Bajaj launches Pulsar DTS-Fi 220 cc motorcycle

Bajaj unveils Pulsar’s new avatar.

25 June, 2007

Combining an innovative pro-biking experiment with something even better, Bajaj Auto on Monday unveiled its 220 cc motorcycle Pulsar DTS Fi model. The launch came together with the opening of its first probiking' showroom in New Delhi.

The Pulsar DTS Fi model has been priced at Rs 81,280 (ex-showroom Delhi), said the company. The bike was initially test marketed in Pune earlier this year and dispatches for the motorcycles have started for all-India launch of the bike. The Pulsar DTS Fi is the first bike in the Indian market to have both front and rear disc brakes. The new bike will be made at Bajaj Auto's plant in Aurangabad. The plant will make 50,000 units of the new bike a year.

The company expects that sales will rise to more than 200,000 units a month from October after the launch of this new motorcycle. At the launch of the new Pulsar DTS Fi, Bajaj Auto said that motorcycle sales in the next two months were expected to be flat and would revive only in October after the launch of a new model. The company had sold 167,008 motorcycles in May 2007, which was in fact a decline of 15 per cent compared with the May 2006 figures. Bajaj had slashed motorcycle output by around 30,000 units as demand slowed due to high interest rates, it said.

However, things are expected to change. According to top officials, bike sales would rise to more than 200,000 units a month starting this October. Bajaj expects a 50 per cent increase in exports in the fiscal 2007-08.

The newly-launched Bajaj probiking showroom is the seventh one in the country and is an exclusive dealer shop to provide complete biking experience to the customers.

So, what next? Bajaj has lined up plans to develop a small four-wheel commercial vehicle and a small car too. The small car will be a high-tech 'experimental car', say the top brass. The company described it as a Bajaj Pulsar on four wheels.

Now what does that mean? We are quite clueless. Why would a motorcycle company create a high-tech, experimental car that is a motorcycle on four wheels? One, as a concept design, to show off your engineering and design skills and future vision. Two, a motorcycle on four wheels is usually called an ATV or Quad. Surely, Bajaj is not planning to produce an ATV for India, considering the legal problems involved in getting an ATv certified for on-road use? We suspect it is the former, or Bajaj is deliberately playing a misleading game here to throw others off the track. Guess we will have to wait and see

Yamaha launches R15 on 12th June

Finally the wait is almost over, on the coming Thursday (12th June), Yamaha would launch the R15.

The 150cc liquid cooled Yamaha R15 would likely support a price tag of Rs. 1 Lakh and even though the full specifications haven’t been made public, it is expected to be the next performance king in India (barring its more powerful imported siblings).

Here is a teaser of the Yamaha R15 that Yamaha has release to build up excitement prior to the much awaited launch.

Yamaha has kept its promise and Yamaha R15 has been launched!

Rossi renews his contract with Yamaha

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd has announced that it has signed a new two-year agreement with Valentino Rossi. The seven-time world champion will continue to race with the Yamaha Factory Racing Team for the 2009 and 2010 MotoGP World Championships.

The 29-year-old Italian joined Yamaha in 2004 and since then he has won two world championships, 32 races and taken 20 pole positions for the Japanese factory. He is currently leading the 2008 rider championship, having taken three wins and a further five podiums in the first ten races this year. Rossi will continue to race alongside Spanish youngster Jorge Lorenzo in 2009.

Rossi and Masao Furusawa, Executive Officer, Engineering Operations of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd, signed the contract today at the Laguna Seca circuit and made the public announcement at Yamaha US’s traditional Laguna Seca party at the Monterey Bay Aquarium this evening.

Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director Lin Jarvis commented, “We are obviously delighted to have secured Valentino for a further two years. I think this news will be very welcome for MotoGP fans and for Yamaha fans around the world. Valentino is an icon in this sport and he is on top form right now as he challenges to win his eighth world championship and his third title together with Yamaha. This signing confirms Yamaha’s four-rider line-up for 2009 so now we can concentrate our full efforts on bike development and team organization to make sure that we are in the best possible shape for next year.

“In the meantime we have many races to go this season and I hope that Valentino can win in Laguna Seca for the first time this Sunday to extend his championship lead before the well-deserved summer break – Forza Vale!”

Valentino Rossi added, “After so many years spent in racing, fortunately with so many victories, I needed a special motivation to take the decision to sign for two more years. The best place to find this motivation is Yamaha, since I have a great relationship with Yamaha’s directors, which comes from a mutual trust and loyalty. In our team there is a special atmosphere and with this new deal I can continue to work with my crew, where I am part of the project and part of the development of my M1. I had other opportunities but due to Yamaha’s efforts to give me the best bike in the best environment, I have decided to stay with Yamaha for two more years. This contract means that Yamaha is the manufacturer I will have spent most of my career with. This means more than a thousand words”

Honda VFR800 Interceptor to be Launched in India

Earlier this week during Honda Stunner’s launch, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India’s (HMSI) President and CEO, S. Aoyama had unveiled Honda’s plan to launch Honda VFR 800 Interceptor in India, by the end of this financial year.

We take a sneak peak at the Honda VFR 800 and see what kind of impact it will have on the biking scene in India, and how it would be able to carve out a niche for itself, which at this moment isn’t being addressed by any of the motorcycles officially available in India.

Honda VFR 800 Interceptor is a Sports Touring Motorcycle i.e. it is meant for the highways with a relaxed and comfortable seating position, unlike the Sportsbikes that we currently see on the road. It’s sleek, aerodynamic bodywork is functional yet beautiful and air flowing through the windscreen’s central air vent provides cool air to the rider at low speeds and increases rider comfort at higher speeds by offering real protection from high velocity winds.

At the heart of the Honda VFR 800 is its 781cc DOHC 90-degree V-4 VTEC engine, which combines the power characteristics of both two- and four-valve cylinder-head designs. This revolutionary engine runs on two valves per cylinder below 6400 rpm, and then switches to four valves per cylinder to deliver significantly stronger low-end and mid-range torque while maintaining Interceptor’s impressive high-rpm power delivery.

43mm Honda Multi-Action System (HMAS) cartridge front fork provides enhanced handling under all riding conditions, while the Pro-Link single HMAS gas-charged shock does the duty at the rear. Ensuring that high speed touring doesn’t leads to backaches.

Honda VFR 800 is equally capable at night, thanks to its four brilliant multireflector headlights which employ two centrally positioned H4 low/high beams positioned under two widely spaced H7 high beams for brilliant nighttime illumination.

These features make the Honda VFR 800 Interceptor just the right weekend motorcycle for most, which would happily take you to majority of the weekend destination in comfort and style.

However all this comes at price, Honda VFR 800 Interceptor’s non ABS version would likely cost Rs. 10 lakhs in India, while the ABS version is expected to be priced at the same price as the Yamaha R1.

Honda VFR800FI Interceptor Specifications

Engine Type: 781cc liquid-cooled 90° V-4
Bore and Stroke: 72mm x 48mm
Compression ratio: 11.6:1
Valve Train: VTEC DOHC; four valves per cylinder
Induction: PGM-FI with automatic enricher circuit, 36mm throttle bodies and 12-hole injectors
Ignition: Computer-controlled digital with three-dimensional mapping and electronic advance
Transmission: Close-ratio six-speed
Final Drive: #530 O-ring chain
Suspension front: 43mm HMAS cartridge fork with spring preload adjustability; 4.3 inches travel
Suspension rear: Pro Arm single-side swingarm with Pro-Link single HMAS gas-charged shock with seven-position spring preload and rebound damping adjustability; 4.7 inches travel
Brake front: Dual full-floating 296mm discs with LBS three-piston calipers
Brake rear: Single 256mm disc with LBS three-piston caliper; Optional ABS (VFR800FI ABS)
Tyre front: 120/70ZR-17 radial
Tyre rear: 180/55ZR-17 radial
Wheelbase: 57.4 inches
Rake (Caster angle): 25.3°
Trail: 100mm (3.9 inches)
Seat Height: 31.7 inches
Fuel Capacity: 5.8 gallons, including 0.8-gallon reserve
Color: Silver Metallic
Curb Weight: 540 pounds (VFR800FI) / 551 pounds (VFR800FI ABS)

Suzuki To Launch Hayabusa in India

Suzuki Motorcycles India has finalized plans to launch Suzuki Hayabusa in India in September.

“We will launch the bike in the first week of September,” said Atul Gupta, vice-president, sales and marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India. “The demand for big bikes is actually more of a hype. Cumulatively these bikes sell only about 400 units per annum and we don’t expect volumes as well. Along with the GXR we will probably do 150 units per annum.”

According to Suzuki, besides the 105 per cent import duty, lack of infrastructure is also a big deterrent for growth. “India is not the place for these bikes. We don’t have the roads like they have in developed countries for them and it is not fun to ride them at say 70 km per hour,” Gupta said. “We are nevertheless launching the Hayabusa because it will showcase our strength as a bike manufacturer. Moreover these are already available in the grey market so we might as well legalize them.”

Suzuki Hayabusa when launched is expected to be priced at Rs. 11 lakhs. Yamaha already sells Yamaha R1 at the similar price in India.

Honda CBF Stunner Launched

Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India today unveiled the Honda CBF Stunner in New Delhi.

The 125cc Honda Stunner produces 11bhp at 8000rpm and 11nm of torque at 6500rpm. Honda claims the Stunner can achieve 60kmph from standstill in 5.2 seconds, which ought to make the Stunner one of the fastest 125cc motorcycles in India, if not the fastest.

Loaded with goodies like front and rear tubeless tyres, alloys, half fairing and stepped up seat, the CBF Stunner is the most beautiful and loaded 125cc motorcycle in India.

However all this comes at a price, the basic kick start drum brake version of Honda CBF Stunner would Rs. 47,070, while the self start drum brake version costs Rs. 49,820, while the top of the line disc brake version (with self start) would set you back by Rs. 51,655 (prices ex. showroom Delhi).

Technical Specification of Honda CBF Stunner
Engine type: 4 stroke, Air cooled OHC single cylinder
Displacement: 124.7cc
Max power: 11bhp @ 8000rpm
Max Torque: 11Nm @ 6500rpm
Starting system: Kick/self
Gear shift pattern: 1 Down - up
Headlamp: 35/35W 12V Halogen
Front suspension: Telescopic hydraulic fork
Rear suspension: 3 step spring loaded hydraulic shock absorver with recangular box type swing arm
Front tyre: 80/100-17″ 46p (tubeless)
Rear tyre: 100/90-17 55p (tubeless)
Front brake: 130mm drum (optional 240mm disc)
Rear brake: 130mm drum brake
Length: 2012mm
Width: 734mm
Height: 1113mm
Wheelbase: 1271mm
Ground Clearance: 173mm
Fuel tank capacity: 10 liters (2 liter reserve)
Kerb weight: 129kg

BSM Bike Of The Year 2008

Business Standard Motoring Bike Of The Year 2008 - Bajaj XCD 125


The Bajaj XCD 125! The XCD 125 brought a new scale of value-for-money to the volume-end of the Indian motorcycle market. But more importantly, it is the sole all-new motorcycle to be launched this year. Our awards format has always respected and rewarded the manufacturer who puts in the effort to create an all-new product.

2007 was characterised not by all-new machines, but by six other significant variants and upgrades and we decided to bring them in for the awards evaluation. They made the XCD's task more difficult, obviously, but at the end of the evaluation, while the results were interesting, the XCD's ability to fit its role left us impressed.

Perhaps the biggest name in this year's contenders list was the Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi. It led the performance scores, shared the top subjective scores with its close sibling, the Pulsar 200 DTSi, and was the clear leader in the features class as well. And why not, it is a superbly crafted motorcycle, easily the most effortless, cohesive of all the Pulsars. The unrivalled headlamps and sporty ergonomics also won it points.

However, our awards evaluation structure favours the less expensive and more frugal motorcycles. So while the 220's excellent economy won it points, the price tag lost it the biggest chunk of the points. Its sibling, the 200, shared similar scores on many parameters, but trailed the 220 on performance as well as features and economy. But its significantly lower price added to its advantage over the 220. So, in the final score, the 200 actually outscored the 220 by just under one per cent.

Hero Honda had two contenders this year, both variants or upgrades – the Splendor NXG and the Hunk. The Splendor was the smallest bike in the contenders list, and while it topped the fuel economy charts, it scored the lowest in the performance category. But on the whole, the competition was simply too strong. Even winning lots of points for a low price tag would not bring it close to winning.

The Hunk, on the hand, did rather well. And it should. After all, it shares all of its powertrain with our 2007 Bike Of The Year, the Hero Honda CBZ X-Treme. In the company of the 220, the 200 and the Apache RTR, its performance score was middle-order. It also lost points to the trio on a number of subjective parameters as well as features. A handful of points earned with marginally greater economy only meant one thing – the 150cc class price tag would get it the points needed to inch ahead of the more expensive competition. As it turned out, the Hunk's points deficit turned into a minute advantage over the Bajajs, thanks to the lower price alone.

Royal Enfield could not provide us with a Machismo 500 in time for this test, and therefore was not actively considered for an award. But, having extensively ridden the motorcycle, we decided to score it anyway, to be able to pin down its position on the charts. While the 500 did fairly well throughout, its six-figure price tag was a huge burden, and it lost a substantial number of points.

Which brings us to the TVS Apache RTR 160. The aggressive new TVS impressed with its engine performance as well as dynamic character. It did well in the performance department and stayed close to the 220 in the subjective evaluation as well, only to lose out on the features front. However, its massive price advantage took the Apache RTR well ahead. Since it scored the highest among the variant/upgrades, we've decided to salute TVS' achievement with the RTR. Which is why the TVS Apache RTR 160 wins the debut Business Standard Motoring Performance Bike Of The Year 2008.

But standing head and shoulders above the variants and upgrades is the Bajaj XCD 125, the Business Standard Motoring Bike Of The Year 2008. Its biggest achievement is that it brings a significant change in a segment which we've always criticised as sluggish and status-quo oriented in product evolution terms. It takes on the mighty Indian 100cc commuter, with a frugal, larger displacement engine and a superb price tag. It also looks modern and fresh, rather than template styling that most of the segment's motorcycles tend to resort to, while enjoyable dynamics and good ride quality only make the package that much more compelling. Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for our 2008 Bike Of The Year, the XCD 125. Congratulations, Bajaj!