More stories

  • in

    Kawasaki Eliminator 400cc Launch Soon – Super Meteor 650 Rival

    Kawasaki Eliminator 400 could get the same 399 cc engine parallel twin motor from Ninja 400, making 43 bhp and 37 NmKawasaki Eliminator 400cc Render by Young Machine
    Does Kawasaki Eliminator 400 ring any bell to you? No? How about Bajaj Eliminator? This rings a distant bell, doesn’t it? That is because Kawasaki-Bajaj JV sold Eliminator 175 cruiser bikes in India for some time. It was a cruiser motorcycle manufactured in India and exported to global markets.
    Kawasaki Eliminator 400cc – New Age Cruiser For Modern Gen
    Bajaj Eliminator became the base for a motorcycle that is sold today under Avenger brand. Going by Kawasaki’s teasers, it is pretty evident that the Japanese brand is unveiling a slew of new products, and one of them is a low-slung cruiser. There are speculations set in place, suggesting Kawasaki Eliminator can be revived. Let’s take a look.
    Kawasaki Eliminator 400cc Render by Young Machine
    2023 Osaka Motor Show is being held in Japan on March 15th. This is a motor show based on customisations, but manufacturers also showcase their upcoming products, if any. First teaser from Kawasaki showed three motorcycles, a ZX-4RR (confirmed), an ADV and a cruiser motorcycle in the middle. Second teaser from Kawasaki shows veiled motorcycles at its pavilion at the Osaka Motor Show.
    Looking at the round ORVMs, tail lights, and height difference between its handlebar and rear subframe, suggest that it might very well be a cruiser bike. It can be a variation of outgoing Vulcan S. But the veiled cruiser has round ORVMs, unlike a Vulcan S. We hope it is the revival of the Eliminator series to rival Royal Enfield’s dominance in the middle-weight cruiser category.
    Kawasaki Eliminator 400 Revival Of An Icon
    One of the popular series in Kawasaki’s lineup from the 90s was Eliminator. It was a cruiser-type motorcycle, first sold in 1985. The model started life with Eliminator 900, but soon spawned multiple engines ranging from mere 125 cc models to 1000 cc models. Model range includes EL125, EL175 (Bajaj Eliminator in India), EL250, VN250, ZL400, ZL600, ZL750, ZL900 and ZL1000.
    Mostly, Kawasaki has used engines from its Ninja counterparts in the Eliminator series. Today, Kawasaki has a middle-weight cruiser in the form of Vulcan S priced at Rs. 6.4 lakh (ex-sh). With the launch of Super Meteor 650, Royal Enfield has pretty much stomped Vulcan S as the RE cruiser is priced between Rs. 3,48,900 and 3,78,900 (ex-sh).
    Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Rival
    If Kawasaki Eliminator 400 is real, it might be a fitting weapon in the company’s arsenal against Super Meteor 650. We expect Kawasaki to use the same engine as the Ninja 400, which is a 399 cc parallel-twin motor packing 44.7 bhp of power and 37 Nm of torque. In contrast, RE’s 648 cc parallel-twin engine makes 47 bhp and 52 Nm.
    Considering that Ninja 400 weighs just 168 kg, Kawasaki Eliminator 400 is likely to weigh around 200 kg. Which is far less than 240 kgs of Super Meteor 650. With less weight to lug around, Eliminator can beat Super Meteor 650 in outright performance. Tuning the engine to suit cruiser character is paramount as well. Ninja 400’s 37 Nm of torque has to be made accessible lower in the rev range to suit cruiser personality. This is not confirmed by Kawasaki, though. So, taking it with a pinch of salt would be advised. More

  • in

    Harley Davidson X350 Launch Price 33k Yuan – Approx Rs 3.93 L

    Harley Davidson has finally launched their new entry level 350cc motorcycle called the X350Harley Davidson X350 Launched
    With classic motorcycle craze on the rise, Harley-Davidson intends to swarm the market. An attempt at the same was done by Harley in the past with Street 750 and Street Rod 750. They failed to deliver expected results and Harley’s dream of conquering the lower end of classic bikes, stayed at large.
    Harley-Davidson Launch X350 in China at Affordable Price Point
    Now, Harley-Davidson is coming at it with a new wave of 500cc and 350cc motorcycles. This time around, Harley seems to be playing it safe. Powertrains have been sourced from QJ and have strategically signed partnerships that can cater to developing markets like India. Result of this is Harley-Davidson X500 and X350 motorcycles. Of these two, it is the Harley Davidson X350 that has now been officially launched.
    Harley Davidson X350 Launched
    Harley Davidson X350 has been launched in China at a starting price of 33,388 Yuan, which is approximately Rs 3.93 lakh as per today’s currency conversion rate. This makes the X350 the most affordable Harley Davidson on offer today by a big margin. To reach a larger audience, Harley Davidson is offering attractive loan too. You can buy the new HDX350 by paying a down payment of 8,888 Yuan (including additional fees and insurance) and remaining via EMIs.
    Speaking about dimensions, the New X350 Harley Davidson is 2110mm long, 785mm wide and has a height of 1110mm. Wheelbase is at 1410mm. In the front it has 120/70Z R17 tyre while at the rear is a 160/60Z R17 tyre. It has a kerb wt of 195 kgs while gross vehicle wt is at 355 kgs. Braking is via dual disc at the front and a single disc at the rear. ABS is standard.
    Harley Davidson X350 Launched
    With this new budget motorcycle, Harley Davidson customers are sure to miss the V-Twin rumble and smooth power delivery of a belt drive. By taking this route, Harley-Davidson intends to tackle another legacy brand that is currently dominating this space. What they will get, though, are neo-retro-styled motorcycles with Harley-Davidson branding.
    Harley-Davidson X350: A New Model with Impressive Horsepower and Top Speed
    Later, Harley Davidson will launch X500 based on this same machine. There are a lot of parts sharing between the two as well, keeping costs down further. These include componentry like USD forks, alloy wheels, rear mono-shock, headlights and instrument clusters. Design is slightly different between both bikes. The rear subframe and tail section are starkly different, while the fuel tank bears slight differences.
    Other differences are in braking hardware. Harley-Davidson X500 gets larger conventional discs as opposed to smaller petal discs. Both get a dual disc setup at front and single disc at the rear. Both of them get liquid cooling, but only the X350 bike gets a smaller radiator, flanked by tank shrouds.
    Harley Davidson X350 Launched
    The main difference is in the engine department. The smaller offering is powered by a 353cc motor developing around 34 bhp of power. Weighing around 195 kg, X350 can hit 143 km/h top speed. X500, however, will get the same parallel-twin motor powering Benelli 502C, kicking out 45 bhp and 46 Nm. Weighing in at 207 kg, X500 will hit 159 km/h.
    Harley X350 India Launch
    The 350cc segment sees almost 60k-70k sales every month in India. 90% of this market share is with Royal Enfield. With a combination of factors including design, appeal, nostalgia, feel and more, RE is currently the champion in the 350cc segment and middle-weight 650cc segment as well. India launch of Harley Davidson X350 has not been confirmed. But considering the growing demand for mid-displacement motorcycles here, chances are very high of this new bike coming to India, thanks to Hero MotoCorp. More

  • in

    Bajaj Pulsar NS 160, NS 200 With USD Forks, Dual ABS – Launch Teaser

    Bajaj is getting ready to give a performance upgrade to their NS range of Pulsar 160 and Pulsar 200
    Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 USD and NS 200 USD launch soon
    Over the years, Pulsar has had a range of models on offer. Of these, NS 160 and NS 200 have been among the most successful. The NS Pulsar was launched back in 2012 in the form of NS 200, while the NS 160 was launched in 2017. Over the years, not much has changed with the two bikes. They continue to be on offer in an almost similar format as they were launched. But that will soon change.
    Bajaj Pulsar USD Forks – NS 160 and NS 200
    Bajaj will be launching the Pulsar NS 160 and NS 200 with USD forks in a few days. Ahead of that, the first official teaser has been released. The teaser video says ‘Rotate Your Phone’ and at the end it says – Muscular Styling Goes Upside Down. In between we get glimpses of the front wheel, USD Forks and the Pulsar NS in a new colour shade.
    [embedded content]
    This is not the first time we have seen USD forks on Bajaj Pulsar NS. Bajaj sells NS160 and NS200 with USD front forks in Brazil, where these two motorcycles have been launched as Dominar 160 and Dominar 200. Bajaj is offering 33mm USD forks with the larger 200cc model and 31mm USD forks with the smaller 160cc model. Same is expected to be on offer with 2023 Pulsar NS 160 and NS 200 upon launch.
    This update will add a lot of muscle to an already muscular NS200 and NS160. USD forks allow for a larger surface point for clamping. Hence the overall cohesiveness of the chassis is improved. This enables a better front-end feel and corner-carving capabilities.
    2023 Bajaj Pulsar NS – Dual ABS
    New Bajaj Pulsar NS160, NS200 – Performance Upgrades
    This update will definitely suit the Pulsar NS range. Speaking of the NS200, it is pitched as a sporty machine with upmarket features like liquid cooling and a 6-speed gearbox. Apart from the USD forks, Bajaj is also adding dual-channel ABS. This is a much needed update.
    Bajaj already offers Dual ABS with Pulsar RS200. With these new additions, Pulsar NS200 will be a formidable contender to TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. Other rivals include Honda Hornet 2.0 and KTM 200 Duke.
    Specs and Price
    Ever since its launch in 2012, Pulsar NS200 has been one of the most talked-about motorcycles in the industry. It had the same engine as KTM Duke 200 along with liquid cooling and a 6-speed gearbox for far less money. Despite making zero changes to the design since launch, it is still one of the wildest-looking motorcycles. It offers stupendous ergonomics for tall riders and a sporty stance.
    Powering Pulsar NS200 is a 199.5 cc single-cylinder engine with 24.13 bhp at 9750 RPM and 18.74 Nm of torque at 8000 RPM. It gets a 6 speed transmission. Pulsar NS160 is powered by a 160.3cc single cylinder engine delivering 17.2 PS power at 9000 rpm and 14.6 Nm torque at 7250 rpm. It comes with a 5 speed transmission. Prices of the Pulsar NS 160 USD and Pulsar NS 200 USD will be about Rs 5-10k more than the outgoing versions, which are priced at Rs 1.25 lakh and Rs 1.4 lakh respectively (ex-sh) More

  • in

    RE Himalayan Recalled In The US For Faulty Brakes – 5K Units Affected

    The reason stated by Royal Enfield to NHTSA for corrosion of braking hardware is salt treatment for roads to clear snow and iceRoyal Enfield Himalayan Recall 2023Royal Enfield is under the radar of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as Himalayan motorcycles manufactured between 2017 and 2021 are now facing brake corroding issues. RE has stated that ‘the salt used to treat roads’ is the reason for this development. In the US, roads are treated with salt during the winter season. This is to melt the huge amount of snow and ice.RE Himalayan Recalled In The USThe brake rotors manufactured by ByBre (By Brembo), are being subjected to corrosion resulting in a decrease in effective braking or complete loss of brakes. A full recall has been initiated by Royal Enfield tracking down 4,891 units of Himalayan sold in the US. The units manufactured after 2021, are supposed to be immune to this failure.Bybre has likely used a different type of coating to prevent corrosion or there must be a change in braking hardware altogether with models manufactured after 2021. Royal Enfield dealers in the US have been instructed to replace brake calipers both at the front and rear.Corroding brake calipers is a known factor with Royal Enfield motorcycles as observed in Britain, South Korea and Europe. In 2020, Royal Enfield recalled over 15,000 Himalayans and 650 twins with the same issue.ByBre Brakes Recall In The Past Over Similar IssueByBre is a subsidiary brand of Brembo. Hence denoting “By Brembo” (ByBre). ByBre specializes in making braking hardware for lower-tier motorcycles, while Brembo caters to flagships and other premium motorcycles offered with a higher price tag.In 2017, ByBre brakes offered with BMW G310 series of motorcycles in India were recalled owing to similar corroding issues. In that case too, braking effectiveness was drastically reduced or could even lead to complete failure. It is not yet sure whether calipers offered with Himalayan and G310 were identical in India.Indian Units Affected Too?It is not yet sure whether Indian units of Himalayan pose this failure. Given that treating roads with salt to clear snow and ice is not a standard practice in India, we would wager Indian models are not affected.In India, Royal Enfield is currently testing a next gen Himalayan. This will replace the current Himalayan 411. It gets a plethora of modern tech like USD front forks, larger brakes and more. This model will be shipped globally as well. More

  • in

    New Harley Davidson 350cc Fully Revealed – Royal Enfield Rival

    To ensure affordable pricing, Harley-Davidson X350 and X500 won’t be getting any of the advanced riding aids, as available with larger capacity Harley bikesNew Harley Davidson 350ccWith its newest entry-level neo-retro roadsters, Harley-Davidson is all set to slug it out in the burgeoning Chinese auto sector. Scheduled for launch on March 10 as per teasers, the new Harley bikes X350 and X500 have been developed in collaboration with Chinese giant Qianjiang Motorcycle. These bikes will be largely ‘Made in China’ products with Harley branding and some of its signature features. Both will be sold globally. First units have now arrived in the USA.Harley-Davidson X350, X500 leakedAhead of their launch, new details have been revealed about Harley-Davidson X350 and X500. Unlike the V-Twin engine that’s commonly used with most Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the new X350 and X500 bikes are equipped with liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engines. It may not resonate with Harley’s pedigree, but can be useful in terms of achieving a competitive price point for these bikes.New Harley Davidson 350ccNames of these new Harleys pretty much reveal their displacement, although official specs have not been revealed. Considering QJ Motor’s existing bikes of similar capacity, a reasonable guess would be power output of around 30-35 hp for X350. In comparison, the larger capacity X500 could generate around 50 hp of max power. Both bikes are expected to be equipped with a 6-speed gearbox.To reduce production costs, Harley-Davidson X350 and X500 share several of the hardware components. Some key highlights include USD forks, offset monoshock rear suspension, dual discs at front and dual-channel ABS.New Harley Davidson 350ccX350 has petal discs whereas its larger capacity sibling utilizes conventional discs. The bikes have chain drive, which is likely to reduce maintenance cost. Tackling rough conditions will also become easier with a chain drive setup.Harley-Davidson X350, X500 stylingBoth bikes have neo-retro roadster styling, with some elements inspired from Harley-Davidson XR1200. Key features include circular LED headlamp, halogen turn indicators, round rear-view mirrors, classic fuel tank design and underbelly exhaust. Users can expect comfortable rides with ergonomically positioned handlebar and centrally mounted foot pegs.Harley-Davidson X350 and X500 have a circular semi-digital instrument pod. The display is fairly simple with an analogue speedometer and small rectangular LCD display. The semi-digital setup indicates that the new Harleys won’t be getting advanced connectivity features.Apart from China, Harley has plans to target the fast-growing middleweight segment in India as well. Here, the American manufacturer has a JV with Hero MotoCorp. The strategy will be largely the same as being used in Chinese market. Bikes from Harley-Hero partnership will primarily rival Royal Enfield and upcoming Bajaj Triumph motorcycles. It will be interesting to see if Harley-Hero bikes can successfully dent Royal Enfield’s market share and cult-like fan following.Source More

  • in

    TVS 650cc Motorcycle Under Development – Royal Enfield Rival

    TVS new flagship motorcycle will have a twin-cylinder engine and a range of hi-tech equipment and connectivity featuresTVS owned Norton MotorcyclesWith lifestyle segment registering strong growth, TVS is looking to aggressively target this space. TVS may be a late entrant, but there’s always space for a good product that ticks all the right boxes. As of now, Royal Enfield 650 twins dominate the lifestyle segment in terms of volumes. RE deserves a pat on the back for its visionary ability to launch products that are future-ready.TVS new 600-750cc bike will also be a great option for loyal TVS customers looking for an upgrade. Presently, choices don’t go beyond the 310cc Apache RR310. It’s sort of a lost opportunity for the company, especially considering the fact that an increasing number of enthusiasts are moving to 500+ cc segment.TVS 650cc Motorcycle LaunchDevelopment of TVS new 600-750cc bike is already underway. However, there is no official confirmation from TVS on such developments. Just like rival offerings, TVS new flagship will have a twin-cylinder motor. Power and torque output could be close to or better than rivals. For reference, Royal Enfield 650 twins produce 47 hp of max power and 52 Nm of peak torque.It remains to be seen what body style TVS chooses for its new flagship. There could be multiple body styles launched simultaneously or TVS could start with a single offering such as a roadster. Based on market response, TVS could consider other body styles based on the same platform. It could include scrambler, cafe racer, ADV, etc.TVS will definitely need multiple products in 600-750cc segment, as rivals like Royal Enfield are consistently expanding their portfolio in this space. After Super Meteor 650, Royal Enfield will add other 650cc bikes such as Shotgun 650, Himalayan 650 and Classic 650. TVS new flagship will also go up against the upcoming 650cc bikes from Jawa and Yezdi.It remains to be seen if TVS will go solo or seek collaboration with another entity for the development of its new flagship 600-750cc motorcycle. TVS had purchased British brand Norton Motorcycles in April 2020. Norton already has many big bikes on offer. It is likely TVS will use Norton expertise for their upcoming motorcycle.Transition to a lifestyle brandTVS has already started taking steps to position itself as a lifestyle brand. This is evident with products like Ronin and increased focus on community-based events. At the recently concluded 2023 MotoSoul, TVS had showcased four fascinating custom builds of Ronin. An updated connectivity platform was also unveiled at the event. Contribution of TVS Racing can be seen in the form of launch of a new type of racing format called Flat Track Racing.TVS Racing Performance Gear division will also have a key role to play in passive promotion of the new bike. All these initiatives will help create a conducive environment for launch of the new TVS flagship. TVS already has 2.5 lakh members in AOG (Apache Owners Group), many of whom may choose to upgrade to the new 600-750cc bike.Source More

  • in

    2W Retail Sales Feb 2023 – TVS, Bajaj, RE, Yamaha, Hero Electric, Ola, Jawa

    Two wheeler retail sales improved by 14.75 percent YoY to 12,67,233 units in Feb 2023 with Hero and Honda commanding the segmentImage – Rohit RiderIn the earlier post, we discussed the two wheeler wholesales. Now, FADA has released two wheeler retail sales, which in Feb 2023 stood at 12,67,233 units. This was a 14.75 percent growth over 11,04,309 units sold in Feb 2023. It related to a 1,62,924 unit volume growth. It was also a MoM growth from 12,65,069 units sold in Jan 2023. Most of the top players reported YoY growth by some significant numbers. However, the same was not seen lower down the order.Two Wheeler Retail Sales Feb 2023Hero MotoCorp continued to hold fort, topping sales charts with 3,90,673 units sold in the past month, up 12.14 percent from 3,48,394 units sold in Feb 2022. This was a 42,279 unit volume growth Market share however, dipped to 30.83 percent from 31.55 percent YoY.Two Wheeler Retail Sales Feb 2023 vs Feb 2022 – YoY AnalysisSales of Honda also increased substantially to 3,02,184 units in Feb 2023, up 22.45 percent from 2,46,784 units sold in Feb 2022. Market share also went up to 23.85 percent from 22.35 percent YoY. YoY volume growth stood at 55,400 units.TVS Motor also saw a steep growth of 24.19 percent in YoY sales to 2,11,337 units in Feb 2023 from 1,70,179 units sold in Feb 2022. Market share went up to 16.68 percent from 15.41 percent YoY. With retail sales at 1,38,426 units in Feb 2023, Bajaj Auto saw 9 percent YoY growth when compared to 1,28,199 units sold in Feb 2022. Royal Enfield was up next with 64,195 unit sales, up 38.31 percent when compared to 46,413 units sold in Feb 2022.Two Wheeler Retail Sales Feb 2023 vs Jan 2023 – MoM AnalysisAs reported by FADA, Suzuki Motorcycle sales improved 33.44 percent to 58,992 units in Feb 2023 from 44,209 units sold in Feb 2022. Market share went up to 4.66 percent from 4 percent YoY. Yamaha also saw its retail sales increase 10.41 percent to 42,695 units in Feb 2023 from 38,766 units sold in Feb 2022 but market share dipped to 3.37 percent from 3.51 percent YoY.Electric 2W Retail Sales Feb 2023Demand for electric two wheelers is on the rise. Ola Electric has noted retail sales growth of 351.33 percent to 17,647 units in Feb 2023 from 3,910 units sold in Feb 2022. This was a volume growth of 13,737 units. It was however a MoM decline in sales as compared to 18,245 units sold in Jan 2023. YoY market share saw an improvement to 1.39 percent in Feb 2023 from 0.35 percent held in Feb 2022.It was followed by Ather Energy with sales up 347.02 percent to 9,982 units in Feb 2023 from 2,233 units sold in Feb 2022. Retail sales of Hero Electric dipped 20.423 percent to 5,858 units in Feb 2023 from 7,361 units sold in Feb 2022. Ampere sales also increased YoY by 35.06 percent to 5,839 units from 4,306 units sold in Feb 2022 while Okinawa has reported a YoY dip of 35.23 percent in retail sales down to 3,837 units in Feb 2023 from 5,924 units sold in Feb 2022.Classic Legends (Jawa and Yezdi) also reported a dip in demand by 8.15 percent in Feb 2023 to 3,156 units from 3,436 units sold in Feb 2022 as did Piaggio Vehicles that saw retail sales slip to 2,755 units in the past month from 4,174 units sold in Feb 2022. There were also others on this list with 8,350 unit retail sales in Feb 2023, a massive YoY de-growth of 83.31 percent from 50,021 units sold in Feb 2022. More

  • in

    Harley Davidson 350cc Motorcycle Launch 10th March – Teaser

    Leaked documents reveal that new entry-level Harley-Davidson bikes for China share key hardware and use engines manufactured by QJ MotorNew Harley Davidson 350cc MotorcycleHarley-Davidson has a new strategy in place, wherein it is collaborating with regional partners to create entirely new products in middleweight segment. An example is China, where the American motorcycle manufacturer has been working with Qianjiang Motors. This partnership will spawn several new products, the first of which will be X350 and X500 motorcycles.A teaser released recently indicates that either one or both of these bikes will launch on March 10, 2023. Ahead of their launch, some of the key specifications of these bikes have leaked online.Harley Davidson X350 and X500 launch on 10th March 2023Harley-Davidson X350 – 350cc motorcycleHarley-Davidson X350 and X500 have a retro theme, as is evident with the round headlamp and rear-view mirrors and circular instrument pod. Apart from that, each of these bikes have quite a few unique features. Overall, X350 has a more modern character with sharp fuel tank, step-up seat design and extended tail section.In terms of performance, Harley-Davidson X350 will be powered by a 353cc motor. It will deliver 35-36 PS of max power. Earlier, the bike was proposed to be powered by the liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that was in use with Benelli 302S. However, QJ Motor had later introduced an updated 353cc version of this engine.New Harley Davidson 350cc MotorcycleOther details revealed include the bike’s weight at 195 kg. Claimed top speed is 89 mph, which is around 143 kmph. Hardware specs include USD front forks, monoshock rear suspension, alloy wheels and disc brakes at both ends. The same configuration has been used for the larger capacity X500 as well. There’s a slight difference though, in that, X350 has petal rotors at front whereas X500 utilizes conventional rotors.Harley-Davidson X500 – 500cc motorcyclePowering Harley-Davidson X500 will be a 500cc motor, generating 47.5 PS and 46 Nm. This engine is already in use with bikes like Benelli TRK 502 ADV, Leoncino 500 scrambler and 502C cruiser. Harley-Davidson X500 will have kerb weight of 207 kg, making it a bit lighter than respective Benelli bikes. X500 top speed is claimed at 99 mph or approx. 159 kmph.If launched in India, Harley-Davidson X350 and X500 will primarily rival Royal Enfield bikes. In 350cc segment, Harley-Davidson X350 will compete against the likes of Classic 350, Meteor 350 and Hunter 350. On the other hand, Harley-Davidson X500 will take on the 650 twins – Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650.New Harley Davidson 500cc MotorcycleLaunch of these new bikes in India has not been confirmed yet. Harley-Davidson has a JV in India with Hero MotoCorp. Here too, the plan is to aggressively target the middleweight segment that is currently dominated by Royal Enfield.Backed by Hero’s affordable manufacturing, it is possible that Harley-Davidson may be able to achieve a competitive price point for its first small-capacity bike for Indian market. Harley will also benefit from Hero’s vast countrywide network of dealerships. Once launched, these new Harley’s will take on Royal Enfield and upcoming Bajaj Triumph motorcycles. More