We take a close look at the new Triumph Street Twin – the entry level modern classic in the 2016 model year Bonneville range

The Triumph Street Twin will have the smallest displacing engine and expected to carry the least expensive sticker price in the 2016 Triumph Classic range. The Street Twin will be the most important model for Triumph India when the bikes are launched in India sometime in 2016, after being unveiled at the Auto Expo in February.

Like the current Triumph Bonneville, the Street Twin is expected to carry the bulk of Triumph India’s sales. But that’s where the similarities end, if any. The new Street Twin is a new motorcycle from the ground up and is a complete upgrade of the existing Bonneville.

The engine is all-new and is now liquid cooled, compared to the air-cooled unit of the current Bonneville. Then there is ride-by-wire throttle, switchable ABS and even traction control, all of which aren’t available on the current Bonnie. 

Looks and Styling

The Street Twin still retains the original Bonneville silhouette, but it’s a contemporary take in design. Clean lines, minimal bodywork and a sleek rear end define a sharp, stripped back styling. The attention to detail is impressive – be it the large, clear lens headlight, cast wheels and a unique retro-looking LED taillight.

Designed for ease of use and riding fun, the Street Twin combines a fuel tank which narrows down towards the rider as is the seat with low height (750mm), again narrow at the front. This will certainly benefit newer riders as well as those with shorter height to plant their feet comfortably. This means the Street Twin will appeal to a whole lot of riders, from different geographies and with different riding skills. 

The instrument panel is a single-pod unit, and it incorporates a digital menu system which can be accessed by a handlebar mounted scroll button. Read outs include gear position indicator, odometer, two trip settings, service indicator, range to empty, fuel level, average and current fuel consumption figures, clock, and traction control and ABS settings too.

The engine itself has been beautifully styled too, incorporating styling cues from the legendary Bonneville engine silhouette while incorporating contemporary engine components to maintain that authentic look. So, while the new 900cc engine is liquid-cooled, the engine still retains the air-cooled cooling fins for that authentic ‘classic’ look.

The upswept dual exhausts add more character to the Street Twin and are said to deliver the unmistakable sound of a British twin, with a characteristic rich and raw note.

Engine and Performance

If there’s one thing which is completely different from the current Bonnie, it is the engine of the Street Twin. The powerplant is what Triumph calls a ‘high torque,’ all-new 900cc liquid-cooled, parallel twin engine which makes a whopping 80Nm of peak torque at a low 3200rpm. That’s over 18 per cent more torque than the current Bonneville. But what is more important is that the torque now comes in lower in the rev range (the current Bonneville makes 61Nm at 5500rpm).

What this means is that there will be more usable power lower on the revs, and Triumph says the torque will be spread over the entire rev range, so riders can enjoy the Street Twin’s performance in daily street use as well as on the occasional long distance ride.

Triumph says the new liquid-cooled engine not only achieves cleaner emissions, but will deliver enhanced fuel efficiency as well – as much as 36 per cent better fuel economy than the previous generation Bonneville. Power figures aren't disclosed yet, but expect a bump there too, from the currrent Bonneville's 61PS output.

Then there’s the electronic ride-by-wire system that enhances throttle control and responsiveness and the bike comes equipped with variable traction control and ABS too. And there’s also a slip assist clutch for a light feel at the finger tips, making it easy to ride, and ride longer. 

Suspension and Brakes

The Street Twin employs an all-new chassis and suspension design. Triumph says the bike delivers dynamic handling and an engaging riding experience. While no details are released yet, the front is a conventional fork fitted with gaiters for the period look while the dual shocks are preload adjustable.

Unlike the previous generation Bonneville, the Street Twin now gets switchable ABS, with a single front disc squeezed by a two-piston calliper, while the rear wheel gets a smaller rear disc. 

Competition and Market Positioning

With all the features expected from current motorcycles, the Street Twin makes a bold statement as a very capable neo-retro motorcycle. Pricing will be particularly important, more so, when the previous generation Bonneville contributes to the largest sales numbers for Triumph India.

We’re not sure about how the Street Twin will be priced. But with features like ride-by-wire throttle, switchable ABS and traction control, the sticker price will perhaps get dearer than the current Bonneville on sale for Rs 5.7 lakh (ex-showroom). Our guess is, anything between 80,000 to a lakh. But knowing Triumph India, we hope the 2016 range is brought in as CKDs and prices kept competitive, hopefully as close to the previous generation as possible.

And it certainly will be a very important bike for Triumph, not just in India, but across the world. Ducati already has had a winner in the Scrambler, making it the largest selling Ducati worldwide this year. And looking at how it’s positioned, the Street Twin could very well become the largest selling Triumph as well. Now, it’s only a matter of time till prices are announced. We are waiting...

Courtesy : Zigwheels

At the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, Kawasaki announced that the 2016 Kawasaki Ninja H2 will get equipped with slipper clutch thereby signifying the fact that production of the supercharged motorcycle has been extended by one more year.

Kawasaki announced that it has given the Ninja H2 superbike cosmetic and mechanical updates at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. The Japanese bikemaker announced that the ECU system on the motorcycle has been tweaked to better suit the emission norms. Also the 2016 Kawasaki Ninja H2 will get the benefit of slipper clutch which was oddly missing until now given the power on tap and the pricing the motorcycle commands. A slipper clutch acts to prevent rear wheel lock on aggressive downshifts which might catch the rider by surprise on few occasions and is an useful feature while riding the motorcycle on the limit. Talking about the cosmetic updates, the 2016 Kawasaki Ninja H2 will be now offered in a new colour option of “Mirror Coated Spark Black”. The updates also mean that Kawasaki will continue the production of the supercharged Ninja H2 and Ninja H2R in 2016 albeit in small numbers. 

The Kawasaki Ninja H2 is the most expensive motorcycle offering from the Japanese two-wheeler giant in India and has been priced at Rs 29 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The biggest talking point of the Kawasaki Ninja H2 is the addition of supercharger to boost the power output of the motor and it’s the only supercharged mass production motorcycle on sale globally. Powering the Kawasaki Ninja H2 is a 998cc, liquid-cooled, inline-four motor churning out 200PS at 11,000rpm and peak torque of 113.5Nm at 10,500rpm. The Kawasaki Ninja H2 will be offered with an option of Ram Air that hikes the power output to 210PS. These numbers make it among the most powerful litre-class motorcycle on sale globally. The Kawasaki Ninja H2 is also the only supercharged production motorcycle on sale currently.

Courtesy : Zigwheels

Hero launched the new Duet scooter at Rs 48,400 (ex-showroom Bangalore). The Duet employs full metal body and has a claimed mileage figure of 63.8kmpl and will rival the likes of the Honda Activa 3G, TVS Jupiter, Yamaha Ray and Suzuki Lets

Hero MotoCorp Ltd expanded its scooter portfolio and launched the new Duet scooter in India. Hero had showcased the new Duet earlier this month and hinted at a festive season launch. The Hero Duet has been priced at Rs. 48,400 for the LX version and Rs. 49,900 for the VX version (both pricing are ex-showroom Bangalore). The Hero Duet is based on a new platform and comes with full metal body. The Hero Duet will be the second scooter to employ a non-Honda engine and will be powered by a indigenously developed 110-cc air-cooled, 4-stroke single cylinder OHC engine, producing a maximum power output of 8.5PS at 8,000 rpm and maximum torque of 8.3 Nm torque at 6,500 rpm. Hero claims that the Duet scooter has an overall mileage of 63.8kmpl which is among the highest for scooters on sale in India. Also Read: Hero Duet First Ride Review

Speaking at the launch, Pawan Munjal, Chairman, MD and CEO, Hero MotoCorp, said “We have now expanded our scooter portfolio with the launch of the new scooter Duet. The Duet and Maestro Edge scooters – the first of the products developed by our own in-house R&D team - mark a significant step in Hero’s journey. The Maestro Edge has already proved to be a blockbuster since its launch earlier this month. Now with Duet in the market, we are confident of further strengthening our presence in the scooter segment.” 

Talking about features, the Hero Duet scooter gets equipped with semi-digital instrument console, mobile charging port, boot light, tubeless tyres and side stand indicator. The Duet also gets external fuel filler cap which is an useful addition. The new Hero scooter gets benefit of telescopic front forks and braking is done by drum brakes on both the ends with Integrated Braking System. The new Hero Duet will be available in the following shades of Candy Blazing Red, Pearl Silver White, Grace Grey, Matte Nature Green, Panther Black and Vernier Grey (Non-metallic). 

Courtesy : Zigwheels

5 new Bonnevilles set to replace the current classic bike, offered with two new engine platforms.

You’ll see some of these Bonnevilles launched in India around the coming Indian Auto Expo, all available with substantially more potent engines, displacing 900cc or a full-blown 1200cc, in parallel-twin layouts, with liquid-cooling and fuel-injection.

Unsurprisingly, styling for all the new Bonnies shall remain retro, just as stately, a throwback to the ‘days of the Raj’ if you like, with new generation, sturdier tubular steel frames holding them together.

The most affordable Bonnevilles are to be the Street Twin, certain to be the most popular of the lot in India. The Street Twin is easily distinguished by means of its 10-spoke alloy rims, as well as black for much of the lower bike, including a handsomely detailed engine and wheels. Also offered with the Street Twin are a set of smoothly profiled, brush finished exhausts, that we heard sounding exciting and throaty. Expect aggressive pricing for the Street Twin, close to the present day Bonneville, while offering so much more. The Street twin is powered by a four-stroke, 900cc, parallel-twin powerplant, running 4-valves per cylinder, and making 8.16kgm of maximum torque, as Triumph has managed to extract at an amazingly low 3,200rpm.

There’s plenty of punch across the rev range we are told, on the Street Twin, as well as all other new Bonnies. So, expect the Street Twin to live up to its name, to excel with easy rideability in the mess of urban Indian traffic. Torque is 18 percent more than the present day Bonneville.

You also get ride-by-wire throttle management, and a 270 degree firing order between the cylinders, with a 6-speed transmission. Triumph tells us the new Street Twins offer a 36 percent bump-up in fuel-efficiency, despite the promise of more exhilarating performance. There’s also an improved riding saddle, slimmer ‘waist’ line, and longer travel suspension.

And if that wasn’t enough, the Street Twin won’t feel a budget Bonnie, Triumph walking the extra mile to load up their new motorcycle with goodies like a switchable traction control system, a slip assisted, lighter feel clutch, and also switchable ABS brakes. The Street Twin comes with a single disc rotor in front. In terms of features, the Street Twin gives you a gear-indicator, USB socket and engine immobilizer.

Next up is the T 120, a modern day Bonneville that leans more towards retro style, on which attention-to-detail takes a noticeable step-up. The T 120 comes with wire-spoke wheels, and generous splashes of chrome. Then there are also bright and shiny peashooter exhausts with unmistakable old-school shape, and twin disc brakes in front.

The Bonneville T 120 also comes with twin-pod instruments. Triumph has worked to improve ergonomics on all 2016 Bonnevilles.

The T 120 offers a big leap in terms of performance, thanks to a four-stroke, 8-valve, 1,200cc, parallel-twin powerplant, that’s pleasantly gruff and grunty to the ear. The bike makes a hefty 10.7kgm of maximum torque, again at an astonishing 3,100rpm. There’s a 270 degree firing order, with torque output 54 percent up from todays Bonnevilles.

Just like the Street Twin, the T 120 comes with a ride-by-wire throttle and six-speeds, plus slip-assisted clutch. Also twin riding modes of ‘road’ and ‘rain.’ The engine-cooling system has been smartly optimized to leave a minimal impact on retro styling, undoubtedly to be thoroughly put to the test when the bikes are ridden in India.

The T 120 provides the luxury of heated grips for comfortable riding on winter mornings, with three-level heating, apart from a USB charging point. There’s even cruise-control, although optional.

There’s a twist in the T 120 tale, namely the T 120 Black. This variant adds more black, contrasted smartly by a dark brown seat and matte graphite shades.

Expect the Bonnevilles above to offer a comfortable, upright riding position, as you can count on being a big differentiator between these and the sportier Thruxton, up next.

The upgraded Thruxton and Thruxton R models look stunning, styled to thrill for 2016, and generously equipped by Triumph with really top drawer specifications plus all the equipment you could wish for. Beautiful detailing can be seen in a finely crafted Monza style fuel-filler cap, and nifty bar end mirrors. Although held together by spokes, the 17-inch Thruxton wheel rims are alloy constructed, just like the swingarm.

Extras on the up-market Thruxton R include a colour matched seat cowl, buffed steering headstock and clear anodized swingarm.

Triumph has worked to not only make the new, lower and meaner bikes look high performance, but also go like high performance machines.

The Thruxtons come with a specially tuned, four-stroke, 8-valve, 1,200cc, parallel-twin powerplant. Features within include higher compression, a lighter crankshaft and revised airbox. The Thruxton spec engine delivers 11kgm of maximum torque, twisted out at a sportier 5,000rpm. The liquid-cooled engines offer ride-by-wire throttle control, and suitably styled throttle bodies to match the motorcycles retro character. The gearbox is 6-ratio, supported by a torque assisted clutch.

The Thruxton R comes with stainless steel exhausts without catalytic converters for added oomph, a more aggressive hot-cam and washable air-filter. Apart from this, Showa made big-piston upside down front forks, Ohlins fully adjustable suspension at rear and Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa Tyres. The floating twin disc brakes in front are chomped on by monobloc construction Brembo calipers.

The 2016 Thruxtons have three riding modes, ‘road, ‘rain’ or ‘sport’, that delivers instant response. Also, you get switchable traction control and ABS for the brakes.

From all this, on paper, its crystal clear Triumph has gone out of their way to ensure each of these new Bonneville bikes are no-compromise engineered to rock their market space. While rides of the new Bonnies will confirm these early impressions, British biking seems like it could be headed right back to its very best. Back to the Bonnevilles that is! While surely but steadily riding straight ahead. Once accomplished, Triumph can rightfully stake claim to having singlehandedly managed this comeback.

Courtesy : Autocar

Kawasaki showcased the Z125 officially prior to its debut at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show; the new motorcycle is the smallest displacement bike in Kawasaki’s current portfolio

Kawasaki has unveiled the Z125 prior to its official debut at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show in Japan. The new Kawasaki 125cc motorcycle will be offered in two variants – Z125 and Z125 Pro. The new Z125 is the first mini motorcycle from the stables of the Japanese two-wheeler giant and will compete against the Honda MSX 125 and Grom. The Kawasaki Z125 will be restricted to Japanese and Asian markets and is highly unlikely to make it to our shores officially. The Kawasaki Z125 might be small in size, but it packs a solid punch with respect to styling. The design of the motorcycle has clearly inspired by the higher displacement Z-series motorcycles with chiselled fuel tank, under belly exhaust, tank extensions and a petite tail section with Z-shaped LED tail lams. 

The 125cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder motor produces 9.5PS of max power and the bike tips the scale at just 101kg. The Kawasaki Z125’s powerplant will be mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission while a 4-speed manual does duty on the Kawasaki Z125 Pro. The puny Kawasaki motorcycles also get good cycle parts like, USD front forks, monoshock suspension and disc brake at both ends to provide stopping power. It will be available in three colours – Candy Lime Green, Metallic Graphite Gray and Candy Burnt Orange. The Kawasaki Z125 has been priced at Rs 1.4 lakh in the Japanese market. 

Courtesy : Zigwheels