Bike News

Subterms

    More stories

    • 150 Shares199 Views

      in Bike

      Ather Raises Rs 991 Cr In Funding – New Electric Scooters Incoming

      by

      India’s sovereign wealth fund, NIIFL, Hero MotoCorp lead Series E funding. Ather Energy raises $128 millionAther Electric ScooterAther Energy has reported a strong start in 2022. In April 2022, the manufacturer reported its highest ever monthly sales having delivered 3,779 units. Simultaneously, bookings for Ather 450X have been growing 25 percent quarter-on-quarter.Currently, the company’s retail sales network spans 32 cities with 38 Experience Centres. This will be expanded to 150 Experience Centres in 100 cities by 2023. And now the manufacturer boasts of yet another feather in its cap. It has bagged the first direct investment in the electric mobility manufacturing sector by the country’s sovereign wealth fund.NIIFL, Hero MotoCorp – Ather investorsThe Series E funding amounts to $128 million or Rs 991 crores. Investment agreements were signed with National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited’s (NIIFL) Strategic Opportunities Fund (SOF), Hero MotoCorp, a leading shareholder of Ather, and additional investors. The latest infusion of cash adds to the amount raised in earlier rounds of funding. To date, Ather Energy has raised over $230 million financing. Tiger Global and Flipkart cofounder, Sachin Bansal are investors.In this round, Hero MotoCorp invested $56 mil, about Rs 420 crore. Most of the remaining amount is invested by NIIFL. Other existing investors, including angel founders further boosted the round with minor investments. To date Hero MotoCorp is the largest investor. Ather Energy plans to remain independent with investor goals aligned towards an Initial Public Offering (IPO).Ather electric scooter fast charging techElectric two-wheeler segmentAs has been previously stated by the company, funding is earmarked to attain certain time-bound goals. This includes expansion of its manufacturing facilities, research and development, charging infrastructure, and retail network growth. Ather also has plans to launch new electric scooters, based on their current 450 series.Being NIIFL’s first direct investment in the manufacturing sector and in electric mobility bodes well. Both avenues have often been discussed and are key to ‘India’s green mission and decarbonisation goals’. NIIFL investment is a boost to the electric 2-wheeler sector in India. A segment in early stages development, and one with serious growth goals by the end of the decade.The funding directly supports 1st-gen local entrepreneur-manufacturers. Ather has already proven its growth potential with a limited line of new products built with a high level of indigenisation. SOF has previously invested in Aseem Infrastructure Finance, NIIF IFL, and Manipal Hospitals.Ather Energy capacity enhancementTarun Mehta, CEO, Ather Energy, said “The switch to electric is inevitable and FY 21-22 was the turning point for electric two-wheeler adoption in India. We are super excited to have NIIF come on board as an investor. They have been at the forefront of the country’s green transition through their investments and initiatives, and we look forward to our association.We would also like to thank Hero MotoCorp, our long-term investor and strategic partner who continues to support our growth. The current round of investment will help us enhance capacities across the board, bring additional focus on new platforms, expand into new geographies, expand our fast-charging network and double down on the reputation we’ve built for making a product that’s high on quality.” More

    • 163 Shares119 Views

      in Bike

      Honda NX500 Trademark Filed – New 500cc ADV To Rival RE Himalayan 450?

      by

      From recent developments, it is clear that Honda is developing a mid-displacement as well as an entry-level adventure bike in the form of NX500 and NX200Image for reference.Honda recently filed trademarks for the names ‘NX’ and ‘NX500’ in the European Union in addition to another trademark filed by the company for ‘NX’ in New Zealand. This hints at the Japanese brand working on a new middleweight adventure bike. The NX moniker is usually associated with the Dominator range of Honda.The Dominator series comprised dual-sport adventure bikes popular in the 1980s and 90s. The most prominent of those was NX650 Dominator which was sold in international markets until 2003. In fact, the Honda Dominator range was one of the first proper adventure bikes on offer in global markets.Honda NX500 Adventure Bike In MakingWith the global motorcycle industry seeing an influx of mid-capacity ADVs in recent times, Honda seems to go back in time and revive one of its most popular name tags. The ‘Dominator’ moniker can’t be used since Norton already owns the trademark rights to it. Therefore, trademark applications only consist of the NX tag.The original NX500 was powered by a single-cylinder engine. The upcoming iteration of the middleweight ADV could be based on the underpinnings of Honda CB500X which itself is described as a road-biased adventure tourer. However, the upcoming NX500 is likely to be more capable off-road than its road-biased sibling with more suspension travel and dual-purpose tyres.Honda NX200 name registered in IndiaThis means it will be powered by the same 471cc eight-valve, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine as CB500X which kicks out 47 bhp at 8,500rpm and 43.2 Nm of peak torque at 6,500rpm. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed gearbox with a slipper and assist clutch. Honda might even opt for a bigger 21-inch front wheel in NX500 instead of a 19-inch unit offered in CB500. The rear wheel is likely to remain a 17-inch unit.Honda NX200 Also On CardsAs far as design goes, the new NX500 is expected to flaunt a similar styling as the flagship CRF 1100L Africa Twin. This can be proven through a series of design patents filed by Honda with the European Union Intellectual Property Office. However, there’s a big catch. These patents which were filed on 17 December 2021, showcase a smaller motorcycle.From the patent images, it can be seen that the bike features a smaller air-cooled, single-cylinder engine. This unit appears to be similar to a 184.4 cc, single-cylinder motor that powers CB200X and Hornet 2.0. In fact, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) had trademarked the NX200 name in India last year but chose to launch a road-biased tourer in the form of CB200X.Upcoming 2023 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 – RenderThis also suggests that apart from NX500, Honda is also developing an entry-level adventure bike that could take on Hero Xpulse 200. As mentioned earlier, it will be powered by a 184cc, single-cylinder motor that kicks out 17.03 bhp at 8,500rpm and 16.1 Nm of peak torque at 6,000rpm. This unit comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox.We expect at least one of these upcoming ADVs to reach Indian shores sometime. Upon launch in India, the NX200 could take on the likes of Hero Xpulse 200, while the NX200 could lock horns with the upcoming Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. More

    • 125 Shares199 Views

      in Bike

      Benelli Tornado 400cc Motorcycle Patent Leaks – KTM 390 Rival

      by

      The upcoming motorcycle seen in the patents could be part of the Tornado range of sports bikes from BenelliBenelli Tornado 400cc MotorcycleBenelli and its parent company Qianjiang have been on a rampage as far as development of new models is concerned. In recent times, we have come across several spy shots and design patents floating on the internet. Most of these design patents have been filed by QJ Motor, a subsidiary of Qianjiang.The Chinese bikemaker is currently at the helm of operations for itself as well as Benelli. In addition, QJ Motor has partnered with several international brands which include Harley Davidson, MV Agusta for their respective entry-level premium offerings. The latest addition to the list of upcoming bikes is a 400cc sports bike from Benelli.Benelli Tornado 400cc Motorcycle – Patent LeakThis new bike is expected to be retailed under Benelli’s supersport Tornado range. A wide range of Tornado bikes is expected to be added in the future including a 550cc twin and a 650cc four-cylinder. Expected to be called Tornado 402R, this fully-faired motorcycle is most likely based on GS400RR from QJ Motor which made its debut in China recently.The bike shown in the patent follows the design language seen in Benelli Tornado 252R. This includes a vertically oriented headlight cluster with LED DRLs on both sides and shape of the front fairing that are clearly borrowed from the quarter-litre sports bike. That said, the upcoming 402R flaunts some distinct styling attributes, the most prominent of those is a single-sided swingarm.Benelli Tornado 400cc MotorcycleIt also indicates QJ Motor’s hold on drawing board operations since similar single-sided swingarms have been seen in recent small capacity motorcycles at the budget end of the spectrum. Other highlights include split seats, a clip-on handlebar, a muscular fuel tank and a sleek side fairing. Overall, the 402R appears to be quite a handsome motorcycle.Hardware ConfigurationUnderpinnings seem to be borrowed from QJ Motor’s GS400RR which includes a tubular steel frame suspended on upside-down front forks and a rear mono-shock mounted on the swingarm. The Benelli iteration gets slightly lower specifications due to its cost-effective nature. For instance, 402R receives a single front disc brake and axially mounted caliper, compared to the dual front disc setup seen in GS400RR.Expected Powertrain SpecsPowering Benelli 402R will be a 399cc parallel-twin motor which also has been borrowed from its QJ cousin. While left-side engine covers appear slightly different from the one in GS400RR, the right-side engine covers are very similar. This motor also looks uncannily similar to Kawasaki’s 400cc parallel-twin motor powering Z400 and Ninja 400.If that is the case, this unit should be capable of dishing out 45hp at 10,000rpm and 38 Nm of peak torque at 8,000rpm while being mated to a 6-speed gearbox. A few days back, QJ Motor unveiled the new SRK 400 in its home market which looks to be based on similar underpinnings and powertrain. It will rival the likes of KTM RC 390 upon launch.SOURCE More

    • 175 Shares169 Views

      in Bike

      New Harley Davidson Electric Motorcycle S2 Del Mar – Sold Out In 18 Minutes

      by

      New electric motorcycle from Harley Davidson under the LiveWire brand is based on a modular EV platformNew Harley Davidson Electric Motorcycle – S2 Del Mar will be their most affordable yetHarley Davidson ventured into the electric mobility space back in 2019 with the launch of its electric motorcycle named LiveWire. Since then LiveWire has gone to become a separate vertical within the American motorcycle giant specifically dedicated to the company’s upcoming lineup of EVs.The first model under this spinoff brand was LiveWire One which made its debut in July last year. The iconic motorcycle brand has now revealed its next offering in the EV space – called S2 Del Mar Launch Edition. This new electric Harley Davidson is the second EV offering under the LiveWire brand.Harley Davidson LiveWire Electric S2 Del MarSince LiveWire One is a very costly affair at USD 22k (about INR 17 lakh), the brand needs an affordable EV offering to create a space among mass-market buyers. S2 Del Mar will be priced in the USD 15k region upon launch. This will be about Rs 8.9 lakh as per today’s currency conversion rates.The battery-powered motorcycle is based on a new modular Arrow EV architecture. This new platform will serve as a base for upcoming LiveWire electric bikes like S3 and S4. S2 Del Mar has been built on a monocoque frame that employs the battery pack with aluminium casing as the stressed member. Hence, the steering head, as well as the swingarm pivot, are linked to the battery pack.[embedded content][embedded content]Expected Motor & Battery DetailsThe company is still tight-lipped about exact details of the motor. That said, images reveal the motor sits just behind the pack, near the swingarm pivot. S2 Del Mar is expected to use an air-cooled setup for the battery considering it’s a relatively low-end offering compared to LiveWire One. The motor used in this bike is expected to return a performance equivalent to that of a 700cc IC engine-powered motorcycle. 0-100 kmph acceleration is achieved in about 3.5 seconds.Harley Davidson will be using “21700” type cells for the battery pack that should offer at least a 100 miles (160 kms) range on a single charge. Since the platform is a modular one, the brand can use batteries and motors of different sizes and specifications on future models. This architecture should also host multiple design styles for upcoming motorcycles.Design & Other DetailsSpeaking of design, S2 Del Mar has carried most of the styling attributes from its concept e-bike which follows a flat track theme. New images reveal the bike’s rear end that features the rear wheel, a stubby tail section and a tyre-hugger with an integrated number plate holder. Harley is also expected to equip this electric motorcycle with plenty of gizmos that will be updated OTA.Bookings for S2 Del Mar Launch Edition had opened earlier today. But had to be closed, as the entire first lot of 100 units got sold out in under 18 minutes. India launch of this new Harley Davidson electric motorcycle is not yet confirmed. Debut of the production bike is in 2023. More

    • 138 Shares139 Views

      in Bike

      TVS Price Hike May 2022 – Apache, Jupiter, Raider, XL100, Ntorq

      by

      Prices of TVS scooters and motorcycles have been increased in the range of Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500; No price hike for iQubeImage – Auto EraSimilar to price hikes announced by other OEMs, TVS Motor has also increased prices of its two-wheelers across the range. After the pandemic, inflation has emerged as a key contributor to rising prices. For business sustainability, manufacturers have little option other than to pass some of the increased input costs to end users.However, TVS has ensured that the latest price hike does not overburden consumers. Even with the revised prices, TVS scooters and motorcycles continue to be among the most affordable in their respective segments.TVS scooters prices May 2022TVS offers scooters in 90cc to 125cc range. Most affordable is TVS Scooty Pep Plus, which is powered by an 87.8cc motor. It generates 5.36 bhp of max power and 6.5 Nm of peak torque. Scooty Pep Plus range now starts at Rs 60,334. Scooty Pep Plus Pink and Matte variants are priced at Rs 61,334 and Rs 63,234, respectively.In 110cc segment, TVS offers Zest 110 and Jupiter 110. Zest new prices are Rs 67,016 for Gloss variants and Rs 68,693 for Matte variants. In case of Jupiter 110, new starting price is Rs 68,571 for sheet metal wheel variant. Updated prices of other variants are Jupiter STD (Rs 71,571), Jupiter ZX (Rs 75,546), Jupiter ZX Disc (Rs 79,346), Jupiter Classic (Rs 79,316) and Jupiter SmartXonnect (Rs 82,346).TVS Scooters – Prices May 2022In 125cc segment, Jupiter 125 updated starting price is Rs 78,175 for drum brake variant. Jupiter 125 Alloy will cost Rs 80,625 whereas Jupiter 125 Disc is available at Rs 85,075. Ntorq range now starts at Rs 77,106 for drum variant. Prices of other variants are Ntorq Disc (Rs 81,561), Ntorq Race Edition (Rs 85,161), Ntorq Super Squad Edition (Rs 87,661), Ntorq Race XP (Rs 89,211) and Ntorq XT (Rs 1,02,823).TVS Motor’s sole offering in electric segment is iQube, which continues to be one of the most affordable electric two-wheelers in the market. On-road price in Delhi after centre and state subsidies is Rs 1,00,777.TVS Motorcycles prices May 2022In motorcycle segment, TVS portfolio includes bikes in 110cc to 310cc range. TVS Sport is now available at a starting price of Rs 60,130. The electric start variant will cost Rs 66,493. Star City is another popular 110cc commuter bike, which now starts at Rs 70,205 for drum variant. Star City disc variant will cost Rs 73,995.TVS Motorcycles – Prices May 2022Third 110cc TVS bike is Radeon, which is now available at a starting price of Rs 59,925. Prices of other variants are Radeon COTY Drum (Rs 71,066), Radeon DT Drum (Rs 71,966), Radeon COTY Disc (Rs 74,066), and Radeon DT Disc (Rs 74,966). In 125cc segment, TVS offers Raider that was launched last year in September. Raider new prices are Rs 84,573 for drum variant and Rs 89,089 for disc variant.Moving on to TVS Apache range, RTR 160 is now available in the range of Rs 1,11,740 to Rs 1,25,575. RTR 180 and RTR 200 starting price is Rs 1,18,690 and Rs 1,38,190, respectively. The company’s flagship Apache 310 will now cost Rs 2,59,990.TVS Moped XL100 – Prices May 2022Another bestseller for TVS is its XL100 moped. It’s currently the cheapest 100cc bike in the country. TVS XL100 variants are available in the range of Rs 43,041 to Rs 54,160. More

    • 125 Shares99 Views

      in Bike

      Keeway 280cc Maxi Scooter India Launch Likely On 17th May

      by

      Hungarian two wheeler brand, Keeway is planning India entry on 17th May – Likely with a cruiser and a maxi scooterKeeway GT270 Maxi Scooter For India. Image – BikesRepublicKeeway is a Hungarian brand, and is currently owned by the Chinese company, QJ Group. This is the same company which also owns the Italian marquee Benelli. Keeway is popular for its small capacity Harley-Davidson-inspired cruisers, scooters and off-road bikes that are mostly powered by a 125cc engine.The manufacturer has sent a ‘Block Your Date’ invite for its maiden launch event on May 17 to be held in Mumbai. Keeway has kept the two wheelers that will launch in India a secret as of now. Rumours suggest it will be a cruiser motorcycle in the form of K-Lite and a GT270 maxi-scooter. We had discussed about Keeway Cruiser motorcycle in the previous post, let’s take a look at their maxi scooter below.Keeway 280cc Maxi ScooterKeeway GT270 is powered by a 278.2cc engine sourced from Piaggio. This is a single-cylinder mill that puts out 19 bhp of power @ 6500 RPM and 22.5 Nm of torque @ 6000 RPM. It comes with fuel injection, liquid cooling and is mated to a CVT transmission. Suspension duties on GT270 are handled by premium KYB suspension units at front and rear. The front gets a 35mm telescopic unit while rear gets twin shock absorbers. It gets disc brakes at the front as well as rear. Front gets a 240 mm disc while rear gets a 220 mm disc.Keeway GT270 Maxi Scooter For IndiaKeeway GT270 gets a sizeable 9.5 litre fuel tank which is on par with its maxi-scooter appeal. Both front and rear wheels are 13 inch alloys. Front wheel is wrapped with 110/70 R13 rubber while rear is wrapped with 130/70 R13 rubber.Keeway maxi scooter measures 1955 mm in length, and 740 mm in width, and stands 1115 mm tall. It comes with a decent 1385 mm of wheelbase and a very friendly seat height of just 770 mm. It is expected to weigh around 145 kg and ground clearance is set to be at 115 mm.Pricing and CompetitionScooters like Suzuki Burgman and Aprilia SX aren’t real maxi-scooters in the proper sense. They’re powered by a small capacity engine displacing under 200 cc. Keeway GT270 is likely to become the most affordable, proper maxi-scooter of India. In some markets, Keeway is sold at the same dealer network as Benelli. In India too this could be likely. Keeway motorcycles and scooters could be sold via Benelli India dealers.Keeway GT270 Maxi Scooter For IndiaThe only other proper maxi scooter on sale in India currently, is BMW C 400 GT. The price of which is rather overwhelming to command value in any sense of the world. In terms of pricing, Keeway could be priced above Rs 2 lakh. It will have no direct rival in the segment. More

    • 163 Shares179 Views

      in Bike

      KTM, Husqvarna Prices May 2022 – Duke, RC 125, 200, 250, 390 ADV

      by

      KTM and Husqvarna have increased prices of their offerings in the Indian market by up to Rs 6,419 and Rs 7,130 respectivelyNew KTM RC 200It is the season of price increments in the auto industry and the latest OEMs to join this list are KTM and Husqvarna. Both brands are owned by Pierer Mobility and work together with Bajaj Auto in India. KTM holds a sizable market share with its wide variety of offerings with different body styles and engine displacements.Husqvarna, on the other hand, only commands a niche segment of the market due to a thin portfolio of models. The Swedish brand has witnessed a price hike of up to Rs 7,130 whereas its sister brand KTM has increased pieces of its models by up to Rs 6,419. None of the models have witnessed any other update.KTM Duke Prices May 2022Starting with the KTM Duke series, the Austrian bikemaker has increased prices of its naked streetfighter by up to Rs 6,419. The Duke range is available in four derivatives in India including- Duke 125, Duke 200, Duke 250 and Duke 390 depending on engine displacements. The highest price hike has been witnessed by the flagship Duke followed by its quarter-litre sibling with an increase of Rs 6,272.Prices of Duke 125 and Duke 200 have been increased by Rs 5,312 and Rs Rs 4,544 units respectively. After the latest price revision. Duke 125 is priced at Rs 1.76 lakh, Duke 200 at Rs 1.90 lakh, Duke 250 at Rs 2.35 lakh and Duke 390 at Rs 2.94 lakh. All prices mentioned are ex-showroom.KTM and Husqvarna Prices May 2022KTM RC, Adventures Prices May 2022Prices of KTM RC series have been increased by Rs 4,928 for the entry-level RC 125 and by Rs 4,544 for RC 200. Both models received a generation upgrade a few months back and are presently priced at Rs 1.87 lakh and Rs 2.13 lakh respectively. This is the first substantial price hike for both models since their launch. KTM recently launched an upgraded RC 390 in India a few days back at a price of Rs 3.14 lakh.The Adventure series of KTM comprises Adventure 250 and Adventure 390 which are now priced at Rs 2.42 lakh and Rs 3.35 lakh respectively. The latter recently received an updated iteration for 2022, hence prices stay constant. The new Adventure 390 gets two new riding modes along with new colours and wheels. Prices for the quarter-litre ADV have increased by Rs 6,304.Husqvarna Prices May 2022Husqvarna presently retails only two models in India including Svartpilen 250 and Vitpilen 250. Both motorcycles are now priced at Rs 2.17 lakh and Rs 2.18 lakh respectively after a price of Rs 7,130 and Rs 7,129. All prices mentioned above are ex-showroom.The Husky siblings share their underpinnings with the quarter-litre KTM cousins. Each of them is powered by a 248.76cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that pumps out 29.63 bhp and a peak torque of 24 Nm. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed transmission. More

    • 138 Shares99 Views

      in Bike

      Yamaha Price Hike May 2022 – R15, FZ, Aerox, Fascino, RayZR

      by

      This is the second time Yamaha has raised prices in this financial year; prices were hiked in April as wellImage – Daniel HermawanFrequency of price hikes in the last two years has been unprecedented. While OEMs try to absorb much of the increase in input costs, some of it has to be passed to customers in order to sustain the business. After pandemic related supply chain disruptions and subsequent shortages, rising global inflation has emerged as another major challenge for OEMs.Yamaha motorcycle prices May 2022Price hike for R15 motorcycle variants is in the range of Rs 600 to Rs 800. Price of the most affordable Yamaha R15 V3 remains unchanged. It is available at a starting price of Rs 1,57,600 for Metallic Red/ Thunder Grey variants. Dark Knight colour variant costs Rs 1,59,700. Yamaha R15 S V3 variant gets costlier by Rs 800. New price is Rs 1,59,900.Yamaha R15 M gets price hike of Rs 600. It is now available at Rs 1,86,900 (Metallic Grey). Yamaha R15 V4 variants have become costlier by Rs 600. New prices are Rs 1,76,900 (Metallic Red), Rs 1,77,900 (Dark Knight) and Rs 1,81,900 (Racing Blue). All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.Yamaha FZ S prices have been increased by Rs 1,000. New price is Rs 1,19,400 for Matte Red and Dark Matte Blue variants. Yamaha FZ S Deluxe (Bluetooth) has also become costlier by Rs 1,000. New price is Rs 1,22,400 for Metallic Black, Metallic Grey and Majesty Red variants.Yamaha Motorcycle Prices May 2022Yamaha FZ-X will now cost Rs 2,600 more. This is the highest price hike for the FZ range. New price is Rs 1,30,400 for Matte Copper, Matte Black and Metallic Blue variants. Yamaha FZ 25 and Yamaha FZ S 25 have received price hike of Rs 1,300. Yamaha FZ 25 Metallic Black and Racing Blue new price is Rs 1,44,600. Yamaha FZ S 25 Matte Copper and Matte Black new price is Rs 1,49,100.Recent price hike for R15 and FZ range motorcycles does not result in any updates for these bikes. FZ range is currently Yamaha’s bestselling motorcycle brand, followed by R15 and MT15. FZ also leads in exports from India. Yamaha bikes are preferred for their sporty design, thrilling performance and value for money proposition. Even with multiple price hikes, Yamaha R15 and FZ motorcycles continue to be available at a competitive price point.Yamaha scooter prices May 2022Apart from increasing the price of their motorcycles, Yamaha has also increased prices of their scooter range. Highest price hike has been dished out to Aerox 155, which is now priced at Rs 1,36,800. Fascino prices increased by Rs 800 – Rs 1,000. RaZR prices are up in similar range for May 2022.Yamaha Scooter Prices May 2022This is the fourth round of price hike announced by Yamaha in CY2022. In case of R15 and FZ motorcycles, prices were increased in January and April. In January, prices were increased by Rs 2k. In April, prices of FZ motorcycles were increased in the range of Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,500. R15 prices were raised in the range of Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,500.In the future, Yamaha will target the fast growing electric two-wheeler segment. The first Yamaha electric two-wheeler is expected to be launched in India in 2023. The company had recently showcased E01 And NEO’s electric scoters at an event organised for its dealers. More