Yamaha V-Ixion in India?

If various blogs and media reports are any indication, Yamaha's gonna launch this 150 cc killer bike in India too though it would be manufactured in Indonesia. Try searching for the specs and you would be thrilled. Just a 114kg 4-valve oil-cooled bike with a power of 14.4bhp. Treat!

Function but no form

They say do not comment on her beauty looking at her back... But the new Mahindra Logan's all boxy and dated. Style's gone for a toss. Buyer beware!

Heavier bikes by Yamaha in India

Well, seems like common sense has prevailed at Yamaha India.



According to an article in today's The Economic Times, Yamaha plans to launch its 998cc superbike YZF R1, perhaps in 2008. There are other heavier bikes and scooters also in the line-up as Yamaha tries to show the Indian consumers how much fun can biking be. Well, weren't we waiting for Yamaha to do just that! In fact, even lighter bikes than that won't be a problem. We are waiting.

Yamaha Virago and Yamaha India

A bike aficianado in India could easily mistake this as a twin-cylinder Yamaha Enticer, isn't it? For all practical purposes that's what these pictures suggest. This bike is Yamaha Virago. It's a 250cc bike sold in the US for about $3499 which translates into about Rs145000 in Indian currency. If it costs so much in the US, definitely it would cost at least 25-30% lesser in India which would mean a price of Rs110000. I don't know if the prices could be driven further down since the cost of resources is really really low out here as compared to many other industrialized countries of the world. Would it work in India at that price point? Seeing the equity of Yamaha in India and its expertise in performance bikes and leadership in biking technology, I can claim that people would lap this bike up if launched in India.

When I see this bike, I really wonder what was Yamaha thinking when it launched a pauper cruiser bike like Enticer. After all, the success of Avenger 180 and the eager anticipation of Avenger 200 clearly proves that India has a market for a higher capacity cruiser bikes.

I can't believe that Yamaha believes its future in this country depends on bikes like Yamaha Alba 106. God save Yamaha. Anyway... for all bikers and Yamaha fans, am listing the specifications of this bike with a couple of pictures below. Let's only hope that Yamaha listens to bikers like us.

MSRP*	$3,499 (Black Cherry)
Engine
Type	249cc, air-cooled, SOHC, 60-degree V-twin
Bore x Stroke	49mm x 66mm
Compression Ratio	10:1
Carburetion	26mm Mikuni
Ignition	Digital TCI
Transmission	5-speed
Final Drive	Chain
Chassis
Suspension/Front	33mm telescopic fork; 5.5" travel
Suspension/Rear	Twin shocks w/adjustable spring preload; 3.9" travel
Brakes/Front	282mm disc
Brakes/Rear	130mm drum
Tires/Front	3.00-18
Tires/Rear	130/90-15
Dimensions
Length	86.2"
Width	32.1"
Height	44.9"
Seat Height	27"
Wheelbase	58.7"
Ground Clearance	5.7"
Dry Weight	302 lb.
Fuel Capacity	2.5 gal.

Kinetic's New Bikes & Scooters in India?

A few pictures of scooters that Kinetic promises to launch from mid-2007. I can't believe my eyes but I want to believe what their site displays. Kinetic apparently has tied up with Taiwan-based automobile giant SYM to launch some really cool two-wheelers in India.

Seeing Joy Max, I feel like selling my Bullet Machismo and get back to scootering. :) Hope these promises are kept.

In search of fountain pens in Mumbai

And we went dug-dug-dug on streets of Mahanagar Mumbai in search of our favourite fountain pens. Every time, I open the pen-cap to write, my new acquaintainces glance at me with a questioning look: 'What! You still write with an ink pen!' Oh yes, I do.

I rode some 100 kms on Bullet, 40 kms purely in search of fountain pens. So, after we finished our day's work, we headed south and reached fort area (near HSBC Bank) where, out of all the pen sellers and stationers, we made our way to a small shop called Manoj Pen Mart. And I saw some pens which I had never ever seen in life. We ended up buying 4 pens (we had gone with the intention of buying two) totalling Rs 2150.

So, if you are searching for some good fountain pens, Manoj's is the right place for you in Mumbai. It's just behind Dalal Street Building. If you want more details, do write in to me.

Bajaj: Understanding the aspirations of Indian bikers

Just read a post on Bajaj's plans to launch bikes with 250+ capacity. Just click any of the links in the previous sentence and check out the articles. It's great news for Indian biking and great challenge for other bike manufacturers to catch up. Alarm bells!