TVS Motors Company’s ‘Ride of Honour’ was flagged off in Bhopal yesterday. The expedition is being conducted in association with the Indian Army and is meant to promote women’s empowerment and recruitment into the armed forces. [Read more…]
Archives for November 2018
December 2018
Double Delight
LAST MONTH I RODE THE ROYAL ENFIELD 650 TWINS IN THE US AND WE WERE REALLY impressed by the two motorcycles. At that time I speculated that the Conti GT would be priced around the Rs 3 lakh mark and the Interceptor around Rs 2.75 lakh. However, Siddhartha Lal blew us all into the Arabian Sea in Goa at the launch with the announcement of the prices: Rs 2.50 lakh for the Interceptor and Rs 2.65 lakh for the Continental GT. In fact, Siddhartha reminded me about a discussion we had had at their technical centre in the UK last year about how manufacturers tend to double the price of a motorcycle when they add a cylinder to the engine, say, from a single to a twin-cylinder. The single-cylinder 535 Conti GT was priced at Rs 2,10,000 and now Royal Enfield have not doubled the price, but just charged the cost of adding another cylinder. With this pricing Royal Enfield are sure to shake up the motorcycle market and, in the process, have also shown how manufacturers have been taking the customer for a ride.
Mahindra’s Classic Legends have brought the Czech brand, Jawa, back to life by launching the Jawa 300-cc, the “Jawa forty two”, and concept Perak with Bobber styling.
Last month Hero MotoCorp showed four versions of the X Pulse at the biggest motorcycle show in the world, EICMA (the Milan Motorcycle Show). The four variants looked very impressive. After parting ways with Honda, Hero have gone from strength to strength. Taking on the best global players head-on is no mean feat. Hats off to Pawanji for achieving monthly sales of 7,50,000 motorcycles. A great job, sir!
Aspi Bhathena
Editor
Yamaha India to Shift Focus to Premium Motorcycles Segment
Enthusiasts can rejoice; after what seems like forever, Yamaha India have decided to shift their attention away from small 100- to 150-cc commuters and concentrate on the development of more powerful, higher displacement machines. [Read more…]
2019 Bajaj Pulsar 150 Neon Launched at Rs 65,500
Pune-based two-wheeler major, Bajaj Auto, have introduced the 2019 version of their popular 150-cc motorcycle, which they now call the Pulsar 150 Neon. The 2019 version is being offered in black paint only, along with three neon body graphic options. [Read more…]
Triumph Motorcycles Completes Five Years in India
The past five years have seen the British marque flourish in the subcontinent, with big plans for the future. [Read more…]
Indian Motorcycle’s IMRG National Ride in Goa
The upcoming fifth edition of the National Ride of Indian Motorcycle Rider’s Group (IMRG) will be organized in Goa. [Read more…]
Triumph Street Scrambler First Ride Review
Story: Anosh Khumbatta
Photography: Kingdom Creative
We recently travelled to Portugal to ride Triumph’s new Street Scrambler, which for the 2019 model-year gets more power, better brakes, updated suspension components and a few cosmetic touches to differentiate it from the outgoing model. [Read more…]
Triumph Street Twin First Ride Review
Story: Anosh Khumbatta
Photography: Kingdom Creative
Triumph’s Modern Classic line-up has being going from strength to strength since the introduction of the new liquid-cooled engines in 2016, available across the range in 900- and 1,200-cc versions with various states of tune. [Read more…]
KTM 125 Duke Launched in India
Madness can also come in small packages. [Read more…]
ABS Version of KTM 200 Duke Launched
KTM have announced that the 200 Duke is now available with ABS in a move that shouldn’t surprise anyone unless you’ve been living under the proverbial rock. ABS is going to be compulsory by April 2019, and KTM India have been a bit proactive in ensuring that this braking tech is available to their Duke 200 customers from now itself. [Read more…]