Royal Enfield have finally launched their café racer model, the Continental GT, in the UK. The new motorcycle infuses the essential café racer design elements with authority and is also the company’s most powerful model.

The Continental GT runs a 535cc bored-out version of the company’s single cylinder, unit-construction engine. Bore diameter is up by 3mm, to 87mm, from the 84mm the 499cc guise runs. Stroke is the same at 90mm. If these numbers seem familiar, that’s because they are indeed identical to the Lightning 535 the company used to have on offer earlier last decade. What aren’t identical, of course, or course are the output figures. The new Continental GT puts out 29.1 PS at 5,100 rpm and 44 Nm at 4,000 rpm, up from the 26 PS and 38 Nm the cast-iron-engined Lightning had on offer. The gearbox is also a five-speed unit, on the left, against the ancient four-speed right shifter, which was complete with the ‘spoon’ for neutral setup. With the bike tipping the scales at 184 kg, the performance should be quite something!

Mechanically, almost everything on the Continental GT has been entirely redesigned for maximum performance. The suspension components are uprated, you get clip-on handlebars,  and the wheels and tyres happen to be 18″ Pirelli Sport Demons: 100-section front and 130-section rear. The fuel tank is also a reasonable 13.5 litres. Royal Enfield will also offer a choice of seats depending on your riding style.

The bike has been launched at £5,200 in the UK. But you don’t have to worry about conversion figures or sky-rocketing exchange rates because the bike will be made in India and should be priced between the Rs 2.2-2.5 lakh bracket. The launch in India is scheduled for later this year. Watch this space!

Story: Jim Gorde

Kawasaki have finally answered our prayers and have decided to bring in the big guns to make their presence felt in the Indian big-bike segment. They are set to storm the competition by launching three different bikes which cater to a wide variety of audiences on the 4th of September.

All three are just the seductive, powerful and aggressively-styled motorcycles we were particularly longing for. Kawasaki had been toying with the idea of getting these bikes into India for a long time but always seemed unsure about it. Now though, they believe they will give the competition a run for their money.

The first new arrival will stir up a storm in the litre-class category: the absolute hooligan of a motorcycle that is the Ninja ZX-10R. With the 998cc four producing 200.1 PS at 13,000 revs and a considerable 112 Nm, it is an excellent track tool which feels at home on a day of hard riding. It will arrive loaded with features like 310mm petal rotors with ABS, traction control and Ohlins fully-adjustable suspension to name a couple.

If the Ninja ZX-10R seems a bit to extreme, there’s the lean, mean and green street-machine, the Z1000. The second arrival, it now packs a 1,043cc motor which delivers 128 PS and 110 Nm; more than enough muscle to match its stature. The price tag won’t make your eyes water either.

The third and final weapon in their onslaught is none other than world’s-fastest-bike contender, the Ninja ZX-14R – big, burly and quite intimidating to many indeed. It is the natural rival to the renowned Suzuki Hayabusa, with Japan’s gentleman’s agreement limiting their top speed to a few decimals below 300 km/h. Powered by a massive 1,441cc inline-four, the ZX-14R makes 200 PS at 10,000 revs with a huge 162.5 Nm of torque coming in relatively low down at 7,500 rpm. When equipped with the Ram-Air system, the output jumps to 210 PS. Like its size, the price tag isn’t expected to be diminutive either.

All three bikes will be imported as CBUs, so expect figures around the Rs 15 lakh mark when Kawasaki and Bajaj announce the prices at launch. The bikes will initially be available in Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai and throughout the country later on. Bajaj will be responsible for retailing and servicing the bikes through their Pro Biking network.

Story: Jim Gorde

Not very surprising to be honest. Ducati has always had a lower capacity sportsbike in their line-up along with the flagship. The motorcycle seen in the picture above can be the scaled down Ducati sportsbike of the current generation.

Rumours of an 899 Panigale have been around for some time now and with the Milan motorcycle show (EICMA) just a couple of months away, the possibility can’t be denied.

It is evident that the design of the bike is based on the 1199 Panigale. It may be powered by the rumoured 899cc version of the Panigale’s 1198cc Superquadro engine or an upgraded and strengthened version of the 849.4cc engine powering the 848 Evo as the bike looks frameless like the 1199 Panigale. If so, it will have a power output of about 150 PS, with peak torque of over 100 Nm.

However, there are significant differences, like the two-sided swingarm instead of the trademark Ducati single-sided one. It may also feature lower spec brakes, suspension while omission of LED lights and some of the electronics can’t be ruled out.

We shall find out in two months when Ducati presents their model year 2014 at EICMA. Follow Bike India for more news about the show.

Story: Piyush Sonsale

If you thought Harley-Davidson trimming its model line recently was a bit absurd, this is why. Project Rushmore isn’t about one or two new motorcycles, it’s the start of an all-new journey!

At a recent dealer meet in Denver, Colorado, Harley-Davidson announced Project Rushmore, a new direction so to speak, which is a product development effort to deliver a range of innovative, customer-focused enhancements to the touring range. The changes that will come about will result in improved power and braking performance, enhanced rider ergonomics and dramatic styling updates.

The new models under the project include eight new Harley-Davidson models for 2014, including the Road King, Street Glide, Street Glide Special, Electra Glide Ultra Classic, Ultra Limited, Tri Glide Ultra, CVO Ultra Limited and CVO Road King. The resulting gains from Project Rushmore improve not just performance, but also allow for better control and feel, while upping the style quotient. Project Rushmore bikes pass faster, stop quicker and see farther at night, thus inspiring rider confidence. Each model features the new Twin-Cooled, High-Output, Twin-Cam 103, or the High-Output, Twin-Cam 103 powertrains, Reflex Linked Brakes with ABS and Daymaker LED and dual halogen lighting.

Updated aerodynamics and ergonomics together improve comfort. The new Batwing fairing with split-stream venting reduces head buffeting by 20 percent. The ride for passengers is also highly improved with wider and deeper seats together with new back and arm rests. The form and the function of many components are improved. A reshaped Tour-Pak and saddlebags with easy-to-use one-touch latches, sleeker fenders, lighter aluminium wheels and more intuitive hand control switches make their presence felt. On the infotainment front, new Boom!-Box infotainment systems with colour-screen feature the first original-equipment voice recognition and touchscreen for music, GPS navigation and phone in motorcycling, with quality audio, Bluetooth connectivity, text-to-speech technology, plus support for intercom and CB communications in a single module.

The Dyna range meanwhile has received an upgrade from the 96 cubic-inch (1,584cc) motor to the larger 103 cubic-inch (1,690cc) one found in the Softail and Touring lines. The Street Bob, Super Glide Custom and Fat Bob will thus, soon arrive with bigger hearts, bringing more power and torque. Harley-Davidson will also offer the Sportster range with the Security Package option which brings in anti-lock brakes and the smart keyless security system.

We expect all these upgrades and the new range of Project Rushmore Touring models to make their way to India next year. Stay tuned for updates and reviews of these new big H-Ds.

Story: Jim Gorde

If you remember, about three years ago, Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries founded the India Kawasaki Motors Pvt. Ltd. (IKM), the Indian subsidiary for their motorcycle business. Over the years the Japanese company with partners Bajaj Auto have launched some amazing piece of machinery in our country in the shape of the Ninja 250R, 650R and more recently the Ninja 300, which are sold from the latter’s Pro-Biking showrooms.

But the twist in the story is that now IKM is setting up individual showrooms in key motorcycle markets of our country, beginning from our very own Pune. The work at the Pune dealership is in full swing and would commence operations soon, to cash on the festive season. The first two models to be offered from the Kawasaki showroom would be the landmark model Ninja ZX-14R and the popular litre-class Ninja ZX-10R brought in as CBU (Completely Built Up) units.

Many enthusiasts from the Indian motorcycle fraternity have been waiting with bated breath for the ZX-14R. Powered by a 1441-cc motor capable of over 200 PS, this large and comfortable supersport comes equipped with Kawasaki ‘s acclaimed ram-air system that has a unique design to channelise air towards the engine. The company’s website claims it to be ‘the world’s fastest and most powerful production bike’. Need we say more?

While the Ninja ZX-10R is comes with the race winning Kawasaki superbike DNA, powered by a sweet 998cc, inline-four engine that also churns out close to 200 PS offering smooth yet stunning performance. With its sharp handling it can truly give European bikes a run for the money.

According to people close to the project, Kawasaki would be launching the bikes in the month of September, with the Ninja ZX-10R priced around Rs 15 lakh, while the Ninja ZX-14R would set you back by about Rs 17 lakh (ex-showroom).

Story: Sarmad Kadiri

The wait is over! Indian have finally revealed their 2014 Chief! The all-new model, unveiled at the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and christened the Indian Chief Vintage, brings together generous proportions and an engine powerful enough for it to get a move on in a hurry. The styling is unmistakeably Indian and exemplifies the company’s heritage while also being clear about how far they’ve come to get to this day.

The new Chief Vintage looks everything it set out to be. The signature big, swooping front fender comes complete with the head ornament; loads of chrome swathe not just the front end, but pretty much everywhere you look. The 111-cubic inch Thunder Stroke V-twin too has been detailed exceptionally and looks like an integral part of the design, contributing in no small part to the chrome party. The brown leather seats complete with tassles and the rear saddle bags add a nice touch of contrast while being styling elements that simply look just right on the modern-day recreation of this iconic motorcycle. Indian Motorcycle will also offer a number of accessories to personalise you Chief Vintage, and if the past is anything to go by, we expect, there will be the ultimate version of the bike, the Chief Roadmaster!

The Chief Vintage is a large power cruiser whichever way you look at it. At over 2634mm long and running a wheelbase of 1730mm, it is a large motorcycle. It weighs a typically big cruiser-ish 379 kg and packs fat rubber front and rear. The dual disc front and single disc rear brake setup features ABS, while the 20.8 litre fuel tank ensures you don’t run out of juice any time soon. Now you may be wondering what gives it its grunt. With wide smiles we are happy to report the arrival of the all-new 111-cubic inch (1,811cc) Thunder Stroke V-twin, which makes a yet-undisclosed power figure and a commanding 161.6 Nm of torque from just 3,000 revs. An overdrive six-speed transmission (five-speed on the Chief Classic) transfers the power to the rear via a carbon-fibre reinforced belt drive.

The 2014 Indian Chief line-up begins with the Indian Chief Classic, priced at $18,999 (Rs 11.3 lakh approx), the Chief Vintage is priced at $20,999 (Rs 12.5 lakh approx) and the Chieftain, their full-on touring model, bears a tag of $22,999 (Rs 13.7 lakh approx). The motorcycles are indeed stated to arrive in India soon. Their prices of course, will be more or less just about twice the numbers above.

Story: Jim Gorde