12 It's Official, Hyosung GT650R & ST7 in India..!!

Without any doubt now, the Hyosung GT650R and ST7 is going to make it to India.. The official Indian website is up..!!

A couple of weeks back, I had posted on how an unknown group in the auto industry called Garware Group were about to bring products from the Korean brand, Hyosung in India.

That news has turned out to be true. Just today the website of Garware Motors have been updated with two 650 cc models from Hyosung's international lineup. The full faired GT650R and the cruiser ST7. By the way, the website is neat and well laid out.

38 What does Hero Honda’s APDV, ASFS and ATFT mean?

In 2010, Hero Honda has started to brand its bikes under APDV, ASFS and ATFT acronyms..

No "blog/site" has so far noticed it that in 2010 Hero Honda has quite deliberately started to brand its 100 cc models with the APDV, its 125 cc models with ASFS and its 150 cc range with ATFT acronym.

Let’s see after this particular post of mine how many "similar" posts come up and on which blogs and how fast. Kindly ping me if you come across similar posts on other blogs/sites.

APDV

The refreshed 100 cc models of Hero Honda in 2010 Splendor Pro, Passion Pro and the Splendor NXG (barring the budget models CD Dawn and CD Deluxe), all sport the APDV tag somewhere on its body panels.


What is APDV?

I have found out (Hallelujah.. at last!!) APDV stands for "Advanced Pro Series Digital Variable Ignition System". Although I have not found any accompanying literature with it, the term probably means that the ignition of the spark plugs in these motorcycles is controlled digitally. Which should benefit in better and more efficient combustion of fuel.


ASFS

9 New 150 cc Hero Honda Achiever "Soft" launched

Hero Honda tries to breathe some life back into the old 150 cc Achiever..

How many Hero Honda Achiever's have you seen so far? To answer that myself, I'll have to admit "hardly any". Although the bike has a decent engine for a 150 cc commuter, the reason behind its absence from our roads is not too difficult to fathom. Just ask yourself the question, "Why do I buy the Hero Honda Achiever? What is its U.S.P?"

Honestly, when the Achiever was launched in 2005, it had no U.S.P that could attract customers towards it. The Achiever looked very much similar to the unsuccessful 135 cc, Hero Honda Ambition. Its ad tag "Some Fly Higher" was equally fuzzy.

Hero Honda did try to refresh the Achiever in 2007 by putting black colored alloy wheels as standard and some "new stickers". But even then the Achiever remained an elusive model on the roads. By now with hardly any new Achiever's to be seen on our roads, I had started to think that the Achiever has been eventually discontinued.

But with recent developments like Bajaj Auto successfully creating a niche with its Discover 150 as a 150 cc Commuter, and the recent efforts of Yamaha with its 150 cc SZ and SZ-X, there might be some opportunity for Hero Honda as well.

Looks like Hero Honda, with its new Achiever is trying once again to win the hearts of commuters who are looking for some 150 cc power. The Hero Honda Achiever mini site has been very recently updated with details of the new Achiever.

So what's new on the Achiever this time?

15 Mahindra Mojo: Part -3: What kind of motorcycle is the Mahindra Mojo?

At nearly 2 lakhs, the Mahindra Mojo might be a "Premium" motorcycle in India.. but what kind of motorcycle is it (to ride)?

Mahindra Mojo, the inspiration:

A small dance routine just before the Mojo was unveiled on to the stage, probably explains the inspiration behind the Mojo. Just as the electronic screens on the stage started to beam images of colorful flowers, some exotic dancers appeared on stage dressed in attires that definitely reminded of the 70’s. The motif at the launch was clearly Flower Power / Free Love / Hippie Culture of the 70’s.

Mojo being brought on stage amidst flowers..!!

As the colorful jig ended, a black Mojo was brought on to the stage quickly followed by Mr. Anand Mahindra himself.

Mr. Mahindra made a speech about how he christened the bike, Mojo. According to him, the name was inspired from a song from the Blues group, Muddy Waters.

1970’s = Flower Power = Hippie Culture = Blues = Mojo..!!

Ok, Now I get it. Actually the Mojo will not look out of place with a Hippie riding it.

But the problem that I see here is that, unlike Mr. Mahindra, for most of my generation (and ones born after me), the only connection with "Flower Power" and the "Hippie culture of the late 60's & 70's is from the song "Dum Maro Dum" from the Bollywood movie Hare Rama Hare Krishna.

And I don’t really see any hippies around me. Maybe, I should go on that forever postponed vacation to Goa..!!



Anyway, what kind of motorcycle is the Mahindra Mojo?

22 Bring this one to India: Honda CBR 150R [Photos/Tech Specs]

More photos of the new Honda CBR 150R, plus the official technical specifications..

I am sure that Indian bikers would not mind paying Rs. 10K-15K more than the Yamaha R15 for this "Thai Beauty"..

Unlike the two other full faired bikes (made and) sold in India (the Yamaha R15 and the Karizma ZMR), the new Honda CBR 150R looks like to have been designed with a clean sheet of paper.

The lines, proportions and details on the new CBR 150R is just perfect. The rear end looks healthy and proportionate. The rear tyre is "130" section, which is 3 sizes over the rear tyre of the Yamaha R15 and the same size as that of the Ninja 250R. In fact the front tyre of the new CBR 150R is of the same size as the rear tyre of the R15..!!

The front fairing on the new CBR 150R doesn't look like a forced job. The new CBR 150R in fact does full justice to its "CBR" lineage. I am very sure that Indian bikers would not mind paying Rs. 10K-15K more than the Yamaha R15 for this "Thai Beauty" just based on the looks.

Yamaha India officials must be really concerned with the possibility of an India launch for the new CBR 150R. I say, bring it on Honda. Match the price of the Yamaha R15 and it should have no problem selling more than the 10,000 units per annum (sales target for Thailand) in India.


CBR 150R Official Tech Specs