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      in Motor News

      Cars for Cannonball Run: Window Shop with Car and Driver

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      After a week’s hiatus when nothing changed, Window Shopping is back for mid-October. The subject? The event that made Car and Driver a cultural touchstone. And secured the legend of Brock Yates.When the history of civilization is written by the Morlocks who succeed us, they may only remember one thing about Car and Driver. That thing is the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash conceived of, organized by, and competed within the mind of C/D’s late editorial id, Yates.The not-a-race cross country race was run five times between 1971 and 1979 when frustration with the then-mandated 55 mph national speed limit enflamed the C/D collective soul. The result in the magazine was some of Yates’ very best writing. The result in the culture at large was the most attention ever focused on C/D and a fiery gust of enthusiasm across all of American adolescence.Since then, well, there was a movie. And then the culture moved on. And the idea of transcontinental race doesn’t inspire the same unambivalent excitement any more. Not even around the slightly yellowing walls of C/D itself. 1971, after all, is now a half-century away.Still, there’s Yates in our marrow. And that comes out in speculation about how to run the Cannonball now, even if no one currently here has the Yates-rated cajones to actually make such an attempt. And Dan Gurney isn’t around to co-drive any more either.So the Window Shop clique of clichés got together to pick the perfect vehicle to assault the cross-country record—from the Red Ball Garage in New York City, to the Portofino Inn on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Redondo Beach, California. Both of these fine institutions still exist today.With K.C. Colwell taking the day off to deal with his “children” it was left to quizmaster Tony Quiroga, youngster Connor Hoffman, veteran bon vivant Jonathan Ramsey, and some guy named Pearley who just couldn’t hack it at C/D and was therefore banished to Road and/or Track. Carefully planned felonies got little respect. Crafty and reasonable Germanic vehicles were dismissed. A Ferrari sure was pretty but, well, come on. And, finally, Quiroga himself went full dingbat. The result was dissatisfying to all involved. But since you weren’t involved, there’s some fun to be had in the viewing.Yes, there was corruption. So the prize money carries over into next week to bring the total up to $0.

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      in Motor News

      Ford Is Bringing These Six Custom Broncos to SEMA 2021

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      The 2021 SEMA show is just around the corner, and Ford is coming to Las Vegas prepared with a total of six Broncos customized by some of the most well-known brands in the aftermarket industry.

      Of the six vehicles, four are based on full-size Broncos and the remaining two are based on Bronco Sports. There’s there’s an interesting mix of utility, practicality, clever design, and over-the-top modifications we’ve come to expect from SEMA builds. Ford says all of these vehicles feature parts from Ford’s own Performance division, licensed partners, and other aftermarket sources. Here’s how they all stack up against each other. Bronco RTR Fun-Runner

      Ford

      The first Bronco on the list is a fun off-road themed two-door variant powered by the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine and based on the Badlands trim level. Customized by Vaughn Gittin Jr. and RTR Vehicles, it comes with a collection of Ford Performance and officially licensed parts, including a performance intake system, a sport exhaust, and new off-road-ready Dana axles. Behind the RTR forged bead-lock wheels and 37-inch tires you’ll find Fox Performance Elite 2.5 coilovers paired to a long-travel suspension kit. Bronco by BDS Suspensions

      Ford

      The second Bronco to make its SEMA debut is another full-size two-door, this time based on the Black Diamond trim. Designed by BDS Suspensions, it turns the Bronco into a make-shift fire truck with an open-air rear section and bright red paint. There are CrawlTek Revolution bumpers that have recovery hooks and winches built in, as well as a skid plate up front for bashing even the toughest trails. There are Fox 2.5 PES coilovers, rear adjustable control arms, and disconnecting sway bars underneath to assist the 37-inch BFGoodrich KM3 tires in providing ultimate traction in any environment. Bronco by Tucci Hot Rods

      Ford

      Next up is the first four-door Bronco of the group, based on a Badlands trim truck and customized by Tucci Hot Rods. Perhaps the most ridiculous of the group, it comes with Mattracks 88-Series quad tracks on all four corners for true go-anywhere capabilities. There’s a snowboard rack on the roof along with a light bar. Even cooler, it’s the only Bronco of the group to feature the optional seven-speed manual transmission. Bronco Baja Forged by LGE-CTS Motorsports

      Ford

      The last full-size Bronco from Ford’s selection is this Outer Banks model reimagined by LGE-CTS Motorsports. Another four-door model, it uses an Outer Banks model as a base and comes with a 3-inch suspension lift, Baja Forged bumpers front and rear, an upgraded sound system, and a handful of neat aftermarket storage solutions. Bronco Sport Baja Forged by LGE-CTS Motorsports

      Ford

      The first Bronco Sport on the list is also the second car to be customized by LGE-CTS Motorsports, featuring a handful of similar upgrades. There’s a 2-inch suspensions lift, rock sliders, off-roading lights, fender flares, and upgraded front and rear sway bars. There’s also a Warn winch, tubular bumpers, and a Borla exhaust for the 2.0-liter Ecoboost engine under the hood. Bronco Sport by CGS Performance Products

      Ford

      Last but not least is this Badlands-series Bronco Sport customized by CGS Performance Parts. Perhaps the most subtle of the bunch, the bright red SUV still has a solid collection of upgrades making it worthy of the Bronco nameplate. There are forged wheels wrapped in Toyo all-terrain tires, bumper and hitch enhancements, rock lights, and underbody lights. The engine also gets a cold air intake and a cat-back exhaust.

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      in Bike

      2022 Honda NT1100 Motorcycle Debuts – New Features

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      2022 Honda NT1100Honda NT1100 will be available in two derivatives 1100A and 1100D offering manual and automatic transmissions respectively
      Honda has officially taken the wraps off from its upcoming sports tourer NT1100 for global markets. As many have already guessed, the upcoming NT1000 is a road-biased iteration of CRF1100L Africa Twin which is a proper adventure tourer. The styling of NT1100 clearly reveals that it shares its DNA with Africa Twin.
      While CRF1100L has been developed to take on challenging trails, NT1100 has been designed to gobble long distances. It will be positioned to bridge the gap between the 750cc touring range and the flagship Gold Wing in Honda’s global lineup. As of now, it has only been offered in European markets but is expected to be shipped to other parts of the world soon.
      2022 Honda NT1100 – Design
      Like many other contemporary sports tourers, NT1100 shows shades of an ADV bike in its styling. It flaunts a twin-beam LED headlight setup with integrated LED DRLs and a heavily faired front end. On top of that, it features a large windscreen that is five-way adjustable for height and angle, and it’s aided by wind deflectors on either side.
      Other styling highlights include split-style seats, a single-sided twin-barrel exhaust, a single-piece grab rail that extends into a luggage mounting rack and a pannier box on each side which is available as standard. The motorcycle will be offered in three paint schemes namely Matte Iridium Grey Metallic, Pearl Glare White, and Graphite Black.
      2022 Honda NT1100
      Hardware Configurations
      NT1100 is underpinned by a chassis that comprises a steel, semi-double cradle frame and a bolt-on aluminium subframe employed in the Africa Twin. However, suspension setup has been tweaked a little which offers 150mm lesser travel on both ends in comparison to Africa Twin. It features 43 mm Showa USD forks at front and a Showa mono-shock at rear.
      Further, NT1100 rides on shorter 17-inch front and rear wheels instead of larger 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels on its ADV sibling. This has resulted in a lowered saddle height of 820mm which provides more comfortable riding ergonomics. Braking is handled by 310 mm twin discs with radially-mounted calipers up front and a single 256 mm disc at the back. These are accompanied by a dual-channel ABS.
      Features & Powertrain
      In terms of features, Honda has provided NT1100 a 6.5-inch TFT touchscreen display that offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity options. It also features a plethora of rider aids such as Wheelie Control, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), three default riding modes- Urban, Rain, Tour and two customisable riding modes.
      2022 Honda NT1100
      Powering the new NT1100 is a familiar 1,084cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine which also propels CRF1100L. This unit pumps out 101 bhp at 7,250rpm and a peak torque of 104 Nm at 6,250rpm. The engine gets the same 10.1:1 compression ratio and 270° phased crankshaft but air intake has been revised a little to suit highway cruising.
      Honda will be offering NT1100 in two derivatives- NT1100A and NT1100D, the former is slightly more affordable at £11,999 while the latter carries a price tag of £12,999 in the UK market. This is because the A trim is available with a 6-speed manual gearbox while the D iteration comes with a DCT automatic gearbox. The sports tourer is expected to go on sale across Europe by early 2022 while its launch in India is uncertain. More

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      in Bike

      New TVS XL100 Coral Silk Colour Option Launched

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      New TVS XL100 Coral SilkJust ahead of the Diwali festive season, TVS XL100 Comfort i-TOUCHstart gets a premium new shade of Coral Silk
      The XL100 is TVS’s highest-selling product. It is also their most affordable two wheeler on offer. TVS XL100 is regaled for its high level of reliability, fuel efficiency and outstanding performance even across the highway.
      Currently being presented in colour options of Mint Blue, Luster Gold, Red Black and Grey Black, the company has added a new Coral Silk colour. This new Coral Silk colour to the TVS XL100 Comfort i-Touchstart connotes positivity and optimism.
      New TVS XL100 Price
      TVS XL100 is priced at Rs 41,139 – Rs 52,343 ex-sh. It basically caters to semi-urban and rural markets and is a popular buy in the company lineup for its cheaper running costs and affordable maintenance.
      Its design is utilitarian with a tall set handlebar, single seat and slim tyres. It weighs a total of 86 kgs with maximum payload capacity of 130kg and has a fuel tank capacity of 4 liters. TVS XL100 Comfort i-TOUCHstart comes in equipped with Integrated Starter Generator technology that aids in instant and silent start of the moped.
      TVS XL100 Prices
      Features also include a rounded halogen headlamp with an LED strip flanked by turn indicators. It gets a large footboard for loading luggage, footpegs on either sides for a more comfortable riding position. TVS XL 100 gets a basic instrument cluster with analogue speedometer and odometer and for the high-beam and turn indicators. The Comfort variant also sports a USB phone charging socket as well. It also gets added chrome on exhaust cover.
      TVS XL100 Engine Specs
      TVS XL100 Comfort is powered by 99.7cc BS6, single cylinder, fuel injected, 4 stroke engine offering 4.3 hp peak power at 6,000 rpm and 6.5 peak Nm at 3,500 rpm. The engine gets mated to a single speed gearbox with centrifugal wet clutch.
      It gets front and rear drum brakes along with combined braking system. It also gets conventional telescopic suspension in the front and dual hydraulic springs at the rear. A touchstart system is offered across both, Comfort as well as Heavyduty variants.
      TVS XL100 EMI Scheme
      Earlier this year, in view of the ongoing pandemic, the company introduced special EMI schemes for its top selling TVS XL100. EMIs are charged on a monthly basis of Rs 1,470 per month, working out to Rs 49 per day. The XL100 can also be purchased at a lower down payment of Rs 7,999 with a 6 month EMI holiday during which period, buyers will not have to make any EMI payments. These finance schemes for XL 100 were in association with finance companies such as L&T, TVS Credit, IDFC First Bank and Shriram Finance. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Mini Cooper Electric India Launch Soon – Officially Teased

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      New Mini Cooper ElectricMINI Cooper electric will go up against other luxury EVs such as the upcoming Volvo XC40 Recharge
      MINI has teased MINI Electric on its social media handles indicating its launch in India soon. The fully electrified derivative of the hot hatch made its global debut last year and is based on MINI Cooper. Hence, it is often referred to as Cooper Electric. MINI Electric was first unveiled in India in February 2021 and was expected to go on sale by March.
      However, with the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic kicking in, its launch had to be put on hold. The BMW-backed performance car brand will finally be bringing this emission-free version of the hot hatch to India. That said, the company hasn’t revealed an exact launch timeline yet.
      Mini Cooper Electric – Exterior Design
      Starting with its design, MINI Electric appears to be an exact replica of MINI Cooper although there are some small noticeable variations. The most prominent of those is a faux front grille which instead of letting in fresh air for the radiator, enhances the car’s aerodynamic qualities. It also comes with many new paint schemes such as Rooftop Grey, Island Blue which lend the battery-powered car a distinct identity.
      Some of these paint schemes are furnished with a striking yellow accent bar and MINI Electric badge to give the hatch a fresh character. MINI, however, has retained the iconic round headlights with integrated circular LED DRLs.
      New Mini Cooper Electric – Teased
      The electric hot hatch also receives a new 17-inch corona spoke dual-tone alloy wheel design with yellow-coloured rims which look funky. The pillars have been blackened on all colour trims which gives the car a nice contrast.
      Mini Cooper Electric Specs
      Powering MINI Electric is an electric motor that draws energy from a 32.6 kWh battery pack mounted under the floor, between the front seats and under the back seats. Positioning of the battery pack provides the all-electric MINI an extra-low center of gravity which allows better handling and more fun around corners. The battery returns a claimed range of 203 to 234 kilometers on a single charge as per the WLTP cycle.
      As for performance, the fully electric powertrain pumps out 184 bhp and 270 Nm of peak torque. It can attain a top speed of almost 150 kmph while 0-100 kmph acceleration is claimed at 7.3 seconds. Like its IC engine counterpart, this one comes as an FWD with a single motor mounted on the front axle.
      Features on offer
      Like most MINIs, the all-electric Cooper gets tons of gizmos to lighten up one’s in-car experience. These include adaptive LED headlights with a matrix function for high beam, heated steering wheel, a Harman Kardon music system, Head-Up Display, wireless phone charging and more. The dashboard also flaunts a touchscreen display at the centre along with a 5.5-inch oval-shaped digital instrument console.
      The display offer a wide range of Connected car features and Concierge Services. These include remote car locking/unlocking and pre-conditioning of interior from one’s smartphone and more. In India, it is most likely to be offered as a Completely Built Unit (CBU). More

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      in Bike

      Yamaha R15 Becomes Best Selling Motorcycle From Yamaha In Sep 2021

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      Image – Dhanbad DynomosYamaha R15 V4 is an updated version of the popular sports bike R15 V3, which also receives a new range-topping M trim
      Yamaha India launched the new gen R15 last month. India became the first country in the world where the new R15 V4 was launched. It is priced from Rs 1.68 lakh, ex-sh – making it one of the most expensive motorcycle in its segment.
      Yamaha R15 Sales Sep 2021 – A New High
      Production of the new Yamaha R15 had already started much before its launch. First undisguised spy shots appeared on the internet in Aug 2021. As per Sep 2021 sales data, R15 has become the best-selling motorcycle from Yamaha.
      In Sep 2021, Yamaha R15 sales were at 11,792 units. This is a 151% increase when compared to sales in Sep 2020, when R15 registered less than 4,700 units in sales. The second best-seller from Yamaha motorcycles was the FZ, followed by MT15 and then the FZ25 in Sep 2021. Sales of Yamaha FZ have declined sharply in Sep 2021. This is most likely due to parts shortage.
      In terms of MoM sales, R15 registered an almost 23% increase in sales. FZ registered a sales decline here as well. Yamaha Motorcycle sales have grown by 2.39% as compared to Aug 2021 sales. But the same have declined 31.65% when compared with Sep 2020. Take a look at the sales table below.
      Yamaha Motorcycle Sales Sep 2021
      Priced at Rs 1,67,800 and Rs 1,77,800 respectively, the 2021 Yamaha R15 V4 comes in three colours of Racing Blue, Dark Knight, and Metallic Red while the Yamaha R15M is in a single colour of Metallic Grey. Along with these two bikes, Yamaha has also launched the Yamaha R15M Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Edition which comes in with MotoGP branding on its fairing, fuel tank, front mudguard, and rear side panels.
      2021 Yamaha R15 V4 Features
      It gets single beam LED projector headlamps with LED DRLs, distinctive body panels, 3D badging on its muscular fuel tank, sporty body graphics and revised fairings are among its features along with anodized blue fork caps and golden coloured brake caliper. It also sports a fully digital LCD instrument console with Yamaha’s connectivity feature and Bluetooth.
      2021 Yamaha R15 V4 sees not much change in its engine specs. It gets the same 155cc, single cylinder, liquid cooled engine making 18.3 hp power at 10,000 rpm and 14.1 Nm torque at 7,500 rpm mated to a 6 speed gearbox with traction control and quick shifter. Front suspension is via inverted forks while rear suspension is via a monoshock unit. Braking is via disc brakes at either end, mated to dual channel ABS – offered as standard.
      Yamaha has also added the new Aerox 155 maxi-scooter to its lineup. Prices start from Rs 1,29,000 and it is offered in a single variant and three colour options of Racing Blue, Grey Vermillion, and MotoGP. The MotoGP version carries a price tag of Rs 1,30,500. Yamaha Aerox is powered by a 155cc, single cylinder engine with VVA technology. This engine produces 14.75 hp power and 13.9Nm torque making it the most powerful scooter in India and an able competitor to the Aprilia SXR 160. More

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      in Bike

      Top 10 Scooters Sep 2021 – Activa, Jupiter, Access, Dio, Ntorq

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      Image – R rohit RiderScooter sales dipped in September 2021 with the Honda Activa continuing to top the list with 2.45 lakh unit sales
      The past month has seen a de-growth across the scooter segment. Rising fuel prices could have had a major role to play while there is a certain migration towards the electric scooter segment in the country. Top 10 scooter sales in India dipped 4.98 percent on a YoY basis. Sales which had stood at 5,09,541 units in September 2020, fell 4.98 percent to 4,84,177 units in the past month.
      Honda Activa scooter commanded the list with 2,45,353 units sold last month, down 4.87 percent over 2,57,900 units sold in September 2020 relating to a volume loss of 12,547 units. Currently commanding a 50.63 percent share, Honda Activa has played a major role in allowing the company to go past domestic sales milestone of 5 crore units since commencing sales operations in 2001.
      TVS Jupiter, Suzuki Access, Honda Dio
      At No. 2 on the list of top 10 best-selling scooters in September 2021 was the TVS Jupiter. Sales remained flat at 56,339 units in September 2021, a marginal growth of 0.45 percent over 56,085 units sold in September 2020. TVS Jupiter 125 will join the list of scooters in the 125cc category that currently includes the likes of Suzuki Access, Honda Activa 125, Hero Destini 125, Maestro Edge 125 and Yamaha Fascino 125.
      Suzuki Access sales dipped 1.07 percent YoY to 45,040 units, down from 53,031 units sold in September 2020. Currently among the highest selling models in its segment, Access 125 is regaled for its retro design and a Bluetooth-enabled instrument cluster. At No. 4 was Honda Dio with a 2.73 percent YoY growth to 34,557 units, up from 33,639 units sold in September 2020.
      Top 10 Scooters – Sep 2021
      Ntorq 125 was the fifth best-selling scooter in the Indian market last month with 12.63 percent growth to 29,452 units sold in September 2021. This was up from 26,150 units sold in the same month of the previous year. TVS retails Ntorq 125 in a range of variants of Drum, Disc, Race Edition, Super Squad Edition and top-end Race XP version.
      Pleasure, Ray ZR and Fascino
      Lower down the order on the list of top 10 best-selling scooters in India were Hero Pleasure, Yamaha Ray ZR and Fascino. Pleasure sales increased 7.87 percent to 21,648 units, up from 20,068 units sold in September 2020. Yamaha posted de-growth for the Ray ZR down 17.50 percent to 16,121 units while sales of Fascino increased 4.43 percent to 14,244 units in the past month.
      Trailing the top 10 scooter list in terms of sales was  Hero Destini and Honda Grazia, both of which posted de-growth in a YoY basis. Destini sales dipped 37.09 percent to 12,358 units from 19,644 units sold in September 2020.

      Top 10 Scooters
      Sep-21
      Sep-20
      %

      1. Honda Activa
      2,45,353
      2,57,900
      -4.87

      2. TVS Jupiter
      56,339
      56,085
      0.45

      3. Suzuki Access
      45,040
      53,031
      -15.07

      4. Honda Dio
      34,557
      33,639
      2.73

      5. TVS Ntorq
      29,452
      26,150
      12.63

      6. Hero Pleasure
      21,648
      20,068
      7.87

      7. Yamaha RayZR
      16,121
      19,540
      -17.50

      8. Yamaha Fascino
      14,244
      13,640
      4.43

      9. Hero Destini
      12,358
      19,644
      -37.09

      10. Honda Grazia
      9,065
      9,844
      -7.91

      Total
      4,84,177
      5,09,541
      -4.98

      Hero MotoCorp had introduced a price hike with effect from 20th September 2021. This increase affects the company’s complete portfolio and are due to rising commodity prices. On the other hand, in September 2021, Honda Grazia sales fell 7.91 percent to 9,065 units as against 9,844 units sold in the same month of the previous year. More

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      in Bike

      New Jawa Cruiser Spied Testing In Pune – Launch Expected In 2022

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      New Jawa Cruiser SpiedLikely to be powered by Perak’s 334cc engine, Jawa cruiser will be a better match against 350cc segment rivals
      Launched in 2018, Jawa motorcycles have emerged as popular options for retro enthusiasts. While existing models continue to deliver consistent sales, Jawa is looking to further boost numbers by expanding its portfolio.
      Jawa range will be extended to include new products, one of which will be a cruiser bike. This was recently spotted on road test in Pune. Thanks to Suyog Phadtare for sharing the exclusive spy shot of new Jawa cruiser.
      Jawa cruiser styling and features
      Just like other Jawa bikes, the cruiser focuses on retro styling bits. Some key features include round headlamp and rear-view mirrors, tear-drop shaped fuel tank and turn signals, broad rear fender, and comfy wide seat.
      Dimensionally, Jawa cruiser appears to be around the same size as Perak. It is possible that it could share the same platform as that of Perak, with a bit of tuning. The upcoming Jawa Cruiser has a pillion seat, which is much larger than any other Jawa motorcycle on sale today. Also, the rear suspension setup is that of twin-shocks, instead of a monoshock that is seen on Perak.
      New Jawa Cruiser Spied
      Side profile is pretty skeletal with just the radiator, engine and side cover. The bike has dual exhaust pipes in a sober, minimalistic design. Users can expect a throaty aural experience, similar to or even better than existing Jawa motorcycles. The test mule spotted had a dark theme, evident in blacked-out parts such as crash guard, exhaust, engine, and wheels. At launch, the bike is likely to be offered in multiple colour options.
      Talking about ergonomics, Jawa cruiser has a comfortable, upright riding stance. The bike has raised, wide handlebar and forward set footpegs. The wide seat with ample cushioning should ensure optimal comfort for both rider and pillion.
      Footpegs for pillion are also placed in a forward position. It is possible that Jawa cruiser may get Bluetooth-based connectivity features. The test mule was spotted with inverted speedo, which is already offered with existing Jawa bikes.
      New Jawa Cruiser Spied
      Jawa cruiser engine and specs
      Powering Jawa cruiser could be the same 334 cc engine that currently does duty on Perak. The single cylinder, liquid cooled, DOHC engine is capable of generating 30.64 ps of max power and 32.74 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a constant mesh 6-speed gearbox.
      Jawa cruiser has standard telescopic forks at front and dual rear shock absorbers. The bike could be offered with options for both alloy and spoke wheels. It will have disc brakes at both ends, integrated with dual-channel ABS. Upon launch, it might not have any direct rival in the 350cc segment. In the price segment, it will continue to rival the range of 350cc motorcycles from Royal Enfield. If Bajaj Avenger 400 is launched, that could also be a potential rival.
      New Jawa Cruiser Spied
      After Jawa, Mahindra-owned Classic Legends is working to revive other iconic motorcycle brands such as Yezdi and BSA. Yezdi is expected to focus on Indian market, whereas BSA will target European markets, starting with UK.
      Yezdi bikes spotted on road tests include Roadking and an ADV motorcycle. Roadking will take on upcoming Royal Enfield Hunter 350 whereas the ADV will rival Royal Enfield Himalayan. Both Yezdi bikes are expected to be unveiled by end of this year or early next year. More