VinFast is set to enter the Indian two-wheeler market early next year. We were invited to Vietnam to experience everything we may expect from Vingroup, the Vietnamese conglomerate, in the near future.
VinFast Electric Scooters – Fuelling the Charge
Indian Chieftain PowerPlus Limited First Ride Review
Hot on the heels of their King of the Bagger racing success, Indian Motorcycle produce the stunning Chieftain, using the big 112 PowerPlus motor. Here is our first impression following a ride in Nevada.
Story: Adam Child ‘Chad’
Photography: Indian Motorcycle and Motocom
We expect BMW to deploy World Superbike technology in their road bikes and we expect MotoGP-inspired aerodynamics to appear on Ducati’s street legal Panigales. But when it comes to the bagger and cruiser market, we certainly do not associate racing with such laid-back road bikes. Until now, that is.
Things changed when the King of the Bagger series was introduced in the United States of America in 2020. Racing big and heavy V-twins designed and equipped for a two-up cruise into the country was a crazy, counter-intuitive idea, but the wild spectacle the racing provided proved a massive hit with the American public—and viewing figures skyrocketed.
Indian Motorcycle have been at the forefront, taking three championships in 2020, 2022, and 2024, and, despite the company’s focus on cruisers, tourers, and baggers, we should not really be surprised. Indian have recently dominated flat-track racing in the USA with the FTR, while the history books are filled both with racing success and land speed records, most notably Burt Munro’s 184 mph (296 km/h), set in 1967 on a 1920 Indian Scout Streamliner.
The engine that has taken Indian to recent success in bagger racing is the water-cooled PowerPlus 112, a single overhead cam V-twin with a capacity of 112 cubic inches (or 1,834 cubic centimetres) that churns out 126 hp and a gargantuan 181.4 Nm of torque. The 112 can now be found in the all-new Chieftain PowerPlus, which we have on test, and its larger sibling, the Roadmaster PowerPlus, which is essentially a Chieftain but fully dressed, with a top box and back-rest.
We also had the opportunity to ride the new Challenger, which again uses the same chassis, engine, and technology as the Chieftain, but has a larger chassis-mounted fairing, as opposed to the fork-mounted fairing on the Chieftain.
But it is not just about the new class-leading motor. Indian have introduced technology we would normally only associate with sport bikes, such as a six-axis IMU, which facilitates the introduction of lean-sensitive rider aids. There are also three riding modes, linked braking, hill hold control, and even a rear-mounted radar for tailgate warning, collision warning, and blind spot warning. Add a keyless ride, remote locking for the bags, USB charging sockets, cruise control, a large touchscreen 7.0-inch dash, an electric screen, rear cylinder deactivation to aid engine heat management, plus the mandatory audio system and you can see that the Chieftain is embracing 21st century technology in a way not seen on a bagger before.
With its unique styling, sporty new motor, and feast of technology, we needed a full day in the saddle to put the new Indian to the test. Fortunately, Indian had the perfect backdrop: the Nevada desert outside Las Vegas. If the Chieftain was going to succeed anywhere, it would be here.
Let me be honest: the last big American cruiser I rode was the Indian Challenger race bike in the summer of 2023. It was a 290-km/h, hand-built replica of the bike that took the King of the Bagger Championship in 2022 in the hands of Tyler O’Hara. It has also been a while since I have ridden an American bagger on the road, although I have recently sampled the European equivalent, BMW’s R 18 Roctane. But one thing I know for sure is that certain bikes fit certain styles and environments and here in Nevada, just outside Vegas, and glistening in the early morning sunlight, the all-new Indian Chieftain looked stunning. It is a truly jaw-dropping motorcycle.
Indian now produce two liquid-cooled bikes with the new 112 motor: the Chieftain and the Challenger. For 2025, both share key components—engine, chassis, and electronics, et cetera—the main difference being the style and fairing. The Chieftain has the bagger-defining twin-mounted panniers—or bags—and a smaller fork-mounted and classic-looking fairing, while the Challenger’s larger fairing is frame-mounted and more modern in look.
In terms of garage appeal, I prefer the Chieftain, especially in this stunning red paint. The level of finish is exceptionally high and a sense of quality only increases when you throw a leg over the low (672 mm) seat. The switchgear is well thought out, with cruise and screen control on the right ’bar, screen navigation on the left. The 7.0-inch full-colour touchscreen dominates the handlebar-mounted fairing with a pleasing-to-the-eye analogue speed and rev counter on either side.
Standing in the parking lot, big V-twin purring away, I was a little overawed. Not by the enormous weight (366 kg, dry), which is positioned manageably low in the chassis, but more by the huge amount of information and data at hand, including full touchscreen navigation. Once we got rolling, though, and were cruising steadily into the traffic-free desert, it all became second nature. Within 15 minutes of riding, I had saved two radio stations (Radio X and Best of Country), the electric screen was fully upright, I was in the middle riding mode of three (Sport, Standard, and Wet), and had played around with the integrated sat-nav. That touchscreen is intuitive to use, while four large buttons and one single button are simple shortcuts to make life even easier.
Other manufacturers could take a lesson from Indian here: the Chieftain has one of the most informative and easy-to-use displays I have used. A lot is going on—you can change the stereo settings, turn on and deactivate the rear collision warning, even switch off the traction control on the move—but it is all doable without too much thought or risk of becoming distracted. Admittedly, we were riding in an empty desert and things might be different in the city rush hour, but 30 minutes into our ride, I was already falling in love with the Chieftain.
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Savsol Lubricants Revamp Brand; Sign Sidharth Malhotra
Savsol Lubricants have announced Bollywood youth icon Sidharth Malhotra as their brand ambassador in a major brand revamp, while also revealing advanced technological innovations.
Savsol Lubricants, a leading player in automotive and industrial lubricants, announced the launch of Savsol Ester 5, a pioneering range of lubricants with cutting edge technology set to transform product lines and the lubricants market.
Alongside this significant introduction, Savsol Lubricants also announced the signing of Bollywood youth icon Sidharth Malhotra as brand ambassador. With this strategic move, the company aims to enhance its brand visibility and reach while also forging a stronger bond with customers and consumers. The partnership with Sidharth marks an important milestone in Savsol’s journey to introduce the most advanced range of products under the Savsol Ester 5 brand name.
Gautam N Mehra, Chairman and MD, Savita Oil Technologies Ltd, said, “We are thrilled to unveil our path-breaking Ester fluid technology, with a range of Ester products, that will set new benchmarks in the lubricants industry. With Sidharth Malhotra on board, we are poised to achieve new heights of excellence and continue to deliver exceptional products and experiences for our customers.”
“Our commitment to innovation compels us to constantly push boundaries and redefine industry standards. Savsol Ester 5 is a range with revolutionary lubricant technology containing Esters that underscores our dedication to delivering exceptional products that cater to the evolving needs of our customers. After years of R&D efforts we are proud to be able to deliver this advanced chemistry across a product range, optimized for the everyday commuter”, said Sidharth G Mehra, Executive Director, Savita Oil Technologies Ltd.
On his appointment as brand ambassador, actor Sidharth Malhotra remarked, “I am delighted to partner with Savsol Lubricants and further its commitment to offering consumers a distinctive automotive driving experience. The collaboration with an innovative brand such as Savsol aligns with my pursuit of excellence, and I look forward to embarking on this journey together.”
The partnership with the celebrated actor is a reflection of Savsol’s forward-thinking vision rooted in innovation and technology. With Sidharth Malhotra as brand ambassador, Savsol aim to extend their reach to a broader audience, while consolidating their reputation as the preferred choice for cutting-edge lubricants and services.
Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Long Term Review
The all-new Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has settled into the Bike India garage.
[Read more…] about Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Long Term Review
Log 9 Materials Rapid Charging Batteries Introduced
Log 9 Materials, a nanotechnology company specializing in graphene, have recently launched rapid charging batteries for electric vehicles (EV) that can be charged in less than 15 minutes.
With lithium-ion batteries already being considered impractical for large-scale application by those within the industry, it’s only a matter of time before the post-lithium era — spoken about by leading technology giants — becomes a reality. Log 9 have been working on enhancing electric mobility for the past three years, continually developing technologically-advanced power storage and power generation solutions designed for specific platforms, in a bid to push for faster EV adoption. Their new rapid charging batteries should help this cause greatly.
The new rapid charging batteries are the first-ever fast-charging two- and three-wheeler energy storage solutions in India use super-capacitor technology. They take less than 15 minutes to charge for a range of more than 60 kilometres. More importantly, they also last for 15 years or more, lowering life-time running costs considerably. These packs also offer up to five times more peak power resulting in increased load-bearing capacity and acceleration. They are also safer in terms of fire- and impact-resistance, compared to lithium-ion batteries.
Log 9’s battery packs promise a true range of more than 70 km for two-wheelers. Large-scale pilots have already commenced in partnership with companies such as Amazon, Vogo, Shadowfax, and Delhivery, among other key fleet operators.
Log9 Materials are recognized for trying to revolutionize the energy sector with an innovative zero-emission, low-cost aluminium-air fuel cell. Their mission is to create a clean, circular energy economy. Their fuel cell prototype powers an automobile for 1,000 km with zero waste and zero emissions with the battery’s novel air-cathode selectively allows air to pass through to the electrolyte, reacting with the aluminium placed inside a chamber to generate electricity. The by-product, aluminium hydroxide, is deposited at the bottom of the fuel-cell in a powder form that can be recycled at a smelter and reused in the same battery again. Fresh aluminium in a rectangular ‘cassette-like’ form is put into the fuel-cell, a process that takes less than five minutes. One of the biggest attractions is the fact that the cost does not scale in proportion to an increase in energy capacity of the fuel cell.
