Best Bikes in India | No.1 Two Wheeler Magazine
In India, Matter have launched the first geared electric motorcycle called ‘Aera’. The pre-register price for Aera 5000 starts at Rs 1.44 lakh, while the Aera 5000+ costs Rs 1.54 lakh (ex-showroom).
Big Bad Bikes are now Muc-off’s exclusive distributor in India. In terms of motorcycle care and maintenance products, Muc-Off is a world leader.
Disregard the attractive price tag for a moment, because Suzuki have uprated the 150-hp naked bike for 2021. The engine is now Euro 5-compliant, revs an extra 1,000 rpm, and, although quoted peak torque is down, Suzuki assure us the torque curve is smoother and fatter than earlier. There are new electronics, a new dash, an up-and-down quick-shifter as standard, and conventional traction control (TC) with greater refinement. There is a bold new look as well
This is more of a tweak than a complete overhaul and, remember, the roots of this engine date back to the GSX-R1000 K5 from 2005. Capacity, bore and stroke, and compression are the same as before, with new camshafts, camchain, and valve springs, along with a new slipper clutch among the most significant changes. There is also a completely new exhaust (to meet Euro 5 norms) along with smaller and lighter electronically controlled throttle bodies. The 40-millimetre throttle bodies (down from 44 mm) have been designed to give a smoother feeling upon opening.
The end result is an increase from 150 hp at 10,000 rpm to 152 hp at 11,000 — not a huge step. However, the increase in rpm is interesting. Peak torque is down from 108 Nm at 9,500 rpm to 106 Nm at 9,250 rpm, but the all-important torque curve is now smoother, with a noticeable increase in the mid-to-high rpm range.
The Suzuki sounds a little old school and makes a charismatic induction noise much like an older GSX-R1000. I do not mean this to be derogatory, far from it. I have always liked the sound of the in-line four-cylinder; it sounds meaty.
[Read more…]Log 9 Materials, a nanotechnology company specializing in graphene, have recently launched rapid charging batteries for electric vehicles (EV) that can be charged in less than 15 minutes.
With lithium-ion batteries already being considered impractical for large-scale application by those within the industry, it’s only a matter of time before the post-lithium era — spoken about by leading technology giants — becomes a reality. Log 9 have been working on enhancing electric mobility for the past three years, continually developing technologically-advanced power storage and power generation solutions designed for specific platforms, in a bid to push for faster EV adoption. Their new rapid charging batteries should help this cause greatly.
The new rapid charging batteries are the first-ever fast-charging two- and three-wheeler energy storage solutions in India use super-capacitor technology. They take less than 15 minutes to charge for a range of more than 60 kilometres. More importantly, they also last for 15 years or more, lowering life-time running costs considerably. These packs also offer up to five times more peak power resulting in increased load-bearing capacity and acceleration. They are also safer in terms of fire- and impact-resistance, compared to lithium-ion batteries.
Log 9’s battery packs promise a true range of more than 70 km for two-wheelers. Large-scale pilots have already commenced in partnership with companies such as Amazon, Vogo, Shadowfax, and Delhivery, among other key fleet operators.
Log9 Materials are recognized for trying to revolutionize the energy sector with an innovative zero-emission, low-cost aluminium-air fuel cell. Their mission is to create a clean, circular energy economy. Their fuel cell prototype powers an automobile for 1,000 km with zero waste and zero emissions with the battery’s novel air-cathode selectively allows air to pass through to the electrolyte, reacting with the aluminium placed inside a chamber to generate electricity. The by-product, aluminium hydroxide, is deposited at the bottom of the fuel-cell in a powder form that can be recycled at a smelter and reused in the same battery again. Fresh aluminium in a rectangular ‘cassette-like’ form is put into the fuel-cell, a process that takes less than five minutes. One of the biggest attractions is the fact that the cost does not scale in proportion to an increase in energy capacity of the fuel cell.
The Harley-Davidson 2021 model range has come in strong after an abyss of uncertainty. Thanks to Hero MotoCorp, the legendary American brand has been given a new lease on life in India.
The TVS XL is celebrating 40 years of existence. Today, in its most modern guise with advanced features not even imaginable four decades ago, the XL 100 and its variants offer a lot more tech in the tried and trusted frame.
With the BMW R 18, Munich’s Motorrad division steps into the big-cube league with their largest Boxer yet. With 901 cubic centimetres per cylinder and a wide load of torque, the R 18 looks set to be the talk of cruiser town.
I know there are a lot of you out there who know the difference between cc, hp or PS, and torque, but some of you, at the same time, are wondering what’s the relation. Here’s what makes them very different. [Read more…]
The 2020 Triumph Street Triple R has been launched in India for Rs 8.84 lakh (ex-showroom). The bike is a replacement for the discontinued S model in India.
The AMB 001 testing process has begun for what is one of the most exclusive bikes, made by Aston Martin and Brough Superior.
