2013 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Unveiled

Kawasaki has unveiled the specs and photos of its 2013 version of the Ninja 250R. The new version has massive changes compared to the earlier version, it somewhat resembles the Ninja ZX-10R. This time with this futuristic styling, Ninja 250R is here to kick some serious Ass!

It provides a host of changes from the revised angular bodywork with large slotted vents and a floating mount windscreen to a new tail section. It also gets a new exhaust muffler and new design for the alloy wheels,new disc brakes at the front and the rear. Also to mention is the digital speedometer in the 2013 version which everyone so wanted in the Ninja 250R. This time the riding position is also a bit relaxed compared to the previous version.

Kawasaki have not only made changes in the styling and design of the bike but also have upgraded the bike in terms of performance.  Changes include dual-throttle valve, new pistons, new cylinders and new crank cases  to boost low end and mid range torque. ABS is also available as an option now with Kawasaki claiming it to be the world’s smallest unit.

The available colours for the new Ninja include

•  Lime Green, 
• Lime Green/Ebony (special edition), 
• Passion Red, 
• Passion Red/Stardust White (special edition), 
• Ebony/Metallic Moondust Grey (special edition)
•  Pearl Stardust White.

The new Ninja 250R is expected to reach Indian shore by 2013 with slight price increase in accordance with the changes made, in Japan this bike is sold at INR 2.34L.

 

 

 

 

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TVS Motors to get into 200cc and above capacity bikes.

image used for representational purpose only

TVS recently lost the third spot to Honda motorcycles India since it does not have star mass selling product in the 100 or 125cc segment to increase sales.
Few months back TVS upgraded the Apache series. There were lot of speculation about the bike regarding the performance and styling of the bike.Apache enthusiasts were expecting a 200-250cc bike but TVS just came up with a slew of changes in the design of the bike and retained the same engine as in the previous RTR series.

TVS are coming up with a slew of products to regain their position in the Indian market !!

Vinay Harne, president NPI, TVS Motor Company said: "Currently we produce only up to 180 cc and below; we will be entering the bigger bikes segment. There is a trend of moving towards bigger bikes; while the numbers are small, the growth is quite high."

For many TVS fans who expected a higher dispplacement bike, it will be too far for them  to wait for  higher capacity bikes in 2014-15.We always banked on the R&D team of TVS to come up with something new always to compete with the other rivals but this time TVS would be too old by 2014-15 & other would be leading the pack.

Bajaj recently came up with the 200NS which has been received well by Bike enthusiasts, many other companies have already entered the 200cc segment. TVS definitely needs a product to stand against these 200cc rivals to increase their sales.

The company plans to invest Rs. 300 to 400 crores for the production of new models as well as revamping the old ones. The company is in progress and focusing on automatic transmission technology and hybrid technology.TVS Motor will launch six new products by 2014-15 which would include 200-250cc bikes as well.

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DSK Hyosung to launch Comet GT 250R on 13th June.

Recently Hyosung split up with Garware motors and now they have partnered real estate major DSK group.This happened when they were going to launch their much awaited Comet GT 250R which had to be postponed due to this split up.But now Hyosung are all set to launch their 250cc beast with their new partner DSK.There is an official confirmation that Hyosung Comet GT 250R would be launched on 13th June between INR 2-3L.This would be the first release by the Hyosung-DSK joint venture, lets see how it fares in the already competitive 250cc segment.

With the Indian biking segment getting more and more fierce , the two wheeler market is opening up to performance oriented machines .The reason this segment is gaining momentum is because it has been received well among both motorcycle enthusiasts .Recently we had the launch of KTM Duke 200  to spice up the 250cc battle and now its the DSK-Hyosung joint venture.

Recently we had notified you guys about the future plans from Hysoung for the Indian market and now here it is.  Hyosung is going to launch the GT250R  COMET and  GV650 Cruiser . From speculative launch dates of last year to March 2012 to April and May 2012, now it seems  that the bike should be finally launched on the 13th of June. This is really a good news for Bike enthusiasts who now have more option to choose from in the 200-250cc segment .

In the past  Hyosung who had launched the Comet 250 many years ago in India, through Kinetic Engineering Limited, which imported a limited number of these motorcycles for the Indian market and now they are again making a re-entry with a joint venture with Garware Motors .

The super-bike has been modified for the Indian roads in order to get the ARAI certification. Noise reduction, saree guard inclusion and other changes have been made to get the certification done.The bike looks very much similar to the GT650R just that the specifications change, so the exteriors remain the same but its totally a different body inside

The Hyosung GT250R is powered by 249 cc V-twin, DOHC fuel injected engine which is capable of producing 28bhp of power at 10,000Rpm and 22.68Nm of torque at 8000Rpm. With an overall weight of 171kgs, Hyosung GT250R can reach a top speed of 175 kmph.

Now the most important aspect , the pricing of the bike . It is speculated to be around INR 2- 2.5 lakhs which would be between the pricing of Honda CBR250R and Kawasaki Nina 250R .

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Honda CRF250L On/Off road bike to be launched in India .

It seems that on-road/off-road bikes are slowly grabbing momentum in the Indian market .
Do we blame the government for the amazing roads that we have which gives us the off-road pleasure everytime we venture out??
After the successful release of the Impulse by Hero Motocorp , now its Honda's turn to feature in this category .

HONDA'S main new production bike to debut at next month's Tokyo Show is this, the CRF 150L
With this new launch , this emerging segment will really open up and give the customers some options too choose from .
The only drawback in hero Motocorp's Impulse was the lack of power , which will now be definitely fulfilled by the 250cc powered CRF 250L.

About the specifications of the CRF 250L ,a liquid-cooled 250cc 4-stroke DOHC  single cylinder powers the CRF250L which is the same engine that is equipped in the CBR 250R but it has been tuned according to the off-road requirements . The engine makes a good 23 PS of max power @ 8500 RPM and 22 NM of max torque @ 7000 RPM, and  mated with 6 speed gearbox which gives a fuel efficiency figure of 44.3 km/l at a constant speed of 60km/hr.

The company claims a kerb weight of just over 315 pounds, about 50 pounds more than the 230L but still lighter than the CBR250.The enduro/motocross styling traits are evident in the tank shrouds, side covers and the rear fender. With seat clearance at 34.4 inches, the CRF250L perch rests almost four inches higher than both the CBR250 and CRF230L.Honda CRF 250L Dual Sport incorporates upside-down suspensions on the front and while swing-arm pro-Link type suspension does the job at rear.

The Honda CRF250L Dual Sport comes with a slogan ‘New On & Off Gear, your right buddy on the road’ to make ‘On’ (daily life) more convenient and ‘Off’ (weekends) more enjoyable.
It would be priced not less than INR 1.3 lakhs , the bike will be launched by Honda in the Indian market by 2013.

Honda has also released a drawing to show what a few bolt-on bits and a flash paint job could do to transform the new machine into something a bit more eye-catching.

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Royal Enfield might launch Twin Cylinder motorcycle in the next 3 years.

One of the best bike producing brands in India, Royal Enfield  is considering introducing a twin-cylinder motorcycle in India over the next three years.There was a buzz  last year that Royal Enfield could introduce
V-Twin or a parallel twin engine capacity ranging between 650 cc and 700 cc , but this time around it could turn into reality .

Royal Enfield Interceptor 700cc

In 1911, prior to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Royal Enfield they supplied large numbers of motorcycles to the British War Department and also won a motorcycle contract for the Imperial Russian Government. Enfield used its own 225 cc two-stroke single and 425 cc V-twin engines . So its not that Royal Enfield are constructing a twin Cylinder motorcycle for the first time , they have done this in the past as well .Not only this Royal Enfield used to make parallel twin motorcycles in the 1950s and 60s called the Interceptor, which features a 700cc, air cooled, parallel twin cylinder engine. Royal Enfield also made 500cc parallel twin motorcycles before the 700cc versions . They decided to discontinue it due to various emission norms laid by the Government .

The Twin Engine Royal Enfield is likely to be fitted with the pushrod engine system in line with the company’s current engine family, the new bike may be powered by a 600cc to 1000cc engine and cater to customer demand in the higher horsepower category. The main idea to keep the pushrod design is to maintain the classic appeal of the motorcycle, with the characteristic low revving, high torque nature that most Royal Enfield motorcycles are well known for.

Chief executive officer, Venki Padmanabhan told Autocar Professional that the design of the twin-cylinder model will not stray from the company’s traditions and that it will be an offshoot of the simple British design of the model of the 1950s and '60s.

Royal Enfield V-Twin Engines used in the Past .

Other two-wheeler manufacturers use overhead cam (OHC) engines in their motorcycles which are basically hi-speed and hi-torque engines whereas the Twin Engine Royal Enfield is going to be operated by pushrod design with an overhead valve(OHV) which are generally  hi-torque, slow-speed engines with a very rugged construction and develop maximum power at a lower rpm .

There is a higher probability that Royal Enfield might retain a Parallel Twin Cylinder  powered by a 600cc to 1000cc engine unlike the V-Twin layout which operates in the Harley Davidson Motorcycles .

These bikes would be manufactured in India only. One of the main reasons for bullet going into higher capacity bikes is that several other companies have launched powerful bikes and many people do buy them. And thus they planned to come into the game by launching higher capacity bikes and compete with brands like BMW, Suzuki, Harley Davidson, etc. And people would go for Royal Enfiled bikes as they know it from the beginning and being manufactured in India.
The Royal Enfield twin cylinder motorcycle could become a reality in the next 3 years

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Review of the 2012 TVS Apache Series RTR

Recently there has been lot of news about TVS for their latest upgraded Apache series RTR . There were lot of speculation about the bike regarding the performance and styling of the bike but now that it has already started featuring in showrooms , all details are now crystal clear .

Firstly when few spy pics surfaced on the internet most of us were unhappy about the design and styling of the bike but we must say that when u look at the bike yourself in the showroom it actually looks stunning . It definitely looks bulky when placed along side the previous RTR versions . The Air scoop and Engine cowl blend with the bike and give it a muscle like appearance .Only let down in the bike is the windshield which doesn't go well with the appearance of the beast other than that everything is perfectly designed .
Many people complained about the air scoop to be bulky but if u take a loot at it in real u won't find it to be that big .

The New features in the Bike Include :

Beast Inspired Headlamps:

The LED light guide combined with new pilot lamps form a pair of intense animalistic eyes which look stunning. This definitely the highlight of the 2012 TVS Apache series RTR .

New Instrument Cluster:

The RTR series now gets an all new muscled styling with Blue Backlit display . Earlier only the RTR 180 had Blue Backlit display but now the RTR 160 also sports this .
TVS bike have always been tech savvy , another new feature in the bike include the countdown-on-ignition speedometer which gives kind of a racing feel to the rider.
Also to mention are the carbon fibre cues in the new Apache series RTR .

New Spurs and Saree guard :

The 2012 Apache RTR series now gets new spurs and an all new saree guard which looks totally different from the previous versions .
Now you might be thinking what are spurs , they are nothing but a short spike or spiked wheel that attaches to the heel of a rider's boot .The all-new 2012 TVS Apache Series RTR features an all-new split footrest design, on the lines of international motorcycling standards. The rider footrest gets a sporty heel protector. The best part? The legendary Apache ergonomics remain untouched, even after a radical redesign.

Muscled Tail cowl :

The RTR is now equipped with a radical race design with a lighter and chiselled tail which further adds on to the styling and aerodynamics of the beast .The design of the rear tail light is siimlar to that in Yamaha R15 .
The most important feature of the new RTR is that it now features a Tri-coloured race insignia which is a badge of Indian Nationality . Really we would like to praise TVS for such innovative ideas .
It gives you a feeling as if you are racing for India .

New Engine Cowl and Leg Guard:

TVS have come up with a new engine cowl design for RTR series which they call it as perpetual motion styling .It enhances the aerodynamics due to its razored design . We must say TVS have done a lot of homework in the aerodynamics of the bike . But the new muscled engine cowl reduces the ground clearance of the beast to 165 mm against the 180 mm in the previous versions.

The RTR now comes with small leg guard as compared to the earlier version but what matters is how it serves the purpose and in RTR's case it definitely does .

New Air Scoops and Muscled Tank:

TVS has totally designed the air scoop which were there in the previous version of the Apache . Those air scoops did wonders of the bike at high speed , still it had issues at high speeds but now TVS has come up with a muscled design to combat wind resistance . It has been angled in such a way that it would reduce the engine heat by a spectacular 10°C .Aerodynamics really play a huge part in keeping the bike stable at high speeds and TVS have really given optimum importance on this matter .

New Seats and Graphics :

The bike now includes two tone seats which were earlier available only in the RTR 180 ABS version , but we seriously think TVS should have gone for split seats since it would really blend with bike .
Also to mention is the rear seat is now longer and wider unlike the previous RTR versions . Earlier if the rider had bag packed , then the pillion would hardly get some space to sit but this problem seems to be sorted out now .
It also comes loaded with a new set of graphics .

The Engine specifications of the the RTR 160 , RTR 180 and RTR 180 ABS remain the same .
Now the RTR 160 is available in 4 shades viz Grey ,Red,Yellow and Green , the RTR 160 comes in a dual tone scheme.
The RTR 180 is available in 4 shades as well viz White,Yellow,Grey and Black .

The 2012 TVS Apache RTR160 is priced at INR 67,505(ex showroom Delhi)  while the RTR180 is priced at INR 72,090(ex showroom Delhi) . TVS also offers the ABS version of the RTR180 priced a INR 82,780 (ex showroom Delhi)

Bikoholic Verdict : The beast is not bad at all both in terms of performance and looks , it is pleasing when u look at it in real .
The vibrations in the bike has reduced considerably.
The engine seems more refined with the original RTR grunting sound also the gear ratios are same as they were in the previous RTR .The handling of the bike is even better with the new aerodynamics , you might mind it bulky by looking at it but ride it to feel it .Power and torque of the bike also remain the same .
In short it is great bike , don't go by its pictures on net , u must ride it to actually get the feeling of the bike .
So head to your nearest showroom and take test drive .

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Piaggio Vespa LX 125 launched at INR 66,661.

Recently we had reported about the launch date of Piaggio Vespa LX 125 on 26th April 2012 and here it is .
Piaggio’s iconic Vespa after so much of wait finally launched their LX125 scooter at INR 66,661 ex showroom Mumbai .

Vespa is making an entry back into India after a 13 years gap. Globally the Vespa has become a cult and has a massive following. Piaggio will be hoping the re-entry of Vespa into India will be received well. The company has confirmed the Vespa will be slotted as a premium scooter.

The Vespa was the world's first scooter & is presently sold in more than 100 countries and now. This launch took place at  Mumbai and following the event  there is going to be inauguration of the Vespa plant in Baramati on 28th.

High Points :

•  The Vespa LX125 has a four stroke 124cc engine & an automatic transmission. No manual tranny on offer, nor does the front have telescopic forks. Electric start is standard. Kerb weight = 110 kilos.There is an under-seat storage compartment, as well as another storage spot behind the leg shield.
• Piaggio Vespa LX will be incorporated with the air cooling and  electronic injection system.
• Piaggio will offer a long list of accessories at its showrooms. Apparently, it will be possible to heavily customise your Vespa.
• The first year's sales target is 30,000 units.
• Piaggio's Baramati factory will make the Vespa. The plant has an initial capacity of 150,000. The Vespa will hit Indian roads on 26 April 2012 .
• Dealer roll out in 35 cities. Existing Piaggio dealers will be part of the Vespa network, but only via new, dedicated Vespa sales outlets.
• The Vespa LX125 will be made available in 7 colours- red, silver, yellow, orange, blue, black and white.
• Price would be around INR 65,000.
• The scooter is expected to offer a mileage of around 45 kmpl.

Technical Specifications:

Engine capacity- 124 cc 

Max Power-10.26 BHP @8250 RPM 

Max. Torque- 9.6 Nm @7250 RPM

Transmission- CVT

Expected fuel efficiency- 50 km/l

Weight- 114 kgs. 

Fuel tank capacity- 8.5-litres 

Considering the fact that the Piaggio Vespa will be introduced as a lifestyle vehicle, the pricing factor will surely be above the reach for people capable of buying scooters like Honda Activa, Dio, Pleasure, TVS Scooty Streak.

The deliveries will begin from the month of May, 2012. 

The color options in the Vespa LX125 Scooter include Black,White,Red,Yellow,Blue and Pink .
Though the price at INR 66,661 ex showroom Mumbai seems to be bit on the higher side but its still not too far.

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New Suzuki Inazuma 250 to debut in India by second half 2012.

 The Japanese motor expert Suzuki is planning for an entry in the premium sports bike market of India by debuting its New Suzuki Inazuma 250cc by second half  2012. Suzuki with its Indian partner Maruti has a good market in Indian car markets, but hasn't created an impact in the two wheel category. Being a tough competitor for its fellow Japanese rivals Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha in foreign soils, Suzuki has decided deliver the same same in India too.

Suzuki was expected to bring in the GW250 to India, but the latest reports suggest that the auto major will introduce the Inazuma 250cc bike in India which looks ninety percent similar to the GW250. Well, there has not been much of details about the Inazuma 250cc floating in the net but the hint that it is similar to the GW250 has helped us in guess works.

The Suzuki Inazuma 250 is naked which gives us a good picture of its power house, the engine. Like the GW250, Suzuki Inazuma 250 will have a DOHC 250cc parallel twin engine. The peak power and torque capacities of the vehicles aren't known yet. As of now,  GW250's maximum power of 26 Bhp and 24 Nm of torque is expected to be delivered by the Inazuma 250.

Suzuki  brings its Inazuma 250 as a direct competitor to Honda CBR 250 ,Kawasaki Ninja and the recently launched Hyosung Comet GT 250R.
Though being a late contender in the sports commuter category in India, Suzuki will have an EDGE over its two existing rivals Honda and Kawasaki. If Suzuki manages to fix a price that falls below Honda CBR 250R and Kawasaki Ninja 250R, combat would become all the more interesting. Suzuki will bring the Inazuma 250 as the premium sports bike in India and entry level sports bike in foreign markets.

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2012 TVS Apache Series RTR

New Apache RTR series Exclusive showroom pictures

Lot of expectations , lot of speculations but now with the complete look of the bike being surfaced on the internet the styling and design of the bike comes as a sheer disappointment for all TVS Apache series RTR fans .

Apache RTR fans were expecting it to boost atleast a bit in performance and had desired for a 200cc machine , but guess what ??
TVS has come up with an all new RTR 160 and RTR 180 in a new Avatar which totally in a true sense looks like a commuter segment bike except for the Pearl White RTR 180 which is a bit pleasing . The RTR series which is famous for its aggressive looks and racing breed seems to be lacking due to disappointing design and style of the bike!

2012 TVS Apache RTR 160:

Looking at the above image in the first instance gives you an impression that 2012 TVS Apache RTR 160 is sort of a replica of Bajaj XCD 135 .
Is this the design they came up after so many years of wait ???
TVS should really put on their thinking cap and rework on the design to keep their fans satisfied and maintain their Racing DNA style .

The earlier version of RTR 160 which was featured in the market as RTR 160 hyperedge is way better than this version in terms of styling and looks of the bike . It looks sporty and carries the series RTR genes in it
In short it looks classy and elegant !!

Looks of the bike play an important role from the customer perspective , though TVS has added some new features in the 2012 RTR 160 , due to its look it is definitely going to get overshadowed !!
Hope it does well , but the first impression of the bike doesn't allow us to think so .

2012 TVS Apache RTR 160 Specifications :

2012 TVS Apache RTR 180 :

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Garware Hyosung to launch the GT250R COMET and GV650 Cruiser in May 2012.

With the Indian biking segment getting more and more fierce , the two wheeler market is opening up to performance oriented machines .The reason this segment is gaining momentum is because it has been received well among both motorcycle enthusiasts .Recently we had the launch of KTM Duke 200 in this month to spice up the 250cc battle and now its the Garware-Hyosung joint venture.

Recently we had notified you guys about the future plans from Hysoung for the Indian market and now here it is.  Hyosung is going to launch the GT250R  COMET and  GV650 Cruiser in May 2012 . This is really a good news for Bike enthusiasts who now have more option to choose from in the 200-250cc segment .
Previously there were speculations that Hyosung might launch the GV250 Cruiser as well but now they have restricted themselves to two launches as of now .

In the past  Hyosung who had launched the Comet 250 many years ago in India, through Kinetic Engineering Limited, which imported a limited number of these motorcycles for the Indian market and now they are again making a re-entry with a joint venture with Garware Motors .

Now , as far as the GT250R COMET is concerned it will be assembled in the company's Wai assembling plant located near Pune .The super-bike has been modified for the Indian roads in order to get the ARAI certification. Noise reduction, saree guard inclusion and other changes have been made to get the certification done.The bike looks very much similar to the GT650R just that the specifications change, so the exteriors remain the same but its totally a different body inside

The Hyosung GT250R is powered by 249 cc V-twin, DOHC fuel injected engine which is capable of producing 28bhp of power at 10,000Rpm and 22.68Nm of torque at 8000Rpm. With an overall weight of 171kgs, Hyosung GT250R can reach a top speed of s175 kmph.

Now the most important aspect , the pricing of the bike . It is speculated to be around INR 2- 2.4 lakhs . It is priced in between the Honda CBR250R and Kawasaki Nina 250R .

Now lets move on to the other launch by Hyosung , the GV 650 Cruiser .

The 2012 Garware Hyosung GV650 cruiser will be powered by a 650cc, V-twin engine and a five speed gearbox. The DOHC, 8 valve, liquid cooled engine generates peak power of  70 Bhp and 60 Nm of maximum torque. The GV650 cruiser is expected to be at aprice of INR 5 lakhs.

Suspension : Upside-down telescopic forks (front), twin shocks (rear)
Brakes : 300 mm disc (front), 270 mm (rear)
Weight : 230 kgs

The GV 650 has a good chance in this cruiser segment which is dominated by Royal Enfield in the lower range and Harley Davison in the upper range since we will have a 2 to 6 lakhs cruiser bike in India .

Garware Hyosung, which has not yet made a big impact in the Indian bike market, has a meaty chance to do is with the GT 250R  COMET and GV650 Cruiser .
After the successful launch of these two motorcycles Hyosung is also planning to launch the naked version of GT250R  COMET and GV 250 Cruiser .

To know more about the GV650 and V250 Cruisers click HERE  and
To know more about the Technical Specifications of the COMET GT250R click HERE 

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Piaggio Vespa LX 125 to be launched on the 26th of April, 2012 .

Piaggio had recengtly unveiled the iconic italian scooter ‘Vespa’ during the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. Vespa is making an entry back into India after a 13 years gap. Globally the Vespa has become a cult and has a massive following. Piaggio will be hoping the re-entry of Vespa into India will be received well. The company has confirmed the Vespa will be slotted as a premium scooter.

 The Vespa was the world's first scooter & is presently sold in more than 100 countries and now, the news is that the Italian two wheeler manufacturer will be launching the Vespa brand in country on 26 April 2012. This launch event is scheduled to take place in Mumbai and following the event will be the inauguration of the Vespa plant in Baramati on 28th.


High Points :

•  The Vespa LX125 has a four stroke 124cc engine & an automatic transmission. No manual tranny on offer, nor does the front have telescopic forks. Electric start is standard. Kerb weight = 110 kilos.There is an under-seat storage compartment, as well as another storage spot behind the leg shield.
• Piaggio Vespa LX will be incorporated with the air cooling and  electronic injection system.
• Piaggio will offer a long list of accessories at its showrooms. Apparently, it will be possible to heavily customise your Vespa.
• The first year's sales target is 30,000 units.
• Piaggio's Baramati factory will make the Vespa. The plant has an initial capacity of 150,000. The Vespa will hit Indian roads on 26 April 2012 .
• Dealer roll out in 35 cities. Existing Piaggio dealers will be part of the Vespa network, but only via new, dedicated Vespa sales outlets.
• The Vespa LX125 will be made available in 7 colours- red, silver, yellow, orange, blue, black and white.
• Price would be around INR 65,000.
• The scooter is expected to offer a mileage of around 45 kmpl.

Technical Specifications:

Engine capacity- 124 cc 

Max Power-10.26 BHP @8250 RPM 

Max. Torque- 9.6 Nm @7250 RPM

Transmission- CVT

Expected fuel efficiency- 50 km/l

Weight- 114 kgs. 

Fuel tank capacity- 8.5-litres 

Considering the fact that the Piaggio Vespa will be introduced as a lifestyle vehicle, the pricing factor will surely be above the reach for people capable of buying scooters like Honda Activa, Dio, Pleasure, TVS Scooty Streak.
The bookings will begin immediately after the launch, while the deliveries will begin from the month of May, 2012. 

Stay tuned to know more on the new Piaggio Vespa LX 125.

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Bajaj Avenger Cruiser To Get 2012 Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS Engine– Rumor or Fact?

Bajaj Auto recently unveiled the Pulsar 200 NS, which uses an all new triple spark engine. After the unveil of the P200 NS happened, there have been talks of what will follow. A full faired version of the Pulsar 200 NS has been confirmed, so has the launch of the Pulsar 350 in 2013. Smaller Pulsars will be launched too in their second generation avatar, using parts and technology from the Pulsar 200 NS. But among all this Pulsar talk, we seem to have forgotten the good old Bajaj Avenger, which is a very commendable motorcycle in its own right.

Now this is pure speculation but Bajaj Auto will eventually upgrade the Avenger with the Pulsar 200 NS’ engine. The two-wheeler major has done it before too with the Pulsar 220′s engine finding way into the Avenger. The Bajaj Avenger uses the Pulsar 220′s 219.89 cc motor to produce 19 PS of power at 8400 RPM and 17.5 Nm of torque at 7000. This is marginally lesser than the Pulsar 220 which produces 20.8 BHP at 8500 RPM and 19.12 Nm at 7000 RPM.

Now what Bajaj Auto might do is put the Pulsar 200 NS’ 199.5 cc engine into the Avenger. This 3-spark, liquid cooled unit features 4-valve technology and could give a tremdous boost to the performance of the Avenger. We can expect around 23 BHP of power and 18 Nm of torque on the Avenger, which will make the cruiser quite quick for its size and price. The Avenger has a 14-litre fuel tank, including a 3.4 litre reserve, which will be ample for long distance cruising (if Bajaj Auto’s claim of 58 km/l mileage at a speed of 55 km/h is to be believed).

With 260 mm discs at the front and 130 mm drum at the rear, brakes of the Avenger are good. The Avenger runs on 90/90 x 17 tyres at the front and 130/90 x 15 tyres at the rear. The suspension is telescopic and hydraulic shock absorber and the adaptation of a monoshock will make a tremendous difference to the bike. At a weight of 154.4 kgs, the Avenger is not really heavy. The 60/55 w headlamp are good for the highways. Can Bajaj start a motorcycle revolution for cruisers?

via

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HYOSUNG GT 650N LIMITED EDITION

Garware Hyosung have just announced on their Facebook fanpage about a forthcoming limited edition GT 650N .

With the new look , the bikes looks stunning with its new set  of  red painted chassis frame, new decals and rim stickers . As mentioned by Hyosung this is going to be a limited edition bike.

There is no mention of a price change but we are speculating it to be Rs 10,000 - 15,000 costlier for this version of the all new  Hyosung GT650N .

There are no changes in terms of power or weight , basically there are no performance upgrades . There is only some changes in the design and styling department of the bike .

The limited edition  Hyosung GT650N is expected to be launched in the period between June - July after the launch of Hyosung GT 250R which is going to launched in May 2012 .
We will update the price here as soon as we hear from Hyosung.

Stay updated with the latest news and previews on Hyosung by simply clicking here

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Hero Motocorp to get into 250cc and above capacity bikes

Hero MotoCorp, is the world's largest two-wheeler maker has and still 250cc and above segment is untouched by the number one motorbike company in the world .  Right now Hero Motocorp has Karizma ZMR and Karizma R as the highest segment motorbike to offer but even these bikes are at most 225cc bikes.
Karizma ZMR was anticipated to be a 250cc then but that didn't happen . Many other Bike companies operating in India have already made themselves ready to enter this segment very soon and take it by storm.

After Hero parted ways with Japanese major Honda, its partner for 27 years, last year, industry watchers had identified lack of cutting-edge technology as the biggest challenge for the Indian firm to hold on to its leadership position in the market. Hero had last week announced a technology tie-up with EBR, its first partnership after splitting with Honda.


It will be a step forward for the cash-rich company in its effort to get out of the shadow of Honda, which has become one of its toughest rivals in the domestic market after the March split.
Hero sells over six million two wheelers every year in India where it holds 56% market share. Under the joint-venture agreement with Honda, Munjals-owned Hero was restrained from exporting vehicles.

After the collapse of the Honda JV, Hero has started setting up sales and distribution channels cross Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia for its motorcycles and scooters.

The Munjal-family that owns 52% stake in the company plans to increase its exposure to overseas market which it wasn't allowed until 2010 by Honda that operates 28 motorcycle production bases in 21 countries (as of April 2011) globally.

Hero is largely India based entity with over 98% of its sales limited to the domestic market. The ownership in the American company is expected to enable Hero to develop fresh technology and churn out new products faster as it compete with its erstwhile ally Honda amongst others.

Right now EBR is working on products for Hero Motocorp which will be developed and ready, to be fitted in the new scooters and motorbikes to be launched by early 2013. Hero certainly does not desire to launch 1,000cc superbikes as of now because it wants to reach there in a steady and swift motion, step by step.So do expect a quarter liter version from Hero Motocorp in 2012 .
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Yamaha Ray concept scooter could be launched by October 2012 .

After launching successful series of Yamaha bikes in Indian bike market, Yamaha is going to make its entry in scooter market of India. During last Auto Expo 2012 held in Delhi ,Yamaha had showcased its first concept scooter Yamaha Ray. Though at the time of curtain raising Yamaha had not revealed any technical specification about the scooter but the scooter will be enriched with 125cc engine , producing around 10 bhp of power .

The Yamaha Ray will be directly competing against Suzuki Access , Piaggio Vespa and the recently launched Honda Dio 110 . Yamaha have designed the scooter with the perspective  to suit Indian women and hence, expect the production version of the Ray concept scooter to also feature similar dimensions.

Hiroyuki Suzuki , CEO & MD , Indian Yamaha Motor said,"We have developed a scooter that has got the Yamaha DNA and signifies ' Cool and Beauty image , which are the right words for describing young Indian girls ".

This clearly states that Yamaha Ray scooter will be targeted towards woman riders and expected to bear a price tag of around Rs. 50,000/-

Additional features adorned in Yamaha Ray include dynamic and elegant design, powerful, and fuel efficient engine, comfortable long and wide seat, large storage space, smooth suspension, dynamic braking system, stylish headlamps, silver tone back mirror, impressive instrument panel and stylish alloy wheels. It will be available in two color options of pink and yellow.

Yamaha plans to launch more scooter models in India , the reason for this rapid growth in scooter is due to high demand of scooters from the segment of working women. As a part of its plan for 2012 company speculates to sale 450,000 units in domestic market and export 1,90,000 units.

The Yamaha Ray concept scooter, which will be the first scooter offering from the Japanese brand for the Indian market, could be launched before the Indian festive season of Diwali 2012.

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Garware-Hyosung to launch GV250 and GV650 this year

With the Indian biking segment getting more and more fierce , the two wheeler market is opening up to performance oriented machines . As far as the current scenario is concerned , the 250cc and 650cc segment is hot as iron .The reason this segment is gaining momentum is because it has been received well among both youngsters and motorcycle enthusiasts .Recently we had the launch of KTM Duke 200 in this month to spice up the 250cc battle and now its the Garware-Hyosung joint venture. Garware Hyosung is coming up with bigger plans for Indian market than expected.

The Indo-Korean automobile firm  has announced its decision to bring in two cruisers, GV250 and GV650, in Indian by 2012. Garware Hyosung GT250R will be launched in the middle of 2012 which will have its bookings open during the month of May. A couple of months later, the unfaired version (naked version) GT250N will be launched. GV250 and GV650 will be the fourth product lined for launch by Garware Hyosung for the year 2012.



Garware Hyosung GV650 cruiser :

The 2012 Garware Hyosung GV650 cruiser will be powered by a 650cc, V-twin engine and a five speed gearbox. The DOHC, 8 valve, liquid cooled engine generates peak power of  70 Bhp and 60 Nm of maximum torque. The GV650 cruiser is expected to be launched by the month of May at a
price of Rs 5 lakhs.

Suspension : Upside-down telescopic forks (front), twin shocks (rear)
Brakes : 300 mm disc (front), 270 mm (rear)
Weight : 230 kgs

Garware Hyosung GV250 cruiser :
The GV250 cruiser will have the GT250R’s engine in a slightly detuned format for reducing the torque capacity. The 250cc engine will be operated through a five-speed gearbox. The air-oil cooled, fuel injected engine of the GV250 cruiser will deliver peak power of 25bhp and 24Nm of peak torque.The price of GV250 is expected be around Rs 1.8 lakhs . This cruiser is expected to be launched by the month of July in India

Suspension : Telescopic suspension(front) ,  twin shocks (rear).
Brakes : 270 mm disc (front) , drum brake(rear).
weight : 170 kgs.
Fuel tank capacity :16L

Now, both these cruisers, GV250 and GV650 will be brought from Korea as completely knocked down units. The assemble for these cruisers will take place at the Garware-Hyosung’s Maharastra assembly unit.

Garware Hyosung, which has not yet made a big impact in the Indian bike market, has a meaty chance to do it with the GV250 and GV650 cruisers. The current cruiser market is dominated by the Royal Enfield with its classic series bikes and Thunderbird. Both these vehicles are placed below 2 lakhs range.

The upper range cruisers from Harley Davidson fall above 6 lakhs range. So, Garware hyosung will have a chance to cruise in to the 2 to 6 lakhs cruiser range in India and build a steady market for it.
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Preview: 2012 Suzuki GSX-R 750

GSXR 750 has had quite a history. Introduced in 1985, it has remained popular as a not so heavy bike with 600 cc of engine. Suzuki again released the GXS-R in 2011.With more performance and lesser weight, no wonder it was an instant hit.
This year again Suzuki introduces the 2012 GXS-R 750 with the latest feature being a Marble Daytona Yellow/Glass Sparkle Black option. This one comes with a 750 cc inline four stroke featuring over-square bore for higher-reviving performance. The engine has retouched camshaft profiles, shot peened connection rods and some other delicate parts.

Suzuki dual throttle valve fuel (SDTV), injection with its fine-spray 8 –hole injectors contributes in the better atomization of fuel and hence improved combustion. Other tweaks include 4 in 1 stainless steel exhaust system with a titanium muffler. Suzuki Exhaust tuning (SET) helps improve torque and throttle at mid and low RPM

In the electronics department, the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector(S-DMS) offers push-button selection of two racing-developed engine controls for your choice and also the condition of the road you are riding. The front has lightweight 41 mm Showa Big Piston Front Fork, with a single Showa rear shock featuring adjustable rebound compression and height.
The brakes segment has a 310 mm discs and radial-mounted, four-piston monoblock callipers, while the rear has a ingle 220 mm disc held by a single-piston calliper. An analog tachometer with LCD readouts of speedometer, odometer, dual trip meter, reserve meter, clock, coolant, pressure indicator, S-DMS form the instrument herd.
Front tyre is 120/70ZR17M/C (58 W) tubeless and the rear is 180/55ZR17M/C (73 W) tubeless and a 6 speed mesh transmission gives them the power to run.
Metallic Triton Blue/Glass Splash White and the optional Marble Daytona Yellow/Glass Sparkle Black will almost come at the same price. No difficulties in making any decision. Also it’s unique in its class, one of the trend setters and on top of that it’s tried and tested to be awesome. So there is hardly any question if it will do good or not

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Garware Hyosung 250cc to debut in India by first half 2012

Garware-Hyosung will launch its 250cc motorcycle in India, probably the Hyosung GT250R in, by 2012. Garware motors in collaboration with JV Partners SV Motors will bring in the the Hyosung GT250R to India along with the Garware-Hyosung GT650R. Hyosung GT250R will be assembled in the company's Wai assembling plant located near Pune

The super-bike has been modified for the Indian roads in order to get the ARAI certification. Noise reduction, saree guard inclusion and other changes have been made to get the certification done.

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