Top Stories

Subterms

    More stories

    • 125 Shares189 Views

      BMW R18 Cruiser Motorcycle India Launch Price Rs 18.9 Lakh

      by

      BMW R18 takes its inspiration from the design of the 1965 model R5 and is the first traditional cruiser from the German brand in India
      BMW Motorrad India has launched their flagship cruiser motorcycle in India today. The Heritage-Series bike is BMW’s answer to motorcycles in the cruiser segment from Indian Motorcycles and Harley Davidson. It will also take on the likes of Ducati Diavel 1260 and the recently introduced Triumph Rocket 3 GT.

      This is the first attempt by BMW to bring a traditional cruiser bike to India. Price of standard edition is Rs 18.9 lakhs and that of First Edition is Rs 21.9 lakhs, ex-sh. Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “The all-new BMW R 18 is BMW Motorrad’s much-anticipated entry into the cruiser segment. Fans and motorcycling enthusiasts in India have been eagerly waiting for this day.”
      Design
      BMW R18 draws its design inspiration from the 1965 R5 model with cues taken from the traditional swingarm, fuel tank, the exposed shaft-drive and exhaust pipes. Overall, its design resembles that of a conventional old-school bobber that sits on a double-cradle steel frame. The frame also covers the beautifully sculpted engine which highlights the impressive presence of the bike.
      BMW R18 – Standard vs First Edition
      Its retro look gets further accentuated by a round headlamp, wide handlebars, an exhaust pipe finished in chrome and spoked wheels. BMW will be offering two variants of the R18- a standard completely blacked-out version and a First Edition with more white pinstripes and chrome. The First Edition will also feature further distinguishing elements such as a seat badge with a ‘First Edition’ clasp, a copper-lettered logo on the tank and a Blackstorm metallic paint job.
      Powertrain
      As far as performance is concerned, the R18 is powered by the largest twin-cylinder boxer motor of 1802cc displacement. This engine is capable of generating 91 bhp of power at 4,750rpm and 158Nm of peak torque at 3,000rpm. This unit is mated to a six-speed gearbox with a shaft drive setup.

      Features
      In terms of features, the upcoming cruiser gets an all-LED Lighting setup, an analog instrument cluster, heated grips and an optional reverse gear. The safety equipment consists of ABS, traction control, hill-hold assist and switchable Automatic Stability Control (ASC). The ACS is complemented by MSR which prevents the rear wheel slip in case of aggressive downshifting and acceleration. Additionally, it gets three driving modes- Rain, Roll and Rock.
      Dynamics
      Suspension duties on the motorcycle is carried out by telescopic forks at front and a mono-shock unit at rear. Meanwhile, anchoring duties are carried out by dual discs of 300mm dia and single disc of 300mm dia at rear. The stand on 120/70 R 19 wheels at front and 180/65 B16 at rear.
      BMW R18 Specs
      While the high-end cruiser bike segment has not been very popular among the masses. However, BMW aims to attract a fair share of buyers who would definitely like to flaunt a premium bobber on the streets. More

    • 138 Shares119 Views

      Honda Teases Exhaust Note of New Motorcycle – Royal Enfield rival

      by

      Honda has released a new teaser with audio, indicating the soon-to-be-launched product could be a twin-cylinder cruiser
      Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) recently teased a new product which is scheduled to be launched on September 30. The teaser read “Your Highness is arriving”. The company has followed up the teaser with an audio of the exhaust note today. The solid thumping of the exhaust note makes us think the mystery Honda has a twin-cylinder heart.
      Is it Honda Rebel 500 Cruiser?

      The exhaust note also strongly indicates that the motorcycle in question could be a cruiser. If we combine the parameters twin-cylinder and cruiser, the first product that comes to mind is the Honda Rebel 500 cruiser.
      Products like Bajaj Avenger and Royal Enfield Thunderbird (which is soon to be succeeded by Meteor) has made the cruiser body style quite popular among Indian motorcycle enthusiasts. The relaxed riding position and unhurried yet effortless performance of a medium displacement cruiser make it an attractive proposition for daily urban grind and the occasional weekend getaway. With Royal Enfield not likely to address the 500 cc cruiser segment with its next generation J Platform range, the Honda Rebel 500 could slot in a sweet spot. Listen to the audio teaser below.
      [embedded content]
      Honda Rebel 500 – Specifications
      The Rebel 500 is equipped with a 471 cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine which is the mainstay of Honda’s hugely popular medium displacement range of motorcycles. Paired with a 6-speed transmission, the engine develops 45.5 hp and 44.6 Nm of torque. On board the cruiser, the motor is tuned to delivery good low-end torque and relaxed highway performance.
      As far as hardware goes, the Honda medium displacement cruiser sports a trellis frame, telescopic front forks, twin rear shock absorbers, front and rear disc brakes with dual-channel ABS, alloy wheels and high-profile tyres. A low-set saddle, high-mounted handlebar and forward-mounted rider foot pegs make for a quintessential cruiser ergonomics.
      The Honda Rebel 500 adopts textbook cruiser styling but integrates modern features like full LED headlamp and fully digital instrument console. The steeply inclined fuel tank gives it a unique character. The Rebel 500 weights 191 kg and carries a fuel tank capacity of 11.2 liters. As per the WMTC cycle, the cruiser’s fuel efficiency stands at 27 kmpl.
      Rivals
      The Honda Rebel 500, if launched in India, would be pitted against Royal Enfield’s upcoming 650 cc cruiser. It would also be pitched as a cheaper alternative to the Harley Davidson Street 750. We expect Honda to employ CKD assembly rather than import the cruiser as a CBU. This way, the pricing can be competitive.
      It is also possible that HMSI’s new mystery product is not exactly the Rebel 500 but a closely related variant which is fined tuned for the Indian market. We will know soon. More

    • 125 Shares129 Views

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

      by

      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

    • 175 Shares199 Views

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

      by

      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

    • 125 Shares149 Views

      Bajaj Chetak bookings closed as company struggles to meet demand

      by

      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

    • 163 Shares119 Views

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

      by

      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

    • 138 Shares119 Views

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

      by

      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

    • 163 Shares199 Views

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

      by

      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