Bike News

Subterms

    More stories

    • 138 Shares189 Views

      in Bike

      Bajaj Pulsar 125 Helps Bajaj Beat Honda In 100-125cc Motorcycle Sales

      by

      Pulsar 125 is the highest selling Pulsar model today. Image – Auto Travel Tech
      Hero MotoCorp continues to lead sales due to its extensive lineup in the budget-centric segment of motorcycles

      2020 was plagued with numerous hindrances. The economy of the country was facing a slowdown when society was hit with the pandemic of Covid-19 earlier this year. Automotive sector, like any other industry, was also affected quite adversely and numbers are there to prove.
      For the better part of three months, automotive sales were seriously hampered by the restrictions induced due to novel coronavirus and this could be seen in the overall sales in between months of April and November this year. Although sales have picked up in the last three months, the closure of businesses did create a noticeable impact.
      Hero MotoCorp continues to lead segment
      Sales of the entry-level segment (100-125cc) of motorcycles which are one of the most affordable two-wheeler spaces also saw a considerable decline. While Hero MotoCorp continued to lead charts in this segment, it saw a decline of over 9 lakh from the same period last year. Last year in between April and November, Hero sold 41,67,645 bikes of this segment whereas this year it was able to sell only 33,30,889 bikes.
      Hero MotoCorp has the strongest presence in the two-wheeler segment of the Indian automotive market thanks to an extensive retail and service network across the country. Hero currently has five offerings in the 100-125cc category which include Splendor Plus, Super Splendor, Passion Pro, HF Deluxe and Glamour.
      Motorcycle Sales Apr-Nov 2020 vs 2019
      Bajaj, Honda also witness downfall
      The highlight here is that Bajaj Auto has pipped Honda Two-wheelers India to take second position in this segment after the former retailed 7,96,123 units between April and November this year while the latter sold 7,62,726 units this year. During the same period last year, the Indian brand retailed 9,55,020 bikes in this space while the Japanese manufacturer sold 9,73,837 bikes.
      Honda and Bajaj have four offerings each in this segment. The former has Shine, CD 110 Dream, Livo and SP 125. While the latter offers CT100, CT110, Platina 100, Platina 110 H-Gear and Pulsar 125. It was thanks to the Pulsar 125, that Bajaj has managed to beat Honda.
      TVS Motor lags way behind
      The fourth spot was taken by TVS Motor as it was able to retail 2,09,359 bikes between April and November this year in the 100-125cc segment. During the same period last year, the Hosur-based bikemaker retailed 3,12,834 motorcycles. The primary reason for TVS to lag so behind in sales is that it doesn’t have a single offering in the 100-125cc category of motorcycles.
      The company has recently trademarked the name ‘Fiero’ which is speculated to be used for its upcoming 125cc bike. TVS, on the other hand, offers only three motorcycles in this segment namely Sport, Radeon and City Plus. it has yet to upgrade Victor to its mandatory BS6 emission upgrade. More

    • 125 Shares99 Views

      in Bike

      Ather 450X Electric Scooter Delivery Schedule Announced For All Cities

      by

      Ather 450x Electric Scooter
      After launching 450X in several new cities, Ather Energy has shared delivery schedule for those locations

      Some of the new cities that were recently added include Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Pune. The company already has presence in Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. By end of next year, the company has plans to make 450X available in 27 cities.
      City-wise delivery schedule and other updates
      Customers in Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad have already started receiving Series 1 and Grey Ather 450X. Buyers in Bengaluru and Chennai will start getting deliveries of White and Green Ather 450X later this month. In Pune, deliveries are expected to commence this weekend. However, the colour of the units that will be delivered is yet to be revealed. Payments are open across Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad.
      Talking about developments in specific cities, Hyderabad will soon be getting a company-owned experience centre. This is currently being constructed. A temporary facility is available close to the upcoming experience centre, where interested users can take a test ride. Hyderabad already has 10 Ather Grid points and more are in the works.
      In Mumbai, the company’s experience centre is being constructed in Khar. However, test rides are already available at some temporary locations. Deliveries in Mumbai are expected to commence later this month.
      Ather 450x Electric Scooter delivery schedule in all new cities. Credit – Ketul Tikekar
      Up north, deliveries in Delhi are expected to commence sometime in March next year. The company is yet to finalize a retail partner for the city. However, test rides will commence this week in Delhi at a temporary location in Saket. Customers in Delhi will get additional subsidy of Rs 14,500 in addition to Rs 29,000, which is available under FAME-II scheme.
      In Kolkata, deliveries are expected to commence in January next year. The company is working to finalize a retail partner and select an appropriate location. In Ahmedabad, deliveries have already commenced and test rides are being provided seven days a week. The city has also received three Ather Grid points.
      In southern India, test rides have begun in Kochi at a temporary location close to Gold Souk Grande. The city will be getting an experience centre that is expected to become operational by next month. Customers in Coimbatore, Calicut and Kozhikode will start getting deliveries in Q1, 2021.
      Ather 450X tech specs
      Ather 450X is the successor to Ather 450 that has been discontinued. Ather 450X comes with a range of upgrades including superior performance, faster charging and higher standby time. The scooter utilizes a 2.61 kWh battery pack that comprises 21700-type Li-ion cells. Max power and torque is 8 hp and 26 Nm, respectively. True range is 85 km on a single charge. 450X comes with fast charging that allows users to load 15 km in 10 minutes. More

    • 163 Shares169 Views

      in Bike

      Hero MotoCorp Price Hike Jan 2021 – Splendor, Passion, Destini, Maestro Dec Offers

      by

      Image – Mulraj Hero
      Hero MotoCorp announces price revision across its product range of MY21 motorcycles and scooters

      2020 bore witness to an unprecedentedly difficult business year owing to national lockdown relay to Covid-19 pandemic. As the year comes to a close, auto manufacturers have had important takeaways. Most managed to report an uptick in retail sales for the recently concluded festive season.
      The two-wheeler industry has done well in recent weeks. Of them, Hero MotoCorp remains the industry giant with a lead that’s unthreatened. And despite difficult circumstances, it all came together for Hero MotoCorp. In October, the company reported retail sales at over 8 lakh units.
      As 2021 approaches, one can expect all auto manufacturers to announce a range of price revisions across product portfolios. Hero MotoCorp attributes this to a steady rise in commodity costs across the spectrum, including steel, aluminium, plastics, and precious metals.
      New Prices wef Jan 01, 2021
      The manufacturer has accelerated its savings programme under Leap-2 umbrella, and continues to mitigate impact. This to reduce burden on customers, and protect company margins. To partially offset impact of commodity costs, Hero MotoCorp will increase product price by upto Rs 1,500, with effect from January 1, 2021.
      Hero Discounts Dec 2020
      Price increase will vary across models, including their best-sellers like Splendor, Passion, Deluxe, Glamour, Destini, Pleasure, Maestro and even the premium range like Xpulse, Xtreme. ‘Final price revisions will be communicated to dealers in due course,‘ said Hero MotoCorp in a regulatory filing.
      A planned price hike such as this is a yearly occurrence. Depending on variables, price hikes are announced through the year. In most cases, for individual product ranges. Start of year price hike takes into account new model year vehicles. Given the situation, one can always opt to go bargain hunting for December deals.
      With dealerships keeping a close eye on existing stock, it’s in everyones best interest to sell all current MY vehicles. More often than not, depending on availability, manufacturers curate special deals. Making price points as attractive as ever is enough to get noticed. And resultantly, maintain sales momentum.
      Hero MotoCorp 2020 December deals
      Hero MotoCorp is currently offering cash benefit of Rs 4,000 on exchange deals on purchase of Xtreme 200S, Xtreme 160R and Xpulse 200 over the fortnight. Destini 125, Maestro 125, Maestro 110 Passion Pro and Super Splendor are being offered with Rs 2,100 exchange and loyalty bonus while Hero Glamour comes with Rs 2,100 cash discount.
      It’s safe to say that deals aren’t limiting. Customers could find themselves spoilt for choice. Especially, since, discount deals are available from multiple manufacturers. Following heightened sales activity during the festive season each year owing to a sizeable number of planned purchases, December sales could always seem lacklustre. The saving grace is always the quantum of end of year discounts and offers attractive enough to get customers back into showrooms.
      This works well to ensure a strong year end, and Q4 cumulative sales. An inevitable price rise in 2021 is sometimes a good enough reason to buy that vehicle before the new year. Sales further thrived in recent months owing to flexibility in finance plans. This includes debit card bank EMI plans for two-wheeler purchases. More

    • 188 Shares149 Views

      in Bike

      KTM Duke 790 Gets Extended Warranty Of 2 Yrs / 30k Kms For Rs 4k

      by

      Image – Vikram James
      The extended warranty package for the 790 Duke needs to be purchased within 730 days of purchasing the motorcycle

      KTM Duke 790 middleweight naked sportsbike has been in India for quite sometime. It serves as a natural upgrade option for existing 390 Duke customers, and has been doing reasonably well in the country’s premium bike segment. In a bid to further enhance its appeal and ownership experience, KTM India has introduced an optional extended warranty package at a nominal price.
      KTM 790 Duke extended warranty
      We thank Vikram James, owner of a 790 Duke, who shared this update with us. He reports that KTM India acted upon the feedback of existing KTM Duke 790 customers and came up with the extended warranty package which offers an additional 2 years or 30k km over the existing standard 2 year or 30k km protection.
      The extended warranty package of the KTM 790 Duke is priced at around INR 4,000. The customers should opt for the package within 730 days of purchasing the motorcycle. They are eligible for a discount on the extended warranty if they opt for it within 180 days of purchasing the vehicle.
      Of course standard warranty rules apply as to what is covered and what is not. The total warranty on offer for KTM Duke 790 customers has now been increased to 4 yrs / 60k kms – thanks to the addition of this new extended warranty package.
      KTM Duke 790 Extended Warranty – Brochure Part 1
      KTM 790 Duke at a glance
      After years of anticipation, KTM finally decided to treat its Indian loyalists with its middleweight sportsbike late last year. Nicknamed ‘the scalpel‘, the KTM 790 Duke incorporates the aggressive character that the brand’s street fighters are known for, but in combination with precise handling. Net result is a motorcycle which, in right hands, is capable of some very impressive stuff.
      At the time of its launch in 2019, the 790 Duke was available in BS4 avatar. After depleting the last few units of the inventory at a hefty discount of around INR 1 lakh (the ex-showroom price was INR 8.64 lakh), it was expected that the Austrian brand will eventually introduce a BS6 version. However, there is no official news about the 790 Duke being back on sale in India as of now.
      KTM Duke 790 Extended Warranty – Brochure Part 2
      The BS4-compliant 799 cc in-line twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine dishes out 105 hp and 87 Nm of torque. A 6-speed transmission is mated to the motor by means of a slipper clutch. The motorcycle offers four riding modes and switchable cornering ABS and traction control.
      KTM 890 Duke R
      Meanwhile, KTM has introduced an even sportier variant of ‘the scalpel’ called the 890 Duke R or ‘the super scalpel’. The motorcycle gets a 890 cc engine which is good for 121 hp and 99 Nm of torque. In addition to extra power, the 890 Duke R also offers extra features such as adjustable WP Apex front suspension, Brembo Stylema brake system, Michelin Powercup II hypersport tyres and so on. Hopefully, KTM India will soon launch the 890 Duke R in India in place of the over due 790 Duke BS6. More

    • 113 Shares189 Views

      in Bike

      Okinawa Cruiser Electric Scooter And Motorcycle Launch in 2021

      by

      Okinawa Cruiser Electric Scooter
      Upon its launch, Okinawa Cruiser will rival the likes of Bajaj Chetak, BGauss B8 and Ather 450X

      Gurugram-based electric scooter manufacturer, Okinawa has announced that it will be launching its flagship maxi-scooter- Cruiser in India next year. Okinawa Cruiser made its maiden appearance earlier this year at the Auto Expo in February. The company, however, has not revealed any exact timeline of its launch.
      The e-scooter was earlier slated to be launched this year but like many other automobile launches, was postponed due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus. If it weren’t for the pandemic, the e-scooter would have been at markets by now.
      Design & Features
      Cruiser’s primary highlights are its design which, as mentioned before, follows the language of a maxi scooter. For instance, it sports a bold front apron housing a large LED headlamp and turn indicators. It gets a slightly pulled-back handlebar and cruiser-like forward-set footpegs which would make for a comfortable ride position. The interesting bit is the front floor-bed and footrests belong to two different levels.
      Long and sweeping rear panels incorporate a large stepped seat. Being a premium offering, it is also laced with a bunch of tech gizmos such as an anti-theft alarm, find my scooter function, keyless ignition system, USB port, mobile charging, motor walking assistance and a whole lot more.
      Okinawa Electric Maxi-Scooter
      Powertrain & Dynamics
      Coming to its powertrain, Cruiser is powered by a 3kW electric motor which is propelled by a 4kWh lithium-ion battery. It claims a single-charge range of 120 km and a top speed of 100 kmph. Okinawa had earlier claimed that the battery pack can be juiced up fully within 2-3 hours. The company will also provide a high-speed DC charging function as a part of the package.
      The electric Maxi scooter rides on 14-inch dual-tone alloy wheels with disc brakes on both ends. Its suspension setup gets conventional telescopic forks at front and dual shock absorbers at rear. As per some reports, the e-scooter is expected to arrive at the Indian market around third quarter of next fiscal year. One can expect it to be priced more than Rs 1.0 lakh (ex-showroom).
      Okinawa Oki100
      Other launches- Oki100
      Apart from Cruiser, Okinawa is also looking to introduce its first electric motorcycle offering Oki100 next year. A pre-production concept was showcased at the AutoExpo earlier this year. The bike will come with fair share of technology including app-based telematics, connected vehicle technology and more. It will lock horns with Revolt 400, the only other electric motorcycle in sale in India.
      Other than developing new products, Okinawa is also looking to expand its footprint in India by increasing its dealership count to 500 by the end of this fiscal year. Currently, the brand has 350 dealer outlets across the country. the company also recently announced the discontinuation of scooters running on lead-acetate batteries.
      SOURCE More