Category: Touring Bikes

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ICEBERG in India – Ducati Multistrada V4

By: Javed Ali Khan

Ducati Multistrada has a good presence in India and If I am correct, I saw it for the first time in Sonamarg, back in 2015 which was used by a European couple. Indeed, like any other automobile and machine enthusiast, I always wanted to ride it but again, we all have to wait for the right time to do so.

But as far as Multistrada V4 is concerned, Ducati finally brought in the ICEBERG version with electronic updates and new accessories. Ducati has been successful in delivering almost 10000 pieces of Multistrada V4 around the world making it the best-selling and most popular family in the Ducati range.

The current 4th generation Multistrada is an efficient all-rounder and features state-of-the-art technology being the first motorcycle in the world equipped with front and rear radar, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Blind Spot Detection (BSD) systems, Iceberg White Livery, the new semi-automatic function of the electronic suspension for the Multistrada V4 S and software updates for improving the connection between rider and Multistrada V4 they own.

The software updates are available free of charge for existing owners of Multistrada V4 S and they will be contacted gradually through the MyDucati App and via email and will then be able to go to their trusted Ducati Service to receive the updates.

The lowered suspension kit, available as an accessory for the Multistrada V4 S, allows the rider the possibility to opt for a range between 790 and 875 mm of seat height, a configuration that best suits their physical characteristics and riding style.

The all new White Color Iceberg Multistrada V4S with Spoked Wheels is now available in India at INR 26,99,000 Ex-Showroom India.

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Me, Jawa & Yezdi – The Untold Story

By: Javed Ali Khan

I have been a great admirer of automobiles, and by that, I mean literally anything which has an engine and runs on wheels. Such was my craziness for cars and bikes, when I was a young kid, that one day I entered a vehicle, a Mercedes or an impala, which was parked in a mechanics garage. The owner of the garage saw me and my brother inside the car and came charging towards us. My brother was lucky enough to run away but some how I got stuck and my brother had to rush back and open the door from outside. This was long time back ago, late 80’s and this incident happened in DDA CAR market of Zamrudpur, next to Kailash colony, a part of South Delhi.

Back in 2010, one evening a friend of mine, Hashim, shared that a jawa motorcycle was up for sale. It was a black 1973 jawa, UP registered, having the head of a Yezdi. As it was something which I always wanted to have there was no question of giving a second thought. I went to meet the seller and came back with this black beauty. This bike totally changed my perception about two stroke vehicles and my parents who were against buying a motorcycle let me keep it after I told them that the bike is 38 years Old. I used Jawa as any 4-stroke motorcycle being used by people around me. The picture above was taken near Nizamuddin while on my way back to home. I travelled length and breadth of Delhi on this bike. Not only this, I rode this bike in and around NOIDA and Faridabad also and not even once did it gave me any issue.

In 2013 I wrote on my facebook wall (above) that how nobody –  auto magazines, is writing about Jawas and Yezdis and how important they are from history perspective. And exactly a year later #Topgear India printed and an article on Yezdi and Jawa by the name ‘The Last Soldier’. This forced me to write to Topgear and thank them for bringing out such a beautiful story. In return they published by comments in their magazine in the very next edition, as shown below.

One fine day in 2014, I got a call from a person who shared his story of how his beloved 350cc two stroke motorcycle was sold by his parents while he was out of India for further studies. He shared that he had emotional attachment towards his bike and would like to buy my Jawa for the sole reason that it is quite unique. As I had used Jawa for almost 4 years, I was interested in owning and riding a Yezdi. I decided to sell off my Jawa (picture below after its restoration) and bought a Yezdi, a 1978 D250 classic.

Restored Jawa

The day I bought a second hand yezdi, I took it to my office as I used to take my Jawa. One of my colleagues, who had some complications with his eye sight since birth and could not ride or drive by himself, whom I used to drop near his home, as we lived almost in the same locality, said to me that he has been on many bikes as a pillion but the level of comfort he got on jawa as pillion was quite commendable.

My Yezdi

These bikes were so lucky for me that one day I got a call from NDTV CarAndBike who wanted to do a Classic car and bike theme based ‘Independence Day Special’ shoot. As I had a Yezdi available with me and also as I was going to be interviewed, I straight away agreed. The show was streamed on 15th of August, 2014. This gave me confidence and helped me to achieve my dream to continue my passion. After sometime I sold off my 1978 Yezdi to a Government official from Delhi and bought a 1980 yezdi which I recently sold away to another ‘Two Stroke Nut Cracker’ from Jaipur.

The day I Shot for NDTV show

Today, I work in ‘Development Sector’ and have a 9-5 job, but my love for automobiles is still intact and I am currently, by my own self, running a website by the name www.automotivekeeda.com where I post review and news articles related to cars and bikes. #Automotivekeeda is also present on #Facebook, #YouTube, #Twitter and #Instagram with a very good amount of fan following.

Currently, I am looking for a #Jawa, the two stroke one, as I want to do an all-India tour. Want to relive the experience of traveling long distance on a Jawa. Hope my dream comes true.

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Triumph Street Twin Review

Written by & Pictures : Javed Ali Khan

The very idea of doing a long ride is exciting and if you are planning to do it all alone, well, you would prefer a motorcycle which excites you because at the end of the day it’s you and the motorcycle who are left with each other’s company. With this thing in my mind, I went ahead and started my calculations which eventually lead my heart deciding the bike I should take. And there I was, standing with Triumph Motorcycles #StreetTwin and thinking why I listened to my heart when my mind clearly told me that it is more of a city beast.


Well, believe me, the misconception I had regarding Street Twin of only being a capable City motorcycle broke and I am glad that I listened to my heart. The Street twin is Triumph Motorcycles entry level Bonneville in India which is the cheapest motorcycle from Bonneville family but that does not mean that it is less than anything. The best part about our journey was that the bike had not even clocked 6000 km on the odometer. This does not mean that previous riders had not experimented with testing the limits of this beautifully crafted motorcycle.


Style, Design and the oomph factor
The way street twin has been designed leads to a confusion of it being referred as a product from RE but once a look with a consistent pause is given, the words – reference – are taken back and mistake is realised. While undertaking our journey to Shimla we had multiple stops for snacks and coffee which always tasted different and so were the questions which were asked. Right from being declared as a cousin of RE’s classic to a modified RE standard, we utilised every opportunity and made people aware of the fact that it was Triumph Street Twin.


The best thing about the street twin is its naked retro look based on classic theme which makes it one of the most beautiful bikes available in the market which does not require unnecessary accessories to look exciting. The front is remarkable with round headlight coolly sitting on those short front shockers which are covered with a cover made out of rubber for extra protection (pun intended), indeed a necessity especially for the Indian weather conditions.

The brass coloured bend pipes coming out of the engine which are beautifully connected to the silver coloured silencers, make an everlasting impression and forces you to not to ignore the overall appearance. The seat is almost plain except a small step-based design and is the only thing which you would like to modify or change in the complete bike to make your long journey more comfortable.


As far as the overall appearance is considered, street twin has everything at the right place especially when you compare it with the price at which it is available in the market.

Engine, Performance, Ride & Handling


Well I have tested the Triumph T100 in the past and I found it to be a very safe bike as it never forces you to go all out to express the crazy child with in you. Rather T100 was more of a person who has decided to become more mature and responsible right after getting married or is almost on the verge of getting married. Coming back to street twin, the looks of this #beautyonwheels slowly and steadily, first, brings out the child out of you which happens when you are riding this bike within the city and once you are out on straight stretches and curvy roads, this bike forces the child within you to express its craziness by reaching almost 160 Km on odometer and pushing this small but fast bike in corners at high speed.


The only problem which we found was that the soft suspension setting at the rear made it vulnerable to bounce a bit in access while cornering on bad road patches at high speed. So, if you want to test the limits as far as cornering is concerned than we suggest you to do it on a good surface and not on roads where potholes welcome you with open arms.


The 900cc HT 8 valve engine is a parallel twin, which produces 80 Nm torque at 3200 rpm making the engine smooth as butter and free of vibration even after crossing 100km on speedometer. This 900cc beast is linked to a five-speed gearbox which makes it one of the most economically sound motorcycle as we almost got an average of 18 Kmpl while in city and 22 Kmpl on highways. The ride-by-wire mechanism brings enhancement to throttle, its responsiveness and overall feel of the bike is amazing.


The bike boasts of anti-lock braking system which gives you the confidence of testing the potential of this motorcycle in terms of speed and traction control mechanism always keeps a check on the child within you which is always looking for an opportunity to do something crazy. We were impressed by the torque assist clutch mechanism which made the ride an experience worth remembering and yes the access to all the features of the bike through a simple switchgear made this bike more user friendly as you become aware of the potential this bike has.

The Verdict
We will be very crisp and clear as far as ‘verdict’ is concerned. We did not like the seat and would suggest you to change the seat if you plan to use street twin for long rides too. Secondly the rear suspension was on a softer side which made the bike to jump or should I say wobble a bit in access while cornering on bad road patches, ones which are full of potholes.
Right from the appearance to performance the street twin is a masterpiece with very few issues, as mentioned above, which can easily be overlooked. If I have to buy a motorcycle for myself as a beginner to gain understanding about how a ‘almost a litre’ bike feels then indeed it will be a street twin.

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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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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.

 

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Triumph Motorcycles India first ever road safety ride – Jammu to Kanyakumari

By Admin

Pictures: Triumph Motorcycles India

Triumph Motorcycles India has been quite active in the riding circle by conducting customer centric programmes like road safety workshops with focus on two-wheeler safety, spreading awareness through screening of educational films etc. For the very first time they are conducting ‘Road Safety Ride’ which began – 31.05.2018 – from Jammu of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir and will end in Kanyakumari.

Mr. Vimal Sumbly, Managing Director, Triumph Motorcycles India Pvt. Ltd. says, “As a responsible automobile company, it is imperative that we are active participants in the initiative that educates and encourages people to ride safely. Two-wheeler riders are at a higher risk on the roads. The key to safe riding is a combination of defensive driving, adherence to traffic rules, situational awareness, always wearing riding gear and following common road sense.

Mr. Varad More is taking the journey on behalf of Triumph Motorcycles and each Triumph dealership will become a point for safety demonstrations for motorcyclist.

One can keep an update with regards to this initiative via social media handles of Triumph Motorcycles India.