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Prince William planning a motorcycle ride in India

 

They won’t have been married long, but Prince William, the elder son of the Prince of Wales and the late Princess Diana, will be getting away from his new bride sooner than expected as he plans a royal bike ride round India. 

According to our international correspondents, Prince William is planning another charity motorcycle trip after the success of his last 1,500-kilometre trip around Africa in 2008. As of now we do not have information about the route or the bike the Prince would be riding. This trip will be organised in association with Swinton Bike Insurance of the UK and the company says that the prince has more to prepare for than just for his wedding, as a trip of this magnitude requires a lot of hard work.

Words: Sarmad Kadiri

Suzuki adds a visor to the bike to improve its looks

As you know, Suzuki SlingShot has won the Bike India Award 2011 for the ‘Bike of the year – up to 125cc’. Now Suzuki India is giving its two-wheeler buyers a small treat by launching a new variant of the bike called the SlingShot Plus. Wondering what pluses you’d get in the new variant? Well, the list is rather tiny, as the new variant sports a visor which covers the instrument console, right above the headlight. According to Suzuki this increases the style quotient. The ‘Plus’ variant will be available in three trims — drum brake and alloy with kick start for Rs 50,350, with self start at Rs 52,518, and the top of the line with front disc brake, alloy and self start for Rs 54136 (OTR Pune), which is about a thousand rupees more than the basic SlingShot.

Words: Sarmad Kadiri

No, the Apache won’t have six-pack, but will be safer to ride

   

 

Early this year TVS Motors showcased the Apache 180 with ABS (anti-lock braking system) technology during the Auto Expo and, almost a year later, the bike sporting this safety technology will be available in a TVS showroom close to you this month (January 2011). We reckon the new Apache with ABS to be about Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 dearer. Though ABS is common in bikes and cars internationally, we still have a reason for a tiny celebration. This will be the first time a ‘made in India’ bike will feature ABS. Hurrah!
TVS have developed the anti-lock braking system in collaboration with Continental AG, Germany (pioneer in chassis control system for passenger cars and leading bikes like the BMW). The system has a hydraulic-electronic control unit (HECU) and a speed-sensing technology that continuously monitors the wheel speed of the bike. During braking it modulates the hydraulic pressure in the brake system to avoid an impending wheel lock and loss of control.
The ABS system improves braking even in wet conditions, prevents wheel skids and rear wheel lift-off. So, all you guys who love to perform ‘stoppies’ on their Apaches, TVS have made the trick even harder for you.