11 Coming Up Next: Bike Trip to Tawang [Resurrecting a Biker Next Door]

Why did I take this bike/motorcycle trip to an exotic and largely untouched Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh?

My Wife: "Bike Trip? If you really have to go, then why can't you take a car/taxi?"

One of my relatives: "Bike Trip (smiles sarcastically)? These are antics of bachelors, not responsible married adults like you."

So why did I decide to go on this bike/motorcycle trip?

1. Adventure? Explore an unknown destination. Maybe..

2. Vanity? Try to prove that I am a better/accomplished/experienced biker. Maybe..

3. Insecurity? Maybe I had a point to prove that I am not just a "Laptop Biker". Maybe..

4. Men being just Men? Celebrate the joys of being a bachelor again for a few days. Maybe..

Perhaps all the above is true to some degree.. but as I look back, it was actually the sense of a "fading biker" in me that forced me to try something that might resurrect it.

5. Fading out of a Biker Next Door?

2 Kawasaki Ninja 650R to be launched soon..!!

Its confirmed: Kawasaki Ninja 650R teaser is on at Bajaj's Probiking site..

Nothing much is available officially except a teaser which definitely shows the shots of the Kawasaki Ninja 650R (name in US)/ER-6f (name in UK).



Specs wise the Kawasaki Ninja 650R would compete bang on with the GT650R, producing near identical peak power and peak torque numbers. The Hyosung GT650R has already been priced at 4.75 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi), so what will be interesting now would be the price of the Ninja 650R.

And yes, even the Ninja 650R is NOT A SUPERBIKE..!!

1 Garware Motors launch Hyosung GT650R and ST7 in India [Price/Details]

Newly established Garware Motors brings us the South Korean Hyosung GT650R and ST7 motorcycles.. appoints Bollywood Star Arjun Rampal as brand ambassador

For most Indians (and even many journalists) any motorcycle which has a multicylinder 600(+) cc engine, looks big, has a "Fat Rear Tyre", falls under the SUPERBIKE nomenclature!! For such simpletons even Classic Cruisers of Harley Davidson would fall under the SUPERBIKE category and so does Adventure Tourers like the Ducati Multistrada.

So it wasn't very surprising when many sites/publications carried the news that on April 22'nd 2011, Garware Motors launched the Hyosung SUPERBIKES GT650 and the ST7.

12 "Its a 2011 Yamaha YZF-R15 for India" Says MCN!!

Motorcycle News has published photos of what looks like the new Yamaha YZF-R15 for India..!!

Back in December 2010 there were a couple of spy shots (clicked near the national capital) of what looked like an upgraded/new Yamaha R15 for India. There were some indications that the new bike might be launched in Jan 2011. But so far everything has been silent from Yamaha India.

MotorcycleNews.Com has recently published of what looks more like a company arranged grainy photos (than leaked scoop photos) of the new YZF-R15 for India. The new bike in these photos looks strikingly similar to the Spy Photos that had appeared in Dec 2010.

2011 Yamaha R15..??

There is still some speculation in the online space that this could even be a 250 cc model (to counter Honda's CBR250R). Earlier there was even some wild speculation that it was the R125 for India. But when seen with the original R15 (posted below) launched in 2008, the bike in the above photos looks more like an upgraded R15.

The presence of a "Saree Guard" clearly dispels doubt that this is indeed an India spec bike..!!

35 2011 Hero Honda CBZ Xtreme launched

New Cosmetically Refreshed 2011 Hero Honda CBZ Xtreme launched with a few new features..

Hero Honda has given its 150 cc CBZ Xtreme model cosmetic refreshment for 2011. True to the Hero Honda tradition the Engine remains predictably identical as the older model.



The cosmetic changes include:

The 2011 version seems to have put in some extra kilos.. its 148/149 Kgs now compared to the original 141/143 kgs in 2006..!!

1. Digital Speedometer Console

2. Key shutter for ignition switch

3. Redesigned Headlamp Visor

4. Tank extension

5. Redesigned Rear panels

6. Self Start Only (Kick starter has now been removed)