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.

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

 

Rajasthan CM and Honda CEO inaugurate the HMSI factory at Tapukara, Rajasthan

HMSI announced the inaugural of the Tapukara plant at the hands of Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot along with the president and CEO of Honda Motor Company Takanobu Ito and Takashi Nagai, President and CEO, Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. and Honda Motor India Private

The Rs. 460 crore HMSI plant which is built near the Haryana Rajasthan border will build up to 6 lac units annually in the first phase. The second phase, costing other Rs. 400 crore will be ready by March next year and will boost the plant’s overall output to 12 lac units annually. The Rajasthan plant will employ up to 3200 people and manufacture the Activa and CB twister.

In the past few months, competitors have capitalized on Honda’s inability to deliver on time, to boost their sales. Honda hopes to resolve this problem with this move.

 

Words: Aniruddha Mulgund

Organizes the ASEAN Cup U-13 Football for the first-time in the country

 

 

India Yamaha Motor has now set its eyes on the game of football as it exclusively organizes the Yamaha ASEAN CUP, U-13 Football 2011 for the first time in India. The tournament is being held from May 15 – 28, 2011 and will witness participation from 120 players & 8 teams from Pune, Nagpur, Kerala, Kolkata and Assam.

The Tournament winner will be representing India at the third Yamaha ASEAN Cup U-13 Football Finals to be held in Thailand from July 15, 2011 to July 17, 2011. The participants will comprise of 6 teams from 5 Asian countries namely- India, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam & Malaysia. The preliminary round of the tournament will include the intra-state matches amongst the eight teams from across India. The winning teams from preliminary round will then compete at inter-state level for the final round, both to be played in Kolkata.

Pune witnessed a unique stunt show recently, the Kingdom of Stunts

 

Pune witnessed a unique stunt show recently, the Kingdom of Stunts

Words: Gasha Aeri
Photography: Bhuvan Chowdhary, Gasha Aeri

“For many, what we do falls outside the sphere of physics, but we never said that everything is for everyone,” they say. Who are they? They are a special species people like to call ‘stunters’. They don’t ride the bike astride it, neither do they ride with both the wheels on terra firma. What they do is enough to scare the living daylights out of many.

Pune had just recovered from the thrill of meeting freestyle biking guru, Chris Pfeiffer, when there came another treat for the bike enthusiasts of the city – a freestyle stunt show called the ‘Kingdom of Stunts’. What’s more, the show was a fine amalgamation of some of the finest FMX riders from Australia and the USA, BMX riders from Canada and street stunters from India.

---

On view were 360-degree flips on a motocross bike, a back flip on a mountain bike, a high-flying stunt called the ‘Superman’, even taking both hands off the handlebar while both the bike and rider were at least 50 metres up in the air (the Rock Solid), or swinging a leg over to the other side in the middle of a flight (the Can Can) – you name it and the riders had it for you. An excellent firework show added to the thrill and adrenaline rush the stunt show offered.
What can be said about Indian biking scenario in the time to come, “World, hold on, here we come!”

They don’t follow the physics of bike riding, but what they do is enough to scare the living daylights out of many

Pune to host a Freestyle motocross event.

Pune to host a Freestyle motocross event.

The popularity of motorcycle stunting is increasing rapidly. And now it is about to get even bigger, higher and flashier. A Pune based sports management firm Entourage Sports & Entertainment has organised a Freestyle Motocross (FMX) show named ‘Kingdom Of Stunts’ at the Indian Law College (ILS) ground on May 14 and 15. International Freestyle Motocross and BMX stunters from the US, Australia, Canada and Chile will be performing daredevil stunts during the two day event. Even Indian street stunters will get a platform to display their talent in front of international stunt-stars like Clinton Moore, Jorel Bermudez and Lance Rusell. The stunts will be accompanied by dance, music, laser shows, fire performers and fireworks to get your adrenaline soaring even higher. Tickets of the event are available at the organisor’s office on Prabhat Road Pune, Mocha, Big Wheels Motoring Cafe Kamshet, all ABS fitness outlets, City pride multiplexes, Kolors, ABC farms Koregaon Park and the venue itself. Tickets start from Rs 500 and go all the way upto Rs 5000 to get you closer to the action.

Words: Piyush Sonsale

Two wheeler company India Yamaha Motor enters into a one year partnership with IPL franchise Deccan Chargers

Yamaha in now the official partner of IPL franchise Deccan Chargers (DC) and its logo will now be seen on all DC ads and promotions. Yamaha will have unlimited access to the name and logo of the IPL cricket team as well as images and signatures of a minimum of three of the team’s players. The company will also be able to use the players for promotions and advertisements for a period of two days. Apart from these benefits, a Yamaha logo will be put on the players’ helmets and caps.

With the cricket fever rising to maddening heights and being the most watched sport in the country what better way to advertise the Japanese company’s bikes and reach out to the potential customers? Other motorcycle makers are also joining the bandwagon, as Hero Honda is sponsoring Mumbai Indians and TVS Motors doing the same with Pune Warriors.

The association with DC may prove to be beneficial for Yamaha taking in account its strong presence in the Hyderabad market. Yamaha will also have ticketing benefits and hospitality entitlements at the teams home ground. Yamaha, known for its brand trustworthiness and DC being the 2009 champions it could well be a win-win situation for both the sides.

Words: Raymond Raj

Royal Enfield celebrates One Ride day on the 3rd on April this year across the world, promoting the love of riding

 

 

We have so many dates reserved for special days in a calendar year, what about a special day for the biking  enthusiasts?Well starting this year, Royal Enfield is encouraging its customers to get up and ride, take their polished steeds out of their parking lots and garages, show the chrome some sun and make it shine as well as share their stories and experiences. The first Sunday of April is being celebrated as One Ride day across the world. The roads will be brought to life with the very distinctive thump of the bike, the ride signifying brotherhood and unity.Even though everyone could have their individual ride, but in order to acknowledge all as a part of the celebration the company is encouraging Royal Enfield motorcycle owners to start their ride from a brand store/dealership or authorized service station or end at them.

Words: Raymond Raj

Yamaha showcases VMAX at the ‘Good Design is Good Business’ Exhibition

 

 In a bid to emphasize on the relevance of design in the automobile sector, Yamaha Motor India Pvt. Ltd. recently showcased its flagship muscle bike VMAX at the three day long Japanese Design Exhibition – ‘Good Design is Good business’. As part of the Exhibition, a panel of design experts from Yamaha participated in a presentation session to throw light on the design aspect of VMAX, and why it is an integral part of automobile manufacturing.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Jun Nakata, Director – Sales & Marketing, India Yamaha Motor said, “Being supported by bodies – METI, IDC and FICCI, Good Design Exhibition is a unique platform to reach out to our audience and industry alike. Our presence at this Exhibition is vital to demonstrate the technical prowess of our products and showcase the Yamaha DNA. Since 2008, Yamaha has been pulling out all the stops when it came to product innovation and technological advancements. Practically every model which the bike lovers drooled over in the past made in-roads to the Indian market — the R1, MT 01 & VMAX, the racing R15, the lord of the streets FZ, the powerful commuter SZ series and the potent YBR”.

 

Bike India Online

Chris Pfeiffer coming to India, again

 

 

We still remember our Bike India inbox being flooded with complaints from angry and disgrunted readers across the country who didn’t get a chance to witness Chriss Pfeiffer in the five cities that he toured as part of the Red Bull Chris Pfeiffer Street Tour 2010. Well, fret not as the world’s greatest stuntman of our age is coming to India again, and this time will be performing in ten cities instead of five. The event, which kicks off on 21st March will visit the cities of Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Cochin before finally wrapping up on 6^th april 2011. Stay tuned for the official schedule which Red Bull will release shortly.

Words: Saeed Akhtar