Latest Bike News

Mahindra’s bigger displacement plans

July 6, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Mahindra 2Wheelers plans to relaunch the Stallio motorcycle; 135cc and 150cc models on the anvil

Mahindra 2Wheelers’ first entry into Indian motorcycling was not a very rosy affair. Minor niggles and teething problems with the company’s very first offering, the 110cc Stallio, led Mahindra to withdraw it after a couple of months.However, the giant is now preparing for a renewed onslaught, and recently revealed that it will relaunch the Stallio later this year. In addition, the company is also planning to introduce higher-displacement motorcycles in the near future, with inputs from their Italian acquisitions.

“We will be relaunching the Stallio during the festive season this year. Earlier, we had made a soft launch of the bike. We have made some modifications and it is ready for launch,” Devendra Shinde, marketing vice president of MTWL, told reporters in Kolkata recently. The Mahindra Group company , which entered the two-wheeler market in 2008, has registered a 53 percent growth in eastern India during April-June this year over the same period last year. The company, which currently deals in 125cc scooters, is working towards expanding its portfolio. “We have a strategic intent to be an end-to-end player in the two-wheeler market. Over a period of time, we will have presence in the motorcycle segment as well,” said Shinde. “Although our major emphasis is on scooter market, with increasing demand in the rural and semi urban markets, we are also committed towards the motorcycle segment. Work is on developing 135cc and 155cc motorcycles.” He added that the company’s participation in this year’s Moto GP would go a long way in creating a brand space for itself in the motorcycle market.

First Indian woman to own a Harley Davidson

July 6, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Harley Davidson Iron 883 And finally we have the first woman in India to own a Harley.

Sheeja Matthews, mother of a seven year old is a Banglore based HR professional who has been riding to work for the past ten years on a Rajdoot 350. She has upgraded to the Harley Davidson Iron 883 and will be riding to work at least once a week. The 34 year old also plans on taking weekend trips on the Harley. Not only does she ride a Harley, but also drives a Tata Safari and a Chevrolet Cruze. She has been a drag racer as well which qualifies her as a total petrolhead.

Retailed at Rs 6.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Bangalore) the Iron 883, along with the Super Low are some of the models that are assembled at Harley Davidson’s factory in Bawal, Haryana; making these models most popular in Harley’s Indian line up.

Internationally, the HOG (Harley Owners Group) has several blue-blooded woman members and Sheeja has initiated this for H-D’s Indian arm. Wouldn’t we love to see this trend grow?

Jawa & Yezdi legacy lives on

July 5, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Yezdi Club Mangalore Yezdi and Jawa thump their way through south

Very few bikes trigger the kind of adrenaline rush like the Jawa did. And to celebrate the dawn of the marque, Jawa owners worldwide celebrate their proud ownership of this bike on the second Sunday of July every year. While some may plan out an international virtual rally, the Yezdi and Jawa club of Manglore will be hosting the “International Jawa Day”.

Proximity of the Jawa factory has boomed a fan following in Manglore, Mysore and Banglore which has survived for more than a decade and half. Policies in the fifties prohibited the import of motorcycles. However the assembly of foreign machines prompted former agent Rustom Irani to set up his own firm. As a publicity stunt, he organized a trip of two policemen to Czechoslovakia in 1951 and the feat was repeated in 1955 by three others. Following this event and the setting up of the Mysore factory, the first motorcycle rolled off the assembly lines in 1961. The Company then sold the bike under the name of the more popular Yezdi.

Several models like the Roadking, Deluxe, Monarch and Supersprint based on the 250 cc two stroke engine followed until 1996. Stricter emission norms and budget limitations have erased the Jawa dot off the Indian map. While the Jawa may not be as clinically efficient as the new generation bikes, it has bred a generation of motorcyclists like none.

Confirmed! Triumph motorcycles coming to India

June 28, 2011 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment

Yes, the road test will hopefully come soon…

Confirming the news we broke earlier on Bike India, the UK based motorcycle has officially announced that it is entering the country. Here is what their official note has to say.

Iconic British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph has announced its intention to enter the Indian market.

First established in 1902 and now based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK, Triumph Motorcycles has in recent years been the fastest growing motorcycle brand in the world. For many years Triumph has produced a wide range bikes which perfectly blend design, character, charisma and performance. At the heart of Triumph’s philosophy is a commitment to developing truly unique motorcycles that offer a blend of distinctive design, intuitive handling and performance.

The innovation and engineering passion that gave birth to the iconic Bonneville of the 1960s has today created a broad range of bikes suited to all motorcycle riders, including the striking 2.3 litre Rocket III, the unmistakable Speed Triple, the award-winning Daytona 675 supersport machine and the recently launched Tiger 800. Remaining true to their heritage, Triumph combines the very latest design and manufacturing facilities with the character and design flair that has always been associated with the famous swooping badge.

Triumph has appointed Ashish Joshi as its Managing Director for India. Prior to joining Triumph, Ashish was heading the European operations for Royal Enfield and established the company’s business in Europe. He has over 16 years of experience in Asia and Europe.