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Pulsar NS400Z – CHALA APNI

Jim Gorde

Honda’s Factory Custom: VT1300CX Fury

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Honda VT1300CX Fury 2 web

We’ve watched several custom choppers being built on TV, but rarely has a manufacturer offered a vehicle which looks like a custom the instant it rolls out of the showroom.

Yes, Harley-Davidson and, now, Triumph have a selection of cruisers to choose from and loads of accessories and customisation options to go with them. However, not everyone spends time and money customising them. Every cruiser with a V-twin engine is, more often than not, mistaken by many as a Harley-Davidson. So, would you want to go out and buy a bike which looks like a tailored custom chopper? Honda certainly think so.

Kicked out rake, long front suspension, loads of chrome, skinny 90/90 front rubber on a 21” wheel and inversely proportional 200/50 rear rubber on an 18” wheel, long, drooping fuel tank and an engine and exhaust system which look to be chiselled out of single lumps of metal. Quite the offering, then, but is it a typical custom?

Thankfully, no. Honda’s refinement and reliability are legendary and the same is brought forward here in the Fury, or VT1300CX you see here. The 1,312cc V-twin engine makes 57.7 PS and a healthy 107 Nm at just 2,250 rpm, and is paired to a 5-speed transmission. The company’s PGM-FI system is responsible for fuel delivery and it doesn’t compromise in any application. The riding position is relaxed, and even with a weight of 309 kg dry, the acceleration is brisk and overtaking is a breeze. The large brakes with ABS make stopping drama-free and give optimum control.

Honda VT1300CX Fury 1 web

Honda have had the Fury on sale for over a year now, but its numbers have not been encouraging. The bike was a part of the India Bike Week in February 2013, but there still aren’t too many around. It is an exclusive ride indeed, and when you consider the price – Rs 15.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) – you realise that’s only competition comes in the form of The Harley-Davidson Softail line: the Fat Boy and the Heritage Classic, and the Triumph Thunderbird. Owning a big cruiser will always lead to exclusivity, but being unique is another story altogether, isn’t it?

Story: Jim Gorde

KTM RC models in India soon

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KTM RC India web

KTM thrilled many with their RC200 and RC390 sport models when they first showcased them. Now though, the website update would mean that they will be in India sooner than we expected.

KTM RC200 India web

The KTM India website states that the RC200 and RC390 are ‘coming soon to India’. This means that the launch is likely to take place in the first half of 2014, rather than the latter half as we first expected. The bikes will roll out of Bajaj’s Chakan facility and are expected to carry price tags only slightly higher than their respective Duke siblings.KTM RC390 India web

Both bikes retain the same engine specifications as the Duke line, but feature parts and bodywork specifically made for the RC line. Thus, you get a four-valve, liquid cooled single cylinder motor: 199.5cc and 25 PS in the RC200 and 373.2cc and 43.5 PS in the RC390. The tank capacity is only marginally lower at approximately 10 litres usable. The dry weights for the RC200 and RC390 are 137.5 kg and 147 kg respectively.

The RC line will offer a much sportier riding position than the Duke line and come packing full fairings, aggressive styling and what is sure to be nimble handling. The RC line is the first derivative of their Moto3 program. However, expect performance to be thrilling while being offered in a package which lasts longer and brings higher levels of refinement and durability. For the uninitiated, KTM’s track bike and Moto3 contender, the RC250R, makes 50 PS at 13,000 rpm from a 249.5cc single. The bike weighs only 83 kg. That’s a power-to-weight ratio of 602 PS/tonne!

KTM RC250R Moto3

We expect Bajaj to showcase the KTM RC200 and RC390 at the upcoming Auto Expo. The response they generate will in all probability decide the time of launch, and it looks set to be sooner rather than later already.

KTM RC390 India 2 web

See more of what you can expect from these bikes in this video:

 

Story: Jim Gorde

Heads Up: Fastrack Helmets Out!

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Fastrack Helmets 1 web

Titan is a leading name in the Indian market, and their Fastrack brand is one of the foremost names; offering the youth a plethora of unconventional choices when it comes to watches, eyewear, bags and jewellery. Now, the company has ventured into something particularly of interest to us here at Bike India – helmets.

Fastrack Helmets 2 web

Titan has announced the launch of Fastrack Helmets, the collection of which was revealed at the fashion show by renowned designer Prasad Bidapa. The aim is to break new ground in the riding gear and safety industry with Titan’s steadfastness coupled with the bold and edgy nature of the Fastrack brand. Helmets have always been more about simply saving your noggin, for many, a helmet is a style statement and, more often than not, an extension of your association with the motorcycle you ride. Thus, apart from being safe and secure, and meeting all ISI parameters, Fastrack helmets are being made available in a wide range of colours and featuring vibrant graphics: 24 different variants of which will be on shelves for him and her to choose from.

Fastrack Helmets 3 web

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the event, Bhaskar Bhat, Managing Director, Titan Company Limited said, “India has one of the highest number of two-wheelers in the world. With unorganized players currently driving the helmet business, the category has a large potential in the market. The organized helmet market is estimated at approximately Rs 400 crore, accounting for 45% of the retail market. Using our in-house design and marketing expertise and wide retail footprint we took a step to enter the helmets sector. The category is currently largely unorganized and under-served and with our superior quality product, we aim to ensure safety and comfort for two-wheeler riders.”

The new range of Fastrack helmets will become available at exclusive Fastrack stores across the country, priced between Rs 1,495 and 3,495.

Story: Jim Gorde

Fastrack Helmets 4 webFastrack Helmets 5 web

Watt a Bike!

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Voxan Wattman 1 webFrench manufacturer Voxan have introduced the most powerful electric motorcycle in the world. The Wattman, an upscale and extremely powerful machine, is a milestone in French motorcycling history.

The Voxan Wattman uses radical technology and design, with an innovative approach to electric motorcycle construction. The smooth, yet unmistakeably aggressive design language screams business and it looks as fast as it goes. Performance is nothing short of seriously impressive. Going from what the company claims, 0-100 km/h takes 3.4 seconds, while 0-160 km/h takes 5.9 seconds. The top speed is 170 km/h. These numbers are thanks to an unbelievably advanced drivetrain which comprises of an ultra-compact 12.8 kWh Lithium-Ion battery and a star of an electric motor.

Voxan Wattman 2 web

The electric motor powering the Wattman uses permanent magnets and puts out a whopping 200 PS between 7,500 and 10,500 electric motor rpm. That number is topped only by the eye-popping 200 Nm of peak torque it produces: between 1 to 6,000 revs, no less. The power is transmitted by the 35mm electric motor belt drive to the massive rear wheel wrapped in Michelin Commander II 240mm-wide rubber. Braking too is significantly advanced, using 230mm discs front and rear, with Beringer’s 4D System. The battery promises a range of 180 kilometres; not bad considering the whole bike weighs 350 kg. Furthermore, when using a ‘Combo-II quick charge’ power socket, 80% of the charge can be achieved in just 30 minutes.

Voxan Wattman 3 web

The company stated, “Voxan inaugurates a new motorcycle architecture built around a motor-battery pack carrier set. The frame is replaced by an ultra-rigid exoskeleton, integrating all the components of the powertrain. This results in a very pure motorcycle without a visible technical feature.”

According to Sacha Lakic, its designer, “This aluminium exoskeleton which contains the battery is the motorcycle’s signature. You can tell from this design that it is an electric machine.”

The Voxan Wattman will be produced only on order, with each unit being hand-built in France.

Story: Jim Gorde

Voxan Wattman 4 web