Digitalization of premium motorcycle buying experience is inevitable

Premium motorcycles have great untapped potential in the Indian two-wheeler market. The efforts to expand the customer base are riddled with several hurdles. Establishing a manufacturing base to be cost efficient appears unviable in a low volume market. Establishment of physical showrooms also is not feasible because of the ongoing pandemic. Personalization and digitalization of the premium motorcycle buying experience is inevitable now.

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Honda Shine 125 price hiked

Honda has increased the price of the Shine 125, its best-selling commuter motorcycle. The company has increased the price of both the drum and disc brake equipped variants by Rs 1,072. They now retail at Rs 71,550 and Rs 76,346, respectively.

Despite the price hike, Honda has not made any technical or cosmetic changes to the Shine 125.

The motorcycle is powered by a 124cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that makes 10.7hp of peak power and 11Nm of peak torque.

In terms of competition, the Honda Shine 125 goes up against the Bajaj Pulsar 125 whose price begins at Rs 73,427.

All prices, ex-showroom, Delhi

Also see,

Honda patents the CRF300L in India

from Autocar India - Bikes

Jawa aims to have 500 dealerships by June 2022

Jawa will increase its current tally of 187 showrooms to 275 by August 2021, and further to 500 showrooms nationwide by June 2022. Parent company Classic Legends is also on course to revive the BSA brand, and an electric motorcycle is on the cards. 

• Jawa launched the new Forty Two in February this year 

• Brand claims to have ramped up production capabilities, but its suppliers face issues

• Revived BSA brand will feature electric as well as petrol-engined models

Having gotten off to a bit of a rocky start, Jawa was just about beginning to get its act together with the launch of the new Forty Two in February, when a second wave of COVID-19 engulfed the nation. Undeterred by the setback, the brand still has ambitious plans for the near future.

Jawa showroom expansion

It currently has a presence through 187 showrooms across 150 cities in India. The plan is to grow this number to 275 showrooms by August 2021 and to 500 showrooms by June 2022.

Jawa delivery timelines

Jawa has been marred by a reputation of failing to deliver motorcycles on time. To rectify this, the manufacturer claims to have increased its own production capacity. However, many of its suppliers have been severely affected by the lockdown, and dealerships have also had to remain closed, as a result of which deliveries continue to be impacted.

BSA revival, electric motorcycle

Jawa's parent company Classic Legends is also well on its way to reviving the legendary BSA Motorcycles brand. Of course, there are petrol-powered models in the pipeline, but the big news is that BSA is also working on an electric motorcycle. This is thanks to a 4.6 million pound (Rs 41.67 crore) grant from the UK Government, as part of a low carbon automotive initiative across the UK. BSA was awarded this grant by the UK government’s Advanced Propulsion Centre for development of innovative zero emission motorcycles.

Yezdi revival

Classic Legends also owns the rights to the Yezdi brand and is hard at work resurrecting it and developing new models. The first new bike to carry a Yezdi badge is expected to be a scrambler-style model that's already been spotted testing on our roads. 

Also See

2021 Jawa Forty Two review, test ride

from Autocar India - Bikes

Yezdi Roadking trademark filed

Yezdi has filed a trademark for its upcoming motorcycle, the Roadking.

• The motorcycle was spotted testing back in March 2021

• Yezdi has also applied for the website name trademark

• Expected to be the first offering from Yezdi

Back in November 2018, Classic Legends had announced that it was working on a Yezdi comeback. A government website now reveals that the company has filed for a trademark for the Roadking name and the yezdiroadking.com URL. While the trademark still hasn’t been passed, it reveals part of the revival plan.

A few months ago, what looked like a Jawa-powered scrambler was spotted in action. While it featured an identical radiator and engine head design, the lower casing had the distinctive Yezdi stripes. While Classic Legends did a remarkable job at recreating the old-school Jawas’ visual appeal, it looks like their approach is slightly different with the Yezdi brand.

The spy shots reveal that the company is going for a modern-day scrambler, featuring a narrow, short tail, a tyre hugger, tall handlebar and a flat seat. However, the test mule did not appear to be close to production-ready, which means a lot could change by the time it makes it to production.

2021 Yezdi Roadking: launch  

It was only a few months ago that the motorcycle was seen in the early stages of testing and the pandemic is only expected to have delayed plans further; the trademark applications also haven’t received the ‘passed’ status. All of this could mean that the upcoming motorcycle is still some time away. That said, we were given to understand that the Yezdi brand could be launched this year. Whether it will be with this bike or something else remains to be seen.

Also see:

2021 Jawa Forty Two review, test ride

from Autocar India - Bikes

Honda India files design patent for CRF300L dual-sport bike

Honda has filed a design patent for its CRF300L dual-sport motorcycle in India.

• Rolls on a 21-inch/18-inch wire-spoke wheel combo 

• 284mm ground clearance and 259mm suspension travel 

• An India launch is somewhat unlikely, but not completely impossible 

Buyers can't seem to get enough of off-road oriented motorcycles at the moment, but Honda only has two to offer right now. The CB500X, with its humble off-road capabilities, is just far too expensive to be a sensible proposition. The Africa Twin is far more capable as an off-roader, but it's even more inaccessible thanks to a starting price of Rs 15.96 lakh. To fix that, the brand might just be looking at launching its CRF300L dual-sport motorcycle in India.

Honda CRF300: off-road credentials

If it does, it would be a rather groundbreaking move, because while there are a fair few adventure bikes in our market, there isn't a dual-sport in sight. This genre of motorcycle is  a motocross bike with lights and mirrors, slightly adapted for road use. This means a mammoth 284mm ground clearance coupled with an equally stratospheric 880mm seat height, and very little focus on touring/cruising abilities or fancy features.

It's got the right kit for the job, with a 21-inch/18-inch wire-spoke wheel combo, and near 260mm of suspension travel at both ends. The CRF300L is the successor to the CRF250L - the bump up in displacement is Honda's attempt to keep output figures high in the face of stricter emission norms. The motor is now a 286cc liquid-cooled DOHC single-cylinder unit producing 27hp and 26.6Nm while complying with Euro 5/BS6 emission norms.

Honda CRF300L: India launch & price

While this design patent certainly is an interesting development, it's far from a guarantee of a launch. Patent applications are often made, but not followed up by actual product launches. For example, Honda patented the Grom in India a while ago and then never followed it up with anything. 

There's also the viability of such a product in our market to consider for all our love of ADVs, the Indian market perhaps still isn't mature enough to welcome a focused dual-sport motorcycle with open arms. The seat height figure will be enough to keep most people from entering the showroom. And even if Honda were to bring it here  as a CKD, like the CB300R, it would still likely be priced on the wrong side of the Rs 2.5 lakh mark (ex-showroom). Now that's a lot of money to pay, considering the relatively humble engine output and no-frills approach of the bike. So, we wait with tempered enthusiasm to see how things progress.

ZARAN MODY

from Autocar India - Bikes

Exports help Bajaj, TVS dodges May 2021 damage

Two-wheeler numbers in May 2021 crashed quite predictably owing to the reality of lockdowns across the country which affected every vehicle segment.

• Honda two-wheelers managed to sell only 58,000 units

• Bajaj Auto exported 1.8 lakh units

• Royal Enfield wasn’t hit as hard in May 2021

May 2021 has been a grim reminder of how the second COVID-19 wave is wreaking havoc in rural and semi-urban markets which account for a large percentage of two-wheeler sales.

Most manufacturers stopped operations in tandem with the lockdowns announced by many states. The likes of Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor which have significant export commitments did better than the rest owing to higher overseas shipments (see data table below). 

Market leader, Hero MotoCorp resumed operations in the last week of May and quite naturally had little to show in terms of numbers. Likewise, its erstwhile ally and closest rival Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) barely did a little over 58,000 units during the month of which exports took up a third.

If urban India was the biggest stumbling block last year, this time it was a double whammy with rural areas also wilting under the pandemic. This means that scooters and entry-level motorcycles felt the impact and manufacturers will naturally be hoping that the worst is behind them by end-June.

The other area of concern pertains to inventory levels and the problem it poses for dealers who are already feeling the strain of the liquidity pinch and inability to access funds quickly. 

The good news is that Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi have begun to ease lockdowns even while Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are grappling with higher caseloads.

With monsoons expected to be normal this year, farmers will have something more positive to look forward to after months of weathering the COVID-19 onslaught. 

Disposable incomes could also be more with high spend affairs like weddings now off the radar. Hopefully, all this will translate into buying more motorcycles and scooters by the festive season. The only worry remains the possibility of a third wave which could derail all plans. 

SHAHKAR ABIDI

Also see:

Two-wheelers need greater consideration in road safety policies

Two-wheeler sales in April 2021 affected by second wave of COVID-19

from Autocar India - Bikes

Review: 2021 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R review, test ride

There are very few moments in life that remain firmly etched in one’s memory. Like, for instance, being perched on a 200hp+, litre-class superbike and watching the world whizz by in a blur. The sound of the intake howl reverberating in the ear as your brain struggles to keep up with the rapidly changing numbers on the speedo, is a rush unlike anything else. Especially on something as potent, yet accessible as the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R. 

Armed with a comprehensive set of updates for 2021, Kawasaki claims to have enhanced what is already an incredibly fast machine. Now, if wishes were horses, I’d be flying down the back straight of the BIC, rather than feeling caged on the public road system. Still, you’d have to be utterly mad to pass the opportunity of riding a superbike, even if it’s on the road. And as I discovered, this format of motorcycling has an irresistible draw. 

EXTERNAL AGENCIES 

It all begins with the way this motorcycle looks, most notably the new face. Kawasaki sparked online debates about the Kawasaki Ninja H2-inspired front end, on whether it was nothing but an ugly cut-paste job on the 2021 ZX-10R. I had my reservations as well, however, in the real world, this Ninja looks bold and aggressive. I’d go to the extent of saying that it looks characterful. 

The large air intake duct in the centre is flanked by recessed LED headlights that give it a menacing face. The effect is also a result of the prominent chin spoilers below the headlights as well as the cleverly integrated ducts next to them. These ducts channel air into them and out through vents on the top of the side fairing. This helps improve high-speed downforce by 17 percent, although, the road is no place to test that. Nevertheless, I like how aesthetically clean and simple this aerodynamics business is on the Ninja, instead of the rather ugly winglets seen on some superbikes of its ilk.

The side fairing has been redesigned as well, with a wide slit giving you a sneak peek at the Titanium alloy exhaust headers, which have already turned bright blue on this bike. The fairing also does a pretty decent job of guiding hot air from the radiator fan out and far away from the rider’s legs. 

Move to the rear and you’ll see a slightly reprofiled cowl, although the triangular LED tail-light is similar to the outgoing model. 

To me, the new ZX-10R looks striking in every sense of the word, not to mention the lovely ‘Kawasaki Racing Team’ colours that add a huge dollop of appeal. 

IN THE SADDLE 

Hop on the motorcycle and you immediately realise that the riding position is way too committed for spending more than an hour in the saddle. This is because the handlebar has been pushed forward by 10mm, although the clip-ons are slightly more spread out to offer better leverage. Secondly, the foot pegs have been raised by 5mm to improve cornering clearance. While that bodes well for the racetrack, after a while on the road, the scrunched up foetal position will leave your lower back, wrists and neck muscles screaming for mercy. At least that was the case with me after a 180km trip from Pune to Mumbai. 

However, even if the riding posture is extreme, I didn’t think it was an absolute deal breaker, because the way the Ninja ZX-10R performs and manages to tackle Indian roads is pleasantly surprising.

ENGINEERING MARVEL 

In the process of upgrading the ZX-10R’s venerable 998cc, inline-four engine to BS6 standards, Kawasaki has thrown in a chunk of updates that have had a big impact overall. 

Peak power stands at 203hp (up by 3hp) at 13,200rpm. Add the ram air effect and Kawasaki says that figure rises to 213hp at high speeds. The other changes include a new air-cooled oil-cooler, for consistent engine performance, as well as the revised exhaust and the new ride-by-wire system that offers precise throttle inputs. But that’s not all. Kawasaki has also shortened the first, second and third gears and put in a bigger rear sprocket (by two teeth). The effect of all of this is seen in the new ZX-10R’s more tractable nature at city speeds. It manages to hold third gear at 30kph without a murmur of protest. The surprising bit is that the heat management in congested traffic is excellent, given the sheer performance that this engine packs. Speaking of which, a 200hp+ motorcycle is nothing short of a missile on wheels, especially on the road.

BS6 engine makes more power while revised gearing improves the tractability.

The sheer ferocity with which the Ninja builds up speed, with the seamless quickshifter working like magic, is gobsmacking. You’ll need all of your bravery, muscles and mental space to hold on to the bike as the revs climb past 10,000rpm; post which the horizon only seems seconds away. This entire sequence of events is accompanied by an addictive exhaust note that can only be brewed by an inline-four engine, which is still worshipped by many. 

I’d say that it is nothing but lunacy to even dare to keep the throttle wide open on such an incredibly powerful machine, especially on our roads. That said, the electronics package with the updates for 2021 is like a superhero, keeping you from being the next statistic on the accident board. 

The three ride modes – Road, Rain, Sport – the IMU based, five-level traction control (two levels more than available previously), as well as the ABS work seamlessly in the background, as you go about riding the Ninja over dips, crests, undulations, slippery surfaces and whatever the typical Indian road throws at you.

New Bluetooth TFT but still no standard fuel gauge.

Scroll through the menu on the new Bluetooth-enabled 4.3-inch TFT display and you can preset four individual rider modes – a new feature in 2021. However, this only allows you to set the traction control intervention level and whether you want Full or Low power, which chops output to about 80 percent. 

Honestly, while I was barely skimming the surface of the performance barrel, it was more than enough to keep me grinning from ear to ear. 

LASER GUIDED MISSILE 

It’s on a tight twisty road that the Ninja’s chassis setup really comes to the fore and you realise why this superbike is looked upon with such reverence. Kawasaki has made a few tweaks this time by fitting an 8mm longer swingarm and lowering its pivot point by 1mm. The lowered triple clamp has also led to greater front fork offset, further contributing to the longer wheelbase. The result is a motorcycle that’s super stable at corner entry, mid corner and while exiting. Turn in felt quick for a 207kg motorcycle and even direction changes don’t require a lot of effort. 

The fully-adjustable Showa suspension features revised internals, and even at stock settings, these were comfortable enough to deal with our pockmarked roads. They soak up mid-corner undulations quite well and there was never an instance where the front end skipped off an intended line. It is fast, yet friendly and forgiving, which explains why it is so easy to get on and get used to. 

All said, a racetrack like the BIC or MMRT is where the true potential of the chassis can be exploited and it is something that we’ve added to our bucket list for the future. 

SUPERBIKE DREAMS 

Let’s be honest. Considering the gamut of motorcycles that we desire in a lifetime, a litre-class superbike holds a special place in almost everyone’s heart. After all, these are the epitome of hard, fast and focused production machines that mere mortals like you and I strap ourselves to for a ride of a lifetime.

KRT colours add to the appearance of the Ninja.

The 2021 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R is a shining example of a motorcycle that’ll blow you away with its abilities. While we got a little taste of it on the street, the racetrack is where you must take this motorcycle to, in order to ride it like it is meant to be. Agreed, the electronics and overall feel-good factor aren’t as good as some of the more exotic competition, but then again, at Rs 14.99 lakh, the Ninja ZX-10R blows them out of the water, with its sheer price to performance value. And that makes it impossible to look past.

from Autocar India - Bikes

kia Change the Name Kia India

kia in India as between you really well with the likes of solid and the seltos and sales numbers every single month that has been an international brand and now has reached India we are now get a new logo when used with quick look and one that we brand is all about.

New brand new logo and is much cleaner and looks more modern as compared to the more traditional Old logo and slogan movement that inspires the amount does India has also drop the Motors from its official name and is now only Kia India India also aim to expand its customer touchpoints 360 by the end of the year that includes an expansion into T3 and T4 cities with the total coverage of over 200 Indian cities and towns and also plans to increase production at Anantapur facility in Andhra Pradesh with the new ship.

Greaves Cotton to spend Rs 110 cr on capex

"We plan to invest about Rs 110 crore towards capital expenditure this year. About Rs.70 crore will be for the electric two-wheeler plant at Ranipet to be commissioned by the end of this year," Nagesh A. Basavanalli, Managing Director and Group CEO told IANS.

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2021 Triumph Speed Twin debuts with improved power output and parts

Launched in 2018, the Speed Twin is Triumph’s modern classic performance roadster.

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Top 10 bikes below Rs 2 lakh with highest power-to-weight ratios

Enthusiasts know that it’s the power-to-weight ratio that tells a more detailed story when it comes to performance. That’s why we’ve decided to list out the top 10 bikes with the highest power-to-weight ratios and priced below the Rs 2 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) mark. All figures have been calculated using kerb weights.

10) TVS Apache RTR 200 4V (20.8hp/152kg) – 136.8hp/tonne

The TVS Apache RTR 200 4V has many remarkable features like ride modes, a slipper clutch and a preload-adjustable fork, but that’s not what we are talking about here. It makes it to the list after having edged out the likes of the Yamaha FZ25, R-15 and MT-15, thanks to its peppy four-valve, single-cylinder engine that makes 20.8hp at 9,000rpm and 17.25Nm at 7,250rpm. This, combined with the 152kg kerb weight, translates to a power-to-weight ratio of 136.8hp/tonne and impressive real-world performance.

9) Bajaj Pulsar RS200 (24.5hp/166kg) – 147.5hp/tonne

The RS 200 manages to balance its identity very well – the riding position is sporty, but far from extreme, and the handling is stable and enjoyable, but without being punishing over poor roads. With its full fairing and perimeter frame, the Pulsar NS weighs in at 166kg.

While that makes the RS200 10kg heavier than its naked counterpart, the NS200, it’s still among the top 10 with a power-to-weight ratio of 147.5hp/tonne. It achieves this thanks to its four-valve, single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that makes 24.5hp at 9,750rpm and 18.7Nm at 8,000rpm. 

8) Bajaj Dominar 250 (27hp/180kg) – 150hp/tonne

A motorcycle you wouldn’t think would make it to this list is the Bajaj Dominar 250. That’s because it is essentially a less powerful version of the hefty Dominar 400. Despite its 180kg kerb weight, the Dominar 250 manages to make 150hp/tonne, thanks to its powerful 250cc engine. This engine is based on the KTM 250’s, but with big changes that includes a different cylinder head and compression ratio. The Dominar 250’s engine makes 27hp at 8,500rpm and 23.5Nm at 6,500rpm.

7) Bajaj Pulsar NS200 (24.5hp/156kg) – 157hp/tonne

The Bajaj Pulsar NS200 is a motorcycle you may have seen coming. Being 10kg lighter than the RS200, at 156kg, gives it a big advantage when it comes to its power-to-weight ratio. It makes 157hp/tonne, thanks to the same four-valve, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that makes 24.5hp at 9,750rpm and 18.7Nm at 8,000rpm. We recently compared the NS200 to its rivals and it turned out to be the fastest accelerating motorcycle in its class, with a 0-100kph time of 10.98sec.

6) KTM 200 Duke (25hp/159kg) – 157.2hp/tonne

KTM’s 200 Duke would have been much higher up in the list, but its most recent version includes a major design update that has resulted in it becoming 11kg heavier than before. Its weight now stands at 159kg, which is slightly more than the NS200, but it balances the equation thanks to a 0.5hp advantage. With just 0.2hp/tonne separating the two, the real-world performance is expected to be quite close, however, the KTM’s closer stacked gear ratios should result in more exciting acceleration.

5) Jawa Forty Two (27.3hp/171kg) – 159.6hp/tonne 

Not too long ago, Jawa launched an updated and sportier looking version of the Forty-Two. This version, internally known as the Forty Two 2.1, also weighs 1kg less than the regular Forty Two and the Jawa. This gives it a slightly higher power-to-weight ratio of 159.6hp/tonne. In comparison, the regular Forty Two and Jawa are capable of 158.7hp/tonne. All three bikes use the same 293cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that comes paired with a 6-speed gearbox.

4) Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 (26.5hp/161kg) – 164.5hp/tonne

The Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 is a motorcycle with a number of qualities. It does a lot really well and it leaves very little to complain about. Powering it is a 249cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine that makes 26.5hp at 9,300rpm and 22.2Nm at 7,300rpm. While these figures aren’t ground-breaking, it’s reasonably lightweight, at 161kg, especially when you consider that it’s a fully-faired quarter-litre machine. With 164.5hp/tonne, the Gixxer SF 250 takes position number four.

3) Suzuki Gixxer 250 (26.5hp/156kg) – 169.8hp/tonne

Coming in at number three is the Gixxer SF 250’s naked counterpart. Like we witnessed with the Bajaj Pulsar RS200 and NS200, shedding some bodywork goes a long way. Powering it is the exact same engine as the SF 250 and it makes identical power and torque numbers, but its 156kg weight figure gives it a higher power-to-weight ratio of 169.8hp/tonne.

2) Jawa Perak (30.6hp/175kg) – 174.8hp/tonne

The unique-looking Jawa Perak makes the most power on this list. It churns out 30.6hp and 32.7Nm of torque from its 334cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. The Perak would have taken first place, but it goes up against much lighter competition. That said, the Perak is still quite lightweight, at 175kg, given that it’s a bobber. Head here to read our review of the Jawa Perak.

1) Husqvarna Svartpilen 250, Vitpilen 250 (30hp/166kg) – 180.7hp/tonne

With 180.7hp/tonne, the Swedish Husqvarna Svartpilen 250 and Vitpilen 250 are the motorcycles that offer the most bang for the buck. Thanks to the 249cc, liquid-cooled engine from the KTM 250 Duke, the Huskies make 30hp at 9,000rpm and 24Nm at 7,500rpm. The lightweight steel-trellis frame and minimal bodywork contribute to keeping the weight down to 166kg. If you’d like to know more about the performance and what we think of the Husqvarnas, head here.

Also see:

10 most expensive bikes on sale in India

5 most-affordable Bluetooth-enabled two-wheelers in India

from Autocar India - Bikes

Bajaj Auto starts vaccination drive for all employees and family members

The company will vaccinate more than 20,000 employees, contract workers and their family members in this drive.

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Honda Motorcycle domestic sales down 28% in May

Amidst multiple lockdowns by state governments due to the second wave of COVID-19, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd (HMSI) closed May 2021 with 58,168 unit sales, the company said in a statement.

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