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  • RE Meteor 350 Dimensions Leak – Ground Clearance, Warranty, Accessories

    New leaked information throws some light on dimensions, service intervals, warranty and accessories for Meteor 350
    The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 will be one of the company’s major launches in the days ahead. It will be made available in three trims – Fireball, Stellar and Supernova.

    ‘Fireball’ variant will have two colours of Yellow and Red while the Stellar variant will be seen in three options of Red Metallic, Matte Black, and Metallic Gloss Blue. The top spec Supernova version will get two dual-tone paint schemes of Brown and Blue.
    The three variants receive individual components that set them apart. The Fireball gets body graphics and decals, a single colour scheme on its fuel tank and blacked out components. The Stellar trim is seen with chrome accents on handlebars, a back rest for pillion rider and body coloured components while the top of the line Supernova gets a revised seat, machine cut alloy wheels and a windscreen.

    Across range, the Meteor 350 will receive turn by turn navigation called Tripper Navigation which is in full colour and is Bluetooth enabled.
    It will also be seen with a new age digi-analogue instrument cluster. Features will also include a USB charging port which allows riders to charge both smartphones and action cameras. The instrument cluster consists of 8 LED signs and an LCD screen showing off details of odometer, trip meter, time, service reminder, etc.

    Specs
    New RE Meteor 350 will be powered by a 350cc, single cylinder, air cooled, fuel injected engine making 20.2 hp power and 27 Nm torque. The engine could get mated to a 5 speed gearbox. Leaked info also mentions that the long stroke engine delivers high torque on low rpm while the new gearbox will be smoother and get light clutch action. The Meteor 350 will get Ceat/Ace tyres measuring 100/90-19 and 140/70-17 at the front and rear respectively.

    Youtube Channel Bullet Guru has shared new video, which brings to light dimensions of the Meteor 350 to light. It is 2140 mm long, 1140mm tall, has a seat height of 765 mm, ground clearance is at 170 mm, wheelbase is 1400 mm. It comes with 3 years warranty, service interval is 10k kms. Take a look at the detailed video below.
    [embedded content]
    The upcoming Royal Enfield Meteor 350 will get a round shaped halogen headlamp, and not a full LED unit as what was expected. It does, however, get an LED ring around the headlamp.

    The raised handlebars ensure a better riding position in an upright stance making it more comfortable for riders over longer distances. With launch likely to happen by the end of September, no pricing is announced as on date but estimates put the Meteor 350 at around Rs.1.65 lakhs.
    Specs
    Meteor 350
    Engine
    Single Cylinder
    Cooling
    Air Cooled
    Displacement
    349cc
    FI
    Yes
    Power
    20.2 bhp @ 6100 rpm
    Torque
    27 Nm @ 4000 rpm
    Drive
    Chain
    Transmission
    5 Speed
    Front Suspension
    Telescopic 41mm Forks, 130 mm Travel
    Rear Suspension
    Adjustable Twin Springs
    Front Brakes
    300 mm Single Disc
    Rear Brakes
    270 mm Single Disc
    ABS
    Dual Channel
    Front Tyre
    100/90
    Rear Tyre
    140/70
    Front Wheel
    19 inch Alloy
    Rear Wheel
    17 inch Alloy
    Fuel Tank
    15 liters
    Length
    2140mm
    Height
    1140mm
    Seat Height
    765mm
    Wheelbase
    1400mm
    Ground Clearance
    170mm
    Warranty
    3 years
    Oil
    Semi Synthetic 15W50
    Oil Change
    Every 10k kms
    Oil Dry Fill
    2.2 L
    Oil Refill
    1.7 L More

  • New Honda 300cc Cruiser Launch on 30th Sep – Royal Enfield, Jawa Rival ?

    The new Honda bike is reported to be developed specifically for our market but it could be based on an international platform
    Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has teased a new product which is set to be launched on 30th of September. The vague teaser image shows a crown with tagline “Your Highness is arriving on 30th September”. The world premiere is most likely to be streamed live.
    What could be the new Honda product?

    Honda seems to be on an aggressive product launch strategy. Just recently, the Japanese brand introduced the new Hornet 2.0 with a slightly larger engine and it is already gearing up for its next big launch.
    Some expect the new Honda to be a medium displacement motorcycle with a capacity of around 300-400 cc. This fits well with a long-standing report that claimed Honda is developing a retro classic motorcycle to compete with Jawa and Royal Enfield, which has been enjoying a near-monopoly in the Indian middle-weight motorcycle space.
    New Honda India motorcycle launch teaser
    The crown in teaser image suggests the new Honda bike’s nameplate or its marketing tagline would revolve around the words royal or king. However, there is absolutely no indication on what the body style is going to be. One would usually expect a Royal Enfield rival to be either a classic roadster with simple styling or a cruiser.
    Either way, the product is likely to adopt a lot of modern design elements and features like a typical retro-classic product. The image also represents what appears to be sound waves, indicating that the engine note is of importance.
    Approximate specifications
    If it is indeed a medium-displacement motorcycle, it is likely to be based on one of Honda’s internationally available platforms albeit with significant changes to make it suitable for our market. For example, the Honda Rebel 300 cruiser could be one of the viable donor products for Honda’s Royal Enfield rival. It is to be noted here that the Honda Rebel 300 has already been patented by the company in India.
    Honda Rebel Patented in India – Leak
    The new Honda bike is most likely to be equipped with a single-cylinder engine to keep the costs competitive. We expect the soon-to-be-launched product to stick with Honda’s tradition of prioritizing smooth and effortless performance rather than squeezing out maximum possible horse power.
    Market positioning
    HMSI’s attempt at the Indian mid-premium two wheeler segment has been rather uneventful. Though the CBR250R had a decent fan following, it never did set the sales chart on fire as there were more powerful alternatives in the same price range. We expect the new Honda bike to be localized heavily to arrive at an attractive price point. A sub-2 lakh price tag would make things pretty interesting. More

  • Bajaj Chetak bookings closed as company struggles to meet demand

    Bookings for Bajaj Chetak are not expected to resume anytime soon
    The launch of Bajaj Chetak electric scooter was an important strategic move by the company. For starters, the product marked Bajaj Auto’s rentry into the burgeoning scooter market after a prolonged hiatus, and secondly, it also marked the brand’s foray into the promising world of electric two wheelers. However, things did not go as per plan, thanks to the pandemic.
    Bookings closed

    Launched in January, the Bajaj Chetak started with Pune and Bangalore as its initial markets. The plan was to expand the reach to other major cities in a phased manner but supply chain bottleneck and production halt due to the COVID pandemic appears to have hampered the Chetak’s short term prospects.
    Bookings had to be closed in March / April due to the pandemic and nationwide lockdown. In June once the unlock procedure started, Bajaj had restarted Chetak bookings. But now, in Sep – bookings have been closed again. According to the official website, bookings for Chetak are closed and we don’t expect it to be resumed anytime soon.
    Screenshot from Bajaj Chetak website.
    However, Bajaj is encouraging prospective customers to register their interest via a form in the official Chetak website so that they can be updated as and when the bookings resume.
    Production constraint
    Though majority of the components for the Bajaj Chetak is sourced within the country, a few critical components are being imported from China. The factory closures in the neighbouring country earlier this year and production halt in India due to lock-down has impacted the electric scooter’s production.
    The ongoing border tension between India and China may have also affected the components supply. If this situation prolongs, Bajaj will not only find it difficult to service the existing bookings but will have to abandon its expansion plans temporarily. Other EV makers in India are likely facing similar challenges that could lead to production constraints for a foreseeable future.
    Bajaj Chetak and its Husqvarna sibling
    Husqvarna Electric Scooter
    While the Bajaj Chetak is facing production constraints, Husqvarna, a part of Bajaj’s European subsidiary KTM, is working on a new 4 kW electric scooter based on the same platform. Called as the Husqvarna E-01, the premium scooter is expected to be manufactured alongside Chetak by Bajaj for global consumption. If the production operations continue to face bottlenecks, the E-01’s planned launch in 2021 may get pushed further by a few months.
    The Bajaj Chetak is powered by a 3.8 kW motor which derives its electricity from a 2.89 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Maximum range stands at 95 km. Feature highlights include LED headlight, digital instrument console, alloy wheels, front disc brake and smartphone connectivity. More

  • Triumph Rocket 3 GT Motorcycle Launched in India – Dry Wt 294 kgs

    At 221 Nm of torque, the Triumph Rocket 3 GT generates the highest torque output by any road-legal production bike
    Triumph Motorcycles India has launched the Rocket 3 GT at a price of Rs 18.4 lakh, ex-sh. The motorcycle was launched last year at various international markets. The Rocket 3 and 3 GT holds the unique distinction of being the largest displacement production motorcycle in the world
    Performance

    The Rocket 3 GT is powered by a humongous 2500cc which produces a power of 165 horses at 6000rpm and a peak torque of massive 221 Nm at 4000rpm. When compared to the previous generation Rocket 3 GT, this new engine features an altered lubrication system, crankcase and balance shafts. This engine is coupled with a 6-speed transmission.
    Triumph offers two variants of this model, R and GT. The R is a roadster variant with a more aggressive riding stance with a sportier handlebar whereas the GT is a more of a cruiser with a touring style handlebar. It also gets a backrest for the pillion seats which enhance the touring look.

    The muscular sculpted fuel tank enhances the sporty feel of the bike. It gets its signature dual-LED headlamp unit with integrated DRLs and maker’s logo inside. The Rocket 3 GT is offered in two colours- Phantom Black and Storm Gray with silver ice.
    Dynamics
    In terms of dynamics, it gets a lightweight aluminium cradle which reduces its weight by 40kg. Suspension duties are carried out by a 47mm inverted fork at the front and a mono-shock at the rear which are fully adjustable. Anchoring duties are taken care of by 320mm disc brakes assisted by Brembo callipers. It gets a 17-inch wheel with 150/80 profile tyre at front and a 16-inch wheel with 240/50 profile tyre at rear.
    Engine Type
    Inline 3-cylinder, water-cooled, DOHC
    Capacity
    2,458cc
    Bore/Stroke
    110.2 mm x 85.9 mm
    Maximum Power
    167PS / (123 kW) @   6,000rpm
    Maximum Torque
    221Nm @ 4,000rpm
    Fuel system
    Ride-by-wire, fuel   injected
    Final drive
    Shaft, bevel box
    Clutch
    Hydraulic,   torque-assist
    Gearbox
    6 speed
    Frame
    Full aluminium frame
    Swingarm
    Single-sided, cast   aluminium
    Front Wheel
    17 x 3.5in cast   aluminium
    Rear Wheel
    16 x 7.5in cast   aluminium
    Front Tyre
    150/80 R17 V
    Rear Tyre
    240/50 R16 V
    Front Brake
    Dual 320 mm disc
    Rear Brake
    Single 200 mm disc
    Seat Height
    750 mm
    Rake
    27.9
    Trail
    134.9 mm
    Dry Weight
    294 kg
    Fuel Tank Capacity
    18L
    When it comes to features, the list is exhaustive. Triumph has thrown in every high-tech electronic available to its flagship offering. It comes with Triumph’s second generation TFT screen and keyless ignition. It also gets four riding modes that adjust the throttle response accordingly and a traction control system. Some other highlights include Google navigation, clutchless shift, MyTriumph connectivity app and cruise control among many others.
    Mr. Shoeb Farooq, Business Head, Triumph Motorcycles India Pvt Ltd said “The Rocket 3 GT is an enthusiast’s machine, being an ideal amalgamation of class defining technology, dominating road presence, astounding performance and ergonomics. It is a legend in itself. The Rocket 3 GT completes the Rocket range which has the roadster and touring variants. With this we also strengthen our BS-VI offering in India to 13 motorcycles which is the largest BS-VI line-up in the premium motorcycle space in India.” More

  • Royal Enfield Himalayan, 650 Twins rolls out of New Argentina Plant

    The Royal Enfield assembly plant in Argentina will roll out Himalayan, Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650 for now
    In what could be considered as an important step towards its goal of achieving global leadership in medium displacement segment, Royal Enfield has announced the setting up on its first overseas assembly plant. Located in Campana, Bueons Aires, Argentina, the new assembly line will be of strategic importance for the brand’s Latin American operations.
    Royal Enfield in Latin America

    Latin America, especially Argentina, is an important medium displacement motorcycle market. The Indian retro-classic motorcycle brand established a partnership with Grupo Simpa to distribute its products in Argentina starting from 2018. The brand now has 5 exclusive stores across the country and 31 across Latin America.
    This is in addition to 40 other touch points in the region. The new assembly plant has also been set up in association with the same partner. The plant was recently inaugurated in the presence of Argentinian president Alberto Fernandes. Below is the video shared by Royal Enfield Argentina.
    [embedded content]
    As of now, Royal Enfield’s Argentinian assembly plant will source CKD kits from its Chennai facilities and will be rolling out the Himalayan, Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650 models. We expect the facility to also assemble next generation models including the upcoming Meteor 350 and KX concept-based 650 cc cruiser in due course.
    Global expansion plans
    Speaking about the new assembly plant in Argentina, Royal Enfield’s CEO Vinod Dasari stated that the company has expanded its retain presence to 60 countries in the recent years and is planning to establish production footprint in key Asia-Pacific and South American markets. The new plant is first of these.
    Royal Enfield Argentina
    With local assembly, the brand can take advantage of tax benefits and would be able to price its products competitively. The Latin American market is important for the brand to achieve global leadership in middleweight segment. The CEO stated that the response from Argentina has been very encouraging since inception.
    Proportion of export market
    For a company with global aspirations, Royal Enfield still has a lot of territory to cover. For now, the brand operates 660 dealerships across the world of which 82 are exclusive stores. Over 90% of Royal Enfield’s total sales comes from the domestic market but the 650 Twins have are getting increasingly popular in international markets.
    With aggressive expansion and overseas CKD assembly plants, the company is planning to grow its export operations in the coming years. The next Royal Enfield CKD assembly plant is expected to come up in South East Asia, from Thailand. In fact, RE had announced the setting up of Thailand plant in 2019, and it was to go operational sometime earlier this year. But due to unknown reasons, that has been delayed, and the Thailand RE plant is now expected to produce RE motorcycles from 2021. More

  • 2021 Kawasaki Z900 BS6 Launch Price Rs 8 L – Gets Bluetooth Connectivity

    Continuing with its BS6 upgrade plan, Kawasaki India today launched BS6 compliant Z900
    Kawasaki Motorcycles that have already been updated to BS6 include Ninja 1000SX, Ninja 650, Z650, Vulcan S, Versys 1000, Versys 650, and W800. Much awaited Kawasaki Z900 BS6 compliant motorcycle has been priced from Rs 7.99 lakhs, ex-sh. It comes with several new features in addition to the engine upgrade.

    As may be recalled, Kawasaki had launched a Z900 Special Edition earlier this year in February. Several of the features of the now launched BS6 model, were already available with the Special Edition model. At that time, the Special Edition Z900 was priced around 30k more than the standard BS4 model.
    The Special Edition Z900 was the same as the Euro 5 compliant model showcased at EICMA 2019. Kawasaki could have launched it as a BS6 compliant model, but due to some reasons, it was launched in BS4 format. The bike was imported in India in limited numbers. Power and torque output of BS6 Z900 is same as the BS4 model. The new BS6 engine churns out 125 ps / 98.6 Nm and comes mated to a 6-speed transmission.

    Kawasaki BS6 Z900 new features
    Kawasaki BS6 Z900 will come with a new all-digital TFT instrument console that enhances the overall look and feel of the cockpit. It also displays a lot more information, as compared to that of BS4 model. Another key addition is Bluetooth connectivity, which enhances overall ride experience by allowing users to access a range of features. These can be accessed via the smartphone application RIDEOLOGY THE APP.
    Talking about new features common to both the Special Edition and BS6 Z900, the motorcycle gets an all-LED setup. It looks sharper with the new LED lights, position lamps, turn signals and license plate lamp.

    In terms of performance, the bike is equipped with two power modes – low and full. The rider can choose between the two power modes depending on conditions and individual preferences. In low power mode, the power output is reduced to around 55% of the actual capacity.
    In the safety department, Kawasaki has added an advanced traction control system. This allows the rider to confidently tackle low-traction surfaces. The traction control system also improves sport riding performance. Handling the elements has also become easier with integrated riding modes of sport, road and rain.

    There’s a manual mode as well, which users can customize based on their specific needs. The riding modes work in conjunction with the power modes and traction control system. Addition of Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tyres has further enhanced the bike’s handling capabilities. More

  • Bajaj Chetak based Husqvarna Electric Scooter launch in 2021

    The Husqvarna E-01 electric scooter will have Europe as its primary market
    A leaked internal document has thrown light on short term plans of KTM and its sister brand Husqvarna. The latter is clearly gearing up to establish a strong presence in the affordable electric two wheeler segment. Husqvarna is planning two EVs in the next two years and both of them will have strong Indian connection.
    Husqvarna E-01 and Bajaj Chetak

    According to the leaked document, a Husqvarna branded electric scooter named E-01 and a motorcycled called E-Pilen are currently under development. The 4 kW electric urban runabout will be launched in 2021. While there are no further details about the Husqvarna E-01, we think it will be based on the Bajaj Chetak electric scooter’s platform. For the uninitiated, Bajaj Auto holds 48% stake in KTM which in turn owns Husqvarna.
    The Indian e-scooter also employs a 4 kW motor making it a viable platform for the Husqvarna scooter to adopt. It also comes with modern connectivity features that a premium offering like E-01 is expected to incorporate.
    Husqvarna electric scooter, motorcycle launch plans featured in company’s annual report to share holders
    Bajaj Auto’s Chakan production facility has already established itself as a global production base for sub-500 cc KTM and Husqvarna road-bikes. Taking advantage of the Chetak’s Indian vendor base and Bajaj’s cost-effective production operations is a no-brainer for Husqvarna.
    Design
    If the thumbnail image of the Husqvarna Electric scooter shown on the leaked image is to be taken as a reference, the premium urban electric scooter will have an edgy concept-like styling. The image does not detail the suspension system of the scooter but we expect the production version to employ telescopic front forks and single-sided rear shock absorber.
    The wheels are also expected to be conventional alloy units with front and rear disc brakes. Being a premium product primarily targeted at Europe, the Husqvarna E-01 will be packed with features such as dual-channel ABS, a color instrument console (probably even a touchscreen), smartphone connectivity and so on.
    India Launch
    Bajaj Chetak Electric
    As we said before, the Husqvarna E-01 is most likely to borrow the Bajaj Chetak’s 4 kW / 16 Nm electric motor and 4.08 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Husqvarna may opt to offer a higher capacity battery pack for an increased range. The Chetak has a claimed range of 95 kms. Top speed is a little over 60 kmph.
    Being made in India does not automatically guarantee that that the Husqvarna E-01 will be sold in domestic market. However, the future of premium electric scooter segment in India appears promising and Husqvarna would do well to be one of the early entrants. More

  • Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Engine Specs Leak – Power increases, Torque decreases

    The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 will employ a new 350cc motor under the ‘UCE350’ range – Likely mated to 5-speed transmission unit
    Motorcycle enthusiasts have been eagerly and patiently waiting for the Meteor 350 for a very long time. Sources tell us that the launch is expected to take place on 22nd Sep. Ahead of launch, Youtube Channel Rider Lal has managed to reveal interesting new details about the motorcycle.
    Engine

    Meteor 350 will replace the Thunderbird 350 and Thunderbird 350X in the Chennai-based bike maker’s portfolio. The motorcycle is built upon a completely new platform codenamed ‘J1D’. Meteor will be the first of the new ‘UCE350’ range which will employ a completely new 350cc air-cooled motor which is set to be more efficient. The new generation Classic 350 is also being developed under this range.
    As per the leaked image, this new BS6 350cc engine of Meteor 350 will deliver 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm of torque. This when compared to the existing BS6 350cc engine of Classic 350, is about 0.4 bhp more, but 1 Nm less. Current Classic 350 BS6 which is on sale in India, delivers 19.8 bhp and 28 Nm torque. Do note that the current Classic 350 UCE engine is based on the older push-rod tech, while the new Meteor 350 UCE engine is based on the SOHC setup.
    Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Engine Specs
    Speaking about transmission, it is most likely a 5 speed unit. The leaked image states that the new transmission offers smooth gear shifts. Just like the engine, the clutch and transmission system is also newly developed. It has less number of parts and linkages – resulting in better clutch life and reduced friction.
    Variants & Features
    From the images leaked earlier, we know that Meteor 350 will be available in three variants- Fireball, Stellar and Supernova. Each variant will feature its unique set of components which distinguish them apart. The base Fireball trim will feature a coloured rim tape, body graphics with decals, single colour fuel tank and blacked-out components.

    The mid-spec Stellar variant will sport chrome finish on handlebars, premium badges, body-coloured components and a backrest for the pillion. On the hand, the top-end, Supernova trim will offer a premium seat upholstery, machined alloy wheels, chrome on indicators, a dual-tone colour scheme and a windscreen. Also, standard features such as inbuilt turn-by-turn navigation called ‘Tripper Navigation’ and semi-digital twin-pod instrument cluster will be offered across the range.
    Meteor 350 will be the most feature loaded RE motorcycle ever. Other features include bluetooth enabled turn by turn navigation system, USB charger for charging your devices on the go.
    Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Riding Stance
    Along with the actual motorcycle, miniature scale models will also go on sale later this month, as official merchandise. Leaked images give a clear visual understanding as to how the bike would actually look like. There will be a total of seven colours on offer across the range- Fireball Red, Fireball Yellow, Stellar Matte Black, Stellar Red Metallic, Stellar Blue Metallic, Supernova Blue dual-tone, Supernova Brown dual-tone.
    Royal Enfield will be using Ceat / Ace tyres for Meteor 350. The front and rear tyres will measure 100/90-19 and 140/70-17, respectively. Fuel tank capacity is 15 liters. Prices of the bike are expected to start from around Rs 1.65 lakh (ex-showroom). More