The Most Accessible TRIPLE

November 2020

TRIUMPH INDIA ARE ALL SET TO WRITE A new chapter in their Indian journey. It is no secret that they have been working on a neo-retro naked motorcycle with a triplecylinder engine, called the Trident. Is the Trident all-new? Yes and no. The name is iconic and can be traced back to 1968 when it first appeared. During its tenure in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, the motorcycle earned the nickname “Slippery Sam” and won the Production class five times in a row from 1971 to 1975. Then the name surfaced once again in 1990, adorning the 750- and 900-cc triple-cylinder roadsters.

Now, in the 21st century, the Triumph Trident has resurfaced yet again as a 660-cc triple. In its latest avatar, this motorcycle aims to be one of the most accessible options in Triumph’s line-up (perhaps, the most accessible in India). In the Trident, the 660-cc, liquid-cooled, triple-cylinder engine develops 81 hp at 10,250 rpm and a peak torque of 64 Nm at 6,250 rpm. Transmission duties are handled by a six-speed gearbox supplemented by a slip-and-assist clutch with an up-and-down quick-shifter as an accessory.

Triumph claim that the new Trident will cater to a large spectrum of riders from people who are looking for their first big motorcycle experience to veterans who want a compact, well-built motorcycle.

Price? We expect the motorcycle to be priced close to Rs 7 lakh and at that price, it seems irresistible. On paper, at least...

THIS NEW MAKE-IT-YOURS (MIY) INITIATIVE ALLOWS NEW ROYAL ENFIELD buyers to personalize their motorcycle online while making a booking. Using a 3D configurator, customers can configure the bike and get a digital rendering to see what their mean machine would look like after the customization. A 3D configurator will allow customers access to thousands of possible combinations in personalization options with a choice of colourways, trims, graphics as well as genuine motorcycle accessories, right at the time of motorcycle booking. This digital feature is available on the Royal Enfield App, the website, and across 320 stores to begin with.

To begin with, this initiative has been offered only for the prospective customers of the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650, but soon the entire Royal Enfield line-up will benefit from it. The highlight remains that customers get factory-tested, trustworthy, and genuine motorcycle accessories that come with a two-year warranty.

POLARIS, THE PARENT COMPANY OF INDIAN MOTORCYCLE, HAS BEEN selling cruisers in India via the completely built-up unit (CBU) route since 2014. The newly appointed Country Manager, Lalit Sharma, has revealed that the company will continue to do this for a while, but also sees itself expanding marginally in the next couple of years.

Now that HarleyDavidson have wrapped up operations in our country in the current form, their traditional competitors, Indian Motorcycle, see this as a new opportunity. Sharma also hinted that Polaris India might look for a partner in India and come up with a small-capacity motorcycle in order to command a wider audience. Currently, they manufacture all the motorcycles in America and will soon start operations in Poland to meet the European demand. There is no word on whether there would be a plant in India, so we will have to wait for more details from the manufacturer.

Considering what many premium bike brands have been doing, we could see Polaris collaborate with a local manufacturer to produce small-capacity motorcycles for the masses.

THE HERO GLAMOUR BLAZE IS A SPECIAL EDITION VARIANT IN THE GLAMOUR SERIES THAT WILL ALSO bring a new feature to its segment: a USB charging port on the handlebar. This feature is generally seen on the big boys from Deutschland, Italy, and the Land of the Rising Sun, but now this small-capacity Indian commuter can be added to that list.

A USB charging port will come in handy for riders who cover long distances on a daily basis and rely on Google or similar apps for their routes. With the charging port now on the handlebar, a rider will be able to just plug his/her gadget into a point close to its mounting point.

The Hero Glamour Blaze will sport the BS6 124.7-cc XSens Programmed Fuel Injection, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that makes 10.8 hp and 10.6 Nm of torque. Transmission is taken care of by a five-speed gearbox. In addition, the Hero Glamour Blaze also sports i3S (idle start-stop system), together with Auto Sail Technology. The bike will come in a new Matt Vernier Grey colour and will be priced at Rs 72,200 (ex-showroom).

The Suzuk Access 125 and Burgman Street now get a Bluetooth-enabled digital console which allows the rider to sync his/her mobile phone with the scooter’s console. It provides turn-by-turn navigation, calls, SMS and WhatsApp alerts, estimated time of arrival, missed calls and caller ID, speed warning, and phone battery charge-level display. The ‘Suzuki Ride Connect’ app is exclusively available for Android users as of now. The updated Access 125 is priced between Rs 77,700 and Rs 78,600, while the Burgman Street 125 costs Rs 84,600 (all prices ex-showroom).

HONDA MOTORCYCLE AND SCOOTER INDIA (HMSI) ARE WORKING ON A new motorcycle for India which will be their least expensive model. Most companies are looking at cashing in on the rising demand for personal mobility due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Honda don’t want to be left behind.

The new commuter will be positioned under the CD 110 range and will be targeted at smaller cities and rural areas. Previously, HMSI had tried to offer a sturdy scooter to this market with the Cliq 110 which, unfortunately, did not have many takers and the model has been discontinued now. This has prompted HMSI, India’s second largest two-wheeler makers, to focus on developing a motorcycle for buyers in the semi-urban and rural areas. The company sees good potential for a basic, entry-level motorcycle ranging in price between Rs 49,000 and Rs 59,000. This will also help Honda bridge the gap and come closer to India’s top two-wheeler makers, Hero MotoCorp.

It will be interesting to see how the Japanese automotive giant differentiates the new commuter model in terms of design, performance, and features. Stay tuned for more on this one.

THE YAMAHA MOTORCYCLE CONNECT X USES BLUETOOTH TO CONNECT THE motorcycle with smartphones and is now available as standard with the new Yamaha FZS-FI Dark Knight variant. Due to this the model has become slightly more expensive and now costs Rs 1.07 lakh (ex-showroom). Existing BS6 Yamaha FZS-FI or FZ-FI 150 owners can get this connected technology installed on their bikes by paying Rs 3,000 at select authorized Yamaha dealerships.

The connected features offered include Answer Back, E-Lock, Locate My Bike, and Hazard. It also keeps a record of individual bike trip details on your phone, such as the distance travelled, average speed, and battery voltage.

The good news is that Motofumi Shitara, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India Group of Companies, has revealed that the Yamaha Motorcycle Connect X will be available across their entire two-wheeler line-up soon.

earlier, the BS6 BMW G 310 R and G 310 GS have now become more affordable than ever before. The G 310 R has received a price cut of Rs 54,000 while the G 310 GS has shed Rs 64,000. That should be enough to allow BMW Motorrad to take the fight to motorcycles from the KTM range and the TVS Apache RR 310.

While the styling of both the bikes remains intact, they have received a few small but crucial visual upgrades. Both motorcycles now don fresh colours and graphics that make them much more visually striking than before. They also get BMW LED lighting all around and adjustable levers for the brake and clutch like their larger siblings.

In terms of rider aids, the motorcycles come equipped with ride-by-wire, dualchannel ABS, and slipper clutch as standard. They continue to be powered by the familiar 313-cc, four-valve, DOHC, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that develops the same figures as the BS4 model, 34 hp at 9,500 rpm and a peak torque of 28 Nm at 7,500 rpm. BMW Motorrad claim that this will propel the motorcycles from 0 to 50 km/h in 2.5 seconds and then on to a top speed of 143 km/h. The “R” has been launched in Cosmic Black, Polar White, and “Style Sport” in Limestone Metallic body colours. The ‘GS’ can be had in Polar White, ‘40 years of GS’ Edition in Cosmic Black and ‘Style Rallye’ in Kyanite Blue Metallic colours.

carrying forward the legacy of the legendary CB brand with the introduction of the Honda H’ness CB 350. The motorcycle will be made in India and currently is an exclusive product for our market. It retains the original look of the CB models with its classic design elements and features a round LED headlamp, a teardrop-shaped fuel-tank, a digi-analogue speedometer, and a chrome exhaust pipe.

There will be two variants, DLX and DLX Pro, and the latter can be distinguished by the dual-tone colour option, smartphone voice control, and a dual-horn. The bike will get alloy-wheels as standard on both variants.

Mechanically, both variants will be the same.

Powering the new H’ness CB 350 is a 348.36-cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that puts out 21 hp at 5,500 rpm and a peak torque of 30 Nm at 3,000 rpm. It comes mated to a five-speed gearbox.

Other features include Honda Selectable Torque

Control (HSTC), turn-by-turn navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, a phone charger, and much more. For suspension, the Honda uses a telescopic front fork and twin shock-absorbers at the rear. Braking hardware comprises discs at both ends with dual-channel ABS.

The DLX is available for Rs 1.85 lakh while the DLX Pro costs Rs 1.90 lakh (ex-showroom prices), making it the most affordable motorcycle to be offered at the premium Honda BigWing dealerships in India.