Kawasaki to give its middle-weight offerings Ninja 650 and the ER6n an update. Expected to be launched in early 2016

Kawasaki first brought the popular Ninja 650 to India shores in 2011. A year after that the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer was quick to introduce an updated version. However, it has been more than three years since then and now Kawasaki has finally decided to give its popular middle-weight a much needed update. Along with the fully faired offering, Kawasaki will also give an upgrade to its naked ER-6n. 

While details of the updates are still sketchy, sources close to the company revealed that both these bikes will receive mere cosmetic changes. The Kawasaki Ninja 650 will now get a new colour scheme, with the green fairing fading out into white at the bottom. The black plastics too get a gloss finish instead of the matte black. The only mechanical change on the Ninja 650 is a new fuel filter. Similarly, the naked sibling ER-6n too will get just cosmetic changes with an identical green spring at the rear. Although the 2015 ER-6n will continue to be sold in black, it will now get green highlights. The logos too have been changed. 

As far as the engine is concerned, both these motorcycles will continue to sport the same 649cc, liquid-cooled parallel twin unit that makes 72.1PS of power at 8,500rpm and 64Nm of peak torque at 7,000rpm. All of this power is sent to the rear wheel via a 6-speed transmission. 

Pricing of the 2015 Kawasaki Ninja 650 as well as the 2015 ER-6n is expected to be more or less the same. Deliveries of the updated versions of both these bikes is expected to commence soon. 

Courtesy : Zigwheels

CEAT and Pirelli have joined hands to distribute premium motorcycle tyres in India. Through the partnership, Pirelli is looking to take advantage of CEAT's distribution and dealer network. 

Pirelli has already been supplying tyres to Indian brands like Royal Enfield and Mahindra Two-Wheelers and this move has come in to take advantage of the rising demand for premium motorcycles in our sub-continent. This demand is expected to grow by up to 16% over the next five years.

The entire range of tyres will be available from the first week of December at select CEAT 

Courtesy : Team BHP

Last month, KTM unveiled an updated version of the RC 390 motorcycle. Now the bike is reported to have been spotted in India for the first time.

The refreshed RC 390 features redesigned mirrors, a larger front brake disc measuring 320 mm and a full size side mounted aluminium exhaust instead of an underbelly unit, which helps it comply with Euro 4 emission norms. It also gets a slipper clutch, ride by wire technology and adjustable front brake and clutch levers. KTM has also given the bike thicker seat cushion. The bikes brakes are supplied by Brembo.

The updated RC 390 uses the same 373.2cc, single-cylinder, liquid cooled unit as the outgoing model. It makes 43 BHP and 35 Nm of torque and is mated to a 6-speed gearbox.

KTM is expected to manufacture the new RC 390 at the Bajaj plant in Pune. It is expected to be launched in India in 2016. A hike in the price of the motorcycle can be expected as well.

Courtesy : Team BHP

Yamaha has launched the M-Slaz (MT-15 in India), which is a streetbike based on the Yamaha R15 in the Thailand market. The bike has been priced at Rs 1.7 lakh in Thailand while we can expect it to be launched in India by mid-2016

Yamaha launched the M-Slaz at the 32nd Thailand International Motor Expo 2015. The new motorcycle is a 150cc streetfighter based on the Yamaha R15 Version 2.0 that is sold in India. The new bike will be most likely renamed as the Yamaha MT-15 in India and it is expected to be showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo in Delhi early next year. The Yamaha MT-15 or M-Slaz has been priced at Rs 1.7 lakh in the Thai market. Being a streetfighter, the Yamaha MT-15 adopts sharp and edgy styling which should make it a popular offering among youngsters. Also the snazzy decals with bright colours further enhance its visual appeal. The Yamaha MT-15 sports LED headlamp which along with the beefy front forks endows the front with a muscular stance. The chiselled fuel tank, belly pan, LED tail lamp, split seats and fuel tank extensions are the design highlights of the motorcycle. 

The new Yamaha motorcycle employs a full-digital instrument console as opposed to the part-digital unit as seen on the Yamaha R15. Being a naked motorcycle, the riding posture has been tweaked, it sports a flat and wide handle bar which results in an upright riding posture. Power figures hasn’t been revealed yet but expect it to be the same 150cc motor as seen on its faired sibling. The liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine churns out 17PS of peak power and 15Nm of maximum torque. Power will be transmitted to the rear-wheel via a 6-speed gearbox and we can expect the gear ratios to be tuned to suit its streetbike credentials.

World MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo interacted with fans and the media after riding around the BIC with 30 lucky Yamaha YZF-R3 owners. The visit is part of Yamaha’s plans of promoting motorsports in India

Three time World MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo spent the better part of the day at the Buddh International Circuit on the invitation of Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt. Ltd.

And after riding a few laps around circuit on a Yamaha YZF-R3, Lorenzo was all praise for the track and expressed his desire to see MotoGP come to India.

“I can only hope and wish that one day MotoGP comes to India. It is such a big country with a lot of people. I saw several people riding bikes on the streets. I am sure they would be interested in seeing the best bikers of the world racing in front of them,” Lorenzo said.

The visit is described as India Yamaha’s continued efforts to promote motorsports in India. Lorenzo was welcomed by Indian biking and motorsport lovers as he rode Yamaha’s flagship motorcycle, the Yamaha YZF-R3 on a wet track at the Buddh International Circuit.

"I went on the limit, as fast as possible but had to slow down because it had rained so the track was wet. The bike (Yamaha R3) was obviously not as fast (as a MotoGP bike)," said the 28-year-old Spaniard.

"It is an amazing young track. It has very different corners, the back straight is more than one km long so it can really test riders. It is a technical circuit and fun to ride on. Overall, a very good circuit."

The MotoGP Champion’s visit to India was primarily aimed at cheering up motorsports enthusiasts in India, to build a more sustainable motorsports fan community. As part of his visit to the Buddh International Circuit, Lorenzo also met 30 lucky R3 owners, who got an opportunity to share the same track with the champion racer as he participated in a riding session around the BIC with them.

In an interaction with members of the media, the 2015 World MotoGP session responded to questions about his experience at the BIC, riding the R3 and the controversy over teammate and rival Valentino Rossi’s statements at the Sepang race. To a question whether his relationship with Rossi will remain the same in the next season, Lorenzo said, “It’s up to Valentino to improve the relationship in the 2016 season.”

Twenty-eight-year old Jorge Lorenzo joined the MotoGP Yamaha Factory Racing Team in 2008 as double 250cc World Champion, having won the title for the previous two years. Following his outstanding debut year, Lorenzo came of age in 2009, winning four races and pushing his team-mate Valentino Rossi to the limit throughout a superb season.

The 2010 season saw Lorenzo build on his 2009 successes, fighting at the front to dominate the season and take the World Championship title. In 2012, Lorenzo became the first Spanish rider to win multiple premier class titles, and as of 2015, is the only Spanish rider with the most wins in MotoGP.

Courtesy : Zigwheels