Ducati introduces wirelessly integrated airbag jackets

Ducati has unveiled the new Multistrada D-Air, which according to the Italian manufacturer is the first production bike in the world to feature a wirelessly integrated airbag jacket system

With an intention to take motorcycle safety to the next level, Ducati unveiled the Multistrada D-Air. According to the Italian two-wheeler manufacturer it is the first bikemaker in the world to introduce a production motorcycle with a wirelessly integrated airbag jacket system. The jacket has been developed with the expertise of world renowned riding gear manufacturer and Ducati. According to Italian bikemaker, the airbag is deployed wirelessly only when the intelligent passive safety system, which works in conjunction with sensors built into the Multistrada's existing electronics, feels if the crash is a genuine accident.  

All these calculation, data analysis and deployment of the airbag are done by the Multistrada D-Air system inside both the rider and the passenger’s jacket in just 45 milliseconds. The airbags help in cushioning the impact during a crash thereby increasing the probability of the rider or the passenger surviving the crash. This isn’t the first time a concept of a wireless airbag has been showcased by a two-wheeler manufacturer as BMW Motorrad had announced the same at last year’s EICMA Motor Show. But Ducati has been successful to pip its German rival in becoming the first manufacturer to introduce this technology to the masses. The Ducati Multistrada D-Air motorcycle will be available in European dealerships from May 2014 onwards.

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Kawasaki Ninja 1000 review

A combination of supple ride, comfy riding position and smooth power delivery makes the Ninja 1000 a compelling sports tourer

Kawasaki India has strengthened its arsenal by introducing a couple of new and very delectable motorcycles to its already power packed big bike line-up, which includes the razor sharp Ninja ZX-10R and one of the fastest production bike, the ZX-14R. Last week, we were on a power trip as we reviewed the newly launched Kawasaki Z1000 street bike. And now, it's the turn of the multifaceted Kawasaki Ninja 1000. Both the bikes are priced at Rs 13.8 lakh (OTR Pune) and come complete with a refined 1043cc inline four motor. But both these come in different state of tune, which defines their unique characters. On the Ninja 1000, the mill produces the same power output of 142PS; but it tops out a 1000 revs early at 10,000rpm. However, the meaty torque of 111Nm maxes at the same 7,300rpm.

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Production ready Lotus C-01 unveiled

A year after the project was announced, the Lotus C-01, a motorcycle, has finally been unveiled in production form. But, only 100 of these will be made

After releasing a teaser image of an upcoming motorcycle last year, its maker has now unveiled the Lotus C-01. But, unlike what the name suggests, it isn’t a two-wheeler creation from the iconic car manufacturer.  The C-01 has been engineered and built under license by German car racing team Kodewa and tuning firm Holzer Group (co-owners of Kalex).  The C-01 has been designed by Daniel Simon. He has previously designed Bugattis and was also the pen behind the stunning Lightcycles in the 2010 Hollywood sci-fi flick ‘Tron: Legacy’. His wicked and edgy sense of styling can be easily seen on the new bike. 

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Harley-Davidson dominates the big bike segment

The US based company has not only carved a niche in India but has also managed to outsell competition

Harley-Davidson has done what no other big manufacturers has managed to achieve in India, that too in such a short span of time. Apart from building a strong fan base for the American brand, what is really commendable is the fact that the company has successfully translated this into sales. Its not just fanboys sporting Harley tees and bandanas, but most are also indulging in Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

According to the sales report released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Harley-Davidson has sold over 1500 units from April 2013 to January 2014, out of which 229 units have been sold in January 2014 itself. This is no easy feat, considering these mean machines costs anywhere between Rs 5.91 lakh to 29 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. Currently in the more than 800cc and up to 1000cc where H-D has the 883 Super Low and Iron, it has sold 127 units, out of the total 130 units sold in the segment in January 2014. A segment above, in the above 1000cc and up to 1600cc, the US based company managed to sell 102 units of bikes like Forty-Eight, Street Bob, Dyna, Night Rod Special where competition altogether sold ten bikes. 

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Ducati Monster 1200 S preview

We take a magnifying glass to the new Ducati Monster 1200 S which is scheduled to go on sale in India by end of 2014

Ducati hasn’t had the best of time in India so far. Deliveries of motorcycles have been an issue and brand dealerships seem to keep sprouting up and disappearing with equal alacrity. And as a brand that’s the last thing you need. What people expect – and no matter how small the number – is stability; confidence that the brand is here to stay; to support a customer’s purchase. Soon though, Ducati will have that stability because like Porsche, Ducati is going to be present in India officially and move away from the importer based model it currently has. Some existing dealerships will stay while some might not. But, there will be new ones; ones that will be here to stay.

And, Ducati will mark its official entry into India with a brand new motorcycle – the new Monster 1200 S. When one thinks of a naked streetbike, chances are the first motorcycle that comes to mind is the Ducati Monster. The Monster, which made its debut in 1993, is now one of most recognised shapes in the motorcycling world and has been Ducati’s bread and butter model ever since. 

The new 1200 S might sport new styling but its silhouette remains unmistakably Monster-ish; as has been the case with all Monsters even before the 1200 S. Originally designed by Miguel Angel Galluzzi, the Monster has evolved in terms of design over the years without losing its design ethos - narrow, naked, and simple. The current designers haven’t fiddled with this ethos and the new offering still has the roundish headlamp, which is housed neatly between the meaty front forks and bulbous tank with a subtle knee recess. The headlight employs LED lights, and the S variant gets LED turn indicators as well. The trademark trellis frame is still present albeit in a more compact dimension and sits sandwiched between the chunky radiator and tank. 

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2014 Kawasaki Z1000: First Ride

We ride Kawasaki's new, futuristic and thoroughly enjoyable Z1000. And after a day in the saddle, we think it's well priced too, particularly for what it delivers in terms of visual appeal and fun

The big bike segment can broadly be classified into three categories. The first and the most popular, of course, is the cruiser segment. With their raked out fronts, the low seat heights and engine characters that are more relaxed than brutal, these make for lovely machines to go long distance touring on; mostly in a straight line, if I may add. But, take them into the city or on a winding road, and they can be quite a handful.

On the other end of the spectrum are superbikes. Or race replicas, if you please. These have much sharper steering geometry. And, their seating ergonomics are such, only a gymnast can find it comfortable over longer rides. Then there’s the mind numbing performance and handling which only a truly skilled motorcyclist can exploit. So, as you can tell, superbikes are nowhere near ideal for a riding enthusiast in general.

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Mahindra Mojo Preview

After prolonged delay, Mahindra finally showcased its production-spec Mojo at the 2014 Auto Expo. We take a closer look at the flagship offering scheduled for a June 2014 launch

When Mahindra first showcased the Mojo in 2012, it created quite a stir among the Indian two-wheeler enthusiasts, some owing to its technical specifications and some due to its quirky styling. Surprisingly though, instead of launching the bike even after announcing the prices, Mahindra decided to postpone the launch by few years to further develop the bike. By late 2013, spy pictures of the Mojo being tested started surfacing on the internet thus sending the message that Mahindra were all set to launch the bike soon. At the 2014 Auto Expo, Mahindra finally unveiled the production ready Mojo. The Mahindra flagship has gone through a few design changes from the first model that was showcased a few years ago.

The headlight fascia has been reworked and the twin headlamps receive a separate body shell of their own with DRL (Daytime Running Lights). The tank has also been redesigned with a knee recesses and it now flows better with the overall silhouette of the bike. The LED turn indicators integrated in the mirrors, which were present in the older model, have been given a miss in the production model. It has retained the “gold ribs” (two horizontal golden bars below the tank), which is also seen on the Mahindra Centuro. The basic silhouette of the Mojo has been maintained on the new model and the subtle updates have made it more visually pleasing.

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Bajaj Pulsar CS 400 preview

Bajaj has unveiled a stunner in the Pulsar CS 400. Here's an in depth look

In our run up to the 2014 Indian Auto Expo we had revealed that Bajaj is readying a new take on the cruiser genre of motorcycles. You can read more about it here. At that time we had mentioned that the new Bajaj cruiser will be a power cruiser. And the new Pulsar CS 400 is just that. The design inspiration for the motorcycle is varied; the headlamp and front fairing come across as an evolution of the Pulsar 200 NS design and so does the longer fuel tank. But, overall, the Pulsar CS 400 reminds one of a scaled down Diavel from Ducati.The end result is a motorcycle that looks stunning. It has eyeball grabbing road presence and it is an agreeable blend of muscles and athleticism. We love the way the visual mass is centralised and the attention to detail - for the wheel, the footrest hangers and the swing arm in particular - is top notch.

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Vespa at 2014 Auto Expo

Piaggio plans to unveil two new offerings at the 12th edition of the event, which include the Vespa S and Vespa 946

Piaggio will be unveiling two new scooters at the upcoming 2014 Auto expo, which include the Vespa S and the Vespa 946. The Vespa S, will be the third scooter offering for the Indian from the stables of the Italian manufacturer. The Vespa S is the sportier version of the VX and the major distinctive visual feature of the Vespa S is its 1970s-styled square headlights in contrast to the round one found on the standard Vespa and VX. To distinguish the scooter further, the mudguard on the scooter has been cut back further to reveal more of the front suspension and the 5-spoke alloys. Also the seat profile has been changed.

The instrument cluster has been re-designed to add to its retro charm and sports an analogue speedometer and fuel gauge, digital clock and different tell-tale lights. No changes have been made on the mechanical front and the Vespa S would be powered by the same engine as on the standard Vespa. The 125cc, 4-stroke, 3-valve engine produces 10.06PS @ 7,500rpm and a torque figure of 10.6Nm @ 6,000rpm and would be mated to a CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) automatic transmission. Piaggio hasn't revealed any details about the pricing of the Vespa S but expect it command a premium over the VX and hence it won't be cheap by any means.

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Mahindra Centuro N1 launched at Rs 45,700

Mahindra added a new variant in its commuter portfolio as it launched the Centuro N1, which is Rs 2,000 cheaper than the standard bike

Mahindra Two wheelers expanded its Centuro portfolio as it launched the new Centuro N1 today. The new N1 is cheaper than the standard Centuro by Rs 2,000. The major difference between both the bikes is that Mahindra has replaced the digital instrument cluster with an analogue one, which has resulted in the reduction of cost. The Centuro N1 has been priced at Rs 45,700 (ex-showroom Delhi). In a positive move, Mahindra hasn’t removed any of the features found on the Centuro in the N1 as the features were essential in making it stand out among all the commuter bikes which are on sale currently.

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2014 Indian Chief Classic: First Ride

Indian Motorcycle made their debut in our country with the Chief range and we spend a day aboard the Chief Classic

As a motorcycle enthusiast, one always gets excited, when a new motorcycle manufacturer enters our market and I was no different. Ever since the news broke out that Indian Motorcycles were planning to land on our shores with the iconic Chief range, I started day dreaming of getting a chance to ride it. Well my opportunity came sooner than I expected but more on it later. Not many motorcycle enthusiasts will be familiar with the brand Indian Motorcycles and most of those who do will know it because of the movie “The Fastest Indian”. No doubt the movie inspired by Burt Munro was a breathtaking one, still, limiting the Indian brand just to the movie will be sacrilege as the company boasts of a rich history and legacy that is beyond the movie. Let’s wind the clock back to more than a century, to 1901; when Indian Motorcycles became the first American motorcycle manufacturer.

Initially the company was christened Hendee Manufacturing Company but it was renamed the Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company in 1928. In 1910’s the Indians were among the fastest motorcycles of that era and also set various land speed records in USA and UK. In fact, at the 1911 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, riders on Indian finished in the top-three places and it was the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world in 1920’s. The Chief, the latest iteration which we rode was introduced in 1922 with a 1,000cc Powerplus engine and the trademark skirted fenders made their debut in 1940. The production of the bike seized in 1953, when the company went bankrupt as it never recovered post World War II. A number of organisations tried to resurrect the Indian brand with little success over the years until 2011, when Polaris Industries acquired it. Polaris designed and engineered the new Chief range from ground up in just 27 months!

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Kawasaki Z800 launched at Rs 7.9 lakh

Kawasaki launched its second naked bike for the Indian market as it rolled out the Z800 at the opening of its second dealership in Delhi

Apart from opening its second dealership in our country at Delhi, India Kawasaki Motors rolled out its Ninja Z800 streetbike today. The Z800 will be brought in to our market via the CBU chaneel as opposed to the CKD route, which was speculated. Owing to this factor, the bike has been priced at Rs 7.90 lakh (ex-showroom Pune) and Rs 8.05 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). At the heart of the Z800 sits an 806cc, liquid-cooled, in-line four mill producing 113 PS at 10,200 rpm and 83.0 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm, which is mated to a six-speed transmission. The bike features 41 mm inverted fork upfront and Piggyback-reservoir-equipped rear shock. 

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Kawasaki Z1000 and Ninja 1000 launched at Rs 12.50 lakh

India Kawasaki Motors now expands its portfolio by launching the Z1000 and the Ninja 1000 at Rs 12.50 lakh (ex-showroom Pune)

Kawasaki seems to be taking an aggressive approach to its expansion, one that has completely shaken the superbike segment by bringing a lot of new products on offer. After bringing forth the ZX-10R and the ZX-14R in November, India Kawasaki Motors (IKM) has now launched its naked Z1000 and the Ninja 1000 at Rs 12.50 lakh (ex-showroom Pune). 

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Hyosung GT250 R Limited Edition launched at Rs 2.97 lakh

Hyosung launched a limited edition bike of the GT250 R in a new shade of hurricane yellow and it would be limited to just 50 units

To celebrate the first anniversary of the HY Ryders, which is a Hyosung owners club, the Korean based two-wheeler manufacturer launched the GT250 R Limited Edition (LE) at the DSK Hyosung showroom in Pune. The GT250 R LE has been finished in a gleaming shade of hurricane yellow to make it stand apart from the standard 250cc offering. The bikes would be limited to just 50 units, with each sporting the signatures of their respective owners. 

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Triumph launches 10 models in India, prices start at Rs 5.75 lakh

After much wait, Triumph has finally launched 10 new models across five categories for the Indian market.

Post Triumph Motorcycles showcased their product range at the 2012 Auto Expo in Delhi, the much-awaited bikes are finally on our shores now! Spread across five categories namely the Classics, Roadsters, Adventure, Cruisers and Supersports; the 10 models launched today are as follows: Triumph Bonneville, Bonneville T100, Speed Triple, Street Triple, Thruxton, Tiger 800 XC, Tiger Explorer, Thunderbird Storm, Daytona 675R and Rocket III Roadster.

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Kawasaki ZX-10R ABS: First Ride

We take a spin on Kawasaki's flagship litre-class offering, the ZX-10R to find out whether it has the apt amount of ammunition to taken on its Japanese and European rivals

I haven’t slept properly the whole night yet I have no signs of fatigue, I am up by 5am without my alarm shouting its head off to wake me up which normally is a futile effort. Why this excitement one might think? Well when you know that one of the fastest production motorcycles is all by yourself for a day and it is resting in your parking lot then sleeping isn’t an easy task as exhilaration kicks in which no amount of caffeine can pull off. These were the feelings which were running through my mind and body as I braced myself to ride the Kawasaki ZX-10R ABS over the beautiful twisties on offer en route to Lavasa. The Kawasaki’s litre-class faired offering is among the elite motorcycles on sale globally but surprisingly it made a late foray into the Indian market years behind its traditional Japanese rivals, Honda’s CBR 1000RR, Yamaha’s R1 and Suzuki’s GSX-R1000. So was the wait for the ZX-10R worth it? Let’s find out…

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Royal Enfield Continental GT launch scheduled on November 26

Royal Enfield would be launching its much awaited cafe racer inspired motorcycle, the Continental GT on November 26 in Goa

We know how it looks, how much power it produces and how it feels to ride after Adil went for the international launch of the Royal Enfield Continental GT in the United Kingdom few months back. Still, the fact remains, that it is one of the most highly anticipated motorcycle launches of 2013. Well there is enough reason for all this hype as the cafe racer captured the public’s imagination ever since it was first showcased publicly at the 2010 Auto Expo in Delhi. It re-appeared at the 2012 Expo in a prototype avatar, with the bike featuring all the details to make it look production ready. And now finally in 2013 the Continental GT would be launched to the delight of Royal Enfield enthusiasts who have been lusting after it for more than a year. 

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Yamaha R25 Concept showcased at Tokyo

At the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, Yamaha unveiled a concept parallel-twin, 250cc bike called the R25 which in all probability will be its quarter-litre offering for the Indian market in 2014

Among the glitz and glam of the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show a concept bike was unveiled, which would make many Indian two-wheeler enthusiasts heart skip a beat or two. As after prolonged speculation and rumour, Yamaha finally showcased a concept 250cc called the R25, which will be part of its 2014 line-up of motorcycles. Powering the bike will be a 249cc, parallel twin engine which would be liquid cooled and feature a fuel injection. No power figures has been announced by the Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer as of now but said that the powerplant would be mated to a six-speed transmission. 

In terms of design, the R25 has been heavily influenced by Yamaha’s M1 MotoGP machine and it looks a scaled down iteration given the racing livery and the Akrapovic exhaust system. This will delight most of the Indian two-wheeler buyers who have an everlasting love affair with fully faired motorcycles. One can also notice very aggressive riding position akin to its superbikes, while the tail section has been chiselled for a sporty look and gels well with the split seats. The bike features tubular chassis, telescopic fork suspension in front and employs monoshock suspension at the rear. Disc brakes have been provided at both front and rear, whether it would sport ABS remains uncertain. 

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Suzuki’s GSF 650S Bandit will no more be part of UK’s motorcycle line-up

The half-faired motorcycle from Suzuki, the Bandit GSF 650S, has been dropped from the motorcycle manufacturer’s portfolio for the UK. A spokesman from Suzuki confirmed to Visordown that this decision was taken to streamline the mid-capacity segment of motorcycles offered by them.

The retraction of the GSF650S from Suzuki’s line-up means bringing the Bandit series in the UK to an end. The Bandit 1250 was also a part of the Bandit series before but now is only seen as the fully-faired motorcycle, the GSX1250F there. The 650cc V-twin engine will however survive without the ‘Bandit’ badging and will be seen in the SFV650. Dropping the Bandit GSF650S was mainly to simplify the current mid-capacity segment of Suzuki motorcycles which comprise the naked SFV650, half-faired SV650S and the fully-faired GSX650F.
 

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The New Yamaha R25 is here

Yamaha seems to be on a roll with the products that they are displaying at the international automotive expos. Earlier we saw Yamaha unveil the MT07, the Tricity, the SR400 and the MT09, each of these caters to the European audience, but the 43rs Tokyo Motor Show saw Yamaha finally showcasing something that millions of Indians have waited for. Yes, Wait fot it... The R25.

 

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