10 TVS launches Neo X3i 110cc, entry level step thru in Indonesia

Indonesian bloggers get to ride the new Step Thru a couple of days prior to the official launch..!!

Indonesia is a very important market for both Bajaj auto and TVS Motor. Indonesia is the world's third largest 2 wheeler market by volume after China and India.

2 days prior to the official launch, a selected bunch of popular Indonesian 2 wheeler bloggers were invited to the TVS plant in Indonesia..

A couple of years back both Bajaj and TVS entered the Indonesia with entirely different strategies. Bajaj started assembling the Pulsar 180/200 and XCD 125 (Motorcycles) and TVS entered Indonesia with a specially made for Indonesia Step Thru model, the Neo 110.

Just a couple of months back, there was news of Bajaj launching the Pulsar 135LS in Indonesia. Not to take things lightly, TVS has also launched the "Neo X3i", its entry level step thru in Indonesia on 7'th June 2010.

Photo credit: Stephen Langitan

The Neo X3i comes in spoke wheels and alloy/cast wheel variants with a Disc brake option as well. The step thru also has a mobile charger as a feature. The starting price is 9.95 million Indonesian Rupiahs (around 50,000 Indian rupees).

17 Bike History/Timeline: Royal Enfield [1893-2010]. Is Royal Enfield the World's Oldest Motorcycle Brand?

Royal Enfield probably is the world's oldest "surviving" motorcycle brand..

I have been hearing about this for sometime now. So I decided to find it out the truth. Is Royal Enfield really the world's oldest motorcycle brand?

Imagine if Royal Enfield models gets the tag of "Manufactured by the World's Oldest Motorcycle Brand..!!"

.. who wouldn't want to own a piece of history like that?

After some "Googling" on the net, the following facts came into light:

• Triumph started to produce motorcycles in 1902



• Harley-Davidson started making motorcycles in 1903

Now there are some guys who say that Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901..!! The photo posted below is claimed as that of the first Royal Enfield motorcycle manufactured in 1901.

If it is true then that would definitely make Royal Enfield the world's oldest surviving motorcycle brand..!!

More about that later.. but first,

A brief history of Royal Enfield:

3 May 2010, 2 Wheeler Sales in India

May 2010 sales numbers of our Indian 2 wheeler manufacturers.. May 2010 "motorcycles" sales have also been shown..

Highlights:

1. In may 2010, Hero Honda has posted its highest ever sales numbers in its history

2. (Bajaj) Pulsar sales (75,974 units) is more than the "domestic motorcycle" sales of either HMSI, TVS, Yamaha or Suzuki

3. In terms of "domestic motorcycle" sales, HMSI is ahead of TVS Motor

8 Suzuki launches GSX-R 1000 and Bandit 1250S in India

Suzuki launches 2 more exotic bikes in India.. both of which are as different from each other as chalk and cheese

GSX-R 1000

Price: 12.75 ex-Showroom Delhi

Engine: 999 cc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC

Max Power: 185 Bhp @ 12000 rpm
Max Torque: 118 Nm @ 10000 rpm
(Need to be confirmed)

Kerb Weight: 205 Kgs

Wheelbase: 1405 mm
Seat Height: 810 mm

Colors: Glass Splash White & Solid Black

4 Hero Honda & TVS lead TV Ad spendings in 2009

TV Ad spendings of our bike makers in 2009

I always interested to know how our two wheeler manufacturers invested in terms of TV Advertisements. The other day I happened to come across the following data about the 2009 TV Advertisements by our two wheeler manufacturers.

Posted below are data as reported by Hindu Business Line:

According to this news article, the price for a 10 second ad spot for an IPL match in 2010 was roughly about 5 lakhs..!!

Ok, the Ad rates during the IPL season would definitely be sky high. But even during normal period, just imagine what a month long campaign of showing a particular TV Ad, 10 times a day, spread across 10 TV channels would cost.