Now that the Honda CBR 150R is officially on sale in the Indian market the inevitable question comes to mind. Can it do achieve what it was launched for? Can it become a stiff competition to it's only competitor which has now been relaunched in a new avatar as the Yamaha R15 version 2.0? Well, in the looks department personally I don't think it can take on the R15. Even specs wise they are quite similar. So let wait and watch till both the bikes get pitted against each other in the market. Till then I have a poll for all my readers to participate and vote for their choice.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Ducati up for sale. Mahindra potential buyer
(Reuters) - The Italian private-equity owner of Ducati is looking to sell the motorbike brand for up to 1 billion euros ($1.32 billion), three times its initial investment, the Financial Times reported on Monday.
Investindustrial, which is backed by the Bonomi family, had sounded out a Hong Kong public listing for Ducati in 2011 but a sale to a rival or large car group was more likely now, the FT said.
People close to the situation told the paper that possible buyers could include Indian motorcycle group Mahindra (MAHM.NS), as well as Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) and BMW (BMWG.DE).
"Ducati is now a perfect company but the further growth it requires needs the support of a world-class industrial partner," Investindustrial's chairman Andrea Bonomi told the paper.
"This year, we will work towards that partner."
In November, Ducati chief executive Gabriele Del Torchio said the motorbike maker had raised its share of the markets where it operates around the world to 10.7 percent, up from 8.5 percent in 2010.
A spokesman for BMW said the motorcycle manufacturer best known for its R 1200 GS Adventure enduro and the S 1000 RR supersports bike was not interested in a purchase of Ducati.
Volkswagen declined to comment. VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech, who said he drives Ducatis himself, admitted a few years ago that he regretted not having acquired the brand back then when Ducati could have been bought "for peanuts." ($1 = 0.7582 euros)
(Reporting By Drazen Jorgic, additional reporting by Christiaan Hetzner in Frankfurt; Editing byJohn Mair and Helen Massy-Beresford)
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The KTM Duke 200 or the Bajaj Pulsar 200NS - Brothers in Arms
Bajaj Auto Ltd., has decided to completely take out the competition in the Indian motorcycles market. And there could be no better time than now. Hero the market leader has recently split from it's erstwhile partner Honda. Hero has no strong product for the market at the moment apart from relaunching old bikes in new graphics. Honda is too young in the Indian market to get things right and start wining market share. Bajaj has been preparing for this moment. They chose their allies well and unlike Hero Moto Corp instead of splitting with their old Japanese friend Kawasaki they took the onus to market Kawasaki products in the Indian market on behalf of the Japanese Giant. Moreover, they made new friends in Europe as well. Bajaj tied up with KTM and started secretly developing new products for the Indian market in collaboration with their newly formed ally KTM apart from launching & marketing KTM products in the Sub-continent.
Bajaj infact plays out the oldest trick in the book. They launch both KTM Duke 200 along side the latest Generation Pulsar 200NS to compete with each other which has a KTM inspired heart with super-bike looks inspired by definitely KTM and the Honda CBR liter class. Nevermind that and all points go to Bajaj since they have got their strategy just right. Both the bikes are almost equally priced and have almost similar pricing with the KTM (around Rs. 1.18 lacs) a tad bit expensive than the Pulsar (around Rs. 1 lacs). Bajaj have not only kept the Pulsar brand alive but they have shown their dedication and commitment to it very strong & loyal customer base by showing it's R&D process in the new bike. It's a completely new motorcycle compared to the outgoing generation of the Pulsar. Every styling details gives it a bike bike feel and quality is much more improved compared to other Indian motorcycles.
This bike will not only give competition to Yamaha street fighters like the Indian Fazer & FZ series, it is also likely to compete with the Yamaha R15 V2.0 & the CBR 250R in terms of market share. Though my guess is that in terms of ride quality and handling the R15 V2.0 & the CBR 250R would be far superior than the Pulsar 200NS. And from a purist point of view comparing the Pulsar or the Baby Duke with the R15 V2.0 or the CBR 250R is like comparing apples with oranges.
Here's a quick look at the specs and some pics of both the bikes:-
Bajaj infact plays out the oldest trick in the book. They launch both KTM Duke 200 along side the latest Generation Pulsar 200NS to compete with each other which has a KTM inspired heart with super-bike looks inspired by definitely KTM and the Honda CBR liter class. Nevermind that and all points go to Bajaj since they have got their strategy just right. Both the bikes are almost equally priced and have almost similar pricing with the KTM (around Rs. 1.18 lacs) a tad bit expensive than the Pulsar (around Rs. 1 lacs). Bajaj have not only kept the Pulsar brand alive but they have shown their dedication and commitment to it very strong & loyal customer base by showing it's R&D process in the new bike. It's a completely new motorcycle compared to the outgoing generation of the Pulsar. Every styling details gives it a bike bike feel and quality is much more improved compared to other Indian motorcycles.
This bike will not only give competition to Yamaha street fighters like the Indian Fazer & FZ series, it is also likely to compete with the Yamaha R15 V2.0 & the CBR 250R in terms of market share. Though my guess is that in terms of ride quality and handling the R15 V2.0 & the CBR 250R would be far superior than the Pulsar 200NS. And from a purist point of view comparing the Pulsar or the Baby Duke with the R15 V2.0 or the CBR 250R is like comparing apples with oranges.
Here's a quick look at the specs and some pics of both the bikes:-
KTM 200 DUKE: A POWERFUL INITIATION
SPECS:
ENGINE
| Design | Single-cylinder, 4-stroke, spark-ignition engine, liquid-cooled |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 200 cm³ |
| Bore | 72 mm |
| Stroke | 49 mm |
| Starting aid | Electric starter |
| Transmission | 6-speed, claw shifted |
| Engine lubrication | Forced oil lubrication with 1 rotor pump |
| Primary gear ratio | 22:72 |
| Secondary gear ratio | 14:43 |
| Cooling system | Liquid cooling system, continuous circulation of cooling liquid with water pump |
| Clutch | Clutch in oil bath / mechanically operated |
| Ignition system | Contactless, controlled, fully electronic ignition system with digital ignition timing adjustment |
CHASSIS
| Frame | Tubular space frame made from steel tubes, powder-coated |
|---|---|
| Fork | WP Suspension 4357 |
| Shock absorber | WP Suspension 4618 EM |
| Suspension travel Front | 150 mm |
| Suspension travel Rear | 150 mm |
| Brake system Front | Disc brake with two-pot brake caliper |
| Brake system Rear | Disc brake with one-pot brake caliper, floating brake discs |
| Brake discs - diameter front | 300 mm |
| Brake discs - diameter rear | 230 mm |
| Chain | 5/8 x 1/4” (520) O‑Ring |
| Steering head angle | 65° |
| Wheel base | 1,361±15 mm |
| Ground clearance (unloaded) | 170 mm |
| Seat height (unloaded) | 810 mm |
| Total fuel tank capacity approx. | 10.5 l Unleaded premium fuel (95 RON) |
| Weight without fuel approx. | 125 kg |
SPECS:
ENGINE
Type
Type SOHC - 4V - Liquid Cooled
Combustion system
Triple spark
Ignition system
Independent spark control through ECU
Crankshaft Type
Integral
Max Power
23.52 PS @ 950
Max Torque
18.3 Nm @ 800
Bore
72 mm
Stroke
49 mm
Displacement
199.5 cc
Fuel system
Carburettor, UCD 33
Air filter
Paper element
Exhaust system
Exhaust TEC enhanced centrally mounted
VEHICLE
Frame Type
Pressed steel Perimeter Frame
Wheel Base
1363 mm
Length x height x width
2017 mm x 1195 mm x 804 mm
Seat ht-Rider
805 mm
Ground Clearance
167 mm
Vehicle Kerb weight
145 kg
FAW/RAW
72/73 kg
Fuel Tank capacity
12 L
SUSPENSION
Front suspension
Telescopic Front Fork with Antifriction Bush Dia 37
Rear Suspension
Nitrox Mono Shock Absorber with piggy back gas canister
BRAKES - TYPE
Front
Petal Disc with floating caliper
Rear
Petal Disc with floating caliper
BRAKE SIZE
Front
Dia 280 mm Disc
Rear
Dia 230 mm Disc
TYRES
Front
100/80 - 17, 52 P, Tubeless
Rear
130/70 - 17, 61 P, Tubeless
RIMS
Front
10 spoke 2.5 x 17, Alloy
Rear
10 Spoke, 3.5 x 17, Alloy
ACCELERATION
0-60 kmph
3.61 sec
0-100 kmph
9.83 sec
Max Speed
136 Kmph
BRAKING PERFORMANCE
Braking Distance - Both brakes (60 - 0 Kmph)
16.33 meter
ELECTRICALS
System
DC Ignition
Battery
12V 8AH VRLA
Head Lamp
HS1 35/35W
Tail/Stop Lamp
0.3/3 W, LED
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