3 Pulsar 220F “The Fastest Indian” lands in Indonesia

Pulsar 220F DTS-i is launched in Indonesia..

Indonesia is the world's 3'rd largest 2 wheeler market after China and India. Both Bajaj and TVS has been present in Indonesia for some years now. 90% of the Indonesian market is primarily dominated by Step Thru models and Automatic Scooters. The remaining 10% comprises of a niche but vibrant community of motorcycle riders.

Bajaj already sells the Pulsar 135LS and the Pulsar 180 in Indonesia. Enthusiastic Indonesian motorcycle riders have been expecting the Pulsar 220F for sometime now. To their delight the Pulsar 220F DTS-i model has finally been launched in Indonesia.

On 8'th & 9'th (today) March, test ride of the Pulsar 220F is being provided to prominent Indonesian auto journalists and automotive bloggers. Posted below are some images from the ongoing event from the Sentul International Circuit at Bogor Indonesia.

The Pulsar 220F has been very aggressively priced at 18.6 Million Rupiahs (about Rs. 93,000 approx.). Models like the Yamaha Byson (Indian FZ-16) retails for around 20 Million Rupiahs in Indonesia.

4 Handcrafted in Chennai. Wow..!!

A beautiful video on what makes Royal Enfield special..

"Buddha on Two Wheels".. that's what I visualize of myself the day I decide to settle for a Royal Enfield.

It's not about owing the fastest set of two wheels.. nor is it about riding the most reliable or flashy piece of machinery. There will always be something faster, something more reliable, something flashier waiting for you round the corner.

Biking Nirvana is about being at peace with someone as special as you.. and with something as special as your bike.

Royal Enfield has recently posted a video titled "Handcrafted in Chennai" on Youtube. Without speaking even a single word, the video leaves a lingering impression. The 2 min 24 sec video is almost therapeutic for a "desi" biker looking for that inner peace.

I hope the guys behind the "O Suzuki Slingshot TVC" takes a look at this video posted below. Because this is how you build a brand into a cult.

19 Suzuki GS150R Review: The Smooth Operator

Review of the Suzuki GS150R..

If there is currently a motorcycle which is the exact diametric opposite of the "TVS Apache RTR 160 HyperEdge" (phew.. quite a mouthful) it is the Suzuki GS150R.

The stark difference between the bikes becomes all the more comprehensively clear when ridden back to back. And that it what I had exactly done, i.e. ride the GS150R after I had checked out the Apache RTR 160 HyperEdge.

In a nutshell this is what the Suzuki GS150R feels like vis-à-vis Apache RTR 160

1. If the Apache RTR 160 is a light weight and compact bike, the GS150R is comparatively a heavy and big bike (especially for a shorter guy)

4 Discover 125 to be launched in April 2011

Bajaj will launch one more Discover, this time in a 125 cc avatar.. and here is why I think its a good strategy

The Discover story so far:

Keeping it simple

Brand Discover..

..three variants (100/125/150)

..at slightly different price points

When launched in 2004, the Discover had a 125 cc engine, which was later replaced with a 135 cc engine. Both these engines were developed on the Pulsar engine platform. In between there was also a 112 cc (based on the Caliber engine) Discover which existed for sometime. All these engines have now been replaced with a completely new engine platform that was originally developed for the XCD brand.

After the Pulsar, the Discover is Bajaj's most popular and well known motorcycle brand. So when the popular Discover brand got the frugal 100 cc engine (based on the XCD engine) in mid 2009, it turned out to be a perfect match for Bajaj Auto. The Discover 100 was in fact successful in bailing Bajaj Auto out of the bad 2008 recession.

2011 Edition Discover 100

69 TVS Apache RTR 160 HyperEdge Review

How different is the Apache RTR 160 HyperEdge..?? I try to find out

The Apache RTR 160 had impressed me a lot when it was launched in 2007. Even till date it remains my favorite 150-160 cc motorcycle. The short stroke, over square engine of the RTR 160 is a joy to exploit. Coupled with a good power to weight ratio (thanks to the 136 Kg light weight body) this is actually the original “LightSports” bike of India.

Launched in 2007 in the "RTR" avatar, it received the first upgrade (when it got the tank flaps and the half chain cover) in 2008, the Apache RTR 160 was due for an upgrade in 2010. So there, we have the Apache RTR 160 in its “HyperEdge” avatar now.

So what’s new?

For starters the name is quite a mouthful: “TVS Apache RTR 160 HyperEdge”. Phew..!!

On asking the showroom manager (not the sales man, but the manager) "What’s new on this model?" he told me: “It’s the same old model, just with new stickers”. Well.. that's probably not the most convincing way to sell a newly launched product.