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      Honda CB350 Launch Price Rs 1.9L approx – Royal Enfield Classic 350 Rival

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      After years of waiting, Honda Motorcycle India has finally launched a fitting rival to the Royal Enfield Classic 350
      Contrary to the general expectation that Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India’s (HMSI) September 30th event will involve a India-spec cruiser, the company introduced a new retro-classic roadster named H’ness. The Honda H’ness CB350 may have an awkward name but with its vintage styling, it pays tribute to the iconic CB1100RS while take a direct shot at the Royal Enfield products. It is priced at INR 1.9 lakh (ex-showroom)
      Honda H’ness CB350 TVC

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      The slender and undramatic fuel tank, equally subtle side panels and a non-existent tailpiece lead to a classic looking motorcycle of yesteryear. The chrome finished exhaust pipe and fenders add to this appeal. But Honda has bestowed its H’ness CB350 with LED headlamps, a digi-analog speedometer and alloy wheels.
      The Honda H’ness CB350 classic roadster gets LED headlamp and Bluetooth Connectivity and Selectable Torque Control
      To be available in DLX and DLX Pro variants, the latter will benefit from dual-tone colour themes and contrast brown saddle. The Honda H’ness CB350 will take the place of now discontinued CB300R as the most affordable model in the brand’s premium Big Wing lineup. We could see it attracting a lot of retro-classic fans.

      Specifications
      The Honda H’ness CB350 is powered by a 348 cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine which produces a rather modest 21 hp and 30 Nm of torque. While the performance figures are nothing to boast of, the mild nature of the powertrain goes well with the motorcycle’s appeal. With a good low-end torque, the thumper should be up for a relaxed highway cruising all day long.

      As far as the frame is concerned, the retro-classic Honda adopts a half-duplex cradle frame which is suspended by means of regular telescopic front forks and chrome-finished dual shock absorbers at the rear. The motorcycle is equipped with front and rear disc brakes with dual-channel ABS. Again, the configuration is spot on to take on the Royal Enfield Classic 350.
      Features and Colours
      Despite the styling taking us back by a few decades, the Honda CB350 is equipped with state-of-the-art features. The DLX Pro variant is equipped with Bluetooth enabled turn-by-turn navigation, music control and telephony.

      The motorcycle also features Selectable Torque Control which is aimed at preventing the rear wheel from stepping out of the line under acceleration. It also gets LED blinkers, battery health indicator, side-stand engine cut off, Honda smartphone voice control system, LED headlight and LED tail light.
      Honda CB350 Colours
      A total of six colour options are on offer with the new Honda H’Ness CB350. Top variant also gets dual tone colour option, as shown in the image above. Other colours are monotone Black, Green and Red. Dual Tone options are Black and Grey, Blue and White, Black and White.
      Price
      Honda CB350 DLX vs DLX PRO – list of features
      The Honda H’ness CB350 is priced about INR 1.9 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base variant. Exact price details of both variants will be revealed in a few days. Honda hasn’t revealed the delivery timelines but we expect the motorcycle to reach showrooms this festive season to preempt Royal Enfield’s product blitzkrieg. More

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      Hero MotoCorp Likely To Manufacture Harley Davidson Motorcycles In India

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      Hero MotoCorp looks the likely candidate to continue Harley Davidson’s operation in India
      A few days ago we received the heartbreaking news of motorcycling giant Harley Davidson quitting India. The company failed to increase their sales in India and that has forced the bike maker to make this tough decision. After a decade of unfruitful returns, the company shut down all its manufacturing and sales operations in India.

      The Milwaukee-based motorcycle brand on Thursday announced that it is shutting down its manufacturing plant in India. According to FADA, the closure of Harley Davidson’s operations in India could lead up to over 2000 job losses. However, that might not be the end of the road for the iconic brand in India.
      What this deal could mean?
      As per reports, Hero MotoCorp is close to inking a deal with Harley Davidson which will grant the distribution rights of the latter’s products in India. This distribution arrangement will allow the Indian bikemaker to import and sell Harley-Davidson bikes in India. However, there has been no official word from either of the companies.

      Hero MotoCorp could also manufacture Harley Davidson motorcycles in India. They have no plans to takeover the Bawal plant of Harley, as they have production capacity at their existing plants. This could likely mean that the Street 750 and the upcoming Street 350 will likely be produced in India by Hero MotoCorp.
      A Harley official was recently quoted saying, “This is not a permanent exit. We are evaluating all options to maintain a presence in the Indian market after December.” Currently, both companies are working out the modalities of managing Harley’s 33 outlets in India. Confirmation about the same could be received in the next fifteen days.
      Harley in India
      HD arrived in India about a decade back. At first, they only sold CBUs. Later, Harley Davidson started assembly operations and brought completely knocked down (CKD) kits imported from the USA at their facility in Bawal, Haryana. The company is currently in the process of laying off its workers and informing its dealers and suppliers about reimbursements and future plans. In a decade of operations in India, the American marque could only sell 25,000 units of its motorcycles till date.
      Hero MotoCorp, on the other hand is the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer and therefore, it is fitting that the company takes over Harley’s operations in India. However, industry experts believe that Hero is not looking to take over Harley’s Bawal facility or any other asset as it is confident of contract manufacturing and assembly of Harley motorcycles in India.
      If the deal does materialise, then Harley could continue its operations in India at a considerably lower cost structure than before. Harley Davidson is currently evaluating options to continue offering servicing and spare parts to its existing customers. Reports suggest an official announcement could be made within 2 weeks.
      Other Manufacturers who quit India
      The Street 750 has been the most popular bike from the American bike manufacturer in India. Harley Davidson becomes the latest bandwagon of automotive manufacturers to quit India. The others include General Motors, Fiat, UM Motorcycles, MAN and Scania. More

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      KTM RC200 New Colour Scheme Spied At Dealer Yard – Launch Soon

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      With festive period nearing, KTM India is getting ready to launch a new colour scheme for RC 200
      If the KTM RC 200 is on your mind, customers can take delight in a new colour scheme. The ongoing festive season is a traditional period of heightened sales activity, and a new colour option, adds all the more spunk to the range, and thereby, sales.

      Already on dispatch from plant to reach dealerships, BS6 KTM RC 200 in new colour scheme has been spotted ahead of launch. BS6 KTM RC 200 was first launched in Jan 2020. Since then, it is being offered with a colour scheme which has plenty of black paint with orange graphics and orange wheels.
      In its new avatar, the tank and partial fairing is orange, and the remainder bits in black. Graphics are in grey and white combination. While orange wheels are a telltale KTM style, this one features an orange trellis frame, and black wheels.

      Engine Specs
      BS6 2020 RC 200 features a 199cc, single-cylinder engine that returns 24.6bhp and 19.2Nm, paired to a six-speed gearbox. The colour revision may also warrant a small price revision. This isn’t unexpected considering most manufacturers have used the last couple of weeks to introduce price revisions for a range of two wheelers. Not just the RC 200, but colour revisions are expected on RC 125 too.
      Sales
      KTM 200 range (Duke + RC) is the brand’s strongpoint, contributing to a lion’s share of sales in India. Only last month, sales fell shy of 3k units by a mere 8 units in the domestic market for the KTM 200. That’s a whopping 40 percent of total domestic sales. The 200 cc range also enjoys dominance in exports though exports did decline by 35 percent last month and fell to below 900 units, compared to a highpoint of 1,387 units a year earlier.
      Next Gen RC 200
      Next gen KTM RC 200
      While the current colour revision is something to look forward to, the company has already started road tests of the next-gen RC 200, which is likely to be launched in 2021. A business decision revision owing to Covid-19 pandemic, considering the bike was expected to get on the market in 2020 itself.
      Considering India’s importance for KTM both in terms of market size, and production, when launched, the next range bikes are most likely to show up here fast. Since the BS6 engine is already in play, it could be reworked to improve torque and power.
      Current RC 200 is available at a retail price of just below 2 lakhs. The latest play with colours is a common ploy at KTM. With the bikes already being popular, refreshing the colour range on a regular basis helps introduce newness, and keep a dialogue going. It goes without saying that KTM while revising colour schemes sticks to its core colour theme, and mostly resorts to reversing colour picks.
      Source More

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      Ather 450X Series1 Collector’s Edition Scooter Launched – Sporty and Black

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      Ather Energy’s initial launch plan targets consumers in 11 cities with the brand aiming to expand further to 10 more cities by the end of 2021
      Earlier this year, Bengaluru-based Ather Energy had announced 450X Collector’s Edition electric scooter. This was done to pay tribute to those thousands of customers who had shown faith in the brand Ather, and booked the 450X even before the company had revealed the scooter or announced its price.

      Today, Ather has finally taken wraps off their 450X Collector’s Edition. Called ‘Series1’, this is a limited edition production electric scooter, only for those who had booked 450X even before it was revealed. All those customers will now get a change to own Series1. Anyone else is not eligible to buy this scooter. The 450X and the Series1 would have been available to consumers had not been for the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent nationwide lockdown.
      Design & Features on offer
      We already know that the 450X is more powerful and feature loaded than the standard 450. The 450X Collector’s Edition Series1 gets all the power and fancy tech of 450X with some cosmetic upgrades. The Series1 comes with a high-gloss metallic black body colour combined with red accents which enhances its sporty appeal. This colour scheme is starkly different from the existing colour palette of grey, white and mint green.
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      The highlights are the translucent body panels which give a sneak peek of what’s underneath the scooter. Ather has been true to its commitment of providing an ‘inside-out design’ of this limited edition scooter. This is also the first scooter in India to offer tinted translucent panels.
      Ather will start shipping the 450X Series1 by November. But the translucent panels will only be made available by March 2021. Owners will get delivery with regular panels now, and that can be replaced once translucent panels arrive next year. Also, Ather says that only the chassis is visible through these panels, while what you store n the underseat storage is safe and not visible.

      Like the standard model it is based upon a distinct cast aluminum chassis and trellis frame which is visible under the seat. It is assisted by telescopic forks at front and a mono-shock suspension at rear which is also painted in red.
      Other standard features in the 450X like tyre pressure monitor, Bluetooth connectivity and regenerative braking have also been carried forward to Series1. It also features a 7-inch touchscreen on the dashboard carried from the standard 450X which gets a Series1 specific special intro screen and subtle hints of red in the UI designed for the scooters.
      Performance
      The Series1 gets the same mechanicals as that of 450X. It draws its power from a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) which is backed by a 2.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This setup is good enough to produce 6kW (8 bhp) of power and 26 Nm of peak torque which results in 0-40 kmph acceleration in just 3.3 seconds. It gets three riding modes- Eco, Ride, Sport, and a high-performance ‘Warp’ mode. It is also claimed to be one of the quickest scooters in the 125cc category.

      It received the improved charging technology from 450X which charges 50 percent faster than the standard 450. The claimed range is 85km according to the WLTP cycle. For every fast charging for ten minutes, it adds up 10km to the battery.
      Estimated Price and Availability
      The Ather 450X has been priced at Rs 1.59 lakh (ex-showroom). Price of Series1 has not been revealed. Ather says, “Price will be given to those who have pre-ordered 450X, if they want to opt for it.”
      Ather announced its first phase of expansion where the 450X will be sold across 11 cities across India and deliveries are set to begin from November. These include Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Coimbatore, Kozhikode, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kozhikode, and Kolkata. However, Ather added that initial batches of Series1 scooters will ship out with black panels which will be upgraded to the translucent panels in May 2021. More

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      Suzuki Intruder 250 Launch Teased For 7th Oct? – Bajaj Avenger Rival

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      Suzuki Motorcycle India has announced to launch a new motorcycle on 7th October 2020
      One of the fastest growing two wheeler brands in India, Suzuki Motorcycle will be launching a new motorcycle on 7th October. This has been confirmed via company’s latest teaser; which reads – “Introducing A Superior Way To Ride.” In addition to this, there is not much info revealed.

      If you look closely, the teaser image text has been imposed on a shape which resembles the digital speedometer of the Gixxer and Intruder motorcycles. Considering that the Gixxer series already has been launched with 155cc and 250cc engine option, it is likely that this new teaser more or less is indicating towards the launch of much awaited Intruder 250 cruiser motorcycle. Back in June this year, we had shared leaked patent images of Intruder 250.
      Existing Intruder is powered by the same 155cc engine which is seen on board the Gixxer 155cc. Not only that, the two also share a lot of parts like digital speedometer, brake system, etc. With Suzuki launching Gixxer 250 in India, it was only time that the Intruder 250 was launched.

      Engine Specs
      As mentioned before, new Suzuki Intruder 250 will be sharing engine with the existing Gixxer 250. It will be powered by a single cylinder 249cc oil cooled SOHC FI engine which is rated to deliver 26.5 PS @ 9300 rpm of power and 22.2 Nm @ 7300 rpm of peak torque. Engine is mated to a 6 speed gearbox while starter system is electric.
      In comparison, Intruder 150 FI receives a 154.9cc, single cylinder, 4 stroke, SOHC, air cooled engine offering 14.8 PS peak power at 8,000 rpm and 14 Nm peak torque at 6,000 rpm. This engine gets mated to a 5 speed gearbox.
      Dimensions of the new Suzuki Intruder 250 will be more or less similar to the Intruder 150 – which is 2130 mm long, 805mm wide, 1095 mm tall, 740 mm seat height, wheelbase of 1405 mm, ground clearance of 170 mm, fuel tank capacity of 11 liters. Kerb wt will be in the range of 165 kgs.
      Rivals
      Demand for cruiser motorcycles is on the rise. For long, it has been the territory of Royal Enfield motorcycles like the Classic, Bullet and the Thunderbird change. But times have been changing. In 2018, Jawa arrived; Bajaj also launched a more powerful Avenger – all with the aim to eat into the market share of Royal Enfield. But none have managed to succeed as RE enjoys near monopoly with over 85% market share.
      Now, in a span of few days, there is a likely chance that two new cruisers will be launched in India – both will be rival to the Royal Enfield’s. One will be from Honda, which will launch on 30th Sep (to be called Highness), the other will be from Suzuki, in the form of Intruder 250.
      With the launch of Intruder 250, Suzuki would be largely aiming at taking on the Bajaj Avenger series, which manages about 6k units sales every month. In comparison, the Intruder only manages about 150 units a month. More

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      Hero MotoCorp, Kia India Top Dealer Satisfaction Levels

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      The average satisfaction score across all segments were well below 600 points on a 1,000 point scale
      Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) has recently conducted Covid-19 Dealer Support Satisfaction Study. The report which was created in association with Singapore-based PremonAsia observes varying levels of support form OEMs to their respective dealer partners.
      Ranking parameters

      FADA’s dealer support satisfaction study during COVID-19 lockdown focused on 6 parameters to rate the OEMs – support on financial matters, communication, dealer manpower, lockdown related affairs, restart of business and future business evolution.
      Passenger vehicle segment
      The ranking list which is based on a 1,000-point scale witnessed only two passenger vehicle brands surpassing 600 points. Kia with a score of 736 points emerged as a clear leader in the dealer satisfaction study while Toyota Kirloskar Motor finished second with a tally of 641. Tata and Honda found themselves trailing their competitors in the mass market segment. As far as luxury segment is concerned, Audi just managed to breech the 600-point mark to lead its compatriots BMW and Mercedes who scored 531 and 500 points respectively.
      Dealer Satisfaction Level in Car Segment – Points out of 1000.
      Kia’s top score is a reflection of its dealers’ satisfaction regarding communication and dealer manpower related affairs. Toyota’s dealers were happy about the automaker’s financial support such as expediting settlements and offering financial assistance on inventory.
      Two wheeler segment
      Country’s market leader Hero MotoCorp topped FADA’s COVID-19 dealer support satisfaction study with 623 points. Honda and Royal Enfield managed to breech 500-point mark but the satisfaction levels are low in general. India Yamaha scored a paltry 398.
      Dealer Satisfaction Level in Two Wheeler Segment – Points out of 1000.
      CV segment
      Satisfaction levels in three-wheeler segment was below 600 points with Bajaj coming closest to that limit at 559 points. Things were even worse in medium and heavy commercial vehicle segments where the top scorer, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles (VECV), had a tally of 449 points. In the small and light CV segment, Mahindra scored 607 points while Tata Motors only managed to score 383 points. Force and Askok Leyland finished between the two.
      Dealer Satisfaction Level in 3W and CV Segment – Points out of 1000.
      Current outlook
      Even before the COVID-19 crisis, automobile dealers in India have been struggling due to a prolonged slowdown in the market. The pandemic couldn’t have come at a worst time. At times like these, support from the manufacturers become absolutely crucial for the dealer partners to ensure sustainability. With sales coming to a ground halt during lockdown period, several dealerships across the country were forced to shut down permanently while most others had to cut down on jobs.
      Moving forward, there is a general consensus among FADA members that there should be greater dealer empowerment in the future in addition to increased involvement in data analytics, digital marketing and technology. More

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      Harley Davidson Exits India, Employees To Be Laid Off – Official

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      No update on what will happen to existing dealer networks or customers of Harley Davidson motorcycles in India
      Today, Harley Davidson announced their official exit from the Indian market. Harley Davidson’s announcement of closing its manufacturing operations in India and reducing the size of its sales office in Gurgaon does not come as a surprise. Recently, the American cruiser brand revealed that it is withdraw from several international markets and focus only on 50 odd highly profitable ones.
      Harley Davidson India

      With only 2,500 units sold during last financial year, the Indian operations weren’t up to the HQ’s expectations. To make the matter’s worse, the outlook has been strongly affected by the ongoing pandemic situation. So, as a part of Harley Davidson’s ‘Rewire‘ medium-term restructuring strategy, the India operations will be wrapped up. The move will lead to job losses of approximately 70 employees in India.
      Harley Davidson operates an assembly plant in Bawal, Haryana which primarily builds Street 750, the brand’s best selling model in the country by far. In addition to India, HD is expected to walk out of several other markets.
      Harley Davidson India said that they are evaluating options to continue serving their existing customers for servicing and spares parts.
      The Rewire strategy
      Under the new leadership, Harley Davidson has made a major course correction by scaling back the aggressive expansion plans. The company now aims to focus in attention of handful of core markets and reduce its product portfolio by a good 30%. The scaling back will also affect the new models that were previously announced. For example, the Bronx 975 roadster which was destined to take on popular street fighters like the Triumph Speed Triple, Kawasaki Z900, etc., is now facing uncertainty.
      However, a recent spyshot of Harley Davidson 338 which is born out of a platform sharing partnership with China-based Qianjiang Group suggests that the entry-level motorcycle project is progressing as planned. The 338 would have given the new Royal Enfield range a run for its money in India but we guess we will never know.
      What now?
      There were reports that Harley Davidson is scouting for a viable partner in India to promote its upcoming medium displacement offerings. While there is no concrete evidence or announcements related to such a move, rumour mills indicate that Classic Legends and Hero MotoCorp are the leading contenders for a potential JV.
      If Harley Davidson can find a suitable partner in India, it could resume its operations with significantly reduced cost structure than before. If not operations, they could atleast offer servicing and spares to their existing customers. We do hope such a plan materializes. The American marque did say that it is “changing its business model in India and evaluating options to continue to serve its customers”.
      Harley Davidson joins the ever expanding list of automakers who walked out of India in the recent times. Other brands include GM, SsangYong, Fiat, UM Motorcycles, MAN and Scania. More

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      BS6 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Pro Launch Price Rs 11.95 Lakhs

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      After the launch of the BS6 compliant Panigale V2, Ducati has launched the Scrambler 1100 in India
      Italian motorcycling icon- Ducati had teased the much anticipated Scrambler in its BS6 guise a few days ago. Today, they have launched the same. BS6 Scrambler is on offer in two trims – Pro and Sport Pro, both powered by the same 1100cc L-Twin engine. Prices are Rs 11.95 lakhs and Rs 13.74 lakhs ex-sh, respectively. Bookings have opened across India at all authorized Ducati dealerships.

      The Scrambler 1100 will be the second BS6 offering by the Italian superbike manufacturer after Panigale V2 which was launched about a month ago. Panigale V2 has been priced at Rs 16.99 lakh (ex-showroom, India) and is offered in a single variant with two colour schemes on offer- Ducati Red and White Rosso Livery.
      In the BS4 era, the Scrambler 1100 range consisted of three variants- 1100, 1100 Sport and 1100 Special. Scrambler 1100 range on offer in Europe in its Euro 5 compliance form comprising two variants- 1100 Pro and 1100 Sport Pro. In India as well, the Scrambler will be available in both the trims- 1100 Pro and 1100 Sport Pro.

      Design
      Coming to the design of the new Scrambler, there are quite a few noticeable changes on the updated model. For starters, it gets an updated seat and a revised paint scheme. It also sports new body graphics in addition to the new reconfigured twin-muffler exhaust system. The number plate holder has been repositioned and now sits fairly low. The extension of the rear fender has been chopped off and is much shorter now.
      Difference between Sport and Sport Pro
      There are quite a few distinguishing aspects that separate the two variants. For instance, the higher-spec Sport Pro variant is steered by a lower and flatter handlebar with bar-end cafe racer style mirrors on either end. It also features a premium Ohlins suspension. On the other hand, the 1100 Pro is equipped with a Marzocchi fork at front and Kayaba mono-shock at rear. The Sport Pro additionally gets a matte black paint scheme as well.

      Powertrain
      The updated Scrambler 1100s get a BS6 compliant 1079cc L-Twin air-cooled motor which churns out 86PS of power at 7500rpm and 88.4Nm of peak torque at 4750rpm. The power figures witness a drop of 1.1 PS from its BS4 counterpart. Transmission is via 6 speed gearbox.
      Features
      In terms of features, the Scrambler 1100 range gets three riding modes- City, Journey and Active. As far as safety is concerned it gets a cornering ABS from Bosch and a four-stage Ducati traction control or DTC. Both variants of Scrambler 1100 get Pirelli MT60 RS tyres specifically developed for the model and brake calipers from Brembo.
      Mr. Bipul Chandra, Managing Director of Ducati India said, “Scrambler is one of the most characterful, free spirited and powerful entry level Ducati in our portfolio. The new Scrambler 1100 Pro range takes those qualities a notch higher allowing riders to explore endless possibilities on their rides. It’s a mix of style, comfort and performance that makes Scrambler 1100 Pro versatile and adaptive to everyone’s individual and demanding riding style. The meticulously thought Scrambler 1100 Pro and Sport Pro are designed to provide complete Scrambler experience as soon as you swing a leg over it. Both experienced and new riders will be able to extract the maximum out of this motorcycle considering its friendly nature and we expect them to have a lot of fun!” More