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The Escorts group has Rishi Kapoor to thank for a very important phase in their history. In the early 1970's around the same time when Bollywood legend made his debut as a lead actor in his father Raj Kapoor's production Bobby, the humble Rajdoot GTS 175 was trying make a mark in the Indian 2-wheeler space. But what all marketing campaigns couldn't achieve Rishi's film Bobby was able to do. Sales of the motorcycle went through the roof when the film released, and yes it got a new name as well - Bobby Rajdoot. Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia in their debut film 'Bobby' that released in 1973. A youth on a motorbike was a refreshing change from the middle aged lead actors Bollywood had seen until then. Escorts had tied-up with Polish manufacturer SHL to sell bikes in India and the Bobby Rajdoot was one of the results of the tie-up. The 173 cc, two-stroke engine didn't have enough power (7.5 bhp & 12.7 Nm) and the seating position wasn't comfortable...

The new normal of social distancing in the times of Coronavirus pandemic is ensuring that unconventional ideas are coming out when it comes to the world of wheels. From the north-eastern state of Tripura comes another such news where a school drop-out has built an e-bike that ensures a space of 1 meter between the rider and the pillion. Partha Saha from Agartala removed the engine of a bike and cut the body in two parts. He then connected the wheels by putting a longer rod than earlier. Bike has a charging time of 3 hours and maximum range of 80 kms Chief Minister of Tripura Biplab Deb has congratulated Saha on making this unique motorcycle. Terming necessity as the mother of inventions he said," I congratulate Partha Saha of Tripura for making an unique motorcycle to create awareness during COVID-19 pandemic. The electric bike has 1 metre distance between two seats. He has designed it to take his daughter to school post lockdown." Also read: E-Rickshaw Driver's Soc...

The current coronavirus crisis has deferred the launch of all new Ducati models in India by at least a quarter. But we do have confirmation that the first Ducati model to be launched once the lockdown gets over, will be the Ducati Panigale V2. The tentative plan is for the superbike to launch sometime in the third quarter of 2020. The Ducati Panigale V2 will replace the 959 Panigale in India and globally as well. Here's everything you need to know about the motorcycle. Also Read: Exclusive: Ducati Panigale V2 To Be Launched In India By Q3 2020 Engine (The 955 cc L-Twin makes 155 bhp and 104 Nm) The Ducati Panigale V2 gets a 955 cc super-quaddro L-twin motor that makes 155 bhp at 10,750 rpm and has a peak torque output of 104 Nm at 9,000 rpm. The peak power and torque go up by 5 bhp and 2 Nm. The USP is that the motorcycle has a dry weight of just 176 kg, which means the power to weight ratio will be incredible. The engine is Euro V or BS6 compliant and gets a few new comp...

Ducati 's revamped bigger Scramblers will be launched in India, but the ongoing coronavirus lockdown has put a spanner in the works for Ducati India's launch. According to Ducati India Managing Director Bipul Chandra, the new heritage models will definitely be launched in India, but the launch has been postponed due to the coronavirus lockdown across the world. Chandra told carandbike in an exclusive interaction that the new Ducati Scrambler models will certainly be launched in India, but the launch has now been postponed till the beginning of the third quarter of the current calendar year. What that essentially means is that the Ducati Scrambler 1100 PRO will be launched in India sometime in July or August 2020. "The Ducati Scrambler 1100 PRO has been very well received in foreign markets, there's been a tremendous response to the bigger Scrambler. In India too, the Ducati Scrambler family has been the mainstay in sales for us, it is the largest contributor to retai...

BMW Group India has announced offering special services to doctors who are working round the clock to fight the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Acknowledging their relentless contribution, the company has announced that all medical doctors who own a BMW or MINI car or a BMW Motorrad motorcycle, will be offered a complementary engine oil service at all dealership service centres across the country. Even vehicles with engine oil service due as per Condition Based Service (CBS) will be eligible to avail the complimentary service within 90 days after the lockdown ends. Also Read: BMW Begins Online Sales For New & Used Cars Amidst Lockdown In India All doctors who own a BMW, MINI or a BMW Motorrad vehicle can avail the complimentary engine oil service Commenting on the initiative, Arlindo Teixeira, acting President, BMW Group India, said, "Earlier this month, BMW Group India pledged its contribution to fight COVID-19 through its various CSR initiatives and by providing criti...

Indian Motorcycle will take the wraps off the Indian FTR Carbon on May 1, 2020. The company recently released a short teaser video of the FTR Carbon and as the name suggests, the motorcycle will be getting a range of carbon fibre parts. The teaser video shows the fuel tank of the motorcycle getting a nice dollop of carbon fibre. We believe it will be a special edition model and will be made in limited numbers. The Indian FTR 1200 is a street tracker, based on the very successful FTR750 flat-track motorcycle which has dominated the American flat-track racing scene over the last few years. Also Read: Indian FTR 1200 First Ride Review The FTR 1200 range gets a 1,203 cc V-twin engine which is liquid-cooled and pumps out 120 bhp along with 120 Nm of peak torque! The engine used is the one on the Scout but gets up to 80 per cent new components. There is a six-speed gearbox on offer. We expect the FTR Carbon to use the same engine and components as well. The FTR 1200 S gets a host of pre...

Ducati 's new litre-class naked sport bike with the performance and dynamics of the Ducati Panigale V4 will not be launched in India in 2020, as was originally planned. The Streetfighter V4, Ducati's most awaited roadster, will now be launched in India in 2021, Ducati India MD Bipul Chandra told carandbike. The delay is due to the temporary suspension of production due to the global lockdown in the battle against the COVID-19 outbreak, Chandra said during an interaction with carandbike. Other Ducati product launches, which were planned for the second quarter of the current calendar year, will also be delayed now, he added. Also Read: Ducati Streetfighter V4 Voted Most Beautiful Bike Of EICMA 2019 New Ducati Streetfighter V4 has superbike performance and DNA The Ducati Streetfighter V4 shares the engine and electronics package with the Ducati Panigale V4, and sports an aggressive design, with bi-plane wings, possibly the first to be featured on a naked bike. Like the Pan...

The Ducati Panigale V2 will be the first model to be launched in India by the company in 2020. The company has already teased the motorcycle on its social media handles and now we have confirmation that the baby Panigale will be coming to India in Q3 2020. Ducati India 's launch plans for its new models were pushed by back by at least a quarter due to the Coronavirus lockdown. In the latest webisode of 'Freewheeling with SVP' where Siddharth Vinayak Patankar had a chat with Bipul Chandra, Managing Director, Ducati India, who confirmed Ducati India's plans of launching new models in India. Also Read: Ducati Panigale V2 Teased For India Ducati Panigale V2 Bipul Chandra said "Panigale V2 will be the first bike that we plan to bring to India this year. Then we shall be going with the Multistrada and then the heritage (Scrambler 1100 Pro). So these are some of the product lines that we intend to bring to Indian market." The Ducati Panigale V2 made its globa...

The next new Royal Enfield motorcycle will be called the Royal Enfield Meteor 350. Billed as a replacement for the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350X, the Meteor 350 though will be a completely all-new motorcycle, with a new engine, new chassis, and new features. The new RE Meteor 350 will also come with customization options, including a long list of original accessories and new features and minor cosmetic changes. But the new Meteor 350 will be more than just a replacement for the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350X. Here's what we know so far about the upcoming Royal Enfield Meteor 350. Also Read: Royal Enfield Meteor 350 - Not Just A Thunderbird 350X Replacement New single-cylinder engine is expected to be a single-cylinder unit, with a single overhead cam set-up All-New SOHC Engine The most significant change on the new Royal Enfield Meteor 350 will be the all-new 350 cc engine. The actual displacement could be slightly less, or around that size, but the Meteor 350's engine...

Bajaj Auto sold a total of 861 units of the Dominar 250 in India for the month of March 2020. The motorcycle itself was launched on March 11, 2020 and Bajaj did well to sell over 850 units till the time the Coronavirus lockdown was enforced. Of course, the numbers here are wholesale numbers and not retail numbers. Plus, Bajaj dealers had started taking bookings for the Dominar 250 almost a month before it was launched. Bajaj is billing the Dominar 250 as a Sport Touring machine, like its elder sibling and is looking to appeal to a larger set of audiences. Also Read: Bajaj Dominar 250: All You Need To Know (The Bajaj Dominar 250 has the exact same dimensions as the Dominar 400, but thinner wheels, and a smaller diameter front fork) The Dominar 250 uses an engine based on the KTM 250 Duke. It gets a 248.8 cc single-cylinder engine which makes about 26.6 bhp at 8,500 rpm and has peak torque output of 23.5 Nm at 6,500 rpm. The engine of course is BS6 compliant. The engine is paire...

Ducati India has been quiet for a while now thanks to the new BS6 emission norms and the Coronavirus lockdown which has knocked the wind out of the Indian auto industry. But with other premium motorcycle manufacturers like Harley-Davidson, Triumph Motorcycles and BMW Motorrad launching new models, Ducati too is ready to get back in the game. The company recently put out a teaser image of a fuel tank on its social media along with the words 'Coming Soon'. The motorcycle in question is the Ducati Panigale V2 or the baby Panigale, which will replace the 959 Panigale in India, having already done so in western markets. (The new Panigale V2 gets a face which is similar to the Ducati Panigale V4) In terms of styling, the bodywork, and front fairing looks very similar to its bigger sibling, the Panigale V4. The V2 also gets the single-sided swingarm from the Panigale V4. It also features the same electronics suite as the bigger Panigale V4, and gets a reworked traction control s...

The Covid-19 pandemic has been an eye-opener if anything. This period of disequilibrium has forced a sense of vulnerability to dominate most decisions being made by countries, companies and brands. Optimistic farsightedness may lose to myopic pragmatism. Significant changes are inevitable not only in how we work but also how we engage with our customers. Brands have to ensure there is continuity and comfort and yet they need to rapidly adapt to the circumstances whilst presenting a responsible, socially-conscious stance. Brands need to be credible and sincere New-age consumer behaviour With classic buying patterns paused and old certainties disrupted, the interaction with stakeholders will now be fundamentally different than what it used to. Keeping the core purpose and values intact, brands need to stay with fast-changing consumer behaviour. With digital transformation taking the forefront, there is perhaps a need to create virtual outlets for engagement and expression which ar...

Harley-Davidson's profits for the first quarter of 2020 fell by 45 per cent, as the global coronavirus pandemic significantly hit motorcycle sales around the world. Harley-Davidson has also posted lower quarterly earnings, and the company has said it has taken steps to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business. The iconic American cruiser motorcycle manufacturer said it has reduced planned capital spending and also reduced planned spending "across every part of the organization including freezing hiring, temporarily reducing salaries and eliminating merit increases for employees in 2020." Also Read: Harley-Davidson Withdraws Financial Forecasts For 2020 New product launches at Harley-Davidson has been put on hold. Jochen Zeitz, acting President and Chief Executive Officer of Harley-Davidson said, "COVID-19 has dramatically changed our business environment and it is critical we respond with agility to this new reality. We have determined that ...

As new cases of COVID-19 being to drop across parts of Europe, in Italy, one of the worst affected countries, two-wheeler brands have started to come out of lockdown, and there's now looking forward to resuming manufacturing. While officially, the coronavirus pandemic is still very much on, in many parts of the world, restrictions on lockdown are beginning to be eased as well as restrictions on movement. The motorcycle and scooter industry in Italy is now beginning to slowly crawl back towards a sense of normalcy with mainstream brands beginning to resume operations, even though with limited staff and government restrictions on social distancing and other measures. Also Read: Ducati Resumes Production At Borgo Panigale Ducati has announced the Ducati Cares Program keeping in mind employee and customer safety in mind Ducati has begun operations at the Borgo Panigale plant from April 27, 2020. Ducati has announced a staggered return to work for staff, with employees of support...

Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd (PVPL) today announced extending its warranty and free service periods by two months for its small commercial vehicle customers in India. The extension is only applicable to customers with vehicles whose warranty and free service periods expire between March 1 and May 3, 2020. Furthermore, Piaggio has also announced that it will sanitise all the vehicles free of cost within 15 days after the lockdown, and customers can avail this service at all the authorised PVPL workshops. Commenting on the announcement, Diego Graffi, MD & CEO of Piaggio Vehicles said, "In these unprecedented times we understand that the country is going through difficult times. At Piaggio, we believe in providing the best services and solutions to our customers and stand with them during this pandemic. We stand committed to our Ape' customers because even during the lockdown, some of them are transporting essential commodities in order to support the community. To support them ...

Harley-Davidson will soon be organising an online live auction where a special edition LiveWire electric motorcycle will be auctioned and all the proceeds will be donated to the United Way COVID-19 Relief Fund. The details of the auction are yet to be revealed. The Harley-Davidson LiveWire in question is a one-off model which gets custom painted, has a lot of carbon fibre accessories and will also be signed by the 'Davidson' family. The LiveWire is Harley-Davidson's first ever fully electric motorcycle and the production version made its debut at the 2018 EICMA Motorcycle Show. The LiveWire has been in the making for more than five years. The Harley-Davidson LiveWire uses an all-new powertrain called the H-D Revelation which consists of a permanent magnet electric motor which has a power output of 78 kW or 104.6 bhp and the peak torque output is rated at 116 Nm. Being an electric vehicle, the LiveWire offers 100 per cent of the torque right from the instant you twist the...

Latest patent images from Japan seem to indicate that Honda may be working on an all-new 850 cc, parallel-twin engine. And the new engine, with more displacement to meet the Euro 5 emission regulations, will replace the current engine on the Honda NC750 range, with the engine and chassis shares amongst several Honda models including the Honda NC750S naked bike, the NC750D Integra scooter, the NC750X adventure tourer, as well as the Honda X-ADV adventure scooter. None of these models are offered on sale in India, but with new emission regulations looming around the corner in Europe, Honda is possibly looking to explore an increase in displacement to meet those norms. Also Read: Middleweight Honda Africa Twin Expected To Be Introduced New Honda 850 cc engine likely to be used in several new Honda models The hike in displacement is a solution followed by several brands, which allows the engines to be cleaner, but not at the cost of performance. And from the looks of the latest pate...

A few weeks ago, BMW Motorrad India teased the BMW F 900 XR and the new S 1000 XR on its social media handles, indicating that the launch is waiting to happen. While we have already told you about the F 900 XR in detail, the S 1000 XR will be the flagship sport touring motorcycle once it is launched. It is a new-generation model, which made its debut at the 2019 EICMA motorcycle show. The S 1000 XR is basically derived from the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR. It gets a bunch of updates to the engine, design, features and here's everything you need to know about the motorcycle. Also Read: BMW F 900 XR: All You Need To Know Design (The 2020 BMW S 1000 XR now gets symmetrical headlamps along with new body panels ) The BMW S 1000 XR wears a substantial new look. The most noticeable change is that the motorcycle now gets symmetric headlamps in place of the iconic asymmetric headlamps. The body panels are new and the sculpted fuel tank wears a chiselled look as well. The motorcycle does l...

Bajaj Auto launched the Bajaj Chetak electric scooter in India in the month of January 2020. But the deliveries of the scooter began only in March 2020 and that too in the cities of Pune and Bengaluru. The company sold 91 units of the electric scooter in March 2020. The Chetak is the first electric scooter from Bajaj Auto under its Urbanite brand. The Chetak is sold in two variants which are Urbane and Premium, priced at Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 1.15 lakh respectively (ex-showroom, Pune). Also Read: Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter Launched In India (The Bajaj Chetak has a neo-retro design and reminds you of the Piaggio Vespa) The new Chetak comes with a metal body and gets and old-school retro design which remind you of the Vespa. The Chetak has a kerb weight of 120 kg, and its maximum speed is limited to 60 kmph. The Chetak EV also gets full LED lighting, premium paint finish, alloy wheels, and a full digital instrument console which gives out information like battery range, and real...

The latest Royal Enfield motorcycle will be called the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, a name the Indian brand had trademarked almost a year ago. The RE Meteor 350 is in fact a replacement for the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350. While the new BS6 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 and the Royal Enfield Classic 350 have been launched, will the Meteor 350 be based on the same 350 cc single-cylinder UCE engines, or is there more to it? And will the Meteor 350 just be a case of a rebranded and renamed Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350X? And why ditch the well-known Thunderbird name after all? Also Read: New Royal Enfield Motorcycle To Be Called Meteor 350; India Prices, Details Leaked The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 will have a different headlight, asymmetric twin-pod instrument console and other cosmetic changes To answer those questions, we take a close look at the upcoming Royal Enfield Meteor 350, and also look at Royal Enfield's strategic vision, not just as the leader in the 350-400 cc motorcycl...

Japanese two-wheeler giant Suzuki is working on an affordable, simple, battery-powered scooter, and quite possibly for India, according to latest media reports. Latest patent images show the mechanical layout of the upcoming electric scooter, which will be a basic electric scooter and is likely to be priced competitively and more affordable than the current electric scooters on sale in India, like the Ather 450, Bajaj Chetak and TVS iQube. Rumours of the new electric scooter have been around since 2019, and with the current coronavirus pandemic around the world, development and production of the upcoming electric scooter may be delayed, but with the patent images, there's no mistaking that the plans are very much there for such a scooter. Also Read: Suzuki Patents Reveal Upside Down Engine As the images show, the new electric scooter has an ultra basic design, with a steel frame made of simple round and square section tubing and a layout that is expected to be cost-effective. Th...

Italian motorcycle brand Ducati 's main factory at Borgo Panigale will gradually resume production on April 27. Ducati had temporarily suspended production in its Bologna plant on Friday, March 13, in compliance with regulatory protocol for measures to combat and contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the workplace. Then the decision to suspend all non-essential activities was announced, Ducati said in a statement, despite the organization being ready, production did not restart. Now, Ducati is set to resume production, and new bikes will begin arriving in dealerships. Also Read: Ducati Cares To Focus On Customer & Employee Safety The gradual improvement in health conditions has allowed the government to enable companies deemed strategic for the national economy, whose activity is mainly aimed at exports, and for which a prolongation of the suspension would risk losing our country additional market shares, to resume production. This is a first phase of return, which at ...

The BS6 Bajaj Platina 110 H Gear was launched recently. There is just one variant on sale, which is the disc brake variant and it is priced at Rs. 59,802 (ex-showroom, Delhi). It is basically a Platina with a 5-speed gearbox and a BS6 compliant engine. The Platina 110 has been a cornerstone for the company's sales in the 100 - 110 cc segments and even after five years, it continues to rake in good numbers for Bajaj Auto . Apart from the BS6 engine, there is practically no change on the motorcycle. Here's everything you need to know about the Bajaj Platina 110 H Gear BS6. Also Read: BS6 Bajaj Platina 110 H Gear Launched In India BS6 Engine (The BS6 Bajaj Platina 110 H Gear is priced at Rs. 59,803 ex-showroom, Delhi) The BS6 model gets a 115 cc fuel-injected engine which makes 8.4 bhp at 7,000 rpm and the peak torque output is 9.81 Nm at 5,000 rpm. The good news is that there is no drop in power and torque output on account of BS6 compliance, as is the case with other mot...

Husqvarna sold a total of 410 motorcycles in India in the month of March 2020. It could be argued that the numbers could have been even higher, but for the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. Both motorcycles are based on the KTM 250 Duke and get the same engine along with the same chassis as well. The Husqvarna Svartpilen 250 and the Vitpilen 250 were launched in India on February 25, 2020. Both motorcycles had an introductory price of Rs. 1.80 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The company sold 163 motorcycles in February 2020, in just 4 days since they were launch. Also Read: Husqvarna Motorcycles Deliveries Begin In India The Husqvarna Vitpilen 250 is a modern cafe racer with a hunkered down handlebar for a more aggressive riding position Husqvarna bikes have always had a distinct design language with minimalist overtones and these two Huskies are no different. These motorcycles get the same setup as on the KTM 250 Duke. Thanks to their styling, both motorcycles get a different...

There have been several speculations regarding Royal Enfield's upcoming motorcycle. To be based on the new J1D platform, the motorcycle is likely to be a replacement to the Thunderbird 350. We have already seen some extensive spy shots of the motorcycle as it was spied during a TVC shoot. Now, a new set of images of the bike have been leaked and these are screenshots captured from the official online configurator. The leaked images revealed that Royal Enfield's upcoming motorcycle could be christened as Meteor 350 Fireball. Additionally, one of the screenshots disclosed the price of the motorcycle. Going by the screenshots, the motorcycle is likely to be priced at Rs. 1.68 lakh (ex-showroom) which could include some accessories. Also Read:   Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Spied Undisguised; Confirms New Nameplate Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Fireball motorcycle is likely to be priced at Rs. 1.68 lakh (ex-showroom) The upcoming Meteor 350 Fireball motorcycle from Roy...

Italian electric motorcycle brand Energica is making plans to restart production at its headquarters in Modena, Italy. Energica is one of several Italian two-wheeler brands which is getting ready to resume production after a prolonged lockdown due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed over 25,000 lives in Italy alone. The country is the worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Europe and the two-wheeler industry has faced massive losses due to the complete lockdown across Italy. In March 2020, Italy's two-wheeler sales crashed by 66 per cent. Energica, which makes electric-powered road-going bikes, as well as FIM Enel MotoE class World Cup racebikes, is now planning to restart production at its headquarters in Modena, Italy. Also Read: MV Agusta Prepares To Resume Operations In Italy "I agree with what Confindustria (General Confederation of Italian Industry) said, it is important to define a roadmap for a safe reopening. Energica has already started ...

Italian motorcycle brand MV Agusta is ready to gradually resume operations, after the company announced a temporary halt in its production activities on March 26. Now, MV Agusta says the company is ready to gradually return to operations, although under some restrictions, as the current COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way people will work and live from now on. According to a statement from MV Agusta, the company's management had already taken necessary steps to gear up to a new safety culture, re-designing internal procedures and implementing measures to continue production and office work with maximum safety. Also Read: Italy Two-Wheeler Market Crashes 66 Per Cent In March 2020 MV Agusta makes some of the most beautiful and premium bikes of the world "This is not the moment for being shy," said Timur Sardarov, CEO, MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. "We need to embrace change and give everything we have to build a new future for our industry and our communiti...