Best Bikes in India | No.1 Two Wheeler Magazine
Harley-Davidson’s new Street 750 V-twin cruiser.
Words: Jim Gorde
Images: Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson are set introduce not one, but two new models in a new entry-level segment, dubbed the ‘Street’ line; not to be confused with the Street Bob or Street Glide. The move comes as a result of wanting more volumes and with the current trend of downsizing, Harley-Davidson saw it fit to follow suit. The new models will be positioned below the ‘Sportster’ line, which has the 883 SuperLow: the current first step to the H-D brand.
To debut at EICMA, the new Harley-Davidson motorcycles will still be V-twin engined cruisers, but will be considerably smaller in size and pack lower displacements. The new Revolution-X 60-degree V-twin engines, in 494cc and 749cc guises, are liquid cooled, run 4 valves/cylinder and will rev higher than the Sportster range. The build, and styling, resemble a mix of the Sportster and VRSC lines. We expect the 500 to put out around 35 PS and 40-45 Nm of torque. The larger 750 can be expected to deliver around 45-50 PS and about 60 Nm of torque.The 6-speed transmission sending power to the belt-driven rear wheel will make short work of touring. The new bikes will also weigh in much lower than the 245 kg SuperLow, with the 750 touching 217 kg wet, and the 500 possibly tipping the scales at just below 200 kg dry. The wheels will be 17-inch front and 15-inch rear with more than adequately wide rubber.
The best part though, is the price. The Street models are expected to be heavily localised and produced in the country. Thus, a starting price tag of Rs 4 lakh seems reasonable for the 500, with a slightly heftier figure on the 750. There will also be a slew of custom parts and accessories, as is the case with every Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Check out the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-eE5_EM3YA
We can’t wait to see these models on our roads. Stay tuned to our EICMA coverage to find out more.
Story: Jim Gorde
The all-new 2014 KTM RC390 has been leaked, or so our friends online have claimed. The new fully-faired model is based on the 390 Duke, and brings the entire list of goodies including WP suspension, standard ABS, 110-front and 150-section rear rubber and, of course, the high-revving 373.2cc fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, DOHC 4-valve motor with all of its 43.5 PS.
The new motorcycle gains a few pounds, but actually looks even more delectable now, especially for sportsbike fans. At 147 kg, the power-to-weight ratio is still staggering at 296 PS/tonne. Most of the design elements other than the fairing are the same, save for the headlamp unit, which is now a twin-headlamp setup. You also get clip-on handlebars for a sportier riding position.
The RC390 will be produced alongside the 390 Duke and will make its way to India, we expect, early next year and with a price tag only slightly higher than its mean, naked sibling, the 390 Duke.
Story: Jim Gorde
Images: visordown.com
Ever since it first raised its head at the Delhi Auto expo in 2012, the excitement of the imminent arrival of Triumph to Indian shows has slowly been drummed up among the Indian bike loving masses. After this latest news has emerged, expect the excitement to swell to a crescendo , as finally the wait is almost over.
On the 28th of November 2013, scarcely over a month from now, Triumph’s line of exalted thoroughbreds will be made available for purchase within India. The stable includes the indomitable Boneville, Road and track siblings the Street Triple and Speed Triple, the legendary Daytona 675, the famed Tiger 800 XC, the cruise king the Thunderbird Storm and the massive Rocket III Roadster.
Triumph hope to establish at least 3 dealerships within India in the 2013 alone, in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, and plan to expand their range to 8 other major cities following this.
Story: Harket Suchde
I’ve had an endless number of people ask me this question time and time again: ‘Why do you ride?’ My reaction to this question is always promptly answered with a big grin on my face followed by the words ‘Because it’s so much fun’ and there’s no better feeling in the world.
So you can imagine how overjoyed I was when I happened to come across a documentary film titled ‘Why We Ride’. It’s a story about who we are, as bikers. Individuals tied together across the world by the one longing to discover and explore the world on two wheels. Getting away from the four walls of our offices, the routine of mundane life and chores and to just go out there and ride while sharing those moments together with biker friends. It’s a story about the journey, not the destination. We haven’t seen the movie yet but will hopefully get a copy of the DVD soon, meanwhile, the trailer is more than enough to get you drooling over the release of the film and will get you geared up to ride. From a kid’s dream come true, to a retiree’s return to freedom, from a family riding together on the sand dunes, to hundreds of choppers carving through the canyons – the film talks about the passion of the riders and the soul of their machines. That feeling when your senses heighten as the world rushes in, your heart beating to the pulse of the engine, that moment of pure freedom. The film is independently financed and no sponsorships were allowed to ensure the creative integrity of the documentary and so that there wouldn’t be any favouritism given to any one group.
For more info on the film:
https://www.facebook.com/WWR.WhyWeRide
http://www.twitter.com/Why_We_Ride
http://instagram.com/WhyWeRide
Story: Rommel Albuquerque
The 2013 edition of the Indian Superbike Festival took place at Amanora in Pune. We bring you the highlights.
Images: Jim Gorde
The long wait is over. After the unbelievable online buzz the new-age KTM 1290 Super Duke R created when the company unveiled it last week, Bike India gets a taste of this radical new machine in Spain, first hand.
[Read more…]
Triumph’s testing grounds in Spain have unearthed a new, single-cylinder bike being given a thorough examination. As we look through the images of the bike being given a proper run out, what can be picked up at once, apart from the relatively sparse engine size is that the single cylinder plant appears to be oil cooled, and judging by its relatively compact dimensions, we’d say it’ll most likely fall within the 250cc bracket.
It’s twin headlight arrangement gives the bike a combative, almost nasty appearance, and the sharply tapering indicator lights and naked style construction only further contributes to this assertion. It does draw a lot of inspiration form some of its burlier siblings, particularly the Street Triple. It has been suggested that this particular specimen has been designed with the subcontinent and the south east Asian markets in mind, so despite not being as yet confirmed, it is highly probable that it will makes it way to Indian shores in due time.
Images courtesy: Visor Down
Story: Harket Suchde
KTM had let the beast out of the cage, now they’ve let the cat out of the bag, announcing the price of their heart-stopping flagship 1290 Super Duke R. [Read more…]
Bajaj Auto have launched a new version of the Discover, the 100M, to provide an even finer tuned range for those looking for a good commuter with added features and more power.
[Read more…]
