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      Top 20 Two Wheeler Exports Sep 2020 – Boxer, Pulsar, Apache, FZ, Ray

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      Bajaj Pulsar NS 200
      After several months of negative growth, two-wheeler exports have returned positive results in September 2020

      A total of 3,25,859 units were exported, which is YoY gain of 16.31%. Exports during the corresponding period last year stood at 2,80,166 units.
      Among the top ten most exported two-wheelers, eight have registered positive YoY growth. The boom in two-wheeler exports in September can be attributed to improving pandemic situation in global markets and increase in production capacity in India with the lifting of lockdown restrictions.
      Bajaj continues to dominate
      Bajaj may not be the number one two-wheeler manufacturer in domestic market, but it is the undisputed leader in exports. The company has presence in more than 70 countries across Africa, Middle East and Latin America. Its top selling product in international markets is Boxer, which has remained the most exported two-wheeler for a long time.
      Boxer exports in September were 1,01,344 units, which is YoY gain of 9.83%. Exports during September last year were 92,273 units. Boxer’s market share stands at 31.10%.
      Two Wheeler Exports Sep 2020
      At number two is TVS Star City with 49,980 units exported in September. YoY growth is 54.85%, as compared to 32,277 units exported in September last year. TVS Star City is also exported to several global markets across Asia Pacific, Africa and Latin America.
      Bajaj takes the next three spots with Pulsar, Discover and CT. If we sum up the market share of all Bajaj two-wheelers in top five, it works out at 53.71%. This clearly shows the company’s dominance in two-wheeler exports. Pulsar takes the third place with 44,175 units exported in September. YoY growth is 73.41%, as compared to 25,474 units exported in September last year.
      No
      Two Wheeler Exports
      Sep-20
      Sep-19
      1
      Boxer
      1,01,344
      92,273
      2
      Star City
      49,980
      32,277
      3
      Pulsar
      44,175
      25,474
      4
      Discover
      15,536
      12,792
      5
      CT
      13,940
      20,904
      6
      Apache
      9,913
      9,889
      7
      FZ
      9,022
      10,690
      8
      Ray
      6,572
      4,418
      9
      NAVI
      5,452
      1,864
      10
      CB Twister
      4,420
      520
      11
      HF Deluxe
      4,054
      1,688
      12
      NTORQ
      4,051
      3,536
      13
      CB Hornet
      4,037
      2,692
      14
      Platina
      3,924
      4,896
      15
      Splendor
      3,832
      3,544
      16
      Dio
      3,807
      9,854
      17
      GIXXER 155
      3,373
      5,659
      18
      CB Shine
      3,328
      3,840
      19
      SPORT
      3,228
      5,400
      20
      Fascino
      1,960
      180
      21
      650 Twins
      1,679
      2,137
      22
      Crux
      1,476
      402
      23
      Himalayan
      1,474
      590
      24
      Dominar
      1,413
      554
      25
      KTM 200
      1,340
      739
      26
      Burgman
      1,263
      1,832
      27
      Dominar
      1,260
      0
      28
      GIXXER 250
      1,232
      240
      29
      Jive
      1,162
      10
      30
      Victor
      1,120
      1,280
      31
      Xtreme
      1,105
      368
      32
      LIVO
      1,100
      1,800
      33
      SR 50 MT
      1,088
      432
      34
      XPULSE 200
      1,011
      0
      35
      Saluto RX
      1,000
      648
      36
      KTM 390
      966
      843
      37
      GRAZIA
      960
      2,664
      38
      FZ25
      940
      1,864
      39
      Typhoon R 50
      912
      368
      40
      Dream
      910
      950
      41
      BMW 310
      886
      1,616
      42
      SZ
      816
      1,296
      43
      X Blade
      732
      1,407
      44
      Classic 350
      698
      1,061
      45
      Acheiver
      682
      276
      46
      CB Unicorn
      672
      1,296
      47
      KTM
      550
      367
      48
      Activa
      520
      860
      49
      Destini
      504
      488
      50
      R15
      440
      1,388
      –
      Total
      3,25,859
      2,80,166
      Next in the list is Bajaj Discover with 15,536 units exported in September. YoY gain is 21.45%, as compared to 12,792 units exported in September last year. At fifth place is Bajaj CT with exports of 13,940 units. This is the only Bajaj product in top five to register negative YoY growth. As compared to 20,904 units exported in September last year, YoY growth is down by -33.31%.
      Other two-wheelers in top ten include TVS Apache, Yamaha FZ, Yamaha Ray, Honda Navi, and Honda CB Twister. With the exception of FZ, all other two-wheelers have registered positive YoY growth in September.
      Scope for improvement
      Even though overall YoY export growth is positive, close to 50% of two-wheelers have registered negative growth in September. It is possible that two-wheeler exports may improve in the coming months with growing preference for personal transport. How the pandemic situation takes shape in the future will also have a bearing on two-wheeler exports. More

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      New Hero Xtreme 200S BS6 Arrives In Showroom – Detailed Walkaround

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      Image – The Bengal Rider
      New BS6 Hero Xtreme 200S is powered by a 199.6cc engine with oil cooling and XSens Technology

      In October, Hero MotoCorp had launched four new products of Hero Splendor+ Black and Accent, Hero Glamour Blaze, Hero Pleasure+ Platinum and Hero Maestro Edge 125 Stealth. These will help the company boost sales during Diwali 2020.
      Now, the company has launched the new BS6 compliant Xtreme 200S premium motorcycle. In its BS6 guise, the 200S sees some changes in terms of features, colour options and engine and this gets detailed in a walkaround video shot at the Ridhi Hero Howrah showroom and is seen on the Bengal Rider YouTube Channel.
      Features and Colour Options
      The new Hero Xtreme 200S is presented in 3 color schemes of Sports Red, Panther Black and a New Pearl Fadeless White and is now priced at Rs.1.16 lakhs which is higher by around Rs.14,800 over its BS4 counterpart which was priced at Rs.1,00,900.
      The new BS6 Xtreme 200S sits on a diamond type frame and rides on 17 inch alloy wheels fitted with tubeless tyres. It stands 2,062mm in length, 778mm in width and 1,106mm in height with 165mm ground clearance and wheelbase of 1,338mm. Saddle height is at 759mm, fuel tank is of 12.8 liter capacity and kerb weight is at 154.5 kgs.
      [embedded content]
      The updated Xtreme 200S receives features such as twin LED headlamp, LED position lamp and LED tail lamp. It gets LED DRLs with black housing and LED back light unit. Its features also include sharp mirrors and an all digital LCD instrument panel with speedo and tacho readings along with gear position indicator and engine malfunction light at the top right hand corner of the screen. The rider can sync the system via Bluetooth and get turn by turn navigation and call alerts on the instrument panel.
      BS6 Engine
      The BS6 compliant engine that now makes its way onto the new Hero Xtreme 200S sees a dip in performance as compared to its BS4 counterpart. The 199.6 cc, single cylinder, 4 stroke, fuel injected, oil cooled engine gets XSens technology and delivers 17.8 hp power at 8,500 rpm and 16.4 Nm torque at 6,500 rpm mated to a 5 speed constant mesh transmission.
      This is 0.3 hp and 0.7 Nm lower than that seen on the BS4 compliant engine. Suspension is via telescopic fork in the front and 7 step adjustable mono shock at the rear while braking is managed via 276mm disc in front and 200mm disc at the rear along with single channel ABS.
      This premium, fully faired motorcycle, for which bookings have opened and deliveries are set to commence soon, competes with the likes of Bajaj Pulsar 180F, 220F, TVS Apache 200, etc. Hero MotoCorp is offering the new 200S with complimentary Road Side Assistance for 1 year with on call support, repair on the spot, tow to nearest Hero service center, fuel delivery in case of fuel run out, flat tyre support, key retrieval support and battery jump start. More

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      Royal Enfield Order Backlog Breaches 125k – Meteor 350 Bookings Cross 8k

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      Image – The Bikers Diary
      Supply chain issues on the vendors’ side have led to rise in number of bookings pending at Royal Enfield

      Royal Enfield has set the ball rolling for introduction of its next-gen models with the launch of Meteor 350 earlier this month. Despite several challenges faced in the form of other OEMs venturing into mid-segment motorcycles, Royal Enfield’s ship has remained steady as the brand holds a commanding position in this space in India.
      However, it is the challenges from within rather than outside which has forced the Chennai-based bikemaker to stay on its toes. During its course of development, the latest offering from Royal Enfield, the Meteor 350, faced several delays primarily due to supply chain issues.
      Current Status of pending bookings
      As of last Thursday, the company’s backlog rose to 1.25 lakhs, over three times in comparison to 40,000 bookings on hold in August 2020. This comes at a time when the manufacturer has seen a recovery in demand. It is evident that the company has been facing supply chain constraints for the past few months which has led to delays in the launch timeline of its several upcoming bikes.
      This backlog has also resulted in an extensive waiting period which is not good news for consumers as well as the company. In an interaction with a website, Royal Enfield CEO, Vinod Dasari claimed that it is not a generic supply chain problem.
      He added that the firm has been facing certain supply issues at its vendors’ end for specific models, without going into details. Dasari further adds that the company has removed some bottlenecks with minor capital expenditure here and there, and is now looking to increase the capacity by about 5 percent this year.
      Possible Way Forward For RE
      According to Siddhartha Lal, MD at Eicher Motors, the parent company of Royal Enfield, the manufacturer has a higher capacity addition target but faces other bottlenecks. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the bikemaker sold 60,000 motorcycles in a month on an average. This number rose to 70,000 bookings in October. Lal admits that the company could achieve 100,000 bookings a month in a few years without huge capital and a new plant.
      Eicher Motors’ net profit declined by 40.13 percent YoY to Rs 343 crore for the quarter ended in September while its total revenue stood at Rs 2,134 crore, a 3 percent total degrowth. In the last few years, demand for Royal Enfield bikes has come from Tier 2 as well as Tier 3 and now it wants to emerge victorious in metros as they resume businesses in full flow from the nationwide lockdown. MoM sales volume rose to 11% to 66,891 units in October.
      Royal Enfield has already received over 8,000 bookings for its latest Meteor 350. This bike directly locks horns with Honda’s latest inclusion, H’Ness CB350. The company also recently claimed that it is planning to launch 28 new bikes in the next seven years, i.e., one new bike every quarter. New Meteor 350 is offered in three variants- Fireball, Stellar and SuperNova at a starting price of Rs 1.75 lakh (ex-showroom).
      SOURCE More

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      2021 Honda Scoopy 110cc Scooter Unveiled – Delivers 59 kmpl Mileage

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      2021 Honda Scoopy
      2021 Honda Scoopy new generation scooter makes global debut – Has been launched in Indonesia

      One of the popular scooters in Indonesia, Honda Scoopy has sold more than 4.5 million units since the time it was launched in the country in 2010. Honda has now launched the next-gen model that comes with a range of cosmetic upgrades and new features. It is available at a starting price of IDR 19.95 million, approximately INR 1.05 lakh.
      Design and features
      2021 Honda Scoopy is a lot more attractive in comparison to its predecessor. It has been designed in accordance with the styling needs of the fashion conscious young generation. A range of visual enhancements have been incorporated such as the oval shaped headlamp and tail lamp and splashier rear indicators. The new headlamp is also functionally relevant, as it comes with LED projector lighting system.

      Next-gen Honda Scoopy is being offered in four variants, Sporty, Fashion, Stylish and Prestige. Each variant has its unique colour options such as Prestige white and black, Stylish brown and red, Fashion blue and cream and Sporty red and black.
      Talking about comfort and convenience, new Scoopy gets a large 15.4 litre utility storage space beneath the seat. A USB charger has been added to the console box, allowing users to charge their mobile devices without the need for an additional adapter. Other key features include multi-function hook at the front and side stand indicator.
      [embedded content]
      In terms of safety & security, new Scoopy has been equipped with smart keys that offer answer back feature and anti-theft alarm. It also gets tubeless tyres and brake lock lever.
      Scoopy engine
      Powering Honda Scoopy is latest generation 110 cc, SOHC, programmed fuel injection engine that is capable of delivering 9 PS of max power at 7,500 rpm and 9.3 Nm of peak torque at 5,500 rpm. It comes with eSP (enhanced Smart Power), which not only boosts performance but also improves fuel efficiency. The scooter also gets ACG starter, which ensures smooth engine starts without the usual spluttering sound.

      Another great feature is the advanced Idling Stop System (ISS) that turns the engine off when it is idle for more than 3 seconds. To restart, the user just needs to rev the accelerator. New Scoopy comes with a larger fuel tank that can hold 4.2 litres. As per EURO 3 testing standards, new Scoopy can travel 59 km per litre when used with ISS.
      The scooter’s improved performance is also made possible with the new eSAF frame. The new frame offers multiple benefits such as better ergonomics, improved agility to tackle city traffic and lightweight for enhanced fuel efficiency.

      It is not certain if Scoopy will be launched in the Indian market. Honda already has the top selling Activa in its portfolio, so, there’s limited possibility. More

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      BattRE Electric Vehicle Charging Solution – Can Be Installed By Anyone, Anywhere

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      BattRE Electric Scooter
      Set up a BattRE charging station at your home, office, or shop

      With the Indian EV market seeing more and more product launches in recent years, now more than ever before, there needs to be an expedient discussion on having a robust EV infrastructure network. Manufacturers are already working on creating such grids, and focus is on ensuring that all vehicles can be charged at such places.
      As more and more people turn to EVs, the need for these infrastructure networks to be superbly smart will become the need of the hour. For instance, users will need to turn to an app to figure out where they can find a free TV station to charge their vehicles on the go. Because the process takes a certain amount of time, charging the vehicle partially and quickly will become a focus area.
      EV charging station infra
      Brand BattRE retails a range of electric scooters in the market. Its latest development revolves around growing it’s charging station network. Touted to be a low-cost charging solution for EVs, it’s charging solution is now being monetised.
      BattRE EV charging solution
      As such, for those with the luxury of a secure and safe areas in their house that can be publicly accessed, setting up a charging station will be a new income source. This can be done outside of home, office, shop, plot of land, etc. Income generated will be directly transferred to listed bank account through UPI.
      The open charging network is for all EV users. The simple and streamlined process involves downloading BattRE app from playstore. Users would be able to locate the nearest charging station, and scan a QR code on the charger to begin charging. Payment process is based on suing an UPI. While the process doesn’t outline concerns regarding waiting time and charger availability, that process is most likely built in.
      Charging network monetisation
      Monestising the charging network will help generate enough interest cause it will allow people to provide leads on space available rather than the company scouting for available spaces, which is time consuming to say the least. And rather than the company having to explain the benefits of the system, making it an outright money making venture will already place it in good stead with potential customers.
      For the EV charging infra network to be a widespread and effective platform, there needs to be efficient government involvement and/or necessary private and public partnerships that will help make available such space.
      In the meantime, individual companies are doing what’s necessary to build a strong base for sustainable growth. Processes involved ensure a larger group of stakeholders and this bodes well in creating much needed chatter around the EV industry, which at present is a small one that’s registering growth. In general, a number of charging stations are free for use currently but these offers will not last a lifetime. More

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      Benelli Leoncino 800, Trail Retro-Classic Motorcycles Unveiled

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      Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail
      The Benelli Leoncino 800 twins are equipped with adjustable Marzocchi front suspension and Brembo braking system

      The middle weight retro-classic roadster segment seems to be in the vogue off late as indicated by steady inflow of new models. The Triumph Trident brought fresh energy to this segment which is currently dominated by the Ducati Scrambler family. Now, another Italian brand has joined the bandwagon with two new motorcycles.
      Benelli Leoncino 800 and Trail
      The Benelli Leoncino 800 and Leoncino 800 Trail roadsters have been unveiled to take advantage of the middle-weight boom. The road-focused Leoncino 800 adopts the nameplate’s traditional styling language with an exposed trellis frame, a slender fuel tank, a simple tailpiece and spoke wheels.
      Benelli Leoncino 800
      The oval LED headlamp with horse-shoe shaped DRL and LED blinkers attempt to bring a touch of modernity to an otherwise classic package. Of course, the front fender carries the nameplate’s quintessential lion mascot.
      The Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail on the other hand has a sportier appeal with additional bodywork. The scrambler gets high-mounted twin exhaust pipes which are protected by a silver panel that extends from the tailpiece, and a compact body colored headlamp fairing. While the Leoncino 800 employs road-friendly 17-inch wheels at either end, the Trail variant adopts a larger 19-inch unit up front. Both motorcycles are shod with dual-purpose tyres.

      Specifications
      The middle-weight Benelli Leoncino twins are powered by a 754 cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled motor which develops 76 hp and 68 Nm of torque. Transmission is a 6-speed unit which is connected to the motor by means of a slipper clutch.
      The trellis frame is equipped with Marzocchi upside down front forks with rebound, compression and preload adjustments. The monoshock rear suspension offers preload adjustment. The Trail has a longer front suspension travel of 5.5 inches compared to the regular variant’s 5.1 inches. The Trail variant also has a slightly higher saddle height.

      Braking system which comprises twin front discs and a single rear unit is from Brembo. In a nutshell, the made-in-China motorcycles which are designed in Italy, do no skimp on hardware. While detailed specifications are scarce, we expect the twins to be equipped with two-channel ABS as a standard fitment.
      Benelli is yet to reveal the prices of the Leoncino 800 family. We expect it to undercut the likes of Yamaha XSR700 by a considerable margin. Market launch is expected in the first half of 2021. There is always a sizable market for a well-priced middle weight motorcycle in India, so we expect the lions to make it to our shores soon after their international debut. More

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      2021 Ducati XDiavel Dark, Black Star, Scrambler Nightshift – Breaks Cover

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      2021 Ducati XDiavel Black Star
      The 2021 Ducati XDiavel receives an 8 hp power boost in addition to becoming Euro-5 compliant

      Ducati started its five-episode world premiere video series with a bang last week by world premiering the all-new Multistrada V4 adventure tourer. In its second episode, the Borgo Panigale establishment introduced a fleet of black themed motorcycles for the 2021 model year.
      2021 Ducati XDiavel Dark
      The 2021 Ducati XDiavel is available in two editions centering around the dark theme. Conforming to ‘Reduce to the Max‘ design philosophy, the 2021 XDiavel Dark adopts matte finish for the bodywork and mechanical components, resulting in a menacing power cruiser. The highlights include black anodized
      2021 Ducati XDiavel Dark
      It is not a purely cosmetic venture though. Ducati has tweaked the engine mapping and revised the exhaust system to make the XDiavel’s Testastretta DVT 1262 liquid-cooled motor compliant with Euro-5 emission norms. While at it, the engineers have managed to squeeze 8 hp more out of the motor which now has 160 hp on tap. However, the power bump is applicable only for the markets which impose Euro 5 norms.
      Feature highlights include LED headlight, TFT instrument console, adjustable suspension system, Brembo monoblock calipers at the front, Pirelli Diablo Rosso tyres, slipper clutch and so on.

      Ducati XDiavel Black Star
      The Black Star is inspired by the world of sportscars, says Ducati. The special edition motorcycle is swathed in matte black and grey livery with a dash of contrast red accent. Positioned above the XDiavel Dark, the XDiavel Black Star boasts additional features such as the lightweight forged and machined wheels, suede leather saddle and other features that are consistent with the existing S Trim including the Ducati Multimedia System.
      2021 Ducati Scrambler Nightshift
      In addition to introducing new colour themes for the Scrambler Desert Sled and Icon, Ducati also added a new Scrambler Nightshift variant to the mix. The latest member of the 803 variant features Aviator grey paint job in matte finish and a minimal roadster styling. The frame, engine and spoke wheels (18-inch front and 17-inch rear) are all finished in black. The meaty Pirelli MT60 dual-purpose rubbers significantly add to the motorcycle’s raw character.
      2021 Ducati Scrambler Nightshift
      There isn’t any noteworthy change to the features list. The 2021 Ducati Scrambler Nightshift continues to be equipped with LED instrument dial, dual-channel cornering ABS, LED DRLs, and so on. Ducati has 3 more episodes of its world premiere series to be aired, and we think, by the end of it, the entire portfolio will stand updated for the new, and hopefully better, year.
      2021 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled More

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      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 vs Honda CB350 – Speed Comparison Test

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      Image – Abhinav Bhatt
      Is the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 faster than the Honda CB350?

      In the 350 cc segment, there are several options to choose from. Apart from the obvious Classic 350, there’s Honda H’Ness CB350 and recently launched Meteor 350. The latter two is where things may get a bit difficult to decide, since both motorcycles offer superior performance and come with a long list of features.
      To help users make informed choices, YouTuber Abhinav Bhatt has uploaded a new video that details the real world performance difference between Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and Honda CB350.
      Meteor 350 vs. Honda CB350 acceleration, speed test
      For this comparative analysis, Abhinav chose to ride the Meteor 350 and asked his colleague to ride the CB350. The primary idea was to test the performance of these motorcycles in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th gear. The test was conducted on an open highway with limited traffic.
      In second gear, both bikers started accelerating from a speed of 20 kmph. It took Honda CB350 just a few seconds to race ahead of Meteor. The latter hit the speed limiter at 70-75 kmph, whereas CB350 achieved 80 kmph in second gear.
      [embedded content]
      In the next round, both motorcycles started at 30 kmph in third gear. For some distance, both bikes were neck and neck at a speed of around 80 kmph. CB350 eventually raced ahead of Meteor that maxed out at around 100 kmph in third gear. CB350 did 110 kmph in third gear.
      In fourth gear, both motorcycles started at 40 kmph. Now was the turn for Meteor to show its strength, as it raced ahead of CB350 almost effortlessly. However, the lead lasted for only a short distance, as CB350 eventually overtook Meteor. Apparently, CB350 has a higher top speed in 4th gear, which allowed it to overtake Meteor.
      In fifth gear, Meteor 350 emerged as a clear winner. Not only did it accelerate faster than CB350, it was also able to maintain a significant lead. After driving for quite a long distance, it was felt that CB350 couldn’t possibly catch up with Meteor in 5th gear.
      Ride experience summary
      According to Abhinav, he liked Meteor’s performance, especially in 4th and 5th gear. The level of acceleration and top speed would be very useful during long distance journeys. Honda CB350 trailed behind Meteor in 5th gear, which is probably due to its tall gear setup.
      As is evident from this video, specs may only be able to provide a basic idea about a motorcycle’s capabilities. Numbers do not necessarily determine how well a motorcycle will perform in the real world. This is especially true when we are comparing two products. When unsure, the best way to find out the better one that suits your needs is to take them out for a test ride. More