Bajaj Auto domestic sales up 52% in May at 60,830 units

The company's total sales grew by 114% to 2,71,862 units in May as against 1,27,128 units in the same month last year.

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Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R in the works?

Kawasaki is rumored to be developing the new Ninja ZX-4R. These rumors are based on a theory by Japanese publication, Young Machine, following a patent filed by Kawasaki.

• Patent drawings suggest Kawasaki may be developing a 400cc motorcycle 

• Features similar air ducts as on the Ninja ZX-25R

• Maybe developed for European or US markets 

What has led to the speculation about a Ninja ZX-4R?

The patent images reveal a motorcycle with a fairing that looks similar to the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R. Sold in select markets such as Japan and Indonesia, this quarter-litre motorcycle is powered by an inline-four engine that revs to 17,000rpm. 

The patent states that the air ducts in the fairing, in addition to the liquid-cooling system are required to efficiently cool such a high-revving engine. The motorcycle in the patent drawings has a similar duct but what's interesting is the text in the patent file that says, "the present invention can be more preferably applied to a vehicle having a four-cylinder 400cc engine." 

What does this mean?

The point to note is that the patent doesn't make any mention of a 250cc motorcycle.

This leads to speculation that Kawasaki may be working on a Ninja ZX-4R. It could also be that Kawasaki originally intended to develop a 400cc motorcycle on the platform and adapted the 250cc engine to it. 

Considering that the ZX-25R could be too small and too expensive in markets such as Europe or the US, a 400cc, inline-four powered motorcycle could be a more ideal fit. Whether it'll replace the Ninja 400 or be positioned  above it, is yet to be seen. 

Nevertheless, the prospect of a 400cc sportbike with a high-revving engine and agile chassis for the road and track is quite interesting.

What Kawasaki actually intends to do, remains to be seen. But, if the Ninja ZX-4R does see the light of day, expect it to happen in the coming year or two. However, the chances of the  Ninja ZX-4R or even the Ninja ZX-25R making it to India are bleak.

SOURCE

from Autocar India - Bikes

Toutche Electric sets goal of 200 dealerships by end-2022

The company has a presence in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Delhi and NCR region. Toutche has registered a 200% growth in the FY 2020-2021 on the back of a surge in demand across age groups and segments.

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Honda two-wheelers restarts production at three plants

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has recommenced manufacturing operations in a phased manner at three of its plants.

• Production was halted on May 1, 2021

• The plant in Karnataka continues to remain shut

The Japanese company’s factories in Manesar (Haryana), Tapukara (Rajasthan) and Vithalapur (Gujarat) have restarted operations. The fourth plant, located at Kolar, Karnataka, remains shut due to the lockdown in Karnataka on May 25.

The two-wheeler OEM has a total manufacturing capacity of 6.4 million units as under:

Plant 1: Manesar (Haryana) - 1.6 million units

Plant 2: Tapukara (Rajasthan) - 1.2 million units

Plant 3: Kolar (Karnataka) - 2.4 million units

Plant 4: Vithalapur (Gujarat) - 1.2 million units

The company has also announced support for its authorised dealers who were under complete lockdown. Under this initiative, the company will bear full interest cost of dealer inventory under complete lockdown for 30 days or more.

Atsushi Ogata, MD, President & CEO, HMSI, “We are gradually resuming production operations following all Covid-19 compliance and lockdown guidelines by respective state governments. While there are visible signs of recovery in the country, we will continue to monitor the situation very closely and are moving forward with safety and well-being of all our stakeholders as a top priority.”

Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director – Sales & Marketing, HMSI, added, “In these difficult times, Honda 2Wheelers India is proactively extending financial support to its dealers. We are confident that, full interest support on the existing dealer inventory of those dealers who are under lockdown for 30 days or more will ease their immediate business continuity concern. Also, there is a positive momentum visible in the COVID-19 vaccination drive along with various other measures by Central and State governments.”

Also see:

Honda two-wheelers extends validity of free service, warranty till July 31

from Autocar India - Bikes

2022 Indian Chief line-up, FTR range India launch in August

The 2022 Indian Chief line-up will arrive in India in August, along with the return of the FTR model range, in BS6-compliant form.

• Three models from the 2022 Chief range will make their way over to India

• The FTR represents the most dynamically capable model range in Indian’s line-up

• First shipment arriving in August, prices expected to start from Rs 17 lakh onwards

Indian Motorcycle has been operating in a rather subdued manner in India in the BS6 era. Late last year, the company revealed a price list for bikes from the Scout, Vintage, Springfield, Chieftain and Roadmaster families. More recently, the brand announced that bookings were opened for the 2022 Chief line-up, and also gave us a starting price for this upcoming model range. We can now confirm that these Chief models are already on their way to India and will arrive in August. They will also be joined by the returning FTR range.

2022 Indian Chief line-up

Three of the six models in the global 2022 Indian Chief line-up are slated for India, and not entirely coincidentally, as these three models are powered by the larger ThunderStroke 116 motor. This engine already does duty in the Vintage, Springfield, Chieftain and Roadmaster models, which are already on sale in India. 

The three models are the Chief Dark Horse, Chief Bobber Dark Horse, and Super Chief Limited, and Indian has announced that prices will start from Rs 20.75 lakh. This will help fill the massive price gap between the Rs 16.20 lakh Scout Bobber Twenty and the Rs 25.80 lakh Vintage in Indian’s current line-up for India.

Indian FTR range making a comeback

Representing an entirely different flavour of motorcycle is the Indian FTR range – the most dynamically capable models in the Indian line-up. Brembo brakes, Metzeler Sportec M9 RR tyres and fully-adjustable Sachs suspension aren’t specs that you’d usually associate with an Indian, but that’s exactly what the FTR packs in. The Metzeler tyres are possible because for 2021, the FTR has dropped its 19-inch/18-inch wheel combo for a more conventional pair of 17-inchers (except the Rally variant which continues with the older wheel sizes).

Power comes from a bored-out version of the Scout’s V-twin, which now displaces 1,203cc, and produces 123hp and 120Nm. When it was here in the BS4 era, we got the ‘S’ variant of the FTR, which packs in a 4.3-inch TFT touchscreen, three ride modes, IMU-based electronic aids and an Akrapovic exhaust system as standard. This is the model we expect to receive in August, priced at around Rs 17 lakh. It will possibly also be accompanied by the standard FTR which could get a more affordable price tag in the range of Rs 15 lakh.

All prices, ex-showroom, India.

ZARAN MODY

from Autocar India - Bikes

Aiming for 20% revenue from international markets by 2025: Vinod Dasari, Royal Enfield

"These investments that we do, which got slowed down over the last 12 to 18 months because of COVID, will come back over the next 12 to 18 months."

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TVS Motor Company expands presence in Iraq

The company has been present in Iraq since 2016 and offers products catering to the diverse requirements of two-wheeler and three-wheeler customers in the country. Ritaj International General Trade LLC has been the distribution partner for the company since 2017. The company has 41 touchpoints across the country.

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Wardwizard lines up new models for domestic mkt, sets eyes on overseas expansion

Wardwizard, which used to source around 40 per cent of components for its product range from abroad, is now looking at 100 per cent localisation content for its upcoming product range.

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Eden in the East: Riding in Arunachal Pradesh

There are many wonderful things to see when you tour this country, especially on two wheels. Breathtaking vistas, isolated landscapes, and phenomenal roads – they’re all to be found in the vast nation we call home. However, if you think of it, it’s relatively easy to come across one, or even two of these things together; but all three – that’s a pretty rare phenomenon, especially when it’s for days on end. And, that, is exactly what makes India’s easternmost state the riding heaven you never knew of. 

There’s two reasons why this ride took place at all. The first was that Honda was keen to showcase that its, er, ‘royal’ motorcycle could also be a good companion on a long ride through an exotic location. The other is that in recent years, Arunachal Pradesh has become keen to open up to select forms of tourism, including adventure and motorcycle tourism. The state has been quite closed off so far, and just entering it currently requires an Inner Line Permit, although this can be quite easily arranged in numerous places, the Dibrugarh airport in Assam being one. Mind you, that permit will only get you so far, and there are still plenty of restricted areas within Arunachal that will require separate permissions of their own. 

DAY ONE: INITIATION 

Our journey began in Dibrugarh and it was just a couple of hours before we crossed the Bogibeel bridge over the startlingly-wide Brahmaputra. Not long after, we arrived at the state border marked by the small town of Ruksin. Crossing into Arunachal suddenly has the world go a little quieter and it just seems like there’s far fewer people around. 

‘Exploring’ through Google Maps will show you that Arunachal has the darkest shade of green you’ll see in our country, something that can only be associated with a general lack of people. For the next five days, traffic would die down to an absolute minimum, to the point that we’d often see just one vehicle every 10 minutes or so. 

Our first day’s destination was the beautiful riverside village of Bomjir. I’d been here five years ago for the Orange music festival and recall getting there involved a hair-raising, one-hour-odd drive in the dark across the dry riverbed of the massive Dibang river. Hair-raising because half-way across, we were crossed by a rickety old motorcycle that emerged out of the darkness, a country-rifle slung over its rider’s shoulder and a freshly shot deer carcass roped to the back seat – welcome to the wild zone. 

This time around, things were rather different. Instead of fear in the dark, we were greeted by some smooth and spectacular mountain roads with not a pothole in sight. So smooth and fast they were that we reached our destination well before sundown, which happens much earlier in these parts. 

It must have been some sight to see a train of Honda CB350s scraping the life out of their foot pegs as they kept pace with the lead rider on an Africa Twin. The CB has an impressively nimble and neutral chassis, but its painfully tall gearing meant that we were squeezing every last rev out of the long-stroke motor to keep the speeds up. It’s certainly not the way this bike is intended to be ridden, but to its credit, it didn’t seem to mind.

Massive bridges, like the 6.2km Dibang River Bridge, have opened in the recent years.

This story of impressive roads was to remain a constant for the remainder of our time in the state. In fact, the new Sisseri River bridge at Bomjir is India’s second longest, at 6.2km long. Sure, some smaller interior roads could be bad, but all the main highways we rode through were simply magical. Come to think of it, we probably encountered no more than a handful of potholes over five days. 

Of course, much of this is due to the growing threat from our ever-optimistic neighbours to the east and a good road system is vital to supporting a strong line of defence. Speaking of which, we did come across the odd army vehicle, but not to the extent that you’d see up in Ladakh. Perhaps that was because we never went close to the more sensitive border areas like Tawang or Kibithoo. 

Our original itinerary had more mountainous destinations like Walong and Hayuliang, but they were dropped on account of landslides. So, while Arunachal also has Ladakh-style terrain with extreme weather to offer, it wasn’t part of this trip. 

DAYS TWO AND THREE: INTO THE WILD 

Day two had us hold base at Bomjir and go out on an exploratory ride up the road towards Hayuliang. Here, we only found more spectacular views, including the mountain road you see on the opening picture of this story. On the third day, however, we were in for a change of scene. This time, we’d be heading to the town of Miao, and then further on into the Namdapha National Park. 

The whole of Arunachal is a biodiversity hotspot, but this tiger reserve is sheer paradise to anyone who loves nature and there are scores of endemic flora and fauna species that call it home. We got special permission to ride fairly deep into the park to reside at a government-run forest lodge. The journey inside was one of the more memorable moments of the trip.

We sometimes asked some pretty unreasonable things of the CB350, but its chassis never once did anything unpredictable.

About half an hour down a slippery, muddy trail through the forest, we arrived at the lodge; perhaps a little faster than we should have, but with filthy motorcycles and big silly grins nevertheless. The CB350 once again showcased that its chassis can happily take on far more abuse than the role it was designed for. Despite things like the intrusive heel shifter, non-switchable ABS and difficult standing ergos (duh!), the CB did a fine job of hammering through the muck. If anything, we need to extend our apologies to all the wildlife that probably wouldn’t have appreciated the bike’s loud and somewhat synthetic-sounding exhaust note as much as most owners seem to. 

DAY FOUR: BORDER GAMES 

After a beautifully peaceful, mobile network-free day in the park, there was a treat in store for the next day. From Namdapha’s forest trails, we blasted through some spectacular roads to the border town of Nampong. With further special permission, we were allowed to climb the road up to Pangsau Pass, right up to the Indo-Myanmar border. 

Pangsau Pass follows the original Stilwell road that was constructed in World War II and named after American General Joseph Stilwell. The story of this route from Ledo, Assam, to Kunming in China is a fascinating one that deserves further reading up on. Essentially, it played a sizeable role in the Asian theatre of WW2. However, thousands of lives were lost in its construction, which involved forging through nearly impenetrable jungle.

Rich and varied cultures in Arunachal, and almost always accompanied by smiling faces.

While some of the original Stilwell road has been reclaimed by the jungle after the war, Pangsau Pass used to be regularly used by the locals right up to the start of the pandemic. Unfortunately, it has been closed to even the locals for over a year now. When it was open, locals from both sides would meet at the market at the top to trade once every 10 days. 

The Pangsau Pass market is now a ghost town, but given their cordial relations with the army on the other side, the forces who guard our border actually let us walk across to see the foundation stone that marks the Pass on the other side. To be able to stand on the top of a Pass and breath in the fresh air on foreign soil with no formal paperwork… that was quite a feeling! 

DAY FIVE: PEACE AND REFLECTION 

The final day of our time in Arunachal was in the town of Namsai where we stayed in a hotel that bordered the beautiful Namsai Golden Pagoda. A quiet evening spent walking the pagoda gardens was the perfect setting to reflect on the greatest hits of the days gone by. 

We only saw a part of Arunachal and I’m longing to come back for more. It’s not just the promise of beautiful roads, strange and wonderful foods, or even the warm and welcoming people. What has me hooked is the sense that time has moved a little slower in these parts. The forests appear ancient and all-powerful, and even while you may be on pristine tarmac, the countryside looks like a scene out of a Rambo movie with nothing more than basic bamboo silted houses making up the small villages. The people themselves have a deep-rooted connection to nature and there’s a huge number of tribes and communities, each with their own languages and cultures. 

I fully understand the state’s desire to feed at the boundless buffet that is tourism, but they also have a massive responsibility to look after what they have. The average Indian tourist, unfortunately, can be a terribly destructive species, something evident in what’s left to be found at the more popular spots in Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal. 

It would appear that Arunachal’s leadership knows this, because the many honorable ministers we met along the way kept talking about wanting limited, but quality tourism for their state. Isn’t it nice to know that motorcycling falls under that umbrella? Honda says it’s also considering more events like this for its own customers, here and in other similarly special locations.

Everything you see beyond the barbed wire fence is in Myanmar territory.

If you are sitting at home right now and dreaming up a great motorcycling escape once life finds some sense of normalcy again, add Arunachal Pradesh to your list. It’s not the easiest state to get to and it’s not the easiest to get around either, but I can tell you from experience, it’s worth it.

LAKE OF NO RETURN 

From the top of Pangsau Pass there’s a clear view of a lake in the valley on the Myanmar side. Of the many folklore stories that give its name, the most popular is that it holds the remains of multiple allied aircraft from World War II. Legend has it that these planes would be flying in low visibility and be unable to make the climb when the Pangsau peak suddenly emerged ahead. While desperately trying to make an emergency landing in what looked like a flat valley below, they’d end up in the lake instead. True or not, it is a fact that there are many crashed WW2 aircraft lost within the wild jungles of the north east.

from Autocar India - Bikes

Honda 2Wheelers India resumes production in phases

The company has resumed operations in a staggered manner at its plants in Manesar (Haryana), Tapukara (Rajasthan) and Vithalapur (Gujarat).

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BS6 Ducati Panigale V4, Diavel 1260 India launch next week

Ducati India had a very slow 2020 with almost no BS6 big bikes available post the April 1 deadline for many months. This year, however, the brand has been in full swing with BS6 launches, many of which feature upgrades beyond just emissions compliance.

• Multiple new Ducati models to launch by the end of 2021 

• BS6 Panigale V4 and Diavel 1260 are next on the list

• Both will be available in standard and S variants

2021 Ducati Diavel 1260

The Diavel returns with a BS6 version of its monstrous 1262cc 90-degree V-twin engine. Emissions compliance has done nothing to dull its sheen on paper and while the motor still produces a mammoth 129Nm of torque, peak power has actually gone up from 159hp to 162hp. The Diavel has also gained some heft, with the kerb weight figure climbing from 244kg to 249kg.

Both variants will come to India and the standard bike is available in a sinister looking black colour with a black frame. The S model is also available in black, but with a contrasting red trellis frame and there’s also a new Ducati Red colour scheme that’s available for 2021. Which colours will finally come to India is not clear at the moment.

Both models get high-spec electronics packages to tame their wild engines, including multi-stage traction control, wheelie control, engine brake control, cornering ABS, riding modes, launch control and more. The difference between the standard and S model is seen in the suspension, brakes, wheel design and the fact that the S model gets an up/down quickshifter as standard. The S is also two kilos lighter, at 247kg.

Expect prices to range between Rs 17 lakh - 21 lakh (ex-showroom) for the two models when launched in India.

2021 Ducati Panigale V4

The Panigale received a significant upgrade in 2020 with the inclusion of winglets, a retuned chassis and suspension setup, and a slightly tamer power delivery, all aimed at making the fire breathing 214hp bike easier to ride. The 2020 model was never officially launched in India, but Ducati did quietly bring in a few units for customers who asked for it.

The 2021 model is very similar to last year’s bike, apart from the move to BS6 compliance, Ducati has managed to keep both the power and weight figures unchanged. Also, there are a few improvements in the electronics department, including a move to the latest generation of Ducati’s traction control system and a revised riding mode layout. The bike also gets new self-bleeding clutch and brake master cylinders, as well as a provision for heated grips, although that’s something that’s unlikely to be used in our country very often. 

As before, both the standard and S variants will be sold in India. Both run the same engine tune and electronics package, however, the S gets electronically controlled Ohlins suspension, forged aluminum wheels, a lithium ion battery and weighs three kilos less, at 195kg.

Expect prices to range between Rs 22 lakh and 27 lakh, ex-showroom, when the bikes are launched in India very soon.

Also see:

Ducati to launch 12 bikes in India this year

from Autocar India - Bikes

Review: Alpinestars Racer MX jersey and pants review

The idea with MX gear is simple – maximum protection with minimal intrusion. Since high-speed abrasion resistance is less of a concern in off-road riding, the armour is generally strapped onto the body and the rider wears relatively lightweight fabric on top. This ensures maximum breathability and as little intrusion on movement as possible. 

Alpinestars is one of the masters of the off-road apparel world and its Racer pants and jersey come in a wide range of designs. These ones are called the Braap, and within this design, you can select from various colour options. 

The MX jersey is a fairly straightforward bit of attire, with no real protective characteristics. You could say it it’s quite similar to something like a football jersey, but with a few motorcycle relevant design features. These include wrist cuffs for a snugger fit and a long design with an extended back section for better coverage on the bike.

 

Leather inserts improve grip and heat resistance.

 

The Racer Braap pants are significantly more technical in their approach. These are constructed in a thicker and more durable feeling PU-coated material. Unlike traditional riding pants for the road, you won’t find any in-built armour, although there is some thin foam padding around the knee area. The back of the legs are finished in a breathable, stretchy material that helps improve comfort. There’s also a patch of leather on the inner side of each knee running half way down the calf. This is to improve heat resistance and to help the rider grip the bike better. 

A ratched closure on the waist and two additional Velcro straps along the side ensure that you will be able to get a good fit once you select your size based on the Alpinestars size chart. A netted inner material ensures good comfort and the knee section is wide enough to comfortably accommodate knee guards or braces. What you won’t find here is any pockets, apart from a tiny one inside the hip area, so it’s worth having some other arrangement to carry essentials like a phone, wallet, sanitiser, etc. 

As with all things Alpinestars, the quality is without fault, the style quotient is high and the price is premium. But as my first set of MX gear, the Racer Jersey and Pants haven’t left me wanting more. 

Where: 

www.supermoto.co.in 

Price: 

Jersey: Rs 3,499 

Pants: Rs 10,999

from Autocar India - Bikes

2021 MV Agusta F3 Rosso revealed

MV Agusta has updated its F3 Rosso with a Euro 5 (BS6) compliant engine, improved electronics and more.

• The bike is said to have improved power and torque curves

• Minor changes to the clutch for better gear engagement

• MV Agusta has added a 5.5-inch TFT display

Around a year ago, MV Agusta revealed that it was developing a heavily-updated F3 800. At the time, the CEO, Timur Sardarov, also confirmed that the upgraded F3 will get a brand-new set of electronics. 

2021 MV Agusta F3 Rosso: electronics 

MV Agusta has stayed true to its word as the 2021 F3 Rosso now comes equipped with a 5.5-inch TFT display and a new IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) platform. The ABS, now developed by Continental, comes complete with cornering function while the TC traction control can intervene more precisely by considering the bike’s lean angle. In addition to this, the IMU also allows the updated FLC (Front Lift Control) to manage a controlled wheelie rather than prevent it altogether.

The aforementioned TFT display also pairs to the MV Ride App. This application is available on both iOS and Android devices and gives users the ability to share their trip information on social media platforms. More importantly, it enables navigation with turn-by-turn directions. 

2021 MV Agusta F3 Rosso: engine and gearbox

For 2021, the 798cc, three-cylinder engine is now euro 5 (BS6) compliant. Changes to the engine include a reduction in internal friction thanks to a DLC (Diamond-like-Carbon) treatment. Another big change comes in the form of new injectors that offer more injection pressure. MV Agusta has said that it has also made changes to the exhaust to improve the power and torque curves. Power and torque remain quite similar, it now makes 147hp and 88Nm as compared to the 148hp and 88Nm the older motorcycle made.

MV Agusta has said that it has also updated the ECU firmware to improve throttle response. Meanwhile, a new bi-directional radiator has helped with cooling. Lastly, changes to the clutch basket and an updated quickshifter have resulted in “softer and more precise” gearshifts.

2021 MV Agusta F3 Rosso: price and launch details

While it is too early to comment about the price, expect the new F3 to sport a higher price than the older motorcycle's Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom) price tag. MV Agusta used to be retailed in India via the Kinetic owned MotoRoyale, but that agreement appears to have been terminated around a year ago. At around the same time, Timur Sardarov, stated that the company is looking for a new partner in the Indian market.

Also see:

2021 MV Agusta Rush unveiled

MV Agusta 950cc ADV motorcycle to be unveiled next year

MV Agusta to raise 30 million Euro via share capital increase

from Autocar India - Bikes

Review: Yamaha FZS 25 vs Suzuki Gixxer 250 comparison video

Also see:

Yamaha FZS 25 vs Suzuki Gixxer 250 comparison

from Autocar India - Bikes

Bicycle industry pedals to decadal high demand growth of 20%: CRISIL

The resultant improvement in cash flows – amid higher capital expenditure – will support the credit profiles of CRISIL-rated bicycle manufacturers, which account for 60% of the industry volume.

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Benelli Leoncino-based 500cc sportbike spotted

Benelli’s parent company, QJMotor, is churning out new models at a breakneck pace. The latest upcoming model to be spotted is a fully-faired 500cc sportbike that seems to be based on the Leoncino.

• Styling is similar to QJMotor’s other fully-faired sportbikes like the SRG 600

• Might even get a larger 550cc motor like the upcoming Leoncino

• An India launch is a possibility

If its current line-up is anything to go by, Benelli likes to use each of its engines as a platform to spawn different motorcycles with varying purpose and intent. Its 500cc parallel-twin already powers the TRK 502 adventure bike, the Leoncino neo-retro roadster, and the 502C, a Ducati Diavel rip-off power cruiser. It now seems that the brand wants this engine to power a sportbike as well.

Benelli Leoncino based sportbike: design

The resultant machine has been spotted overseas in its QJMotor guise, and it looks reasonably handsome. Its styling is in line with the brand’s other mid-displacement sportbike, the QJMotor SRG 600 or Benelli 600RR. The angry fascia, chiselled fairing and muscular fuel tank give the bike a purposeful look. While the design is pretty aggressive, the riding posture actually seems rather comfortable, with what appear to be pretty high clip-on handlebars and low, mid-set foot pegs.

Benelli Leoncino based sportbike: engine

The dead giveaway that this bike is based on the Leoncino is the unmistakable bonnethead shape of the clutch cover. Should this hunch turn out to be true, the result will be a sonorous 500cc parallel-twin with output figures in the range of 47.5hp and 46Nm. That being said, there have also been reports that Benelli is bumping the Leoncino’s displacement up to 550cc, thereby resulting in a 3.4hp power increase. If this is indeed true, then there’s no reason why this updated engine shouldn’t feature in this sportbike too. To know more about what the 500cc motor feels like in its BS6 avatar, you can check out our review of the 2021 TRK 502 right here.

Benelli Leoncino based sportbike: underpinnings

Like most Benellis, the underpinnings are beefy – a fat upside-down fork and twin disc brakes up front. If these components are shared with the Leoncino, that translates into a 50mm fork and twin 320mm discs. The relative placement of the swingarm pivot point and rear monoshock suggest that the rear suspension setup will be pretty identical to that of the Leoncino; that’s good news because it means the availability of preload and rebound damping adjustability.

A recent trend with QJMotor models has been the offering of two variants – one with fairly basic suspension and braking components, and one with more advanced units, sometimes even Brembo brake calipers. This could well be the case with this upcoming sportbike too.

Benelli Leoncino based sportbike: India launch

In the BS3 and BS4 era, Benelli was quite proactive in India, bringing a large share of its international line-up to our shores. And while the BS6 line-up isn’t quite as extensive, the TRK 502 and Leoncino are still on sale in our country. This paves the way for this sportbike to join the party. Its engine is a BS6-compliant unit, and with the KTM RC 490, and perhaps the Honda CBR500R set to arrive in due course, this is a segment that could become quite hotly contested in the future.

ZARAN MODY

IMAGE SOURCE

from Autocar India - Bikes

Royal Enfield bikes are equivalent to Japanese, German offerings: Sid Lal

“We are going to launch new products, it will be very controlled with a sharp focus on the midsize segment. We are looking at what more we can do with every platform to meet the requirements of our customers. This is an area of enormous debate within Royal Enfield,” said Siddhartha Lal, managing director, Eicher Motors Ltd.

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Triumph India extends warranty period due to COVID-19 lockdown

Triumph India joins the long list of manufacturers who have increased the validity of standard and extended warranties due to the ongoing wave of COVID-19.

• Applicable to owners whose standard or extended warranty expires between April 15 and May 31

• In these cases, the warranty will be extended to July 30, 2021

• Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Vespa, Aprilia, Bajaj, KTM and Hero have also undertaken similar initiatives

The iconic British manufacturer has taken into account the difficulty that owners are facing in getting their bikes serviced due to lockdowns in various parts of the country. As a result, Triumph has announced on social media its decision to extend warranty periods for owners whose standard or extended warranty expires between April 15 and May 31, 2021. For these owners, the warranty will remain valid till July 30, 2021.

Hopefully, by this date, the situation surrounding COVID-19 will have improved and movement restrictions will be eased. This could allow many owners the opportunity to carry out important repair or replacement jobs covered under warranty.

Triumph isn’t alone in extending this helping hand to customers – Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Vespa, Aprilia, Bajaj, KTM and Hero have also extended their warranties due to COVID-19.

ZARAN MODY

Also See:

Suzuki, Aprilia and Vespa offer warranty and service extension

KTM, Bajaj, Hero MotoCorp announce free service, warranty extension due to COVID-19

from Autocar India - Bikes

Top 5 bikes under 1.5 Lakhs

Top 5 bikes under 1.5 Lakhs 200cc bikes.

• Xpulse 200

• Apache RTR 200 4V

• Bajaj Pulsar 220F

• Hornet 2.0

• Bajaj Pulsar NS200

Name	Xpulse 200	RTR 200	Pulsar 220F	Hornet 2.0	Pulsar NS200
Price (Ex.Sh)	Rs.1,18,203	Rs.1,27,000	Rs.1,28,000	Rs.1,29,608	Rs.1,35,000
Emission	BS VI	BS VI	BS VI	BS-VI	BS VI
Displacement	199.6cc	197.75cc	220cc	184.4cc	199.5cc
Max. Power	17.8 bhp  @8500rpm	20.54 bhp  @9000rpm	20.11 bhp @8500rpm	17.03 bhp @8500rpm	24.13 bhp @9750rpm
Max.Torque	16.45 Nm @6500rpm	17.25 Nm  @7250rpm	18.55 Nm  @7000rpm	16.1 NM @6000rpm	18.5Nm @8000rpm
Fuel type	Petrol	Petrol	Petrol	Petrol	Petrol
Gear box	5 speed	5 speed	5 speed	5 speed	6 speed
ABS	Single	Dual	Single	Single	Single
Mileage	40/kmpl	40/kmpl	40/kmpl	45/kmpl	35/kmpl
Tyre	Tubeless	Tubeless	Tubeless	Tubeless	Tubeless
Color	⚫🔴⚪+2	⚫ 🔵 ⚪	🔴 ⚫ 🔵+2	🔴 ⚫ 🔵+2	🔴 🔵 ⚪ +1
Length	2222mm	2050mm	2035mm	2047mm	2017mm
Width	850mm	790mm	750mm	783mm	804mm
Overall Height	1258mm	1050	1165mm	1064mm	1075mm
Ground clearance	220mm	180mm	165mm	167mm	168mm
Weight	157kg	152kg	160kg	142kg	156kg
Tank capacity	13L	12L	15L	12L	12L

Xpulse 200

Hero Xpulse 200 may be an adventure bikes.Powered by a 199.6 cc bs6 engine, the Hero XPulse 200 features a 5 Speed gearbox. The Hero XPulse 200 has Disc front brakes and Disc rear brakes along side ABS.This bike features a higher displacing 200cc motor delivering more power at 20.7bhp and 18.1Nm.It is available in just 1 variant and 5 colours.

Apache RTR 200 4V

TVS Apache RTR 200 4V is a street bikes.Apache RTR 200 4V is powered by 197.75cc BS6 engine which develops a power of 20.21 bhp and a torque of 16.8 Nm. It is available in 4 variants and 3 colours with top variant.

Bajaj Pulsar 220F

Bajaj Pulsar 220F launched in June 2009.

Pulsar 220 actually looks new and new purchasers are ordinarily pulled away from the NS200 as the vibes of 220F are really viewed as better.Good Mileage Pulsar 220F offers a decent mileage figure between 35-40 kmpl, even with riders guaranteeing around 45+ kmpl with nice riding.Comfortable Seat Height: Pulsar 220F accompanies moderate seat stature, empowering more limited riders to appreciate the smaller than usual super games feel. Genuine maximum velocity of Pulsar 220F is 134 kmph. 

Hornet 2.0

The hornet feels agreeably nimble, however conjointly quite assured once leaned over. if you're trying to find mileage, associated nice mileage and not an excessive quantity of power. although it is a 200cc phase bike, however as per its specification, it is best fitted to town rides solely. Do take a take a look at ride thus on urge higher clarity.

Bajaj Pulsar NS200

Pulsar 200NS like a sports bike.The term NS stands for Naked sports .This Pulsar NS200 generates an 24.5 PS @9750rpm &  torque of 18.5 Nm @ 8000 rpm. The claimed mileage of NS200 is 40/kmpl.