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      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Launched In America At USD 4.4k (Rs 3.3 L)

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      Image for reference. Credit – Vimal SumblyThe RE Meteor 350 was launched in India in Nov 2020, made its way to European markets in Dec 2020 and has now entered the US
      Royal Enfield had launched the Meteor 350 in India in November 2020. In India, the motorcycle has been averaging sales of 8k units a month. Waiting period is high, as bookings numbers continue to rise. The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has also made its way to global markets and has now been introduced in the US.
      The RE Meteor is offered in three variants of Fireball, Stellar, and Supernova and priced from USD 4,399 that converts to Rs.3.28 lakhs for the Fireball variant. Price of the Stellar variant is about Rs 3.6 lakh and that of the top of the line Supernova variant is about Rs 3.75 lakh.
      In India, these variants are priced in the range of Rs 1.84 lakh to Rs 1.93 lakh. Prices are on the higher side in the US, because there is import duty added. RE motorcycles sold in the US are exported from India as CBUs.
      Key Features of Royal Enfield Meteor 350
      The Meteor 350 borrows some styling cues from the now discontinued Thunderbird 350 and 350X. It gets Tripper Navigation system as one of its major highlights and is the first model in the company lineup to receive this feature. Tripper Navigation is a small screen situated next to the instrument cluster which allows customers to connect their smart phone via Bluetooth and via the RE mobile App to take advantage of turn by turn navigation.
      Royal Enfield Meteor 350
      On board features also include retro styled head lamp with an LED ring, side turn indicators, a tear drop shaped fuel tank, comfortable seat for a more relaxed ride position and alloy wheels. Ergonomics are enhanced with high set handle bars, forward set foot pegs and a low slung seat.
      Like the Thunderbirds, the Meteor 350 rides on 19 inch front and 17 inch rear alloy wheel fitted with tubeless 100 section front and 140 section rear tubeless tyres. It gets a kerb weight of 191kgs, thus making the Meteor 350 lighter than the Thunderbird 350X by around 6 kgs.
      Engine Specs
      Power and performance on the Meteor 350 come is via a new 349cc, air cooled, SOHC, 2 valve motor with fuel injection. The engine makes 20.4 hp power at 6,100 rpm and 27 Nm torque at 4,000 rpm mated to a 5 speed transmission. Suspension is via 41 mm telescopic front fork with twin 6 stage preload adjustable shock absorbers at the rear. Braking is handled via 300mm front disc and 270mm rear unit with dual channel ABS offered as standard.
      In terms of competition in India, the RE Meteor 350 contends with the Honda H’Ness CB350, Jawa Perak, Benelli Imperiale 400, Honda CB350RS and the Bajaj Dominar 400. In a similar price range competition also includes Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 and KTM 200 Duke. More

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      Honda Electric Motorcycle Patent Leaks – Entry Level Affordable EV?

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      Honda Grom Image for referenceHonda presently retails four models under its miniMoto range- Grom, Monkey, Trail 125 and Super Cub C125
      Recently Honda filed a patent that reveals a motorcycle featuring an electric powertrain. At first glance, the design and stylings in the patents seem heavily inspired by Honda’s monkey bike Grom, that recently went under the knife and got a makeover.
      However, after careful observation, we find out that it is not just an electric version of Grom but a completely different motorcycle designed from the scratch. If it reaches production, this mini electric-motorcycle will be positioned as a fun-to-ride motorcycle.
      Concept Electric Mini Motorcycle
      The patent images show the battery pack being housed in a monocoque-style chassis while the electric motor mounted behind the power source. Instead of conventional telescopic forks, the design shows a setup similar to Hossack-type fork arrangement seen on Honda Gold Wing. At rear, the hardware setup consists of double wishbones and girder-style forks along with a mono-shock that is bolted to the front of the battery case.
      Reports indicate that the patents filed are merely part of a concept that is unlikely to reach production anytime soon. This concept bike could be showcased in one of the many upcoming auto shows around the world in the near future.
      Honda Electric Motorcycle Patent Leaks
      While this may or may not reach production level eventually, what it does reveal is that the Japanese auto giant is looking to develop a fun-to-ride compact motorcycle running on battery-powered cells. As of now, the patent filings suggest that Honda is looking to develop a variety of options as far as electric mobility is concerned.
      Honda Electric Motorcycle Patent Leaks
      Honda Grom in India
      Currently, Honda retails four two-wheelers under its miniMoto range in international markets- Grom, Monkey, Trail 125 and Super Cub C125. As mentioned earlier, Grom was recently facelifted in October last year following which it was launched in the US late last year and in Europe earlier this year. Grom is clearly the most popular of all the miniMotos by Honda with over 7.5 lakh sales across the globe since its launch back in 2014.
      In January this year, Honda also filed a patent for the latest generation of Grom in India. Honda had filed patent for previous gen Grom too, a few years earlier, but Grom never made it to India. Instead, the Indian market got a minibike called Navi that failed to penetrate into the market and was discontinued after a while.
      There has been no word from Honda regarding the launch of Grom in India although chances are slim. We are also not clear whether Honda has any plans to bring any electric two-wheeler to India anytime soon. More

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      Pan America ADV Features On Harley India Website – Launch June 2021

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      Harley Davidson Pan AmericaWith Pan America, Harley will be targeting the country’s younger audience base
      Looking to start its new innings in the Indian market, Harley-Davidson will be launching Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special in June. As may be recalled, Pan America was launched globally earlier this year in February. In the Indian market, Harley will be selling these motorcycles as part of its distribution and sales agreement with Hero MotoCorp.
      Pan America 1250 key features
      One of the USPs for Pan America is its unique design that looks rugged and powerful. Some of the key features include 6.8 inch touchscreen TFT display with Bluetooth and navigation, LED turn signals, tall windscreen, sleek dual seat, upswept exhaust and short tail section.
      The motorcycle comes with 5V USB-C port that can be used for charging as well as updating the instrument console. Pan America offers a comfortable, upright riding stance, which would be suitable for both on-road and off-road environments. Colour options for Pan America include Vivid Black and River Rock Gray.
      Pan America 1250 Special is a premium version, which offers a range of exclusive features. Special variant has additional colour options of Gauntlet Gray Metallic, Deadwood Green and Baja Orange with Stone Washed White Pearl (dual-tone).
      Harley Davidson India website adds Pan America
      Some of these include LED headlamp with adaptive lighting, brush guard, heated hand grips, tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), multi-position rear brake pedal, aluminium skid plate, hand wind deflectors, adaptive ride height and tubeless laced wheels.
      Pan America 1250 powertrain
      Pan America is equipped with a 1,252 cc motor that is capable of generating 152 PS of max power at 8750 rpm and 128 Nm of peak torque at 6750 rpm. Users can choose from five pre-programmed ride modes of Sport, Road, Rain, Off-Road and Off-Road Plus. Advanced users can create their own customized ride mode, wherein they can adjust various settings such as power delivery, engine braking, cornering ABS, and cornering traction control.
      Talking about suspension, Pan America has 47mm inverted front forks and hydraulic monoshock rear suspension. Both front and rear suspension offer compression, rebound and spring preload adjustability. Braking duties are performed by radially mounted, monoblock, 4-piston calliper at the front and floating, single piston calliper at the rear. The motorcycle utilizes 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels.
      Pan America measures 2,265 mm in length and has a wheelbase of 1,580 mm. It has dry weight of 242 kg and offers 175 mm ground clearance. Pan America 1250 base variant is expected to be priced at around Rs 20 lakh. The Special model will be pricier by around Rs 2-3 lakh. Prices will be revealed at the time of launch. More

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      Two Wheeler Retail Sales March 2021 – Hero, Honda, TVS, Bajaj, RE, Jawa, BMW

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      Hero SplendorEvery major two wheeler maker with the exception of Royal Enfield has reported YoY de-growth in March 21
      Despite March 2020 being an extremely challenging month, a month like no other in either the near or distant past, two wheeler registrations stood strong. The country face the onslaught of the Novel Corona virus and went into shut down and lock down mode by the third week of March 2020.
      Yet when comparing retail sales of major 2 wheeler OEMs, it can be seen that March 2020 registrations were significantly higher than that of March 2021. Total two wheeler registrations had stood at 18,45,837 units in March 2020 which dipped 35.25 percent to 11,95,268 units in March 21. MoM retails however increased 9.53 percent from 10,91,288 units sold in Feb 21.
      Hero MotoCorp Retails Top the List
      Taking into account retail sales of Hero MotoCorp, FADA has reported sales of 3,96,573 units, down 49.71 percent over 7,88,626 units retailed in March 2020. MoM sales however increased 13.13 percent as against 3,50,533 units sold in Feb 21. Hero MotoCorp also noticed its market share increase from 32.12 percent held in Feb 21 to 33.18 percent.
      Honda retails also dipped 20.85 percent in the past month. As per FADA statistics revealed, retail sales stood at 3,13,101 units in the past month, down from 3,95,579 units sold in March 20. MoM retails however increased 5.41 percent as compared to 2,97,029 units sold in Feb 21. Honda market share however, dipped from 27.22 percent held in Feb 21 to 26.20 percent in the past month.
      Two Wheeler Retail Sales March 2021 vs March 2020 (YoY). Source – FADA
      TVS and Bajaj retails also suffered a de-growth of 30.38 percent and 38.41 percent respectively while both the two wheeler majors also noted a fall in market share.
      Royal Enfield Retail Sales Growth
      As per numbers released by FADA, the only two wheeler OEM to report YoY retail sales growth was Royal Enfield. Sales which had stood at 55,905 units in March 2020 increased 7.66 percent to 60,189 units in March 2021. Feb 21 retail sales had stood at 52,713 units, marking a 14.18 percent MoM increase. Market share also increased from 4.83 percent in Feb 21 to 5.04 percent last month.
      Other OEM Retail Sales
      Other OEMs such as Suzuki, Yamaha, Piaggio and Jawa all reported YoY de-growth in terms of retail sales while MoM sales increased for all except for Yamaha that also posed a 0.81 percent de-growth. Yamaha sales which had stood at 44,413 units in Feb 21, dipped marginally to 44,055 units in March 2021, a difference of 358 units MoM.
      Two Wheeler Retail Sales March 2021 vs Feb 2021 (MoM). Source – FADA
      Jawa, BMW Motorrad, Kawasaki, Triumph and Harley along with Ducati also posted lower YoY retail sales though each of these OEMs with the exception of Triumph saw a MoM sales increase.
      Where retail sales of other OEMs and electric scooters were concerned, retail sales in March 21 stood at 10,066 units, up 187.44 percent over 3,502 units sold in March 20 while MoM sales increased 74.97 percent as against 5,753 units retailed in Feb 21.
      Disclaimer: The above numbers do not have figures from AP, MP, LD & TS as they are not yet on Vahan 4. Vehicle Registration Data has been collated as on 07.03.21 in collaboration with Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India and has been gathered from 1,274 out of 1,481 RTOs. More

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      Yamaha MT15 Prices Increased For April 2021 – New Price List

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      Yamaha MT15After the latest price revision, Yamaha MT15 is retailed between Rs 1,40,900 and Rs 1,44,900 (both ex-showroom)
      In this period of price revisions in automotive products, Yamaha has already increased prices of two models in its lineup. At the start of a new financial year in April, the Japanese bikemaker increased prices of YZF R15 V3.0 and FZS. However, unlike other OEMs, the hike in prices is comparatively very low by Yamaha.
      MT-15 Revised Prices
      The company has done the same with MT15 which has received a marginal price hike of Rs 1,000 across its lineup. Prices of the naked streetfighter vary according to the different colour options available. It is offered in three colour schemes- Dark Matte Blue, Metallic Blue and Ice Fluo-vermillion along with Customise Your Warrior which lets one choose from multiple paint schemes.
      Yamaha MT 15 April 2021 Price
      Yamaha has been enjoying a decent run in the market with MT-15 as the naked streetfighter managed to rake in 6,176 units for the Japanese bikemaker in February this year. Post this latest revision in prices of MT-15 range from Rs 1,40,900 to Rs 1,44,900 (both prices ex-showroom).
      Powertrain Specs
      The naked motorcycle derives its power from a 155cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled 4-valve motor that returns an output of 18.4 bhp and 14.1 Nm of peak torque. This unit is coupled with a 6-speed gearbox.
      Yamaha MT15 Customization
      This exact same powertrain is also found on the faired YZF R15 with the same output. However, a shorter drive ratio of the gearbox than the faired superbike thanks to a larger rear sprocket makes the ultra naked street racer a tad quicker while commuting.
      Hardware & Features
      Speaking of its hardware, it is built on the same deltabox frame as R15 that is suspended on telescopic forks at front and a mono-shock unit at rear. However, unlike R15 which gets an aluminium swingarm, the rear swingarm used on MT15 is a steel box-type.
      Stopping duties are handled by disc brakes at both ends assisted by a single-channel ABS. Like R15, the 155cc motor in MT-15 comes with Variable Valve Actuation that allows peak engine performance at higher revs without having to compromise on low- and mid-range grunt.
      In terms of features, it gets a full LED lighting setup with an LED headlight, taillight and DRLs. It is equipped with a fully digital instrument console but with a negative display and also misses out on Mobile as well as Bluetooth connectivity. It rivals the likes of KTM 125 Duke, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Bajaj Pulsar NS160. Recent spy shots suggest that Yamaha is also planning to introduce a naked roadster version in the segment called XSR 150 at some stage. More

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      Royal Enfield Price List April 2021 – 350cc Classic, Bullet, Meteor

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      Royal Enfield Classic 350Royal Enfield recently updated its lineup with facelifted models of Himalayan and 650 Twins- Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650
      What seems to be a parallel phenomenon spreading across the automotive industry, Royal Enfield became the latest auto manufacturer to increase prices of its models at the start of a new financial year. The increase in prices varies according to different models and their variants on offer.
      The updated prices will be applicable with immediate effect. This is the second price revision this year after the bikemaker recently hooked prices of all its models earlier in January. Other than the revised price, there are no updates made to the motorcycles at any level.
      Classic, Bullet, Meteor price hike
      Starting with the brand’s best-selling model, Classic 350 is now costlier by up to Rs 5992. Price hike varies according to colour options available.
      The Standard single-channel ABS variant of the retro motorcycle is now priced at Rs 1,72,466 against the last month’s price of Rs 1,67,235. The dual-channel ABS variants are now offered between a price range of Rs 1,80,880 and Rs 1,98,600 (all prices are ex-showroom).
      Royal Enfield Classic 350 Price Hike April 2021
      Royal Enfield Bullet is the longest running motorcycle in production in the whole world. The classic bike has also witnessed a substantial hike in its prices in the range of Rs 7,000 to Rs 13,000 depending on the variant.

      Model
      New Price
      Old Price
      Difference

      Bullet 350
      Rs 1,40,828
      Rs 1,33,446
      Rs 7382

      Bullet 350X KS
      Rs 1,34,347
      Rs 1,27,279
      Rs 7068

      Bullet 350X ES
      Rs 1,55,480
      Rs 1,42,890
      Rs 12590

      Meteor 350
      Rs 1,84,319 – Rs 1,93,679
      Rs 1,78,744 – Rs 1,93,656
      Rs 6000 (approx.)

      Bullet is now retailed at a starting price of Rs 1,40,828 and goes up to Rs 1,55,480. Prior to the latest price revision, Meteor 350 had been offered at a price between Rs 1,78,744 to Rs 1,93,656 and now it will be retailed at a price range of Rs 1,84,319 and Rs 1,93,679 (all prices are ex-showroom).
      Mechanical Specifications
      Both Bullet 350 and Classic 350 are powered by the same 346cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel-injected motor that produces 19.2 bhp and at 5,250rpm and 28 Nm of peak torque at 4,000rpm. This unit is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Both motorcycles also share the same hardware configurations that consist of a single downtube chassis suspended on conventional telescopic forks at front and dual shock absorbers at the rear.
      On the other hand, Meteor 350 has a whole new set of mechanicals that feature a new powertrain and new underpinnings. The cruiser draws its power from a 349cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, long-stroke motor that is paired with a new 5-speed gearbox.
      This unit is capable of generating 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm of peak torque. It is built on a new J platform while the suspension setup consists of telescopic forks at front and twin-sided shock absorbers at rear. The same configurations will be present in the new-gen Classic 350 which is likely to make its debut in a couple of months. More

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      Ather Reports Best Quarter Results Ever – Books Profit For First Time

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      Image – abhithadi / AtherAther’s current focus is on expanding operations and improving fast charging infrastructure
      One of the early entrants in the electric two-wheeler space, Ather Energy has reported its best ever quarterly performance. Ather has consistently ranked among the top five electric two wheeler manufacturers. In February 2021, Ather was at fourth place with sales of 624 units. YoY growth was 69.11% and market share at 10.30%.
      Ather Q4, FY21 results
      As per info shared by the company’s co-founder and CEO Tarun Mehta, Ather sales have increased by a whopping 250%. This has been made possible with the company’s focus to expand operations across the country.
      Ather has presence in most of the top cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune and Ahmedabad. Several smaller cities have also been covered such as Coimbatore, Hubli, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Nagpur, and Trichy. Ather has plans to launch operations in several other cities this year.
      In other positive developments for Ather in Q4, 2021, the total number of test rides during this period has increased 6X times. Rise in fuel prices is one of the key reasons why more people are now thinking about electric two wheelers. This represents a good opportunity for the company. In Q4, the number of cities covered by Ather has increased from 4 to 10.
      Ather Founder, Tarun reveals the staggering growth performance of their electric scooter
      Ather is also working to increase the number of fast charging stations. This has increased from 79 to 129 in Q4. Readily available fast charging infrastructure takes care of range anxiety and is an important factor that influences acceptability of electric two wheelers. Ather will be adding more of these in the future. In terms of production, Ather has been able to reduce assembly time by 32%.
      Positive margins achieved
      In a first, Ather has been able to register positive margins for the first time. Startups require heavy investments and achieving profitability is often an uphill task. With positive margins, Ather is in a better position to attract new investments, boost production and expand operations to new cities.
      Ather’s primary offering is its 450X electric scooter. It is equipped with an IP 67 rated water and dust resistant 2.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that sends power to a 6kW PMS motor. Torque output is 26 Nm.
      Ather 450X has ride modes of Eco, Ride, Sports and Warp. Max range of 85 km is available in Eco mode. In Ride and Sports, the range is 70 km and 60 km, respectively. Max speed and acceleration is possible in Warp mode, where 0-40 kmph can be achieved in 3.3 seconds. Ather 450X can be charged with any 5A plug point and can load 15 km in just 10 minutes. More

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      2021 Suzuki GSX S1000 Teased – To Come With Updated Aesthetics

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      2021 Suzuki GSX S1000 Teaser
      2021 Suzuki GSX S1000 is likely to feature updated styling and equipment along with a more powerful engine
      All litre-class motorcycles have one thing in common, their sole aim of delivering top-notch performance. Out of them, the naked ones are a very rare breed with engines as powerful as their faired counterparts and yet lighter and easier to handle than the latter.
      Suzuki has recently teased the updated iteration of GSX S1000 on its YouTube channel. From the sparse glimpse, we can gauge that the Japanese bikemaker has made some serious updates to the upcoming version of the naked litre-class streetfighter. The GSX S1000 has been on sale since 2015 but hasn’t received any major updates as of yet.
      Updated Design
      2021 GSX S1000 is all set to make its global debut on April 26 and the range of updates will not just be limited to aesthetics but also in the performance department as well. Talking of styling changes, the video shares glimpses of a brand new front fascia thanks to a new aggressive headlight along with a muscular fuel tank.
      The most noticeable aspect was the wings extending from the fuel tank that has been incorporated to enhance the aerodynamic quality of the naked bike. Take a look at the teaser video below.
      [embedded content]
      Since the current iteration has not seen any major upgrades it has started to look a little outdated and a mid-life refresh would surely enhance its overall appeal. Not just aesthetics, the new GSX S1000 made some serious improvements in its functionality as well. The latest iteration of the litre-class naked streetfighter comes with a host of rider-focused electronic aids too.
      Updated Equipment
      These include a bunch of safety-related features such as cornering ABS, anti-wheelie function and lean-sensitive traction control. Chances are that the motorcycle might also come equipped with an autoblipper as well as a quick-shifter.
      The motor is expected to produce more oomph, however, like the new V-Strom 1050 and Hayabusa we must expect a stronger mid-range while the top-end is likely to remain similar. In any case, 2021 GSX S1000 is likely to pump around 200 ponies in its latest avatar.
      Upon its debut, it will sit at the top-end of Suzuki’s flagship lineup including other litre-class motorcycles. When launched, it will take on the likes of Aprilia Tuono V4, Ducati Streetfighter V4, Triumph Speed Triple, BMW S1000R and KTM 1290 Super Duke. GSX S1000 was also available in India for a while and the new iteration of the naked streetfighter is also set to make its India debut at a later stage. More