16 Auto Expo 2008 Coverage: Bajaj Auto [New XCD DTSi Sprint + Wallpaper]

Bajaj Auto responds to the TVS Flame and how...!! The XCD DTSi Sprint will be the Most Powerful 125 cc in the Indian Two Wheeler Market..!!

Bajaj XCD Sprint DTSi
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Just as TVS gets ready to launch its three valve 125 cc Flame, Bajaj is preparing to launch a 4 Valve DTS-i (its Digital Twin Spark Plug technology) based 125 cc XCD Sprint DTS-i..!!

The sprint has been designed to excite the 100-125 cc customer who is also looking for some "Speed-Masti". I was lucky to speak to the Brand Manager of the XCD who was present there today. The Max Power of the XCD Sprint DTS-i as told to me by him would be 12.5 BHP..!!

Which means that the XCD Sprint will be the new Performance King in the 125 cc segment, overtaking the (11 BHP) Yamaha Gladiator..!!



The launch of this product according to the brand manager of the XCD would be in the first quarter of 2008. That means roughly by March-April 2008.


Not only the XCD would be the most powerful in its class, I found the new XCD Sprint to be better and more radical looking than its rival, the TVS Flame.



Except for the tank, the front mudguard and the turn blinkers, the XCD features a completely new bodywork.

The tank has attractive extensions which has a classy chrome strip running across its length. The top portion of the tank has a matt black plastic design element to it. The XCD Sprint DTSi has Gas Filled "Nitrox" shock absorbers, front disc brakes, a new digital speedometer and the back lit switches (with auto cancel turn indicators), which have also been taken from the bigger Pulsars.



The side and tail panels are new and the footrests now are on an aluminium subframe. The XCD Sprint DTSi also features split rear grab rails and an exposed chain with a half chain cover. The XCD Sprint DTSi also gets a new handlebar with weighted bar ends.

The "Freaky" LED Tail Lamp of the XCD Sprint DTSi

The Headlamp is a Work of Art and so is the "Sexy" looking LED Tail Light assembly. The whole package manages to give the XCD a "freaky" character.






The only sore thumb in the entire visual package according to me is the old-chrome fuel filler lid.

The complete specs of the 125 cc XCD Sprint DTSi will soon be published..

Keep Posted.

Disclaimer:

This is to remind that the Views or Opinions in the blog are entirely mine unless explicitly stated. The Views and Opinions published in this blog should in no way be related to any other person or organization associated -- directly or indirectly -- with me.

20 Auto Expo 2008 Coverage: Yamaha India + Yamaha YZF-R15 Wallpaper

Yamaha drops a BOMB in the "desi" two wheeler market..!! Unveils the YAMAHA YZF-R15 in Auto Expo 2008..!!

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According to the Yamaha guys present there, this bike should soon make it into the Indian Market soon...

The Yamaha YZF-R15 sports a Full Fairing with Twin Headlamps, has a "Delta" Frame and a "Water Cooled" Engine, a Monoshock Rear suspension and a 6-Speed gearbox. I am not quite sure whether the YZF-R15 features Fuel Injection (will clarify and post about it later).

"The Official Word/Confirmation for the Tech Specs (BHP) for the YZF-R15 is still not out.."

The specs that a Yamaha guy standing at the Yamaha Pavilion at the Auto Expo told me for the YZF-R15 was..

• Engine Capacity: 150 cc



• Maximum Power: 16 BHP



• Price: Rs. 90,000

But let me tell you that the Official Word/Confirmation for the Tech Specs for the YZF-R15 is still not out. Even the Yamaha Weblink for the YZF-R15 doesn't say anything about the engine capacity and the Max. Power figures.


The Tech Specs for the YZF-R15 available at the Yamaha Website are:

• Tyre Front: 80/90 - 17 inch tubeless



• Tyre Rear: 100/80 - 17 inch tubeless



• Brakes: Front- Disc, Rear- Disc



• Fuel Tank: 12 Litres



• Wheelbase: 1290 mm



• Min Ground Clearance: 160 mm

The YZF-R1 has a cover for the Pillion Seat, which when put on makes it a Single Seater. Sweet..!! Also the "Exhaust Can" is good looking and enhances the looks of the YZF-R15 further.

Cover for the Pillion Seat makes it a Single Seater.

The Tail light could have improved in design though and a fatter 120 section rear tyre (like the Pulsar 200,220) instead of the 100/80 could have gelled with the looks of the bike better.

Tail Lamp and the 100/80 section Rear Tyre

"I salute Yamaha for not resorting to another half hearted attempt. This time the YZF-R15 definitely looks like a genuine and honest attempt..!!"

The Yamaha YZF-R15 when launched is without doubt going to be the Best Looking Bike in India. The YZF-R15 is laden with all the features that any desi biker could ask for.

My only concern would be that this beauty deserves at least a 180 cc engine and should belt out at least 18 BHP to do justice to it's sports bike looks. 16 BHP would actually be a little dissappionting.

Lets wait for the Official Confirmation for the engine capacity and the BHP figures. But I salute Yamaha for not resorting to another half hearted attempt. This time the YZF-R15 definitely looks like a genuine and honest attempt..!!




I hope that it is more than 16 BHP..

Disclaimer:

This is to remind that the Views or Opinions in the blog are entirely mine unless explicitly stated. The Views and Opinions published in this blog should in no way be related to any other person or organization associated -- directly or indirectly -- with me.

2 Auto Expo 2008 Coverage: Honda, Suzuki, Hero Honda

Auto Expo 2008 Coverage of Hero Honda, Honda and Suzuki pavilions..

# Hero Honda: Hero Honda has managed to set up the most exciting pavilion among the two wheeler makers.

Just hold your horses..!! What I mean is that the "LOOK" of the Hero Honda Pavilion is the most attractive among the rest. On entering the Hero Honda Pavilion you will be greeted by thumping music and dim lights which will instantly remind you of being in a Discotheque.

Hero Honda Pavilion @ AutoExpo 2008

"If you are really lucky like me, you will most probably get to see a Fashion Show..!!"

In the center of the Pavilion there is an artificial waterfall, behind which two Honda Dirt Bikes are hung vertically. Bikes from Hero Honda stables like the 100 cc passion to the Karizma and the recent Hunk surround the entire setting.

If you are really lucky like me, you will most probably get to see a Fashion Show which goes around the elevated ramp constructed around the Hero Honda Pavilion.

Fashion Show at the Hero Honda Pavilion

By the way.. there are no new products on display.



# Honda: Honda (HMSI) had the usual Shine, Unicorn, Activa, Dio display..


.. two concept bikes and a few imports..


.. and unveiling (the Big Launch) of a 102 cc scooter called the "Aviator"..!!

Honda "Aviator" being launched

# Suzuki: Suzuki India had some Japanese bikes on display on one side of their pavilion and on the other side, the usual 125 cc Heat, Zeus and the newly launched Scooter was on display.







Can somebody tell me why exactly am I writing this post..??





Disclaimer:

This is to remind that the Views or Opinions in the blog are entirely mine unless explicitly stated. The Views and Opinions published in this blog should in no way be related to any other person or organization associated -- directly or indirectly -- with me.

15 Concept Bike from Honda (HMSI) @ Auto Expo 2008

Pics of the Concept bike from Honda India (HMSI)..

Here are the Pics (Courtesy XBHP.Com) of the Concept Bike from Honda India (HMSI) called the Concept CBF which will be on display at the HMSI Pavilion (at Hall No. 7) in Auto Expo 2008..

Honda Concept CBF Sports

Honda Concept CBF Racing

Please note that the bikes shown above are "Concept" Bikes which means that the chances of these bikes making it into the production line most probably is slim.

Why is it there then..?? To gauge public reaction..??

Disclaimer:

This is to remind that the Views or Opinions in the blog are entirely mine unless explicitly stated. The Views and Opinions published in this blog should in no way be related to any other person or organization associated -- directly or indirectly -- with me.

6 Visited Auto Expo Today, Stalls are being prepared: Part-2 [Honda/Suzuki/TVS/Yamaha]

Visited Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and TVS pavilions at the Auto Expo 2008..

The pavilions for Honda (HMSI), Suzuki, Yamaha, and TVS are situated in hall no. 7. Construction work was going on in these halls as well. Here is what I saw in these Pavilions..

Honda: Honda seems to be more serious in launching a new scooter called the "Aviator". The models were practicing the launch/unveiling of the "Aviator" on the stage.



"9'th January 2008 is reserved for the Press Only.

I hope that I would be able to visit the Auto Expo on the 10'th of January.. and get all the details of the new launches"

There was a flat screen display on stage where the products were being displayed. Apart from the Scooter "Aviator", I remember seeing a motorcycle called the "Concept CBF" on the electronic screen. The Concept CBF has a monoshock rear suspension and a half fairing like the Hero Honda Karizma and the Bajaj Pulsar 220. The engine looked very much similar to the Honda Unicorn. But since the name itself suggests that it is a concept, it probably is just a show bike.

All the bikes were kept under covers. But I did manage to see a few bikes as they were polishing the bikes one by one. I got to see a few imported big Honda Bikes viz. the CBR and the Hornet..!!

Suzuki: The Suzuki Pavilion is bang opposite to the Honda Pavilion. The bikes were being unloaded and put on their display zones. I got to see the Hayabusa, B King, GSX R 1000, Bandit S and a Dirt Bike which probably had a 400 cc engine.

Did not get to see any new domestic launches when I was there.

Yamaha: The Yamaha Stall was under construction and there were no bikes present there.. But I did get to see the "Layout Map" of the Yamaha Pavilion. On the Layout Map I could see the space reserved for a Yamaha RX100and RD350 along with the R1 and the MT-01 models. The rest was coded and therefore couldn't make out what they stood for.

TVS: The TVS pavilion had a few bikes which were heavily covered with paper and plastic. But i could make out that those bikes were the 125 cc Flame and the 160 cc Apache.. Couldn't get a closer look to figure out whether there was an Apache RTR 160 "Fi" around.

I was cursing myself for not taking the camera along. But with covers on most of the bike, the photos wouldn't have been of any value either.

9'th January 2008 is reserved for the Press Only. I hope that I would be able to visit the Auto Expo on the 10'th of January.. and get all the details of the new launches.


Due to the lack of time I couldn't find and visit the Hero Honda pavilion.

Disclaimer:

This is to remind that the Views or Opinions in the blog are entirely mine unless explicitly stated. The Views and Opinions published in this blog should in no way be related to any other person or organization associated -- directly or indirectly -- with me.