Latest Bike News

Yamaha celebrates Golden Jubilee in fresh new colors

June 24, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

MotoGP grid at TT Assen will see Yamaha in Red and White themes

MotoGP paddock at TT Assen will see a splash of Red and White. Yamaha’s factory racing team will be celebrating fifty years in Moto GP with the YZR-M1 in Red and White Livery. The celebrations started earlier this week with an Expo with many of the iconic machines that have marked Yamaha’s presence in Moto GP history. The media was also treated with glimpses of the YZR-M1 in Red and White. The factory riders Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo were accompanied by the Yamaha Tech 3 riders Cal Crutchlow and Colin Edwards. Moto GP legends Phil Read and Cees Van Dongen also joined the celebrations.

Words: Aniruddha Mulgund

Monsoon Scooter Rally

June 21, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Gulf Oil to organise the 22nd edition of the annual event

Riding a scooter on hilly terrain at breakneck speed in the rain is something unheard of. Not many would risk it. But daredevils on two-wheelers have been doing exactly that for over 21 years and will continue the exercise on July 17 2011.

Around 35 motorsport freaks will ride over the backwoods of Navi Mumbai and challenge each other in Sportscraft’s 22nd Monsoon Scooter Rally, sponsored by Gulf Oil Corporation Limited. This annual event has become popular for riders of Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and its neighboring areas. Come the monsoon and all keep enquiring about the same.

The different classes for competition are Above 80cc up to 110cc – Two stroke; Above 110cc up to 160cc – Two stroke, and Up to 160 cc – Four stroke. Entry forms are available and accepted only at the Sportscraft’s office, Chitrakut, 3rd Floor, Siri Road, Chowpatty Bandstand, Mumbai 400 006. Tel. 022 – 23677631.

Monsoon Scooter Rally

June 21, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Gulf Oil to organise the 22nd edition of the annual event

Ducati Diavel launched in India

June 20, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

The Italian motorcycle maker has introduced its latest offering in the country

You look at it and you wonder how everytime you declare a bike to be Ducati’s finest work, they surprise you with a better one. They have done it again and how. Though the bike was unveiled by Ducati earlier, the firm officially launched the Diavel in the country today. Quite a sensation around the world already, the bike is available in India in three variants- base, Carbon and Carbon Red, priced at Rs 17.06, 22.06 and 22.43 lakh repectively (ex-showroom, Delhi). A muscle machine in its looks, Diavel has the agressiveness of a naked sportsbike and the comfortable riding posture of a tourer.

This beast of a bike is powered by a 1198.4cc, four-stroke, Ducati’s patented L-twin Testastretta engine which promises 162 PS power and 127.4 Nm torque. Diavel’s desmodromic powerplant is based on the 1198, with the only and most important revision being reduction of valve overlap from 41 to 11 degrees. The bike comes with a six-speed gearbox and it’s features list includes- ABS, traction control and riding modes (sport, touring and urban). Straight out of a craftsman’s workshop, the Diavel is one good looking sport tourer which is most likely to grab many eyeballs on the road. On the sidelines of the superbike launch, Ducati also inaugurated its fourth showroom in India at Lavelle road in Bangalore.

Words: Gasha Aeri

Himalayan Odyssey 2011

June 20, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

The ride to the highest motorable point of country begins next week.

The Himalayan Odyssey is now back in its eighth edition. Cutting through the morning calm at 6:30am, on 25th June, 75 bikers will start their journey from Delhi to Khardung-La (highest motorable point of country) and back traversing 2700 kilometers through a period of 16 days. The riders will ride through some of the most challenging stretches of motor-able roads covering regions like Manali, Keylong, Sarchu, Leh, Hunder, Debring, Kaza, and Narkanda before finally making their way back to Delhi.

Indian students take on Michelin’s green challenge

June 20, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Michelin India felicitates Indian participants at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum

Michelin India felicitated the first Indian entrants to the Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Chennai today. The five day event held in Berlin earlier last month played host to 6000 automotive professionals, the general public and over a 1000 students. The event is the only global summit aimed at clean and green mobility. The global summit showcased more than 270 vehicles along with 75 exhibitors.

The student professor teams from BITS Pilani, NIT Trichy, Anna University, VIT Vellore and Delhi Technological University spoke about their experiences during the felicitation ceremony. The teams presented various technical papers on matters like reducing CO2 pollutants, plug in parallel hybrid etc. The RV college of Engineering Banglore with an eight members presented the indigenous dual fuel hybrid ‘Chimera’.

While congratulating the students, Mr. Nicolas Beaumont, Managing Director, Michelin India urged the young student to conceptualize ideas for alternative technologies.

Words: Aniruddha Mulgund

Glamour receives cosmetic update

June 20, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Hero Honda gives the bike some superficial upgrades

In line with the company’s strategy of continuously refreshing its portfolio, Hero Honda has facelifted the Glamour and the Glamour FI. Changes will include a sportier muffler, a new headlamp and a maintenance free battery.The graphic changes will be limited to the new tank shrouds and visor. A newly chiseled front cowl will house a new digital + analogue meter console. The Glamour twins will be priced at Rs 50,500/- and 52,500/- (disc brakes version). The fuel injected Glamour FI will be priced at Rs. 59,500/-. The new models will be made available across all HH outlets in the country.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Anil Dua, Sr. Vice-President (Marketing & Sales), Hero Honda Motors Ltd said, “Ever since its launch, Glamour has been among the most stylish bikes in the deluxe segment, while the Glamour FI is seen as a pioneer because of its path-breaking PGM FI technology. The Glamour family has given a new dimension to Hero Honda’s leadership in this segment. The launch of the new refreshed versions of these two models promises to take our leadership position to an even higher level.”

Words: Aniruddha Mulgund

Kingfisher announces adventure expedition

June 20, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Kingfisher Blue mile to range from Leh to Delhi

The Kingfisher Blue mile, a Himalayan expedition is set to be flagged off on 5th July 2011. The event will be a bike ride from Leh to the capital. Although the participants are required to manage their own motorcycles for the ride, mechanical backup and accommodation will be handled by the sponsors. The on-ground logistics for Kingfisher Blue MILE will be handled by Outback Adventures. The participants will be chosen through a blogging contest on facebook.com and winners will be announced on 23rd of July.

The journey will take the participants through 1600kms of challenging roads in an uncompromising weather. The event hopes to bring together like minded adventure seeking enthusiasts on a common platform.

For more details visit – http://www.kingfisherworld.com/blue/bluemile.aspx

Words: Aniruddha Mulgund

Hurrah, Triumph is here!

June 15, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

The UK based two-wheeler manufacturer is gearing up for a launch next month

With the Indian two-wheeler market undergoing its golden era currently, the new feather in the hat comes by the name of Triumph Motorcycles. Looks like plans have taken shape and Triumph will make the big announcement by next month. The bikes are most likely to be brought in as CBUs (Completely Built Units) and reportedly Triumph is in talks with a local manufacturer for support too. Triumph America, Speed Master, Speed Triple and Rocket III come across as the most likeable models to be brought to the Indian mainland. Company has not officially confirmed anything yet, but they haven’t said ‘no’ either. Nevertheless, it’s time to rejoice in the Indian market.

Words: Gasha Aeri

LML launches Select 4 stroke scooter

June 13, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

One time scooter giant, LML, thoughtfully introduces Select 4 stroke scooter strictly for Delhi NCR market

Kanpur based, LML Limited has launched Select 4 stroke scooter for the Delhi NCR territory. The scooter is equipped with a 148cc, air cooled, single cylinder engine. With 4 gears to offer, the engine is capable of generating a peak power of 8.8 PS at 6200 rpm and a peak torque of 11.3 Nm at 4250 rpm.The scooter has a fuel tank capacity of 5.5 liters which includes the 1 liter of reserve fuel. The Select4 KS (kick start) is available at Rs 47,140 (ex-showroom) while the Select 4 ES (electric start) will cost Rs 50,978 (ex-showroom). P S Choudhary, Head, Sales and Marketing, LML informed Bike India that the company looks forward to open the sales of Select 4 in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh by the end of June 2011. He conservatively anticipates selling around 250 – 300 units of Select4 in Delhi NCR within next 2 to 3 months.

Disclosing his plans for the year ahead, Choudhary mentioned that the company is working on expanding its current portfolio by introducing 2 bikes and 2 scooters. The 2 bikes would cater to the100cc and 125cc categories. Further, one of the two planned scooters would be gearless and would again cater to the 100cc – 125cc segment. The expansion would also include a 200cc scooter targeting the sports / lifestyle segment. The two wheelers are expected to be launched between August –December 2011. Additionally, the company is also planning to manufacture and export light gearless scooters (50cc onwards) to Europe by the end of December. LML currently exports a 200cc lifestyle/ sports scooter to European countries besides the 125 cc and 150 cc regular geared scooters such as Star, Stella Speedy and others. “The domestic scooter market is resurging at a CAGR of 42%. We shall leverage the growth by placing exciting offerings in geared and gearless segment both. LML shall continue to explore these segments besides re – entering the motorcycle markets in India and abroad.”added Choudhary.

Words: Amit Panday