TVS invited us to take part in their Apache Racing Experience GP Cup Finale that was held at the Madras International Circuit. We swung a leg over their Apache RTR 200 race bike and twisted the throttle open. Read on
[Read more…]Search Results for: Sarmad kadiri/page/6/images/stories/salt 09 day 5 368_a copy.jpg
Evotron Motorsports Announce Bengaluru EV Festival
The Bengaluru EV Festival is part of the initial attempts by Evotron Motorsports to grow electric racing in the country
[Read more…]TVS Apache Racing Experience GP Cup – Apaches on a Go-kart Track
TVS invited us to their Apache Racing Experience GP Cup. We had a lot of fun and we also learned a lot. Here is how the experience was
Story: Charan Karthik
Photography: TVS Motor Company
[Read more…]TVS Ronin Long Term Review
The TVS Ronin has been my bike for the daily commute to and from work for a few months now.
[Read more…]APRIL 2024
Changing Dynamics
Here is something that throws ample light on how the Indian motorcycle industry has changed over the past decade.
The jury round for the Bike India Awards was held last month. New bikes that were launched between the 1st of December 2022 and the 30th of November 2023 qualified for the Bike of the Year Award 2024. There was only one 100-cc motorcycle, the Honda Shine, that was launched during this period. There were two other motorcycles below 200 cc, two below 250 cc, and two scooters with internal combustion engines (ICE), besides four electric scooters. The segment above 300 cc and below 500 cc, on the other hand, witnessed six new launches. Now, if you went back by 10 years, you would have had six to eight commuter bikes, four to five scooters, and only one or two bikes above 250 cc. Clearly, the dynamics of the Indian two-wheeler industry have changed and the manufacturers also seem to have realised that the cost of making a mid-sized motorcycle is not so much more than that of making a commuter. Moreover, profitability is far greater in respect of a mid-sized motorcycle.
There were a number of strong contenders for the Bike of the Year Award. They included the KTM 250 and 390 Duke, Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X, Harley-Davidson X440, TVS Apache RTR 310, and the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. We also had the BMW S 1000 RR, Ultraviolette F77 electric bike, and two Ducatis: DesertX and Diavel V4. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 was crowned the Bike of the Year.
The traffic situation is going from bad to worse by the day, what with the number of new vehicles coming out every day and the lack of any rider training before one gets their riding licence. We need proper rider training schools to teach traffic rules, the basic dos and don’ts of riding on the road, and, equally importantly, the principle of the right of way.
Aspi Bhathena
Editor
Kawasaki Ninja 500 Review – Almost Perfect
Anyone thinking of upgrading to a 600-cc-plus motorcycle must ride the Kawasaki Ninja 500 at least once.
[Read more…]Harley-Davidson Factory Visit – A Visit to Harley’s Indian Home
It is always fascinating to watch things being put together. This time we got to watch X440s come to life in the “Garden Factory”.
[Read more…]The Baby Kawasaki – Kawasaki W175 Update
Kawasaki’s smallest offering in our country, the W175, just got better and pricier. We took it out for a ride to see if it is worth all that it has to offer.
[Read more…]California Superbike School 2024 – Practice Makes Perfect
We got a chance to hone our track riding skills by attending a California Superbike School session at the MMRT in Chennai.
Story: Azaman Chothia
Photography: Aditya Bedre
Clan SNKR Stealth Edition WP Riding Shoes Review
Clan shoes brought in a new form of rider safety for Indian motorcyclists with the Clan SNKR 1.0 riding shoes which offered reasonable protection without looking like full-on riding boots. The Clan SNKR Stealth Edition WP offers a black aesthetic with different coloured highlights and adds the single most-requested feature as an option – waterproofing.
I have been using them regularly for commuting for a little more than a month and they are holding up well against the daily grind. The shoes are true-to-size, which means UK size 9 fits me perfectly. Like any leather shoe, the Clan shoes have also stretched a bit over regular usage and now conform to my feet even better. Despite wearing them for prolonged hours at the office (approx 9-10 hours per day) there’s not a lot of sweat when I am taking them off at the end of the day. Granted, they are not as airy as sports shoes and are much heavier, but compared to sitting in the office wearing full-blown riding shoes there’s simply no contest – the Clan shoes win hands down.
While the Clan SNKR Steal Edition WP can’t possibly offer the same level of waterproofing as let’s say a pair of adventure riding boots, they do the job in case of occasional wet patches on the road. In terms of protection, just like waterproofing, the Clan shoes will not match up against touring boots but offer a decent amount of protection which can’t be found in sports shoes. The Clan SNKR Stealth Edition WP offers protection in the form of thermoformed toe caps and heel support; rigid moulded TPU discs with foam padding for ankle protection; an extruded midsole for lateral protection and high visibility reflectors at the rear. Thankfully, I didn’t have to test the level of protection first-hand yet.
Looks are one of the reasons why even people who own a pair of proper riding shoes are reluctant to put them on. Riders often choose to forgo the protection offered by riding shoes on casual rides and commutes, instead opting to only gear up for tours or trackdays. The Clan shoes take that excuse away, as they are nearly as stylish and comfortable as regular sports shoes while offering actual protection against riding-related injuries.
The pair cost Rs 8,999 (the non-waterproof version is Rs 1,000 cheaper) which makes them as expensive as entry-level riding boots, so one might wonder why to invest in a pair of them. Well, the reality is they are not replacing your actual riding boots (which you should ideally still put on every time you are riding a motorcycle), but that pair of sports shoes which you put on when going out on your motorcycle. Compared to a regular pair of sports shoes, the Clan makes a lot of sense because it offers a much higher degree of protection in the case of an accident and you can’t really put a price tag on that.
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