ABS and After Market ABS in India – Explained in Detail

As we all know in layman terms that ABS which simply means Anti-Locking Braking System will prevent the rear or the front wheel or both in some case from locking up which if fails, ends in a catastrophic disaster. As the ABS scene in India seen recently is available in only two bikes within the 250cc category one being the Honda CBR 250R and the other in TVS Apache RTR 180, what are the options we are left with for the bikes that we use on regular basis that is equipped with disc brake set-up? Before we dive into the available options in the local market off the shelves, being a deep dive session, let’s see what is ABS first.

What is ABS?

ABS, Acronym for Anti-locking braking system, is a complex technology in a motorcycle or a car that can help reduce the speed or stop the vehicle in an emergency situation without locking either of the two wheels or even all the four in case of cars. This is achieved by using speed sensors that is attached to the wheels that continuously monitor the wheel rotation speed and sends the data to the braking ECU which is in turn connected to the hydraulic unit that adjusts the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid inside accordingly. All these are carried out without a fuss which momentarily reduces the excess brake pressure applied by the rider enabling the wheels to sill rotate continuously in spite of the hard braking and all these happens in less than a wink of an eye.
In short motorcycle ABS works by constantly measuring wheel speed with the help of sensors attached and adjusts the brake fluid pressure. If the wheel speed sensor detects that a wheel is about to lock itself, the pressure on the hose is reduced by a complex algorithm running on various on-board electronics that takes care of the wheel locking part. During a normal ride, the rider wouldn’t notice all these complexity of the functioning of various components involved in the ABS system. However in an emergency braking situation which is otherwise panic braking, one can be confident that the wheels wouldn’t lock up giving the rider a taste of the tarmac.

Can ABS System Purchased separately?

The answer is yes. But there are certain hitches in that too! As India being a mass commuter two wheeler segment market, no manufacturer will come forward to produce the ABS system according to the tailored needs of each motorcycle. So, it’s better to buy a motorcycle that has factory fitted ABS system which would have been tested rigorously by the motorcycle manufacturer as an integrated part of the motorcycle itself. 

So what are we left with?

These are the options that we are left with;

1. Either buy a Bike that has factory fitted ABS system (Either Honda or a TVS) or
2. Look out for Mechanical ABS systems 

Mechanical ABS Systems? What are they?

In the Electronic Version of the ABS system that uses a lot of sensors to overcome wheel lock-up, the Mechanical ABS on the other hand is simpler in construction and as well to understand their working. In mechanical ABS, the entire unit designed houses a valve which modulates the braking power taken over by the brake fluid by simply relaxing the pressure that goes to the piston from the caliper. In simpler terms: the excess pressure applied on the lever which in turn travels through the brake hose is reduced by the mechanical unit that site between the hose and the caliper. The same is achieved by a series of pulsating effect that slows down the wheel lock-up time.
As the Mechanical system does not calculate speed by sensors and does not have the complex electronics involved, the perfection of a proper electronic ABS same can never be achieved in the mechanical ABS. However a significant improvement in braking can be achieved because of the mechanical unit.

Is Mechanical ABS Units available in India?

            The bad news; there are plenty of Chinese copies available in the market for as low as 400 rupees, be assured that it is as good as stock brakes minus ABS. The Good news is that an Indian company that manufacturers these unit under the name of SaferideABS has made quite a stir in the braking segment with their mechanical systems that are available for sale from them directly.
The more good news is that SaferideABS can be installed in almost all the motorbikes manufactured in India except a very few which has been listed in their site for reference purposes. 

Got it. Now What?

The installation also has been kept simple in mind that one can purchase the same, go to any workshop or an Authorized service centre who knows the basics of disc brakes and get it installed in a clean way. For bikes in warranty the installation of the same mostly will not void warranty as this doesn’t require any splicing of wires or modifying any OEM part. For Do-It-Yourself guys, there is also installation procedures listed in their website for easy reference. The only thing one needs to make sure and take observations is that there shouldn’t be any air bubbles in the hose that can lead to a very inconsistent braking performance that can never be relied upon not only with mechanical ABS, but even with those expensive C-ABS kits. A proper brake line bleeding will solve the inconsistent braking issues faced.
Once the installation is carried out in a healthy way, the only things one need to worry about is that one should not pump the brakes as this causes excessive reverse pulsating effect that eventually causes jerks, additionally the rider may also experience a rapid pulsation of the brake lever caused due to the excess pressure traveling backwards which would feel almost like the brakes are pushing back the leg or the hand when applied which is pretty normal and the same feedback can be used to assure that the mechanical ABS unit is functioning properly.

SaferideABS in a Nutshell?

• Prevents wheel locking-up in whichever wheel it is installed
• Reduces braking distance up to 30%
• Minimizes loss of control and loss of direction in panic braking situations
• Can be installed in almost all motorcycles manufactured in India and
• Simple in construction which means easy on the pockets too

Things to know before buying a Used Motorcycle

Not everyone can afford to buy a new motorcycle in their fist year of joining a job that pays them on the basis of a fresher who has just entered college finishing their high schooling and it is also not always about new bikes being better than the used ones. Blame the perception here for an instance.

In India although used bikes doesn’t strike the right chord with the buyers as it’s mostly seen negative, there are several instances where a used bike has proven itself a lot worthier for the money spent on it rather than a shiny one parked in the showroom waiting to be rolled down the ramp. Who knows one could strike an ultimate deal for a pre-worshipped bike that has been taken care of, very seriously posing a great threat to the new ones and envy to buyers who always swear on new motorcycles being the best. Although I completely agree the feel that a new motorcycle enthrals its owner with, what would one do whose looking for a Yamaha RX series now? Other than to buy it pre-worshipped, there’s no way around.
Although not everyone can think in terms of business and strike the right deal. There are also people inviting into the pit of nightmares which begins to encircle the buyer once the deal is closed. To be on the safer side for the guys who are looking out for pre-worshipped bikes and as a guide of pointers, let me put what I’ve learnt all these years about the topic that is being discussed now.
The First and foremost thing being the bike itself that takes the centre stage, it is better that the buyer is on his own in inspecting the bike himself for the loop holes and definitely not rely someone who he hardly knows. It is also advisable to read plenty about the bike that he/ she been squared down to which enables the buyer to be more specific about the bike rather than being generic. Some very important pointers to look out for when buying a used motorcycle in your own local region that you belong to;

• Check the Papers of the vehicle, which to be very specific will be the Registration Certificate and the Insurance papers are valid and have not expired which in a case of an exotic like a Jawa belonging to 1970’s might not be which can be compromised at buyers own risk. Make sure the registration certificate carries the correct engine & chassis no. that is punched onto the bike. As this makes sure that the bike isn’t suffering from illegal issues and ensures that the piece of love that you’ve been looking for is pretty legitimate.

• Call up the Insurance agency the bike is registered to and with the help of a little Rapport that you create instantly with them, try and track down if any major claims/ accidents have been registered in the name of the owner or in the registration no. of the bike. This will make sure that the owner is not pushing you a troublesome salvage bike that might have its own legal issues once bought.

• Avoid a modified Motorcycle as modification in India is not as clean as it is seen abroad. Also modified motorcycle can also be a sign of an abused motorcycle that was modified from its original state to take some amount of abuse for whatever reason the owner did it with. Also modified motorcycles will be a Cop/ RTO authority magnet. It’s always better to be subtle than to shout out crying for unwanted attention.

• The frame, forks, engine casings and the fuel tank are the most expensive parts housed in a motorcycle excluding the engine itself. A detailed inspection of the above said things will save you a lot of money in terms of maintenance as damaged forks or fork oil seals or even a leaky tank that leaks once the kick stand is on will again drill a hole in the pocket after the deal is closed that puts a lot of financial pressure to the potential buyer.

• After the bike is visually inspected and when you’re satisfied, proceed to firing the engine. For a safer side, request the owner to start the bike. Keep the bike idling in stationary position. Listen to the engine idle, sharp ears and a good knowledge about Motors will be of a great help. If not pls. call your best mentor in the Automotive field whom you can trust with their decisions and rely them for the final verdict. In general, make sure the bike doesn’t let out too much of exhaust smoke in case of a 4 Stroke and if does, be prepared to look out for other options as a damaged cylinder kit will again cost you thousands additionally.

• If everything goes alright with respect to the engine idle, request the owner to rev up a little and inspect the same. If ok, ask the owner for a small test drive and pls. be polite to take him along if he insists as he would also feel that you are a complete stranger to him. Mutual respect is sincerely advised in this case.

• If something goes wrong or if you feel something is wrong during the test ride, pls. feel free to ask the owner about the same. With the answers given by the owner one can be clearly judge the intentions of the seller. Either it should be a legitimate sale or pushing off a rusted piece of metal.

•  The final stage being the owner and the negotiation part, make sure the owner feels as important as the vehicle itself that you’ve been looking out for. With that kind of feeling subjected to, the owner of-course will be very co-operative in answering almost any question that you throw at him right from the free services availed to the last repair and accident history carried out recently.

• Coming to the negotiations, make sure you enquire the local market price with respect to the year of manufacturing before you offer your deal. Be very polite in the offers and please avoid low balling as much as possible as most of the owners who have kept their machines in spanking conditions wanting to sell do not part them only because of the need for money. They might look out for better homes to put their long trusted steed in.

MTT developing a new Y2K motorcycle?

The Y2K is perhaps, one of the most famous motorcycles among the biking circles. With its turbine propelled power delivery, a high shrill whine noise and blisteringly fast speeds, it definitely made an impression in the minds of any on-looker. Made by Marine Turbine Technologies (MTT), the bike packs a Rolls-Royce Allison 250-Series gas turbine engine, one which is usually found in helicopters. The bike, being unveiled in the year 2000, gets its name- Y2K. The gas turbine engine churned out a peak power of 320 BHP at a claimed 54,000 RPM! however, it is surprising to note that the bike, with its heavy turbine engine weighed even less than the Suzuki Hayabusa.

With 320 BHP on tap, performance was just taking off like a rocket. It hit a top speed of 402 kmph. However, the MTT guys weren’t satisfied with this amount of power and outright speed achieved on a 2 wheeler. So, then went on and brought out a second version- the Y2K Streetfighter. This packed in about 420 BHP of power, had a larger swingarm and thick 240 section rear tires, better cooling system and a much bigger fuel tank. Now, it has been rumoured that the company is working on a new model of the bike and is expected to launch sometime in mid 2013.
This time, underneath MTT is going to use a Rolls-Royce 250 C-20B gas turbine engine with an unknown power delivery figure. The expected top speed is also not known as of yet. Currently, the bike is going extensive wind-tunnel testing to improve on the aerodynamics aspect and also the amount of drag necessary to produce to keep the wheels glued to the road. The current Y2K can be seen at the upcoming India Bike Week that is being held in Goa on 2^nd and 3^rd February.

More details about the working of a turbine engine in a motorcycle in my next article.

Top 3 Bikes To Look Out For In 2013

In totality, the year 2012 was not at all a bad year if we look at the Indian market from the motorcycling aspect. Some most awaited ones like the KTM Duke 200 and Bajaj Pulsar 200NS made waves from the very moment they were launched. Fast forward to 2013, and we have another year ahead of us. And it is a pleasure to say that if 2012 was good, 2013 is going to be much, much better. Although the Indian automotive industry overall is pegged to grow at a meagre of 1 to 2% this fiscal, that will not stop at least the motorcycle manufacturers to land their new products and iterations on the Indian soil. Here is a quick peek at the most expected and awaited ones for this year:

KTM Duke 390

Another KTM this year too. And this time is up in the displacement ladder. Yes, it is the KTM Duke 390. Ever since KTM has announced of such a motorcycle in the making, it has made us more anxious and restless. After all, the KTM 390 will be producing close to 45 PS of peak power. Combine that with a kerb weight of just 136kgs and you start getting the mad picture here! Moreover, unlike typical KTM, it is rumoured that this bike will be fully faired. The KTM 390 Duke will be sharing the same chassis as the Duke 200. Bookings are expected to start sometime in May June at a price of about Rs. 2.5 lakhs (ex-showroom).
Bajaj Auto might follow suit with its Pulsar 390 edition, plonking the same engine from the KTM 390 with perhaps the touch of triple spark (or will it be quad-sparked this time?) technology for smoother power delivery, more uniform burning of fuel and better fuel economy. Bajaj Auto has confirmed that a higher displacement Pulsar is in the works and is to be expected this year. It will surely be a tad cheaper than the Duke 390. Expect it to hit the market in the bracket of Rs. 1.7 to 2 lakhs (ex-showroom).

Kawasaki Ninja 300

This is the replacement for the current Ninja 250. Kawasaki will be discontinuing the sale of Ninja 250 and replace it with something much better- the Ninja 300. This bike has already been launched in some international markets and it has received rave reviews from all over. For the Ninja 300, it is a completely new improved package. The engine is bigger with new pistons, new cylinder head, lower compression, stiffer chassis, re-tuned ECU and what not. Not to mention the improved edgy styling. It will also come with ABS, a feature that was missing in the current Ninja 250. Expect it to hit the market sometime in mid-2013. We also anticipate that being a totally new package, Bajaj Auto will be retailing the bike at a slightly higher premium, but as long as it stays reasonable, it will be well worth it!

Honda CBR500RR

Honda Motorcycles is going all aggressive in the Indian market off late. One of the recent to come out of their stable is the CBR500. The CBR500 comprises of a fully faired model, a naked one and a cross-tourer. The cross-tourer might not make it to the Indian shores as of now to due to lack of existence of such a market.  The engine underneath will be a 471cc mill making 47 PS of power.

However, what can be expected are the faired and naked versions. What is more is that Honda is planning to heavily localize this model to take advantage of the cost conscious Indian market. Engine components will probably be imported from Thailand. We expect Honda to bring in the model around in September in a price bracket of Rs. 4 lakhs.

BMW K1600 – Adaptive Headlight System

With the adaptive headlight system being a very inviting feature in some of the high end cars that are available in India in recent times, will someone think of the same technology in Motorbikes too? The answer is yes; BMW had come up with an Adaptive Headlight system in their new K 1600 series touring machines as early as 2011 taking it even a step higher than it was before. Although the technology is old in terms of its age, a preview of the complexity involved wouldn’t hurt the petrol heads. Let’s dive…

The Adaptive Headlight System in the K 1600 has a mix of both conventional lighting technology as well as high end intelligent lighting system fused together. The Main beam of the bike is looked after by the conventional way, with a pair of halogen bulbs. The Dipped beam is where the high end electronics play a vital role. The Dipped beam consists of a Xenon projector unit which points upwards at an approximate angle of 45 degrees. With the help of a moving mirror system that is located above, this aims and focuses the light onto the road. The reflector that moves is controlled by a series of stepper motors which are capable of focusing the radiated light in different directions. Further these stepper motors are operated by a headlight management computer which takes a lot of feedback from the bike to adjust the levels on the road.
The Major hurdle all the riders irrespective of tourer’s or sports commuters face is to keep the headlight at the same level regardless of how the bike is loaded For example, if the bike is loaded with a beefy pillion the tendency of the rear shock absorber to dampen will in turn affect the headlight throw pattern which will be pointed onto the eyes of the oncoming vehicles directly. BMW has overcome this by attaching two mechanical sensors in the front and rear suspensions which measure the average amount of suspension travel which is the actual compression at each end. The information fed by these Mechanical sensors will be used by the headlight computer that keeps the headlight reflector at optimum angle to keep the light at the right level enough for a good spread on the road which ensures the oncoming drivers are not blinded with the light hitting directly on their eyes.

This is not the end of the technology here; BMW has gone a step further by fixing a solid state, on-board gyroscope which feeds the headlight computer with bikes lean angle data, which in turn instructs the stepper motors to turn the reflector in the other direction. By this tilting of the reflector, the headlight beam is focused in the other direction just enough to compensate for the bikes lean angle which is capable of carrying out up to 25 degrees in each direction. The headlight computer is also fed with the speed of the bike travel along with the lean angle data. With these two pieces of information the computer can workout how tight or relaxed the corner is. For example -20 degrees lean angle at 80 Mph means a much broader curve than a 20 degrees lean at 20 Mph. Computing this data the computer then turns the headlight into the left or right, to light up as much of the road ahead as possible. The same can be done by up to 15 degrees from the straight ahead, and it happens at the same time as the beam is being kept level.

An overall neat touch is the headlight Computers ability to switch to right hand drive roads from the dash at the comfort of a soft touch button with just a down side that the adaptive lean ability will no longer work, which when works will give the oncoming riders their worst nightmare.

DSK Hyosung GT650R and Aquila Pro 650 Launch Photos

Today morning we witnessed the launch of the first Super Bikes in India for this year by DSK Hyosung. Here are some of the launch photos of GT650R and Aquila Pro 650.

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

The Ducati Dry Clutch

As the Italian Exotic super Bike Manufacturer who involves itself in extensive racing believes in using Dry Clutch is what makes their bikes unique. Let’s take a peek into the Dry Clutch Technology.

Just as someone can identify a distinctive V-Twin of a Harley that passes by, it’s even more unique to hear a Ducati pull over. Although people might think that the rattling sound that screams for attention needs serious attention for a tune-up. The assumption ends there, the bike is perfectly fine and what the sound the bike produces apart from the sweet exhaust note the clutch rattle is a signature tune of a Ducati that only a Ducati enthusiast will understand.

Basics: What is a Clutch?

A Clutch is an arrangement of plates that are stacked in alternate fashion, one geared on the inside to the engine and the next geared on the outside to the transmission input shaft. In simple terms the friction plates and steel plates are depressed under the spring load that transmits the power from the engine to gearbox which subsequently transmits the same to the wheels.

Wet Clutch

As a Common practice to all the manufacturers and seen almost in all motorcycles the conventional method of the clutch mechanism is the clutch plates and pressure plates bathed in oil and completely sealed that requires a very little or no maintenance at all if driven under ideal conditions. This is the universally followed method by almost all manufacturers even with Ducati with some of their models like 848 and Mosnter 1100 Evo.

Dry Clutch

Dry Clutches on the other hand are totally free from oil and need not require sealing. The dry clutches are exposed which makes the naked eye to see the spinning clutch plates which is not possible with the wet types. The initial dry clutches were designed for racing purposes which enabled the teams to do a quick swap of the clutch without having to drain the oil. This eventually helped them to save a lot of time and get back on to the track. Although some feel that incorporating this technology on street bikes is just a marketing gimmick, the pleasure to watch the clutch spinning at the twist of the throttle is a pleasure too.

Pros and Cons of a Dry Clutch

As the heading says, this will not be a put off for a guy raring to own a Ducati, beware even some of the world class manufacturers such as BMW use this technology too.

Pros:

• Easy access for repairs. Draining of oil not required. Especially useful for racing teams.
• As the name says the Dry clutch does not share oil with the rest of the engine and thus disintegrating the clutch for a service or replacement will not harm the engine’s internals
• Heat generated by the clutch plates on continuous usage does not heat up the engine oil especially important to note for bikes that uses oil to cool the system.
• Oil bathed clutch creates a small amount of drag which will affect the engine power. Although not to a great extent but does get some brownie points for this.

Cons:

• Noisy to some people and music to enthusiasts, a matter of personal preference here.
• With the clutch parts being exposed high chances of the springs getting rusted in the coastal regions. Peace of mind assured by replacing them with stainless steel ones.

Having said all the Pros and Cons about the Dry clutch, ever wondered why does a Dry clutch sound like rattling of stones put inside a steel bucket? It’s simple; the sound heard is the clutch plate bouncing off one another when the clutch is disengaged.

This is the distinctive sound heard when a Ducati pulls over making the rider to pull the clutch lever, freeing up the plates to knock into each other. So, hearing this as a noisy rattle or a sweet clatter is your preference next time you encounter a Dry Clutch Ducati.

Mahindra ‘Likely’ To Launch Mojo By Next Fiscal

We, as Auto Editors and Review Writers will become too busy all of a sudden covering left, right and center on Mahindra’s Mojo as and when the bike is showcased in any expo. The bike was initially showcased in the 2010 Auto Expo and the bike was a prototype at that point of time. Then came the 2012 Auto Expo and the bike was still a prototype. (I still remember visitors craving to get a pic clicked with the Mojo)!

Finally, there seem to be some discussions and progress with Mahindra on making this bike hit the roads. The Mojo, a 300cc bike conceptualizes the trend of Indian youth, and the design concept of the bike reflects the same kind of mood deep within.
But for some reason, Mahindra had stopped progressing with its bikes soon after the issues it faced with its Stallio model. Now, with the coming up of two new models – Pantero and Centuro, Mahindra has again opened its discussions on the Mojo.
Mahindra seems to be giving a try id they can launch the Mojo by next fiscal. They are now looking out for engine prototype that would ideally go with the Mojo. “We are going through testing protocols right now for the engine. We are hopeful of its launch in the next fiscal,” president of two-wheeler sector and member of the group executive board, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mr. Anoop Mathur, said.
He also added that the company is also making sure that the vehicle is duly tested in all aspects including its engine performance before Mojo would strike the roads.

Mahindra 2 Wheelers is trying hard to expand in both the scooter and the motorcycle segment and coming up with new models would be of top priority for the company in order to compete in the Indian two wheeler market.
Expect the company to come up with more products in both these segments in the years to come. “We want our presence across segments and ranges. Our plan is to come out with new models of scooters and motor cycle at frequent intervals over the next three to five years,” Mathur said.
A new variant of the Rodeo would mark its foray into the India market by the third quarter if next fiscal. Before the end of March 2012, Mahindra 2 wheelers would have also started its export plans. However, the company has not revealed any details as of now on what are the models that are focussed to be exported. Also, there are no hints on what are the markets they are eying on.

“It is our strategic plan to have a significant presence in the motor cycle exports market. We hope to start shipping out our bikes within this fiscal,” Mathur said.
I had also posted a news on Mahindra’s R&D centre that was recently opened in Pune. This R&D centre has been recognised by the Department of Science and Industrial Research (DSIR) and will enable Mahindra Two Wheelers to undertake in-house design and development of engine technology for its motorcycles as well.  This facility is the home to over 175 engineers and designers. The new Mahindra Two Wheelers R&D facility was created at an investment of about Rs. 100 crore and has two wheeler experts who are leading in various technology and product development projects.
The two commuter bikes – Pantero and Centure which were launched very recently were brainchild of this centre and this would be of great use in coming up with the right kind of engine for the Mojo.
Regards,

Yamaha May Lose Its Second Spot to Hero Motocorp in Worldwide Sales

India’s largest two wheeler company Hero Motocorp ltd. is all set to surpass Yamaha Motor Corporation of Japan in the year 2012. It is likely possible that Hero Motocorp will surpass Yamaha Motor Corporation global sales by few thousands unit in the year 2012. Hero Motocorp will grab the second spot behind its former partner and now arch rival Honda Motor Corporation of Japan.  Does this mean Yamaha Motor Corporation has lost the battle? Does this mean that Hero Motocorp is really performing well? Does it mean that Indian two wheeler companies will rule the world in upcoming days? Let’s check it out.

Single v/s Holding company

First and foremost, which is world’s number 1 two wheeler company? Our homegrown company Hero Motocorp always claims that it’s world’s number 1 two wheeler company. Now, that is correct only in a single company method. Hero Motocorp is the only company in the world which sells more than 6 million units of two wheelers in a single year across the globe. The second spot belongs to PT Astra Honda Motor of Indonesia, a joint venture between Honda Motor Corporation of Japan and PT Astra International, with 4.27 million Units in the year 2011 and the third spot belongs to our homegrown Bajaj Auto Ltd. with 3.8 million units in the year 2011.
However, if we take the holding company method than Hero Motocorp is not the number 1 two wheeler company. According to holding company method the world’s number 1 two wheeler company is Honda Motor Corporation of Japan with 12 million units in the year 2011 which is followed by Yamaha Motor Corporation of Japan with 7 million units in the year 2011.

Both Honda and Yamaha operates though various subsidiaries and Joint ventures due to which these companies do not have number 1 or number 2 rank as per single company method.  For example Honda Motor Corporation of Japan has a subsidiary HMSI (Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India ltd) in India and Joint venture in Indonesia Astra Honda (Joint Venture is between Astra group of Indonesia and Honda Motor Corporation of Japan).  Honda also had the joint venture as Hero Honda in India which was ended last year.  It is to be noted that although Honda does not have any stake in Hero Motocorp, Hero Motocorp still sells the Honda engine only.  Similarly Yamaha Motor Corporation has various subsidiaries like India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. (IYM)  in India and PT. Yamaha Indonesia Motor Manufacturing (YIMM) in Indonesia.

Hero Motocorp v/s Yamaha Motor Corporation in 2012.

As per holding company method Hero Motocorp has the third spot and in the year 2011. It was just 0.86 million units behind the Yamaha Motor Corporation of Japan.  Both the companies were bullish about their prospect for 2012 year sales. Hero Motocorp targeted to sell 7 million units for the financial year 2012-13 and Yamaha Motor Corporation targeted to sell 8.3 million units.  However, the year 2012 remain sluggish for global two wheeler demand which made both the companies to revise their annual sales target.

Yamaha’s global sales in 2012

Yamaha’s 75% sales come from South East Asia Region.  Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand are the major markets in South East Asia from where Yamaha’s most of two wheeler sales origins.  The situation remained disappointing in these markets in the year 2012. Indonesia which, accounts for almost 46% of Yamaha’s total two wheeler sales pie is going through one of the worst year in Indonesian two wheeler industry. For the nine months the sales remain in negative territory compared to last year. In fact in the May 2012 Indonesian two wheeler industry was shrunk by 13.5%. Moreover, Yamaha Motor Corporations has lost some market share to its arch rival Honda in Indonesia. The situation in other markets like Vietnam, China and India is also not encouraging enough. Sales growth in India has come down to single digit.

Chinese two wheeler market

It is to be noted that the world’s first, second and third largest two wheeler market is China, India and Indonesia.  China is world’s largest two wheeler market; however it is fragmented between many Chinese motorcycle manufacturers.  Moreover, Japanese manufacturer are fraction of Chinese two wheeler industry be it Honda or Yamaha.
Apart from this China is also an unfavorable market to other global two wheeler manufacturers due to IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) issue. For example, Chinese manufacturer Taian Chiran Machinery Co.,Ltd. copied Pulsar and made Gulsar motorcycle. Other copy of Pulsar made by Chinese manufacturer Chongqing Union Company Limited is SUM200 Pulsar. Japanese manufacture Honda and Yamaha also had bad experience of Chinese motorcycle manufacturer for selling two wheelers under their brand names.

Indian two wheeler market

The world’s second largest market India, is dominated by Hero Motocorp and Yamaha has only 3% market share in India.  As mentioned above Yamaha will register de growth in Indonesia which is world’s third largest market.  In order to come out this situation Yamaha has planned to produce world’s cheapest motorcycle at $500, it has also planned to launch scooter in India and capacity expansion in Vietnam to increase its sales. However all these efforts will take time to boost sales and for the year 2012, Yamaha will not achieve its sales target for sure.
Compared to Yamaha, Hero Motocorp is in better condition to take Yamaha’s second spot. The company is registering more than five lakh units’ sales in India only and for the year 2012 the company has registered final figure of 6.12 million units which is lesser than what the company targeted.  However it is enough to compete with Yamaha Motor Corporation which registered 4.52 million units sells for the first nine month of 2012. Although the 2012 number is yet to be announced we expect the company to close the year around 6.05 million units which is more than 25% less than what company targeted initially.
Hero  Motocorp will have 9 million units production capacity by 2014. Further, Hero can use Honda engine till 2014 so the company will bind to grow in India given its brand equity. The only challenge which Hero Motocorp will face is retaining its market leader position without Honda support which is very crucial to its future.  However, for next two year we will not see any major change in the condition of Hero Motocorp.
Yamaha Motor Corporation will have to perform better in the South East Asian and Indian market if the company wants to regain it’s second position worldwide. Yamaha Motor Corporation has come out with medium term business plan where company is planning 250 new models to its overall line up to regain  its lost position.
It is interesting to see if Yamaha has retained its second spot or Hero Motocorp have gained world’s second largest two wheeler manufacturer spot on consolidated basis in the year 2012, once Yamaha Motor Corporation will declare its fourth quarter sales of the year 2012.
- Mahavir Kothari

Hyosung To Pull Wraps Off The GV650 In India On January 17th

The middle-weight displacement cruiser motorcycle might see some flurry of activity again with the advent of long awaited Hyosung GV650 on 17^th of this month. DSK Motorwheels who is engaged in the assembly and distribution of Hyosung branded motorcycles in the Indian market will be unveiling the bike. It is to be noted here that rumors of the launch of this bike were afloat on the internet since a long time, when Hyosung was under the realm of Garware Motors. According to the rumors, the Hyosung GV650 was supposed to arrive in the Indian market mid last year, but with Hyosung changing hands from Garware to DSK Motorwheels, it is understood that plans took a setback.
Coming to talk about the motorcycle, the Hyosung GV650/ Aquila is powered by a 647cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC 8-valve 90° V-twin engine that churns out 79 BHP of power at 9000 RPM and 67 NM of torque at 7250 RPM. This engine is mated to a 5 speed constant mesh gearbox sending power via a belt to the rear wheels. The front comes loaded with upside down Telescopic forks with adjustable compression and rebound while the rear gets Swing arm with Hydraulic Double shock absorber, which gets adjustable pre-load settings. Braking power is provided by 300mm diameter Semi floating double discs with dual piston caliper at the front and 270mm diameter single disc with dual piston calipers. The front rides on 120/70 ZR18 59W tires while the rear rides on 180/55 ZR17 73W fat section tires. With fuel injection technology loaded, it is expected to deliver a decent fuel economy figure. It is expected that DSK will be launching this motorcycle in the price bracket of Rs. 4.5 lakhs to Rs. 5 lakhs (ex-showroom). At such a strategic pricing, it will be a good hit in the Indian market since a cost effective middle weight cruiser segment is currently void in India. Let us hope for the best.

Moto Guzzi unveils the 2013 California 1400 Tourer

Moto Guzzi, although facing some topsy-turvy times ahead of it nonetheless makes some fine motorcycles on which bike lovers can drool all day long. One such model is the 2013 California. There have been high praises all around of this Galuzzi-designed heavy-weight tourer motorcycle and just looking at one picture, you can surely come to a conclusion that this motorcycle is some looker. Before going into the details of the motorcycle, let us delve a bit to its history. Decades ago, the California gathered a large and loyal customer base with its style and touring capabilities. It was always a sought-after by touring enthusiasts. Even, the American law enforcement agencies picked up this motorcycle for their “needs”.
The California went through its lifecycle being offered various engine options- 750cc, 850cc, 1000cc and the most recent 1100. After this, Piaggio took over the company and chose to redesign the California all over again and make it even better. Result- the 2013 California 1400 Tourer! In total, it is said that Piaggio spent close to 54 million US dollars in the development of new models and modernized production facilities for Moto Guzzi. The 2013 version is powered by an all-new 1380cc, oppose-twin, 8 valve engine that produces 95 BHP at 6500 RPM and 120 NM of torque at 2750 RPM.  Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six speed transmission. The motorcycle has been built around an all new fresh double cradle steel tube chassis. It gets 3 different engine mapping options- Turismo, Veloce and Pioggia. Other features include ride-by-wire and three-stage traction control. It rides on 200/60 16 inch tires at the front and 130/70 18 inch tires at the rear. Braking power comes from ABS-equipped Brembo brakes with 320mm discs in front and a two-piston rear with a 282mm disc.

Kawasaki Ninja 300R Bookings Start In India Unofficially!

Here is some good news for Kawasaki Ninja fans. Word is out that the unofficial bookings of the Kawasaki Ninja 300R have commenced in some showrooms across India. The new Ninja 250R, which is all set to replace the current Ninja 250R in India, has created a lot of stir in the market and is expected to be unveiled officially on March 2013. Although all the dealerships are yet to start accepting the bookings, if you are interested in the Ninja 300R, you should check personally with your nearest Bajaj ProBiking dealer. According to the rumor, the booking amount is Rs. 6000 for booking a brand new Ninja 300R.
The Kawasaki Ninja 300R is powered by a 296cc, 4-stroke, Parallel Twin liquid-cooled engine that produces 39 PS of peak power at 11,000 RPM and 27 NM of torque at 10,000 RPM. This engine is mated to a 6 speed constant mesh gearbox sending power to the rear wheels via a chain drive.  The bike has been built around a diamond type steel tube frame and has a kerb weight of 172 kgs. At the front it gets a pair of 37mm telescopic forks while at the rear it gets Bottom-Link Uni-Trak with gas charged shock with 5 way adjustable settings. Braking is done by Single 290 mm petal disc at the front and a Single 220mm petal disc at the rear. Pricing has not been out yet but we expect that it will stay close to the south of current pricing of the Ninja 250R due to increased competition from other international motorcycle manufacturers in the similar segment.
The earlier Ninja 250R, although being a fine piece of machinery faced the problem of being overpriced. If Bajaj can resolve that problem this time and make the pricing fairly competitive (Bajaj being known to price its products well), this bike is definitely headed to take the lead spot in the quarter litre segment again!

Bajaj Pulsar 200NS Review by Anand

Some call it a bumblebee, some call it a street fighter, and for some, it’s a newly styled muscular beast. Yes, I’m talking about Bajaj’s latest product “Pulsar 200NS”. A bike which stands for the term “evolution” in Indian biking history. I’m Anand, a bike enthusiast from the ‘City of joy’, Kolkata. Here’s the review of one of the best things in my life.

How It joined my life

It was the month of June when I had my CPT (C.A. foundation exam) and the only words that was tingling my mind were ”Pass the foundation exam n then u can have a bike” (Said by my dad). So after the exam (which went so good which I knew for sure I was going to pass) I started shortlisting bikes. Those days I used to ride my dad’s 15 year old Hero Honda Splendor, even though I learnt biking on TVS Victor and Bajaj Discover, I used the Splendor for more than a year to get my hands on a bike perfectly so that I can jump on to a bigger one easily.

A year before when I used to learn, I really liked the TVS Apache for its acceleration, looks, the exhaust note, etc. But when it came for me to choose a bike, TVS discontinued it and introduced a ‘Beast’ RTR. I was really disappointed with it. So I thought of shortlisting bikes (Sport Oriented). My dad advised me to go for Honda CBR 250R. I also liked the CBR for many reasons. 25 Ps of power, the handling, smooth engine, it was very tempting. But if it was to buy a bike after paying 2Lakhs (cost of CBR250R ABS variant approx.) it would had been better to move on to Ninja 250R. But since I was jumping to a bigger bike from a 100cc bike, I never had that confidence that I could control so much of power.
So I started shortlisting bikes those were good at handling, rear disk brakes were a must, performance and a decent fuel economy. The bikes which came out of shortlisting were (In preferential order), Honda CBR 150R, Yamaha YZF R15 v2.0, KTM Duke 200 & Bajaj Pulsar 220F (since at that time 200NS was launched at some places in India and I was really not so sureabout how that bike would be).

Honda CBR 150R

It’s a great bike for starters. Nice handling, flickable, 18PS of Power. It was all good. The major downer I faced was its price. It was highly over priced at 1.4L (on-road). Plus the rumors surrounding the non-availability of CBR spare parts restricted me from buying it.

KTM Duke 200

The Duke of street bikes; a fun to ride machine, the refined KTM engine, full digital console, and the sexy trellis frame, the orange machine grabs attention of everyone on the road. The bike can be considered the best when it comes to performance, but comfort? Duke wasn’t up to the mark. Plus the light machine, the power to weight ration king had too much of power in it to make me confident about it. It was also priced almost same as the CBR 150R.

Yamaha YZF R15 v2.0

This is the bike which has got the super sport looks to die for. Its styling inspired from its elder siblings was very aggressive and one of the best present in India (for those who want to taste a track machine). I myself prefer the faired bikes like this than any other kind. But I guess it didn’t please my parents that much. The super leaning seating posture, high raised pillion seat, even lack of grab rails, made them go against it. After a long argument in which i failed to convince them, I had to drop the option.

Pulsar 220F vs. Pulsar 200NS

So the only choice I was left with was Pulsar 220F. It was priced nicely, was a good performer. It was a nice option, but my father was still against it because it was quite outdated, and advised me for 200NS. Then the long tussle over the two products, which one is the better one, hovered over my mind (which I saw many people were facing). My friends also started forcing to take it. Then one day when I was surfing over pages saw a Delhi boy’s mileage figure (shared of his 200NS) to be 45kmpl.

I was really astonished to see it as for a 200cc bike, it was really surprising. It gave more mileage than all of the bikes I shortlisted which meant I can ride it even more without worrying about the fuel prices. I quickly read about the KTM inspired triple spark engine Bajaj invented and thought it was worth giving a try. I saw many bike reviews and videos by them (one of which really influenced me was of the “Power to the Rider” ) and made me realize that the bike was really a blast and maybe I’m wrong about the way I think about it (Like it stand no where against to 220F n all).
Then the day came when I came to know that 200NS is launched in rest of India. I quickly went to the showroom to have a look at it, and there it stood, a big muscular yellow NS. I looked at the specs the bike and everything seemed good to me. I asked for a test drive and they were kind enough to let my try the yellow beast. The bike drove me crazy the moment i released its clutch. Everything in the bike was according to my needs. One cannot feel the power as a raw brute force, its rather more like a polished creature, which i didn’t find it difficult to control.
The mileage figure quoted by them was 35-40 kmpl in city, which was like other shortlisted bikes of mine so it really didn’t bother anyone in my family too. So I went directly to the main dealer (Since he quoted the cheapest price for it) and booked my NS in blue color. I was given a waiting period of 25 days min but they said they’ll call it in evening and tell the date when I can get it. I happily returned home and as I reached, they called and asked me the blue color has arrived and whether I can take delivery today?
I was very excited. The following day I went to the showroom and took the delivery (Costed me @95500 plus 900 for registration which was way low in costing when compared with other bikes i shortlisted) & as I rolled down the streets, I got the amazing feeling of a headturner (Mine was one of bikes that came in the first lot, so people were kind of watching the bike for the first time).

Looks and Styling

The CB1000R inspired headlamp, pressed steel perimeter frame, sleeker tail, fatter rear tyre gives it a stunning naked street-fighter’s look. The bike has also got a huge muscular tank which adds to the look of the bike. I mean if the 220F looked a beauty due to the Ducati 749 styled headlamp, I’ll say it’s the muscles on this bike that makes it best looking Pulsar ever.

The bike has got a new digital console as well which provides more info than the previous one and looks cleaner and better than it too. The few downers in its styling are rear tyre hugger which splashes a lot of mud especially on the pillion rider (If there’s any). Then it’s the height of the bike, its high for a short heighted person to drive. It also makes it difficult for the pillion rider to mount on the bike. But other than it Edgar Heinrich (The one who designed it) has done a great job. Almost nothing is similar to the older generation except the pulsar speedlines which made it look similar to the pulsar brand.

Performance and Breaking

The 4-valve triple spark liquid cooled engine delivers 23.52 Ps of Power @ 9500 rpm & 18.3 Nm of Torque @ 8000 rpm and weighs about 145 kgs which gives it an impressive power to weight ratio of 162 Ps/ton. The bike achieves 60kmph at just 3.61s and 100kmph at 9.83s (Company claimed). It’s got 280 mm & 230 mm Bybre front and rear petal disks with floating calipers. They work like a charm and stops the bike smoothly irrespective of what speed you are driving at. But as far as the tyres are concerned, they are really not up to the mark.

Handling and Comfort

Coming to the handling, the perimeter frame and stiff suspension along with the underbelly exhaust (which helps a lot in mass centralization) allows u to take corners beautifully. Many people often complain about older generation Pulsars or even Pulsar 220’s weak fairing, which made one feel like a ping pong ball, the perimeter frame gives you the confidence of cornering like an experienced track rider. But when it comes to off-roading, the stiff suspension will be a pain in your butt. But the bike stays stable on those conditions as well pleasantly makes its way through it. The 200NS with its upright seating posture is quite comfortable. Seats are also well padded and are comfortable on long rides as well.

Mileage

It gives me a mileage of 40-43kmpl on an average.
Small Downers of the Bike
1. The horns are very weak, especially for highway riding.

2. Eurogrip tyres aren’t good enough, Replacing it with a set of Pirellis will be great.

3. Height of the bike is high n can be a problem for medium built guys, also it requires a lot of effort for the pillion to mount on the bike like the R15 v2.0.
As far as I hope one cannot find any more downers other than these because otherwise the bike is great.

The Verdict

After using this bike since 24th August, I never felt that i have made a wrong decision by choosing it than the other bikes (even tough its a non faired bike, but its got the styling which would make you forget about it). The Pulsar 200NS has truly come out as a Next-gen Pulsar. The value for money machine can easily attract anyone from taking other biggies of the market from the package its offering at such a low price. We can now say that it’s going to be hard for other manufacturers to compete against it in the market too. Overall the Engine Smoothness, Linear Power Delivery, Exhaust Note, Styling, Handling, it excels in all of them when compared to the older generation pulsars. Hence, one can say without hesitating that it is “The Best Pulsar Yet”..
Regards,

Anand

California Superbike School Is Back Again!

This bit of news excited all of us motorcycle enthusiasts. And it’s this- the California Superbike School is back to India! The California Superbike School already had 3 successful year stints in India in the past at the MMRT Chennai track and it is here again for the 4^th time at the same venue.

California Superbike School first arrived in India back in 2010 in India which also marked the school’s very first foray into South East Asia and we have one special man to thank for that, Mr. TT Varadarajan. He spearheaded the entire operation of bringing the California Superbike School to India and has been very proud of its success and growth story over the years.
Mr. Varadarajan  comments, “We brought the school to India to satisfy two main goals: One is to provide the right skill sets that are necessary to perform at the highest level of motorsport to talented youngsters who do not have access to world class training. The other is to improve the riding skills of every motorcycle rider to make him/her conscious of safe riding practices, which is the responsibility of any motorcycle rider on the road.” The California Superbike School is supported by TVS Motors and BMW Motorrad, wherein TVS supplies the participants with track-ready Apache RTR 180 bikes while BMW Motorrad provides the coaches and instructors with its litre-class displacement bike, the BMW S1000RR.
The California Superbike School was founded in 1980 by Keith Code and since then the School has trained over 1.5 lakh riders in 27 countries which includes riders in MotoGP, World Superbikes (WSBK) and other road-racing series. This year, the lead instructor for the Indian edition of California Superbike School is Joe Roberts, a 15 year old personally trained by Keith Code and a front-runner in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The 2013 edition of the India California Superbike School commences from 18^th to 20^th January, followed by another on 25^th-27^th January. So you better hurry!

Bajaj Coming Up With A New Scooter

Bajaj Auto had been the erstwhile ruler in the scooter space post Independence for decades and decades. So much so that the tagline, “Humara Bajaj” had become a household tagline. These scooters were built for quality and robustness and had an infinite life cycle! Some of these survived ages without any signs of malfunction, a thing that the modern day two wheelers can never able to match up.
However, with the advent of low-cost Japanese motorcycles, the scooter market died down very soon with people making a quick shift to 100cc motorcycles. Bajaj Auto thought it was time they made the switch too and thus ended the long standing classic scooter market.
However, Bajaj Auto might be having some revival plans to re-launch its scooter market chapter in India. Let us not forget here that the company already has vast and extensive knowledge of building scooters, after all this company put India on 2 wheels! Bajaj Auto is just looking at the right time and opportunity to take the leap. This was stated by Bajaj Auto CEO and MD, Mr. Rajiv Bajaj. Currently, the R&D officials are burning the midnight oil to build the motorcycle. It is rumored that the bike will be powered by 125-150cc displacement engine with good economy and performance figures. We are expecting a tuned version of the Discover 125ST engine to go underneath this scooter. Other features may include telescopic fork front suspension, an electric start and automatic transmission. The scooter segment is again witnessing a boom in the Indian market and the time is ripe for the company to come out with such a product.
We expect Bajaj to be very competitive with its pricing and the competition is also too tough in this segment with Japanese manufacturers like Honda and Yamaha ruling the roost.

Bajaj’s new 100cc motorcycle to be launched on January 7th

Bajaj’s new 100cc motorcycle to be launched on January 7th:
Original Source: Bajaj’s new 100cc motorcycle to be launched on January 7th from BikeAdvice.in

Bajaj has long focused on the performance motorcycling segment. It’s been quite a lull time for the company in the 100cc segment game. But, the storm is about to unveil on January 7^th. According to the media reports that got leaked long back, the company has been working on something very high-tech on their next 100cc commuter motorcycle. Bajaj officials confirmed those reports later with a positive note. Even Mr. Rajiv Bajaj threw some hint on such a motorcycle being in the works at Bajaj’s R&D center in Pune. The company claims that the upcoming motorcycle is going to be the most technologically advanced commuter motorcycle till date in India.
But on the other hand, so much technology loaded to a commuter bike would also make it very expensive. Apparently, this bike is indeed going to be expensive compared to its rivals in the same category but Bajaj feels differently. The company is of the opinion that it is the right time for such a motorcycle to be launched in the market and buyers will surely love it. Any more specific details about the motorcycle is yet to be revealed. Whether it will be on the lines of Discover or on the existing 100cc commuter bike, Platina will also be answered on 7^th. Unfortunately, till then we will have to wait and watch. But if Bajaj indeed lives up to its claims, then it will definitely be worth the wait.

Bajaj Auto Ltd. Launches New Discover 100T at Rs.50,500

Bajaj Auto Ltd. Launches New Discover 100T at Rs.50,500:
Original Source: Bajaj Auto Ltd. Launches New Discover 100T at Rs.50,500 from BikeAdvice.in
India’s second largest motorcycle manufacturer Bajaj Auto Ltd. today have launched a new 100 cc mass market motorcycle the “Discover 100T” at a premium price of Rs.50,500 Ex-Showroom New Delhi. The newly launched bike is set to take on Hero Moto Corp’s Passion, its variants and Honda’s hot selling current commuter’s trend the “Dream Yuga”. The introduction of this new Motorcycle will allow Bajaj to increase its market space which is currently 20 percent in the overall mass market commuter segment.
The Discover 100T is powered by Bajaj Auto’s patented 4-Valve DTS-i technology. The bike churns out a sweet 10.2 ps of power and is currently 30 percent more powerful than the other competitor products offered in the market. In short the Discover 100T delivers power of a 125 cc Motorcycle with an astonishing mileage of a 100 cc addressed K.Srinivas, president of Motorcycle business at Bajaj Auto.
Bajaj Auto says that the current mass market segment wherein 5.5 lakh units are sold every month is getting further dissected into sub-segments namely A1, wherein bikes like platina and Hero HF are sold between Rs.36,000 to Rs.40,000. The A2 Segment has motorcycles like Hero Splendor, Passion and the discover 100 from Rs.41,000 to Rs.45,000. The A3 Segment has motorcycles like Dream Yuga from Honda and Passion pro from Hero Moto corp which are priced between Rs.46000 to Rs.51000.
The newly Launched Discover 100T is positioned in this A3 segment where there is no product from Bajaj’s stable is available. With the launch of Discover 100T, Bajaj is planning to increase its market share in the segment to 30 percent within a couple of years.
Bajaj also informed that the currently launched model has been developed with a minimal expenditure of Rs. 5 to 6 Crore which is also based on all new Discover platform. The company is also planning to introduce one more motorcycle on this same platform in the calendar year 2013.