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Yamaha R25 Video

2013-11-20T22:42:00.002+05:30

These are the words that Valentino Rossi’s parted lips let out after taking the Yamaha R25 Prototype vehicle for a test spin. The breaking news for the day is the official unveiling of the most awaited bike from Yamaha – a 250cc, quite naturally called the R25. It has been unwrapped at the ongoing Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.

R25 comes equipped with a 249cc in-line 2-cylinder liquid cooled engine mated to a 6 speed gearbox. As you can see, R25 is heavily inspired from Yamaha’s MotoGP machine the M1!

Considering what we see in the prototype form now, the production R25 is definitely expected to leave us spellbound with its flowing creases and handling prowess (taking R15′s handiwork in mind).

Yamaha Motor has uploaded a video of the same at their official YouTube channel; you can watch it below and do share how many of you have started saving for this beast…

Mahindra Centuro Launched at 45000/- INR Ex-Showroom Delhi

2013-07-08T09:02:00.002+05:30

We are here at the gorgeous Pink City to witness a new entrant as it unfolds itself; a new entrant to one of the toughest segments in Motown. Ravaged by surging fuel prices as well as a balooning inflation, this segment has many old, established satraps which will make every move tough for this new entrant. Pricing will be the cornerstone of the success for this new entrant; it already has set the ball in the court of the older, established ones by boasting of some innovative, never-really-found-in-this-segment features.

Will this new entrant be able to thrive in the murky waters? Will Mahindra Centuro be able to draw first blood??

Read on and keep refreshing this page as we keep bringing the fresh news for you. It’s all happening here at the moment at The Marriott in Jaipur!!

Mahindra Two Wheelers Limited is the two-wheeler arm of the corporate giant Mahindra and Mahindra. They have been around in the two-wheeled arena for sometime with their Power Scooter range of Rodeo and Duro. They even had a motorcycle named as the Stallio, but we are sure they would like to forget about it and move ahead!! Nevertheless, Mahindra needs to build some spunk to break the shackles and move into a higher orbit.

With the Centuro, they are aiming at exactly that!!

Keep tuned to us as we bring the latest updates.

Live Update Section
Mr. Anand Mahindra has himself flown down to Jaipur, which definitely indicates that Mahindra is betting big on the Centuro. They have gifted it with a catchy tagline, “It’s Great to be Me!”. We were also shown the official TVC that will be aired from 5th of this month.

Meanwhile, Mahindra just spilled the beans on their future plans. They are about to launch…hold your breath…as many as 10 new products !! Safely expect an average of 1 product unveiling per quarter…woah !! That’s ambitious !!!

We have the latest word from The Marriott in Jaipur, and we are extremely delighted to inform you that Mahindra has unveiled the Centuro at an unbelievable price of 45000/- INR (Ex-Showroom Delhi) for the fully loaded trim.

And there is more…..the first 10000 bookings will get a price tag of 44000/- INR !!

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Mahindra Centuro Technical Specifications and Important Pointers :-

It is powered by a 106.7 cc 4-Stroke, MCI-5 Engine
MCI-5 stands for Micro-Chip Ignited 5-Curve; it possesses five ignition maps and we are told it adjusts itself according to the need of the hour, whether power or fuel-efficiency
It can churn out a peak power of 8.5 PS@7500 rpm. Peak torque is rated to be 8.5 Nm@5500 rpm
Though exactly similar to the mill on the Pantero, we are also told the mill on the Centuro will be less vibey.
Centuro possesses a lower saddle height than Pantero at 800 mm, but surprisingly it also boasts of a higher ground clearance as well. Centuro is 31 mm longer and 61 mm higher than the earlier offering, Mahindra Pantero.
Centuro returns an ARAI certified Fuel Efficiency figures of 85.4kmpl.
Centuro is definitely beefy-looking with those Mojo-inspired Torso-tubes but it is not bulky at all; 111 kgs is all it weighs.

Unique features of the Mahindra Centuro :-

Mahindra Two Wheelers Limited definitely calls the shots when it comes to introducing nifty-yet-ground breaking features. After all, it was the Mahindra Rodeo that boasted of a segment-first, fully-digitised console.

With the Centuro, Mahindra seems to carry off from exactly where they left the Rodeo at. In fact, they have upped the ante!! Here’s a list of what you will are assured of if you bet your money on the Mahindra Centuro :-

Central Locking Anti-Theft System
Engine Immobiliser
Remote 128-bit encrypted Flip key
Find Me Lamps
Guide Lamps
Full-Digital Console

These features are definitely never-really-heard-of in this segment, and it definitely lends the new entrant Centuro a lot of maneuvering space when it comes to battling it out with the old satraps who have a vice-like grip on this segment.

Moolah Matters : The Pricing of the Mahindra Centuro

As we had stressed upon earlier, Mahindra Centuro does undoubtedly carry some really high stakes in the form of a dominant styling as well quite a few useful trinkets. However, it still has that tag of a Rookie hanging from its neck; it is an untested bike!!

To fend off the threats from the old timers, Mahindra Two-Wheelers had to price this product aggressively. We are delighted to inform you that Mahindra has announced a price tag of 45000 /- INR (Ex-Showroom Delhi) for the Mahindra Centuro!!

So, are heading over to the nearest Mahindra Showroom??

We have already ridden the bike and will be sharing its first ride review shortly! Keep tuned

Honda to Launch 125cc Activa; Might be as Early as September

2013-07-08T09:01:00.002+05:30

If you are a scoot lover and felt let down after Honda’s Activa-i launch a few weeks back, then you have a reason to grin now.

According to an Autocar India report, Honda is pondering over a 125cc version of the widely popular scooter Activa. The report also mentions that the launch could take place in the very-near future, possibly in some weeks.

Activa was one masterstroke of a product that dropped anchor for Honda’s dream run in the murky waters of the Indian market. Most of the manufacturers were treading away from the scooter segment at that time, but Honda played their cards very close to their chest. In the end, they stand vindicated.

The Activa not only acted as a springboard for Honda’s future inroads, but it ended up resurrecting the scooter segment of India. Currently, they offer the Activa along with the snazzier Dio as well as a more muscular Aviator. Few weeks back, the Activa-i became their cheapest offering in their arsenal. The incorporation of HET (Honda Eco Technology) into their scooters has added might to the already formidable trio.

Honda seems to have put its ears to the ground. Though Activa was a renowned brand, more power output was always on the wishlist of the owners and fans alike. Growing demand and good response to 125cc scooters like Access, Swish and Vespa is also one reason. The new 125 cc Activa will probably offer all industry standard features and specifications.

It will most probably be powered by a single-cylinder mill close-enough to 125 cc. It will be equipped with a variomatic transmission. The seating position is likely to be carried over from the current Activa; expect it to be very comfy and upright. Unfortunately, not more is known about the engine, frame and the suspension components. An interesting thing to look out for is whether Honda will provide bigger wheels or not.

Well, what’s certain is that the Activa 125 will definitely give a tough run to the other 125 cc scooters currently available in the market. And the icing on the cake will be the focus on fuel efficiency; the addition of HET looks certain!

Honda would do well to launch the all-new Activa before the commencement of the festive season, sometime around September.

The question then is – Would you want to move up?

Royal Enfield Continental GT 535 aka Cafe Racer; Launch This Year

2013-07-08T09:00:00.001+05:30

The much-hyped Royal Enfield Continental GT is spotted again. An alert reader of Indian Cars Bikes snapped two high-quality clicks of the most-awaited Royal Enfield of all times.

The Continental GT 535 could easily be termed as the trump card of Royal Enfield. Sporting the café racer design cues of the good, old times, this bike does strike a chord with the hearts of many. With a bright red tank and a 535 cc mill under the fuel tank as well as a swept-back exhaust, the bike not only fuels the nostalgia but also promises to stir up the adrenaline.

Here’s a quick recap of the Continental GT sobriquet! It’s not only Bentley that boasts of a Continental GT, but Royal Enfield as well. In the 1960s, Royal Enfield had in its showrooms the Continental GT 250, a Café Racer that was powered by a 250 cc 4-stroke motor, and whipped up 21 horses. It is being said that the Continental GT 535 will be launched by the end of this year, and we feel it will definitely carry off the baton from where the Continental GT 250 left it!!

Probable Specifications and Features :-

The mill will be a bored-out version of the 499 cc UCE engine that powers the Thunderbird. It will thus have a larger piston and a lighter flywheel as well, to help the tacho needle soar higher and faster.
A bigger throttle body, accompanied by a remapped ECU will help it attain a true top speed in excess of 150 kph.
We have been trawling around the web, and it seems 36 PS is quite a good approximation for the power output of the Continental GT 535. However, we have no official word on it. Nevertheless, it seems the Ninja 300 could have a skirmish on its hands, but the speculated 180+ kg weight of the GT 535 could act as a hindrance.
Though we ranted about the 180+ kg weight of the GT 535 in the previous point, let us also mention that the Continental GT 535 could very well be the lightest Royal Enfield of all times. Yes, it could be true!! Have a look at the spied photos of the bike. The design statement is minimalistic, devoid of unnecessary frills.
The backbone changes !! Goodbye to the ancient single-cradle frame…Hello to the Steel Double-Downtube Cradle type frame for (claimed) enhanced rigidity, and better tendency to dive into corners.
Deformities on the tarmac will be ironed out by a set of telescopic forks at the front, and another set of Paioli Gas-Charged shock absorbers at the rear. We have some apprehensions about the travel of the front forks, though. They seem too short, more prone to bottoming out.
Going faster means stopping quicker as well. A full-floating Brembo disc at the front accompanied by a ByBre at the rear seems to be a potent combination. On top of that, there are the sticky Pirelli tyres. Need RE say more, eh?
There’s just one drawback that seems probable from the snaps. There’s no space for your better half on the chunky seat!!

Royal Enfield will definitely position this Café Racer at the top of their pecking order. Hence, the price could shoot a little upwards of the 2 lakhs mark. In return, you would get a motorcycle that does offer some serious spunk and sparks a good bit of nostalgia. And all the while, it looks so different from the current crop of motorcycles!!

Does this new Royal Enfield excite you then?

125cc Vespa VX Launched @ India at Rs 71,380

2013-07-08T08:59:00.003+05:30

Piaggio launched the Vespa LX in the Indian market at a premium price but sans some features that should have been present since inception. Nonetheless, at a glittering function in Delhi, in the presence of bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra, the company has launched an updated version of the premium scooter dubbed as Vespa VX.

Here are the Important pointers of Vespa VX:

Vespa VX is an improved version of the existing Vespa LX
It comes with two new color options: Portovenere Verde (which is metallic green) and Vibrante Rosa (which is dual tone red and pink)
Vespa VX comes with the much needed 200mm disc brakes, MRF Zapper tubeless tyres
It also gets a slightly raised saddle handle bar for better grip
The company has also refreshed the console and it comes with a new speedometer.
You also have an option of choosing a beige colored seat from the default black

Vespa VX continues to be powered by the same 125cc 4 stroke 3-valve motor that generates 10PS of power output and 10.06Nm of maximum torque. Despite a higher displacement. Vespa VX returns a claimed 60 kmpl of fuel efficiency. The company has discontinued black and maroon color options of LX125 due to not-enough-demand!

Vespa VX Price:

Vespa VX is priced at Rs 71,380 ex-showroom Delhi which in plain terms is higher considering what the scooter offers.

Vespa VX Picture Gallery

Ducati Monster Testing in Italy

2013-07-08T08:57:00.003+05:30

A few days back, alleged spyshots of a bike in swirly camouflage went viral on the interweb. The spied motorcycle is supposed to be the 2014 edition of the Ducati Monster. Spotted in a quite-well-forested area somewhere probably in Italy, the pictures show a rider clad in full protection gear. Probably he was out to test the motorcycle in a sparsely populated area.

The camouflage does its job of hiding the bike well to an extent, but the radiator is clearly visible. The single-sided swingarm is revealed by a shot of the bike from the right-hand side.

The bike appears to be equipped with a 11° water-cooled Testastretta mill. If found to be true, then this model will be the first bike from the Monster range to be equipped with a mill other than the Desmo series of air-cooled engines since 2008. The exhaust is strikingly similar to that used on the Diavel.

A lot of speculation has been flying around, and most seem to agree that this bike would be powered by a 1198 cc engine. The official details are unavailable at the moment, and thus we can’t really confirm anything. We expect Ducati to reveal more about this bike at the 2013 EICMA Motor Show in Milan.

The Ducati Monster is an important gateway to the Italian brand’s product line-up. If this spied 1198cc Ducati Monster turns out to be true, the Italians clearly have a stratagem up their sleeve. Like the S4R & S4RS, we expect the new Monster to be a brilliant product in Ducati’s line-up, and one that is meant for the biker who prefers street motorcycles.

The million-dollar question then: How is Ducati gonna position the alleged New Monster vis-a-vis the Ducati Streetfighter??

Hero Motocorp On The Move- Talk About EBR Stakes & Kenyan Launches

2013-07-08T08:56:00.000+05:30

After facing flak for quite some time from fans and critics alike, Hero Motocorp seems to have pulled up its socks and decided to soldier on.

While a lot seems to be brewing in the insides of the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, we focus our crosshairs on two recent events which could have widespread ramifications, and will definitely cheer up Hero fans.

Tightening Noose around EBR :-

EBR chief Erik Buell’s horrendous experience with Harley-Davidson still lingers in his mind, and he often claims that he is not open to any ownership changes in his venture.

Sometime last year, MD and CEO of Hero Motocorp, Pawan Munjal suggested that they could be looking at an equity sale. Indian media went gung-ho and speculated an encore a la Bajaj-KTM. However, EBR’s boss Erik steadfastly denied any such possibilities, and disagreed with the Indian media’s claims.

The situation seems to be heading for some twists and turns, as Hero has poured in $25 billion into EBR, clamping up 49.2% of EBR. Erik still owns the majority of his company, though only by a hairsbreadth, and it remains to be seen if he can be tenacious enough to ward off future demands for more equity by Hero Motocorp. At the moment, Erik has made clear his stand of not giving up any more control from over his company.

Few days back, Hero’s online campaign involving the EBR racing team had earned a few sniggers, with the cyberspace buzzing with taunts about Hero taking to the racetracks on a Splendor. Right now, it seems Hero Motocorp is having the last laugh with this cracker of a retort.

A more powerful Karizma on the cards?? It will be a difficult journey for Hero Motocorp, but it will be eventful for sure.

African Sojourn :-

An important term of the pact with Honda was that Hero could not venture out to those markets where Honda had a presence. Well, that just about meant every nook and cranny of the world as the Japanese giant has a massive footprint.

Now, as the pact is shattered, Hero’s wings are no longer clipped. The speculations about their future operations in faraway lands have been the talk of Dalal Street, widely accepted as the medium for Hero Motocorp’s turnaround. And that was reciprocated rightly with visibly better sentiment after Hero inked a deal with Indy Motos Group for their Central American tryst.

Hero is definitely not looking back and they have set foot on the African continent now.Kenya has been chosen as the suitable entry point, with the setting-up of the first assembly line over there. Hero Motocorp has introduced five of its models, including theHF Dawn. The other models introduced are Splendor, Glamour, Hunk and their flagship Karizma. The HF Dawn has been tweaked to fit into the local scheme of things, and Hero has indicated that there will be lot more new models from their stable, which will be tailored to meet country-specific needs.

Pawan Munjal, MD and CEO of Hero Motocorp, has stated that they will be making inroads into Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast next week. The other countries which are next in their target lineup are Nigeria and South Africa.

Hero Motocorp has penned high hopes on their international business arm, hoping to clock as many as 3,50,000 unit sales in this fiscal. This number is almost double of the last fiscal’s figures, signalling a quantum jump in Hero’s aspirations. Hero already has a strong footing in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Colombia. Latin American coutries like Peruand Equador are also appearing as significant blips on their long-term radar.

Watch the Mahindra Centuro TVC Which Has Been Viewed 2 Lakh+ Times in three days

2013-07-08T08:54:00.001+05:30

Mahindra’s new ace Centuro is company’s best bet yet and frankly the most important product for them as well. Launched on 1st of this month at a very luring price tag of Rs 45,000 (Read Launch Details), Centuro’s performance at the sales charts will definitely talk a lot about Mahindra’s future products and their upcoming plans.

Meanwhile, during the launch ceremony, Mahindra showcased the official TVC to us that was supposed to go on air from the 5th of this month. We haven’t watched it on TV yet but the official YouTube channel of Mahindra Power Scooters has released the ad for public viewing. And interestingly, the TVC has received more than 2 Lakh views in merely 3 days.

The advertisement has been shot in Krakow in Poland and the Centuro comes with a tagline of ‘It’s Great to be me’. Through the TVC Mahindra has tried to portray the motorcycle as a rugged companion true to the DNA Mahindra’s SUVs are known for in India.

Centuro is powered by a 110cc 4-stroke motor that produces 8.5PS of peak power and 8.5Nm of maximum torque. Because of tweaked engine tunings, Centuro returns ARAI claimed fuel efficiency figures of 85.4kmpl which are phenomenal by all standards. We have taken a first test ride of the motorcycle and will share our experience shortly.

Honda CBR 250R Ownership Review

2013-03-17T09:29:00.002+05:30

“My name is Shiva, I was born on June 6th 2012 in Chennai, and drive a Honda CBR 250R”. I believe in birth as the value of one learning to attain complete satisfaction of life, understanding love and experience eternal power.

This I have experience only by June 6th 2012 when I bought a “Rocket” from my own pocket called the Honda CBR 250R (standard); and I was really born on 1984 and am a 29 year old mad crack who will just spend all of his savings as a Visual Designer in an IT company + sell his iPhone to buy this machine that keeps you young and also takes you to office every day.

It started for me from at the age of 9, the time when I used to wait for a chance for my big brothers to let me bring some water to the playground where they play cricket by driving their tiny little TVS 50 and after that it never stopped. I have owned a Yamaha Enticer, Super Splendor and a Pulsar 220 FI.

And as every other guy who has a good job, I also got married and my parents said its time to get your own car. And so I did buy an i20 and after 2 months of driving a car, I could not do it anymore because the biker inside me just kicked my behind and said “be true to yourselves” and thus came the time to take home a friend in red who would never let me down.

First Sight – Styling

It was a site that was even more extraordinary than the day I first met my wife (hope she is not reading this). A fully grown animal cast in red and silver, carved by the Samurais of Honda, so beautifully that even the shadows of them on the ground is love at first sight. The tank that pulls up like a camels hump, the fairing like the ones on Optimus Prime, the tail light is that of a sharks fin, all smooth of art yet having aggressive projection headlamps that looks so wicked cool.

And that cholesterol on the tiresmakes me feel to smoke em up on fresh asphalt. Damn, that’s one beautiful bike! I had no regrets of spending all that money for such a wonderful work of art. And I am very proud to have been riding it for the past 7+ months.

Break in Period

Like every bikers curse, this was the period that I ran out of patience. It was like I was chained on a throne and was asked to be the king of Planet Road. Well, but like a baby, I had to feed her power step by step until I reach the first 2000 or some KMS. But, “Sometimes you gotta run, before you could walk”. So after just 150 KMs on the ODO, I could not wait to see the 3 digit figure on that LCD.

Oh, yes! I did not follow the rules of “break in” and it felt good? I did not repeat that very often, because I want to keep this bike for a very long time. I used the rest of the slow rides, to understand the power delivery and braking of the bike. And one thing that awestruck me was how smooth it could glide on high gear. It was near airborne experience. I love Honda for that!

ItsSmokin Time (After First Service) – Top Speed, Tires and Braking

At this time I was more worried about the small rattles within, the mirror screw that came out all-of-a sudden, a “ticking” noise that came from under the hood and most importantly the question that goes round my nut head, “how fast can it go?” This of course is mostly because of all those blogs and Youtube videos that post 156, 164 and even 173 kmph speed records, and I really wanted to find that out my selves.

Before that the service guys at Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, took good care of the bike, very opposite to the reviews I read about the after sales service of Honda. It was clear and I can hear the humming of the engine at 8000 RPMs so well and composed like Beethoven after the service was done.

I know for sure that I can’t do anything more than 100 to 115 KMPH in the city, so we decided to make a short trip to Yelagiri Hills, 245 KMs away from Chennai with long stretches of good and bad roads, the best place to see how your machine could take bumps, soiled corners and wide open stretches. It was a fantastic experience when I reached close to 142 KMPH in an open road (no traffic, monitored on both ends by my friends and with semi riding gear).

You may ask, what was great about that 145 KMPH and I would say about how fast it came up on that speedo and the RPM read on 9000 or sort. And yes I did not try it more than that because of lack of clearer road ahead of me. Another amazing fact is how aerodynamic and stable and confident the bike was and felt to me.

I read a lot of blogs that talk about the bad aerodynamics of the fairing. But personally, I feel it is to do with how you align with the bike at top speeds and how you become a part of the machine to achieve what many have done. Others can beat the bush though. One disappointing fact that did become true from the blog reads is the tires of the CBR. The factory Contigo does no good on corners and I have really tested that part on the hills with its 14 hairpin bends. I was totally not confident to pull more flight into it.

The brakes however was good, I really did not feel the need for the ABS and you would not also, if, you would change your tires for a better alternative. I am a track person and I’m sure it’s got decent braking power, although I would not say that it is extraordinary, but it’s apt and good. There was a time exactly during my 2nd free service when Honda recalled 1500 standard units for a brake replacement and mine got changed first in Chennai, at least which is what the service guy told. And I felt no difference about it. It was good as it always was.

The Long Service Intervals – Minor Mechanical Problems

These are testing time for machines like the CBR where not all mechanics could handle minor repairs that come off those gut feelings that you would have in your stomach saying “something is wrong with my baby”. Well I had many of those instances. Once it was a small video shoot we had for an assignment about bikers ( I wrote the script though ) and there was a Burnout scene planned among other Pulsars.

It was a day I was very much upset because I never knew that I did not kick the first gear to hold up a burnout for 60 seconds and revving the engine at 9000 and 10000 RPMS only for the director to come and shout that “the tires are not rotating”. I was broke, not realizing that the fault was on me that I did not hit the gear. The clutch gave no action and there was no release of rotation of the wheels in the first gear.

The local mechanic washed off his hands saying that he cannot handle the bike for these repairs. Devastated yet confident I pulled out the user manual and figured out how simple it was to adjust the clutch back to its optimal positions and did it my selves perfectly. A proud moment arrived and it was all smoke then onwards. My pity was more on the co-stars who managed to mock with dust only, instead of real rubber.

So, as I said you will experience such minor setbacks at times and all you have to do is keep cool and read the user manual for minor adjustments that you can do yourselves with the supplied tools.

The Bouncer – Suspension

Everyone know what the mono shock is on the CBR, but do you guys know that it can carry a 120 Kgs on it through tough traffic, bending small streets, road less roads and hollow pot holes. This is possible only by that fantastic spring in the middle and trust me, Shiva knows best? One thing that was always in my mind was how much of a difference the 5 step settings of the suspension could make.

So I went to the service center to ask him to set it up on step 5 from the default position of 3. To be honest with you, I never felt any difference, may be its different for a more light diet person. However, when I glide on the many mini flyovers in Chennai that has patch to patch road, instead of a smooth curve uphill and downhill, I always experienced a good throw from the bike at speeds of 80 KMPH and more. So that’s something people at their 60 Kgs and 70 Kgs should really be worried of.

The Rear Seat – Halwa Carrier

I just love the rear seat space, just because of the fact that one day I managed to carry half kg of ThirunelvelliHalwa (A famous South Indian sweet) in there and had it all by my selves? But other than that I always keep an elastic rope to tie in my luggage to the rear fender for my trips, bike documentation papers, tool kit, and the useless helmet holder. Sometimes I just pop open the seat and push back in and repeat it to amuse my selves when I wait to pick up my wife from work.

The Open Chain – Makes me sweat!

Yes, it does make me sweat, not because of its performance but because of the number of times I have to bend down and crunch in my tummy to spray some chain clean and lube whenever I go through sand made roads, which you can see every time in the suburbs of the city. Other than that it had never cast any trouble for me so far.

And I would really recommend to get a rear paddock stand for the CBR from other retailers online for Rs.2500, if you feel spending close to Rs.5000 is too much from Honda dealers. It makes it easy to clean and lube the chains and also to wash and wax your bike.

The Radiator – Fragile and a Dust eating bugger!

I was so scared the first time to hear the fan going “wheee” when I stopped in a signal, only to realize later that it’s very common as the fans help in cooling them. What was very irritating was how fragile the sleek aluminum thingies that form the radiator are. You could easily bend a few of them every time you try to clear of the sand form these vents. A good solution is to put on a radiator guard because I’m sure they cost some good money if damaged.

Nevertheless the radiator does its job just so perfectly as I never had any overheating issues so far. Mind that I shift gears only at 8000 RPMs all the time and drive the bike every time on high RPMs. It may not be good practice to do so, but I just like to make some sound. Speaking about sound Phew!

Exhaust Note –Cat’s Meow on a Dragon

If there is one thing that will make me shout back to Honda, then it would be about the way the CBR250R sounds. Yes, the only thing that I don’t like is it sounds. It’s a perfect design combination adding value to the overall look and feel of the bike. But it just makes me cry? Now you know why I like to drive it at high RPMs.

There are fantastic aftermarket exhaust systems that are not easily available in Chennai, but if you have someone in Bangalore or other neighboring states, you can get a Akropovic, Yoshimura or other aftermarket pieces for anything from around 17K to 26K. You can get local exhausts from Chennai for about 6K and I seriously doubt if it would do any good. These things suit aptly for the sound and say to increase HP by a bit and also lose a lot of weight from the original 8Kgs of the stock exhaust. I will try one soon after the next service and hopefully enjoy the sound.

Eyes on the Road – Headlights

As the title suggests, it is a good system and the light has a wide spread coverage of the road. I love the high beam when I use it, to shoot back on oncoming traffic, idiots with high beam on. It has a well-designed casing adorning the front cowl and the mini pilot lights ads to the wickedness. Sometime I like to leave them on after 3PM and would like to feel on par with the BMW’s and Audi’s in the city?

There seems to be a way to adjust the angle of the headlight by sending your fingers through the bottom of the front cowl which is handy if you have to adjust over the alignment after an unfortunate drop or damage. I have seen bikes with HID, Angel Eyes and Demon Eyes on them. But I simply don’t believe in playing with the electronics of such a bike that has many sensors and a whole lot of fuses under the seat.

Fuel Tank Cover – Tap Dancer

For some reason I have been having a lot of trouble with the Fuel Tank Cover. It gives a fine tapping sound at high RPMs and feels like the bike is taking a lot of feedback from vibrations. I solved this by pushing in and turning the cap alignment marker to the right till it will budge and then the tapping sound stopped.

Sometimes I have to jimmy it a little bit more to set it out of vibrations. Yes, it will look a bit out of alignment from the 90 degree angle. And for a designer like me, it’s even more irritating. Hope others won’t mind, if you have such a problem.

Summary

I am not a deep down engineer to understand every aspect of such a complex machine. So whatever I have written is my heartfelt experience of a fellow biker who loves bikes, dreams bikes and rides one. Although I would have mentioned a few setbacks, they really don’t count in my world of a high performance motorcycle in the 250 CC categories that gives a mileage of 25 KMPL in City driving conditions and anything around 35 KMPL on highways.

So, should you buy a CBR250R Standard or ABS. If you love bikes and if that’s all you care about then you should just go and buy one and experience it yourselves.Standard or ABS, doesn’t really matter to me, but however experts suggest you buy the ABS version for added protection.

Leave everything else behind, because the bond between man and machine is unique for every rider. You will not understand it, if you would not experience it.

Overall the CBR250R has been the best thing that has happened to me next to my love. It’s like a time machine for those who can experience it and appreciate the brilliance of the design and what it can offer us. You go forth and back on time, by speed, through emotions that flow free when you ride on two wheels and leave the rest to your senses and forget the world behind and journey forward to know the unknown. Hope you enjoyed reading this as I have enjoyed typing! With lots of Vrooom! Ride Safe!

KTM Duke 390

2013-03-17T09:25:00.001+05:30

As we bikers are really excited about the news of the all new KTM Duke 390 being launched in India in a few months from now, there was no concrete information about what to expect in the upcoming bigger bike and what not until now. Thanks to Mr. Yogesh Naik and the Team Duke who have captured some shots of the upcoming KTM Duke 390 being tested in the Mumbai Pune highway.

The Test vehicle which was painted in White whispers subtleness by the looks of it, which can never be misunderstood for a bigger Duke inviting unwanted attention from the bikers and other manufacturers. A strategy commonly used by Manufacturers not to reveal anything more or less about their product until it is officially launched and the specs are revealed.

The interesting story that unwinds after the pictures of the bike that speaks out for itself are the Wheel speed sensors seen in both the front and the rear wheels confirming that the bike which will see the launch phase soon in India will be ABS equipped. Another interesting pointer that the picture of the speedometer talks about is the average mileage figure that displays as 38 Kmpl. Although the figures are a bit optimistic for a 390cc high revving motor, there are two ways that this figure can be accomplished. One being the bike idling for a long time, the ECU might have calculated mileage based on the idling. Secondly, if the bike has been ridden sanely on the highway that actually doesn’t require much gearshift’s and braking; with which this kind mileage figure is highly possible. Moreover, the test vehicle caught would have also been doing the mileage test for which the bike would have been ridden on the highway on a very average speed to attain the highest mileage figure.

If at all the true mileage figure is the same as seen in the pictures, making all the speculations about the indicating mileage figure false, I’m sure it’s a phenomenal value of efficiency that a 44Bhp motor puts out. However, the actual figure can be revealed only after the launch

Coming to the rubbers, the test bike was seen with the world renowned Metzeler tyres. However there is no assurance that the actual production vehicle could come with Mezeler’s. On a safer side it can be assumed that the Duke 390 would get at least the MRF radials that the smaller Duke 200 got in India.

With all the expectations and a bit of speculation floating around; the Austrian performer is expected to be launched in the price point of 2 Lakhs which is mouth watering; possible only because of the mass localization of the parts that Bajaj have taken up bringing the price down giving a very tough competition to the rivals. For anyone whose willing to graduate from the 250’s this price point would be walking on a cheese cake.

Technical Specifications of KTM Duke 390:

Engine Design: 4- Stroke, Single Cylinder, Liquid Cooled
Displacement: 373.2 cm³
Bore x Stroke: 89 x 60 mm
Power: 32 kW (44hp) @ 9500rpm
Torque: 35Nm @ 7250rpm
Transmission: 6 Speed
Fuel System: Bosch EFI
Final Transmission: 5/8 x ¼” (520) X-Chain
Engine Lubrication: Forced Oil with Rotor Pump
Clutch: Oil Bathed, Mechanically Operated
Frame: Tubular frame made from Chrome Molybdenum steel. Powder Coated Finish
Front Fork: WP Suspension Up Side Down with 150mm travel
Shock Absorber Rear: WP Monoshock with 150mm travel
Front Brake System: 300 mm Disc brake with Four-Pot Caliper
Rear Brake System: 230 mm floating disc brake with single-pot Caliper
Saddle Height: 800mm
Unloaded Ground Clearance: 170 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity: 11 Litres
Approx Weight without Fuel: 139 Kg

DSK Hyosung GT650R and Aquila Pro 650 Photos

2013-01-18T13:15:00.002+05:30

Here are some of the launch photos of GT650R and Aquila Pro 650.

You can find more photos in our official facebook fan page.

Honda v/s Bajaj

2013-01-18T13:14:00.002+05:30

As the festive season completed last month, HMSI has again sold more number of two wheeler compared to Bajaj Auto in the single month. As per an estimate, HMSI has sold 2,05,000 units in the domestic two wheeler market compared to 1,98,000 units of Bajaj Auto in the month of December 2012. This is the first time the difference of number of two wheeler has remained under 10,000 units after the month of June 2012. December is generally considered as a soft month for automobile companies and especially for Bajaj Auto.

HMSI sold 2,17,612 units of two wheeler in the month of December 2012 which is 13.59% higher compared to December 2011 where it sold 1,91,584 units of two wheeler. It sold 1,06,297 units of motorcycle in the month of December 2012 up by 35.03% compared to 78,271 units of motorcycle in the month of December 2011. It sold 1,11,315 units of scooter in December 2012 down by 1.37% compared to 1,12,863 units of scooter in the month of December 2011. HMSI is witnessing falling sales each month in the scooter segment due to increased competition from Hero Motocorp and Yamaha’s newly launched Ray.

Bajaj Auto sold 2,98,350 units of motorcycle in the month of December 2012 up by 13.14% compared to 2,63,699 units in the month of December 2011. In the domestic market the company has registered double digit growth for the first time after a long period. The company has launched new 100cc motorcycle Discover 100T in the month of January to boost its domestic sales.

Bajaj Vs Honda in 2012 – April to December

HMSI sold 19.34 lakhs units during April to December 2012 compared to 19.08 lakhs units of Bajaj Auto for the same period in the domestic market. HMSI has maintained the lead of around 26,000 units in the year till date figure. As expected earlier, there is not much difference of two wheeler units in the month of December between Bajaj Auto and HMSI. We expect a close fight between Bajaj Auto and HMSI from this month and we also believe that Bajaj Auto has still fair chance to outpace HMSI for the financial year 2012-13. Stay tuned for the next three months.

Hyosung GV650 Aquila And The GT650R

2013-01-18T13:13:00.001+05:30

DSK Motorwheels, owners of the Hyosung brand in India now have launched the upgraded version of the GT650R, a sports motorcycle which was first launched when Hyosung was owned by Garware Motors. The company also brought out a brand new cruiser motorcycle, the GV650 Aquila, which is a cruiser motorcycle. The eye-catcher of the show is course the cruiser! Currently, you have to admit that there are very few middle-weight cruiser motorcycles on the Indian roads. Thus, the very small number that are there get a lot of street presence and, luckily with the ST7 earlier has been an elite member of this squad. Now, with the launch of the GV650, they have upped the game and hoping to increase their street presence too.

This launch also marks the end of almost a decade of the Aquila moniker from the Indian motorcycle market. The GV650 Aquila, like the GT650R is powered by the same 647cc, DOHC, water-cooled 90 degree V-twin engine that produces 75 PS of power at 9000 RPM and a healthy 62.5 NM of torque at 7500 RPM. This engine is mated to a 5 speed gearbox and power is sent to the rear wheels via a belt drive.

On the event of the launch, Mr. Shirish Kulkarni, Managing Director, DSK Hyosung said, “We are very passionate about promoting superbiking culture in India by introducing niche products for our valuable customers and superbiking fraternity as a whole. Aquila Pro as our campaign says ‘soul of a cruiser, heart of a racer’ is one of the best looking cruisers I have ever seen. It is basically about fun and the sheer joy of riding. When it comes to the newly launched GT650R – 2013 its sheer racing style is going to the win the hearts of lovers of super sports bike in India”.

The GV650 Aquila has been built around a tubular steel cradle chassis and gets a huge lot of chrome treatment, just like the ST7. At the front, it gets upside down forks while at the rear it gets a swingarm. Front braking power is provided by dual 300mm discs while a single 230mm disc does duty at the rear. The motorcycle rides on 120/70 18inch tires at the front and 180/70 18 inch tires at the rear. Hyosung claims the Aquila will hit a top speed of 195 kmph! The instrument cluster is dominated by the digital speedometer and an absence of a tachometer. Also present in the console is an engine temperature gauge, a fuel gauge, a clock, and a choice of two trip meters and an odometer.

DSK has launched the GV650 Aquila at Rs 4.99 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Hyosung GT650R

On the other hand, the sports bike GT65R gets some minor cosmetic changes. The motorcycle gets a new two-tone paint job of red and white. Styling at the front, rear and side remains more or less the same. There have been no upgrades to the mechanicals too.

However, Hyosung says that the engine has been tweaked to provide better and smoother power delivery. The GT650R will also be available in 3 colour variants- Titanium White, Titanium Red and Titanium Black. The GT650R has been priced at Rs. 4.79 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Version Of Tiger 1050 Sport

2013-01-18T13:12:00.001+05:30

The British motorcycle manufacturer, Triumph has launched the 2013 version of its Tiger 1050 Sport. First images of the 2013 model surfaced in the online media several times in the past year, leading to speculations that Triumph might be working on a 2013 version of the Tiger motorcycle. And voila, the speculations were indeed right! The fact is, globally the Triumph Tiger 800 and the Triumph Tiger 1200 are pretty well compared to the Tiger 1050. However, the company is not ready to kill the 1050 and think there is still chance to make it more popular among the customers and bike lovers. Which, then brings us to the 2013 version of the Tiger 1050.

For the 2013 update, Triumph has added 10 BHP to its 3 cylinder motor and now produces 123 BHP of power and 104 NM of torque. The company has renamed the motorcycle to Tiger 1050 “Sport”, the Sport word being the addition. The motorcycle also features a new single-sided swingarm, a slimmer subframe, a revised suspension and geometry, along with redesigned fairings and wheels. Triumph also claims that there has been a boost in the fuel efficiency in spite of the bump in power. The fuel efficiency of the 2013 version has increased by 7%. Additionally the company is advertising that the Triumph Tiger Sport can fit larger panniers, making it more practical for you to take more luggages with you on long rides.

On the downside, the bike doesn’t get any significant upgrade to the styling though there has been some minor work carried out on the bodywork. The semi-naked looks have been retained altogether. The company will be announcing the prices next month and the motorcycle will be made available by March 2013. Whether Triumph will be bringing this motorcycle to India is still unclear though.

KTM Duke 390 ABS ‘Coming Soon to India’

2012-11-26T21:54:00.003+05:30

If you are one of those very eagerly waiting for the next BIG thing in India, we have some more dope for you. The upcoming next wave of naked performance biking is coming to India soon. And the name we know is 2013 KTM Duke 390!

Just move over to KTM’s official site and you would be greeted by a prominent “Coming Soon to India” ticker at 2013 KTM 390 Duke’s page. These are probably the first official words about the bike coming on our land. According to our sources, Bajaj might launch the bigger KTM here in India somewhere around March next year. Similar to Duke 200, Duke 390 would also be manufactured at Bajaj’s Chakan plant.

KTM Duke 390 would be based on the existing KTM Duke 200 and there would be heavy sharing of parts to save on costs. It is powered by a 373.2cc single cylinder 4 stroke liquid cooled engine which produces adrenalin pumping power output of 44hpand a torque output of 35Nm. Another significant inclusion would be the Anti Lock Braking (ABS) system which has been long longed for on Indian bikes.

Though, we do not have any concrete clues about the pricing of the bike right now, but we do expect a pretty competitive price sticker to this bike considering the heavy localization and parts sharing it would be subjected to. So, would you like to pay Rs 2 Lac for this menace?

Ducati Unveils 2013 Multistrada

2012-09-30T11:43:00.003+05:30

MotoGP 2013

2012-09-30T11:42:00.004+05:30

Ducati Multistrada

2012-09-30T11:41:00.004+05:30

125cc Phoenix bike. tvs launches

2012-09-30T11:39:00.006+05:30

New 125cc Bike Launch – TVS Motors has launched their all new 125cc bike named Phoenix bike for the Indian market at a launch event held in Chennai. TVS Phoenix 125 is equipped with an all new 125cc EcoThrust engine that churns out 11 PS of power at 8000 RPM. TVS also claims that this engine produces the best-in-class fuel efficiency. Speaking at the launch event, Venu Srinivasan, chairman, TVS Motor Company said that the 125cc engine was specifically designed for this motorcycle keeping in mind power and fuel economy. He also added that the bike complements several unique features to ensure ‘premium ride quality’.

Phoenix New Fuel Efficient 125cc Bike – arriving in showrooms from October, 2012

The TVS Phoenix claims an official fuel efficiency figure of over 67 kmpl under standard riding conditions which is very impressive considering the hefty power output from a 125cc engine. It is mated to a 4 speed manual gearbox. It also gets a 5 step adjustable series spring suspension and a high response damper. It gets optional rotopetal discs at the front and drum brakes at the rear. The instrument cluster features digital speedometer, digital fuel gauge, low battery reminder, trip meter, service reminder, soft texture grips and soft-touch switchgear. The company has also equipped it with hazard lamps to enhance rider safety. The bike will become available all across India from next month.

Phoenix Models, Colors and Price Details

It will be available in 5 dual tone colours- Moroccan Red, Alaskan Green, Helsinki Black Silver, Belgian Black Red and Oxford Grey. With the launch of this bike, TVS aims to get back to the game and grab back some of its falling market share. According to TVS, the launch of this bike also completes their motorcycle product portfolio. The Phoenix with optional discs comes at a price of Rs. 53,000 (ex-showroom, Chennai) while both drums will cost you Rs. 51,000 (ex-showroom, Chennai).

Launch Report: 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650R Booking, Availability, Color and other Important Details

2012-08-10T23:12:00.002+05:30

Bike enthusiasts have, of late, got many reasons to cheer. Bajaj offered them one when it launched the Ninja 650R back on June 08, 2011 at a mouth-watering price of 4.57 Lac ex-showroom Delhi.

Fast forward a year and a few more days, they are back and this time with the upgraded2012 model of the Ninja 650R. The bike was supposed to be unveiled by Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, however, due to some unforeseen circumstances he was not able to make it to the event, as we were told.

In his place, the bike was unveiled by Mr Amit Nandi, Vice President,Probiking, Bajaj Auto and Mr S. Ravikumar, Senior Vice President -Business Development Bajaj Auto. Amit Nandi presided over the function by giving an introduction and a little history of Ninja brand before finally taking the veils of the sparkling lime green colored Ninja 650.

Important Pointers from Ninja 650 Launch in Pune:

Bajaj plans to take KTM/Kawasaki exclusive dealerships to 62 within this month.
In 2009-10, we only had 3 competitors in the premium segment – Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha. Fast forward to 2012-13, we have as many as 11 competitors vying for a pie of flesh each – Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Harley Davidson, Honda, Ducati, BMW, Hyosung, Aprilia, KTM, Triumph.
Bajaj is targeting this bike as a practical superbike in India, which, we know it really is!
19% of Kawasaki Heavy Industries revenues come from Motorcycles and Engines business.
The Ninja family consists of 7 models out of which we have 2 in India – Ninja 250R and this Ninja 650.
In the 600cc segment Kawasaki also has the thoroughly sports brethren Ninja ZX-6R in the international markets.
The new Ninja 650 would be available for booking starting next week i.e around 13-14 August.
Deliveries of the bike would take around 4-5 weeks maximum. It could be earlier as well.
In an answer to a question, Bajaj also revealed that they have so far sold more than 3000 units of Ninja.
The new Ninja650 would be available in this Kawasaki trademark Lime Green color only. Bajaj doesn’t have plans to make it available in other colors either. Reasons cited by them of spare parts sourcing and shortage made sense to us.
Bajaj also denied that the ER-6N would be coming to India. At least they haven’t planned anything about it yet.
In a question about the targeted per month sales figures, Bajaj disclosed that anything in the region of 1200-1600 per month would be good for them.
Regarding the new Ninja 250R, they said, it will come but no definite timeframe decided yet.
The models of Ninja we have in India are brought from Thailand
There would not be any ABS on the Indian model
They have not planned any accessories for Ninja like they have for KTMs.
The Ninja 400R would also not come to India.

Ninja 650R 2012 Edition Price: Rs. 4,99,835 Ex-showroom Delhi

2012-08-10T23:11:00.002+05:30

Today, Kawasaki is revealing the Ninja 650R superbike for India, the launch event is currently going on in Pune as we speak, BikeAdvice team member Saad is covering the event for us. The price of 2012 Ninja 650R has just been announced, it will be available for Rs 4.99 Lakhs(ex-showroom Delhi), the bike will be sold via ProBiking dealers and only a limited number of Ninja 650R bikes will be available in the country.

Check out the overview of Ninja 650R.

Live Updates from the launch event:

Ninja 650R color options: Only Green color will become available.

More Updates:

- Booking will start from next week.

- Deliveries in 4-5 Weeks.

- ABS is not available

Kawasaki has also revealed that 2013 Ninja 250R will be coming to India, exact date of arrival not disclosed.

Bajaj to Launch Updated Kawasaki Ninja 650R on 9th August

2012-08-08T09:46:00.006+05:30

Power seekers rejoice! Bajaj is about to launch the latest updated New Kawasaki Ninja 650R and the launch party is just 6 days away. The new 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650R would bow in on the 9th of August in India. We have talked about the bike in detail and pretty soon we will be exploring the bike for you in real detail.

Bajaj has not mentioned the name of the bike but it is almost 100 percent confirmed that the new launch would be the new Kawasaki Ninja 650R.

The launch would take place in Pune and Bajaj is expected to reveal all the details including the price of the bike on that day. We would cover the event live and rest assured all the updates would reach you as soon as they happen.

Our fingers are crossed!

What is your guess of the Ex-Showroom Price of 2012 Ninja 650R, let us know in comment section below.

New Ravishing 2013 Ninja 250R Revealed

2012-08-08T09:46:00.002+05:30

Barely a few days have gone by when we shared the news of the new Ninja 650R entering India soon and its time for the smaller sibling Ninja 250R to make news now.

Ninja 250R was already touted as the best 250cc in the world. However, there were always a few murmurs about its looks getting dated with too many edgy lines steaming around. For all those and even not those, here comes the super ravishing 2013 Ninja 250R.

Kawasaki has updated a few details of the new Ninja at its Japanese website which talks about the bike in brief. The major changes which we could notice:

Sharper Edges
Meaner Front looks
Integrated Side-Blinkers
Bigger Air Outlets
Raised and reworked rear
New Piston, Cylinder & Crank Case
New Suspension and chassis
Wider Tyres
Better heat management
Introduction of ABS variant
Semi-Digital Console – Digital Speedometer, analogue tachometer, clock,tripmeter, various indicators
140mm Rear Tyre
10 spoke alloy wheels

Color Options:

Lime Green
Ebony
Passion Red
Pearl Stardust White
Ebony/Metallic Moondust Grey (Special Edition)
Lime Green/Ebony (Special Edition)
Passion Red/Stardust White (Special Edition)

When and would it come to India? No one knows yet! But we are sure about the fact that Bajaj would definitely want to bring it to India. Lets wait as more information about the bike gets revealed. We are more interested in the engine related specs and hope we have a fabulous product coming our way. soon!

Yamaha to Export 150cc Motorcycles (R15 and FZ-S) from India to Japan

2012-08-08T09:45:00.004+05:30

Yamaha India, as we all know, is one of the finest bike makers in the country. Now this bike manufacturer is all set to export vehicles manufactured in their Indian facility to its home country Japan. This will be the first instance in the history of Yamaha that Indian manufactured bikes will be exported from India to Japan. Yamaha had their manufacturing plant set up in India almost twenty seven years ago and this instance of exporting bikes may be taken as a sign of development and sufficient production.

News has it that Yamaha India (subsidiary of Japanese company) will be exporting its first shipment of R15s (300 in no’s) and few 150cc bikes manufactured at their plant in Surajpur. The whole concept behind this export is to test the product in Japan. If the response is good in Japan then the company will export more of their Indian oriented models. Mr. Hiroyaki Suzuki, MD India Yamaha Motors was of the opinion that the bikes manufactured in India met all the advanced specifications that are required by other advanced markets out there. He also said that the export program is just to test the models in Japan and launching them in other markets would depend on their success in Japan.

Mr. Suzuki also said that Japan is the market for racing bikes and R15 fits the needs perfectly. Not only R15 is easy to maneuver but also fits the racing image considerably well. He also said that 150cc bikes are much popular in Japan and thus R15 is a perfect choice to test. Suzuki said that in japan R15 would sport a price tag of 2.45 to 3.42 lakh Yen.

If the response is good in Japan, Yamaha’s next target will be Europe. In fact Yamaha has already started exploring global markets like Spain, Portugal and Turkey to export R15 and FZ by 2013. Many bike manufacturers from India are increasing their export activities day in and day out like Bajaj, TVS etc. In 2011-12 the total No. of exports grew by a whooping about 27%. Bajaj Auto and TVS motors were on the first two spots with whereas Yamaha India was on the fourth spot.

Lastly, the bottom line is that Yamaha is going to expand its operational base in Japan through the use of Indian manufactured bikes. If these bikes are accepted in Japan, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Indian bikes have all the capability to rule the roads anywhere in the world.

Upcoming 650cc Bike in 2012, Kawasaki Ninja 650R Overview, Features and Price

2012-08-08T09:45:00.002+05:30

The Updated Kawasaki Ninja 650R.

The indigenous bike manufacturer, Bajaj Auto Ltd created a stir when it brought the Kawasaki Ninja 650R to the Indian market for the first time at a killer price of about 4.75 lakhs. It was the first foray of Bajaj Auto into offering high displacement bikes in India. With that killer pricing, the mean green Ninja 650R became an instant hit among the bike lovers. Such was the demand for this bike that Bajaj Auto had to stop bookings intermittently to avoid facing supply constraints. Well, the fault was at Kawasaki’s end allotting very few models for the Indian market.

Come 2012, Kawasaki has given a fresh upgrade to its Ninja 650R and also taken some lessons from Indian markets. One good piece of news Bajaj Auto added along with the formal announcement of the 2012 Ninja 650R coming to India was that this time, the supply would be far more than the last episodes. According to some rumours doing the round, Bajaj Auto is likely to start the bookings from July-August, 2012. The bike is set to be launched in few days and we evaluate what we are looking forward to this year.

Kawasaki Ninja 650R Styling:

To put it straight, the 2012 iteration of the “Kwacker” 650 receives majority of cosmetic upgrades and nothing serious under the covers. Talking of styling, the most obvious is the design change done to the front fairing. The new fairing looks sportier and is also wider giving it a better “big daddy” bike aura all around. The headlight design remains almost the same. The other parts going under the designer’s knife are the fuel tank and the seat. The fuel tank gets a more chiselled design portraying aggressiveness. The rear ends are neatly sculpted for your thighs to go around it ensuring better grip. The rear end doesn’t receive any styling changes though sadly.

Kawasaki Ninja 650R Performance:

The 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650R gets the same mill as the previous model, the liquid cooled, DOHC, 649cc parallel twin producing 72 PS @8500 RPM and maximum torque of 66 Nm @7000 RPM. However, it is believed that the 2012 model has been tuned to produce better low end and mid-range power. Instead of focusing on outright performance or best-in-class handling, Kawasaki has gone for a more holistic approach merging the “good” of both worlds. The same engine is also likely to receive new pistons for smoother power delivery and a revised intake system giving a better engine noise. The short “underbelly” exhaust muffler is also tweaked somewhat for better gas flow and noise. It is no secret that the outgoing model did not make the best of the exhaust notes unlike its sibling, the 250R. The power unit is coupled with the same 6 speed manual gearbox.

Kawasaki Ninja 650R Handling:

When it comes to handling, there is indeed some sweet surprise in store. The updated Kwacker gets a much stiffer twin-spar perimeter type chassis fabricated of high tensile steel which is expected to make it more agile round the corners allowing bikers to pull off increased lean angles. In addition to that the saddle design and height has been tweaked with. The new seat is wider, thicker and has more significant amount of cushion letting you do your dream touring rides with absolute ease. The saddle height has been slightly raised up this time but the positions of the foot-pegs have been changed to give a better stance. The front gets 41mm hydraulic telescopic fork while the trademark single offset style laydown shock does duty at the rear. Braking power remains the same with dual 300mm petal discs at the front and single 220mm petal disc at the rear. An interesting piece of news we have come across is that the 2012 version might get ABS as optional. Now this would be a very lovely addition to this fast machine!

Kawasaki Ninja 650R Instrument cluster:

The 2012 model receives some improvements to its instrument cluster too. It now sports a large tachometer above a smaller digital speedometer, and the display now offers fuel economy and cruising range info, as well an “ECO” indicator that shows when you’re riding with a light throttle. Although, it doesn’t look very high tech but its neatly laid out and offers clear display of all the information.

2012 Ninja 650R Price in India

All in all, the 2012 model is about to get some welcome changes to make the mean green machine more desirable. However, Bajaj Auto seeing the huge response last time is planning to increase the price of the bike. It is expected to retail at Rs. 5.8 lakhs (approx). Make up your minds fast in case you desire to possess such a fast piece of cool machine! BikeAdvice will also bring out a more detailed review of 2012 Ninja 650R after its launch. So stay tuned!.