Bike India Team

They Sure Look Sharper Now

May 16, 2012 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

As the TVS Apache series gets a facelift, we ride the RTR 180 to see if there are any surprises under the skin

The TVS Apache series has been quite popular in the sub-250-cc performance motorcycle segment. The last time the Apache received a notable design upgrade was in 2009 and three years is long time in the Indian motorcycle market.

The company, therefore, went back to the drawing board and tweaked the Apache’s design to come out with a sharper looking motorcycle. The new design has been adopted by the entire Apache range, which includes the RTR 160, RTR 180 and the RTR 180 ABS.

To start with, the RTR has a new head cowl that gives the bike an aggressive look. It also gets all-time running LED pilot lamps that were the highlight of their teaser campaign and they look stunning. The other most prominent change is the elongation of the tank shrouds. The tank shrouds are just pieces of plastic clinging on to the tank shell and are supposed to give the bike a sporty look as we know it, but, according to TVS, they also improve performance and aerodynamics, which helps in reducing engine heat! Looking at the design, we were baffled: why this otherwise proportionate bike has these sabre teeth when the ones on the earlier model were so much better. Other than those, however, the chiselled, sharper lines of the bodywork, with carbon-fibre finished plastic inserts in a few places look good. The bike also gets new switches that are very ergonomic, decals hailing from the Hyper Edge variant, all metal rear foot-pegs and a better looking seat cover.

Under the new body, however, there are hardly any changes. The RTR 160 is powered by the same 159.7-cc, four-stroke engine producing 15.4 PS of power and 13.1 Nm of torque while the RTR 180’s 177.4-cc engine churns out 17.3 PS of power and 15.5 Nm of torque.

The bike is still plagued by high-frequency vibrations from the seat, handlebar and foot-pegs and, owing to its stiffer suspension, it does not offer a very comfortable ride. However, handling still remains a strong point in case of the Apache.

The colours available in the new series include dual-tone colours for the RTR 160 (green, red, yellow or grey with black base) and single-tone (yellow, grey, white or black) for the RTR 180 while the RTR 180 ABS comes in either white or black. The prices of the 2012 series Apache are Rs 75,493 for the RTR 160, Rs 82,554 for the RTR 180 and Rs 94,447 for the RTR 180 ABS.

The 2012 series Apache hasn’t met the expectations of upgrades in performance, but the new look has given the heave-ho to the dated looking design and will help the bikes hold their own in this heavily fought segment.

Photography: Sanjay Raikar

Harley-Davidson rolls into eastern India

May 16, 2012 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

The eight dealership of India, Bengal Harley-Davidson, is now officially open

A spanking new showroom at Rajarhat, en-route to Kolkata’s international airport, is the new pilgrim spot for Harley-Davidson aficionados of eastern India. Christened as Bengal Harley-Davidson, the inauguration saw Harley-Davidson owners from the region converging at the showroom. Managing Director of Harley-Davidson India, Anoop Prakash along with bike owners rode through the ‘City of Joy’ to make the presence felt. This strategic location of the showroom should open the floodgate for the thirsty bike enthusiasts also from the North East.

The Milwaukee based company already has dealerships in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Hyderabad.

Harley-Davidson rolls into eastern India

The eight dealership of India, Bengal Harley-Davidson, is now officially open

The Milwaukee based company already has dealerships in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Hyderabad.

Audi-Ducati’s first offering

May 16, 2012 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Audi and Ducati’s first ofering is certainly more radical than we thought

After German car maker Audi took over Ducati, we did expect something worth raising eye-brows from the clan. But much to our surprise (and unlike our guesses of a ‘diesel L-twin’), the news is that the company has built an electric pushbike. The electric pedal bike, or “pedelec’ has been designed keeping stunting in mind, with a dedicated mode (called ‘Wheelie’ mode, in which the power to rear wheel is moderated when front wheel is in air). Weighing about 7 kgs more than a conventional pushbike, the bike has a carbon fibre frame and 26” carbon fibre-reinforced plastic wheels. Powered by a Li-ion battery, the range of the pushbike is 50-70 km, with a top speed of 80 km/h. The most interesting feature of the bike is an on-board computer which wire-lessly communicates with the rider’s smart-phone, along with keeping a record of the number of stunts rider has performed, along with comparing them to others on Facebook.

This interesting piece of machine will be revealed at Worthersee Volkswagen Group enthusiast expo later this year.

From India, to the World

May 16, 2012 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Suzuki plans to make India an export hub

Suzuki Motorcycles India Private Limited recently announced its second plant which will come up in Rohtak, Haryana. The foundation stone laying ceremony was performed by Haryana chief minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda. This new plant will be finished by 2014 and will have an annual capacity of 500,000 units. Suzuki Motorcycles will be further expanding this plant depending on the growth of the Indian market.

Suzuki is also planning to use India as an export hub for its two-wheelers, especially the mass-segment commuters. SMIPL National Head-Marketing, Anu Anamika recently said at the launch of the Hayate mass-segment motorcycle “Yes, this is possible, but I cannot tell you which part of the country this would be located.” Exports to neighbouring countries have already commenced from the Gurgaon plant and this is proposed to be stepped up in future with exports to Southeast Asian countries, too.

The Gurgaon unit, on which a Rs.400-crore investment has been made since the company commenced operations at this unit in 2006, has an annual capacity of 3.6 lakh units (of scooters and motorcycles). This will be ramped up to 5.4 lakh units by 2013-14 when investment would increase to Rs.500 crore, according to Ms. Anamika.

Yamaha’s big plan for India

May 14, 2012 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Setting up a new two-wheeler factory in Tamil Nadu

India Yamaha Motor (IYM) Pvt. Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Tamil Nadu approving the construction and operation of a new two-wheeler factory in the state. The new facility will join the company’s Surajpur (UP) and Faridabad (Haryana) factories to meet the rising demand for two-wheelers in India, where the new factory could also produce scooters, like the Ray which was displayed during the 2012 Auto Expo.

The new factory is to be constructed on a lot of approx. 440,000 sq.m. in an industrial park in Vallam Vadagal on the outskirts of the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Plans call for the construction of a factory facility with a total floor space of approx. 114,000 m2 and is scheduled to begin in September 2012, with completion and start of operations scheduled for January 2014. The company aim to employ 1,800 people and have an annual two-wheeler production rate of 400,000 units at the start of operations. Production capacity will then be increased in stages to a level of 1.8 million units annually by 2018, at which time employment is expected to reach 6,500 people. The forecast for the total investment in the new factory and facilities is approx. Rs 1,500 crores over the next five years.