Being MotoVlogger

The Ducati Hypermotard has always had a considerable fan following across the world, and is considered a fun, hooligan motorcycle from Ducati . The Hypermotard is a supermoto, with ergonomics and chassis of a dirt bike, but with the performance and soul of a sportbike. In India though, the Ducati Hypermotard hasn't enjoyed the popularity and success of its siblings, like the Ducati Scrambler , Ducati Monster 821 and even the Multistrada range. For 2019, the Ducati Hypermotard 950 replaces the Hypermotard 939 , and is in fact, an all-new motorcycle, with a new engine, new chassis and suspension and updated electronics package. We spent a day riding the Ducati Hypermotard 950 SP on a small track and the standard Ducati Hypermotard 950 along some twisty mountain roads in Spain's Gran Canaria island off the northwestern coast of Africa. The Ducati Hypermotard 950 SP is lighter, gets Ohlins suspension, Marchesini forged wheels and standard quickshifter What's new? The Hy...

Bajaj Auto has been updating its Pulsar range since late last year with cosmetic tweaks and the mandatory addition of ABS. The latest model to join the line-up is the 2019 Bajaj Pulsar 180F as per the leaked images, which is the new semi-faired motorcycle from the manufacturer. The source suggests that the new Pulsar 180F is priced at Rs. 86,500 (ex-showroom), which makes it about Rs. 2500 more expensive than the naked version. As most of you will recognise it, the Pulsar 180F is essentially the Pulsar 180 with the Pulsar 220F bodykit. The update brings more value to the Pulsar 180, further differentiating it from the Pulsar 150 that recently received the update of twin-disc brakes along with new colour options and the entry-level Classic variant. Bajaj though is yet to officially announce the new model, but we expect the launch in the coming weeks. The Bajaj Pulsar 180 streetfighter will most likely be discontinued in the coming weeks Mechanical details haven't been reveal...

The 2019 Yamaha FZ V3.0 ABS was launched last week and the motorcycle gets a host of upgrades for the new generation version. The changes are cosmetic yet substantial and bring a refreshed look to the 150 cc offering. However, a lot of Yamaha enthusiasts including us were disappointed with the engine not receiving any major upgrades. The FZ is already one of the lesser powered options in its segment and a power update was expected with version 3.0. While it's been a no show this year, Yamaha is indeed working on a more powerful version of the FZ that will be hitting the showrooms sometime next year. Sources close to the company have conveyed to carandbike that the more powerful version of the FZ is indeed on the way and will arrive with the comprehensively updated BS6 engine next year. At present, the bike maker is in the process of developing the new motor that will not only meet the stringent emission norms but also have improved power and torque output. In its current setup, ...

World's largest manufacturer of two-wheelers, Hero MotoCorp has set up its new research and development (R&D) centre - Hero Tech Center Germany GmbH. The new facility is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hero MotoCorp and is located in Stephanskirchen near Munich. The new German R&D centre will be working on collaboration with Hero's Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) located in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The Hero Tech Center Germany will be under the direct supervision of Dr. Markus Braunsperger, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Hero MotoCorp and will be the epicentre for the company's motorsport activities. Speaking on the new R&D Centre, Hero MotoCorp - Chairman, Dr. Pawan Munjal said, "Setting up of the Hero Tech Center Germany GmbH is a realisation of our aspiration to build an R&D eco-system that is spread across global geographies. Ever since Hero began its solo journey in 2011, we have had a clear and focused plan to enhance and strengthen our tech...

The next big launch from Yamaha India is the much anticipated Yamaha MT-15 naked street bike. Essentially the naked version of the YFZ-R15, a camouflaged test mule of the upcoming MT-15 has already been spotted in India , and now we have come across some specifications details about the motorcycle as well. According to the leaked certification document, the soon-to-be-launched Yamaha MT-15 also gets the ABS suffix in the name, confirming the availability of ABS right at the time of the launch. This is ideal considering the new safety norms that mandates ABS for all bikes from 125 cc and above, kicks in from April 2019. The document also confirms that that bike will be powered by the same 155.1 cc single-cylinder SOHC, liquid-cooled engine, which is the same motor that powers the R15. The engine is tuned to churn out a maximum of 19 bhp, while the peak torque is expected to be around 14.7 Nm, same as the R15. The motor will come mated to a 6-speed gearbox, with slipper clutch. Yamah...

Polaris-owned Indian Motorcycle has registered a new bike name 'Indian Renegade' in the US. The new name joins the 'Raven' moniker that was recently registered by the biker maker with the US Patents and Trademark office as 'Motorcycles and structural parts therefor'. It's not clear at the moment which Indian motorcycles will be using the new names. That said, it's rumoured that the Raven name will be used on a motorcycle based on the FTR 1200 . Also Read: Indian Motorcycle Files For A New Bike Based On FTR 1200 Meanwhile, the name Renegade is already being used by another US-based bike maker UM Motorcycles for its range of small-capacity of cruisers. This does make it interesting as to how the company will differentiate its upcoming motorcycle name from the former. That said, the company has registered the full-name 'Indian Renegade', which could be a way to get around trademark issues, if any, for the name. Details are scarce about what the...

The 2019 Bajaj Dominar is one of the more awaited models for the new year and the bike maker will be introducing a comprehensive set of upgrades on the all-new models. While a lot of the changes will be mechanical, the 2019 Dominar could get the new paint options as well. The motorcycle was recently seen in the shade of bright green while rolling out of the assembly line. It's not confirmed though if the colour will be available in India, the Dominar is already offered in the green shade in markets like Russia and this could be the export version being produced. If Bajaj Auto does intend to offer this shade in India, it will certainly be a stand out colour over the standard options. The spy image also reveals the black coloured alloy wheels with silver spoke highlights on the 2019 Bajaj Dominar; replacing the gold coloured ones that were introduced on the 2018 version. In fact, Bajaj Auto's new TVC gives you glimpse of the 2019 Dominar albeit in the red shade. Also Read: 2...

We have some exclusive information on the upcoming MG Hector compact SUV. We always had the indication that it is not quite as compact as the big rivals in this space, with the largest dimensions of the lot. But that it will also be positioned as more premium is now definite, and highlighted by an exclusive look at its big design USP. According to exclusive information with our Editor, the MG Hector will feature a massive dual-pane panoramic glass sunroof. We have since further gleaned its actual dimensions and can tell you that this will be the biggest panoramic sunroof in the segment. The sunroof is 1460 mm X 832 mm, and that makes it larger than the Jeep Compass' 1278 mm X 877 mm. It's also an all-electric operation for the sunroof system, which is the pop-up and slide kind. This allows for the larger glass expanse, and also a bigger aperture when the roof is popped open all the way. Also Read: MG Motor To Kick Start Dealership Operations With 45 Outlets #Exclusive info ...

Suzuki Motorcycle India has introduced the 2019 V-Strom 650XT ABS in the country priced at Rs. 7.46 lakh (ex-showroom). The 2019 Suzuki V-Strom 650XT ABS gets subtle upgrades for the new model year including refreshed graphics, and additional features of hazard lights and side reflectors. Prices for the 2019 V-Strom 650XT remain unchanged despite the new feature additions. Commenting on the new edition, Suzuki India - Managing Director, Satoshi Uchida said, "We have received an overwhelming response since the launch of Suzuki V-Strom 650XT last year, we wish to continue the momentum and win the hearts of our customer in 2019 as well. We are delighted to introduce the 2019 edition of Suzuki V-Strom 650XT which comes in added with features and will add to the attractiveness of this very capable motorcycle." The 2919 Suzuki V-Strom 650XT gets no changes to the mechanicals with the same 645 cc V-Twin motor tuned for 70 bhp and 68 Nm of peak torque. The motor is paired with a 6...

As we celebrate India's 70th Republic Day, there's a lot to look forward to as the country achieves milestone after milestone in many sectors. But the growth that the automotive sector has seen in the country, not many will be able to boast of such high numbers. The fact that India is now one of the top 5 regions for the automobile industry to thrive just shows us how the consumer sentiment for vehicles in the country is growing. In fact, if India continues to go at the current rate, we could become the biggest market for the automotive industry in the world by 2022. With new norms kicking in next year, there's a lot to look forward to, but we've now had a rich past too. The past 70 years have seen car manufacturers battle it out for the top spot and yes, it continues to this day. We take a look at the rivalries that spawned for the past seven decades and yes, there's a lot of nostalgia involved Premier Padmini vs Hindustan Motors Ambassador The rivalry between...

The Ducati Panigale was the bestseller around the world in the superbike segment in 2018, according to data released by Ducati . In all, Ducati Motor Holding sold 53,004 motorcycles to customers worldwide, which underscores that the 50,000 unit sales threshold, first reached by Ducati in 2015, has now been achieved for the fourth consecutive year. The big news is that a significant contribution to this result came from the success of the Panigale family, which accounted for a sale of 9,700 bikes in 2018. This number is a 70 per cent increase on 2017, and makes Ducati, for the very first time, the leader of the superbike segment with a market share of 26 per cent. In 2018, one out of every four superbikes sold worldwide was a Ducati Panigale. Equally successful was the Multistrada family, which sold a total of 11,829 bikes in 2018. However, 2018 saw a slight 5 per cent drop in overall Ducati sales, from 55,871 bikes in 2017 to 53,004 bikes in 2018. Ducati says, market interest in the P...

Triumph Motorcycles has introduced an all-new bespoke, limited edition range of motorcycles, called the Triumph Factory Custom (TFC) range, and among the first new models unveiled under the range is an updated and all-new 2019 Triumph Rocket III power cruiser. The TFC Rocket III has been described as a concept bike for now, and according to Triumph, there will be a full announcement on May 1, 2019 about a second model in the range. The 2019 Triumph Rocket III TFC will be completely updated, including an all-new engine, updated cycle parts and new bodywork. The 2019 Rocket III gets a single-sided swingarm, and is likely to get a bigger, 2,500 cc engine The 2019 Rocket III will get a new chassis with a new single-sided swingarm, and an updated version of the 2.3-litre longitudinal triple engine, which powered the Rocket III since the model was introduced in 2004. For 2019 though, the engine is expected to be updated as well, with more displacement - up to 2,500 cc, and is expected ...

The new 2019 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R today officially went on sale in India, at a starting price of Rs. 4.19 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Booking for the new Wagon R has been underway since early this month , for a token of Rs. 11,000, and today at the launch, the company revealed that has already bagged over 12,000 bookings for the car. The new Maruti Suzuki Wagon R comes in three variants - LXI, VXI, and ZXI, offered with two engine options - 1.0-litre petrol and 1.2-litre petrol, both offered with the option of a manual or AGS (Auto Gear Shift) unit. Also Read: New Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Launched In India 2019 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R was launched at Rs. 4.19 lakh to Rs. 5.69 lakh The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R has completed about two decades in the Indian market, and Maruti has sold over 2.2 million units of the car in the country so far. The newly launched Wagon R is the third generation model that has been launched in India and the most advanced one yet. The new Maruti Suzuki Wagon R ...

Ducati India has announced the very first Ducati India Race Cup in India. The race will be held alongside the season finale of the Volkswagen Ameo Cup 2019 and will be held in October 2019 at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. This will be the very first time that the Ducati India Race Cup will take place in India, and the event will be a collaboration of Ducati India with Volkswagen Motorsport India. Ducati riders aboard Ducati Panigale and Ducati SuperSport motorcycles will battle for top honours at the BIC. The 2018 Ducati Riding Experience Track Days was a popular and successful event "In 2018, Ducati showcased its racing DNA by winning at the JK Tyre National Superbike Racing Championship and now, Ducati is proud to bring its very own one make race along with Volkswagen Motorsport India. This year, we are also looking to organise not just another DRE Track day but are also working on having certified DRE instructors in India itself so that they can provid...

Yamaha India has launched the 2019 Yamaha FZ Version 3.0 and the 2019 Yamaha FZ-S Version 3.0 with updated bodywork, new LED headlamp, a new instrument console and single-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS). The 150 cc, naked street motorcycle is available in two variants, with the standard Yamaha FZ Version 3.0 being priced at Rs. 95,000 (ex-showroom Delhi), while the FZ-S Version 3.0 variant has been priced at Rs. 97,000 (ex-showroom). The Yamaha FZ has been around since 2008, and started the trend of the muscular naked street styling that is synonymous with 150-160 cc motorcycles in India today. Here's a look at what all has changed on the third generation Yamaha FZ. Updated Design The Yamaha FZ Version 3.0 gets updated design for 2019, including a new single-piece seat, newly designed fuel tank and tank extensions, as well as a new LED headlight The Yamaha FZ V3.0 gets significantly updated bodywork, including an all-new LED headlamp which gives a completely new look ...

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has confirmed that it will be launching the Honda CB300R on February 8, 2019. Earlier in the month, Honda had confirmed that it will be launching the CB300R and will be keeping the price below Rs. 2.5 lakh as well.  The 200 cc - 500 cc motorcycle segment is a fast growing one in India and the CB300R could prove to be a much needed shot in the arm for HMSI and if price right, can generate good volumes for the company as well. We expect the company to keep it between Rs. 1.9 lakh to Rs. 2.3 lakh. Select HMSI dealers across the country have already started accepting bookings for the bike at a token amount of Rs. 5,000. It will be assembled in India, hence the pricing strategy. Also Read: Honda CB300R India Launch Confirmed It looks like a smaller version of the Honda CB1000R. It is a naked motorcycle and draws inspiration from the Neo Sports Café concept. The front end gets a retro-looking round headlamp with a brushed metal rim and 41 mm...

Jawa Motorcycles which has recently started its operations in India has been aggressively expanding its reach in the country. The modern classic motorcycle maker has opened four new dealerships in the Delhi-NCR region in Saket, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurgaon. Jawa had started operations with its first showroom in Pune in December 2018 and has plans to open over 100 dealerships in India in the first phase. At present, Jawa Motorcycles has two showrooms in Pune, three in Bengaluru, one in Nashik and the recent addition takes it to a total of nine dealerships in the Delhi-NCR region. Also Read: Jawa Motorcycles Opens Its First Showroom In Nashik At the launch of the new dealerships, Ashish Joshi, Chief Executive Officer, Classic Legends Pvt. Ltd. said, "With all our dealerships set to be operational by mid-February 2019, in true start-up fashion, we will achieve nationwide coverage in a span of just three months. We pride ourselves at this speed and scale of achievement, driven ...

Motorcycle enthusiasts rejoice! Swedish premium motorcycle brand, Husqvarna, will be launched in India this year. Rajiv Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Auto confirmed this at a Bajaj press conference. He said that Bajaj will bring in Husqvarna models to India before 2019 comes to a close. Husqvarna is owned by KTM and Bajaj has a majority stake in KTM . In fact, some Husqvarna motorcycles share its underpinnings with KTM motorcycles, albeit, with a completely revised design language that make the Huskies a unique proposition for the premium motorcycle market in India. Also Read: Bajaj-Triumph Agreement Delayed (The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 has already been spied testing in India) "Definitely Husky will be here in 2019 calendar year and we have some very, very exciting products. We have over half a dozen products under that brand to come in and we are seeking to, in fact, I don't know if I should say this but I think Husqvarna will become even bigger than KTM has become for us! Not on...

Yamaha Motor India has kick-started the year with the launch of the 2019 FZ V3.0. With prices starting at Rs. 95,000 (ex-showroom Delhi), the 2019 Yamaha FZ V3.0 is set to be the next big volumes spinner for the manufacturer. In fact, the company is aiming to sell about three lakh units of the new motorcycle that goes on sale by the end of January 2019. The first generation Yamaha FZ was launched in 2008 and with the third generation version, the motorcycle gets a chance upgrade to the styling and feature list. Yamaha says it's confident about the new FZ V3.0, given the popularity of the outgoing model that continues to sell in large numbers. In 2018, the bike maker sold about 1.8 lakh units of the FZ range in the country, and are confident that the slew of changes will help the company achieve the three lakh sales mark. The confidence for the volumes is further backed by the massive success of the Yamaha R15 :.3.0 that was launched last year and has done really well for the compa...

The final agreement between motorcycle brands Bajaj Auto and Triumph Motorcycles will be signed sometime this year, Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj has told Carandbike at a Bajaj Auto event to announce a new brand campaign for India's largest exporter of motorcycles. Bajaj Auto and Triumph Motorcycles had made an announcement more than a year ago, in August 2017, to enter a non-equity partnership to manufacture a new range of mid-capacity motorcycles in India. These bikes are to be manufactured at Bajaj Auto's facilities in India, but will come with Triumph branding for global markets. Now, it seems these bikes from the Bajaj-Triumph partnership will not be seen any time in 2019. "As far as Triumph is concerned, I have to be very conservative about what I say, because I have a partner there who watches everything what I say. All I can tell you is that we're very close to the partnership. We have known each other since 12 years now, teams from both sides gel...

India Yamaha today launched the dual channel ABS (antilock braking system) versions of the Yamaha FZ 25 and Fazer 25. Priced at Rs. 1.33 lakh and Rs. 1.43 lakh respectively, the bikes were introduced, at the launch of the new-gen 2019 Yamaha FZ V3.0 , which has been priced at Rs. 95,000 (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). Both the 250 cc motorcycles now come in new colour options as well, for the FZ 25, Yamaha has introduced three options - Dark Matte Blue, Matte Black, and Cyan Blue, while the Fazer 25 gets two colour options - Dark Matte Blue and Metallic Black. Yamaha FZ 25 and Fazer 25 now come with dual channel ABS as standard Apart from the aforementioned updates, the rest of the bike remains unchanged. Both, the Yamaha FZ 25 and Fazer 25 continue to be powered by the same 249 cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine which puts out just over 20 bhp and 20 Nm of torque. The motor comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox and has been known to be one of the smoothest all-around motorcycl...

Kick-starting the year for Japanese manufacturer Yamaha, the third generation FZ has been finally launched in India priced at Rs. 95,000 and FZ-S is priced at Rs. 97,000 (ex-showroom). The 2019 Yamaha FZ-S V3.0 comes with a host of upgrades over its predecessor including a completely new design theme, improved engine and performance figures and the addition of AntiLock Brakes (ABS) that will be standard on all motorcycles above 125 cc from April 2019. The new Yamaha FZ V3.0 aims to re-establish Yamaha's dominance in the premium end of the 150 cc space, a segment started by the FZ range back in 2008.  The 2019 Yamaha FZ-S V3.0 looks dramatically different over its predecessor and a lot more refreshing. Upgrades include the new full-LED dual pod headlamp unit, along with the new beefed-up fuel tank and come with the extended tank shrouds. The design is decidedly in-line with the larger Yamaha FZ-25 and offers a more masculine and brawny appeal to the motorcycle. The Yamaha FZ V...

India Yamaha is all set to launch the new-gen Yamaha FZ-S V3.0 in India today and we'll be bringing you all the live updates from the launch here. The third-generation Yamaha FZ-S will come with improved styling, new features and possibly an updated engine. The bike is also expected to come with ABS, considering the deadline for mandating Anti-lock Brakes in bike 125 cc and above is April 1, 2018. However, we will come to know more about the bike once it's launched, later today. The new Yamaha FZ-S V3.0 has already been spotted a multiple times, most recently in its undisguised avatar with all the badging intact. Based on the spy photos , the new FZ gets a new fuel tank, new panels and a new headlamp, most probably an LED unit similar to that on the FZ25. The other distinguishing bit that we could figure was the air-vent like structure towards the front of the fuel tank which is most likely beautification of sorts and might not serve any practical purpose. The current-gen...

The speedometer edged past triple digit numbers, the nearly straight, two-lane road laid out over the rolling terrain of Mallorca off the eastern coast of the Spanish mainland. Traffic is sparse, and overtaking the occasional lonely car requires no downshifting on the six-speed gearbox. Just a gentle roll on the throttle, and the 1200 cc, parallel-twin of the Triumph Speed Twin pulls ahead with reassuring confidence. And speeds far beyond the speed limit can be achieved without any apparent effort from the twin-cylinder motor. But top speed isn't what the 2019 Speed Twin is all about. The Speed Twin has been conceived keeping mind market demand, for an easily accessible yet performance-oriented modern classic Triumph says the new Speed Twin is the result of market demand - after conversations with existing customers of the Bonneville range. And those conversations apparently revealed that there's a need for an easy-going, accessible Bonneville just like the entry-level Str...

The BMW R 1250 GS is the company's new flagship adventure motorcycle and will replace the revered R 1200 GS which is perhaps the best-selling adventure motorcycle across the world. First showcased at the 2018 EICMA Motorcycle Show, the BMW R 1250 GS is an updated version of the R 1200 GS and is every bit as capable, perhaps even more! It was recently launched with prices starting at Rs. 16.85 lakh for the R 1250 GS Standard and going up to Rs. 21.95 lakh for the R 1250 GS Adventure Pro model. We give you the complete lowdown on the newest ADV launched in India. Also Read: BMW R 1250 GS Range Launched In India Engine (The R 1250 GS gets a 1,254 cc boxer twin engine which makes 136 bhp & 143 Nm) The new 2019 BMW R 1250 GS and the R 1250 GS Adventure get a new 1,254 cc boxer-twin engine that now comes with a variable valve timing system, which BMW calls 'Shiftcam Technology'. The system adapts to control throttle response and offer bottom-end and mid-range torqu...

Sherco TVS Factory Team's Aravind KP has become the only Indian rider to complete the 2019 Dakar Rally. The 10 day long rally finally came to its conclusion earlier today with the riders traversing 5000 km of treacherous terrains, sand dunes, rocks and fesh-fesh in Peru, South America. Aravind is not just the only Indian rider to complete the rally this year, but the only second ever to do so after CS Santosh. The latter, who was competing with Hero MotoSports Team Rally crashed out of Dakar in Stage 5. Aravind KP stands at an impressive 31st position (provisional classification) in his third attempt at Dakar, having crashed out in the previous attempts. The rider finished Stage 10 in 37th place, climbing back from 55th in Stage 9. Aravind finished in 70th place on Day 1, and slowly and consistently ensured to climb the rankings with every stage. The rider even managed to overcome several major and minor crashes, bad weather conditions, mechanical issues and a lot more over the 50...