Wheels used bikes

16/11/2012

KTM is on a roll with its naked bike line, the Duke, at the EICMA Motor Show in Milan. Obviously, our main point of interest being the 390 Duke, the bike that’s going to come to India in a few months. But there is also a 690 Duke R and the 1290 Super Duke R prototype to drool over.

KTM 390 Duke

Yes, we all have been waiting for this one since Bajaj (majority stake holder in KTM) announced that it would be getting a bigger version of the Duke by 2013.

Though the looks are unchanged, the chassis has gone through extra reinforcing for the bike to handle the single-cylinder 375cc motor with an output of 43bhp. The dimensions stay identical to the smaller Duke. The only noticeable difference being the 139kg kerb weight; that is 9kg heavier the Duke 200.

To pull more comparison it’s a kilo heavier than the Honda CBR 150R. This should give the 390 a massive power-to-weight advantage compared to rivals. Apart from oodles of power, the Duke 390 will also be loaded with safety features like ABS.

The 390 Duke will be locally manufactured at Bajaj’s Chakan plant in Maharashtra along with the 200 Duke and the 125 Duke (sold in the international markets). Expect the bike to be launched in India by this year-end or early next year at a competitive price of Rs 2 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).

KTM 690 Duke R

The 690 Duke R is pretty much like the 690 Duke but now comes with the goodness of R. With the R designation, the 690 Duke now makes 68bhp and 70Nm of torque.

Apart from more power, the 690 Duke R also gets stiffer suspension with more damping. Like the regular 690 Duke, the R version also gets ABS that can be completely switched off in the supermoto setting. Disengaging the ABS will make the bike more tail-happy, and allow for a more involving riding experience.

The 690 Duke R will also sport lower handlebars and higher footpegs for a more aggressive riding position, just so that you don’t get carried away with all that R aggression. The thoughtful guys at KTM have given side-crash bars for those times when the bike becomes a bit too tail-happy in the supermoto mode.

There is no word on when the 690 Duke or the 690 Duke R will hit our shores though. We expect to get some dope on it at the launch of the 390 Duke.

KTM 1290 Super Duke R Prototype

You know things are extra special when the prefix ‘Super’ is added to a car or bike or even man. So now you know what to expect from KTM’s biggest, meanest Duke, the 1290 Super Duke R Prototype.

While KTM has shown the bike at EICMA, details are still sketchy. The only thing that we know is that the bike is a thinly disguised ready-for-production prototype. It will use a new variation of the 1195cc V-Twin that powers the KTM RC8R superbike.

Obviously, with such a potent engine, a piston-head can only wonder how much power the bike would make. To that KTM’s only answer is “Very, very much.” So we’ll have to wait for technical details till the road-going version is announced sometime in 2013.

As with any R designated KTM, the 1290 Super Duke R, the ABS and traction control can be disengaged for that true near-death experience.

16/11/2012

16/11/2012

Bikes in India

Bajaj, BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Hero Motor Corp, Honda, Hyosung, Kawasaki, KTM, Mahindra, Piaggio, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, TVS, Vyrus, Yamaha

16/11/2012

KTM is on a roll with its naked bike line, the Duke, at the EICMA Motor Show in Milan. Obviously, our main point of interest being the 390 Duke, the bike that’s going to come to India in a few months. But there is also a 690 Duke R and the 1290 Super Duke R prototype to drool over.

KTM 390 Duke

Yes, we all have been waiting for this one since Bajaj (majority stake holder in KTM) announced that it would be getting a bigger version of the Duke by 2013.

Though the looks are unchanged, the chassis has gone through extra reinforcing for the bike to handle the single-cylinder 375cc motor with an output of 43bhp. The dimensions stay identical to the smaller Duke. The only noticeable difference being the 139kg kerb weight; that is 9kg heavier the Duke 200.

To pull more comparison it’s a kilo heavier than the Honda CBR 150R. This should give the 390 a massive power-to-weight advantage compared to rivals. Apart from oodles of power, the Duke 390 will also be loaded with safety features like ABS.

The 390 Duke will be locally manufactured at Bajaj’s Chakan plant in Maharashtra along with the 200 Duke and the 125 Duke (sold in the international markets). Expect the bike to be launched in India by this year-end or early next year at a competitive price of Rs 2 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).

KTM 690 Duke R

The 690 Duke R is pretty much like the 690 Duke but now comes with the goodness of R. With the R designation, the 690 Duke now makes 68bhp and 70Nm of torque.

Apart from more power, the 690 Duke R also gets stiffer suspension with more damping. Like the regular 690 Duke, the R version also gets ABS that can be completely switched off in the supermoto setting. Disengaging the ABS will make the bike more tail-happy, and allow for a more involving riding experience.

The 690 Duke R will also sport lower handlebars and higher footpegs for a more aggressive riding position, just so that you don’t get carried away with all that R aggression. The thoughtful guys at KTM have given side-crash bars for those times when the bike becomes a bit too tail-happy in the supermoto mode.

There is no word on when the 690 Duke or the 690 Duke R will hit our shores though. We expect to get some dope on it at the launch of the 390 Duke.

KTM 1290 Super Duke R Prototype

You know things are extra special when the prefix ‘Super’ is added to a car or bike or even man. So now you know what to expect from KTM’s biggest, meanest Duke, the 1290 Super Duke R Prototype.

While KTM has shown the bike at EICMA, details are still sketchy. The only thing that we know is that the bike is a thinly disguised ready-for-production prototype. It will use a new variation of the 1195cc V-Twin that powers the KTM RC8R superbike.

Obviously, with such a potent engine, a piston-head can only wonder how much power the bike would make. To that KTM’s only answer is “Very, very much.” So we’ll have to wait for technical details till the road-going version is announced sometime in 2013.

As with any R designated KTM, the 1290 Super Duke R, the ABS and traction control can be disengaged for that true near-death experience.

16/11/2012

EICMA 2012: Vespa 946

Just when you think Vespas can't get any fancier, Piaggio unveils its most dramatic-looking scoot ever

Amaan Ahmed
Car image

We at TopGear love Vespas. But then, everyone does. Ride a yellow LX 125 through town and the squeals from teenaged girls to the sheer delight on the faces of septuagenarians will tell you all about the affection a Vespa receives. And the reason for its amazing popularity is quite simply, the way it looks and the way it attracts people towards itself with its charming personality. It's been so popular, we could hardly think of a scooter that could beat the LX 125 at its own game.

Guess what? Piaggio thinks otherwise.

Presenting the production version of the concept it previewed last year, Piaggio left observers shell-shocked with the all-new 946. Inspired by the very first Vespa prototype, the MP6 from 1946, the 946 maintains the classic curves expected from a Vespa, but still retains enough modern touches for it to be a hit with the younger side of the market.

Among many firsts, the 946 bins the famous steel body construction of yore and goes with an aluminium alloy body instead, which helps reduce weight and also boosts efficiency. The 946 sports a horizontally-mounted, fully-adjustable rear shock (another first), and also features a cantilevered seat - which lends a clean look to the overall profile, and makes that tail look oh-so-gorgeous.

When it comes to the business end, the 946 is equipped with the same fuel-injected 125cc motor as seen on the LX 125, LED lights, an LCD display along with ABS and traction control, though the safety kit will most likely not feature on the Indian version.

As for the Indian version, we're only hoping. Piaggio hasn't stated any intentions to bring the 946 to our shores, and understandably so. With the LX 125 already available as a lifestyle offering, it could be hard to position the 946. But then, would you not buy an even prettier Vespa for a few grand extra? Really?

31/10/2012

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