TVS Motor’s Chairman - Venu Srinivasan has officially confirmed the launch of new TVS Apache 200, and a couple of other new models like a four-stroke moped and the reintroduction of its commuter brand TVS Victor in India

At the recently held Annual General Meeting (AGM) of TVS Motor, company Chairman Venu Srinivasan confirmed that in the next six months the much awaited new TVS Apache will be launched in India. The 2015 Apache will be the largest capacity motorcycle ever produced by TVS Motor in India, and will be powered by a 200cc motor. Srinivasan also said that TVS Motor will introduce a new four-stroke Moped and would also reintroduce TVS Victor commuter within the above mentioned timeframe.

The upgraded TVS Apache has been anticipated since the company showcased the TVS Draken x21 250 concept during the 2014 Auto Expo. In the meantime, competition took advantage and launched a slew of vehicles in the sporty 150-200cc motorcycle segment of India – such as Bajaj Pulsar AS 150 and 200, Suzuki Gixxer 155, refreshed Yamaha FZ FI and KTM RC 200. This week Honda showcased an interesting new model – Honda CB Hornet 160R during the 2015 RevFest. 

And though it’s not official yet, but the new TVS Apache 200 should be launched during this festive season, simply to make up for the lost ground. Company executives also told the media during the 2015 AGM that TVS will be launching some models in the festive season, which further strengthens the chances of the new TVS Apache 200 being launched before October 2015 in India.

The details about the new TVS Apache 200 is still sketchy, but going by a few pictures of test mules posted online by TeamBHP, it seems that the new model will come powered by a new 200cc single cylinder, air-cooled petrol engine. The motor could be mated with a 6-speed gearbox, come equipped with fuel injection and produce peak power just under 25PS. 

Often the final production tends to vary from the test mules, so we expect the new Apache 200 to come with a sharp but minimalistic design. It will get sporty clip-on handlebar, digital instrument console, headlamp with LED daytime running lights and probably a split seat to complete the sporty stance. Disc brakes in front and rear could be offered as standard.

At the back the TVS Apache 200cc will get a pair of sleek indicators, LED taillight, monoshock suspension and a conventional up-swept exhaust. With the recent tie-up between Michelin and TVS Srichakra we won’t be surprised to see the next-gen Apache to be running on specially developed soft compound performance tyres. In terms of safety features, the 2015 TVS Apache 200 would offer ABS as an option.

Courtesy : Zigwheels

Honda has announced that the CB Trigger has been discontinued from the Indian two-wheeler market. The 150cc bike will be replaced by the soon to be launched Honda CB Hornet 160R

While the Revfest event was all about showcasing upcoming products and launching the Honda CBR650, officials of the Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer also made an important announcement. Honda announced that it has discontinued the CB Trigger from the Indian two-wheeler market. This move really doesn’t come as a surprise because the CB Trigger was positioned as a premium 150cc offering but with the new Honda CB Hornet 160R coming into the picture it was an evident shift by Honda. The Honda CB Trigger was launched as a replacement to the CB Dazzler in 2013 but despite being a good motorcycle, it could never achieve the success attained by the erstwhile Unicorn.

One of the main reasons for the CB Trigger not performing with respect to sales as expected by Honda can be the pricing of the bike and the Japanese two-wheeler giant have to blame themselves for the poor run of the CB Trigger in the Indian two-wheeler market. Another aspect for the withdrawal of the Honda CB Trigger from the Indian market is cited to be the revised emission norm (BS IV) that is expected to come into effect next year. Production of the Honda CB Trigger would be continued as it is still in demand in export markets. Talking about features, the Honda CB Trigger was the first Honda motorcycle in India to offer all-digital instrument console and was equipped with optional CBS, disc brake at front and rear, viscous air filter and tubeless tyres. It was powered by a 149cc, air-cooled motor producing 14.5PS of power and 12.5Nm of torque. The Honda CB Trigger was priced between Rs 68,667 to Rs 78,234 (ex-showroom Delhi).

Courtesy : Zigwheels

It's the sportier-looking twin of the Honda CB Unicorn 160; to be launched Diwali 2015.

Honda has long positioned the Unicorn as a premium commuter, which was good on almost all fronts. Recently, the company gave the motorcycle a larger heart too, replacing the 150cc unit with a 160cc one. Although a great performer, the Unicorn missed out on an important factor — sportiness. Now Honda has taken the wraps off of the CB Hornet 160R - a sportier, more aggressively styled twin of the Unicorn.

The Hornet gets a shorter single-piece handlebar, a new headlight unit and plastic bits on the tank to add muscle to the overall appearance; the stubby silencer with an aluminum-finished shroud adds to the look. There's also the aluminum-finished grab rails for the pillion. Stopping the bike are petal discs on the front and the rear, which work together through Honda's combi-brake system.  Front suspension is taken care of by a telescopic pair of forks, while the rear suspension duties are performed by a mono-spring. The wheels on the CB Hornet 160R are 10 spoke alloys on the front and the rear.

The engine is the tried and tested Honda 160cc unit. We expect the performance to be the same as the CB Unicorn available in the market, however this can be confirmed only once we get to test the CB Hornet 160R for our extensive review.

Upon launch, the Hornet is expected to compete with other motorcycles such as the Yamaha FZ-S V2.0 and will try to dethrone the current class-leader – the Suzuki Gixxer, in the 150-160cc class, performance and naked motorcycle segment.

Courtesy : Autocar

Stop whatever you're doing and view this epic clip of Robbie Maddison surfing on his KTM in Tahiti

Robert William Maddison is a 34-year-old Australian who earns his bread and butter by performing stunts on his motorcycle. Like most of his ilk, 'Robbie' has done his fair share of terrifying, stroke-inducing stunts - he's jumped onto and off the Arc de Triomphe, in France, backflipped across the Tower Bridge, in London, and claimed the record for the world's longest motorcycle jump - 106.98m (or 350.91 ft) - in Australia. You may not know this, but Robbie was also the 'James Bond' you saw riding on the rooftops in Istanbul in the chase sequence in Skyfall.

For his latest video project, Robbie decided to set another record, this time, in the more exotic surroundings of Tahiti.

Robbie has fulfilled a "pipe dream" by going surfing on his KTM. Yes, you read that right. He has actually ridden waves on his motorcycle. All he needed for this stunt were two small skis and a chunkier back wheel for his bike. It worked. Jet-skiing is passé - moto-skiing is in.

That said, even though Robbie makes it look ridiculously easy in this four-minute video (we do wish it was longer), he's admitted that he could only muster the courage to do something as balls-out as this because he's been surfing all his life.

And, it nearly killed him. Speaking to Surfer magazine, Robbie said, "I don’t think the photos or video show how physical it was. You can’t see that when the wave broke right behind me, I honestly thought that might be the end of my life. I’ve never felt like I was in the wrong place at the wrong time more than I did right there. It was a near-death experience. At the end of the day, the images and footage say something pretty awesome, but the ferocity and how gnarly that thing was can’t really be put into words." So kids, don't try this at home, school, or your local beach.

Courtesy : Top Gear

New feature-rich base model of the Tiger adventure motorcycle rolls out

In terms of features alone, the previous base Tiger XC was a far cry from the model that was a step above it in Triumph India’s Tiger hierarchy – the XRx. Now, the company has attempted to fill up that void by giving its most affordable Tiger a moderate dose of equipment.

While the old XC’s 94bhp producing 800cc in-line, three-cylinder motor and Showa suspension setups remain unaltered, the new base Tiger gets some hand-me-down tech from the more feature-rich, and more road-focused, XRx (compared to the XCx), which are the traction control and switchable ABS units along with the seat whose height can be adjusted by 20mm, as standard equipment.

Priced at Rs 10.5 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi, the Tiger 800 XR comes across as a better value-for-money proposition than the earlier XC. So, as of today, Triumph has three 800cc models of the Tiger – the new base XR, the XRx, XCx and the 1200cc Tiger Explorer – motorcycle in India.

Courtesy : Top Gear.