Month: October 2018

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Jawa – Pictures of Test Mule

By Admin

Pictures: Shared via Whatsapp

 

With all the buzz going around for #JawaMotorcycles yet to be launched product, things got a bit more exciting on 31st of October, 2018 when someone circulated pictures of the Test Mule of the Jawa motorcycle which has been registered in Maharashtra. This is normal as the 293cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled DOHC motored motorcycle is going to be launched in Mumbai on 15th November, 2018.

If we are correct then the fully camouflaged motorcycle was being driven to Mumbai, where it will be showcased for the very first time, from Pithampur plant in Madhya Pradesh where it is being manufactured. Recently, Mahindra had shared the glimpse of the all new engine in a media event which filled the market and the lovers of Jawa with excitement.

Mahindra is trying hard to keep the price of the final product as competitive as possible and take a bite into #RoyalEnfield’s current market share. It should be noted that in the two wheeler market Mahindra has not been that successful with products like Mojo, Gusto etc.

We are eagerly waiting for the launch of the motorcycle and hope that Mahindra will bring back the magic of Jawa which would eventually give a breath of fresh air to Mahindra Two Wheeler’s segment.

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TVS Star City Plus Review – Specs, Features, Fuel Efficiency etc.

By Admin

Pictures: Admin

We all start from somewhere and the Start is always small, which is good. Even I feel that one should always ‘Think Big – Start Small – Scale Fast’ and that is what many of the Indian motorcycle manufacturers have done in the recent times. Thirukkurungudi Vengaram Sundaram – sounds a bit unknown to many but what if we tell you that it stands for initials of our very own TVS Motor Company – which had a very humble beginning and in recent times has brought in great products like Apache RTR series, TVS NTORQ 125 and many more.

The product range starts from mopeds – one which we will definitely review very soon in the time to come –  to road legal motorcycles which are full of racing DNA. But today we are going to discuss #TVS #StreetCity+ or should I say Star City Plus and how it redefines the competition in Commuter segment.

Design, Looks & Comfort:

A commuter motorcycle, a motorcycle used for reaching from point A to point B, with a 100-130 CC engine capacity, which is low on torque and high on fuel efficiency, and usually, does not requires to look good. But then again, commuters like #StarCity+ need eyes and heart which are serious about appreciating beauty and this is what happens when you don’t look seriously at StarCity+. It is like a girl/boy in the party whose overall appearance does not influence your brain sensors which are responsible for defining beauty to your heart. But when you look at StarCity+ with some patience and seriousness you realise that the same girl/boy has the best features.

The tank has sharp edges just below the TVS logo, looks good, which could have been more eye catching, had it lasted till the end and had not ended abruptly in the middle. But, if we go by what TVS has to say about the tank design, well it lowers the coefficient of friction and helps the bike to easily slice through air, then one can easily ignore that abrupt ending. The side panel with 3d emblem saying ‘StarCity+’ looks amazing and makes the side profile of the bike appealing. The seat of StarCity+ along with that all aluminium grab-rail adds to the looks department. The exhaust may not sound amazing, again a not so important thing among the commuters, but the ‘EcoThrust’ motif on exhaust muffler with all that chrome makes the side looks catchy.

The electric start along with Kick start option make things comfortable especially when I used the bike in streets around my residence and in bumper to bumper traffic of Delhi. An ‘Engine Kill Switch’ may have made the life more luxurious as many a times during traffic signals which were more than 30 seconds, required taking away life from the engine by turning the key to ‘Off’.

The multi-function console of the bike was like a friend who is as good in English as she is in Hindi and is always ready to help you out in your exam. It has Economy and Power indicator which really helped me to control the accelerator and reminded that I was driving a commuter bike and not a sport bike. The console has ‘Econometer’, a term used by TVS to define the indicator showing remaining fuel in the bike. Oh, by the way google accepts ‘Econometer’ as a term but MsWord somehow does not agrees with either Google or TVS.  Apart from this the console has ‘odometer’, ‘turn signal indicators’ and ‘service reminder’ indicator which are again, like the friend I have spoken about, makes life easier.

Also, the colour options provided are 11 and the quality of work is good and has definitely helped TVS Motor to attract more customers.

Ride, Handling & Performance:

Here I want to confess one thing, I have a tendency of reaching my destinations late, not because of being too slow while driving but because of being a bit lazy, until and unless the work has to do something with automobiles. This is where the heart of the StarCity+ which is a 109.7 cc engine with a maximum power of 8.4PS @ 7000rpm and maximum torque of 8.7Nm @ 5000rpm made my life punctual and easy. Jumping from one traffic signal to the other was not difficult as the engine packs power for the city drive but once you enter open stretches – highways, lack of power, especially when you try to achieve 3 digit figure, is clearly visible.

We all know that it is difficult to have that perfect recipe which gives satisfaction not only to stomach but to soul also. In case of StarCity+ the very satisfaction to stomach, if not to soul, is provided by its ability to handle awesomely in city and on highway and ride quality is good enough to keep you seated even while facing the idiotically designed speed breakers and un-seasonal potholes. Yes, the very lack of power on highway is taken care of by the handling capability and ride comfort of Starcity+.

Fuel Consumption & Price:

The very deciding factor for achieving good sales figure in this segment, most of the time, is the fuel consumption and price of the motorcycle. We drove around Delhi and by that we mean literally traveling to Rohini from South Delhi – making visits to doctor’s clinic in my neighbourhood where bumper to bumper traffic and sudden breaking are quite common. We drove in conditions for which any commuter motorcycle should be prepared for and still, the 109.7CC engine gave an astounding 60+ km/litre range to us especially when the motorcycle given to us was brand new and had literally few Kilometres (not even into hundred) on the odometer.

Price of this amazing no compromise motorcycle is something which has helped TVS keep its sales counter busy. The price ranges from Rs.45991 for the base (Kick Start MAG) to Rs. 51770 for the top end (dual tone) version ex-showroom Delhi. All in all 4 variants with multiple options are available.

Our Verdict:

We gave a lot of thought and time while coming up with this article. The reason being that TVS Starcity+ is a great product, a dish which has been prepared as per the book but somehow lacks zing, the same zing which could make it a household name. Therefore, we have concluded about TVS Starcity+ in the following manner:

 

  1. Best Thing about Star City Plus-

 

  1. The peppy Engine with good amount of torque for that fast take off from a traffic signal.

 

  1. The fuel consumption impressed me a lot because I used this bike in 60:40 ratio in city (60) and on Highways (40) and the almost 60+ average made my experience quite ‘Economically Emotional’.

 

  1. The comfort for the pillion rider was amazing as far as comparing it with Hero, Honda, Bajaj or Yamaha is concerned.

 

  1. What more is expected-

 

  1. The bike should come along with front disc brakes. Once riding the starcity+ a dog came suddenly out of nowhere and three of us ‘just managed’ to save ourselves from getting bruised.

 

  1. The seats are fantastic, especially for the pillion but as far as the front portion of the seat is concerned, in our case, if ‘sudden breaking’ is done, the rider hits the tank. Courtesy Delhi traffic this happened many a times and every time I was happy that nothing happened to the most sensitive part of my body.

 

Rest, the Star City Plus, according to me is an amazing product which is a perfect combination of comfort and fuel consumption which is lighter on pocket price wise and maintenance wise.

 

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Ms. Aishwarya Pissay to participate in Baja Arajon 2018

By Admin

Pictures: TVS Motor Company

A very positive news for Indian automotive and racing arena. Ms. Aishwarya Pissay from Bangalore has been selected to be a part of four-member squad – consisting of Adrien Metge, Michael Metge and Spaniard Lorenzo Santolino – of Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team for upcoming Baja Arajon world rally 2018. The rally starts from 20th July 2018 and ends on 22nd July 2018 in Spain. It should be noted that Ms. Pissay is the first Indian women factory racer to participate and compete in Baja Arajon. Ms. Pissay shared that this will be her first international rally and is grateful to TVS racing for giving this opportunity to her.

Team Manager – TVS Racing, Mr. B. Selvaraj shared that they are fielding a new team which consists of first Indian woman to participate in Baja World Rally and is waiting to see how the dynamics play out.  Ms. A Pissay has many feathers under her belt which involve winning:

  1. Raid De Himalaya 2017
  2. Dakshin Dare 2017
  3. Indian National Rally Championship (INRC), 2017
  4. TVS Apache Ladies One Make Championship 2017

The fact that the team will be using Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team’s Dakar machine – RTR 450, takes the whole experience to another level. We wish and hope that team Sherco TVS Rally does great and MS. Aishwarya Pissay tastes a win and makes India proud.

 

 

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TVS Apache RTR 200 4V 2.0 launched

By Admin

Pictures: TVSApache.com

Few days ago the very idea of owning a motorcycle with slipper clutch in India meant either buying a Kawasaki Ninja 300 or KTM Duke 390. But within few days everything changed as TVS Motors announced and officially posted on their website the arrival of the Apache RTR 200 4V R2.0 race edition which is fitted with A-RT slipper clutch where A-RT stand for Anti-Reverse Torque. TVS motor, by introducing slipper clutch, is trying to reflect upon the racing DNA of RTR series.

The introduction of A-RT slipper clutch at a price which varies from Rs.95,000/- to 1.08 lakh, Ex-showroom Delhi, is indeed a tough task for other manufacturers to achieve. The all new TVS Apache RTR 200 4V R2.0 also boasts of well sculpted fly-screen for an aggressive racing stance and new sticker combination for that sporty look to allure more customers and creating a rush in the lane leading to booking counter. Oh! Please ignore the words in Bold.

Carrying it forward, there are three variant which are available – RTR 200 4V R2.0, RTR 200 Fi 4V R2.0 and RTR 200 4V ABS R2.0 with five colour combinations of black, grey, red, white and matte black. The racing DNA is highlighted by the FI  which has twin spray fuel-injection and the dual -channel ABS with Rear wheel lift-off protection which detects and helps to recover wheel lock.

The whole game comes down to one thing, THE PRICE. Yes we are discussing it again because it is the price of RTR 200 4V R2.0 with slipper clutch which excites not only us and but also the prospective customers. At a price ranging from Rs. 95000/ ex-showroom for the RTR 200 4V R2.0 to Rs.1.08 lakh ex-showroom for the RTR 200 4V ABS R2.0, TVS has played a psychological price game which must have confused the competition. And yes this time don’t ignore the words in Bold.

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TVS Apache RR One Make Series – Top 12 racers selected

 

By Admin

Pictures: TVS Motor company

TVS Apache RR One Make series is to begin from June 2018 and TVS Racing – factory racing arm of TVS Motor Company is finally out with the top 12 racers selected for the megaevent. The event is the very first as far as TVS Apache RR One Make Series is concerned and will be conducted as part of Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (INMRC).

 

B Selvaraj, Team Manager, TVS Racing stated that, “the response across the country was phenomenal. This further translated into the number of entries and we were delighted to see new names spring into the final 12. We are glad to have such spirited and talented individuals on our platform and look forward to see them compete fiercely in the cup astride Race tuned TVS Apache RR 310. I wish them all the best for the cup.”

The selection rounds were conducted at the Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT) in Chennai. The selection was open to riders with a podium finish in INMRC or any One Make Championship and only 40 qualified for selection round out of 287 entries. TVS Racing has made changes in the RR 310 by equipping it with a free-flow exhaust, modified foot- peg to provide race ergonomics, race tuned Electronic Control Unit and improved induction system.

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Triumph Launches Speedmaster

By Admin

Pictures: Admin

#Triumph, the name speaks for itself especially when the owners list includes names like #SteveMcQueen to current Heart throbs like #TomCruise and #DavidBeckham, has brought back the real cruiser culture in India. To strengthen its position in the Indian market where they launched around 5 products in 2017 – Street Triple S & RS, Street Scrambler, Tiger Explorer XCx and Bonneville Bobber – #TriumphIndia has recently launched #Speedmaster with a price tag of Rs.11.11 Lakh, Ex-Showroom. Speedmaster carries the authentic ‘British custom’ attitude with a pure reflection of Bonneville’s timeless DNA and features of Bobber.

The actual Speedmaster is almost similar to what it was designed initially and that is why you straight away fall in love with curves which are given in right amount at right places. The #beautyonwheels has a very responsive high torque 1200cc engine. The 8-valve liquid cool parallel twin engine has 270-degree crank which churns out 76 BHP and 106 Nm torque. This gives a linear trajectory to the engine for a smooth and refined ride along with pulling power which gives confidence to the rider. The torque assists wet multi plate clutch system is synchronised with a 6-speed gear box for taming highways and long rides. The motorcycle boasts of features like full LED headlight with DRL, single button cruise control, ride-by-wire fed by twin throttle bodies, road and rain riding modes, ABS & traction control, immobiliser and high Functionality Single clock.

The best thing about speedmaster is the list of equipment which comes as standard –  Full LED headlight with DRL, Single button cruise control, Ride-by-wire fed by, twin throttle bodies, Road and rain riding modes, ABS & traction control, Immobiliser, torque assist clutch, trip computer. Apart from this Triumph is giving 2 years unlimited Kilometres warranty with first major service interval at 16000 Kilometre. Also, the bike has a seat height of 705mm which is good for people with short height.

The Speedmaster has accessories which redefine the ownership experience. Owners can opt for Highway which is meant for touring and Maverick which comes with single seat set up, meant for riders who give preference to its machine.

Riding high on the success of its current product range, Triumph India is expecting great year ahead.

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‘Race to the Clouds’- initiative by TVS Apache

By Admin

Pictures: TVS Motor Company

The Apache Owners Group (AOG) initiative by TVS Apache saw another event in our very own Delhi, the Capital of India. A ride, ‘Race to the Clouds’ was flagged off on 27th of July, 2018 which saw 30 TVS Apache owners from   across the country participating, including three women riders. The 14 days ride started from Delhi and will cover 2600 Km distance across 5 cities and will conclude at Nubra Valley on 3rd of August, 2018.

TVS Apache was launched back in 2006 and since then TVS has been bringing different models under Apache brand. As of now Apache series boasts of TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, RTR 200 4V, RTR 180 ABS, RTR 180, RTR 160 and RR 310. TVS even has its own Apache race series giving opportunity to budding riders.

The initiative of bringing all TVS Apache owners together has made a positive impact as almost 3000 customers in more than 35 cities are member of the group.

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TVS Motor Company Successfully Concluded Apache Owners Group (AOG) South Chapter

By Admin

Pictures: TVS Motor Company

Apache series has pushed TVS Motor Company to new heights as more and more people line up at the dealership. An increment, which was done silently, in the price of recently launched RR 310 itself speaks about the success it has brought for the Indian manufacturer. To improve upon this faith shown by customers and to have an engaging relationship with its customers, TVS Motor Company has taken up an initiative and under this they successfully concluded Apache owners Group (AOG) South Chapter.

To make the experience rich and interesting, a visit was made to the state-of-the-art Mysore manufacturing facility where motorcycles of TVS Apache series are built for customers across the globe.  A detailed tour was given, almost 150 TVS Apache owners participated, for that ‘first-hand’ experience and understanding of what goes behind the screen. Riders from cities of Bengaluru, Kochi, Coimbatore, Calicut, Chennai and Madurai came together for the two-day event which was flagged simultaneously from Bengaluru and Coimbatore on April 6, 2018 and concluded on April 8, 2018 in Mysore.

AOG or Apache Owners Group has presence in 30 cities with over 3000 passionate and like-minded customers who are brought together because of one common thing – that racing DNA which is indeed a unique experience in itself. The Apache series was launched in 2006 and has products ranging from 160, 180, 200 and the recently launched TVS Apache RR 310.

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Jawa Motorcycles – The Legend Reborn

By Admin

Pictures: Jawa Motorcycles

‘Oh Yesssss, Legend Reborn’, that was our reaction when we saw the all new engine, which still resembles the old but dependable, of Jawa motorcycle.  The design of the engine says it all, as it shows the kind of exercise done by the team from Classic Legend and Mahindra Automotive, the very DNA of the original bike is retained. The engine shows that the feedback of current and past owners has been taken up seriously and it is reflected in pure essence. We are very excited and eager to see how the remaining bike would look like.

Classic Legends Pvt. Ltd. and Mahindra automotive have done quite good research and have come out with an engine which looks promising. The best part was that the current owners and also those who once in their life rode this beautiful motorcycle were contacted and based on their feedback and keeping in mind the current state of norms and technology, a product is on its way to the market which still resembles the actual Jawa. The curves when compared with the original Jawa are almost same and the best part is that the silencers are so similar to the original two-stroke jawa.

The Engine itself is a piece of an art which is result of collaboration with Italian engineers. It is a 293cc liquid cooled, single cylinder DOHC engine with 27bhp and 28 Nm of torque which means that Jawa will be amazing for long rides and smoother during city traffic but one has to wait for the final product launch. We have heard that the team behind the product has gone miles so that the sound of this beautiful 4 stroke is at par with the original two-stroke engine.

That would be Music to our ears. Waiting eagerly.

And yes if everything goes as planned, we expect the official launch by next month.

 

#LegendReborn

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Triumph Bonneville T100 Review

Words: Javed Ali Khan

Pictures: Javed Ali Khan

 

Triumph Bonneville T100 price, ex-showroom, is Rs.8.70 Lakh. Now you must be thinking why I have started this article by quoting the price and not with some great anecdotes or one liner to attract your attention. Well it is so because motorcycles like T100 don’t require such things. Also, it is said, according to some people, that at the end of the day one always looks at the number of features provided when compared with the amount of money spent while making a purchase.

Well, if this is your approach towards buying a motorcycle, then believe me you are totally wrong because then you are one of those people who want to buy a motorcycle to reach your destination from point A to point B. Please stop right here. But if you are someone who thinks its not only about reaching your destination rather it’s about the memories you make during the journey which in future you will cherish and share with your grandchildren then please feel free to continue reading this piece and yes do share your thoughts, obviously after going through the complete article.

Attention seeker – Style, Looks and Colour

Triumph Motorcycles are one of those manufacturers in the world who have managed to retain the old-world charm and classic genes in their product without ignoring the technological advancement. First look at T100 and your eyes send signals to the heart that nothing is as beautiful as this legendary icon. We had with us – Fusion White and Aegean Blue and apart from this there are two more options available – New England White/ Intense Orange and Jet Black as far as colour options are concerned.

The paint job, the quality of chrome, the design of tank, the circular speedometer – reprising 1959 Bonneville – and seat makes the T100 aesthetically more sound and attractive as compared to its nearest competitor. It works like a cleansing agent for heart and soul and brings peace, patience and calmness and, believe it or not, positive changes to the character of an individual.

I had this #BeautyOnWheels, which has parallel-twin engine, with me for 4 days and it was only once that I crossed the 100Km mark. I knew a light flick of the throttle would have shown the effectiveness of ride-by-wire mechanism and I could have crossed 100Km mark many a times but while riding T100 you are stopped from doing it. Well It is a bit difficult to explain but it is important for me to make you understand this feeling of not being harsh on T100. I know that we all have, at one point of time, taken our girlfriend or wife for a spin on a motorcycle and always thought that it should, the ride, never end. Well it is the same feeling with Triumph T100 but minus your girlfriend or wife.

The triumph Bonneville T100 comes with 150 options of customizing as per your own taste but that would cost you a good amount of cash. But the way T100 is, the headlight, the silencer – oh they are so cool and beautifully placed, the instrument cluster, the chrome sticker on the tank and every part and from every angle makes you to realise that there is no hard and fast need of customisation at the time of the purchase. This – customisation –  is something which can do after sometime in case you want achieve more out of the T100.

The Calm Beautiful Beast – Engine, Performance, Ride & Handling

#TheCalmBeautifulBeast, as I refer to T100, is a liquid cooled 900cc parallel-twin engine with 8 valves with crank at 270° which creates 54 horse power and 80NM Torque. These are not mere numbers but the reason why T100 becomes aggressive at the click of 1st gear and by the time it reaches 3000rpm the beast approaches 100Km figure with a calm and composed manner and beyond 120Km it again starts acting in aggressive manner. Torque of 80NM makes this 200+Kg beauty act like a rocket and helps you to beat the city traffic with ease and the linear acceleration makes it a calm highway cruiser.

T100 given to us had only 1100Km on the odometer and hence was in neat condition. The Km to litre figure during our time spent with this #BeautyOnWheels was not much to brag about as it gave merely 18Km/litre. We covered around 200 km and it is important to note that 35% of the time we used t100 on highway and a good 65% of the time in bumper to bumper traffic of Delhi. With the passage of time and many more km on the odometer we expect the fuel consumption to increase up-to 22-24 km/litre. As per Triumph Motorcycles, it is because of the new Liquid Cooling system there is an increase of 29% in fuel economy when compared with the older air-cooled model but it is the only reason why riding during summer becomes a small problem. The radiator throws air directly on the legs of the rider which may force you to take breaks during long journeys, but that would happen only during summers.

A very important thing which I learnt while riding T100 was that one needs to ‘Un-Learn’ everything to ‘Learn’ something new. The very first time when you try to change the lane while riding T100, it feels like that you have to put in more effort as compared to what you had thought. To cut it short, changing lane while riding T100, initially, is a bit interesting task but once you are able to sync yourself with this calm beast, there is no looking back and you start exploring more and try to test the limit.

But here is what is important, do not test the limit, not because you are not capable of doing it or T100 not capable of it but because doing so would be wrong as T100 commands respect and needs to be driven at a respectable speed, which according to me is anywhere between 80 to 100 Km/hr.

The T100 chassis and suspension allows it to eat any kind of Potholes in an easy manner without letting the rider losing either confidence or focus. This confidence is also backed by single 310mm floating disc with Nissin 2-piston floating caliper at the front and single 255mm disc with Nissin 2-piston floating caliper at the rear along with ABS.

 

The Verdict

There are manufacturers who make motorcycles and then there are manufacturers who create ART in the form of MOTORCYCLES. Bonneville T100 is a motorcycle which is a #BeautyOnWheels and #TriumphMotorcycles have created a perfect art form which can never get old rather it grows on you and keep tinkling with that corner of your heart which reminds you that there is more to life than a normal routine of reaching point A from point B. Triumph Bonneville T100 tells you that it is the journey which defines you and not the destination.