Hero Motocorp is seriously thinking of expanding their business possibilities with each passing day. They have materialized many of their decisions as well. One of the company’s important developments is to source technology from the US based EBR – Erik Buell Racing. This important pact has been signed between the two companies.

The pact will allow the Indian bike company to source the technology from the American company. The technology sourced by Hero will be for the high end bikes. Hero will then use the same for the production of their low end bikes to be further developed in India.

In the next year, Hero Motocorp will be launching their new bike, which will be built on this EBR technology. Hero Motocorp had showcased their another new bike “LEAP” in the last month’s Auto Expo in New Delhi. This bike was displayed as the concept bike then. “LEAP” has also been developed with the EBR technology.

Mr. Pawan Munjal, who is the MD and Chief Executive of Hero Motocorp said that the partnership with the American company is a flexible one. He further said that the technology they have sourced is specially used in the high end bike. However, it is possible to use the same for low end bikes as well.

The MD also said that by 2013, the company will see the launch of a commuter bike that will totally run on the EBR technology. Low end bikes are the forte of Hero Motocorp. The Indian auto major now wants to become an international name in the field of bikes that run on the EBR technology in the 100cc to 250cc bikes.

There will be two things that will materialize through the use of the EBR technology for Hero. The company can make headways in the international market. Secondly, the quality of Indian consumers which is rising with each passing day will also be catered to with bikes that use the latest technology.

Ever since Hero ended their long standing partnership with their Japanese partner Honda Motor Corporation, they have been scouring for technology partners from across the world. Hero Motocorp is also contemplating the process of changing the names of bike like the Karizma ZMR, CBZ and CD-Dawn. The right of these names belongs to Honda Motor Corporation.

There is another important thing for Hero to accomplish – to replace the technology for their current bikes before June 2014. Until June 2014 Hero can use Honda’s technologies in their bikes.

The era of 100cc bikes is long gone and so are the times of 150cc segment up. The makers of these bikes are also getting the feeling such bikes will one day attain the old age stage. With each passing day, the bikes are staring at the higher capacity segments, leaving the entry level bikes behind.

The bikes up to 600cc to 650cc are finding their way in the hearts and then in the compounds of the fans. When the entry level bikes are capable of long runs and cross-country rides, the bikes in the higher segment naturally have more than the same ability. This is the fact about the 650cc bikes.

Sales of super bikes and mini-super bikes are in for some major sales in the coming two years. Categories of such bikes include starting from 250cc up to 650cc and above. According to industry experts the sales of these bikes may climb to staggering figures of two lakh units per year. This estimate was given by one of the senior executives Garware Motors.

The Indian based Garware Motors has patched up with the South Korean auto company S & T Motors. S & T Motors manufacture the Hyosung bikes, which are then imported as the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) units.

The love for these high flying machines is growing abundantly. The love of such bikes is not limited only for guys in their 20s, but people in their 30s and 40s are also inclined towards experiencing the raw power of the machines. On the contrary, as these high speed bikes are available these days, bike enthusiasts in the 40s are looking forward to bring back the zealous days of their 20s.

A company like the Garware Motors has sold about 500 superbikes from the 650cc and above category. The price tags of these bikes ranged from Rs. 3.90 lakhs to Rs. 5.70 lakhs. Interestingly, only the Hyosung bikes registered the highest number of sales in India alone. The reason for such a huge sale could be the fact that the Hyosung bikes are powered by V Twin engines (twin cylinder engines).

More is yet to come for the superbikes in India. The growth is estimated to be around 500 units per year with sales between 2000 and 2500 units per year. The trend for superbikes is going to remain unabated for the next few years. Will the 100cc bikes vanish in thin air?

There is good news for the fans of the Honda bikes. The wait is finally over. The Honda Motor & Scooter India ltd (HMSI). The company will soon be launching the much-awaited CBR 150R in the month of March. The reports have come from Business Standard. It seems certain that the bike will finally make its appearance next month and everything should on as planned.

According to the reports, the company has put the price tag of the bike at Rs. 1, 15,000. After a marketing survey, Honda feels that they could be able to sell at least 3500 units per month. The company has displayed the bike at the last month’s Auto Expo in New Delhi.

The company has then made an announcement of the price of the bike to give an estimate to the customers. Honda had said that they would be launching the bike at a price of less than Rs. 1, 20,000. So, as promised the HMSI is all but ready to launch the bike with Rs. 5000 less.

Technically speaking, the CBR 150R is the slimed down version of the CBR 250R. The design as well as the specifications is the same and there are no changes whatsoever. But the noteworthy change has been brought about in the engine department. The powerful engine is expected to give a high performance.

The powerful engine of 150cc can generate a high power of 18.5 Bhp at 10,500 rpm and can produce a maximum torque of 12.6 Nm at 7500 rmp. These figures are really quite low as against the 25 Bhp of power and 23 Nm of torque of the CBR 250R.

Other minor changes include the length, width and height. The plus side of the downsized engine is that the price of the bike has come down. There will also be good fuel efficiency due to the downsized engine. As compared to the CBR 250R, the CBR 150R will cost Rs. 30,000 less.

As compared to other bikes in the category, the company has kept the price of the bike lesser by around Rs. 2500 than the KTM Duke 200 and is still lesser by Rs. 8000 than the Yamaha YZF R15 V2.0. The lesser price is the clear indication that HMSI is planning it big to take on the other brands in the business.

The lesser price should be enough to attract the potential customers.

Harley Davidson is a grand old name in the auto industry. The brand is well-known for the heavy vehicles it builds. The bike company has been operational for more than 100 years now. In fact, in the next year, the company will complete 110 years. The company was founded in the year 1903.

The celebration plans for the Harley Davidson group for all their outlets across the world have been made public. According to the company, the same formula might be followed that they adopted in 2003. It is certainly going to be a grand event and a thrill to experience for all the admirers of the company that has seen lots of ups and downs so far.

Even though the celebrations are likely to take place around the globe, the company has shortlisted around a dozen locations where there will be special celebrations as well. It is expected that the celebrations will start from Europe. It will then be carried over to the United States. From June 13 to 16 the events will be celebrated in Rome.

Central Rome, Port of Ostia and the Vatican City are the other places where the celebrations will take place. Foods and drinks, Harley Village along with the entertainment, live band shows, live music, custom bike shows, and motorbike display areas and many more such activities are likely to be carried out.

The festivity in the US will be seen during the months of August and September 2013. The venue will be Milwaukee, the largest city in the state of Wisconsin. Milwaukee happens to be the home for the company. Naturally, there will be more celebrations and festivities.

The HD is a brand that has survived the most hazardous part of any business – the recession. It is up again doing business as usual. No wonder, the party is going to rock.

The latest product from the house of Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL), the Suzuki Swish 125 has finally hit the showrooms. It is certainly great news for the fans and admirers of the Suzuki brand. The company has not come up with any specific showroom to launch the bike. But in fact, they have started making the deliveries to their dealers all over the county.

The Swish 125 is the second scooter from Suzuki. They had first launched the Access 125 and it received a very warm response from the Indian customers. However, the Swish 125 is aimed at getting more urban youngsters and adult customers as well.

There are a lot of technical similarities between the Access 125 and the Swish 125. In fact, the similarities are due to the fact that a lot of them have been drawn from the Access 125 itself. The engine of the Swish 125 is 124cc four stroke engine – much like the Access 125.

The Swish comes with air cooled OHC engine. The vehicle can generate a high torque of 9.8 Nm and can reach a top power of 8.5 Bhp.  The only difference is that the new bike is more spacious as against the Access 125. Apart from this, the Swish 125 looks more stylish than the Access 125. So, the female class will certainly love this new product from Suzuki.

The Swish is aerodynamically designed, so lesser air resistance means smooth ride. It also means that the fuel consumption of the Swish will also help automatically. These are good signs for the customers who are eyeing a scooter that is trendy as well as gives good millage.

The under seat storage space is enough to carry your essentials. Aluminum grab rail, silencer cover are some of the features that are new to the Swish as against the Access 125. This scooter was showcased in the recently concluded Auto Expo in New Delhi.

According to the company reports, the vehicle will be on hand for the customers from the next month. The vehicle is likely to cost about Rs. 45,431 in the Delhi showrooms. The price is likely to increase by around a couple of thousand rupees in the state of Gujarat.

By virtue of saturation, the 150cc bikes are no more a symbol of pride for the common Indian commuter. In fact, the word “commuter” itself is enough to remind that the 150cc bike category has come to the level of being termed as a commuter bike, which was not the case until a few years back.

We have to admit the fact that there is saturation in the 150cc category and bikes in this category are now more common than before. However, bikes like the R15 are the ones that are still at the top of this category and are a class machines in themselves. It is a great feeling to ride the bike when the roads are conducive for driving a bike like the R15.

If we term the 1500cc bike segment as being saturated in India, what is the road ahead? Certainly, it would be the 200cc category – a step ahead. But let us jump from the 200cc to 250cc category if the 150cc bikes are saturated. As a matter of fact, the 200cc category is not acclaimed to that extent to which the 150cc bikes are seen.

If the 150cc category isn’t in the news, then it has to be the 250cc bikes making headlines in the coming few months. There is expected to be a lot of competition in the class as many new bikes will be introduced in the segment. Bike buffs might be aware that currently only two models cater to the growing demand of enthusiasts who long for the 250cc bikes.

One of these bikes is the Honda CBR250R, while the other is the Kawasaki Ninja 250R. The Kawasaki Ninja is a twin cylinder machine, while the Honda bike is built with only one cylinder. Both are fantastic bikes, there is no doubt. However, the Ninja has a price tag of around quarter and lakh Indian rupees more than the Honda bike.

The bike that will give a tough competition to Kawasaki Ninja and Honda is the Hyosung GT 250R. The bike is mostly built on the lines of the GT 650R. The GT 250R is already doing a great job in most of the countries wherever the bike is exported.

The Indian customers will now be able to get a taste of the Hyosung GT 250R. The bike is expected to be launched sometime in the early summer in India. Though the exact dates are yet not known, the bikes may rule the roads in May.

If the reports doing in the auto world are to be believed, then the world famous Italian auto maker Ducati might be up for entire sale. The sale is likely to happen on the Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. The expected amount is likely to be in the region of €1bn. This amount is equivalent to Rs. 6,500 cr.

Investindustrial will be on the profitable side if the deal passes through successfully. The names of the above mentioned Indian auto makers are a rough estimate from the people who are familiar with the situation. However, it is just a guess and nothing is formal yet.

The Investindustrial group had initially decided to go for the public offerings. For that, they had commenced talks with the Deutsche Bank as well as the Goldman Sachs. The talks were initiated with a view to having public listings in Hong Kong. The group however, looks to be more concerned to sell the stake to only a solitary group.

The shares of the Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A were brought down from the Milan Stock Exchange in the last month of 2008. It was then that the Investindustrial had purchased the entire amount of stake.

Mr. Andrea Bonomi, who is the Chairman of Investindustrial, said that Ducati is in need of an industrial partner who can operate on a world level. The company looks fine at the moment, Mr. Andrea Bonomi said. The current year will be devoted towards finding such a partner.

Ducati has earned its place in the premium motorcycle segment. In 2010, their share was about 8.5 per cent, which has now reached 10.7 per cent. The company’s sales have reached around 40,000 bikes across the globe.

There is yet an official word to come on the developments of Ducati. Further steps are likely to be taken in the next few days. Stay tuned for updates on this story!

Of late we have been reporting to you about KTM and the launch by the company. KTM is fast making its presence felt in the crazy Indian two wheeler market. The brand, that is owned as much as 40 per cent by the Indian auto major Bajaj Auto, is making the most of the technology available today.

Such a big stake in the Austrian company has made it easier for Bajaj to bring into play the technology used by KTM. Even the basic platform brought into use by KTM, is also quite a handful for Bajaj. The results are for all of us to see here. The recently launched Pulsar 200 NS is the first example in the history of Bajaj that it has ever brought a naked bike on the streets.

As far as KTM is concerned, it was being speculated that the KTM Duke 125 would be the first bike to march on the Indian road. However, the company came with an announcement saying that it would not be the Duke 125, but in fact, Duke 200 which would be the initial product to be launched for India.

The company has its presence in almost all the categories as well as important markets in the world. The bike very much suggests that it is made for the premium brand only and that it will compromise on nothing less. The Duke 125 was the fittest candidate for the same, when it was launched around six months ago in Singapore.

The quality of the bike had been entirely refined. The price tag was also suitable for a bike of this category. The difference in the two bikes – the KTM Duke 200 and the Pulsar 200 NS, will give you a better idea. There is a difference of roughly about Rs. 25,000.

Clearly enough the company, does not seem to have any intention of cutting down on the cost of the bike. However, as a true competitor, it is trying to make sure that it is a premium brand in the Indian market. Bike enthusiasts are well aware of the quality KTM is able to deliver. Therefore, there are no two opinions on this matter at the moment.

There is more to come in the coming years from the house of this Austrian company. Efficient products are waiting to be launched, which will push the brand further up in the days to come.

Harley Davidson, the well-known name in the auto industry, is going in exactly the opposite direction. When the majority of the auto makers are concentrating on designing and manufacturing bikes, commercial vehicles and cars, HD is busy with new launches. The new launch of the bikes was expected for a few days now.

It is a bit surprising as these launches have come close on the heels of the Auto Expo that ended less than 30 days ago. HD has come up with two launches – one is the Softail Slim and the other Seventy Two. Why we said that the bike is going in the opposite direction is because the looks of the bikes are of the bygone era and will immediately take you in the past.

It has happened for the first time that the company has come up with a double launch – launching two bikes at a time. This is unusual for the company to launch bikes during these days. Traditionally, the company has never launched bikes so early in the year. In fact, Harley Davidson has a history of launching bikes during the warmer days of the year. That is why it looks a bit surprising.

However, such an important decision has been taking after studying all the surrounding aspects. There will be more excitement as the launch has come in advance for the admirers of the auto maker. Those who are waiting for the new bikes from HD will get a pleasant surprise in the form of these bikes.

The Seventy Two is built with a 1200cc V-twin air cooled engine, which can generate a top torque of 96 Nm. The bike has been priced at $ 10,499. The raised handlebar and the crystal clear shining metal speak volumes for the personality of the bike. It will certainly send you down the memory lane. The bike has a fuel tank of 7.9 liters.

Softail Slim Motorcycle, HD’s another product, will take you further down in the past. Let us say, it has been specially designed with the same purpose in mind. The bike comes with a 1690cc V-twin engine. The Softail Slim can create a top torque of 132 Nm. The Softail Slim has more macho looks than the Seventy Two.

The bike starts with a price tag of $15,499. For the Softail Slim model, the ABS package is obtainable. The Softail Slim comes with a huge fuel tank of 18.9 liters.

We had reported to you some days ago about the launch of the KTM Duke 200. The bike, after the launch is getting quite a warm response from all the quarters of the market. The bike is only 15 days old in the market – it was launched on January 24, 2012.

There is already a lot of rush for the enquiry. The company had made an announcement that there would be an initial amount of Rs. 30,000 for the bookings. However, until the time the bike was actually brought in the showrooms, the auto maker had brought down the price by Rs. 10,000.

Bookings were made open in Rs. 20,000 only. That was one of the notions to bring in more customers in the showroom. And the bike maker was successful up to a considerable extent. The reduced price also meant a support to potential buyers. There is no doubt that the bike is getting a positive response due to these smaller but important steps taken by the bike makers.

The reduction in the initial payment is also targeted at giving a fight to the other bikes in the category like the Yamaha R15 and the Honda CBR 250R. These two brands are expected to give a tough fight to the KTM product. Sensing the competition, the KTM Duke has been kept at competitive prices right from the work go.

However, the company did not forget to keep all the things in proper balance. They made sure that the correct people go through the registration process. For this, the company charges Rs. 3000 as booking cancellation charges. This funnel makes it sure that the authentic buyers are the ones who do not get into undue trouble over not owning the bike.

As far as the waiting period is concerned, it varies from one month to at the most three months. This time frame is dependent on the locality of the showroom. The delivery might kick off in 15 to 20 days time.

The company is targeting a sale of around 2000 units per month to start off. Considering the price of the bike, this target seems moderate. It can be further toyed with only after the initial craze of the bike dies down so that it will give the company a clear idea of how popular their new brand is. The competition in the long-run will only answer all questions.