Page 3 - Bikes

Piaggio to boost premium play; enters bike segment with Aprilia RS 457

Italy's Piaggio Group aims to enhance its presence in the premium two-wheeler segment in India, as more and more customers seek feature-rich options for mobility requirements, according to a top company executive. The company, which is present in India through a wholly-owned subsidiary -- Piaggio Vehicles, has forayed into the growing mid-size bike segment by unveiling Aprilia RS 457. The company already sells five premium scooter models under Aprilia and Vespa brands, in the country. "What we have seen is that more and more customers are seeking something more to satisfy their need for mobility. They are looking for feature-rich models, a trend which is already there in various countries," Piaggio Vehicles Chairman and MD Diego Graffi said. There is an increase in expectations of Indian consumers as they seek more than just a vehicle to commute from one place to another, he added. He noted that demand for premium products has been on a rise in the country. Graffi said the compan

Entry-level bike buyers unlikely to return soon, says Bajaj Auto MD

Buyers at "the bottom of the pyramid" who were hit by the Covid pandemic, job losses and rising petrol price, are not coming back, Bajaj said

Apollo Hospitals ties up with MotoGP Bharat to provide medical support

Apollo Hospitals on Monday said it has tied up with MotoGP Bharat Grand Prix to provide medical support for the event. The capital-based Indraprastha Apollo Hospital would provide support for the first-ever MotoGP event in India to be held between September 22-24 at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. "This partnership is a testament to the diverse strengths that Apollo has to offer to the world," Apollo Hospitals Group Chairman Prathap C Reddy said in a statement. While the hospital's expertise in hospital-based care is well recognised, expertise in handling complex and critical medical conditions that can arise in the world of motorsports is equal if not better, he added. Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals is a joint venture between the Government of Delhi and Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.

MotoGP Bharat 2023: Schedule, Tickets Price, Registration and Participants

India is set to organise its first-ever Grand Prix, MotoGP Bharat 2023, from September 22 to 24. The three-day event will take place at Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Except Assam, north-eastern states lag CMVR implementation: Dealers' body

Barring Assam, other northeastern states are "lagging" in implementing rules about paperless and online registration of vehicles, an automobile dealers' body claimed on Saturday. It urged all states in the regions to expedite the implementation of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) for these online services aimed at easing the procedure for customers as well as dealers. While some states like Assam are doing commendable work in implementing CMVR, others are still lagging. It should be understood that the rules are framed to make it convenient for customers as well as for dealers, Federation of Automobile Dealers' Associations CEO Saharash Damani said at a press conference here. Sharing the status of CMVR implementation in six northeastern states, he said Assam has achieved it in all six parameters, from online issues of registration marks to digitally granting trade licences to doing away with the need for vehicles to be inspected or documents to be sent to regional transport ..

Royal Enfield to launch Bullet 350 today, check price, variants, and more

Royal Enfield's latest model Bullet 350 is set to launch in India today, September 1, 2023. The all-new Bullet 350 will come with a new digital-analogue instrument cluster equipped with an LCD screen

Hero Karizma XMR 210 launches today, check price, specification and more

Hero Karizma is back with its XMR 210, the company is launching the motorcycle in its new avatar today, originally launched in India in the mid-2000s and survived till the late 2010s

Domestic PV wholesales rise 2.94% YoY in July at 302,521 units: SIAM

Domestic passenger vehicles wholesales registered a 2.94 per cent year-on-year increase in July at 3,02,521 units, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said on Thursday. As per the latest data issued by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), dispatches of passenger vehicles (PVs) from manufacturers to dealers were at 2,93,865 units in July 2022. Two-wheeler domestic wholesales were down at 12,82,054 units last month, as against 13,81,303 units in July 2022. Three-wheeler wholesales were higher at 56,034 units, as compared to 31,324 units in the year-ago month. Total vehicle dispatches across categories were at 16,40,727 units, as compared to 17,06,545 units in July 2022, SIAM said. "Though the passenger vehicle and three-wheeler segments are performing well, there has been a de-growth of two-wheelers in July 2023, compared to July 2022. "Overall, we expect that the positive economic environment, good monsoons, and upcoming festive season will support ...

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India launches new bike SP160 at Rs 1.17 lakh

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) on Tuesday said it has launched the all-new bike SP160 in the country with price starting at Rs 1.17 lakh (ex-showroom). The 160cc-bike comes in two trims tagged at Rs 1.17 lakh and Rs 1.21 lakh respectively. "We are delighted to extend the legacy of brand SP a notch higher and introduce the all new SP160. This sporty motorcycle is a representation of cutting-edge engineering and advanced innovation that is sure to fulfill the customer expectations," HMSI Managing Director, President & CEO Tsutsumu Otani said in a statement. The company said the motorcycle comes with various features including engine stop switch for convenience during brief stops and high ground clearance, the company said.

Harley-Davidson banks on Hero Moto partnership to push premium bike sales

With high customs duty impeding sales of its imported big bikes in India, Harley-Davidson is banking on the partnership with Hero MotoCorp to offer locally-produced premium models in the country, according to company's Chairman, President and CEO Jochen Zeitz. India imposes 50 per cent customs duty on imported fully built up bikes, which makes the American cult bike-maker feel that partnering with Hero has turned out to be a good decision after deciding to exit its manufacturing operations in India three years back. In an interaction with PTI, Zeitz noted that the tie-up with Hero MotoCorp is allowing the Milwaukee-based bike maker to go for "volume opportunities" by introducing a competitive product in the Indian market. "And (there is) a lot of upside with much greater manufacturing capability that Hero brings in and the willingness to invest into the business, to really build us up as a brand. So, I would say it is the right decision," he said. Zeitz noted that the company woul

Bajaj-Triumph, Hero-Harley entry shifts premium bike race into top gear

Royal Enfield is also the undisputed leader in the 250cc-350cc segment, virtually owning the market at a whopping 94 per cent share

Commuter bike market in cruise mode; uncertainties may put brakes on growth

An uncertain rural recovery, stringent emission standards, and high financing costs could put the brakes on faster growth in FY24

Orxa Energies inaugurates new facility ahead of electric bike launch

The announcement comes ahead of the launch of Mantis, the company's flagship electric performance motorcycle. It is expected to be available for bookings by the end of this year

Hero MotoCorp set to roll out record number of products this year: CEO

Hero MotoCorp is gearing up for highest ever model introductions this fiscal as it looks to consolidate market share especially in the premium bike segment, according to the company's CEO Niranjan Gupta. The country's largest two-wheeler maker plans to introduce new bikes, including the first product under the Hero MotoCorp-Harley Davidson tie-up, during the ongoing financial year. The company has leadership in the budget bike segment (100-110cc) and is looking to enhance presence in the 125 cc and also drive in models to bring in volumes and enhance profitability in the 160-cc and above space. "We'll have product launches every quarter of this fiscal year. Probably this fiscal, we'll see the maximum number of launches ever seen in the company's history," Gupta said in an analyst call. The company is bullish on growth prospects this year with plans to further enhance its market share across segments, he noted. "We are excited about the fiscal and expect to build on our market shar

Electric bikes are breaking through in Germany, Europe's carmaking capital

Battery-powered two-wheelers will outsell traditional bikes in Germany for the first time in 2023, according to projections from the country's industry group

KTM India launched a more accessible 390 Adventure V with low seat variant

KTM India is set to launch its new 390 Adventure V for short riders. The height of the bike significantly dropped to 830 mm from 855 mm

Harley sees 37% rise in profit boosted by higher demand for popular bikes

The manufacturer also benefited from pent-up demand as COVID-exhausted Americans were eager to hit the roads on cars and motorcycles

HMSI recalls around 2K CB300R bike units due to manufacturing fault

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India on Friday said it is recalling around 2,000 CB300R bike units due to a manufacturing fault in the right crankcase cover of the engine. The voluntary recall covers the 2022 model of the CB300R. The company has identified that due to an inappropriate manufacturing process of the right crankcase cover of the engine, there are chances of sealing plug dislodging due to low retention force caused by engine heat, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India said in a statement. This could further cause the sealing plug to come off and engine oil to splash out, it added. In the worst situation, the oil adhering to hot motorcycle parts may cause fire, its contact with tyres may cause slippage or it may injure the rider due to its hot temperature, the company stated. "As a precautionary measure, the replacement of affected parts will be carried out at BigWing dealerships across India starting from April 15, 2023. The replacement will be done free of cost ...

Yamaha Motor announces 'raising safety declaration' for its bikes

Aiming zero traffic accidents of motorbike Yamaha Motor continuously investigates technology support for safe riding

Electric sports bike firm Ultraviolette get funding from Qualcomm, Lingotto

Bengaluru-based start-up will launch motorcycle on November 24, aims to be in international markets