Best Bikes in India | No.1 Two Wheeler Magazine
Ever since the news broke that Jawa will be making a comeback with support from Mahindra, we have been waiting with bated breath for further details on what to expect. We now have more information on the powerplant that will drive the first modern motorcycles to be launched by the venerable Czech marque. [Read more…]
Mahindra have, since 2015, owned a controlling stake in Peugeot Motorcycles, a company known across Europe primarily for its scooters [Read more…]
Suzuki Motorcycles India have launched the competition-only RM-Z450 and RM-Z250 motocross machines, in the midst of our growing off-road riding culture. [Read more…]
The British marque, which holds about 20 per cent of the premium motorcycles market share in the country, has plans to expand their dealer network to second and third tier cities in the coming months. [Read more…]
With bikes like the BMW R 1250 GS, KTM 390 Adventure, Suzuki V-Strom 650 and Benelli TRK 502 expected to hit our market in the coming months, the adventure touring segment is set to get really interesting. [Read more…]
Story: Anosh Khumbatta
Photography: Ravi Chandnani
It was almost a decade ago, back in 2009, that Kawasaki opened up the quarter-litre sportbike segment with the twin-cylinder Ninja 250, a high-revving pocket rocket that made a name for itself as an outstanding beginner motorcycle for riders with a sporty bend of mind. [Read more…]
Cleveland CycleWerks (CCW) was formed in 2009, and specialize in building American-designed motorcycles with a retro touch. The firm boasts a presence in 23 countries, with a wide range of hardtail choppers, naked street bikes and flat-trackers, and have set their sights on the Indian market. [Read more…]
We recently did a story about the launch of the Vespa Notte 125, the Piaggio Group’s most affordable scooter yet; you can read that story here: http://bikeindia.in/vespa-notte-cheapest-vespa-scooter-in-india-launched/. The news today is that the Italian marque has now announced that they will soon begin production on the Vespa Elettrica, an electric scooter that will take the iconic Vespa design into the future.
Piaggio had earlier promised that they would start production of the Elettrica by late 2017, a deadline that is long past, but the latest reports suggest that production will start later this month. Sales are expected to kick off in Europe, before the model is introduced to the United States and then Asia, and we will hopefully see this Italian electric on Indian roads.
The Elettrica will be powered by an electric motor rated at 4.0 kW (5.4 PS) of peak power with 2.0 kW (2.7 PS) of continuous power on tap, with a decent amount of torque as well, we expect. Expect two riding modes — ‘eco’ and ‘power’, as well as a reverse mode to help with getting out of tight parking spaces. Range is expected to be in the region of 100 kilometres, and the scooter will be equipped with an on-board charger to ease charging on the go. The full TFT dash will pack in all the info a rider may need on the go, and the scooter will also feature smartphone connectivity for a bit of added convenience.
Vespa have also mentioned that a hybrid ‘X’ model is also in the works, which will use a conventional petrol engine as well as a battery pack, and use the engine as a generator to charge the battery back on the go. The hybrid model is expected to push range up to 195 kilometres; 145 on just the petrol motor, and another 50 on electric power alone. It must be noted here that the hybrid model gets a smaller battery pack, to make room for the engine.
The new bike, although mechanically identical to the current Classic 350, is inspired by the Indian Army Corps of Signals and is the first Royal Enfield motorcycle to feature ABS. [Read more…]
Harley-Davidson recently announced their plans for the future with a whole new line-up, but the American marque isn’t done yet. The company has now announced the FXDR 114, an all-new model that will sit at the top of their Softail line. Based on the existing Softail chassis and powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-twin, the FXDR 114 is expected to be one of the most performance-oriented cruisers to come out of the Harley-Davidson stables.
The 1,868-cc, liquid-cooled V-twin churns out an impressive 161 Nm of twist at a lowly 3,500 rpm, while the chassis is supported by an inverted 43-mm fork at the front and monoshock at the rear. The rear monoshock gets a remote preload adjuster, allowing the rider to dial it in based on the load and riding conditions, and is mounted to an aluminium swingarm. This bike has been built for spirited riding, and the upswept exhaust helps with cornering clearance; the FXDR 114 can lean to just over 32 degrees, further than any other Softail model. The solo seat and aluminium clip-on bars also lend the bike an aggressive riding position, with the rider positioned over the tank.
Speaking at the unveiling of this new motorcycle, David Latz, Lead Product Manager at Harley-Davidson, said “This motorcycle is really a blast to ride. The FXDR 114 surrounds the very capable Softail chassis with Milwaukee-Eight 114 power, premium front and rear suspension and a host of new weight-saving components and materials. This is a power cruiser that delivers exceptional ride and handling characteristics.”
There has been no word as to when we can expect the FXDR 114 to hit the Indian market, but with the fan following that H-D have in the subcontinent, it is sure to be a hit.
