8 Mahindra "Diablo" a 300 cc Motorcycle..??

Rumors are doing rounds that Mahindra might launch a premium 300 cc Motorcycle named "Diablo"

According to MoneyControl.com Mahindra will launch its new brand of motorcycles in the next 3 to 4 weeks. According to them one would be a 125 cc model aimed at bringing in the volumes and the other a 300 cc premium offering..!!

[Listen to the video posted below at 4:25 mins]

Also according to rumors the forthcoming motorcycle from Mahindra might be named as "Diablo"..!! Which also happenns to be the suggested name for the motorcycle proposed by a winning team in one of the Business Strategy Competition, sponsored by Mahindra for Business School students.

I would say that it's a really cool name for a bike. Bring it on with full force Mahindra.

While some manufacturer's have yet to decide on catering to this 250-400 cc (affordably priced) void, looks like Mahindra might "just do it".

9 Mahindra Motorcyle to be launched soon..!! Teaser Video

Finally some excitement in the motorcycle scene in India after a long time.. looks like Mahindra has something special up its sleeve

"Tested in Italy, Coming to India", that's what the official teaser video released by Mahindra 2 Wheelers says.

The 20 odd seconds of the teaser video shows a high speed test of a bike doing rounds on a race track in Italy.

Not much off the bike can be seen in the video. But from a couple of screen shots, it seems that the bike has a radiator and upside down front forks..!!

Wow..!! Now this is seriously exciting stuff..!! If all this is true then this is something beyond my expectations from Mahindra 2 Wheelers (who are still quite new in the business of making two wheelers).

7 Bike History/Timeline: Super Splendor [2005-2010]. 2010 Hero Honda Super Splendor Launched

Hero Honda launches the 2010 version of the 125 cc Super Splendor

The 2010 version Super Splendor looks more like a Super Passion to me..

2010 Hero Honda Splendor.

News of the 2010 Super Splendor launch: Economic Times

Needless to state that the humble 100 cc Splendor is a piece of automotive history. Hero Honda probably though that the easiest way to replicate the success of the 100 Splendor in the 125 cc category was by launching a 125 cc replica of the Splendor.

Accordingly Hero Honda launched the Super Splendor in 2005 with the much publicized "Quantum Core" engine. There were quite a few, including yours truly who made fun of the "Quantum Core" Super Splendor probably because of the ultra conservative styling and the unexciting performance.

16 Pulsar 220F, "The Fastest Indian" lands in Colombia..!!

"The Fastest Indian" Pulsar 220F DTS-i makes its way to the land where it has a cult like fan following, Colombia..!!

Beat this: For the last 5 years, every year there has been an "Annual Pulsar Owners meet" in Colombia..!!

It could only be criminal to deprive the Colombian Pulsar fans by not selling the Pulsar 220F DTS-i there. So on August 24'th 2010, the Pulsar 220F DTS-i finally makes its way to Colombia.

Just gwak at the Metallic Green color (posted below) that Colombia gets (and we don't)..!! Makes you go "Green" with envy. Eh..??

10 Hero without Honda..??

Amidst persistent rumors of an impending split between Hero Honda and HMSI (Honda), lets try to unearth what could be the implications if the split really does take place

(Photo Credit: ibiTimes)

"Hero" Splendor, "Hero" Passion, "Hero" Karizma..!! How does it sound?

After years of my ears getting tuned to hearing the name "Hero Honda" being uttered in unison, it really sounds quite odd to my ears.

In any case, Hero can’t rely forever on Honda for technology..

Of late there has been a lot of (bad?) press about an impending split between India’s Hero Group and its Japanese technology partner Honda. Although there has not been any official confirmation of the same, but something tells me that this time there is some fire somewhere for this smoke to appear.

News about the Hero and Honda split:

Hindustan Times, Business Standard, The Economic Times, The Hindu Businessline

If the news of the split between Hero and Honda is really true then this is a really BIG deal. After all the 25 plus year old Joint Venture has resulted in making Hero Honda as the "Largest Two Wheeler manufacturer in the world"..!!

But why would Hero and Honda want to split one of the most profitable joint venture in the history of two wheelers? What could be the implication for both Hero and Honda? Who might profit? Who might lose? Will the competition stand to gain from this split?

More of that a little bit later, but first..


What is a Joint Venture?