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Harley Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic – Preview

Kannan — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 06:37:33 +0000

The Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic was one of the 12 bikes that were launched in New Delhi’s Auto Expo, which belongs to the Harley Davidson’s Softail family.At a first glance the style of the bike seems to be perfect for touring and is reminiscent of the Harley’s Heritage Softail Classic but once you mount the new FLSTC version the rider would realize that it can be great companion for long-distance rides.The major improvisations of the FLSTC are the engine and the chassis, which makes the whole difference in providing the rider a smoother and a comfortable ride.

The look and style is a sure “turn-on” feature of the bike and especially the Softail series as they have a styling of their own. To add more, with the new FLSTC the engines mounted on the rubber mounts are thoroughly packed in the frame. The new Softail version is braced with a twin cam 1450cc engine, which is far more superior in terms of strength, power and servicing as compared to the Evolution engine that was a prominent feature of the predecessors.

And the most conspicuous fact is that the vibration that almost does not exist in the FLSTC. The engine also comes with an efficient transmission package that ensures smoother & quieter shifting. And of course the FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic has not missed out on the fuel-efficient feature. The leather-studded saddlebags, the handle bar and the detachable windshield add to a comfortable ride.

With so many advantages the bike is a piece to own and preserve for a very long time. As for the pricing, the Harley Davidson bikes don’t come cheap, which sadly is the privilege of the wealthy. The FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic is no different. It comes in the price range of Rs.19,45,000. Hmm… again for the wealthy!

Technical Specifications:

Make Model	Harley Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic
Year	2000
Engine	Air cooled, four stroke, 45° V-Twin, OHV,
Capacity	1449
Bore x Stroke	95.3 x 101.6 mm
Compression Ratio	8.8:1
Induction
Ignition / Starting	- / electric
Max Power	67 hp 48.8 kW @ 5200 rpm
Max Torque	110 Nm @ 3100 rpm
Transmission / Drive	5 Speed/Belt
Front Suspension	NA
Rear Suspension	NA
Front Brakes	2x 292mm discs 4 piston calipers
Rear Brakes	Single 292mm disc 4 piston caliper
Front Tire	130/90-16
Rear Tire	130/90-16
Dry-Weight	335 kg
Fuel Capacity	19 Litres

This is an article from from: BikeAdvice.in - The Indian Bike Blog

Harley Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic – Preview

Harley Davidson XL 1200N Nightster – Preview

Kannan — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:25:03 +0000

It is a known fact that in a few months from now that the Harley Davidson bikes will be a seen zooming on the Indian roads leaving the Indian cruisers way behind. Of course there are a few Harley Davidson bikes that one can rarely spot, and XL 1200N Nightster from the Sportster family is one among the bunch of twelve screamers.

Features of the XL 1200N Nightster Well the first look at the XL 1200N Nightster is just enough to set you hearts racing faster. The mean look of the bike is simply tempting and one can hardly wait to mount on this hottie and zoom away with all glory and pride. The cool looks are supported by superb performance, different design and the low seat height will surely make heads turn around in an awe to say the least.

The mid-mount controls, again the rubber-mounted Evolution V2 engine enables a terrific torque enough to pull your head back with the slight twist of the throttle. The bodywork and engine get a black and greyish finish and is very much in line with the Night Rod Special. The XL 1200N Nightster is adorned with black front forks with gaiters, low front and rear suspension and low-rise handlebar that aids in having a comfortable ride. The bike is perfect for urbanites with many versatile features that will make up for a memorable and comfortable riding experience.

Pricing of the Harley Davidson XL 1200N Nightster: Any Harley Davison bike is sure a precious thing to own and precious things demands premium price, which holds good for the XL 1200N Nightster too. The bike is priced at Rs. 9, 95,000 which is rather a sad thing but people who can make this bike their own will hardly have anything to complain about except the envy on others face.

TECH SPECS

Make Model	Harley Davidson XL 1200N Nightster
Year	2007
Engine	Air cooled, four stroke, 45° V-Twin, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder.
Capacity	1199
Bore x Stroke	88.8 x 96.8 mm
Compression Ratio	10.0:1
Induction	Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
Ignition / Starting	- / electric
Max Power
Max Torque	79 ft. lbs.107 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Transmission / Drive	5 Speed / Belt
Frame	Mild steel, tubular frame, circular sections, cast junctions Swingarm Mild steel rectangular tube sections, stamped junctions, MIG welded
Front Suspension	39mm Forks, 92mmwheel travel.
Rear Suspension	Coil-over, dual-adjustable preload, 41.5 mm wheel travel.
Front Brakes	Single 292mm discs 4 piston calipers
Rear Brakes	Single 292mm disc 4 piston calipers
Front Tyre	100/90-19
Rear Tyre	150/80-16
Seat Height	642 mm
Dry-Weight	247.2 kg
Fuel Capacity	12.5 Litres

This is an article from from: BikeAdvice.in - The Indian Bike Blog

Harley Davidson XL 1200N Nightster – Preview

Harley Davidson XL 883R Roadster Preview

Kannan — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:11:40 +0000

As the American biker maker Harley Davidson unraveled 12 bikes that belong to the five model families in India earlier and XL 883R Roadster is from the Sportster clan that attracted me much. The news is that these motorcycles will be made available in five dealerships opened all across India; New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chandigarh are the blessed cities as of now. The booking of the bikes will commence from April 2010 and so you can own your any of the 12 favorite dream machine sometime in July 2010. The XL 883R has got an authentic racing look and “R” precisely stands for racing.

With the chequered flag graphic the Roadster is sure to pound the pavements and steal your hearts. Features of the Harley Davidson XL 883R Roadster The most attractive feature of the XL 883R is the wide rear tire and the short dual exhaust pipes which is an instant addiction. The V2 Evolution, 4-stroke 883 cc engine is rubber-mounted on the chassis and the transmission is much smoother and quieter.

The one-piece two-up seat looks trendy and comfortable. The bike took inspiration from the XR570 racing bike from the Harley’s. The engine is black powder-coated with wrinkle black covers and the visor, side covers, front forks and the air cleaner are given a satin black finish. The low-rise handlebars have also got a touch of black. The fuel tank sports a graphic similar to the racing bikes. The dual front disc brakes, mid-mounted foot controls, side-stand design are the other new features of the XL 883R. The fuel tank has a capacity to hold 12.5 litres of fuel.

The V2 engine ensures to generate maximum torque at lower rpm. The XL 883R Roadster is a fine combination of performance and styling. Pricing of XL883 R Here comes the bitter pill though; the HD XL 883R Roadster comes with a price tag of Rs.7,50,000 and that makes it affordable to only those people blessed with fat Harley wallets. And actually, the price factor will decide the success of the Harley Davidson bikes in the Indian market. With that being said one also couldn’t ignore the fact that there are good number of HD lovers who are eagerly waiting to get their hands on these bikes.

Tech Specs

Make Model	Harley Davidson XL 883R Roadster
Year	2001
Engine	Air cooled, four stroke, 45° V-Twin, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder.
Capacity	883
Bore x Stroke	76.2 x 96.8 mm
Compression Ratio	8.8:1
Induction	Carburetion (40 mm constant velocity with enrichener and accelerator pump) Air Cleaner/Filter Oval “racetrack”;
Ignition / Starting	- / electric
Max Power	68 hp 50.2 KW @ 4400 rpm
Max Torque	67 Nm @ 4100 rpm
Gear Radio	1st 9.717 2nd 6.690 3rd 5.180 4th 4.267 5th 3.615P
Frame	Mild steel, twin cradle Swing Arm Mild steel, rectangular section
Transmission / Drive	5 Speed / Belt
Front Suspension	Conventional cartridge forks
Rear Suspension	Dual hydraulic shock absorbers adjustable for preload
Front Brakes	Single 292mm discs 4 piston calipers
Rear Brakes	Single 292mm disc 4 piston calipers
Front Tyre	100/90-19
Rear Tyre	130/90-16
Seat Height	723mm
Dry-Weight	235 kg
Fuel Capacity	12.5 Litres

This is an article from from: BikeAdvice.in - The Indian Bike Blog

Harley Davidson XL 883R Roadster Preview

TVS Showcases Apache RTR ABS at the Auto Expo

Deepak — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:15:21 +0000

While a whole bunch (called the majority) of people still prefer to buy the age old traditional technology laden 100cc Splendors, the demand for better technological stuff has risen by leaps and bounds in the country of late. Fuel Injection, Delta Frames, Disc Brakes, Digital gizmos all form an integral part of a young man’s desire these days. Many companies have been trying to take this initiative of upgrading an average Indian consumers mind, Bajaj and TVS form the top two among them! TVS has a racing division because of which the end products we receive on road are technical marvels as they go through the toughest of terrains under the harshest of conditions to be fine tuned for commercial production. TVS has always been a major player in the market and has this uncanny knack of pulling out something which surprises everyone.

TVS already has one of the finest motorcycles in India in the form of Apache RTR 180 which is not only one of the fastest in production but also upholds the tag of being the best stopper among all the machines produced in India. The major attribute goes to the petal disc concept followed by the company. And if you feel good about the facts above, you might jump off your chair when you would come to know that TVS is planning to install Antilock Braking System (ABS) on their bikes. TVS showcased their prowess at the recently concluded Auto Expo, where they had an Apache on display loaded with ABS.

Working

ABS: The bike loaded with ABS consists of a sophisticated Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) and speed sensors which continuously keep a track of the speed of the wheel. As soon as it senses a bleak possibility of a wheel lock, the control unit alters the hydraulic pressure in the braking system which doesn’t allow the wheel to lock up and hence, the rider doesn’t lose control of the bike.

RLP: In addition to the standard ABS functionality, TVS also has loaded it with RLP which stands for Rear Wheel lift-off Protection. As the name suggests this system doesn’t let the rear wheel to go air borne in case of an emergency braking. As soon as the unit senses the rear wheel lifting off the tarmac, the front brake pressure is released for an instant which ensures that the bike is safely grounded at all times.

TVS has developed this technology in collaboration with a German based firm, Continental AG who are pioneers in chassis control systems and passenger cars along with some big names from the two wheeler bike manufacturers like the BMWs. ABS helps even amateur rider to be in control of things even under immediate braking. The best utility of ABS is witnessed in wet roads where the bike performs much safer.

For stunters, there is absolutely no need to worry as the device can be turned off manually. According to our reports, this device would find way into production in the later part of this year and would set you “forward” by an increment of around 7-8 grands over the bikes cost. Once we Indians understand the use of such safety enhancing technologies, we might find these 7-8ks cheaper than what they might be looking currently. Considering the fact that Indian roads are the most prone to hard braking (under the influence of cow dungs, cows themselves, sand, oil, people etc) this device would be an ideal companion and might be the difference between a hard life threatening crash and a narrow escape!

Technical Specifications

Function: ABS + RLP
Hydraulic: 4 Valves, pump &LPA
Electronics: 12 Volts
ECU: Integrated
Valves: Digital Control
Communication: K-Line

- Saad Khan

This is an article from from: BikeAdvice.in - The Indian Bike Blog

TVS Showcases Apache RTR ABS at the Auto Expo

Suzuki Motorcycles at the Auto Expo 2010

Deepak — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:10:13 +0000

Suzuki did not play the lead role this time at the Auto Expo 2010 in two wheelers. It remained an underdog and did not even book an exclusive stall for them. Probably due to cost cutting and money saving measures, Suzuki Motorcycles shared the floor with its car division stall, Maruti Suzuki. However, they did not fall back on the latest cutting edge products they had on display. The stall was not as dazzling as we would have expected from them but still the scintillating products made for the absence of the ambience.

The tremendous piece of machinery that was on display was lead by an innovative 400cc two cylinder Maxi scooter, Skywave, with a gigantic console which, by the looks of it, felt like a small cockpit which can throw loads and loads of data to the rider. The scooter seems to have taken a few styling cues from the big daddy, Hayabusa.

Other bikes that were on display included the insane Hayabusa itself and the torque monster Intruder which have been recently launched in India. Semi faired SV, 125cc scooter named as Skydrive and the Burgman Fuel cell scooter along with a Gixer were the other offerings from Suzuki on display. Most of the bikes followed the white (with blue stripes) theme which included the supreme Busa, SV and the Gixer and needless to say they looked incredibly sexy.

We were all laurels for the kind of bulbous looks the busa carries and the paint theme it was showing off. After observing the Gixer, we were a little surer that somebody must have had the slightest of traces of Gixers in mind while designing the Hero Honda ZMRs, that the headlamp assembly looks strikingly similar. SV’s back reminded us of today’s Pulsars with similar twin dash rear brake lights.

There were no traces of any of the Indian commuter bikes in the expo which was probably due to the lack of space available and Suzuki wanted to utilize every inch of the available space. Ohh and did we miss upon the other half of the story! Yes, Suzuki carried the best looking models among all the manufacturers and how many noticed that we are (currently) talking about the living ones! Super scintillating machinery with glittering girls made Suzuki a must visit for almost all enthusiasts (we only meant ’automotive’ )

Apart from the absence of Indian commuter bikes, there was no trace of the much speculated Gladius also. According to the reports we have, Suzuki might launch the naked Bandit 1250S towards the start of the new financial year at a price of close to 10-11 lakh Rupees. Even the 1000cc GSXR is expected to be rolled into India officially around the similar price tag. Talking about the regular offerings, speculations are ripe about a scooter and a bike from the company. All in all it was a decent show by Suzuki and considering the way they operate we are sure that something is up their sleeve and we would come to know about it just at the very last moment.

This is an article from from: BikeAdvice.in - The Indian Bike Blog

Suzuki Motorcycles at the Auto Expo 2010

New Honda CBF Stunner 2010 : First Look

Deepak — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:10:16 +0000

Honda seems to be on a roll. After upgrading their scooters, they shifted focus to their bikes. The stunningly beautiful Stunner has been launched with a makeover in the 2010 Auto Expo. The pressure from the competitions is taking the best out of all the companies. After the launch of the new Pulsar 135 LS in the 125- 135cc segment, Stunner was probably the bike which would be the most hurt.

And here Honda comes with a kickass reply, an upgrade to its existing bike. The makeover is mostly cosmetic and most of the tidbits are borrowed from its fuel injected sibling, the Stunner PGM-Fi.

We compile the various features which are new to this bike:

Tachometer: We still don’t understand why this bike was not provided with a tachometer when it was launched. Anyway, better late than never; Honda comes up with a tachometer for its premium bike, finally!

New Engine cowl: The bike gets a small but pretty good looking engine cowl under the engine quite reminiscent to the Apache RTRs. It further enhances the already blistering looks of the bike.

New Graphics: The bike also gets the trademark Honda upgrade, graphics. This was probably the best mix of graphics done in India by HMSI and they have further improved upon it. The bike looks spirited and lively after a fresh new sticker upgrade.

Half Chain cover: In an effort to strengthen the sporty nature of the bike, conventional chain cover has been given up and a new sporty half chain cover takes its place reminiscent to the PGMFi version of the Stunner.

Sporty RVMs: The bike has been provided with a new set of rear view mirrors as well to boast of those sporty looks.

Black Engine theme: Continuing with the latest trend, the bike would sport an all black theme combination.

Bar End weights: The bike also sport handle bar end weights to curb the vibrations which crept in at higher rpms on this bike borrowed from the PGMFi version.

Black Silencer shield: Going with the overall theme, the bike also gets a black silencer shield to match the overall black styling.

No Kick- Lever: The kick lever has been dispensed of again keeping in with the latest trends.

Maintenance Free Battery & Viscous Air Filter: These two things seem to be finding place in all the Honda products slowly and for a good cause. The new Stunner also gets them as standard.

Pricing: The bike is expected to be priced at a slight premium over the existing model. We expect the top of the line model to be priced at around 59-60k on road Pune with the entry level base model costing 52-53k on road Pune.

With the inclusion of some fresh features, the bike is all set to take on its arch rivals and we expect a fair warfare and the decision would rest with the consumer.A new variant of the Honda Stunner was unveiled at the Auto Expo. It will have the same 124.7cc engine which produces 11 bhp and 11 n-m of torque. It comes with a digital CDi ignition. I will upload a video soon!

Regards,
Saad Khan

This is an article from from: BikeAdvice.in - The Indian Bike Blog

New Honda CBF Stunner 2010 : First Look

Vibgyor Launches Shark 150cc at Auto Expo 2010

Deepak — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:08:17 +0000

Vibgyor, a West Bengal based two-wheeler manufacturer has launched a 150cc bike called the Shark at the 2010 Auto Expo. The shark uses a 142.6cc engine and produces 13.05PS of power at 9500Rpm and 9.6Nm of torque at 7500Rpm. At Rs. 49,990/-, this bike takes the crown of the most affordable 150cc bike in the country. The Shark has been completely developed by Vibgyor Allied Industries’ R&D team.

This is an article from from: BikeAdvice.in - The Indian Bike Blog

Vibgyor Launches Shark 150cc at Auto Expo 2010