Bikesrepublic

India

Baru-baru ini, Harley-Davidson telah pun memperkenalkan model X350 hasil kerjasama dengan pengeluar motosikal China, QJ Motor. 

Kemunculan model itu telah pun dijangka berdasarkan beberapa paten dan dokumen pensijilan yang difailkan di China dan Amerika Syarikat.

Bagaimanapun, Harley-Davidson tidak berhenti disitu kerana pengeluar motosikal dari Milwaukee itu turut mendedahkan model 400cc serba baharu hasil kerjasama dengan pengeluar India, Hero MotorCorp.

Berdasarkan gambar yang dikongsikan, motosikal tersebut – yang dianggarkan bersesaran 400cc – tampil dengan rekaan ‘flat track’ mirip Harley-Davidson XR1200 namun dengan sistem penyejukan udara/minyak. Difahamkan enjin tersebut mampu dipulas sehingga 8,000rpm. 

Ada laporan yang mendakwa model tersebut dikuasaken enjin Hero XPulse 400 namun tiada pengesahan rasmi setakat ini. 

Antara ciri ditawarkan termasuk lampu LED penuh, panel meter TFT berwarna, fork depan jenis USD, kaliper brek ByBre dan tayar jenama CEAT Zoom Cruz. 

Melihat kepada keseluruhan rupa model 400cc itu hampir siap sepenuhnya, kami jangkakan Harley-Davidson akan memperkenalkan model tersebut tidak lama lagi. 

Harley-Davidson has partnered with Indian two-wheeler giant Hero MotoCorp to develop a new motorcycle. Recently, images of the upcoming bike were leaked online. 

  • The bike’s design and features show major differences from the previously debuted Harley-Davidson X 350.
  • The HD400 is likely compete with rival roadsters like the Royal Enfield Hunter 350, and Honda CB350.

The bike is expected to debut in July 2023 and is likely to be priced competitively, thanks to the partnership’s heavy localization.

The new motorcycle, dubbed the HD400, is a roadster style bike with a unique LED headlight bearing the Harley-Davidson branding. The TFT console displays basic information such as speedometer, odometer, tachometer, and fuel indicator. 

 

The bike has a USD fork and gas-charged dual shock absorber setup, with axial ByBre calipers taking care of braking duties. Interestingly, the bike uses CEAT Zoom Cruz tires seen on the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650.

 

The engine on the HD400 is expected to be around 400cc, with an air/oil-cooled single unit that revs up to 8,000rpm. This is different from the liquid-cooled parallel twin unit on the Harley-Davidson X 350. 

Based on the images, the HD400 is production-ready and likely in the final stages of testing.

The upcoming Harley-Davidson HD400 will compete with other roadster motorcycles in India such as the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and the Honda CB350RS.

Harley-Davidson’s partnership with Hero MotoCorp will benefit both companies, with the bike maker gaining massively from the partnership’s heavy localization. Overall, the HD400 seems to be an exciting addition to the Harley-Davidson lineup, and fans can’t wait for the official launch.

JS Films, the star of a popular online show, has caused quite a stir with his latest video featuring his Ducati Panigale V4 S.

  • The Ducati Panigale V4 S makes 210hp and 123Nm. 
  • Powering the Panigale V4 S is the powerful 1,103 cc Desmodromic 90° V4 engine.

In the video, JS starts up his bike, and viewers are treated to the iconic sound of the powerful Ducati V4 engine. However, the real surprise comes when JS proceeds to cook an egg on the hot frame of his bike!

In the video, JS demonstrates just how hot the area above the fairing of his bike can get by placing a piece of foil over it and then cracking an egg onto it. The heat emanating from the bike is enough to cook the egg, and viewers can see the yolk slowly starting to solidify.

The video has quickly gone viral, with many viewers amazed at the ingenuity of JS and his team. Some have even tried replicating the stunt themselves, with varying degrees of success.

While some may see the video as a fun and quirky way to showcase the power of the Ducati V4 engine, others have raised concerns about the potential danger of cooking food on a hot motorcycle. Experts caution that the heat from the bike could potentially lead to foodborne illness, and advise against trying to replicate the stunt at home.

Regardless of the controversy, JS’s video has certainly captured the attention of the online community, and serves as a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of content creators in the digital age.

Pengeluar motosikal India, Bajaj Auto telah menaik taraf model popular Pulsar NS200 bagi tahun 2023. 

Pulsar NS200 merupakan model yang bukan sahaja dipasarkan di India malah di Asia Tenggara termasuk Malaysia. Bagaimanapun, model itu dijenamakan semula sebagai Modenas disini. 

Bagi tahun 2023, Pulsar NS200 telah dinaik taraf dengan beberapa ciri baharu termasuk fork USD (upside/down) menggantikan fork teleskopik pada generasi terdahulu. Kehadiran fork USD itu secara langsung meningkatkan lagi daya tunggangan. 

Selain itu, ciri keselamatan turut dipertingkat dengan ABS dwi-saluran yang dinaik taraf daripada sistem ABS saluran tunggal sebelum ini. Ini menjadikan Pulsar NS200 2023 lebih selamat untuk kegunaan harian. 

Bagaimanapun, Pulsar NS200 2023 ini masih lagi dikuasakan enjin satu silinder 200cc dengan penyejukan cecair yang berupaya menjana 24.5hp dan 18.7Nm. Meskipun enjin sama, beberapa komponen telah direka semula sekaligus menyaksikan model baharu ini 1.5kg lebih ringan. 

Menurut Bajaj, Pulsar NS200 baharu ini juga dikemas kini dengan petunjuk gear baharu dan juga meter (minyak) jarak ke kosong. 

Bagi pasaran India, Bajaj Pulsar 200 2023 ini dijual pada harga INR147,000 (RM8k). 

The all-new Royal Enfield Hunter 350 which was introduced globally back in August 2022 has officially make its way to Malaysia. 

  • Royal Enfield Hunter 350 officially launch in Malaysia.
  • The Hunter 350 joins Classic 350 and Meteor 350.
  • Available in two trims, Metro Rebel and Metro Dapper. 

Available in two variants, the Metro Rebel and Metro Dapper – with the only difference between the two models is the colour scheme – is priced at RM22,200 and RM22,000 respectively. 

Powering the Hunter 350 is the same 349cc single-cylinder J-series engine found in the Meteor and Classic. The engine pumps out 20.2hp @ 6,100rpm and 27Nm @ 4,00rpm, with Royal Enfield claiming a max speed of 114km/h.  Meanwhile, power is delivered to the rear wheel via a five-speed manualtransmission and chain final drive.

While the Indian market gets 17-inch wired spoked (non-tubeless) and alloy wheels, only the latter is available for the Malaysian market due to the former is fitted with drum brake which does not meet the local homologation. 

That said, Malaysian gets the 17-inch alloy wheels with 110/70 at the front and 140/70 tubeless tyre at the rear. The Hunter 350 is also fitted with hydraulic disc brakes with dual-channel ABS. 

Other notable features include:

  • analogue and digital dash
  • USB charging port
  • 43mm telescopic front forks
  • twin shock absorbers with 6-level preload
  • 790mm seat height
  • 13L fuel tank

The introduction of the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 officially completes the brand’s 350 range in Malaysia alongside the Classic 350 and Meteor 350.

GALLERY: ROYAL ENFIELD HUNTER 350

Suzuki has launched a new scooter model, the Avenis 125, in India for the 2023 model year. 

India is a country where scooters and motorcycles are relied on heavily for daily mobility, and the Avenis is expected to be a popular addition to the market. 

The Avenis comes in two variations – Standard and Race Edition – with five different colorways, including Metallic Sonic Silver with Metallic Triton Blue for the Race Edition, inspired by Suzuki’s now-defunct MotoGP race bike. 

Both variations use the same 124cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine from the previous generation, producing 8.5 horsepower at 6,750 rpm and 7 pound-feet of peak torque at 5,500 rpm. 

One notable update for the 2023 model year is the addition of an on-board diagnostics system to identify and signal systemic flaws in the vehicle, making maintenance and repair much easier. 

The Avenis 125 is priced at Rs 92,000 (RM5k), while the Race Edition retails for Rs 92,300 (RM5.1k).

As confirmed by leaked photos, Honda is set to expand its CB350 range with a Cafe Racer version. 

  • Honda is set to add a cafe racer edition of its current CB350 range. 
  • The CB350 Cafe Racer features a different body parts including a new single-seat. 

The photos, reportedly taken at a dealer event in India, clearly show a CB350 with slightly different components. In this case, the new parts create a classic cafe racer motorcycle. 

Firstly, we can see an entirely different saddle, particularly a single-seat setup with a seat cowl. 

At the front, the CB350 Cafe Racer gets a headlight shroud compared to a more exposed headlamp on the base model. Unfortunately, while a proper cafe racer is equipped with clip-ons, the bike in the picture is fitted with a standard handlebar. 

Powering the Honda CB350 Cafe Racer is likely the same single-cylinder 348cc air-cooled engine that is capable to produce a solid 20.7hp @ 5,500rpm and 30Nm @ 3,000rpm while matted to a 5-speed gearbox.

While we have yet to get further details apart from the leaked photos by RushLane, the CB350 Cafe Racer could make its official debut soon. 

Motorcycle fans worldwide were ecstatic when Honda introduced the Hawk 11 early last year. 

  • Powering the Honda Hawk 11 is a 1082.96cc parallel-twin engine capable of pumping 100hp @ 7,500rpm and 103Nm @ 6,000rm.
  • The Hawk 11 is fitted with ththe Hawk 11 offers quite a sporty ergonomics yet not as aggressive as a typical sportbike.

 

The neo-retro motorcycle has gained much attention since its global debut at the Osaka Motorcycle Show 2022. Unfortunately, Honda threw a curveball by unveiling that the Honda Hawk 11 is a Japan-only release.

However, thanks to constant enquiry and demand from Honda fans around the globe, the Hawk 11 might make its way to the global market, as confirmed by the latest patent application filed with Intellectual Property India.

According to reports, Honda filed the design application on August 2, 2022, before the design went to the IP India Patent and Design Journal for official publication on December 9, 2022. 

Interestingly, although the design application is now made available to the public, Honda has yet to formally announce its plans to introduce the Hawk 11 in markets outside Japan.

 

While it could take years before the Hawk 11 to officially debut, a filed application may mean something other than that a motorcycle will get released in that country. 

Nonetheless, it could be an indication from Honda that the Hawk 11 could be available in a market outside of Japan. 

(Source: BikeAdvice)

MBP is set to expand its brand to Asia by debuting in India at the Auto Expo 2023. 

  • MBP is a Keeway-owned motorcycle company based in Italy. 
  • MBP recently made the headlines with the all-new C650V cruiser. 

 

The Italian-origin (Chinese-owned) company will introduce itself in India with the M502N naked bike under the Adishwar Auto Ride India Pvt Ltd (AARI). 

A quick study of the MBP M502N’s spec sheet revealed the presence of plenty of quality components all around. Amongst them too is a nifty digital dash display. This seems to bode well not just with the bike’s styling, but also with its rather welcoming 790mm seat height.

Underneath its sharp and snazzy styling, the Keeway MBP M502N underpins a twin-spar chassis frame construction with a double-sided steel swingarm assembly. As for wheels and tyres, the MBP502N adopt 17-inch cast alloys wrapped in Pirelli Angel GT rubber.

Tasked with suspension duties is a pair of upsidedown (USD) KYB fork up front, whereas braking hardware is sourced from J.Juan featuring dual-piston calipers and twin 300mm discs up front plus a 240mm disc at the rear grabbed by single-piston caliper instead.

Crucially, the MBP M502N packs a respectably peppy 486cc parallel-twin that’s reportedly loosely based off of the unit found in the Honda CB500 series. It’s claimed 47HP output sees this naked presenting itself as a viable choice new riders.

The MBP M502N is set to go up against the Benelli Leoncino 500 and Honda CB500F in India.

India’s electric motorcycle market is on the rise, with the Ola Electric S1 and Ultravioltte F77 making headlines domestically and globally. 

  • Oben is set to challenge the electric motorcycle market with the all-new Rorr electric bike.
  • More than 17,000 bookings were recorded for the Oben Rorr. 

However, the electric segment is about to get bigger with a new startup company called Oben, which is set to introduce the Rorr electric naked bike. 

In its latest press release, Oben announced that the company had achieved its USD4 million target in the most recent pre-series funding, followed by securing a total of 17,000 bookings for the Rorr electric motorcycle.

According to the company, the Oben Rorr will roll out in the first quarter of 2023 with a basic selling price of INR99,999 (RM5.3k). 

Mechanically, the Oben Rorr is a beginner’s friendly motorcycle that features a 10-kilowatt electric motor that produces 72Nm of instantaneous torque. 

Oben claimed that the Rorr has a max speed of 100km/h and a return range of up to 200km on a single charge. Meanwhile, the 4.4kW battery pack can be fully charged in just two hours via a fast charger. 

Indian motorcycle giant Hero MotoCorp is ready to set foot in the Philippine market by 2024 as part of the company’s international expansion plans.

  • Hero is ready to expand its brand in the Philippines.
  • The India-based company has sold more than 100 million motorcycles since its debut. 

To achieve this, Hero has partnered experienced automotive firm in the Philippines, Terrafirma Motors Corporation (TMC), a subsidiary of the Columbian Group of Companies.

TMC will take charge of Hero’s motorcycle distribution in the country.

“In keeping with our R4 (Recalibrate, Revitalise, Revolutionise and Revive) strategy, we are always keenly exploring new opportunities in global markets. 

“Our partnership with Terrafirma Motors Corporation (TMC) to enter the Southeast Asian region is an integral part of this expansion strategy. 

“The trust and technology prowess of Hero MotoCorp combined with TMC’s automotive expertise and network in the Philippines will definitely create an impact and strengthen our footprint in this key market,” Hero MotoCorp Head of Global Business, Sanjay Bhan told ZigWheels.

Hero MotoCorp is regarded as the world’s largest two-wheel manufacturer in terms of sales, with over 100 million motorcycles sold since its debut. 

Hero’s motorcycles are available in 43 countries worldwide, including Asia, Africa, and South and Central America. 

Royal Enfield recently recorded a staggering 145 per cent worldwide sales increase in September 2022 compared to the same period last year.

  • Royal Enfield sold more than 80,000 motorcycles in September 2022.
  • India remain as the biggest market for Royal Enfield.

That’s certainly a significant boost to the Indian motorcycle company, especially as we are nearing the end of the year.

However, if you ever wonder what could be the major contributor behind those high numbers, look no further ahead than the company’s Hunter 350. 

According to the firm’s sales report, Royal Enfield sold 18,197 units of the Hunter 350 in August and 17,118 units the following month in September. 

To put it in perspective, the Hunter 350 outsold Honda’s H’ness 350 by a considerable margin, with the latter recording just 3,980 units in September.

Despite the H’ness 350 being launched in India some time ago, the Hunter 350 garnered higher demand in a shorter period.

Several factors are in play, including how the Hunter 350 is priced lower than the H’ness 350. Also, since the H’ness 350 are only available in India and Japan, it is to be expected that the numbers will be lower. 

Nonetheless, it also indicates an upward trend for Royal Enfield’s bike in the global market, especially for the Hunter 350. 

Archive

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube