KTM RC200

Launch date - july 2014

Launch price - 1.4 - 1.55 lakhs

The KTM Duke 200 has been a runaway hit in India and now there is going to be a fully-faired one called the RC200. Unveiled at the 2013 EICMA, the RC200 shares many of its components with the Duke 200 including the engine that has been re-tuned to take on the additional weight of the fairing. It also gets new projector headlights which add to its aggressive look.

The engine is the same liquid cooled 200cc mill from the naked bike that produces 25bhp and 19Nm of torque. It has been mated to a six-speed sequential box and is chain driven. Despite the faring, the RC200 weighs just 137 kilos (without fuel) which funnily enough is just 1kg more than the Duke 200. On the safety front, the RC200 gets a 300mm front disc and 230mm disc in the rear with the former getting a radially mounted ABS mechanism.

Honda CBR-650F

Launch date - June 2014

Launch price - 8 - 10 lakhs

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India showcased the CBR650F at the 2014 Auto Expo. This middle-weight bike from the Japanese maker has been created by young engineers for the young consumers of developing markets in Asia and Europe.

The design language of the bike goes very well with the traditional premium Honda sportsbike. It has been designed to balance sportbike styling and good handling with decent comfort and versatility. The front has been inspired from the ultimate CBR600RR supersport. This bike is a part of the new 650 family that also has the naked version- the CB650F.

The CBR650F is powered by a new 650cc four-cylinder DOHC engine that produces 87bhp at 11,000rpm and maximum torque of 63Nm at 8,000rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox with power transferred to the rear wheel via a chain drive. Honda claims that the engine is specifically tuned for low-to-midrange torque and the entire powerband is suited for a wide range of riding styles.

Like the other sportsbike in the segment, the CBR650F gets digital speedometer, tachometer and other instrumentation like clock, trip meter and fuel gauge.

2014 Yamaha R15 gets four new colours

Yamaha India has launched a total of four new colours and graphics for its R15 version 2.0 motorcycle. The new offerings have been made with a view to boost sales of the premium 150cc bike and to create more excitement among prospective customers. The four new colours are Raring Red, Invincible Black, Racing Blue and Grid Gold. The Raring Red and Invincible Black models are priced at Rs 110,003 and the Racing Blue and Grid Gold versions are a tad more expensive at Rs 112,924. All the above prices are ex-showroom, Delhi. 

The company hopes that with the introduction of these new colours the R15 can bring in more customers between the age group of 18-24 years. The change has only been made on the outside and the mechanicals remain the same with the engine being a liquid cooled, 4-stroke, 4-valve, SOHC unit displacing 149.8cc and generating max power of 17PS at 8500rpm and top torque of 15Nm kicking in at 7500rpm.

At the launch, Roy Kurian, VP – Sales and Marketing, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt. Ltd, said, “It has been our hallmark to innovate and introduce products that have a strong connect with our customer base. The ‘R15’ has been a significant milestone in that sense in the company’s history and the torchbearer to introduce and promote racing culture in India. The racing DNA, sporty look and superior technology have been synonymous with the R15 which was graded up to R15 Ver 2.0 in 2011. A lot of thought and hard-work had gone into the conceptualization of the R15 and it has been a huge success for the company. As we launch the R15 Ver 2.0 in 4 new avatars, we are again very confident that this new introduction will help to keep the customer excitement intact in our flagship motorcycle.”

Harley Davidson Street 750

 Price: 4.1 lakhs (Ex-showroom Delhi)

Specifications:

Engine

Type – 2 cylinder 749 cc, Petrol

Power - 47 bhp  @ 4000 RPM power

Cooling system – Liquid cooled

Transmission
Gearbox - 6-speed Manual
Type – Belt Drive

Measurement

Dimensions - 2,226x815mm

Seat height - 709mm

Ground clearance - 144mm

Brakes

Front - Disc Brakes

Rear - Disc brakes

Suspension

Front - Telescopic forks

Rear - Gas charged shocks, Rectangular swingarm

Tires

Tyre size – Front :100/80 R17, Rear: 150/70 R15

Wheel size – Front :17”, Rear: 15”

Review:

The new Harley Davidson Street 750 has not just been made for India but will also be Made in India, with the assembly taking place at the manufacturer’s Bawal facility in Haryana!

Design and build

The bike draws design traits from a lot of older generation of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, but the final result is a fresh and rather simplistic bike. And that’s because the Street 750 is intended to be a blank canvas for imaginations to run wild. But every bit of this motorcycle’s designs screams that it’s meant to be on urban roads.

Right from the skinny tyres and café-style headlamp fairing, to the flat teardrop tank, over the low slung frame and the LED tail-lamps, everything about the Street 750 has a very young look. But the first impression, a rather lasting one at that, is that the Street 750 is a rather compact motorcycle, by Harley standards.

The paint job is brilliant, and so is the overall finish. The buttons and electricals are of very good quality, and none of the plastic attachments rattle away. The seat height is at 25.4 inches off the ground, which gives it a rather comfortable upright riding stance. However, taller riders may have to opt for the additional ‘Tall Boy’ saddle.

Engine performance

The liquid-cooled 749cc Revolution X V-Twin engine that powers the Street 750 is an all new one. And it screams refinement. The most impressive bit about the engine is how it feeds the healthy torque to the low and mid range of the power bands. The torque peaks out at 60Nm, and kicks in rather early at 4,000 rpm.

This results in an engine that is peppy, with really sharp throttle response – but it isn’t overdone, so you can easily crawl in heavy traffic too. Mated to the engine is a six-speed gearbox, which has very reasonably distributed gear ratios. There’s a sharp audible response too, when you shift gears.

There are a couple of niggles though. While the overall heat dissipation is quite good, thanks to the new liquid cooling system and the engine’s geometry, you do feel a bit of the engine heat on your left thigh when you’re at a standstill in traffic after a good, long run. Second, the exhaust note just doesn’t pack the Harley-Davidson character. As opposed to the Forty Eight or the Iron 883, which literally roar when revved, the Street 750 produces a rather docile whirr. But then the manufacturer does give an option to upgrade to the Screaming Eagle exhaust kit, so a better exhaust note can be had for a price.

Ride and handling

This has to be the most agile and manoeuvrable motorcycle that Harley-Davidson has ever built. The higher ground clearance (higher, if you consider other Harleys) saves it from scraping its underbelly on Indian speed humps, and the low and centralized centre of gravity lets you do some insane cornering.

The suspensions soak up more bumps on the road than one could imagine. The travel on the rear suspension was enough to go over some of Delhi's worst roads, and the front telescopes are neither too stiff nor too spongy. The stock suspension setting is spot on, for India. Braking is a bit of a disappointment, though. The rear brake feels very spongy, and we are not happy with the stopping distances. For a motorcycle with such sharp riding characteristics, braking could have been a bit sharper.

There’s hardly any vibration to be worried about, even when the needle crosses the 150kmph mark. Sure, the wind blast is rather unsettling, but we’re guessing that the optional windscreen might fix this to an extent. Also, while the turning radius has improved over its bigger siblings, it’s still just a bit wide by Indian standards.

Colours

•  Red

• Black

Verdict : 

It is well suited for urban riding, we think that this can take on a bit of touring as well. For an ex-showroom price of ₹4.1 lakh, this is a Harley-Davidson that entry-level riders, especially the younger ones, would love riding. 

Bajaj Pulsar 400 SS

Launch date - October 2014

Launch price - 1.6 - 1.8 lakhs

 Bajaj has finally unveiled a full fairing version of the Pulsar. Called the SS 400, Bajaj’s latest Pulsar is a definite showstopper. The company has taken its time with the new Super Sport but have done it right. The 400 SS is a well styled powerful machine.. The new Bajaj 400 family of bikes will prove to be the crown jewel of the company as well as for the Indian bike maker community.

The Bajaj Super Sport 400 uses a 375cc liquid cooled engine that is mated to a six speed gearbox. The bike also comes with ABS for added protection.

A radical departure from the current gen family of Pulsars, the SS400 looks nothing like a Pulsar. The first Pulsar ever to get full fairing, the SS400 is Bajaj’s first step into this segment. The overall style is well suited for the bike. The sharp lines distinctly flow from the dual projector headlamps and merge with the body of the bike. The projector headlamps add a touch of class to the bike.

In keeping with tradition, the SS400 also comes with split tail lights. But the ones found on the SS400 come with a twist. Retaining most of the original design, Bajaj has gone for a set of floating LEDs for the tail lamps.

The handle bars have been slightly modified to add a bit more girth. The instrument cluster is all digital apart from the RPM meter. The bike also comes with a mono suspension system that can be adjusted for perfect ride quality.

All in all, the Bajaj SS400 is another splendid bike that will be a definite hit when launched. Since this bike is still in the concept stage no prices have been announced