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      Meteor 350 Vs. Honda CB350 Vs. Classic 350 Vs. Jawa – Comparison

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      New Royal Enfield Meteor 350
      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is the newest entrant in the growing 350cc motorcycle segment in India

      To keep its portfolio relevant to evolving market trends and consumer expectations, Royal Enfield has launched the first of its next-gen products, the Meteor 350 cruiser. The motorcycle gets a range of upgrades including trendier design, a new chassis and engine, and connectivity tech.
      While products like Classic 350 and Bullet 350 are already bestsellers, Meteor 350 could be an even more attractive option for customers, especially the young brigade. To understand its potential, here’s a quick comparison between Royal Enfield Meteor 350 vs. Classic 350 vs. Honda H’ness CB350 vs. Jawa Classic.
      Design and styling
      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 comes across as a thoroughbred cruiser with features such as round headlamps, round rear view mirrors, tear drop shaped fuel tank, turn indicators and rear tail light, broad rear fenders and liberal use of chrome accents.
      The motorcycle offers a comfortable, upright riding stance, made possible with the low seat height, forward set foot pegs and high set handle bars. Meteor 350’s design is such that it can easily support the needs of both highway cruising and daily urban commute.

      Talking about rivals, they too follow the retro theme and are designed for comfortable cruising. However, each one comes with its distinctive design aesthetics that give these motorcycles their unique character. For example, if you are looking for raw power and a dominating road presence, the option would be Classic 350.
      Similarly, if you are looking for subtle elegance, the choice would be Honda CB350. If you want your ride to be splashier and youthful, the choice would be Meteor 350 or Jawa Classic. All these motorcycles are available in attractive colour options, allowing you to personalize as per your needs.
      Engine & transmission
      Powering Meteor 350 is a new J series 349 cc, air-oil cooled, SOHC engine that makes 20.2 hp of max power and 27 Nm of max torque. It is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. With its electronic fuel injection (EFI), Meteor delivers power on demand, which remains consistent across the rev range. The engine also delivers ample level of bottom-end torque.

      In comparison, Classic 350 is powered by a 346 cc, single cylinder engine that churns out 19.1 hp and 28 Nm. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Honda CB350 comes with a 348 cc engine that generates 21 hp / 30 Nm. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Jawa Classic is powered by a 293 cc engine that makes 26 hp / 27.05 Nm. It is mated to a 6-speed gearbox.
      Key features
      Other than the halogen headlamp, Meteor has an all-LED setup including LED DRL and LED tail lamp. Classic 350 and Jawa Classic also come with halogen headlamp. In comparison, Honda CB350 has an all-LED setup including the headlamp.

      A major upgrade for Meteor is its ‘Tripper Navigation’, which is a first for a Royal Enfield motorcycle. It’s quite unique because as compared to accessing navigation on a mobile screen, Meteor has a dedicated turn-by-turn navigation display unit placed next to the instrument pod. Tripper Navigation is powered by Google Maps and it works by connecting the user’s smartphone to the Tripper unit via Bluetooth.
      CB350 does not have a dedicated display for turn-by-turn navigation, but it does offer Bluetooth connectivity. Users can access turn-by-turn navigation via their mobile devices. Both Meteor and CB350 come with USB charging ports. In comparison, features like Bluetooth, navigation and USB charging are not available with Classic 350 and Jawa Classic.
      Price
      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has been launched at a price range of Rs 1.75 lakh to Rs 1.9 lakh. In comparison, Classic 350 is priced from Rs 1.61 lakh to Rs 1.86 lakh. Honda CB350 is available from Rs 1.85 lakh to Rs 1.9 lakh whereas Jawa Classic has a starting price of Rs 1.64 lakh.

      Which Motorcycle To Buy
      If you want a thoroughly upgraded Thunderbird, then Meteor 350 would be the obvious choice. There is no other motorcycle in the segment which offers the cruiser package like the new Meteor 350. However, being new, there can be issues even though it comes from the house of Royal Enfield. It can take several months and may be even years to measure the real value, benefits and advantages offered by a new motorcycle. Manufacturers do carry out extensive tests before launching new products, but on-road conditions and driver skills can easily impact a motorcycle’s performance.
      Classic 350 has a proven track record and it is the top selling cruiser in the country. There’s hardly anything to complain about Classic 350, except for the usual niggles. In a few months from now, RE will also launch upgraded new gen Classic 350, which will use the same chassis and engine as the new Meteor 350.
      Talking about Honda CB350, it’s also a new motorcycle and is yet to be tested extensively by users over longer durations. However, coming from a leading global automaker, CB350 is unlikely to have any major issues. If you want smooth performance without being too loud or showy, CB350 could be appropriate for you.
      Coming to Jawa Classic, the brand has had its share of bouquets and brickbats in the past. However, things are looking good for Jawa now as deliveries have been streamlined and reported bugs and issues have been mostly fixed in the BS6 variant. Jawa is one of the good looking motorcycles in this segment and it also has the highest power delivery. More

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      KTM 250 Adventure Engine Specs Leak – Compared vs ADV 390

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      Image – Rawat k
      The entry-level ADV from KTM shares its powertrains with its naked sibling whereas borrows its underpinnings from 390 Adventure

      KTM is all set to launch its entry-level adventure motorcycle in India. The 250 Adventure had been in the Austrian bikemaker’s pipeline for a long time now and after numerous delays due to Covid-19 induced lockdown, it seems the bike will finally get to see daylight soon.
      A few days ago we reported that KTM dealers across the country have unofficially started accepting bookings for the entry-level ADV for a token amount of Rs 1000-5000. This was followed by images of the bike being spotted in some of the showrooms which indicated that its imminent launch might be around corners.
      Powertrain, Transmission Details
      Now, KTM 250 Adventure official specs have been leaked, thus revealing all its details. New 250 Adventure makes use of a 249cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine, the same which powers its naked sibling- 250 Duke. This unit is good enough to generate 30 bhp at 9000rpm and 24 Nm of peak torque at 7500rpm. It will be mated to a six-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch which ensures smooth shifts.
      Coming to its styling, most of its design attributes have been inspired by its elder sibling- 390 Adventure. However, one noticeable difference from its elder sibling is the use of a single-piece headlamp with a halogen unit instead of a dual-piece LED headlight offered in the larger KTM ADV. This is done to keep the cost in check. Inspiration from 250 Adventure is clearly evident in its knobby tyres, sculpted fuel tank, upswept exhaust and shot tail fender.
      KTM 250 ADV vs 390 Adventure. Had tip to folks at TorqueTV for sharing the specs sheet
      To ensure a comfortable riding position and optimal handling it comes with a tapered aluminium handlebar. It is available in two liveries- one which is dominated by orange, the brand’s quintessential colour while the other has black as its primary colour with orange decals.
      Some of the features form the larger ADV trickles down to smaller ADV like off-road ABS and 5-inch TFT screen but misses out on features such as Bluetooth connectivity, ride-by-wire, ride modes, traction control and more. Instrument cluster is expected to read out important information from the speedometer, odometer, ABS status and fuel gauge.
      KTM 250 ADV vs 390 Adventure
      Speaking of its dynamics, it shares its underpinnings with 390 Adventure based on a steel trellis frame. Suspension duties rest on WP Apex 43 mm USD at front and mono-shock at rear with a travel of 170mm and 177 mm respectively. Anchoring duties are carried out by disc brakes at both ends with a 320mm dia and 230mm dia rotor at front and rear respectively. It has a dry weight of 156 kg.
      Estimated Price
      KTM 250 Adventure is expected to be slotted higher than 250 Duke in the brand’s portfolio and is expected to be priced Rs 30,000-35,000 dearer than its naked sibling. Hence one can expect the new 250 Duke to be priced around Rs 2.30 lakh (ex-showroom) and will rival the likes of Hero Xpulse 200 and Royal Enfield Himalayan. More

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      Ather 450X Series 1 Electric Scooter Arrives In Showroom – First Look

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      Ather 450X Series 1
      Ather 450X Series 1 is a Collector’s Limited Edition of the Ather 450X electric scooter

      Last month, Ather Energy announced the launch of their 450X Series 1 electric scooter. This is a Limited edition of the 450X; and is being offered to those customers who pre-ordered the 450X prior to its reveal on 28th January 2020. If you ordered after 28th Jan, you are not eligible.
      Ather says that the Series 1 is their way of thanking their customers who showed trust in them by booking their 450X scooter even before it was revealed. Deliveries of the Ather 450X are set to start in the coming days. Ahead of that, it has now arrived in the showroom. Below is a first look video, shared by James JDC.
      [embedded content]
      Ather 450X Series 1 Sporty Styling
      This special edition is based on the flagship 450X and will be the first electric scooter to receive translucent body panels that reveal its cast aluminum chassis and trellis framework. This feature will be the main highlight of the special edition Series 1. Ather Energy has also confirmed that customers would receive the Collector’s Edition Series 1 from later this month.
      Buyers will initially receive the Ather 450X Series 1 with black panels which would be replaced with translucent panels starting from March 2021. Deliveries will be start in 11 cities of Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Coimbatore, Kozhikode, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Pune, Ahmedabad and Kolkata.
      Ather 450X Series 1
      The Ather 450X Series 1 is built on a light weight hybrid aluminum frame chassis and kerb weight will stand at 108 kgs. It will be seen in sporty colour options of red and black called ‘DayGlo Red’ and will receive distinctive ‘Series 1’ ‘450X’ stickers across it body.
      Noticed on the model showcased in the video is a 7 inch touchscreen display. This display shows off an intro screen with the display offering information of over-the-air updates, on board navigation, auto indicator off, guide me home lamps and connected mobile App.

      Ather 450X Series 1 gets a Snapdragon 212 Quadcore processor with 1.3Ghz, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage Android Open Source OS (AOSP) 7-inch TFT LCD, LED Backlit, Capacitative Touch. It also receives GNSS with AGPS positioning system and connectivity via 4G LTE Cat-4 WCDMA / EDGE, Bluetooth 4.2, BLE 5.0.
      Power and Performance
      Ather 450X Series 1 will be powered by the same motor as seen on the Ather 450X. This 2.6 kWh Lithium ion battery along with a 6kW/28 Nm motor offers a top speed of 80 km/h, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and a range of 116 kms on the Indian Driving Cycle and at 85 kms on TrueRange.
      This makes the Ather 450X faster not only as compared to any other electric scooter but also when compared to a 125 cc petrol powered scooter currently on sale in the country. The scooter offers 4 riding modes of – Eco, Ride, Sport and Wrap. The battery can be charged via a home charger from 0-80 percent in 3 hours 35 minutes and from 0 to 100 percent in 5 hours 45 minutes.
      Ather 450X is priced at Rs.1.59 lakhs which is inclusive of GST and FAMI II incentives. This price is inclusive of battery ownership but registration and insurance will be extra. Price of the Series 1 is same as that of the 450X. More

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      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Launch Price Rs 1.75 Lakh – Rs 1.90 Lakh

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      Royal Enfield Meteor 350
      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is a replacement to the Thunderbird 350

      After many months of spy shots and leaked images, feature reveals and much speculation along with walkaround videos uploaded on YouTube, the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has been officially launched. The company claims that it is now the future of touring in India; all set to take the Indian markets by storm.
      RE Meteor 350 Features
      The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is presented in three trims of Fireball, Stellar and Supernova. Fireball is the entry level variant while the other two are positioned higher. Below are the prices of all 3 variants, starting from Rs 1.75 lakhs, going all the way to Rs 1.9 lakhs, ex-sh.
      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Variants and Price
      The Meteor 350 is positioned on a new platform and depending on variants, receives colour options of Fireball Yellow, Fireball Red, Stellar Red Metallic, Stellar Blue Metallic, Supernova Brown and Supernova Blue along with an exclusive Stellar Black Matte.
      The new 350 motorcycle, based on the brand’s new ‘J’ architecture, receives a low seat along with high set handle bars and forward set foot pegs relating to an upright seating position and better rider comfort. Royal Enfield is also slated to offer accessories for the new Meteor 350 which will include a larger windscreen, better footpegs, engine guard, etc. Below is the official TVC of new Meteor 350.
      [embedded content]
      Royal Enfield 350 Meteor comes with turn-by-turn navigation, a first for any Royal Enfield bike. Its list of features include a halogen headlamp with LED DRLs, LED tail lamp, rounded rear view mirrors, a semi digital instrument console with an analogue speedometer and LCD display. The bike receives ‘Tripper Navigation’. This has been developed in association with Google Maps. This is being offered as a standard feature.
      Royal Enfield badging is seen on its tear drop shaped fuel tank while it also gets long exhaust ends and a swooping rear fender. The new Royal Enfield Meteor 350 sits on machine finished alloy wheels measuring 19 inch front with 100/90 tyre and 17 inch rear wheel with 140/70 tyre. It comes with 3 years warranty.
      RE Meteor 350 Engine
      Engine specifications include a 349cc, air cooled, single cylinder engine with an OHC design. This engine makes 20.2 hp power at 6,100 rpm and 27 Nm torque at 4,000 rpm, mated to a 6 speed gearbox. The engine will allow for lower emissions and instant acceleration while it will receive disc brakes measuring 300mm front and 270mm rear along with dual channel ABS as standard.
      The disc brakes are larger than that seen on the Thunderbird 350. The engine is positioned on a double cradle frame linked to a telescopic front fork and twin shock absorbers at the rear. The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is positioned above the Classic 350 and Himalayan in the company lineup and rivals the likes of Honda CB350, Jawa 300 and Benelli Imperiale 400. More

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      TVS Fiero 125 Launch Planned To Rival Bajaj Pulsar 125

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      Bajaj Pulsar 125 is the best selling Pulsar today
      The TVS Fiero 125, if launched, will plug an important void in the brand’s portfolio

      If you are old enough, the name TVS Suzuki Fiero would evoke a pleasant memory of a unique looking motorcycle with a smooth 150 cc engine. TVS continued to use the nameplate for a few years after parting ways with its former Japanese partner but the subsequent versions were unable to replicate the original version’s success. Eventually, Fiero brand was withdrawn from the market and it slowly faded away from our memory.
      New TVS Fiero 125 coming?
      After several years, TVS appears to have decided to bring back the good old Fiero brand, this time as a 125 cc motorcycle. Except for the trademark filing for “TVS Fiero 125” there are no other news as of now but it is reasonable to expect the product to be ready sometime next year.
      TVS currently has no offering in the 125 cc commuter motorcycle segment which is currently dominated by the Honda CB Shine, SP 125, Hero Glamour and Bajaj Pulsar 125. In fact, the recent success of Pulsar 125 could be the reason behind TVS planning to launch a new 125 cc motorcycle in the sports commuter segment. Pulsar 125 has become the best selling Pulsar motorcycle today with monthly volumes of about 40-45k units.
      This volume rich 125cc segment has been tricky for the Hosur-based brand as its Flame 125 did not fare well. The 125 cc NTorq scooter however has been doing pretty well in the market.
      TVS Fiero 125 Name Registered
      Why Not Use Apache 125?
      Like their rival Bajaj, who has used the same Pulsar brand to launch motorcycles across multiple segments, TVS also has a motorcycle brand and it is Apache. TVS probably is not using Apache 125 nameplate as it might dilute the sports brand image of Apache series; and hence it is likely that they have chosen to go ahead with the name Fiero 125.
      We expect the TVS Fiero 125 commuter motorcycle to derive its engine from the automatic scooter albeit with significant tweaks. The company is likely to make the product upmarket with features like LED DRLs, digital instrument console, USB charger, front disc brake, alloy wheels and so on. The proven formula of steel diamond frame with telescopic front forks and twin rear shock absorbers would keep the costs in check but TVS may one up the competition and offer rear monoshock.
      The 125 cc fuel-injected, air-cooled motor is estimated to produce around 12 hp. Transmission is likely to be a 5-speed unit. Conventional wisdom suggests that the prospective customers of this segment prefer the conventional motorcycle with a bikini fairing but it remains to be seen what direction TVS would take. We think, a retro-classic theme with circular headlamp (a tribute to Fiero FX) would be an interesting touch.
      Launch
      The TVS Fiero 125 is expected to be ready for the market sometime in 2021. The company would be hoping that the nameplate would still command a significant brand recall. We should start seeing the early prototypes on public roads in a few months’ time.
      In related news, TVS just launched a special edition Apache RTR 200 with a new livery, riding modes and adjustable suspension to commemorate its 4 million milestone. More

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      RE Meteor 350 SuperNova Blue Top Variant – Detailed First Look

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      RE Meteor 350 Supernova Blue
      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 cruiser motorcycle replaces the Thunderbird 350 in company line-up

      The upcoming launch from Royal Enfield is the new Meteor 350. This cruiser bike has been spied on test on numerous occasions and images have also been leaked online telling us a lot of what is in store. Launch date was initially set for earlier this year but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a spanner in the works, delaying launch by a few months.
      With launch set for later today, 6th November, the motorcycles have arrived at dealer showrooms. Thanks to which, multiple first look and walkaround videos of the new Meteor 350 have hit the web. Here are few such videos from MRD Vlogs, DSD Cars and Shaik Raunaq Fardeen; which details the top of the line Supernova Meteor 350 as well as other variants of the RE M350.
      [embedded content]
      Variants and Colour Options
      The new Meteor 350 will be positioned on an all new ‘J’ platform. This will result in comparatively lower weight, higher level of agility and thanks to high set handle bars, will also offer the rider a more comfortable and upright seating position. The Meteor 350 will be offered in three variants of Fireball, Stellar, and Supernova. Each variant will be differently equipped with specific colour choices.
      The Fireball will be the most affordable variant. It will come in with two solid gloss colours of Fireball Red and Fireball Yellow and will receive sporty decals and all other parts finished in gloss black as it misses out on chrome accents seen on the other two variants. RE Meteor Fireball will sport ‘Royal Enfield and ‘Meteor 350’ stickers in place of 3D logos and will get a colour coded fuel tank with matching rim stickers.
      [embedded content]
      The Stellar variant gets colour options of Stellar red (metallic gloss), Stellar Black (matte) and Stellar Blue (metallic gloss). It receives body coloured panels, chrome accents on handle bars, fuel cover and exhaust while for added rider comfort it will sport a back rest.
      The Stellar variant receives a premium appeal with its chrome finished exhaust, fuel injector cover and handlebars while 3D badging will see be seen on fuel tank and side panels. Its features also include a windscreen and it will ride on machine finished alloy wheels.
      [embedded content]
      Colour options for the top of the line Supernova variant will be dual tone shades of Supernova Brown and Supernova Blue. It gets a more premium finish as compared to the other two variants with a revised seat cover, cushioned back rest, windscreen and chrome finished indicators.
      RE Meteor 350 – Engine Specs
      The RE Meteor 350 engine specifications were also leaked earlier. It is slated to be powered by a 350cc, single cylinder engine offering 20.2 hp power and 27 Nm torque mated to a 6 speed gearbox. It will be a long stroke engine delivering torque at lower rpms and a low thump exhaust sound. The engine will be capable of lower emissions and instant acceleration resulting in an easier riding experience both in city and on highways.
      The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 which will be positioned above the Classic 350 and Himalayan in the company lineup could be priced between Rs.1.60-1.80 lakhs. It will rival the likes of Honda CB350, Jawa 300 and Benelli Imperiale 400. More

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      Perak Becomes Best Selling Jawa – Records 2k Deliveries In Oct 2020

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      Image – Ravinder
      Jawa Perak is powered by a 334cc, single cylinder, 4 stroke, liquid cooled, DOHC engine

      Classic Legends, the Mahindra owned company which sells the the Jawa, Forty-Two and Perak motorcycles, has announced a new delivery milestone today. For the first time, the company has recorded deliveries of 2,000 units of Perak in oct 2020. In fact, this is the first time Jawa has delivered 2k units of any of their 3 motorcycles on offer, in a month.
      Majority of these 2k Perak units were sold during the second half of October, which included the festivals of Dusshera and Navartri. The company now expects better sales of the Jawa Perak with Diwali around the corner.
      Deliveries of the Jawa Perak commenced in July this year. It is the most expensive model in the company lineup, priced at Rs.1.94 lakhs, ex-sh. Classic Legends has only disclosed delivery numbers of the Perak and not of the Jawa and Forty Two. Hence its sales performance can neither be compared to earlier months and nor can it be assessed as against that of its competitors.
      Taking into account total sales of Jawa in the July, August, September period, it can be noted that sales are on a steady rise. Sales which had stood at 569 units in July increased to 1,353 units in August and then on to 2,121 units in September 2020. Though the company has not disclosed October sales of the Jawa and Jawa Forty Two, they state that both these models have seen steady sales and increased demand that has overshot production supplies.
      Classic Legends CEO
      CEO Speaks
      Mr. Ashish Singh Joshi, CEO, Classic Legends Pvt. Ltd. said, “The fact that we delivered around 2000 units of Perak in the span starting from Navratri last month is a testimony to the widespread acceptance of the model, which has carved its own niche and has been elevated to a cult status within just a few months of hitting the streets.
      Overcoming the challenges posed by the Covid-19 situation, we have been focusing on streamlining the production and delivering as many vehicles as we can to our customers. We began the festive season on an encouraging note and are confident that the excitement will keep on growing through the festivities. We also take this chance to wish a prosperous Diwali to everyone.”
      “We have also been extensively working towards expanding our dealership network. Since the lifting of the lockdown, we have added 58 dealerships to our existing network that are fully operational and have made our products more accessible to our customers pan India. The company plans to increase the pre-lockdown number of 105 dealerships to 205 by December 2020 to make our models available to more customers, in newer geographies.”
      Jawa Engine Lineup
      The Jawa and Forty Two share the same 293cc, single cylinder, 4 stroke, liquid cooled, DOHC engine that offers 26.5 hp power and 20.05 Nm torque mated to a 6 speed gearbox. The Jawa is priced between Rs.1.74-1.83 lakhs while the Forty Two is priced from Rs.1.65-1.74 lakhs. The Perak gets a more powerful 334cc, single cylinder, 4 stroke, liquid cooled, DOHC engine that makes 30.64 hp power and 32.74 Nm torque mated to a 6 speed gearbox.
      The company expects to see increased sales through the month of November promising increased production at the Pithampur plant and quicker deliveries while the company is also in the process of enhancing its dealership network across India. Jawa currently has 163 dealerships across India which it intends to increase to 205 dealerships by the end of this year.
      The month of October also saw Jawa motorcycles launched in Nepal. The Jawa showroom is located at Uttardhoka and Teku locations of Kathmandu with Agni Motoinc Pvt Ltd, as the company’s official distributor partner in Nepal. Sales commence with the Jawa and Jawa 42 with the Jawa Perak to also be introduced soon. The bikes will be imported into the country via the Completely Built Units (CBU) route. However, the high import tax and custom duty considerations in Nepal have caused the bike prices to be 3 times over that prevalent in India. More

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      TVS Zepplin R Name Registered – New Cruiser To Rival Classic, CB350?

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      TVS Zepplin R Cruiser Render
      TVS Motor currently does not offer a cruiser motorcycle

      After Jawa, Benelli Imperiale 400 and recently launched Honda H’ness CB350, the cruiser segment could have another rival to challenge the supremacy of Royal Enfield motorcycles. The market is abuzz as trademark registration data reveals that TVS has received approval for its Zepplin R motorcycle. This indicates towards the possibility that TVS may be planning to launch its first cruiser motorcycle sometime next year.
      2018 TVS Zeppelin concept design
      As may be recalled, Zeppelin was unveiled as a concept at 2018 Auto Expo. At that time, it was named only as ‘Zeppelin’. However, as per the registered trademark, the motorcycle gets an additional ‘R’ while the letter ‘e’ goes missing in its name. Concept showcased wast Zeppelin while the new name that is registered is Zepplin R.
      TVS Zepplin R Name Applied For Registration On 2nd Nov 2020.
      Even though Zeppelin Concept has the silhouette of a cruiser, its design is unlike any other product currently available. One of its distinguishable features is the sharp design and sculpted body panels, which give the bike a dominating character.
      If the new TVS Zepplin R is based on the Zeppelin concept, it will have quite a few radical design elements such as octagonal instrument cluster, rectangular rear view mirrors, and right sided fuel tank lid. However, it is not certain if all these unique design elements of the concept will be used in the production variant.
      We shall get some clarity when the test mules start their usual drills. It is possible that the production version may have a toned down design to suit practical needs. For now, below is a production spec rendering of TVS Zepplin R Cruiser.
      TVS Zepplin R Cruiser Render
      Zeppelin concept engine
      TVS Zeppelin concept came with an advanced hybrid powertrain, comprising a 220 cc single cylinder petrol motor and a 1200 watt regenerative electric motor connected to a 48v lithium-ion battery. The motorcycle was also equipped with a unique Integrated Starter Generator (ISG). This has already been patented by TVS. With all these state-of-the-art equipment, Zeppelin concept promised a range of benefits such as enhanced power boost whenever needed, superior all-round performance and best in class fuel efficiency.
      Other key features of Zeppelin concept included a lightweight chassis, integrated HD camera at the front, bio-key, internet connectivity, golden coloured 41 mm USD front forks, rear mono shock suspension, belt drive, disc brakes at both ends, dual-channel ABS, feet forward highway pegs, single piece seat, spoke wheels, and tubeless tyres.
      As of now, the 200cc to 500cc motorcycle segment is dominated by Royal Enfield. In September, the company commanded a market share of more than eighty percent with its popular products such as Classic 350, Bullet 350, Electra 350 and Himalayan. Moreover, Royal Enfield motorcycles have acquired cult status, something that will be difficult to beat by any new rival.
      TVS Zeppelin R seems to have potential, but its journey will be challenging to say the least. It is expected that TVS will launch its cruiser at an aggressive price point of around Rs 1.5 lakh to make it more attractive for potential buyers in this growing segment. More