FZ-16 to scorch Indian roads

Following the success of the Yamaha R-15 in India, Yamaha plans to launch the FZ-16.

Unlike the R-15, the FZ-16 is a naked bike with the mean looks, based on FZ1000. Equipped with an air cooled 160 cc engine, it is expected to produce 15PS at 8,400 RPM. The street classic from Yamaha will sport telescopic suspension in the front and monocross suspensions at the rear. The FZ-16’s braking is powered by a disk brake in the front and a drum at the rear.

The bike is expected to be priced at around Rs.80,000.

Clearly, Apache RTR and Pulsar 180 has competition!

The bike is expected to be launched during Diwali 2008.

TVS Menace 180 - What to expect!

The Menace on two wheels is arriving and it looks hot too. Considering the sexiness that exists in the current RTR 160 beating all in that exist in its class and a few above too. Even if it manages to keep up with it predecessor it’ll be up there with the best… need I say more.

Design:
The bike will retain the basic lines of the current RTR, retaining the basic look of a naked sports bike. But with no front scoop this time. And for a good reason too, the front is now going to house a semi-full faring that will expose part of the engine and give it that naked bike look too.
The bike will have a digital speedometer with top speed, 0-60 timer, trips, and other extra functionality plus stunning looks.

Engine and Gearbox:
The race developed high reving180cc mill will be one of a kind, developing 18bhp and refined further, more than it is in the current RTR. The engine is expected to have a high compression ratio to deliver more power and will be powered by a fuel injection system.

Ride and Handling:
The current RTR handles like a charm with loads of feedback from both the front and rear end. TVS won’t make a mistake in the handling department, although the company is looking to keep the setup to a slightly sportier side. With front and rear disk brakes and a proposed mono-shock we have a new dream bike in development here.
Rumours are that TVS might be going overboard with the weight distribution and balancing and we might have a surprise exhaust this time.

Price and Competition:
Expect the price to be around 80,000+INR. This is a real good deal, considering the finish and performance of previous TVS products. The bike will compete with bikes above its segment like the pulsar 200 as the RTR is already taking care of the bikes in the 180cc segment.

Our take:
The bike is a bargain for what TVS is offering with the “Menace”. I’m sure TVS will break benchmarks with this 180cc. The bike is due this Oct-Nov (2008) - Those planning for a performance bike any time soon, do try this first.

Yamaha R15 - Up Close!

We went to ECR to have a chat with Raunak about his passion, Radio Control cars and we couldn’t believe our luck when we came across a brand new Yamaha R15.

Bajaj XCD Sprint - A Preview

The Bajaj XCD Sprint was introduced during the 9th auto expo and expected to be launched later this year. If rumors are to be believed, the bike will be launched around August-September, 2008. The XCD that was released a year back was a replacement to the 100cc segment and now Bajaj is back to give us a super upgrade. The market for 125cc bikes is a mean place to be - stiff competition prevails and customers would be looking for perfection.

Design:
Bajaj doesn’t seam to have a problem in any segment. It’s as if they read the customers’ minds. They did it once with the Pulsar and now they are at it again - sharp styling that oozes out quality and durability. The bikes sports a front scoop and a brilliantly sculpted front headlamp that has taken cues from Yamaha (fz-1) and Kawasaki (z1000) naked bikes.

Engine & Transmission:
Engine is the heart of a vehicle, and Bajaj has sorted this out completely with loads of techie bits that would revolutionize the segment. Expect close to 13bhp from this 125cc, thanks to its 4 valves per cylinder and Dts-Si bits. And just to keep a tap on your wallet and rising fuel prices Bajaj has also decided to drop in a 80+Kmpl mileage into the equation.

Hopefully Bajaj will kick in a 5speed gearbox to keep up pace with the completion, which will make the Sprint a capable bike fit for both touring and city riding.

Ride & Handling:
Nitrox based gas shocks, larger wheelbase and Bajaj engineering can only mean one thing - the ride and handling is up the with the best. Also with disk brakes as standard and large MRF zappers for road grip, I wont doubt the capabilities of this bike.

Price & Competition:
The prices haven’t been officially announced by Bajaj but considering the fact that Bajaj bikes are value for money, I would say it would be priced around Rs52000-53000. Which is very reasonable for the kind of technology and equipment Bajaj is providing with this bike.

Other bikes you might want to look at are the Gladiator twins, Glamour Fi, Flame or maybe even a larger capacity bike such as the Discover 135.

Our Take:
Keep an eye out for this bike. It’s worth a wait and will be good value for money.

A Stunner from Honda

Honda CBF Stunner (pre-release review)

The Honda CBF stunner was introduced in the 9th auto expo in January 08. Its primarily a premium 125cc bike. Also in the Honda stands was another 125cc bike based on the stunner - a track version. Honda introduced these bikes as a concept but due to the overwhelming response, its now a reality. The bike is expected to be launched around July-august ‘08. The bike is expected to be called the CBF125.

Design:
For a 125cc bike this is bike is “simply fabulous” any day. It’s got sharp look of bigger bikes of higher capacity. The big bike feel owes its credit to the cool Karizmaish front faring. The Honda CBF 125 abroad sports a full faring, but to keep the costs reasonable the company has decided to impose a quarter faring. It also sports a cut stepped seat which would be a first in the segment. Foot pegs are placed adequately at the rear for a comfortable but sporty stance.

Engine & Transmission:
The engine is a 125cc single mill giving a power output of 11-12bhp which is up there with the best. Engine is expected to be a typical Honda combining refinement, reliability and smoothness.
The bike sports a 6-speed transmission which some might think is a overkill but a properly tuned 6-speed is a bikers dream and a commuters boon. If properly driven, this bike can give awesome fuel efficiency, power and top speed.

Ride & Handling:
The Handling of this bike is expected to rule over the corners but the bike as it seems might not be as agile as the competition especially in traffic. Honda has again disappointed us by depriving us with mono-shocks.
Price & Competition:
The bike is expected to be priced and positioned a bit higher than the regular 125cc category.

The CBF 125 is expected to go against the new gladiator twins. You can also check out other bikes in the segment such as Discover 135 and Glamour FI.

Info on the Track version of the Stunner(concept):

• The track version sports,
• Lower profile tyres.
• High performance shocks at the rear end.
• Aerodynamic engine crowl.
• Carbon fibre bodywork.
• Under seat exaust.
• ventilated rear disk at the rear and massive brembo twincapilar petal disk at the         front end.
• Cool-looking light-weight alloys.

Our Take:
Go for the CBF 125 if you want a big bike feel with low running costs and loads of fun.

That the CBF has the metal to beat existing bikes which rule the segment or maybe even in higher segment is something we need to wait and watch.

Hero Honda Karizma Review

Hero Honda Karizma, touted to be the first ’sports’ bike in India has its engine derived from Honda CRF230F (available in other countries) which has been scaled down for Indian use. The Karizma is a favorite amog the street racers due to its rev frendly engine.Indias India’s first performance oriented premium bike’s only downside is that it hasnt been properly upgraded ever since it debut in 2004.

Design:

Body: The Karizma has very debateable looks. Up close it has very avarage finish loks a bit akward to a few. But from a distance no one can miss the sculpted “big bike look” all owed to the brilliant positioned front-faring and thick Rear panels.The vinyls are have been recently upgraded and seem to give the bike sharper looks.Ceratin noises are known to come out of the front-faring after a respectable amount of usage.

Cockpit: The cockpit features a 3-pod console (tachometer, speedo,and digital trip and odo meter) It has a rich yellow and black design which look good during the day and invert during the night thus giving a stunning look every time you see it. Fit and finish around the speedometer console is not upto the mark as lots of gaps are seen.

Engine & Gearbox:

Engine: The engine is a 223cc which is derived From Honda’s Entry level Dirt bike for beginners-the CRF230F. The compression ratio is scaled down for use with fuel available in india.The engine is rev friendly. Has a lot of oomph in higher rpms(above 5000). It increases and drops revs faster than you can say “i love this bike“. The engine is electronically limited to 9200 rpm but redlined at 7000prm for safety reasons. The fuel efficiency, it avarages 32kmpl which is pretty good considering it is premium bike.

Gearbox: The Karizma has a 5 Speed 1-down 4-up shift gearbox, which has a very clunchy feel to it - just the way I like it. The gears slot into place perfectly and false neutrals occur once in a blue moon. On heavy deceleration the beast doesnt seem to be able to down shift gears with ease.But this is one gearbox that begs you to rev hard and change faster.

Ride & handling:

The bike has a brilliantly sorted out suspension system and takes all bumps with ease. Under heavy breaking the front forks never seem to give away. Front end feel is fabulous. The chassis is so well sorted out that with better tyres we could expect knee scraping motoGP syle bends out of this bike. This bikes a boon to all the 6footers in india. On the other hand smaller riders seem to be just as comfortable.

My take: Karizma lives up to the badge of India’s first premium bike.

Royal Enfield Thunderbird Twinspark

Bullet die-hards have a reason to cheer.

The Thunderbird has got a new 350 cc UC (Unit COnstruction) engine with twin spark plugs. The cruiser is priced at Rs. 1.03 lakhs and is touted to give a mileage of 45-50 kmpl. A top speed of 125 kmph is claimed by the bike makers.

Royal Enfileld also promises to roll out a number of cruisers featuring the UC engine.Four models are expected to be rolled out by 2011, two of which are exclusively built for European markets, built with 500 cc engines each.

The popular models from the Royal Enfield stable, Electra, Machismo and the Bullet 350 featuring the UC Engine are expected to be rolled out by 2010.

Batman gets MV Agusta

Bruce Wayne will be seen riding a F4 Superbike from the stables of MV Agusta for the upcoming Batman movie, The Dark Knight. To mark this achievement, the Italian motorcycle maker will be giving away a Batman themed bike worth 35000$. Who will be the lucky one?

Source: The Hershey Company