Two peppy Vespa 150's join the stylish Italian scooter-makers existing premium India lineup.

Vespa continues to soldier along bravely in the Indian scooter market, carving its own premium niche. The Italians know a thing or two about style, and this is what the young in India company has focused on from day one, manufacturing pleasingly retro looking scooters from their state-of-the-art factory in Baramati, maintaining a premium feel that’s unmatched. Vespa already has in India, the LX 125, the VX 125 which is the same basic scooter with a front disc brake, and the Vespa S, another 125cc scooter with more masculine lines.

Piaggio's India savvy Managing Director, Stefano Pelle along with soccer star and Vespa brand ambassador Alessandro Del Piero have introduced new 150cc scooters to the Indian line-up, the Vespa VXL 150 and SXL 150, offering refreshing new styling, attractive and Vespa typical funky colour schemes, along with a digital instruments console. This duo settle into the envious position of becoming the only 150cc scooters today sold in India.

The button-started new Vespa VXL and SXL scooters offer a four-stroke, 150cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled and carburettor fed, 3-valve engine. Power output is 11.5bhp at 7,000rpm, while maximum torque is 1.17kgm at 5,500rpm. Both the VXL and SXL offer CVT transmission, allowing for hassle free, gearless riding. In addition to these larger capacity powerplants, Vespa is also offering the VXL and SXL in 125cc, signature three-valve engines, as already offered with their existing model lineup.

The VXL and SXL are held together by Vespa trademark, monocoque steel frames, tailored to excel in urban India. Riders are seated in a comfortable, upright riding position. There are single-sided, hydraulic shock absorbers as on most Vespa scooters, with coiled-springs in front, as we've experienced on earlier scooters work flawlessly, and scooter typical hydraulic monoshocks at the rear, with engines used as stressed members of the frame. 

Tyres on the VXL and SXL are lower profile than offered on any Indian scooter, tubeless, made by Maxxis with exciting new tread patterns. The new 150s offer a larger diameter, 11 inch front rim for easy manoeuvrability. Both scooters are equipped with 200mm drilled front disc brakes, working together with 140mm drum brake units at rear.  

The Vespa VXL is priced at Rs 84,641, while the SXL will retail for Rs 88,696. Likewise, you can buy the 125cc variants of these scooters for Rs 77,308 (VXL) and Rs 81,967 (SXL), all prices ex-showroom in Pune. In the words of Stefano Pelle, all these new Vespas are "pakka" manufactured in India, with virtually 100 percent localisation achieved at the Baramati facility. 

Specifications
Vespa VXL 150/ SXL 150

Price                            Rs 84,641-88,696 (ex-showroom, Pune)

On Sale                       Now            

L/W/H                         1770/690/1140mm

Wheelbase                  1290mm

Engine layout                Single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke

Displacement                150cc

Power                                11.5bhp at 7000rpm

Torque                              1.17kgm at 5500rpm

Power to weight          100.9bhp per tonne

Specific output            76.7bhp per litre

Gearbox                           CVT

Front suspension           Single side

Rear suspension            Monoshock, stressed engine

Front brake                  200mm disc

Rear brake                   140mm drum

Wheels                           5-spoke alloy

Rim size (f-r)                11-10 inches

The Triumph Tiger 800 XCA will have the same mechanicals and cycle parts as the off-road oriented Tiger 800 XCx but will have more standard equipment, including heated rider and passenger seats and LED fog lamps

The Tiger 800 XCA also features aluminium pannier rails making it ready to tour with optional Expedition luggage set. The Tiger 800 XCA will be powered by the same second generation liquid-cooled in-line three 800cc engine, which makes 95PS power and equipped with traction control, switchable ABS, and ride-by-wire throttle with programmable rider modes. The Triumph Tiger 800XCx currently retails for Rs 13.3 lakh (ex-showroom) and we expect the Tiger 800 XCA to be priced around Rs 15-16 lakh (ex-showroom).

Courtesy :  Zigwheels

It seems second half of 2015 will be an exciting time period for Indian two-wheeler enthusiasts as the Mahindra Mojo will be launched in September with expected pricing around Rs 1.5 to 1.7 lakh

The basic silhouette of the Mojo has been maintained on the new model and the subtle updates have made it more visually pleasing but styling still remains quirky. The headlight fascia has been reworked and the twin headlamps receive a separate body shell of their own with DRL (Daytime Running Lights), LED turn indicators integrated in the mirrors, which were present in the older model, have been given a miss in the production model but it has retained the “gold ribs”. The Mojo employs a semi-digital instrument console with a large analogue tachometer taking centre stage. 

The bike is powered by a 295cc liquid - cooled, single-cylinder engine fed through an electronic fuel-injection system expected to produce around 27PS at 8,000rpm and 30Nm at 6,000rpm. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a six-speed transmission. The Mojo had been loaded with goodies in its cycle parts like USD front forks, gas charged mono shock, LED pilot lamps and tail lamps, Pirelli Diablo Rosso Tyres and petal discs. Mahindra Plans to market as a touring motorcycle as the Mojo has a fuel tank capacity of 21 litres and 175mm ground clearance. Braking is done by disc brakes at front and rear while ABS has been given the miss to keep cost low. Talking about pricing, it is expected that the Mahindra Mojo will be priced around Rs 1.5 to 1.65 lakh (ex-showroom). 

Courtesy : Zigwheels

Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta will launch their bikes in India in partnership with the Kinetic Group starting in November, with prices ranging from Rs 12-33 lakh. We take a look at the MV Agusta Brutale 800, one of the entry level MV Agusta bikes

Legendary Italian superbike company MV Agusta will finally launch their bikes in India. With engines ranging in displacement from 800cc-1078cc and power output rating from 110-215PS, these bikes will certainly stir up the performance bike market in India.

Italian styling and the legendary MV Agusta badge though comes at a price and these bikes will have prices ranging from Rs 12 to Rs 33 lakh in the Indian market. The relatively high price tag is because these bikes will be brought in as CBUs and semi knocked down units. The company has not revealed yet which models are going to be launched in India, but the all-muscle naked street Brutale series is a very distinct possibility.

Here’s a close look at one of the entry-level MV Agustas, the Brutale 800 and what it has in store.

Looks and Styling:

One look, and the Brutale 800 clearly screams out performance and all-muscle naked street presence – mass forward design, muscular haunches and that unique blend of style and substance MV Agustas are known for.

Visually striking, the MV Agusta Brutale 800 is dominated by the almost completely exposed three-cylinder engine, cradled by the distinctive trellis frame on top and the compact exhaust system underneath. The Brutale’s character is underlined by that unique, large headlight unit and a distinctive three-section tailpipe that further adds to the stunning visual appeal of the MV Agusta Brutale.

Engine and Performance:

The MV Agusta Brutale 800 features a 798cc three-cylinder, 12-valve liquid and oil-cooled engine which makes over 126PS at 11,600rpm and maximum torque of 81Nm at 8,600rpm. Impressive figures comparable to litre-class bikes and with a weight of just 167kg, the Brutale promises to offer fantastic performance. Starting is electric and the three-pot mill is mated to a six-speed transmission. The three-cylinder engine employs exclusive technical solutions such as the counter-rotating crankshaft, used in MotoGP but never before seen on a production bike.

The engine of the Brutale 800 is mounted on a steel tubular trellis frame. In fact, outstanding handling is almost certain with MV Agusta’s exclusive composite structure: a front section made of steel trellis tubing combined with two light aluminium alloy plates to which the sculpted single-sided rear swingarm is attached.

Suspension and Brakes:

The MV Agusta Brutale 800 comes kitted out with an upside-down fork and monoshock with hydraulic and elastic response adjustment.  The 43mm upside-down fork provides 125mm of front wheel travel and is adjustable in compression, rebound and spring preload. The rear wheel, linked to the monoshock and swingarm, has a travel of 119 mm; again, the system is adjustable in compression, rebound and spring preload.

Braking system is also of the highest quality, featuring a pair of front 320mm discs with Brembo four-piston (32mm diameter) radial callipers. And at the rear, the rider can count on a high performance twin-piston (34mm diameter) Brembo caliper, which grips a 220mm disc.

Advanced Electronics:

The electronics package on the MV Agusta Brutale 800 is state-of-the-art and one of the most advanced systems seen on a bike in this category.  MV Agusta says advanced race technology electronics has been applied to a mass production motorcycle.

The MVICS (Motor & Vehicle Integrated Control System) platform includes, multi-map Full Ride by Wire with integrated traction control. And this ensures optimised delivery throughout the power range, maximum engine efficiency also in terms of fuel consumption and, of course, the ability to personalise engine performance by choosing one of the four available maps: three pre-set ones plus a map that can be customised by the rider. In addition, traction control ensures safety and performance on any road or track surface.

Competition and Market Positioning:

The Brutale 800 will be at the lower end of MV Agusta’s product offerings in India. It will be an attractive proposition for buyers who would want to include themselves in something exclusive and be a part of the legendary MV Agusta name. That also means the Brutale 800 will be priced somewhere around Rs 12-13 lakh. At that price, the MV Agusta Brutale will be a shade more expensive than the likes of the Ducati Monster 821, another brilliant exotic Italian muscular naked with a similar displacing engine.

But what the MV Agusta Brutale 800 will certainly do is take the fight straight to the likes of the Triumph Speed Triple and the Kawasaki Z1000, both litre-class bikes and offering comparable performance. Come November then, it will be open season. Let the games begin…

Courtesy : Zigwheels

The recall issued is to fix the poor seal used at the fuel inlet; potentially affects all models of the Street 750 built in 2015.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company has issued a recall for its entry-level Street 750 and Street 500 motorcycles. This recall potentially affects the 10,580 units manufactured between January 20, 2014 through June 24, 2015 in the U.S., and February 24, 2014 through July 15, 2015 in Bawal, India.

The recall has been issued to replace a faulty fuel pump module installed on the motorcycles. These pumps use a poor seal at the fuel inlet, which could fail, causing an interruption in the fuel supply to the engine. This leads to a brief ‘hesitation’ in power delivery under acceleration when the fuel level is low. According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, USA, this can happen when the fuel level is below three litres, even before the low fuel indicator light comes on.

The retaining feature which holds the fuel pump pick up to the fuel pump inlet may not maintain the necessary hydraulic seal. Once the inlet seals again, the hesitation may be followed by an abrupt restoration in power, and subsequently causing loss of control over the motorcycle and possibly a crash.

Harley-Davidson is taking steps to fix this issue free of charge for all owners with motorcycles from the affected batch. As a precautionary measure, the bike manufacturer has issued letters to owners requesting them to fuel up their tanks, and not ride any further than 160km without fuelling up again. They have also advised their dealers all over the world to sell, but not deliver these models to new customers unless they have been checked for the issue.

Harley-Davidson India, meanwhile, issued a circular saying, “Harley-Davidson confirms that it has voluntarily recalled model year 2015 Harley-Davidson Street family vehicles, of which the XG750 model is available in India. We identified that some of the motorcycles may have a poor seal at the fuel pump inlet, and have announced the recall in the interest of customer safety. We are committed to correcting this issue and are working with our dealers in India to notify customers and request them to bring their motorcycles in for inspection."

Courtesy : Autocar