Jim Gorde

The day has arrived and British motorcycle giants, Triumph Motorcycles, are finally in India. The company has launched 10 models and has also announced the first phase of dealerships in the country. [Read more…] about Triumph Motorcycles are here!

Hearing the words ‘Harley Davidson’ always evokes images of big, burly cruisers in your mind, doesn’t it? Well, they don’t really get any bigger than this: the 2014 CVO Limited.

CVO is short for Custom Vehicle Operations – H-D’s highly exclusive custom programme. This basically refers to even more customisation options than what the company usually offers a buyer, while also bringing bigger, more powerful engines.

The 2014 CVO Limited is one of the biggest and heaviest models to come out of their portfolio. It also incorporates all the updates that Project Rushmore has to offer. At 428 kg, the CVO Limited is one heavy tourer, and, it needs a special engine just to make sure the performance you would need is there. A 110 cubic-inch, or 1,802cc Twin-Cam, High-Output V-twin engine with the company’s new Twin-Cooling system ensures maximum performance, with peak power, we estimate about 110 PS, together with 160 Nm of torque at 3,750 rpm bringing the party. The addition of Reflex-Linked Brembo brakes with ABS, Daymaker LED headlamps and fog lamps and the revised seating and infotainment systems all make for what could well be a benchmark in highway touring.

The CVO Limited is surely an eye-catching addition to the range and at $38,999 in the US (Rs 24.5 lakh approx), it will be an exclusive motorcycle indeed. We at Bike India sure hope it makes its way to India soon!

Story: Jim Gorde

Of late, there has been news making the rounds that Honda are all set to debut a naked power cruiser: the Gold Wing F6C. Rumour has it that this particular bike is set to based on the Honda EV6 Concept; shown . Honda officials have stated that the new Gold Wing is set to fill-in the gap between the CTX1300 and the Gold Wing F6B under the manufacturer’s 2014 product portfolio.

The rumoured Honda Gold Wing F6C will sport a low cruiser like stance and will be much lighter in comparison to its siblings. However, the new Gold Wing will sport the same engine as the standard F6B model – Honda’s reliable 1,832cc six-cylinder engine – which will be tuned to produce a lower 108 PS, but a higher 157 Nm of torque.

More good news for future buyers is that despite being built off the Gold Wing platform, the new F6C is stated to be almost 70 kg lighter than the Honda Gold Wing GL1800, which should bring it in around 340 kg kerb. This would mean that the F6C, with its naked approach, will also be 45 kg lighter than its fully-faired sibling, the F6B.

Honda head honchos have also revealed that the F6C’s chassis will be made from an aluminium mult-box twin-spar frame, with the GL1800 engine mounted as a stressed member. Honda designers are giving more emphasis on the subframe and a low pillion seat, all in an effort to maintain rider stability at low speeds and to improve handling at higher velocities.

All in all, the new Honda Gold Wing F6C is set to be target those rider groups who will be looking for a lighter, sportier and easier to maneuver Gold Wing. We expect to see the 2014 Honda Gold Wing F6C officially debut in a couple weeks’ time. Stay tuned for more updates.

Story: Sayem Syed

Hyosung Motors are preparing a slew of new models as we’ve seen at EICMA 2013. Of particular interest to us is the new GD250, which will be offered in ‘N’ naked street guise and ‘R’ fully-faired guise.

With the GT250R already in India, we have already become familiar with the V-twin quarter-litre offering which gives a big-bike feel. However, the new GD250 line will use a single cylinder motor, but the numbers it brings are promising indeed. The 249cc single makes a similar 28.8 PS as its twin counterpart in India, but a higher 25.1 Nm of torque. The good news is that these peak output numbers come in at 8,500 rpm and 7,000 rpm respectively; a very usable rev band indeed. The arrival of this bike in India will surely spell success for the Korean company. On one hand, will be the 250-twin at a shade over Rs 3 lakh, whereas on the other, the 250-single could be priced in the same range as the Honda CBR250R.

Hyosung also unveiled a 125cc offering, the MH7, powered by a 13-PS 125cc motor. This one’s quite a looker too, but considering the fact that, if assembled in India, the CKD policies would inflate its price tag to beyond what many consider reasonable, and push it into the seriously expensive bracket.

What is clear is that the Hyosung GT650N, R and the GT250R will soon have some sporty company behind the showroom panes and on the streets!

Story: Jim Gorde