Best Bikes in India | No.1 Two Wheeler Magazine
NOVEMBER 2012
Featuring:
Cover Story – Ducati Multistrada 1200 S
First Ride – New Royal Enfield 500cc Thunderbird
First Ride – TVS Phoenix
Comparo – Yamaha Ray vs Honda Dio
2012 INTERMOT Cologne Show
Safety feature: All about Helmets
Plus all the news, scoops and happenings from the automotive and motorsports world… grab your copy today!
They might not have had much to showcase at the Intermot this year, but Italian marque MV Agusta have all the plans to make the coming year exciting for the enthusiasts as they showcased the 2013 lineup of their popular Brutale model recently- the Brutale 1090 (standard), 1090 R and 1090 RR.
Though all three share the same in-line four cylinder 1078-cc powerplant, it’s the engine configuration for different power and torque figures that make them distinct. Where the 1090 (standard) and 1090R offer 146 PS of peak power, the 1090 RR comes with 160 PS of peak power in hand. The bike has both water and oil cooling with separate radiators and uses a cassette-style removable six-speed constant mesh transmission and multi-plate clutch. The 1090 RR also comes with a slipper clutch. Also, all the 2013 models of the Brutale 1090 come with improved suspension, fully adjustable 50mm inverted front fork, double silencers, apart from some other cosmetic changes.
Another good news for MV Agusta fans is that the company is thinking on the lines of getting a cheaper and better looking Brutale 675 in 2013. The price tag of the new 2013 Brutale 675 is expected to be Rs 6.28 lakh for the standard variant and Rs 6.56 lakh for the EAS (Electronic Assist Shift), in the Italian market.
TI cycles, one of the leading cycle brands in India have launched their ‘Montra’ performance cycle range in the country with their brand ambassador, Formula 1 racer, Karun Chandok.
Since the brand’s inception in 2011, the brand have inculcated many a firsts in the bicycle market in India, like the use of carbon fiber in production of their bikes.
Speaking on the launch, Rajesh Mani, GM, TI cycles stated, “We are delighted to have brand ambassador Karun Chandhok launch the new range of Montra Bicycles. We are proud to be the first Indian company to design and manufacture a wide range of world-class performance bikes catering to the affluent Indian”.
Karun Chandhok commented, “I rode the new hybrid bike, Montra Blues, and was fascinated by its ride comfort, design and paint finish. The ride was very comfortable on the Blues and “Montra” has created world class bikes with frame geometry suited for Indians. Knowing that these frames are indigenously manufactured in India, which is a remarkable feat by TI Cycles.”
The Montra range is being manufactured at the aluminum bicycle facility in Ambattur. Production is currently being ramped up to reach full utilization, while the firm has estimated to capture 15% of the performance bikes market in India. The Montra range will include three variants, which would be priced around the 17k mark. More details can be found at www.montra.in and www.trackandtrail.in
Action camera stalwart GoPro has released a new generation of its popular Hero video recorders.
The new Hero 3 action cameras are 30 % smaller and 25% lighter than their GoPro HD Hero 2 predecessors. The GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition which is the top model shoots 12-megapixel still images, a 4K resolution video at 15 frames per second, 1440p video at 48fps, 1080p video at 60 fps, and 720p video at 120fps. The Black edition performs at twice the speed of the lower models, the Silver and White Editions. It also comes with a Wi-Fi-connected remote control and is compatible with a GoPro app for smartphones. Next in the line-up is the GoPro Hero 3 Silver Edition, this one misses out on the Wi-Fi remote control, app compatibility, and uses a different sensor offering 11-megapixel still images with a 10fps burst, 1080p video at 30fps, 960p at 48fps, and 720p at 60fps. The base model in GoPro’s action camera refresh is the White Edition. In the same body as the Silver Edition, its meant more for a consumer-level video and photo recording and features a 5-megapixel still images at a 3fps burst, 1080p 30fps video, 960p also at 30fps, and 720p at 60fps. A set of accessories are going to be offered with the Hero 3, including rear LCD screen, battery ‘BacPacs’, various mounting systems and video output cables.
So here’s the thing, have you ever wondered why do cape crusaders and super heroes love to have a pair of slick wheels? Well apparently it’s for helping them save the world and flaunt their larger than life style.
Now many of you movie freaks might be aware of a certain movie by the name of Kick-Ass, which had insane butt-kicking by teenage superheroes. Now for their second coming in the movie Kick-Ass 2, movie character ‘Hit Girl’ a pint-sized assassin will ride a purple colour Ducati Panigale and fight crime.
This might come as a surprise for many that Hit Girl actress, 15-year old Chloe Moretz, can’t ride,let alone do all the stunts and so a stunt-woman has taken over the motorcycle riding duties for her. As in the graphic novel Hit Girl rode a motorcycle, but the comic book’s custom shopper has been replaced with a state-of-the-art Ducati in order to to widen the appeal of the movie. With this super heroine ready to battle the bad guys, we bet the ‘Deep Purple Ducati’ will smoke them out.
MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista of the San Carlo Honda Gresini team met some passionate Indian bikers in New Delhi recently as part of the Castrol Power1 Ride to MotoGP campaign.
Indian bikers were asked what they would do for a chance to ‘Ride to MotoGP’. Bikers responded by posting videos and using a Facebook application that saw 20,000 users and 1,735 entries. Castrol Power1 also connected with a 500,000-strong biker community across India by means of a virtual journey on motorcycle racing and the company’s 100-year association with the same. Bikers aere also invited to watch MotoGP 2012 live race screenings.
Contest winners will be treated to the thrill of a live MotoGP race at Sepang later in October 2012, accompanied by Castrol Power1 Brand Ambassador John Abraham. They will also cheer for the company’s rider Alvaro Bautista, who is looking to reach the podium again this season. Alvaro Bautista expressed his appreciation for Indian bikers’ passion for biking and motorsports, and joined @Castrolbiking on Twitter to remain in touch with Indian bikers. The company plans to bring more such riders to India and allow Indian bikers further chances to experience the fun of riding.
MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista of the San Carlo Honda Gresini team met some passionate Indian bikers in New Delhi recently as part of the Castrol Power1 Ride to MotoGP campaign.
Indian bikers were asked what they would do for a chance to ‘Ride to MotoGP’. Bikers responded by posting videos and using a Facebook application that saw 20,000 users and 1,735 entries. Castrol Power1 also connected with a 500,000-strong biker community across India by means of a virtual journey on motorcycle racing and the company’s 100-year association with the same. Bikers aere also invited to watch MotoGP 2012 live race screenings.
Contest winners will be treated to the thrill of a live MotoGP race at Sepang later in October 2012, accompanied by Castrol Power1 Brand Ambassador John Abraham. They will also cheer for the company’s rider Alvaro Bautista, who is looking to reach the podium again this season. Alvaro Bautista expressed his appreciation for Indian bikers’ passion for biking and motorsports, and joined @Castrolbiking on Twitter to remain in touch with Indian bikers. The company plans to bring more such riders to India and allow Indian bikers further chances to experience the fun of riding.
RoboCop fans will recall the lead character driving around in a Ford Taurus, which was nearly as significant to the story as RoboCop himself.
Fans of the movie will have to wait till 2014, as the movie’s release has been pushed back from the original release date of August 2013.
However, the 2014 remake will see him riding two wheels less! Yes – the vehicle of choice is now a sleek new futuristic motorcycle, with a black color scheme and elegant styling to match the lead character’s outfit. The bike features angular fairings and wheel covers for a sci-fi look. The ergonomics have also caught attention – there is a high seat, very low clip-on handlebars, and rear set foot pegs mounted far back on the swingarm, which makes for a virtually lying-down position when riding the bike. The special effects’ gear fitted to the bike makes it difficult to guess the identity of the donor bike. It has cues from Buell designs (possibly the 1125R), and the undoctored brake calipers remind one of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R (2008 or 2010).
The Crosstourer, a belated arrival from Honda, adds a distinctive and promising new option to the most vibrant category of motorcycling. We got astride it in Spain recently to see how it fared vis-à-vis BMW’s class-defining R1200GS or Ducati’s Multistrada [Read more…]
KTM has always been associated with the color orange – which is a good thing as they look mighty appealing in orange – but it is always refreshing to see the Austrian manufacturer’s products in other colours too.
Recently, an all new white and black paint scheme for the KTM 200 was unveiled by Bajaj who are looking to spice up the Duke range. Since its introduction, the neon orange baby Duke has become an eye-candy for every youngster in India. With it’s aggressive looks and naked appeal there are very few who disagree with the fact that the Duke is one of the best looking Indian motorcycles ever.
Bajaj have also hiked the price of the Duke 200; prospective buyers would now have to shell out 1.43 L (OTR Pune) if they want to own an exciting, fun, utterly mad Duke 200. We at Bike India feel that with the festive season just around the corner, addition of two new paint schemes will certainly help Bajaj bolster their already impressive sales further.
