Bajaj launched a few days back what it calls a Street version of the Pulsar 220. But what it actually is can be explained in more than one way. It can be called a faring removal job on the P220 or a P200 with a 220cc engine or a P220 with the standard Pulsar doom. The 220 S costs about 3 grand less than the normal P220 at an on-road price of Rs. 78,000. Frankly I don’t see any takers for this one, may be if they had fiddled with the doom a little.

Honda arrived at Pragathi Maiden in full force with its recently launched 110cc CB Twister, the new more sportier 2010 CBF Stunner and new 102cc Dio and a concept version of Unicorn.

out of the lot, the interesting two is the Stunner which would be launched tomorrow and the Dio which was launched a day back. stay tuned for the price and spec details

Image Gallery:

Photo Courtesy: Vicky.in

The big and far bike for the most of us, the R1 is quite the epitome to street bikes and Yamaha does an updates it every year with innovations and technology taken right off Rossi’s M1. Likewise the 2010 model was made and launched globally and the Indian consignment arrived at the local dealers recently. The price is a little more than that of the 2009 model at an ex-showroom price of Rs. 12.5 lakh. But don’t let the slight increase in price fool you into thinking that the 2010 R1 has something new.

The engine is the same as the one in the 2009 model, so is the gear ratio, so is the suspension and so is the body work, only thing different between this and the old model is the paintjob and oh ya one more difference is that the rear suspension of the 2010 model is 4-way adjustable while that of the 2009 model is just two way adjustable. If you don’t believe me check this out. Though this is a disappointing upgrade, R1 still is Japanese biking at its best.

Available colors:

Honda has just launched its first potentially high volume bike in India, the CB Twister 110cc. As is obvious, the bike will be propelled by a 100cc engine the revs up to 8000 rpm and transmitted through a 4 speed (1-down 3-up) gear box. Priced at a competitive Rs. 42,000/- it should hit the market in the soft spot.

The bike looks quite stunning (more than the self-professed ‘Stunner’, I might add) and the mileage rating of 70 kmpl is quite impressive too. It should sell like hot cakes, but the big question is will it cannibalize sales from its sister Hero Honda?, which incidentally dominates the 100-110c segment with endless iterations of the Splendor and Passion. Well the short answer is no, the Twister is aimed at the college going crowd with its bad-ass petrol tank, the exposed chain, in-your-face color schemes and all the other jazzy elements. Style and sportiness seems to be the buzz word here instead of the comfort and practicality minded Splendor. Honda is exploring new niches to help boost sales and they seem to have struck gold here, as long as the performance lives up to its promise. We have to wait for it though, as HMSI will officially launch it in the upcoming Delhi Auto Show and confirm the pricing.

The lower strata of the motorcycle market is seeing a lot of sportiness lately, what with the Pulsar dropping down to 135cc and Honda now deciding to give us a 100cc sports bike. So, exciting times ahead for the budget-biker…

Do check out the gallery and let us know what you make of it in the comments section.

Image Gallery:

The pre-launch pictures of the 135 spurred up the expectation and from the looks of it Bajaj has lived up to it. The 135 pulsar the smallest of them all is priced at a very sensible 51k ex-showroom Delhi which on-road would cost around 58k. Though it is the smallest it is quite interesting as it has some first of its kind features.

It has the first of its kind engine with 4 valves and 2 spark-plugs; Bajaj calls it the world’s first 4-valved DTS-i engine, this reflects very well on the power produced. This 135cc produces 13.5ps of power which is pretty close to the pulsar 150’s power-rating of 14.08ps. Also it is more powerful than the Honda stunner which has a bhp rating of 11.6 which comes to about 11.76ps of power. So 135 is a clear winner in the power fight.

The other first of its kind is the digital tachometer with analogue display as in digital needle circling digital numbers. It has a couple of feature even the 150 doesn’t have, split seats and clip on handle bars. The downside is the smaller non-pulsar tank which has a capacity of 8+2.5 litres which is 5 less than the 150 pulsar. The 135 has all the other mandatory features like electric/kick start, alloy wheels, led brake lights, rear gas shocks and front disc brake.

The overall design of the bike is bold (as it is heavily borrowed from the concept Xcd 135 sprint) with an out of the box front faring design which Bajaj calls bikini headlight faring and an unconventional rear mud guard and tail fixed number plate. The plot behind the rear design to my knowledge is that you can still remove the mud guard for the sportier tire-thread showing looks and still have your number plate intact. Seems Bajaj has covered all grounds with this one. Oh ya one more thing the mileage is 65kmpl on standard Arai test.

So the Pulsar 135 may not be a pulsar but it sure is much more.

Click here for more technical details.

Image Gallery:

We really don’t know what grudge TVS holds against the clutch (actually, it must be the terrible experience the engineers must have had testing the Apache, with this pathetic ergonomics!), but it has come out in full force against the clutch with two new offerings that promise hassle-free city riding. The real big one is the Jive, India’s first automatic clutch bike. This 100cc entry level bike has a rotary gear box mated with an automatic clutch. Though it might not be much of looker, this is a properly important bike that could well change the face of basic commuting in India. Priced as Rs. 41,000/- (Ex- showroom Chennai), it might well revive TVS’s sagging fortunes. TVS has reportedly spent a cool Rs. 25 crores on developing the technology, while that may sound like chicken feed to most major auto companies, for an ailing two wheeler manufacturer, it is a lot and represents somewhat of a gamble on TVS’s part.

The money spent on it means that it comes packed with technology, an anti-stall mechanism enables the rider to stay in high gear at low speeds without the bike stalling. Also one can go from top gear to neutral in one step and start from any gear. The practicality continues with ample under-seat storage (another first for an Indian bike!). On the back of the Jive, TVS also launched the Wego, an activa-killer so to speak, with its 110cc engine and oodles of practicality. The Wego will add to TVS’s extensive scooter portfolio along with the Scooty Pep and Streak. If one gawked at the 25 crores spent on the Jive, TVS has invested upwards of 50 crores on this scooter and has high hopes pinned on the two. The Wego costs Rs.42,500 (ex-showroom Chennai). According to H S Goindi, president (marketing), they are expecting increased sales of 40,000 units a moth purely due to these new models.

The barrage from TVS is not going to stop for some time as they plan to introduce 2 new models every year along with infinite variants of these models. Provided TVS gets the comfort factor right for both vehicles, Hero Honda and Honda have reason to be concerned as it is their market share that TVS is going for. Here is hoping the average Indian commuter will jive to TVS’s tune.

Press Release:

TVS Launches Jive Clutchless Bike

Chennai November 25, 2009: TVS Motor Company today unveiled two novel products – India’s first auto-clutch motorcycle and an automatic scooter. Unveiling the new motorcycle and scooter, the company’s Chairman, Mr. Venu Srinivasan asserted that these two products are set to transform the very definition of city commuter biking. Ride convenience is the focal point and both products will provide a sporty riding experience with an unparalleled combination of comfort, performance, ease of operation and fuel efficiency.
Christened TVS Jive, the new motorcycle is propelled by a 110 cc engine which features innovative T-Matic technology* (patent applied for) which features a rotary gear technology coupled with an automatic clutch. The bike’s four speed engine delivers a solid four stroke performance with 8.1 Bhp @ 7500 rpm and a torque of 8.1 Nm @ 5500 rpm. TVS Jive’s light weight at 110 Kgs makes it convenient to handle. Alloy wheels complement the bikes wheelbase of 1260 mm which makes cornering and maneuvering effortless. The bike has a fuel tank capacity of 12 litres with two litres as reserve.
TVS Jive is packed with features* and superior technology* that make it one of the most convenient motorcycles to ride in the country. One of the major features of this motorcycle is the absence of the clutch lever, making riding on this motorcycle a hands free gear shift experience. The bike therefore can be ridden by almost anyone who has a sense of balance as there is no need for manual clutch-gear co-ordination while shifting.
A unique feature of this motorcycle is its anti-stall mechanism which makes smooth riding possible at low speeds even in high gears, without the engine shutting off. This is not possible in motorcycles with the regular clutch system. The downward rotary gear system enables the rider to reach neutral straight from top gear. However, it is not necessary that the bike has to be in neutral while starting. The bike can be started in any gear and is fitted with an electric start for convenience. It is also the first motorcycle in the country to have an under seat storage space, large enough to hold a water bottle, vehicle documents and even a small umbrella.
Each unique feature emphasizes the overall objective – ease and convenience of use.

TVS Jive is priced at Rs 41, 000 (Ex-showroom Chennai)

The Photos of the Bull from the launch event are more aggressive than it looked in the PR pictures. enjoy!

Check out our complete coverage on the Bullet Classic here.

Photo courtesy: Team-BHP & Vicky.in

While we were off for a few days, Mahidra launched a LCV called “GIO” , Premier launched a SUV called “RIO” and Honda launched a new version of its scooter “AVIATOR” and not “DIO” which would have been one helluva coincidence. Anyways lets start with the new Aviator.

With Mahindra swinging into the scooter action in the country, the reigning king of the segment Honda is elevating its game with a bigger 110cc engine to its Aviator. This bigger engine actually comes from the newly launched Activa and so does the new Aviator’s tamper proof lock and the combined braking system. Honda has thrown in a maintenance free battery and a less-maintenance required air filter to sum up the new Aviator.

The engine is a 10cc upgrade from the old engine which managed 8bhp, the new engine produces 1bhp more. Honda claims that this engine is 15% more fuel efficient than the older engine.

The Combined Braking System (CBS) provides more braking effort by applying both brakes even when you apply one. The calibration has been done in a way to avoid skidding and reduce the stopping distance by 24% from 50kmph.

The Aviator comes in two variants, Aviator and Aviator Deluxe. The former costs Rs 42,000 while the latter 47,000 ex-showroom Delhi, which is an increase of 3000 and 4000 respectively from the older Aviator.

The extra 5grand on the Deluxe model will get you alloy wheels, combined braking system with front disc brake, elegant chrome finished front cover, instrument panel garnish, body colored rear grab rail and painted inner cover.

Image Gallery:

Splendor has been the one single bike which appeases all sects of the population, be it the mileage craving middle class or the performance craving biker dudes, it has always won its way with its ergonomic perfections. But a sale of 1crore units of a motorcycle model is a major milestone even for a success like the Splendor.

To celebrate such an occasion Hero Honda has launched a Special Edition of the Splendor with the following changes:

• New Graphics scheme
• Black alloy wheels
• Black saree guard
• Black front forks
• 1 crore special edition badges

Hero Honda has also launched a old new face lifted variant of the Hunk model with the following changes:

• New body colored mirrors
• Black colored saree guard
• Red shock spring
• Bull insignia

Bet you want me to strike out “new” now.

Rajiv Bajaj launched the Ninja 250R in Pune’s Pro-biking showroom today (7th Oct) as informed earlier. The info from the launch was tad disappointing as the price is a bit off and the only color options are green and black, no blue or red.

But First things first, the price which is Rs. 2,69,700 in Delhi and Rs. 2,69,580 in Chennai both ex-showroom prices. This is a bit off from what was expected but think about it, it’s the only bike in India which will take you to a top speed of 185 kmph for less than 10Lakh.

Other big news from the launch are:
• KTM bikes (of which Bajaj owns stakes) will be launched by Bajaj in 3 months.
• New Pulsar models in 2011
• Higher end Kawasaki Ninjas to be launched.

The bike as it reads has a 250cc engine but it is parallel twin cylindered with dual over head cam (DOHC). Max. Power output is 32bhp at a whopping 11,000 rpm. Engine is liquid cooled and fuel injection type. It comes with a 6-speed gearbox.

Ninja gets a bigger tank with a capacity of 17litres, hope that will be enough to compensate with its mileage. It gets both front and rear discs as one would expect. Both the tires are tubeless with a dimension of 110/70 for the front and 130/70 for the rear.

The bike is being brought into the country as a completely knocked down (CKD) product and so carries a minimal 11% tax. With a simple calculation knowing the US price of the bike which is roughly under 4k and the tax it looks like Bajaj is making 50k out of one Ninja. Initial consignment just includes 50 Ninjas so book yours for booking fees of Rs. 40,000 at any one of the 22 pro-biking showrooms spread out all over India.

Pictures from the Launch:

Picture Courtesy : Vicky.in