Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2017 i BIKE India

INDIA KAWASAKI MOTORS HAVE LAUNCHED two new-for-2017 dirt bikes for competition use. These bikes, part of Kawasaki’s established KX line of off-road machines, will now be sold in India to give amateur as well as professional dirt racers an added edge. The KX100F two-stroke and the KX250F four-stroke bring to the table tried and tested DNA, developed through decades of off-road racing experience. The 2017 KX100F features a 99-cc, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, single-cylinder engine, slim perimeter-type frame constructed from high-tensile steel, a beefy 36-mm inverted fork up front and a single shock at the rear, with 275 mm of travel at both ends. It is priced at Rs 4.69 lakh (ex-Delhi). The 2017 KX250F is powered by a 249-cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder, fuel-injected engine. It also features a revised ECU, three…

THE NEW BIKE IS CALLED THE V 12 AND IT IS ESSENTIALLY a more accessible version of the V 15. After gaining a foothold in the 150-cc segment with their premium commuter, the V 15, Bajaj have decided to foray into the 125-cc market, currently being dominated by the Honda CB Shine and Hero Glamour, with the V 12. Although Bajaj have not released the specifications as yet, we believe that the bike derives its engine from the Discover 125 and makes about 10 PS and 10 Nm. The highlight of the bike is the metal that it gets from the legendary INS Vikrant. Bajaj have priced the V 12 at Rs 57,574 (ex-showroom, Pune). This move seems to be a right one on the part of Bajaj as they…

WANT AN ECO-FRIENDLY WAY TO POWER your scooter in Mumbai? Well, worry not, for Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) in association with Eco Fuel have launched a CNG kit for scooters in Mumbai for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The kit was launched in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, and other dignitaries. The CNG kit features two cylinders with a capacity of 1.2 kg each. The numbers show that the vehicles can run for approximately 120 km per kg of fuel, which can be worked out to 60 paise per kilometre; significantly lesser than an equivalent calculation with petrol. In the initial phase, the scooters will be retrofitted with a kit from Lovato. Presently two kit manufacturers, namely, ITUK and Lovato, have got…

PRELOAD Preload is essentially the default load set for a motorcycle suspension. The suspension is adjusted for an initial position that optimally suits the weight of the motorcycle and rider on it. Adjusting the preload can determine how soft or firm the suspension feels since motorcycle suspension systems are designed so that the springs are always under compression, even when they are fully extended or under no load. COIL SPRINGS Twin coil springs are the most common rear suspension setup for bikes. A coil spring is a steel coil which provides a spring effect. These coils entwine around a shock-absorber for improved compression and rebound damping and are used to support the bike’s weight, maintain height, and correctly position all other parts according to load. However, they provide little help…

THIS IS THE MOST PREMIUM AND largest-capacity two-wheeler Bajaj Auto have ever manufactured. After being shown as a concept at the Auto Expo 2014, it continued to play hide and seek with the media and enthusiasts, changing its identity from Pulsar CS 400 to Kratos 400 and, finally, making its appearance as the Bajaj Dominar 400: the first offering from Bajaj’s all-new family of motorcycles. Projected as a power cruiser, the Dominar’s relaxed riding position, central mass and neck-less headlight seem to be inspired by the Ducati Diavel. There are traces of the Pulsar 200 NS, too, specially in the beefy tank and chunkier beam type perimeter frame. We rode the Bajaj Dominar 400 for nearly 200 kilometres both in the city and on the highway. Here is what we…

IT’S THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, but the sun is smouldering in the clear sky. I’m kitted out in my riding gear with my helmet on, but don’t seem to mind the unusually hot weather. We (a few of my colleagues and I) are staring at the MV Agusta F3 800 in awe. Exchanging glances and shaking our heads in amazement, as if to say — how do the Italians manage to craft such stunning designs? Just like a perfect hour-glass figure the chiselled fuel-tank narrows down till it meets the seat and again flares out towards the rear. The sharp nose and trademark exhaust with its three short pipes on the right side scream out MV Agusta’s rich lineage. The temptation is irresistible. I sling my leg over, caressing the…

Pricing has always been a pain point when it comes to used vehicle transactions – is the vehicle really a steal, or are you paying too much? There’s always a lot of guesswork. Droom’s Orange Book Value app solves this with its data driven and objective approach. In the brief period since its introduction, it has really caught the fancy of auto buyers and sellers, and is one of the top apps in Android and iOS app stores. Now OBV has evolved to the next level with the launch or a Premium Valuation Report. Being the first and only algorithmic pricing engine for used vehicles in India, Orange Book Value suggests the fair market value of any used vehicle through the OBV Basic Report which contains information like current value…

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL AND BIKING ARE like two extremely epic peas in one badass pod. Steppenwolf, AC/DC, The Doors, Metallica, and even Rob Zombie have over their illustrious careers (and Rob Zombie’s career) illustrated how intrinsically these two somewhat disparate worlds can intertwine. One of the few places that have always recognized this magical bond between rock ‘n’ roll and purveyors of a two-wheeled lifestyle is global music-themed F&B conglomerate Hard Rock Café. Their long-term association with Harley-Davidson includes the launch of the Street 750 at an HRC (yeah, I’m a regular at Hard Rock Café and found out a long time ago that saying or typing the whole moniker can get a little tiresome) in Dubai, a strong association with the Harley Owners Group and HRC in India, and…

with their reliable engine and electrics, their indicators and electric starters, early Hondas led by the C71 heralded a new era for motorcycling IT WAS ONE OF the most ordinary, everyday motorcycling scenes imaginable. I simply walked over to the red Honda twin for the first time, threw a leg over its seat, turned on the ignition, and fired up its 247-cc engine with a gentle swing at the kick-starter. Then I trod into gear with my left foot, let out the clutch and pulled away, confident that the bike would be smooth, reliable and wouldn’t leak a drop of oil. Remarkable? Exceptional? No, not at all, even for an elderly, unrestored bike that normally lived under a dust-sheet, and had barely been ridden for years. Which simply goes to…

IN AN EFFORT TO EXPAND THEIR GLOBAL reach, Hero MotoCorp have now commenced operations in Argentina, their 35th market, and are set on their way to achieving the target of being active in 50 markets by 2020. The company has also signed soccer star Diego Simeone, who has a major fan following in Central and Latin America, as their brand ambassador for the region. This event marks Hero MotoCorp’s first global product launch outside India. Hero MotoCorp have appointed Marwen SA, a company with over 12 years experience in the automotive sector, as their distributor in Argentina. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, MD and CEO, Hero MotoCorp, and Esteban Casares, President, Marwen SA, inaugurated the first Hero dealership in the capital city on the morning of 12 January. We can soon expect…

THE WINNER OF THE Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) 2017 was announced amid great fanfare at an impressive event held in Mumbai on 20 December 2016. Dr Raghupati Singhania, Vice-chairman and Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Limited, presented the winner, TVS Motor Company, with the IMOTY 2017 trophy on behalf of the IMOTY’s eminent jurists. Aspi Bhathena, Chairman, IMOTY, and Editor, Bike India, presented a certificate signed by the entire IMOTY 2017 jury to the winner. The proceedings of this landmark automotive event were embellished by a stellar performance by legendary rocker Gary Lawyer. Lawyer rendered a set of ‘motoring music’ especially designed for the IMOTY 2017 award night. The biggest and most celebrated award of the Indian automotive calendar, the 2017 IMOTY marks the ninth year of…

IN AN IDEAL world, you should be able to look at an unfamiliar vehicle, and immediately know which manufacturer it comes from. Doesn’t matter if you’re seeing it from the front, side or back; it should be instantly apparent. If you have to look at the badge or read the inscription, the designers and product development managers haven’t done their job. Motorcycles have a more difficult job than cars, especially from the front and rear angles, because there isn’t much width for designers to play with. Certainly on naked bikes, there’s a limit to the number of variations on headlights and instruments available. Even when a manufacturer establishes a clear identity, plagiarism — predominantly but not exclusively from the Far East — may make that task harder. But it will…

I’M ABOUT AS patriotic as the next guy, standing up for the national anthem before every film, cheering for the boys in blue when they win the World Cup, and lamenting about how corrupt our politicians are. So when I first heard that Bajaj were making bikes out of metal sourced from the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier in the V15, I was suitably impressed. You have to admit that as far as marketing campaigns go, this is right up there with Bajaj’s better ones like the original “Feel Like God” campaign for the very first Avenger, and the “Fastest Indian” campaign for the Pulsar 220F. However, I had decided that I couldn’t in all fairness let patriotism hamper my objectivity when reviewing the V12, so when I approached the bike,…

This improved MT retains the competitive price that did so much to make the triple a hit in the first place. In terms of bang for your buck, it’s very difficult to beat YOU CAN’T ACCUSE YAMAHA of lack of effort when the subject under discussion is the MT-09. The lean, 847-cc naked triple was the hit that kick-started the firm’s revival, selling more than 10,000 units in 2014 following its launch towards the end of the previous year. And that was just the beginning. Spin-off models (the Sport Tracker and Street Rally) were followed by the Tracer sports-tourer and retro XSR900, before the basic MT’s fuelling, electronics and suspension were revised for 2016. And now the triple has been tweaked again, in the process surely becoming the first motorcycle…

GLOBETROTTING IS THE ULTIMATE DREAM FOR A biker because it allows them to see the world astride the thing they love the most: their motorcycle. It seems Ducati, too, had the same idea when they decided to celebrate 90 years of their existence in a unique way. ‘Globetrotter 90’ was one such initiative by the famous Italian marque that showed the world how much Ducati love the challenge of such an epic ride. Their approach, too, was quite an interesting one. Ducati conducted a competition before the commencement of the ride and selected seven lucky riders from all corners of the world who were to ride a spanking new Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro round the world. The ride was flagged off on 4 July 2016, exactly 90 years after Antonio…

MODERN MOTOGP IS ALL ABOUT THE FIGHT because the racing is closer than ever and it’s harder than ever to overtake. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, Grand Prix races were often won by several minutes, which can’t have been much fun for the fans (although they still turned up in their hundreds of thousands at some tracks). In recent years new technical regulations have created a grid of very similar motorcycles, with the express purpose of having riders fight each other all the way to the chequered flag. This makes great entertainment for fans, although its primary purpose is to increase Dorna’s profits by getting more people watching television and coming to races. Elbow-to-elbow racing works for those MotoGP riders who love to battle with their rivals and not…

IT’S BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE TRIUMPH Motorcycles decided to make a leaner street-fighting version of their celebrated Daytona supersport racer. The first-generation model won hearts and showroom battles and the next one made its way into more global markets and even more hearts. This, then, is the third-generation model, and it aims to be even better. The first priority was sharper performance from a lightweight build. And they’ve done well. There are 80 new parts in total, including a new bore and stroke. The new three-cylinder engine is now 90-cc larger at 765 cc. It packs a new crankshaft, new pistons, new connecting rods and a balancer shaft, with Nikasil-plated aluminium cylinder walls. It runs a 12.65:1 compression ratio. A new slip-and-assist clutch takes charge of delivering the power to…

APRILIA RACING TEAM HAVE come up with a monster of a machine exclusively available for track use. The new RSV4 R FW-GP will be directly sold by Aprilia Racing. This is the fourth version in a line of variants that include the RSV4 R FW SBK. What sets the GP version apart from the rest is that it started out as an RSV4 R FW SBK but derived its engine from the RS-GP 15. It has an 81-mm bore and pneumatic valve timing that guarantees power upwards of 250 PS. Those who order one of these beauties are in for a world of special treatment. They will be invited to the factory in Noale to discuss the terms of the contract and interact with the engineers to set up their…

Speeding and its repercussions Dear Bike India, I hope your editorial team can take criticism as well as praise, the printing of this letter will prove one or the other? I am a keen biker based in Pune and hence like the feeling of speed, however was very surprised that your test rider felt it necessary to publish the fact that he has broken UK law by speeding on a public road at over 40 per cent the maximum speed limit riding the Triumph T100 in December’s issue. This carries a hefty fine of at least Rs 10,000, but also most likely a ban from driving, not to mention the fact it is dangerous to himself and other road users. Of course, we all like testing the limits of our…

ANY BIKE WOULD HAVE done well to generate much enthusiasm during the first half hour of the launch ride near Madrid. I’d been gritting my teeth on a foggy motorway, my goggles misting and the near-freezing wind whipping around my open-face helmet and jeans. Then we turned off the motorway, climbed briefly and emerged from a cloud into a dreamscape of picturesque valleys and twisty, sun-kissed roads where the Bobber’s single saddle was a great place to be in. And in truth, Triumph’s factory custom (that familiar contradiction in terms) had been doing well even with the elements against it. Its 1,200-cc parallel-twin engine had been flexible, smooth and responsive, its chassis stable and controllable, its riding position and seat respectably comfortable, its accessory heated grips invaluable. So no surprise…

THE GLAMOUR HAS BEEN PART of Hero MotoCorp’s line-up for over a decade, and has since made a strong impact in the 125-cc segment. During this time we have seen a few updates and facelifts; however, for 2017 the Glamour is all-new, with an updated BS-IV-compliant engine, fresh chassis, and several visual revisions. The global launch of the new bike was held in Buenos Aires to mark Hero’s entrance into Argentina, and also marked Hero’s first product launch held outside India. Argentina, with a burgeoning commuter bike market, is the company’s 35th international market, and Hero MotoCorp aim to boast of a presence in 50 countries by 2020. Hero invited us to Buenos Aires to witness the launch and ride the new motorcycle on a closed track outside the city.…

IT HAS BEEN A month and a half since I started working for Bike India and this was my first assignment. Obviously, I lost a lot of sleep on account of pure excitement. I was going to traverse the desert on Mahindra’s largest capacity production motorcycle, the Mojo, on the Desert Trail. The Desert Trail was flagged off with more than 30 bikes, one among them being ridden by yours truly. I quickly got used to the dimensions of the bike and figured out a comfortable way to perch on it without being tired out by the winds. The lead (Hemant Singh Bisht) and the sweep (Sarath Shenoy) co-ordinated well to make sure that no one was left behind: something they always took care of throughout the ride. Soon the…

I’M ALI MEHNDI FROM Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. I believe that life in an adventure and that the only way to be happy is to live the life you love and love the life you live. For me life is an adventure. I pay heed to the call of the road, and it was with that in mind that I set out on my motorcycle to discover, learn, grow and explore. I wanted to discover my amazing country, create new bonds, share smiles and to spread a lot of love. There was neither a particular destination, nor a final goal; just this lone crazy motorcyclist and the long roads. I wanted to travel and explore my country, experience its vast and variegated culture, food, people, and places. As it turned out,…

KTM’S DECISION TO HOLD the launch of the revamped Super Duke R at Losail was revealing. The Qatari circuit hosts MotoGP and World Superbike, and is a popular launch venue for sports bikes. But despite its climate, the fast, featureless desert racetrack is not somewhere you’d expect to see a gang of naked roadsters glinting in the pit-lane sunshine, their fat radial tyres sticky to the sidewalls. Then again, this latest version of the 1290 Super Duke R is hardly a typical naked roadster. And the reason for KTM’s choice of launch venue was to emphasise that with this update they’re going sportier and more aggressive; sharpening the teeth of the bike they’re calling Beast 2.0. The thinking is easy to understand. With the recent arrival of the closely related…