On display at the India Bike Week 2016, the new Ducati Panigale will be priced at Rs 14,04,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi NCR).

Ducati has unveiled its new superbike, the 959 Panigale at the India Bike Week (IBW). The new middle-weight 959 Panigale is the successor of the Ducati 899 Panigale.

According to the company, the Panigale 959 will be available in showrooms from July 2016, at a price of Rs 14,04,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi NCR). The model is powered by a new 955cc, L-twin Superquadro motor that meets Euro-IV emissions standard, which Ducati claims has resulted in an increase in power and torque. The middle-weight superbike shares its styling with the 1299 Panigale.

“We are very excited to bring the new super-mid Ducati Superbike to India. The Ducati 959 Panigale is the perfect balance between impressive design and breath-taking performance and it embodies Ducati’s premium sportbike culture," said Ravi Avalur, managing director, Ducati India.

Bookings for the new 959 Panigale are open and can be made at Ducati dealerships located in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

The bike maker also has plans to open a new dealership in India, underlining the company’s plans to expand its network in 2016.

Courtesy : Autocar

Expected to be launched later this year, the Ducati 959 Panigale will make its India debut at the India Bike Week 2016

The bike was first unveiled at the Milan Motor Show 2015 or EICMA as it is largely known and will now replace the 899 Panigale. Ducati had to make the change to ensure that the Panigale adhered to the Euro 4 emission norms. As a result of the same, the Panigale now displaces 57cc more and churns additional power of 9.1PS bringing the figure up to 157PS and 8.4Nm which brings it up to 107.4Nm. 

The changes aren’t just restricted to the engine. The front of the 959 Panigale is wider than its predecessor and it now comes with larger air intakes. But the most noticeable change on the new Panigale is the dual side exhausts mufflers that make the bike 7kg heavier than the outgoing model. The seat unit has also been reshaped along with the side fairing panels. 

The suspension duties up front are performed by upside down forks by Showa. At the back it gets monoshock from Sachs. The wheels and the tyres though have been carried forward from the 899 Panigale. The Ducati 959 Panigale comes equipped with ABS, Ducati Traction Control, Ducati Quick Shift, Engine Braking Control and Ride by Wire. 

While Ducati has already stopped taking bookings of the 899 Panigale last year, the new 959 Panigale will make it to India later this year. Enthusiasts will be able to get a preview of the bike at the India Bike Week 2016 in Goa on 19-20 February.

Courtesy : Zigwheels

For all Harley Davidson fans, here are some things that you need to look out for during the fourth edition of the India Bike Week

While Goa is set to play the perfect host for the India Bike Week 2016, Harley Davidson is gearing up to ‘hog’ all the limelight at the event. Not just in India but across the globe, Harley Davidson is known for its customer centric approach to all things motorcycling. While Harley will continue with its tradition of H.O.G Rally which will see its fourth edition this year, the American motorcycle manufacturer has a lot more than this year. 

In order to make the brand easily accessible to potential customers and enthusiasts, Harley will launch its one-of-a-kind dealership on wheels. This ‘Legend on Tour’ experimental facility will feature authentic Harley-Davidson motorcycle accessories and parts. It will also have customer engaging experiences for enthusiasts and new comers. The Legend on Tour will make its first stop in Mumbai, with Pune, Goa and Coimbatore to follow in the month of March. 

Enthusiasts will stand a chance to tour Canada, USA and France on a Harley. To make this epic journey, one can simply book their Harley Davidson Tour with Twin Wings Travel Private Limited. Harley Davidson takes pride in its customisation options. At the India Bike Week 2016, Harley dealers will also compete for the top spot in the H.O.G. Dealer Custom Contest. The winner of the custom bike competition will get tickets to the 76th Annual 2016 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. 

Moreover, this year too, Harley will showcase it entire lineup of products including the recently launched Sportster 1200 at their pavilion in IBW 2016 and have test rides for potential customers. Encouraging motorcyclists to hit the open road, Harley will also have the Chapter of the Year trophy. This honour will be awarded to most active chapter, and for the collective effort and contributions made by the members in their chapter in one year.

Courtesy :  Zigwheels

With several new motorcycles unveiled at the 2016 Auto Expo there were some bike which didn’t have lights or mirrors. You guessed right, these bikes were the race machines which manufacturers had on display for visitors which are the source of new technological advancements which will eventually trickle down to the road bikes we ride. We list down six such racebikes that were exhibited at the event

Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike:

The cynosure of all eyes at the Yamaha pavilion was the YZR-M1 MotoGP racebike which is ridden by none other than multiple times world champion and MotoGP heartthrob Valentino Rossi. The Italian champion has claimed four MotoGP wins with this bike. The bike had lots of people surrounding it as they tried to get an eyeful of its mechanicals. The bike is powered by a 1000cc, liquid-cooled, four cylinder inline engine which generates 243.3PS of power. All other details of the bike were kept secret.

Honda RC213V MotoGP bike:

Honda had Marc Marquez’s ultimate racing bike taking centre stage at the event. The RC213V MotoGP was in India for the first time and had lots a spectators appreciating the hardships that is involved in building such machines. Honda was also allowing fanatics to get on the saddle of the race bike and experience the thrill, albeit while stationary. Mechanically, the Honda RC213V MotoGP bike is powered by a 1000cc liquid-cooled engine with the pistons stacked in a V4 arrangement.

Suzuki GSX-RR MotoGP bike:

Unveiled at EICMA in Milan last year, Suzuki had the GSX-RR MotoGP bike on display at the pavilion. The bike will be headed by Ecstar Suzuki team in the MotoGP Championship. The new generation MotoGP bike from the Suzuki factory sports a fresh twin-spar aluminium chassis along with new engine specifications. The bike features a 1.0-litre water-cooled, inline four cylinder DOHC engine which is capable of producing 230PS of power. Top speed that can be achieved by the bike is above 330kmph.

Suzuki Gixxer Cup bike:

Suzuki Motorcycle India showcased the track version of the Gixxer SF which is powered by the same 160cc air-cooled engine that produces 15PS of power and 14Nm of torque and is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Even though Suzuki unveiled the Fi version of the Gixxer SF for the public at the expo, the track bike will continue to use a carburettor. Differentiating the race spec Gixxer SF from the normal version, the track version receives racing-type clip-on handlebars, aluminium rear-set foot pegs, aerodynamic rear seat cowl, a megaphone-type race spec exhaust, sticky soft compound tyres, and a high-flow performance air filter.

Mahindra MGP30 bike: 

Unveiled at the expo, the Mahindra MGP30 race bike will be seen competing in the 2016 Moto3 Championship. The MGP30 is a new motorcycle with a brand new engine, gearbox and aerodynamic package. Changes have also been made to the frame and electrical components. The bike now sports a dual exhaust system which has been developed by Arrow to deliver improved performance figures. Mahindra has not disclosed the specs of the bike but the 250cc liquid-cooled single cylinder engine is expected to produce around 51PS of maximum power.

Aprilia RS-GP MotoGP bike: 

The godfather of the RSV4 and the Tuono, the Aprilia RS-GP MotoGP bike was on display for the bike enthusiasts. The race spec Aprilia is powered by a 1000cc liquid-cooled powerplant with a V4 cylinder arrangement that belts out 250PS of power. The high-powered bike weighs around 160kg. Aprilia hopes to build a good momentum in the 2016 season with the RS-GP.

Courtesy : Zigwheels

Royal Enfield will launch the Himalayan in March with deliveries commencing immediately after the launch

Easily among the most awaited bikes of 2016, the Royal Enfield Himalayan finally broke cover prior to the 2016 Auto Expo. Although the Chennai-based bike maker didn’t participate in the Auto Expo, it set the right mood for the big event. Reason? The Himalayan is India’s first fully homegrown adventure motorcycle. 

To some the minimalistic design of the Royal Enfield Himalayan might look odd, but it is one of those motorcycles that grows on you over time. The split, seat, the brushed aluminium finish exhaust, the spoke wheels as well as the raised front mud guard, all ensure that it has the looks to compliment its adventure DNA. 

The Himalayan comes with an all-new 411cc single-cylinder air-cooled unit that makes 24.5PS of power and 32Nm of torque. As opposed to the other Royal Enfield motorcycles’ push road architecture, the Himalayan sports overhead cams. Moreover, to keep vibrations in check, RE has also fitted the engine with a counter balancer. This engine comes mated to a 5-speed transmission.  

The Himalayan gets a semi-digital instrumentation with an analogue speedo and tacho and a digital trio meter. Interestingly the Royal Enfield has also fitted the cluster with an altimeter knowing that a lot of its buyers will ride to the Himalayas and other hilly areas. 

Up front the Himalayan comes with telescopic suspension while at the back it gets a monoshock setup. This is the first RE motorcycle to come fitted with a monoshock rear suspension. Royal Enfield will bring in the Himalayan next month at around Rs 1.80 lakh. 

Courtesy :  Zigwheels