Eying a big potential for luxury bikes in India, where tastes are changing from mass-market machines to high-end bikes, Honda and Bajaj are looking at launching new sportsbikes in the country in the next couple of months.

There had been a sudden surge in the number of International Sportsbikes brands entering the Indian market, over the past two years. Initially the trend was set by Kinetic with the launch of the 250cc, v-twin-powered Hyosung Comet in India back in 2005. Then it was Yamaha, which launched the Yamaha R1 in India and the MT-01 cruiser in 2007. Soon later followed by the Italian motorcycle giant Ducati, who launched an array of superbikes costing up to almost 50 lakhs, and finally Suzuki joined the superbike bandwagon in late-2008, with its Hayabusa superbike and the Intruder cruiser.

Honda,Bajaj don’t want to be left out in the Superbike Race

Keeping with that trend, Honda and Bajaj don’t want to be left behind. Honda now intends to provide some competition to the Yamaha R1and the Suzuki Hayabusa by launching the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade in India, in the first quarter of this year, and following will be a naked version of the bike (pictured below).

Honda also plans to launch the Honda CB1000R in India alongside it. Both bikes are expected to be priced at around Rs 9.5-10.5 lakhs, making them slightly cheaper alternatives to the R1 and the Hayabusa.

Bajaj, on the other hand, plans to adopt a different strategy – a much lower price-point.

• The Bajaj-Kawasaki collaboration will first launch the Kawasaki Ninja 250R- likely to be priced at around Rs 1.75-2.0 lakh.
• Will be powered by a liquid-cooled, 250cc parallel twin, the baby Ninja won’t fall in the same league as the R1 or Fireblade, but will offer motorcycle enthusiasts an affordable option.

• Bajaj will then launch bikes from the KTM range – 690 Duke, which may be assembled at Bajaj’s plant at Chakan.

• KTM Duke will be Powered by a high-tech single-cylinder engine
• Versatile, lightweight sportsbike, which might be priced at around Rs 3.5-4.0 lakhs in the Indian market.

• Subsequently, Bajaj may bring in the KTM RC8 -KTM’s top of the line superbike, which would rival the likes of the R1 and Fireblade. The RC8, will be imported into India as a CBU so, will not cost less than Rs 10-12 lakh.

• Bajaj will continue to refine and evolve its Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi.
• Major changes expected on the 220 DTS-Fi are  – styling changes, engine tweaks, monoshock rear suspension (similar to the Honda Unicorn), better brakes (Taking some inputs from the TVS Apache), and revamped instrumentation (which is aging).

So, lots of Sports biking action up ahead ! Stay tuned to IAB for then-and-there news and scoops.

IAB Comment: Worldwide, the economic crisis has made Auto-markets ‘Cold and Stale’, the Indian premium/sports bike segment on the other hand only seems to be getting hotter. This is what all of us have been longing for all these years. What do you think?

Source: India Automotive

Yes ! And Honda insists that this is not the regular change of stickers or addition of more colour options (as Honda has been doing for the past 7 years). Honda is quite serious this time, and people ready to buy the Activa have a very good reason to wait till March 2009. Honda Activa the master piece and sales phenomenon from Honda Motor Cycle India (HMSI) is set to take a rebirth – How cool is that news?

The Honda Activa has definitely re-written the tale of the Indian scooter arena by conquering the minds of customers who are on the look out for a solid commuter. With its first of a kind, well refined 102cc engine with silky smooth smoothness, it worked well for Honda and its customers – just like Bajaj’s scooter trump card the Chetak. Now HMSI is making major changes to its Activa to keep up with the existing competitive market conditions.

Information is scarce, but IAB has learned that

• Two different variants are likely to be launched – Activa and Activa Deluxe.

• Both variants will be powered by a more powerful new 110CC engine. Existing vario-matic belt driven transmission to remain.

• In Deluxe variants ‘Combined Braking’ will be introduced, by which one can stop the vehicle by applying any one of the brakes.

• Existing Activa’s 100% metal body will be converted into selective metal parts, so the kerb weight of Activa may come down – resulting in better performance and higher fuel economy.

• The  Activa Deluxe will be getting an additional feature, illuminated luggage box. Our sources said both the Activas share same looks and  styles and there is no major changes other than explained above.

This Activa will be launched in first quarter of 2009.

With inputs from Wheelosphere

IAB had carried an article indicating that Yamaha is not far away from launching its scooters in the Indian market. Now, we get news that they will be launching one next year.

The scooter market does have its fair share in the Indian 2-wheeler market, 15% to be precise. Honda  with the Deo and Activa, and TVS with the Scooty pep have ruled this segment for a long time so it is the right time for Yamaha to inject some appeal in these things by introducing its racing inspired moto-scooters!

The Division Head (product planning & strategy) of the company, Sanjay Tripathi, told media that the scooter that is to be launched will have an engine as equally powerful as a motorcycle engine, while the transmission will be automatic. In addition to the scooter, the company also plans to launch two motorcycles, he said.

Expect the scooter to have a capacity around 125-150cc competing with the Kinetic Blaze and the upcoming Bajaj Blade. Expect the R125 and either a cruiser or a new 100cc bread and butter model.

YAMAHA IS WORLD NO 2

Present in over 40 countries with 114 subsidies, the $187-billion Yamaha Motor Corporation has been largely successful in other two-wheeler markets it has been operating in, positioning itself as a number two player in the world and that is quite something for this Japanese bike maker.

Right from inception in 1985, the company maintained about 20 per cent market share with three products RX 100, RX 135 and 350-cc two stroke motorcycles. It maintained a market share of about 20 per cent till early 1990s. When the market was transforming from two-stroke to four-stroke motorcycles, the company did not offer suitable products as its peers did. Its market share dropped to less than two per cent last year.

Yamaha Motor sold 1.15 lakh units between January and December 2007 and in 2008 it sold 1.4 lakh units in the first 10 months. This figure will jump as the R15 and FZ16 have met with immense success. And now, the company is trying to recover lost ground, the numero uno position in the higher capacity segment that it always deserved.

The Yamaha FZ16 and the YZF R-15 have helped the company grow by 44 per cent in India to 19,000 units in October this year against same month last year, when the two-wheeler industry reported negative trend.

Source : Sify

The Bajaj XCD Sprint is one bike which we have been anticipating for a lengthy period of time. Bajaj at last seems to have given us a word that it will be here in December. As a result, let me just give you a preview of what to look forward to from this bike which will stir the 125cc segment.

Before we go about it, imagine if it was 2003. Bikes like the Wind 125 or the Caliber 125 depicted how a 125 cc bike would look at that time- From all angles, they looked puny and aspired to be a 150 cc or 180 cc bike someday.

But have a look at what manufactures have with 125 cc in their showrooms in 2008. The Honda CBF Stunner, which we reviewed a while ago, is super cool. The upcoming Yamaha R125 is out of this world for a 125 cc bike, while the Hero Honda Glamour and Yamaha Gladiator are non-conventional 125 cc motorcycles.

The Bajaj XCD sprint will follow the line of bold and stylish 125 cc bikes. It will be powered by a 4 valve, DTSi engine developing 12.5PS of peak power and 10.3Nm of peak torque at 6500rpm. 5 speed tranmission transmits power to the rear wheel. Nitrox Gas charged suspension is used at the rear, LED tail lamps and LCD console are other distinct features of the Bajaj XCD sprint. The Bajaj XCD sprint is expected to be priced around Rs50,000 and will compete with TVS Flame and Honda CBF stunner.

The Bajaj XCD Sprint will appeal to a younger audience as it is more butch looking as compared to the tame XCD. The model will fit perfectly in Bajaj’s philosophy of moving towards 125cc bikes from 100cc bikes. This will offer strong competition to the above mentioned bikes and will quite literally run rings around them provided they price it competitively.

The bike looks stunning but no one can disagree about the fact that this shares the platform with the XCD which is bad news for one prime reason-The XCD is already petite and it doesn’t appeal to a rider who is even slightly tall. This is not likely to go down well with commuters. This is Bajaj’s third model in the 125cc segment after the XCD and the Platina 125 which was launched recently.

The bike will further strengthen Bajaj’s position in the fast growing 125cc segment and will hopefully take it closer to Bajaj’s goal of catching up with Hero Honda.

2008 Bajaj XCD Sprint Image Gallery

IAB