More stories

  • in

    RE Meteor 350 SuperNova Blue Top Variant – Detailed First Look

    RE Meteor 350 Supernova Blue
    Royal Enfield Meteor 350 cruiser motorcycle replaces the Thunderbird 350 in company line-up

    The upcoming launch from Royal Enfield is the new Meteor 350. This cruiser bike has been spied on test on numerous occasions and images have also been leaked online telling us a lot of what is in store. Launch date was initially set for earlier this year but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a spanner in the works, delaying launch by a few months.
    With launch set for later today, 6th November, the motorcycles have arrived at dealer showrooms. Thanks to which, multiple first look and walkaround videos of the new Meteor 350 have hit the web. Here are few such videos from MRD Vlogs, DSD Cars and Shaik Raunaq Fardeen; which details the top of the line Supernova Meteor 350 as well as other variants of the RE M350.
    [embedded content]
    Variants and Colour Options
    The new Meteor 350 will be positioned on an all new ‘J’ platform. This will result in comparatively lower weight, higher level of agility and thanks to high set handle bars, will also offer the rider a more comfortable and upright seating position. The Meteor 350 will be offered in three variants of Fireball, Stellar, and Supernova. Each variant will be differently equipped with specific colour choices.
    The Fireball will be the most affordable variant. It will come in with two solid gloss colours of Fireball Red and Fireball Yellow and will receive sporty decals and all other parts finished in gloss black as it misses out on chrome accents seen on the other two variants. RE Meteor Fireball will sport ‘Royal Enfield and ‘Meteor 350’ stickers in place of 3D logos and will get a colour coded fuel tank with matching rim stickers.
    [embedded content]
    The Stellar variant gets colour options of Stellar red (metallic gloss), Stellar Black (matte) and Stellar Blue (metallic gloss). It receives body coloured panels, chrome accents on handle bars, fuel cover and exhaust while for added rider comfort it will sport a back rest.
    The Stellar variant receives a premium appeal with its chrome finished exhaust, fuel injector cover and handlebars while 3D badging will see be seen on fuel tank and side panels. Its features also include a windscreen and it will ride on machine finished alloy wheels.
    [embedded content]
    Colour options for the top of the line Supernova variant will be dual tone shades of Supernova Brown and Supernova Blue. It gets a more premium finish as compared to the other two variants with a revised seat cover, cushioned back rest, windscreen and chrome finished indicators.
    RE Meteor 350 – Engine Specs
    The RE Meteor 350 engine specifications were also leaked earlier. It is slated to be powered by a 350cc, single cylinder engine offering 20.2 hp power and 27 Nm torque mated to a 6 speed gearbox. It will be a long stroke engine delivering torque at lower rpms and a low thump exhaust sound. The engine will be capable of lower emissions and instant acceleration resulting in an easier riding experience both in city and on highways.
    The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 which will be positioned above the Classic 350 and Himalayan in the company lineup could be priced between Rs.1.60-1.80 lakhs. It will rival the likes of Honda CB350, Jawa 300 and Benelli Imperiale 400. More

  • in

    Perak Becomes Best Selling Jawa – Records 2k Deliveries In Oct 2020

    Image – Ravinder
    Jawa Perak is powered by a 334cc, single cylinder, 4 stroke, liquid cooled, DOHC engine

    Classic Legends, the Mahindra owned company which sells the the Jawa, Forty-Two and Perak motorcycles, has announced a new delivery milestone today. For the first time, the company has recorded deliveries of 2,000 units of Perak in oct 2020. In fact, this is the first time Jawa has delivered 2k units of any of their 3 motorcycles on offer, in a month.
    Majority of these 2k Perak units were sold during the second half of October, which included the festivals of Dusshera and Navartri. The company now expects better sales of the Jawa Perak with Diwali around the corner.
    Deliveries of the Jawa Perak commenced in July this year. It is the most expensive model in the company lineup, priced at Rs.1.94 lakhs, ex-sh. Classic Legends has only disclosed delivery numbers of the Perak and not of the Jawa and Forty Two. Hence its sales performance can neither be compared to earlier months and nor can it be assessed as against that of its competitors.
    Taking into account total sales of Jawa in the July, August, September period, it can be noted that sales are on a steady rise. Sales which had stood at 569 units in July increased to 1,353 units in August and then on to 2,121 units in September 2020. Though the company has not disclosed October sales of the Jawa and Jawa Forty Two, they state that both these models have seen steady sales and increased demand that has overshot production supplies.
    Classic Legends CEO
    CEO Speaks
    Mr. Ashish Singh Joshi, CEO, Classic Legends Pvt. Ltd. said, “The fact that we delivered around 2000 units of Perak in the span starting from Navratri last month is a testimony to the widespread acceptance of the model, which has carved its own niche and has been elevated to a cult status within just a few months of hitting the streets.
    Overcoming the challenges posed by the Covid-19 situation, we have been focusing on streamlining the production and delivering as many vehicles as we can to our customers. We began the festive season on an encouraging note and are confident that the excitement will keep on growing through the festivities. We also take this chance to wish a prosperous Diwali to everyone.”
    “We have also been extensively working towards expanding our dealership network. Since the lifting of the lockdown, we have added 58 dealerships to our existing network that are fully operational and have made our products more accessible to our customers pan India. The company plans to increase the pre-lockdown number of 105 dealerships to 205 by December 2020 to make our models available to more customers, in newer geographies.”
    Jawa Engine Lineup
    The Jawa and Forty Two share the same 293cc, single cylinder, 4 stroke, liquid cooled, DOHC engine that offers 26.5 hp power and 20.05 Nm torque mated to a 6 speed gearbox. The Jawa is priced between Rs.1.74-1.83 lakhs while the Forty Two is priced from Rs.1.65-1.74 lakhs. The Perak gets a more powerful 334cc, single cylinder, 4 stroke, liquid cooled, DOHC engine that makes 30.64 hp power and 32.74 Nm torque mated to a 6 speed gearbox.
    The company expects to see increased sales through the month of November promising increased production at the Pithampur plant and quicker deliveries while the company is also in the process of enhancing its dealership network across India. Jawa currently has 163 dealerships across India which it intends to increase to 205 dealerships by the end of this year.
    The month of October also saw Jawa motorcycles launched in Nepal. The Jawa showroom is located at Uttardhoka and Teku locations of Kathmandu with Agni Motoinc Pvt Ltd, as the company’s official distributor partner in Nepal. Sales commence with the Jawa and Jawa 42 with the Jawa Perak to also be introduced soon. The bikes will be imported into the country via the Completely Built Units (CBU) route. However, the high import tax and custom duty considerations in Nepal have caused the bike prices to be 3 times over that prevalent in India. More

  • in

    TVS Zepplin R Name Registered – New Cruiser To Rival Classic, CB350?

    TVS Zepplin R Cruiser Render
    TVS Motor currently does not offer a cruiser motorcycle

    After Jawa, Benelli Imperiale 400 and recently launched Honda H’ness CB350, the cruiser segment could have another rival to challenge the supremacy of Royal Enfield motorcycles. The market is abuzz as trademark registration data reveals that TVS has received approval for its Zepplin R motorcycle. This indicates towards the possibility that TVS may be planning to launch its first cruiser motorcycle sometime next year.
    2018 TVS Zeppelin concept design
    As may be recalled, Zeppelin was unveiled as a concept at 2018 Auto Expo. At that time, it was named only as ‘Zeppelin’. However, as per the registered trademark, the motorcycle gets an additional ‘R’ while the letter ‘e’ goes missing in its name. Concept showcased wast Zeppelin while the new name that is registered is Zepplin R.
    TVS Zepplin R Name Applied For Registration On 2nd Nov 2020.
    Even though Zeppelin Concept has the silhouette of a cruiser, its design is unlike any other product currently available. One of its distinguishable features is the sharp design and sculpted body panels, which give the bike a dominating character.
    If the new TVS Zepplin R is based on the Zeppelin concept, it will have quite a few radical design elements such as octagonal instrument cluster, rectangular rear view mirrors, and right sided fuel tank lid. However, it is not certain if all these unique design elements of the concept will be used in the production variant.
    We shall get some clarity when the test mules start their usual drills. It is possible that the production version may have a toned down design to suit practical needs. For now, below is a production spec rendering of TVS Zepplin R Cruiser.
    TVS Zepplin R Cruiser Render
    Zeppelin concept engine
    TVS Zeppelin concept came with an advanced hybrid powertrain, comprising a 220 cc single cylinder petrol motor and a 1200 watt regenerative electric motor connected to a 48v lithium-ion battery. The motorcycle was also equipped with a unique Integrated Starter Generator (ISG). This has already been patented by TVS. With all these state-of-the-art equipment, Zeppelin concept promised a range of benefits such as enhanced power boost whenever needed, superior all-round performance and best in class fuel efficiency.
    Other key features of Zeppelin concept included a lightweight chassis, integrated HD camera at the front, bio-key, internet connectivity, golden coloured 41 mm USD front forks, rear mono shock suspension, belt drive, disc brakes at both ends, dual-channel ABS, feet forward highway pegs, single piece seat, spoke wheels, and tubeless tyres.
    As of now, the 200cc to 500cc motorcycle segment is dominated by Royal Enfield. In September, the company commanded a market share of more than eighty percent with its popular products such as Classic 350, Bullet 350, Electra 350 and Himalayan. Moreover, Royal Enfield motorcycles have acquired cult status, something that will be difficult to beat by any new rival.
    TVS Zeppelin R seems to have potential, but its journey will be challenging to say the least. It is expected that TVS will launch its cruiser at an aggressive price point of around Rs 1.5 lakh to make it more attractive for potential buyers in this growing segment. More

  • in

    2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 Debuts With Radar Tech – India Launch Next Year

    2021 Ducati Multistrada V4
    The 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 boasts a service interval of 60,000 km

    The eagerly anticipated new generation Ducati Multistrada V4 flagship adventure tourer has finally been unveiled online via first of a five episode video series. Since its inception in 2003, Ducati has managed to sell over 110,000 units of its cross country workhorse and the latest iteration is leaner, meaner, lighter and packed with an array of first-in-industry technologies.
    2021 Ducati Multistrada V4
    The new Multistrada retains its instantly recognizable styling language characterized by an imposing, front heavy stance, and yet, every single design element is much more modern and sleeker than before. The new beak and panels of the semi-fairing are optimized for aerodynamics and better cooling performance. The side panels are so designed to channel airflow towards rider’s legs, a feature which would be widely appreciated on long journeys.
    The smart LED headlamps with Panigale-inspired LED DRLs render the Multistrada V4 a strong character. The bodywork-free tailpiece further accentuates the frontal bulk, a conscious decision by the designers.

    Powertrain
    The 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4’s largest party trick is its all-new V4 liquid-cooled 1,158 cc engine which is more compact than the outgoing L-Twin motor despite featuring two additional cylinders. Thanks to various weight saving measures, the V4 units is 1.2 kg lighter.

    Power and torque figures stand at 170 hp at 10,500 rpm and 125 Nm at 8,750 rpm. A six-speed transmission with up and down quick shifter is connected to the motor by means of a slip and assist clutch. The rear bank of cylinders is deactivated at idle to improve thermal comfort.

    The Multistrada’s GranTurismo V4 motor has an impressive service interval of 60,000 km, longest by a huge margin. The all-new spring valve return system seems to have played a major role in extending the service interval.

    Equipment
    The 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4’s aluminium frame is equipped with a two-sided swing arm, and the top-end V4 S sits on a semi-active Marzocchi electronic suspension (170 mm travel at the front and 180 mm at the rear) with Ducati Skyhook System. The spoke wheels come shod with 120/70-R19 front and 170/60-R17 Pirelli Scorpion Trail II rubbers.
    Digital Instrument Panel
    The Italian adventure tourer’s wide array of electronic features include an IMU-supported cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control and cornering lights. The motorcycle’s 6.5-inch TFT color instrument panel is as comprehensive as a modern passenger car infotainment system. It incorporates smartphone mirroring, navigation and gives access to various vehicle settings.
    World’s First Production Motorcycle With Radar Tech
    The most significant equipment, however, is the front and rear radars, a first in a production motorcycle. The front unit, mounted on the beak, facilitates Adaptive Cruise Control while the rear one supports blind spot detection and rear collision warning.

    Available in V4 and V4 S variants, the 2021 Ducati Multistrada is expected to hit the showrooms in early 2021. The tech-laden cross country tool will make its Indian launch most likely next year. More

  • in

    2021 Yamaha MT-07 Unveiled With Revised Styling And Cleaner Engine

    2021 Yamaha MT-07
    The Euro 5 compliant parallel-twin motor produces marginally lower power and torque but the real-world performance shouldn’t suffer

    When the 2021 Yamaha MT-09 with a completely new headlamp design broke cover a few day ago, we though it is only a matter of time before rest of Yamaha’s street fighter range receive a similar update. Just as expected, the MT-07 receives the styling update for the 2021 model year.
    2021 Yamaha MT-07
    The 2021 Yamaha MT-07 features a radical looking LED headlamp flanked by DRLs. The whole setup makes for a Y-shaped lighting signature. In its latest avatar, the brisk selling mid-weight naked motorcycle also features restyled vents and body panels. The overall appearance is much bolder than before although some may find it polarizing.

    The new MT-07 continues to carry forward its 680 cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine with 270-degree crank shaft. Yamaha engineers have made the motor compliant with the latest Euro-5 emission norms. As a result, the performance figures took a nominal hint. The new power and torque figures stand at 73.4 hp and 67 Nm of torque (1.4 hp and 1 Nm less than before).
    Elements like exhaust, air-intake and injectors have been revised in addition to new ECU configuration in an attempt to meet the stricter emission standards. The company claims that the changes have made the motor smoother and more linear than before.

    Equipment
    The 2021 Yamaha MT-07 also receives larger 298 mm twin disc brakes up front (older ones measured 282 mm in dia). Dual-channel ABS system continues to be standard fitment. The motorcycle also receives new Michelin Pilot Road 5 tyres just like its new rival, the Triumph Trident.
    The new Yamaha MT-07 is equipped with LED turn indicators, a new LCD instrument console with inverted colors with remote control and new body decals. The bike is available in three color options namely Storm Fluo, Tech Black and Icon Blue.

    Price and launch
    Yamaha has not revealed the prices but one can expect a marginal hike owing to the tweaks and additional equipment. In Europe, the motorcycle is slated to hit the showrooms in March 2021. In the international markets, the Yamaha MT-07 competes with Kawasaki 650, Honda CB650R and the newly launched Triumph Trident.
    With its value for money quotient, the Yamaha MT-07 would be an interesting proposition for the Indian market but the previous edition was not on sale here. It remains to be seen if Yamaha will be interested in bringing the latest MT-07 to our market or not. More

  • in

    2021 Kawasaki ZX10R, ZX10RR Spied Undisguised Ahead Of Global Debut

    2021 Kawasaki ZX10R
    The motorcycles appear to be equipped with a new TFT color instrument panel

    The 2021 Kawasaki ZX10R and ZX10RR liter-class supersbikes have been leaked through vehicle certification data that was submitted by the manufacturer to the Australian government’s department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development. A set of low-resolution images give us an idea about the updates for the new model year.
    2021 Kawasaki ZX-10R and ZX-10RR
    Kawasaki reportedly filed the vehicle certification data with the Australian government in August 2020 with a request to keep the information under embargo till November 1. It appears that the Japanese sportsbike brand planned to unveil the facelifted twins before this date but the COVID related issues pushed the world premiere to November 23. The images which are now available in the public domain highlights the visual changes clearly.
    2021 Kawasaki ZX10RR
    The new ZX-10R and its sibling adopt a comprehensively redesigned fairing with H2-style front fascia. The sleeker two-part headlamp unit (likely to be LEDs) is set deep into an edgy front fascia. The side panels of the fairing have also been revised for a more streamlined look. The fuel tank and tailpiece have been carried forward without any noticeable changes but the liter-class twins appear to be adopting a new color TFT instrument console.
    The front turn indicators continue to be integrated into the rear view mirror housings. For the new model year, both ZX-10R (black) and ZX-10RR (green) sport matte finish.
    2021 Kawasaki ZX10R
    Specifications
    The duo continue to be powered by the familiar 998 cc inline four-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. The power outputs are identical to the outgoing models but they are generated at different engine speeds, suggesting that Kawasaki has introduced some tweaks. The changes are likely aimed at meeting the Euro 5 emission standards.
    The 2021 Kawasaki ZX-10R produces 200 hp at 13,300 rpm (300 rpm earlier than before) while the 2021 ZX-10RR produces 201 hp at 14,000 rpm (500 rpm later than before). The US-spec models will be available in a lower-spec 186 hp version.
    2021 Kawasaki ZX10RR
    As far as other hardware elements are concerned, the updated motorcycles seem to have soldiered on without any significant changes but we will have to wait for the world premiere to be sure. The Showa Balance Free Front forks and Brembo twin-disc brake system are visible on the images are are retained unchanged.
    Launch
    The 2021 Kawasaki ZX-10R and ZX-10RR are expected to reach international markets in early next year with a marginal hike in price. We expect the superbike to make its Indian debut a few months later. It will continue to rival the likes of Yamaha YZF-R1, Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade and so on. More

  • in

    Ola Likely To Start Electric Scooter Production In India – In Search Of Suitable Land

    Etergo electric scooter image for reference
    The recent development is in line with the acquisition of Netherlands-based Etergo by Ola earlier this year

    One industry that was badly hit during the Covid-19 pandemic was the shared mobility sector. Since the outbreak of the virus was followed by a long stretch of lockdown in which public transportation was disallowed for better parts. This led to fleet owners and cab and rickshaw operators incur heavy losses.
    Even though the lockdown period is over and restrictions have been eased, people are still very apprehensive about opting for public transportation. This may continue for a long time since it is still sometime away before we attain pre-Covid normalcy. Hence, shared mobility firms have to think about alternate methods to expand their avenues of income.
    India’s largest shared mobility company Ola has decided to foray into electric scooter manufacturing in order to expand its business prospects in future. Switching gears from being a taxi aggregator to a vehicle manufacturer, the company is currently in talks with different state governments in order to procure land for its proposed manufacturing facility.
    As per reports, the Bengaluru-based mobility giant is looking for 100 acres of unencumbered land to build the world’s largest e-scooter facility. Currently, the largest two-wheeler manufacturing facility in the country belongs to Honda 2Wheelers India.
    Etergo electric scooter image for reference
    Its Gujarat based facility rolls out 1.2 million petrol-driven two-wheelers every year. This will also pit it against segment leaders such as Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp and TVS Motor. The homegrown public mobility service has been backed Korean auto giant Hyundai.
    Ola’s acquisition of Etergo BV
    This development comes on the backdrop of Ola’s recent acquisition of Netherlands-based Etergo BV for an undisclosed amount earlier in May this year. Developed as an all-electric state-of-the-art App scooter, Etergo BV uses swappable high energy density batteries to deliver a range of up to 240 Km. This acquisition has helped Ola Electric develop strong engineering and design capabilities as the company has had development experience with leading automotive brands like General Motors, Tesla, Ferrari, BMW and Jaguar.
    As of now, Ola’s senior management is in talks with government officials of four states- three in the South and one in the West. Currently, Karnataka and Maharashtra seem to be ahead in this race. Maharashtra has even started scouting for suitable land for the upcoming e-scooter manufacturing facility including prime locations in Pune, Nashik and Nagpur.
    Ola’s future in electric mobility
    According to sources, Ola is looking to set up a 2-million electric scooter capacity plant. While Maharashtra holds a geographical advantage due to its strategic location which eases exports, Karnataka on the other hand has been lauded for its forward-looking EV policies and incentives. Both Central and State governments have been offering incentives to companies venturing onto the electric vehicle business.
    With the future looking bright for EVs in India, Ola might want to utilize this opportunity to expand its avenues. Ola is still very tight-lipped about this development, however, the Bengaluru-based mobility firm intends to zero in on a manufacturing site soon as it aims to commence production in 18 months. The manufacturing site is expected to adopt Industry 4.0 philosophy and will use solar power and will have test tracks.
    Source More

  • in

    2020 TVS Apache 200 Launched – Gets Ride Modes, Adjustable Suspension

    2020 TVS Apache 200 New Colour
    The Apache range of bikes from TVS has had a successful run at the Indian market for almost fifteen years now

    A few days ago TVS Motor Company sent out a launch invite on the occasion of the brand commemorating 4 million global sales of its sporty range of motorcycles- Apache. Yesterday, the Hosur-based bike maker teased a new launch under the Apache moniker and left netizens frenzied.
    Fans of the Apache series of motorcycles have been wondering what this potential launch could actually be. Now, TVS has revealed the bike in its entire form and turns out it updated 2020 model of Apache RTR 200 4V. This new 2020 TVS Apache comes with subtle cosmetic updates in form of new colour and new features. Price is Rs 1.31 lakhs (ex-sh), which is Rs 1k more than existing Dual ABS Apache 200.
    New Updates
    The new Apache RTR 200 4V comes in a new shade of blue seen for the first time in this range. TVS says that this colour is inspired from racing. The overall Apache styling DNA remains intact, however, the addition of a new paint scheme and decals are tasteful and up the styling quotient by a notch. It still gets its signature sharp face for which the naked streetfighter is known for.
    Speaking about the new features, 2020 TVS Apache 200 now comes with first in segment ride modes – Sport, Urban and Rain. There is a dedicated ride mode switch, which helps rider to change ride modes on the fly.
    2020 TVS Apache 200 New Features
    It also gets adjustable front suspension. This will help the owner / rider to change the suspension setting as per their preference / road conditions. Levers are also adjustable – first in segment. ABS has been tuned as per ride mode selected.
    There have been no other changes in hardware either with the RTR 200 4V based on a double-cradle chassis with telescopic forks at front and a mono-shock from KYB at rear. Anchoring duties are carried out by petal disc brakes at both ends assisted by dual-channel ABS. Recently, TVS also launched an affordable variant of Apache RTR 200 4V which gets single-channel ABS.
    2020 TVS Apache 200 Ride Modes Explained
    Engine and Features
    Coming to its powertrain, it draws its power from a 197.7cc single-cylinder air-cooled, fuel-injected motor that churns out 20.5 PS of power and 16.8 Nm of torque. It is paired to a six-speed transmission with slipper clutch and assist. Comparing these figures to its BS4 predecessor, the BS6 iteration makes the same power but 1.3 Nm less torque. TVS has also equipped it with a first-in-segment Glide Through Traffic or GTT which helps the engine rev up and glide even at idling conditions.
    Even the equipment on the remains identical to the regular model. It comes with a SmartXonnect Bluetooth console which allows the rider to attend calls as well as text alerts and also make use of turn-by-turn navigation features. Apart from usual trip and bike related data, the console also reads out additional information such as lap times, top speed, and even lean angles.
    2020 TVS Apache 200 Adjustable Brake Levers
    TVS has priced this special edition Apache RTR 200 4V at Rs 1.31 lakhs (ex-showroom) which makes it a premium of Rs 1k over the standard dual ABS model. Apache RTR 200 4V locks horn with the likes of Bajaj Pulsar NS200, KTM 200 Duke and Honda Hornet 2.0.
    2020 TVS Apache 200 Adjustable Front Suspension More