The wait is finally over.

All you diehard Kawasaki enthusiasts and motorcycle lovers alike, Bajaj are all set to launch the new Kawasaki Ninja in the Indian market tomorrow, the 9^th of August. Ever since the 2013 650R was launched globally by the Japanese motorcycle marque, we knew it was enroute to India but had no idea when it would make its appearance.

 

With a 649cc, DOHC liquid cooled mill that’s capable of producing 71 PS of power @ 8500 rpm and 66 Nm of torque @ 7000 rpm, this Kwacker does justice to its sports-tourer tag very well. We are sure that like its previous version, the 2013 Ninja is a completely well rounded package as nothing much has changed mechanically. The price has been estimated around 5.80 lakhs and the 650R will come in Kawasaki lime green color tone as well as a black version, for the Indian market.

 

Victory motorcycles who are known for their exquisite cruisers, and who have carved out their own identity in the market dominated by heavy weights like Harley Davidson, Triumph, Honda and Suzuki have officially unveiled their 2013 Victory Boardwalk cruiser.

And boy oh boy, it is surely a head turner, we say. The DNA of this motorcycle is largely based on the classic-looking cruiser’s of the mid 60s.

Powered by an air-cooled, four valve per cylinder, fuel-injected 1731cc monstrous V-twin engine, the Broadway is not for the faint of heart. A six-speed gearbox which drives the rear wheel via a carbon-reinforced belt is all but waiting for its rider to unleash it’s throttle. The engine has a maximum torque of 149 Nm. But for us the icing on the cake surely are the white wall tires, wrapped around 16-inch wheels, which make this Victory motorcycle a worthy contender to be displayed at its famous namesake theaters. This steady mill will burn a hole in your pocket by $ 15,499 (Rs 8 lakhs approx).

A fair price to pay for that unparalleled sensation of hitting the open road and rumbling into the sunset on a virtual sofa-on-wheels, we say.

Yes, we are talking about one of the world’s best video games, but the reason we are featuring this here is due to the inclusion of an amazing set of predatory and slick pair of two-wheels.

All you people who have played FPS (first person shooter) games before are surely aware of the fact that in the past, vehicle-based combat in war zones has been relegated to tanks, armored vehicles, and a whole slew of jets, planes, and choppers, but this time EA games have an ace up their sleeve during the gameplay as the Battlefield End Game will mark for the first time the inclusion of a motorcycle.

The motorcycle reveal comes by way of a promotional image for the End Game. There are no details about said motorcycles or on which production model they are based upon, but we are pretty sure that they will be lethal and fast. According to the single promo image players will not only be able to fit two soldiers on the motorcycle but will be able to fire whilst maneuvering them, but that not been confirmed yet by EA. We can’t wait to get our hands on this avatar of ‘death on two wheels.’ The Battlefield 3: End Game releases on March 2013 for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. We are already polishing our WASD keys with 20W50 oil in anticipation.

The new Kawasaki Ninja 250R has been revealed and boy-oh-boy, what a gobsmacker it is!

We can safely put our money where our mouth is and say that this is the best looking baby Ninja ever in terms of looks and performance. Kawasaki Japan’s corporate site has revealed the very first photos and details on the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 250R. And the very first thing about the new 250R people will notice is refreshing and revised bodywork taken straight from the DNA of its elder siblings, the Kawasaki ZX-6R and ZX-10R superbikes. The new baby Ninja sports a sharper and leaner frame along with larger slotted air vents. The tank and the rear are more aggressive, as if it has been chiseled by the help of some sharp knife, and an all new exhaust system and slick new wheels make this baby Ninja a head-turner.

In terms of performance it is quite a complete package like its predecessor but thanks to the all-new DOHC parallel twin with new pistons and crankcase, the low to mid range torque has been boosted a little. The 2013 Ninja 250R will also come with Digital Fuel Injection, but will be available only in certain markets. Ditto for the ABS. The new ABS control unit is the world’s smallest and promises to boost the overall stopping capabilities of the dual-disc braking package. The best part thought is the all new digital and refreshed console the new model incorporates. We still remember that majority of the people in India thought the old 250’s console was a bit out-dated, well that has been given a major cosmetic boost and looks amazing.

No price has yet been listed, but the Kawasaki Japan site have revealed that the 2013 Ninja 250R will be priced at $4199 i.e. around the Rs 2.34 lakh (in Japan). We are just keeping our fingers crossed as of now, hopefully this baby Ninja comes early to the Indian markets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vilner Crafts have tuned up a striking and amazing Limited Edition Ducati Monster 1100 motorcycle.

The design firm will be producing around 100 units for die-hard Ducati fans and owners who are looking for a custom Monster. This is the second motorcycle to go under Vilner Crafts’ scalpel – they previously produced a special edition version of a BMW F800 R – and this Ducati is itself an all out masterpiece in our eyes.

Inspiration for the refreshing design is taken from clean body lines of the praying mantis insect the Chinese martial art Kung Fu. The custom job also includes mechanical mods that will make the bike easily maneuverable, specially in urban traffic conditions and power has been uprated by 10PS to 110PS. The makeover body kit includes an aluminum holder at the front end of frame, new headlamps, seat designs and a 100mm shorter rear end. And finally, the bike is done up in an unique Pearl White color which is not available on standard models. Vilner Crafts has not released any details about the poricing or the availablity of the LE Monster, but we reckon, if you have to ask, you certainly can’t afford one.

German motorcycle maker BMW Motorrad has officially unveiled their all-new 2013 HP4 motorcycle based on their award-winning S1000RR superbike.

BMW claim that it is the lightest 4-cylinder supersports motorcycle in its segment. Equipped with Race ABS, lighter carbon parts, lighter battery, an all new titanium exhaust and forged wheels, the bike tips the scales at a mere 169 kg.

BMW have kept the engine specs identical to their S1000RR motorcycle, delivering 194PS of power at 13,000rpm and 112Nm of torque at 9,750rpm. The new HP4 has been fitted with Dynamic Damping Control as standard – a world first for production motorcycles – an electronically adjustable suspension which automatically adjusts to the road surfaces and riding conditions.

The 2013 HP4 has also been specced up with launch control, adapted wheelie detection and shift assistant are all part of the overall package. Now, BMW Motorrad, any chance we can see this drool-inducing Bavarian monster in Indian showroom soons?

It has almost been twenty seven long years since India Yamaha Motors had set up a manufacturing plant in India.

And now, in what could be stated as a first in the history of our two-wheel industry, Yamaha are all set to export their flagship Indian sports bike, the R15 v2.0 to the Land of the Rising Sun. The Japanese two-wheeler marque will be exporting their first shipment of 300 units of the R15 from their Surajpur manufacturing plant in the next month and, if this move proves to be positive, the company may even begin to export the FZ series to Japan.

Hiroyaki Suzuki, MD, India Yamaha Motor, has stated that, the motorcycles manufactured in India meet the advanced specification of developed markets and they are produced at a lower cost. “We are sending R15 to Japan to test market them in the Japanese market and if the response is good, we may explore more products for export to Japan and other advanced markets in the world,” he stated.

About 4,00,000 units of two-wheelers are sold in Japan annually, with the market being dominated by 50cc scooters and the rest made up of big bikes. The R15 v 2.0 commands a price tag of 1.15 lakh on Indian roads, but in Japan, it will have a market price of ¥3.42 lakh, or 2.45 lakh. Mr. Suzuki goes on to state that Japan is a market for big bikes and racing motorcycles and within that, the 150 cc segment is fast emerging. The R15 fits the bill perfectly with its handling and its easy to race DNA and could also be an ideal choice for entry-level racing. If the response is good, Yamaha plans to export the bike to Europe next. Yamaha motors have already started exporting their bikes to Turkey and Spain, and Portugal is the next step in the block with the R15 and FZ slated to be launched there next year.

Out of nowhere, the Triumph Daytona 675 Supersport singlehandedly changed Triumph’s image and established the Hinckley-based brand as a capable manufacturer of lightweight supersports bikes that can compete with the best from the Land of the Rising Sun and Italy.

For this current year, Triumph have officially launched their all new Triumph Daytona 675 Supersport motorcycle with a new in-line 3 cylinder 600cc, 12 valve dual overhead engine churning out a 125PS of peak power. The new model has shed some weight also, and now weighs a mere 177 kgs, which translates into a top speed of over 270 kmph.

As you all are aware, Triumph are shortly going to land in India and we can’t wait much longer for their first offerings in the Indian market. The new Daytona series have always proven itself to be one of those few bikes that combine raw power and stunning looks into mean machines, and we really hope that this superlative British supersports bike will also make its way into the Indian product lineup, preferably in CKD from.

Even in stock form, the Yamaha V-Max is one of the most devilishly ferocious and outlandish motorcycle – both visually and performance-wise – to ever roll out from an established bike manufacturer.

So, what happens when you hand three examples of this mean machine to three of the world’s foremost custom builders, renowned for creating rolling works of art, give them a blank cheque and ask them to literally give free rein to their imagination?

That’s exactly what Yamaha did when they teamed up with Marcus Walz, Ludovic Lazareth and Roland Sandsto create three special V-Max ‘Hyper Modified’ special editions.

The formula was quite simple; take the world’s 3 most exciting bike building brains with tools of imagination, mettle and metal to transform an icon into something so beastly that even the likes of the muscle cars are put to the test. Walz with his creation themed ‘Hardcore V-max to the core’, Lazareth with his creation themed ‘Brain and Brawn – supercharged’ and Sands with his lean-mean machine is all about going faster. All the 3 creations has set loose the powerful brutality of the V-Max into a new class of ‘Hyper Modified’.

Hit the link below for all the dope on this amazing project:

http://www.yamaha-motor.eu/eu/products/motorcycles/vmax/hyper-modified/index.aspx

 

As India Yamaha Motors gears up to enter the country’s lucrative scooter market, the company announced that it has signed Deepika Padukone to promote their scooters in India.

Roping Bollywood divas has been a common trend in this segment, as Mahindra scooters are endorsed by Kareena Kapoor and TVS Scooty by Anushka Sharma. While Deepika will endorse the scooters, John Abraham will continue to be the brand ambassador of the company’s bikes.

 

Yamaha’s début scooter for India, Ray, targeted at young female customers, will be launched in September 2012 to cash on the festive season. The company will be introducing more scooters in the coming months, which will be aimed purely at city commuters.