Latest Bike News

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

Mean machines

June 9, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Harison Motors launches ‘Funty’ ATVs in India

An All Terrain Vehicle (ATV), in simple words is the fusion of an automobile and a motorcycle. It runs on four wheels, has a saddle like that on a motorcycle and is given direction by a handlebar. These are recreational vehicles primarily used on off-road surfaces. Harison Motors (HMPL), an Indian-overseas joint venture has launched a range of ATVs in India, under the brand name ‘Funty’. The Funty family currently has four models with engine capacities ranging from 50 to 200cc which will be available in western India initially, imported as CBUs. However, HMPL is setting up an assembly plant in Maharashtra which will start rolling out 15,000 ATVs by March 2012. Apart from ATVs, HMPL also plans to launch motorcycles and scooters in the Indian market, which will be mass produced at their plant along with the ATVs from next year. The first exclusive showroom of the Funty will be operational by June end in Satara, Maharashtra. The Funty range is priced between Rs One to Three lakhs and needs no driving licence or R.T.O registration.

Words: Piyush Sonsale

TOP 1 lubricants available in India

June 9, 2011 by Bike India Team 1 Comment

U.S. based premium lubricant manufacturer, TOP 1, launched its products in India

TOP 1 Oil Products Company has launched its premium range of lubricants in India and Lucas Indian Service (LIS) will be marketing and distributing the products. The annual lubricant market catering to the auto sector is estimated to be around Rs 25,000 crore. Of which, the market share of high end lubricants comprising of synthetic and semi synthetic lubricants stand at around 10 percent i.e. Rs 2,500 crore. Frank Ryan, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, TOP 1 Oil Products Company, informed that the company would address to the market requirements of premium lubricant segment. Company’s country head, R Ramesh, added that “We are targeting to achieve around 10 percent of the premium segment in the coming 5 years.” The TOP 1 products for bikes would be available in the range of Rs 285 – Rs 750 per liter while for passenger cars they would be available in the range of Rs 285 – Rs 1,200 per liter. Further, the lubricants for heavy duty diesel vehicles would cost between Rs 310 – Rs 370 per liter.

LIS is known to be a 100 percent subsidiary of Lucas TVS, and had a country wide distribution network across 650 cities through over 2,500 dealers and service dealers.

Words: Amit Panday

Valvoline Cummins India dealer meet

June 9, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Present at the occasion were Pune Warriors; Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Sharma

In order to enhance its relationship with dealers, Valvoline Cummins India organized a dealership meet in Delhi. Sandeep Kalia, CEO, Valvoline Cummins India said “we continuously want to lay emphasis on the importance of our business partners and interact with them directly.” The company is one of country’s leading lubricant manufacturer. Also present at the event were cricketers Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Sharma. Amongst others who attended were Sandeep Singla, AVP, Valvoline Cummins India and Abhinav Sharma, Marketing Manager, Brand, Valvoline Cummins India.

Words: Amit Panday

Spinning Tales

June 9, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

The show is over. The Pune air is filled with heat and humidity, and the spicy Indian food has lately taken its toll on Chris Pfeiffer. To make matters worse, the concrete at the Pancard Club open-air gymnasium, where the event was being held, was so smooth that finding traction has left the four-time world Freestyle stunt champion breathless. But ever the smiling gentleman, Pfeiffer happily posed with his ever growing legion of fans and then sat down for an informal chat with Saeed Akhtar. Some excerpts

Photography: Bhuvan Chowdhary, Red Bull, Urvashi Patole

Bike India: There’s a huge disparity in power between Indian bikes that we generally use for stunting and, say, your F800R. What are your impressions on our bikes as regards stunting?

Chris Pfeiffer: The Pulsar 200 is a pretty good bike for beginners. It’s very important to learn this sport step by step so there’s nothing better than starting on a small bike. I did the same. I was riding the small trials bike for long time. There’s no reason to ride a 600 or 800. You can also do this sport on a 125, 180, 200 or even on a scooter. I know many accomplished stunters who started out on scooters. Obviously, you can’t pull large wheelies on it but the lesser power gives you more control over the bike. The advantage of a four-cylinder bike is that you have more balance than a small single-cylinder bike.

BI: You’re travelling to more cities than the last time you were here. How do you find the scene here in India? How enthusiastic are the people here when it comes to biking and stunting?
CP: It’s even bigger than the last time I was here. Such an amazing crowd. People go really crazy and I love it so much. The experience is great. Whether it is small town or large, it doesn’t matter.

BI: What are some of the special modifications that you’ve carried out on your F800R for stunting?
CP: Well, I have a handbrake – an additional handbrake, like every freestyle rider nowadays. Also a different handlebar, different seat, some different footpegs, crash protection around the engine, and bigger sprockets to harness the power better. And that’s it. The rest is standard. Engine, frame, suspension, wheels, are stock.

BI: In the video where you invade the BMW tower in Munich, you finish it off with a somersault on the top of a 22-storey building. Don’t you have any fears?
CP: I have fears, of course (laughs). I’m scared of snakes and railways, but not scared of heights. I used to be a free-climber. I used to roam the mountains and never had a real problem with heights. So standing there, everybody was scared of me, and I was sure they would cut it out of the video clip, but they kept it!

BI: You spend a lot of time on the road with your F800R and your trials bike. Which other bikes do you own back home?
CP: I have three bikes in India at the moment, for this tour. Two are at home. I have a Husqvarna 450 enduro bike and two trials bikes. I have a BMW S1000RR, which is at the moment, the fastest production bike in the world. It is modded, with an open silencer and more than 200 horsepower. I went for a little spin on it on the autobahn recently. There, I had 299 on the speedometer, and it doesn’t go more than that – there’s a limiter. The speedometer goes only upto that, but the rev meter goes higher. So you know, its going faster than 300,yeahh! I also have several old bikes on which I have won some championships.

BI: Last time we talked, you told us that your son, Hannes, is already into stunting. Will you like him to continue in this profession?
CP: Hannes is already doing stunts on his small trials bike. I don’t push him at all, I just support him. The girls also ride bikes. They like it, and my son loves it — this is the difference. Like they love dancing, he loves riding, typical girls, typical son (laughs).

BI: What’s your favourite Indian cuisine so far?
CP: Ummm, just a second, (thinks), biryani is something that I really like, and the one with a red sauce with potato inside, very spicy, (crowd chants: aloo tikki? aloo paratha?), something with aloo. (Gives up) I like everything with aloo in it. And I am getting used to the spicy food more and more.

BI: One last question. If it were not for stunting, what would Chris Pfeiffer have been?
CP: I would have loved to be a freestyle skier or a musician. But most likely, I would have loved to be a teacher, because I love sports and biology.That’s the reality, I guess.