Latest Bike News

Peugeot debuts Onyx concept bicycle at Paris Motor Show

October 16, 2012 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Peugeot chose the Paris Motor Show to debut a stunning new concept bicycle – the all-carbonfiber Onyx, a prototype TT and triathlon machine.

The TT/tri Onyx is an eye-catching design, with its matte black and copper finish making for unconventional yet stunning looks. The stem sits flush with the top tube and neatly integrates with the elongated aero head tube. The front brake is concealed within the fork, as also seen on a Boardman AiR/TT machine. The fork exceeds the 3:1 aspect ratio limit of the UCI, but Peugeot does not plan to make a UCI-compliant version, choosing instead to focus on the global triathlon market. The bike also includes Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, Enve wheels and Rotor elliptical chainrings.

Peugeot designers placed strong emphasis on aerodynamics, with flattened handlebars for a reduced frontal area and wheels covered with fairings. The bike also has an electronic shifter, as exposed shift cables would have created excess drag. The Onyx could be sold through regular bike shops in spring 2014, when production versions are expected to be ready.

Confirmed. Bajaj working on Pulsar 375

October 15, 2012 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Regular readers might remember the buzz about a bigger Pulsar being on the cards; that news has now been confirmed by no less than Rajiv Bajaj, who announced that his R&D department is working on a 375cc Pulsar, expected to be launched in 2013.

The bigger Pulsar will not be as radical a redesign as the 200NS is, but will debut as an elder sibling of the 200NS. It will be equipped with a fuel-injected 375cc, single cylinder, triple-spark liquid-cooled engine, with power and torque expected to be around 32PS and 25Nm respectively. This new Pulsar will be sharing its engine with the KTM 375 bike which is currently in the works, and both are expected to be launched at around the same time in 2013.

With an expected price of INR 1.5-1.75 lacs, the big Pulsar could be a threat to the Kawasaki/Honda/Hyosung 250s, and might well become the king of affordable performance biking in India.

Kawasaki to launch naked 300?

October 12, 2012 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

An Indonesian blog has leaked what is claimed to be a drawing of a forthcoming naked bike based on the latest Kawasaki Ninja 300

The drawing identifies the bike as a 250cc model, but just as the 250cc and 300cc Ninjas are visually identical, the sketch, if real, is likely to be an exact representation of a 300cc naked bike that the market expects to get. The drawing uses the name ER250C, which suggests it could be part of the same family as the parallel twin ER6 and possibly be called the ER3. The styling though has cues from the Z800 and Z1000, so a Z300 nomenclature might be more suitable as it would align the bike with Kawasaki’s sporty nakeds, just as the Ninja 300 is aligned with the ZX-6R and ZX-10R. The bike could also be named J300, as Kawasaki recently applied for a trademark on that name.

The engine, suspension, frame and wheels appear identical to the Ninja 250/300, but the styling is far more edgy and different than was expected. Kawasaki appears to have gone beyond just replacing the front fairing, and has included a new tank, seat unit and exhaust. There is a chance that this is not an official drawing, but the same blog has also revealed documents pertaining to the ER250C submitted by Kawasaki to the Indonesian transport authority. It is believed that Kawasaki might use its manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines to build the bike.

This could be big news, as there are very few naked quarter-liter bikes in the market, aside from the not-for-North-America Suzuki GW250. The Ninja 250 has been one of the most popular 250 in India too, so the new naked 300, if a reality, could be sweet news for Indian bike enthusiasts!

Source and pic courtesy: TMCBlog.com

Yamaha Moto Cage-Six Concept Motorcycle

October 11, 2012 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Stunting, for long the preserve of X-Games, talent shows, and circus acts, received the ultimate stamp of approval from one of the world’s biggest mainstream motorbike manufacturers, with the launch of the concept Yamaha Moto Cage-Six, the first bike designed purely for stunting.

Intermot, Cologne was witness to the launch of this nifty new bike from Yamaha, based on the XJ6. As expected, the Moto Cage-Six is very sleek and sporty, also incorporating design elements from the Tenere and Super Tenere. The gears and sprockets have been adjusted to give the bike sufficient bottom-end torque. What grab eyeballs are the stunting elements incorporated into the bike, which include front axle footrests, four crash pads, a reinforced rear swing arm, streamlined seating, and a rear wheel that carries a car tire, fitting this bike’s purpose to a T!

Stunters across the world have reacted with caution, with many feeling that a stunt bike is a very personal statement, and is constantly adjusted as per the rider’s style and new stunts. Yamaha has made it clear that the Moto Cage-Six is purely a design study concept; however, it is obvious to bike aficionados and design gurus that it holds immense appeal for newbie stunters, young enthusiasts, and aggressive riders, and could well serve as the starting point for a new streetfighter bike from Yamaha.

Shell announce winner of ‘Unlock a Ducati’ promotion contest

October 9, 2012 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Who doesn’t want to be lucky in life? We all do. Well, for a certain Mr. Vishal Nagpal of Ferozpur, Punjab, winner of the ‘Unlock the Ducati’ promotion launched by Shell Advance, lady luck has certainly smiled on him.

At the scenic town of Lavasa, Shell Advance recently brought the hunt for the ‘Unlock a Ducati’ promotional campaign to a conclusion, where Mr. Nagpal was given the keys to a spanking new Ducati Monster 795 by actor Rannvijay Singh, Mr Nitin Prasad, Country Head, Shell and Vikas Khokar winner of MTV roadies season 9. Rannvijay, who’s also a hardcore biking enthusiast, rode the Ducati Monster on the twisty roads around Lavasa Lavasa city.

An elated Mr Vishal Nagpal said, “This is a special moment for me. It’s like a dream come true to own the Ducati Monster – truly one of the greatest superbikes in the world. I thank Shell Advance for making me the proud owner of this mean machine.”

Mr Prasad commented “Shell is proud to continue bringing innovative promotions to the Indian market. The Shell Advance Unlock a Ducati campaign was a one in a kind promotion that offered one lucky Shell Advance consumer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a new Ducati bike.” Well, we think lady luck favors only those, who favor themselves.