9 I get my first "Inline, 4 Cylinder, 1 Litre": The Chevrolet Spark!!

In order to buy my next motorcycle, I get a car..

I could see this thing coming. Even before I got married, I could sense that I would have to temporarily set aside my biking ambitions for sometime so that I would be able to get a family oriented car first.

My wife with our Chevrolet Spark

I’ll say that moving around in a car is like taking your home around with you..

Some things are inevitable in life and so a desi biker next door finally takes the plunge and becomes a “carwala” next door. I had never been a car guy, maybe because I never had the chance to drive my family’s Maruti Zen (which was bought when I was pursuing my B.E away from my home) properly.

But after almost one month since the delivery of my "cute" Chevrolet Spark 1.0 in "Olympic White" color, and clocking about 1500 kms on the odometer, I am actually err.. "lovin’ it".

I am not going to post a review of the car for the simple reason that I am still just a one car old in car driving experience. What I’ll post is how I zeroed in on the Spark among the many options and what has been the initial experience of owning/driving it (from a biker's point of view).

[I would like to thank Sajal bro for helping me out with my first car purchase. Thanks Bro.]

2 Sep 2010, 2 Wheeler Sales India

Sep 2010 sales numbers of our Indian 2 wheeler manufacturers..

Every manufacturer continues to post positive sales numbers. Bajaj and TVS clock their highest ever monthly sales numbers in September 2010.

Note:

1. The monthly sales figures include domestic sales as well as exports. Also it includes sales of all types of 2 wheelers (Motorcycles, Scooters, Mopeds etc.)

10 Yamaha launches FZ/FZ-S "Midnight" Limited Edition

Yamaha tries to keep the FZ fresh with yet another limited edition model..

Last year Yamaha India had launched limited edition FZ-16/S and Fazer in white color. This year it’s the turn of an all black colored limited edition FZ and FZ-S named as "Midnight".

Apart from the all back body the alloys are finish in golden color. The price of this limited edition is about Rs. 3,000 more than the regular models. The bike indeed is looking stunning.

11 The Yamaha R15, Hero Honda Karizma ZMR, Pulsar 220 all are commuter bikes!!

Yes, that’s right. I consider our "desi" bikes like the Yamaha R15, Hero Honda Karizma ZMR, Pulsar 220 as glorified commuter bikes.

Why?

Affordability:

I am sorry to burst the bubble of those who think their "desi" bikes are super cool sports bikes..

Affordability will be one big factor here. A guy in India, who can afford a bike like the Kawasaki Ninja 250R at Rs. 3 lakhs, or a litre class import at 13-14 lakhs, will in all probability have at least a car in his garage.

But the reverse can't be always said for a guy who uses one of our "affordable" bikes.

15 TVS: Apache RTR "HyperEdge" 160

TVS upgrades its Apache RTR 160 as "HyperEdge"..

I had posted a couple of months back about TVS preparing to launch an upgraded Apache RTR codenamed as "HyperEdge". True to the original informatuion, an upgraded/refreshed Apache RTR 160 has been sighted in certain TVS showrooms.

Posted below are the photos of the new "TVS Apache RTR HyperEdge 160", Phew.. that's quite a mouthful..!!

Although confirmed official news is yet to arrive, but from whatever news that's available, mechanically and specification wise the bike is still the same as the earlier version. Also it's not confirmed if the RTR 180 gets the HyperEdge treatment as well.

What's the "HyperEdge" treatment?