 450X and 450 Plus e-scooters while the plant will also build the lithium-ion batteries used in these offerings.
    Mega Factory
    The new plant would help to create job opportunities in the region with over 4,000 persons being trained for the EV sector over the next 5 years. Investments have also been planned over the next 5 years at Rs.635 crores while 90 percent of production is localized in India as a part of the Government of India’s Make in India policy.
    The new Hosur plant will have annual capacity of 1,10,000 scooters and 1,20,000 battery packs which will be a massive improvement over the company’s current annual production volumes that stand at 35,000-40,000 units. Take a look at the short video giving us a tour of Ather’s Mega Factory and the making of their electric scooter.
    [embedded content]
    Ather Energy Expansion Plans
    Ather Energy has started deliveries of the 450 X and 450 Plus e-scooters to a few cities across India. Plans are to have a presence in 27 cities in 15 states of Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Coimbatore, Kolkata, Calicut, Ahmedabad, Mysore, Hubli, Jaipur, Indore, Panaji, Bhubaneshwar, Nasik, Surat, Chandigarh, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Guwahati, Nagpur, Noida, Lucknow, and Siliguri, while targets are set to expand to 40 cities by the end of this year.
    The Hosur plant has received the support of the Tamil Nadu government. It is built on the Industry 4.0 principals and boast of the most advanced solutions in technology, human assets, systems and processes.
    Ather also plans on making the factor ‘Smart’ with Smart algorithms to read data collected and make interpretations along with a highly efficient end to end supply chain which integrates the company’s processes, logistics, warehousing, quality checks and production right upto dispatch.
    Ather Space Pune – Now open
    Ather Energy only OEM to Make Own Battery Packs
    Ather Energy plant in Hosur will also have the capacity to produce 1,20,000 battery packs thus making the company the only EV OEM in India to manufacture their own batteries and have also filed 13 patents on the design and manufacture of these lithium ion batteries used to power the Ather 450X and 450 Plus.
    Zero effluents are generated at the new Hosur plant and all e-waste is handled by authorized recyclers while there is zero water discharge from production thanks to an in-house STP and treated water circulation for flush and plantation. More

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    New Honda CB350RS vs Honda CB350 – Top Differences Explained

    New Honda CB350RS
    Expanding the CB range, Honda has added the sportier CB350RS in the Indian market

    At a time when rival Royal Enfield has a lot more options for customers in 350cc segment, it’s an onerous task for CB350 to take on the giant on its own. Things could improve in the future, as CB350 gets company in the form of CB350RS.
    Built on Road Sailing (RS) concept, CB350RS is essentially a sportier version of CB350 classic roadster. To understand each motorcycle’s capabilities, here’s a quick look at the key differences between Honda CB350 vs. CB350RS.
    CB350 vs. CB350RS – Design
    Based on the same platform, CB350RS does look similar to CB350. However, RS is a lot more stylish, as is evident in the headlamp ring, snazzy eye-shaped LED winkers, blacked-out components, sleek tuck and roll saddle, and underseat LED tail lamp. Other key changes in RS include fork boots on front suspension and sleek grab rail, which enhance the motorcycle’s sporty profile. Another differentiating factor for RS is its skid plate and wider tyres with block pattern.
    Talking about colour options, CB350 is offered in three single tone and three dual-tone colour options. CB350 DLX variant is available in Precious Red Metallic, Matte Marshal Green Metallic and Pearl Night Star Black colour options. The DLX Pro variant is offered in dual-tone options of Matte Steel Black Metallic With Matte Massive Grey Metallic, Athletic Blue Metallic With Virtuous White and Pearl Night Star Black With Spear Silver Metallic.
    New Honda CB350RS
    In comparison, RS variant currently has only one single tone (Radiant Red Metallic) and one dual-tone (Black with Pearl Sports Yellow) colour option. It is possible that Honda may introduce new colours for RS variant at a later date based on market feedback.
    CB350 vs. CB350RS – Features and powertrain
    Both motorcycles share a range of features such as segment-first assist and slipper clutch, advanced digital analogue meter, and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). The instrument panel displays battery voltage, gear position, real time mileage, average mileage and distance to empty. Features like front and rear disc brakes, ABS, half-duplex cradle frame, suspension and side stand indicator with engine inhibitor are also the same.
    However, RS variant misses out on Honda Smartphone Voice Control (HSVC), which is available with CB350 DLX Pro. HSVC enables pairing with user’s smartphone via Bluetooth. It can be used for accessing features like telephony, music, and turn-by-turn navigation. Honda also sells a special headset as an accessory that can be used with DLX Pro for managing smartphone via voice commands.
    [embedded content]
    Both motorcycles use the same 350cc single cylinder, air-cooled engine that generates 21 bhp power and 30 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
    CB350 vs. CB350RS – Pricing
    At Rs 1.96 lakh, CB350RS is a bit costlier. CB350 DLX and DLX Pro are priced at Rs 1,86,500 and Rs 1,92,500, respectively (ex-showroom, Delhi). More

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    2021 Bajaj Pulsar 180 At Dealer Showroom – First Look Walkaround

    2021 Bajaj Pulsar 180. Image – Auto Travel Tech
    In addition to switching back to the familiar bikini fairing, the 2021 Bajaj Pulsar also gets updated digi-analog instrument console and bold decals

    Back in 2018, Bajaj discontinued its popular Pulsar 180 variant with 180F which came equipped with 220F’s semi-fairing. The addition of fairing with projector headlamps permitted Bajaj to optimize the large Pulsar family’s tight market positioning with respect to each other. However, things have been evolving in the 150 to 200 cc motorcycle market and it seems the Pune-based two wheeler major has decided to roll back the change two years later.
    2021 Bajaj Pulsar 180
    The 2021 Bajaj Pulsar 180 with the original bikini fairing has started reaching dealerships, indicating that the official launch is not far away. It will be on sale alongside the semi-faired 180F, which is priced about Rs 9k more. Price of the Pulsar 180 is Rs 1.05 lakh ex-sh while that of the 180F is Rs 1.14 lakh, ex-sh.
    The new Pulsar 180 adopts the classic family styling but gets unique contrast decals on the fener, fuel tank extensions, tailpiece and belly pan. The headlamp housing appears to have been tweaked slightly but there are no other noteworthy visual changes.
    The digi-analog instrument console has been borrowed from the 220F. The blue backlit digital display unit offers multiple information including speed, distance to empty, fuel efficiency, side-stand status, odometer service reminder, and so on.
    2021 Bajaj Pulsar 180. Image – Auto Travel Tech
    Specifications
    Given that the Bajaj Pulsar family received BS6 updates only last year, we don’t expect the 2021 Pulsar 180 to have any significant changes to its powertrain specifications. To recap, the premium commuter is powered by a 178.6 cc air-cooled, fuel-injected engine which is mated to a 5-speed transmission. Power and torque figures stand at 17 hp and 14.52 Nm of torque.
    The 2021 Bajaj Pulsar 180 carries forward the traditional telescopic front forks, twin rear shock absorbers, front and rear disc brakes with single-channel ABS, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
    Market positioning
    The continued success of TVS Apache RTR 180 and the advent of Honda Hornet 2.0 has prompted Bajaj to reposition its Pulsar 180. Ditching the semi-fairing and reverting back to the bikini unit would lead to a considerable price drop. The 2021 Bajaj Pulsar 180 with aggressive pricing will take the fight to its rivals. Take a look at the detailed walkaround video by AUTO TRAVEL TECH below.
    [embedded content]
    The Pulsar 180F did not manage meet Bajaj’s sales expectations despite derive its design from the popular 220F. So, in the revised Pulsar lineup for this year, the semi-faired variant may not have a place.
    The classic Bajaj Pulsar design has aged very well over these years. While its competitors feel the need to constantly evolve and revise their aesthetics, the Pulsar continues to enjoy enviable popularity among young and middle-aged customers alike. We expect the new 180 variant to do better than its outgoing faired sibling in terms of monthly sales volumes. More