Bike sales December 2015: Honda 2 wheelers sell 306,779 units; captures 25% market share

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) registered overall sales of 306,779 units for the month of December 2015, down from 3,48,737 units in December 2014. Out of the current numbers, scooter sales stood at 198,332 units while motorcycle sales stood at 92,380 units. Export sales came to 16.067 units for the same period. The market share claimed by Honda for December 2015 in the domestic market is 25%, while the domestic as well as export market combined market share stood 22%.

Till December 2015 of the current fiscal year, HMSI sold a total of 3,354,831 units. Of these, scooter sales stood at 2,079,833 units while motorcycle sales accounted for 1,125,678 units. Export sales stood at 149,320 units in the current fiscal during April to December, 2015. The market share claimed by Honda in the domestic market is 26% while the Domestic and export market share accounted for 24% of the overall market share.

Honda 2 wheelers brought in a street naked sports bike in the form of the CB Hornet 160R – one of the first mainstream bikes in India to meet BS-IV emission norms. The motorcycle will be available for sale in 2 variants with the price starting from Rs 79,900 (Ex-Showroom, New Delhi).

The company also came out with an exclusive booking app available on the android as well as the iOS platform known as the CB Hornet 160R. Honda advanced the CB Hornet 160R’s availability from the planned 21 cities to 53 cities as the number of downloads crossed 40,000 mark.

Honda also went on to win 3 awards in December 2015 namely the manufacturer of the year 2 wheeler, motorcycle of the year up to 160 cc, and the motorcycle of the Year up to 110 cc all under the NDTV Car & Bike awards 2016.

New Hyosung GT300R and GT650R India launch said to be scheduled in June 2016

Hyosung showcased its new product line up at the 2015 EICMA motorcycle show including the new GT300R and the updated GT650R. While the Korean two-wheeler maker did not reveal any specific details about the India launch time frame, the folks at motoring portal Bike Advice report that the GT duo would be launched by mid 2016. Shirish Kulkarni, chairman of DSK Motowheels confirmed that the GT duo should arrive in Indian showrooms by May-June 2016. He added that the GT300R and GT650R are yet to reach the production ready stage.

The GT300R will replace the GT250R and will be propelled by a 275cc V-twin engine. The twin motor will deliver 28 PS of power at 10,500 rpm and 23.5 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm. The motorcycle will also come equipped with a dual channel ABS as standard and an updated design. The updated refreshed GT650R, on the other hand, gets a 647cc  V-twin motor delivering 74.4 PS of power and 54.4 Nm of torque.

There is no word on the pricing front but the new motorcycles, with their added list of features, are expected to carry a slightly premium price tag. As aforementioned, both motorcycles will reach Indian shores by mid 2016. We would bring you all the updates about the new GT300R and GT650R as and when they arrive. Meanwhile, share your views about the new GT duo from Hyosung through the comments section below.

Yamaha YZF-R3 named as the Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2016

The Indian auto industry’s most definitive awards, recognising the country’s best car and motorcycle of the year are back. The movers and shakers who took away the coveted awards this year are Hyundai Creta and Yamaha YZF-R3. In this article we will talk about the Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2016. The Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) is the recognition of the finest and best performing motorcycle launched in the last one year.

Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Limited, Bob Rupani, Chairman ICOTY 2016 and Aspi Bhathena, Chairman, IMOTY 2016, presented the Indian Motorcycle of the Year trophy to the Yamaha Motor Company on behalf of the jury of IMOTY 2016.

This year, the final short list of contenders saw a dozen cars and motorcycles battling it out for two of the automobile industry’s highest honours. The chosen ones were then put through a further round of assessment by the jury members at Lonavla on 4th December 2015. After a strenuous session of evaluation followed by voting, the top three contenders for the Indian Motorcycle of the Year awardwere the Yamaha R3, Benelli TNT 300 and Honda CBR650F. The nominated motorcycles were judged on various parameters such as price, fuel economy, styling, comfort, safety, performance, practicality, and technical innovation, value for money and suitability for Indian riding conditions.

Aspi Bhatena, Chairman, IMOTY 2016 commented on the winning motorcycle, “IMOTY 2016 has been one of the toughest awards for the Jury in the last eight years as we had lot of very good motorcycles launched during 2015 but most of them were priced on the high side unlike 2014 where the Harley Davidson street 750 was priced at Rs 4.5 lakhs.”

Presenting the Splinter, a high-performance 700 hp seven-litre V8 sports car made out of Wood!

What happens when you give a ton of wooden composites, laminated wood veneers, wooden arms and springs, wooden wheels and a small block 7.0 liter Twin-supercharged V8 powermill to a guy named Joe Harmon? He builds world’s first high-performance 700 hp wooden supercar out of it, and calls it the ‘Splinter’.

Started as an ambitious graduate school project at North Carolina State University in 2008, the Splinter pushed the line on the perceived limitations of wood as a building material.  The project fulfilled the designer’s dream of designing and building a car from scratch. This year marked the completion of the project and the Splinter was showcased at the 2015 Essen Motor Show.

The Splinter is inspired from the ‘de Havilland Mosquito’, the fastest piston-driven aircraft from the World War II era. Dubbed as the ‘Wooden Wonder’, the British multi-role combat aircraft was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce V12 engines and was made almost entirely out of wood. Similar to the aircraft, the high performance Splinter is built from a combination of laminated and bent wood veneers, with a bodywork of woven veneer.

With a goal to use wood in every application in the construction of the car, the team built the body, chassis, suspension components, wheels and interiors from wood. Almost all components were created through custom moulds which were then shaped with precision and then fitted together to build the structure. At 1345 kgs Splinter is claimed to have a better power-to-weight ratio than steel and aluminum vehicles.

As for the body design, the team designed and built two looms by weaving strips of veneer into a cloth-like material.  The compound curvature on the Splinter was achieved by woven cherry skins, and end grain balsa core.

The Splinter drives on Michelin Pilot Sport tyres fixed on three-piece forged aluminum rims with laminated wood centers. Each wheel is built with 275 individual pieces. The outside face is covered by walnut sunburst and a cherry sunburst on the inside. All the pieces of wood were bonded together with the help of various adhesive compounds.

On the project, Joe Harmon said that the combination of Splinter’s weight, shape, powerplant and transmission is capable of reaching speeds of up to 240 mph (386 km/h), but the car is unlikely to be put to the test in this regard. He further added,“Practicality is a minor deal, I don’t know how many 700-horsepower supercars are practical. It’s about style and performance and this car will have all that in spades. This car will not be a grocery getter”

The power figures of the Splinter are not out yet, since the maker seems to be hesitant to put it to the tests. So for now we have to be stay happy with tech specs only.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY ANNOUNCED FOR 2016 KAWASAKI MODELS IN UK

Pricing and availability announced for 2016 Kawasaki models in UK – and exclusive K-Options finance offer available on ZX-10R
Kawasaki UK has announced the prices for the full 2016 range – including the brand new Ninja ZX-10R, J125, ZZR1400 and ZZR1400 Performance Sport models.





Developed directly with the Kawasaki Racing Team, the new Ninja ZX-10R is the closest thing customers will get to riding the World Superbike machine. Featuring a whole host of new innovations in terms of chassis, engine and electronic upgrades, the potential of the new machine as a track day weapon and a road riders dream is considerable. It will be priced at £13,649 for the Metallic Matt Carbon grey and £13,799 for the KRT Colour scheme.

Just 75 Winter Edition ZX-10R machines are arriving in the UK. With the same matt black and white livery as the Ninja’s tested by the World Superbike Team, the new machine features the KRT ‘Snowflake’ logo, plus the Japanese kanji ‘fuyu’ character which means winter. It comes with a road-legal Akrapovic silencer as standard, as well as stainless plates on the yoke denoting its limited edition status as ‘One of only 75’ 2016 Winter Test editions. Grab yourself a piece of Kawasaki history for £14,399. Ninja ZX-10R’s are due in UK showrooms in the last week of January.

Also joining the 2016 range are the special Z800 and Z1000 ‘Sugomi Editions’ – machines that take Kawasaki’s styling and engineering concept to the next level with new Candy Crimson Red and black colour treatments, plus accent anodising and model specific Akrapovic silencers for each machine. The Z800 Sugomi Edition is priced at £8,349 and the Z1000 is £10,749.

Car Care: Things to Check Before Starting Your Car

The most frustrating thing about owning and driving a car in a city on a daily basis is the fact that eventually, one of the days it will have a breakdown. 

For reasons ranging from a flat tyre to general maintenance ignorance to pathetic road conditions of India. 

So, we have come up with a simple check list that you can perform every time you start the car – or at least before the first start of the day in order to prevent unnecessary delays. 

THE CHECKLIST: 

From Outside: 

– Start by checking whether the tyres are properly inflated – it is always better if you have a pressure gauge, but in any case just check if the pressure is visibly low in any of the tyres. It is also advisable to properly check tyres every fortnight and re-inflate them (including spare tyre) to their recommended pressures. You can also lightly kick a tyre or two – not only to make you feel a little better about the task, but also for the good luck charm! 

– Thoroughly check under your car and in some case even on top, for stray dogs and cats. Why? Well, I don’t think we need an explanation for this one! 

–  If you are one of those souls who frequently park their car in the public parking spaces – which, by the way are almost non-existent these days – then you will know better about the unwanted ads and pamphlets that are forcefully stuck under your wiper blades / mirror housings / door-handles etc. Please check and thrown them away (in the bins people, keep thy city clean!) before getting inside the car. Needless to say it is very irritating to step out for this reason. 

– You might as well want to check if it is your car and this bit is really simple – it will open and more importantly start with your key. No, believe us, we have come across people who end up unlocking someone else’s car and not realising it until they actually get inside!

On the Inside: 

– Check and adjust your seat position and also adjust the rear view mirrors. Get an ergonomically comfortable driving position is of utmost importance. 

– Before you turn-on the engine, check if A/C, headlights and other electronics are shut-off – your car will mostly start trouble free even with these on, but then they will certainly affect your car battery’s life and in most modern cars – it could ruin the vital electrical too. 

– After you turn-on the ignition, wait for all warning lights in the instrument cluster to illuminate before starting the car. Once you start the car all the lights should disappear in a moment except handbrake warning light. (Hope you pull the handbrake, every time you park your car –of course, that is a different checklist – “things to do when you park your car”). In case any light remains on like Oil level indicator or battery, get you car checked from an authorised service centre. 

– This might sound a little silly, but can be a lot of pain if ignored. Always do remember to check if there is enough fuel in the car to at least reach the nearest fuel station. 

– Now the last thing to do is to ensure that all headlamp and indicator bulbs are working fine; and though we suggest that the usage of horn should be minimal, it is still important to check that it is working – as we still drive on the great Indian roads! 

To conclude, the most important thing to practice and perfect if your observation skills when it comes to your beloved cars. Being observant and being able to put a pin on a thing that is shown a change, will go a long way in making sure that you are not held back by the side a of a road with a broken car.

Ferrari reveals the F12tdf

Ferrari reveals the F12tdf which pays homage to the Tour de France, the legendary endurance road race that Ferrari dominated in the 1950s and ‘60s, particularly with the 1956 250 GT Berlinetta which won four consecutive editions. It was a race that rewarded cars that combined maximum performance with the driveability and ease of use that enabled the competitors to race for hundreds of kilometres a day over fast, tortuous roads and on circuits. The F12tdf is the ultimate expression of the concept of an extreme road car that is equally at home on the track, and just 799 will be built.

The F12tdf is a concentration of technical innovations which involve all those areas central to Ferrari’s DNA: engine, aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics. As a result, in terms of acceleration, roadholding and agility, the new berlinetta is second to none.

The F12tdf’s performance is assured by the 780 cv, naturally-aspirated V12 derived directly from the F12berlinetta’s multi-award-winning engine. The car’s exhilarating dynamic behaviour, specifically its lateral acceleration in corners, is due to an 8% increase in the ratio of the front tyres compared to the rear ones. 


The car’s natural tendency to oversteer as a result of the change in tyre sizes is compensated for by the innovative rear-wheel steering system – known as the Virtual Short Wheelbase, which is integrated with the other vehicle dynamic control systems – that guarantees the steering wheel response times and turn-in of a competition car while increasing stability at high speed. 

Cornering speeds are also higher thanks to the significant increase in downforce - +87% - which has reached unprecedented levels for a front-engined V12 berlinetta.

A radical redesign of the bodywork, interior, engine, transmission and running gear, along with the abundant use of carbon-fibre inside and out, has slashed 110 kg off the car’s overall weight.

All of these factors combine to produce record performance figures: 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 7.9 seconds in addition to a substantial boost in lateral acceleration. The F12tdf laps Fiorano in just 1’21”.

Outstanding stopping distances are guaranteed by the adoption of the new Extreme Design one-piece brake callipers already seen on the LaFerrari. This new-generation system means the car can brake from 100-0 km/h in just 30.5 m and from 200-0 in 121 m.

Unveiled: The 2015 Honda CB Twister 250

Honda has been in the spotlight for the past few days for its surprise strike with the prickly CBR250RR- a concept that still has time to see daylight. As for the present day- the Japanese manufacturer has unveiled the 2015 Honda CB Twister 250 for the Brazilian market.

Powering the new Honda is a single cylinder air cooled 249.5cc DOHC fuel injected motor with an oil cooler that produces a healthy 22.6 bhp of max power @ 7500 rpm and peak torque of 22.4 nm @ 6000 rpm transmitted to the rear wheel through a six speed gearbox. Like other Brazilian oriented motorcycles- the engine on the new Twister 250 has been tuned to run on ethanol premix fuel.

The 2015 Honda CB Twister 250 is held together by a diamond frame and suspended on conventional telescopic front suspension with 130mm travel and a 108mm travel monoshock at the rear. The 5 spoke alloy wheels have been shod with 110/70-17 at the front and 140/70-17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso tyres at the rear. The ABS equipped braking setup includes a twin piston caliper mounted over a 276mm single disc upfront and a single pot mounted 220 mm single disc at the rear.

The cockpit looks modern with a full digital LCD display comprising of a speedometer with large readout, a cascading bar tachometer with a 9000 rpm redline, clock, twin trip meters and fuel gauge for the 16.5 litre tank. Also indicators for fuel pump, refueling, ABS and tell tale lights have been provided.

The styling is very similar to Brazil specific Honda CB300R and it needs to be seen if the 2015 Honda CB Twister 250 will be sold alongside the CB300R or if the latter is slated to be phased out and be replaced by the new 250.

2015 HONDA CB TWISTER 250 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

ENGINE	249.5cc Air Cooled 4 valve single cylinder with electronic fuel injection
POWER:	22.6 bhp @ 7500 rpm
TORQUE:	22.4 nm @ 6000 rpm
TRANSMISSION:	Six Speed
FRAME	STEEL, DIAMOND
DIMENSIONS (L x W x H)	2,065 mm x 753 mm x 1,072 mm
SEAT HEIGHT	784 mm
WHEELBASE	1386 mm
SUSPENSION:	130mm front telescopic, 108mm rear monoshock
BRAKES:	276mm single disc with twin piston caliper 220mm single disc with single piston caliper With ABS
TYRES	Pirelli Diablo Rosso, 110/70-17 (front) 140/70-17 (rear)
WEIGHT:	137 kgs. With ABS- 139 kgs
FUEL CAPACITY:	16.5 litres

J&D Custom builds a brat bob from a Bajaj Pulsar

Vadodara based J&D Custom and Co. sent us these images of their latest build, which involves transforming a Bajaj Pulsar 220 into a brat style bobber, something, that its creator Jay D. Patel thinks is a one-of-a-kind specimen in India. Apart from the engine, transmission, rims and front forks, everything else has been fabricated in-house. The oval shaped petrol tank has been built from scratch, replete with a chrome cap, while half the frame, the custom swing-arm complimenting a mono-shock suspension have been all built or assembled in house as well.

However, Jay takes special pride in how the custom handlebar has turned out. All plastic switches from the stock handlebar has been done away with, and replaced with metal switches. He says “Handlebar was most challenging part of this whole build, because we got digital 2013 model pulsars which have all digital systems in it. So we can’t put metal switches with those digital systems, because every switch is connected with some sensors. So it was very difficult to customize that digital wiring & make a unique & simple thing.”

He adds that repeated trips to mechanics, wiremen and even some Bajaj guys in order to resolve the issue went futile, as they advised him agaianist it. Not wanting to give up, Jay burnt the midnight oil on hard work and research, and ultimately appointed all the metal switches succesfully. He also thinks that that they are the most eye-catching part of the whole build.

The grips are crafted out of brass, while illumination is handled by a vintage yellow 5 inch headlamp accompanied by two white LED fog lamps. The tail lamp is hand-crafted, and features LED elements which “shine like a rear red light of formula one car”. LED side blinkers also went into the mix. The alloy wheels are stock, but don a mirror finish contrasted with strips painted in black.

This custom motorcycle was built for a client, who insisted on a comfortable seat, hence the black leather job with more cushioning for the pillion rider, complimented by quilted stitching. A chromed tool box with leather belts and a warped, custom exhaust try to uplift the vintage charm. The foot pegs and levers have also been crafted in-house. Most of the wiring has been hidden with copper piping.

While the frame and swing-arm are painted in black, the tank and custom made side panels are painted with metallic bronze paint & airbrushed with off-white strips with the  J&D logo on it.

Honda Livo 110 India review : Prudent Panache

The Indian two wheeler industry may have witnessed the launch of numerous new performance motorcycles of late, but the business is still defined by the fuel efficient commuter motorcycles for the economy conscious junta. The extremely fierce 100-110cc segment is crowded with many offerings from various manufacturers. Similar engines are being used across various models that differ based on the tastes of an evolved target consumer who demands a more stylish approach towards commuting while enjoying the benefits of a frugal workhorse.

The Honda Livo is one such offering that targets this very category of buyers that wants to straddle the value and image proposition. We find out if the new Honda makes a case case for itself in the crowded segment it represents. So here its, our detailed India review of the Honda Livo 110.

Styling, features and build quality

The biggest USP of the new Honda Livo 110 is its styling. One look and it’s easy to confuse the new Honda with a 125 or even a 150cc motorcycle. The perception changes, though as you shift your focus to the skinny rear tyre. The styling looks fresh for the segment with a more angular design lending a sporty image to the Honda Livo. Let’s cover the styling and features in detail with some support from images:

• The two tone bikini fairing sets the tone for the overall aggressive styling of the Livo. The Livo shows off its angry face with faux air scoops on either sides of the multi reflector headlamp while the wind screen integrates itself between sharp slashes of the bikini fairing.

• Body coloured mirrors for that added dash of style

• The 8.5 litre tank looks much bigger than the capacity – thanks to a muscular design

• Fuel tank extensions with a 3D emblem impart the Livo with an aggressive front look

• The side panels finished in black plastic continue the angular design theme with sharp cuts and creases and neatly integrate into the rear panel. Detaching and fixing the panel needs some learning though.

• The rear panel reminds us of the Hero Honda Ambition 135, nonetheless, retains the overall beefy styling of the Livo 110 at the far end.

• The dashboard with analogue readouts looks relatively modern comprising of the speedometer, odometer, fuel gauge and tell tale indicators.

• Conventional front telescopic suspension has been tuned towards softness and swallows minor to medium undulations with ease.

• Twin shock absorbers at the rear have been set to moderate stiffness for added weight of the co-rider.

• Single 240mm disc at the front offers adequate stopping ability for the performance on offer

• 130mm drum brake at the rear offers enough hold to complement the front brake

• Six spoke alloy wheels come shod with tubeless Ceat Zoom Plus tyres that offer decent grip in dry and wet conditions

• The storage compartment can squeeze in vehicles documents, a first aid and tool kit.

• The blacked out exhausts looks similar to the one on the Twister but with lengthier dimensions

• The multi-reflector headlight offers good low beam spread but average high beam illumination

• A large multi-reflector tail light offers adequate brightness to let the trailing traffic know when you brake.

• The seat is broad and well cushioned for a comfortable ride for both rider and pillion

• A plastic chain cover guards the drive chain

• Switchgear is constructed of good quality plastics and (thankfully) comes with a pass switch. It takes time getting used to as it’s placed higher than ideal.

• Handlebar grips are soft and offer a comfortable grab

Build quality on the Honda Livo is similar to other offerings in Honda’s lineup and buyers shouldn’t be complaining of any rough edges on the motorcycle. The plastics merge into each other with clean lines and there are no signs of squeaks and rattles while riding over undulations or at high speeds.

Engine and performance

The Honda Livo uses the same motor as utilized by the Twister albeit with Honda’s Eco Technology (HET) in a marginally detuned state for better rideability. This is evident from the numbers – it produces the maximum power and torque at 500 revs less in comparison to the Twister. Power and torque figures read 8.2 bhp @ 7500 rpm and 8.63 nm @ 5500 rpm respectively.

The engine feels grunty and surprisingly noisy if we have to recollect our past experiences of riding the commuter offerings from Honda. But never does the noise translate into harshness at the pegs or handlebars even while pushed to the limit. The four speed all-up gearbox is smooth with gear ratios packed in close proximity for dealing with the everyday traffic chores.

First gear is extremely short with the second placed slightly wider with third and fourth gear again placed closer to each other. This is evident while riding up inclines with a pillion on board where the second gear needs higher revs to pull confidently. Though we managed to achieve a top speed of 102 kph, the Honda Livo 110 feels best when ridden at everyday speeds between 40-60 kph. Getting close or over the 60 kph mark and the engine starts getting audible, which is very uncharacteristic of Honda. Overall the engine traits of the Honda Livo suit the everyday riding pattern best and works very well in a stop-go scenario.

Handling, ride quality and braking

Handling is a USP of the Honda Livo. It’s certainly a far cry from a tearaway performance machine, but maintains amazing poise when pushed to the limit. It goes around corners even at top grunt with great confidence showing no signs of wobble or nervousness. The Ceat Zoom plus tyres at both ends offer surprisingly good grip. Peg scraping is easy and enormous fun on this one. It was fun diving into bends maintaining the straightline speeds where the everyday riders on bigger commuter motorcycles would slow down and we’d go around them with a wide grin on our faces, only to be overtaken later.

The Livo feels extremely agile and effortless when flicking and squeezing it through the slow moving traffic. The balance on the motorcycle is so good that we wished it had more power for spirited riding.

Ride quality on the Honda Livo feels plush with the well cushioned seat offering great comfort to the rider and pillion. the suspension soaks up moderately bad surfaces without much hint to the rider and even speed breakers of a vicious variety are easily dealt with. Its only when the undulations get sizeable where the front end, due to its soft setting emanates an audible thud. But overall, the suspension setup is near perfect for dealing with Indian road conditions.

Talking of brakes- the Honda Livo offers a 240mm single disc (optional) at the front complemented by a 130mm drum at the rear. The front setup is progressive, predictable and with a grippy set of tyres – offers ample feedback to the rider, making him aware of all the interactions between the rubber and the tarmac. The Livo sheds speed seamlessly and throws no surprises at the rider even under hard braking and we cannot praise the grip and brakes on this one highly enough.

Summing it up

The Honda Livo 110 as highlighted earlier is targeted towards the modern commuter who wants a true blend of style and value. The Livo is a frugal, no nonsense motorcycle with an added dash of modern styling and it succeeds in its objective of creating the right brew. We clocked over 300 km of riding (solo and two up) in all possible conditions and the fuel efficiency varied between 65 – 72 kpl, which falls short of Honda’s claim of 78 kpl, but it still is a fabulous figure.

The Honda Livo is comfortable, handles and brakes well- and overall ticks all the boxes that one looks for in a motorcycle in the given segment. We weren’t exactly thrilled by the refinement level on this one though. Another point the Livo lacks at is the price. At INR 65,253/- (Self-Disc-Alloy model) OTR Mumbai- not only is it more expensive than the competition, but not too far away from Honda’s very own best selling Shine, which is available at a premium of just INR 3000/- over the Livo. With that small a difference in price, the only big advantage it has over the 125cc machine is the fuel efficiency.

The Livo is meant very specifically for those who want the style and image of a bigger bike, with the economy and efficiency of an everyday commuter. For that audience, the Livo does make a lot of sense, as it is arguably the best looking motorcycle in its space.