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Encore to celebrate decade of affordable performance bikes

Bajaj Auto will be celebrating a decade of affordable performance biking in India this December and may unveil a revised Pulsar. It may be recalled that the bike was originally launched in 2001. The popular Pulsar range is now returning for an encore.

Bajaj Auto’s eagerly awaited next-generation Pulsar will break cover at a glittering media event next month, giving enthusiasts all over the country a reason to rejoice. The centre-stage will be occupied by the new Pulsar 200, which will share a significant amount of technology, especially its gearbox and transmission, with the KTM Duke 200. While the KTM Duke 200 will employ a DOHC, four-valve, single-spark, liquid-cooled motor, the Pulsar will be powered by an SOHC, four-valve, twin-spark engine which will also be liquid-cooled now.

We have no idea how radical a direction the new Pulsar’s styling will take, but it is not difficult to envision a completely re-designed bike to go with the new powerplant. We wait with bated breath!

The “Coorg to Munnar via Ooty” India route was crowned the world’s ultimate riding wonder at the 2011 Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Coorg to Munnar via Ooty, India

This rural region of India offers some of the country’s most stunning landscapes. Coorg was originally called Kodaimalenadu, which means “dense forest on a steep hill” and the region certainly lives up to that name.

Flat pasture quickly makes way for narrow and twisting tree-lined roads, rising up into the hills. It’s a marvel for the senses, as you enjoy the sight – and smell – of coffee, pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and tea plantations along the way.

Distance covered: 507km

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After several months of searching, Shell Advance unveiled Coorg to Munnar via Ooty, India, as the world’s ultimate Riding Wonder at an exclusive event held at the 2011 Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

In Sepang, a panel of experts from Ducati, Dorna, Shell Advance and the Sepang International Circuit, as well as selected media from China, India and Indonesia, in a discussion to decide which route would be crowned the world’s ultimate Riding Wonder from the list of the top 7 Riding Wonders voted for by the public.

The panellists’ votes were combined with the public votes from 8 countries to reveal Coorg to Munnar via Ooty, India as the winner. It received many public votes and was chosen by two of the seven panellists because of its varied scenery, mixture of mountain climbs, twisting corners and diverse wildlife along the route.

Tanmay Jaswal, Shell Advance Global Marketing Manager: “When Shell Advance launched the 7 Riding Wonders of the World campaign, we were asking biking enthusiasts to help us find the riding roads, tracks and routes around the world that best complement our ethos of Responsiveness, Control and Enjoyment.

The Jury Panelists included our very own Aspi Bhathena as well.

List of Campaign Winners from India :

1. Mr. Rajinder Kakkar, Delhi
2. Mr. Jayaram Peramanathan, Bangalore
3. Mr. Sanjay Ramkishan Kakani, Yavatmal
4. Mr. Jagdish Srikrishna, Indore
5. Mr. Vinod Kumar, Hoshiarpur
6. Mr. Dinesh Chowdhary, Hyderabad
7. Mr. Sanjeev Talwar, Delhi
8. Mr. Kamesh Talluri, Hyderabad

Some Photographs about the Riding Wonder.

 

The ever-popular scooterette gets a makeover

TVS Motor Company recently launched a revamped avatar of their popular feminine scooter, the Scooty Streak. The new Streak comes with new graphics, sharper headlamp and LED tail lamps. Apart from that, it has a contoured seat, lower than its predecessor’s to provide better ergonomics to the ladies . To add to it’s practicality, the Streak has now been given a mobile charger and lockable front glove box too. It was time that company brushed up the looks and features of the Scooty to keep up with the competition and hopefully, the new avatar of the Streak will attract new customers too.

 

KTM unveils the Freeride 350 dual purpose motorcycle: Is this the same engine that the Duke 350 will get?

Slim, lean, agile and fit – Austrian motorcycle maker KTM, partly owned by Indian motorcycle maker Bajaj Auto has achieved with the KTM Freeride Dual Purpose On-Off Road motorcycle. Packing 24 PS under 100 kilos gives it enough edge for the beginners on a motocross circuit. The Freeride comes with a minuscule 5 litre fuel Tank. The specifications of the Freeride showcase that it is designed for better fuel economy with higher power as its intended for Off-Road Racing. With 24 PS coming from a single cylinder 350cc DOHC engine, 4 valves, liquid cooling and fuel Injection, the 5 Litre tank should be enough to last a single Off-Road Race.

 

Ducati recently revealed its first product developed exclusively for the Asian markets, the Monster 795,

in the presence of Valentino Rossi at the Rootz Club in Kuala Lumpur. Much like we have been expecting, the new Ducati looks quite familiar to its bigger and more expensive rivals, the main difference here being in the use of low-cost (comparatively speaking, of course) materials and a lower seat height (30mm).

Essentially a 696 chassis powered by the 796 engine, the Monster 795 ditches Ducati’s trademark single-sided swingarm and adopts three spoked rims instead of the 796’s five-spoke Marchesinis. The original Diablo Rosso tyres have been ditched in favour of lower-spec Pirelli Angel STs while the 803cc air-cooled L-Twin will now produce 87PS@ 8250 rpm, 7PS more than the Monster 696). Peak torque figure is 78Nm@6250 rpm. ABS is offered as an option and the bike will be available in three colour combos – Red (red / black), Arctic white silk (red / black) and Diamond black silk (red / black).

The Monster 795 will be assembled at Ducati’s Thailand plant – their first outside Europe – and go on sale very soon in Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Phillipines, Vietnam and Singapore besides India. Prices are undisclosed as yet but we reckon, it will cost around INR 5 lakh to 6 lakh in India. Which, needless to say, is a steal for a Ducati. Now, are you booking one?