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Dec 06
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Norton Motorcycles unveils new Café Racer bike

By General Posts

from https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/ by Enda Mullen

The V4CR, a derivative of the company’s V4SV superbike, will go on show at Motorcycle Live

Legendary manufacturer Norton Motorcycles has revealed a prototype of a new motorcycle. The V4CR, is a Café Racer derivative of the company’s V4SV superbike.

It is the first prototype to be designed, engineered and built at the company’s recently opened global headquarters in Solihull.

It shares the same engineering DNA as the superbike, including its 185bhp 1200cc V4 engine as well as some engineering advancements.

Norton said the new V4CR’s stripped-back appearance showcases the craftsmanship and quality behind one of the most powerful British café racers out there.

Fitted with a carbon fibre fuel tank and body panels, polished billet aluminium swingarm and frame, the V4CR also features compact framework and a shorter rear frame for an aggressive and commanding stance.

Norton Motorcycles’ CEO Dr Robert Hentschel said: “The prototype VC4R is the next step in Norton’s strategic growth plan on its journey to becoming the world-leader in luxury hand-crafted motorcycles.”

The V4CR prototype is Norton’s latest project to use the marque’s refined V4 platform, revised over the last 16 months by a team of 30 engineers and subject to tens of thousands of road and track miles, as part of Norton’s development process.

The V4CR reintroduces fans to Norton’s iconic café racer heritage.

Norton’s V4CR prototype will make its public debut at Motorcycle Live, taking place at the NEC in Solihull from December 4-12.

Norton formally opened its Solihull headquarters in November this year.

The motorcycle maker has a long and illustrious history, though fell on hard times before being revived.

It became one of the most iconic British motorcycle brands, manufacturing famous models such as the 650SS, Atlas, Commando, Dominator, Manx, Navigator and many more.

It gained a reputation as an innovator in motorcycle technology, with features combining lightness and strength in motorcycle racing.

Norton Motorcycles has a rich history in motorsport and the brand name is synonymous with the famous Isle of Man TT.

The new headquarters in Solar Park, Shirley, is home to design, engineering, purchasing, sales, marketing, and support teams – as well as the skilled production team that is resuming the manufacture of motorcycles.

Norton Motorcycles’ revival and relocation from Castle Donington comes after it was acquired by TVS Motor Company, India’s third-largest motorcycle manufacturer in April 2020.

Dec 05
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Hero MotoCorp expands operations in Argentina

By General Posts

from https://www.business-standard.com/ by Press Trust of India

Two-wheeler market leader Hero MotoCorp on Friday announced the expansion of operations in Argentina with the opening of its flagship dealership in Buenos Aires in partnership with Gilera Motors Argentina.

Gilera Motors Argentina (GMA) will make new investments to rapidly expand all business operations for Hero MotoCorp’s products. This is expected to generate nearly 500 new jobs in the region, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Further, GMA has also expanded its plant in Carlos Spegazzini province of Buenos Aires to completely renovate its infrastructure and adapt the latest automotive technologies that are incorporated in Hero MotoCorp products, it added.

ABOUT HERO MOTOCORP
Hero MotoCorp is the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world. In January 2021, Hero MotoCorp’s production exceeded 100 million two-wheelers.

Hero MotoCorp is the Exclusive Distributor for Harley-Davidson motorcycles in India and manages the Authorized Dealerships, Service Centers and parts for the iconic American brand.

HeroMotoCorp is present in South American and African nations and launched Hero brand in Mexico in January 2021 in Partnership with Grupo Salinas.

Hero Motorsports Rally Team participates in international competitions including Dakar Rally.

In July 2013, HeroMotoCorp acquired 49.2% shareholding in Erik Buell Racing, a motorcycle sport company which produced street and racing motorcycles based in East Troy, Wisconsin, United States. EBR filed for bankruptcy in 2015 and Hero MotoCorp acquired certain assets for ₹18.2 crore (equivalent to US$3.5 million in 2020).

* * * *

“We are happy to rapidly expand our operations in Argentina. We have already made significant progress since announcing our new association with Gilera Motors Argentina in October,” Hero MotoCorp Head – Global Business Sanjay Bhan said.

The company has already inaugurated a flagship store and is focussed on scaling up sales and service across the country, he added.

GMA is one of the leading companies in the motor vehicle sector in Argentina and one of the most experienced motorcycle manufacturers in Latin America.

Gilera Motors Argentina Director Ramiro Di Liscia said, “our association will have a multiplier effect on the local economy, generating investment and new direct and indirect jobs. We are adding nearly 500 new jobs already and expect more benefits to the local economy as we further expand our operations in the future.”

The new investment and new facilities that Gilera Motors Argentina is making will boost the industry in the country. Customers will also benefit from the latest technologies of Hero MotoCorp products such as the Xpulse 200 and Hunk 160R, which comply with Euro 3 and Euro 4 standards, GMA Vice-President Omar Caruso said.

Dec 05
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BSA Motorcycles Unveils Their First New Motorcycle

By General Posts

from https://www.rushlane.com/ by Pearl Daniels

BSA Motorcycles has showcased their new motorcycle under the leadership of Mahindra owned Classic Legends

A few days ago, BSA Motorcycles had officially announced their return via social media. The same was also retweeted by Anand Mahindra, helping stir up enthusiasm among BSA fans across the world. Now, their first motorcycle has been officially unveiled.

Birmingham Small Arms or BSA has officially mark its revival, with the unveiling of their first new gen motorcycle under the ownership of Classic Legends.

The new BSA motorcycle was showcased at an exclusive event in Birmingham UK.

Images are credit to BSA Motorcycles Facebook page.

BSA Goldstar 650
This new BSA motorcycle is likely to be called as Goldstar 650. It will be on public display at the upcoming Motorcycle Live show in Birmingham, UK being held from 4th-12th December 2021. BSA Goldstar 650 is likely to be powered by a single cylinder 650cc engine and will rival the likes of Royal Enfield 650 Twins in the UK and other markets hopefully.

It may be recalled that BSA Motorcycles became defunct in 1970s but with Classic Legends, a Mahindra subsidiary, in-charge of the BSA project since 2016, the brand gets revived with more focus on international markets. Classic Legends acquired BSA for approximately Rs. 28 crores.

With this announcement made, Classic Legends has lost no time in readying their new motorcycle. Test bikes have been spied on test in Pune, India. These bikes could also be produced in India at the company’s plant in Pithampur with exports to commence from early next year.

BSA Goldstar 650 – More details
Classic Legends has set up a technical and design center in Banbury, Oxfordshire followed by assembly of new motorcycles at the BSA facility in Midlands. This new BSA motorcycle will be positioned in the premium bike segment. It will boast of a classic design with the character of old BSA bikes but with modern underpinnings. It is set to go on sale in the UK first, but could also make its way to India.

The new 650cc will continue to exude a retro theme. It receives a rounded headlamp with integrated DRLs, LED tail lamp, tear drop shaped fuel tank and wide set handlebars. It will also get broad fenders at the front and rear. It will sport spoked wheels wrapped with Pirelli tyres. Extensive use of chrome is seen across its body, from headlamp to fuel tank extending to its exhaust pipe and engine casing. An elongated seat and an upright riding position will show off its retro theme.

Engine specs on the new BSA Goldstar are likely to include a 650cc motor making 47 hp power and 40 Nm torque. The engine will be liquid cooled to comply with future emission standards. It will receive disc brakes at the front and rear along with dual channel ABS as standard.

In other news, BSA Motorcycle Company has received a grant of 4.6 million GBP (Rs 45.20 crore) from the UK Government to develop zero emission motorcycles. These are being developed at the company’s R&D center in the Midlands, UK with production set to commence soon.

Nov 28
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BSA Motorcycles Global Debut Date Announced

By General Posts

from https://www.rushlane.com by Satya Singh

BSA motorcycles will first be launched in the UK for a reason – as the brand has sizeable fan following in the country

Looking to replicate the level of success achieved with Jawa motorcycles in India, Mahindra-owned Classic Legends will soon introduce BSA brand in UK. The formal unveil event is scheduled to take place at the Motorcycle Live Show in Birmingham, UK.

Classic Legends will be revisiting BSA’s origins to establish a better connect with the brand’s glorious past and its ambitious resurrection in 21st century. It will be interesting to see how enthusiasts in UK, Europe and other global markets respond to the return of the legendary motorcycle brand.

BSA motorcycle details
BSA has plans to manufacture both petrol-powered and electric motorcycles. The first BSA motorcycle could be petrol-powered, equipped with a 650cc motor. Among the rivals will be Royal Enfield 650 twins that have emerged as popular options in several global markets.

BSA motorcycles will be manufactured at the company’s facility in Midlands. The company will also setup a technical and design centre in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

BSA electric range could be introduced next year. Classic Legends has received a grant of £4.6 million (~ INR 46 crore) from UK government for setting up an R&D centre. This facility will focus exclusively on developing electric motorcycles. It’s imperative for BSA to focus on electric segment, as many European countries are aggressively targeting a complete shift to electric ecosystem.

Speculations
To ensure it retains its old-world charm, BSA motorcycle will focus on retro styling. It is expected to have features like round headlamp, tear-drop shaped fuel tank, flat and wide handlebar and broad front and rear fenders. Some variants could be equipped with spoke wheels for enhanced retro experience. L

Liberal use of chrome can be expected on parts like headlamp, fuel tank, exhaust pipe and engine casing. To target enthusiasts with contemporary tastes, specific variants could be introduced in blacked-out theme.

Neo-retro styling used in combination with blacked-out theme almost always results in a gorgeous looking bike. Jawa Perak is a good example, which fascinates a broad spectrum of motorcycle enthusiasts with varying tastes and preferences.

It is unlikely that BSA motorcycles will be introduced in India soon. A key reason is that the brand has better chance of success in UK, where the motorcycles were produced and gained popularity. Second reason pertains to legal aspects, wherein BSA Cycles is already functional in Indian market. This may present trademark issues if Classic Legends decides to launch BSA motorcycles in India.

For Indian market, Classic Legends will continue to focus on Jawa and Yezdi motorcycles. The range will be expanded to enable improved competencies against primary rival Royal Enfield. Upcoming bikes include a new Jawa cruiser, Yezdi Roadking scrambler and Yezdi Roadking ADV.

Nov 15
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Norton Motorcycles opens new Global Headquarters

By General Posts

TVS-owned Norton Motorcycles opens new Global Headquarters: 8,000 bikes to roll out every year
from https://www.financialexpress.com by Pradeep Shah

The new headquarters is creating over a hundred new high-skilled jobs and more in the coming years and will be able to build around 8,000 motorcycles a year.

Norton Motorcycles has announced the completion of its new global headquarters that includes state-of-the-art manufacturing capability and the company’s new global design and R&D hub as well. The new HQ is a display of significant commitment by TVS Motor Company in its partnership with Norton Motorcycles. Within just 18 months of acquiring the iconic British marque, TVS has overseen the creation of its world-class facility in Solihull, West Midlands, UK.

The new Norton leadership, together with TVS Motor Company, has conducted a wide-ranging review of Norton Motorcycles operations, resulting in new appointments and processes and these have been specifically in engineering, design, and manufacturing areas in order to ensure the highest quality standards, the company stated.

Moreover, the new headquarters is creating over a hundred new high-skilled jobs and more in the coming years and will be able to build around 8,000 motorcycles a year.

As part of the new manufacturing process, every single component of every new Norton bike will be evaluated in a new quality-testing laboratory to ensure the highest build quality. Moreover, the company says that within the laboratory are inspection rooms, testing areas including destruction testing, and a rolling road while a customer reception and showroom, service workshop, and office are also housed at the new HQ.

The Norton manufacturing facility has also been engineered to be highly sustainable and to minimize waste. The brand says that the build used numerous sustainable and rapid build techniques on the project, the components of which are almost 50% reconfigurable as a proportion of total construction cost – in order to increase special flexibility. The new facility is supported by the West Midlands Growth partnership, the UK Government, and is a great example of Anglo-Indian cooperation.

Oct 23
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Tiny Triumph Motorcycle Range in Prototype – targets 200 to 750cc engine market segment

By General Posts

by Todd Halterman from https://www.autoevolution.com

Tiny Triumphs and EV Motorcycle Range in Prototype Now With Indian Firm Bajaj

Triumph is now teasing the development of a series of smaller displacement motorcycles that the company plans to build with Indian manufacturing giants Bajaj.

As far back as early 2020, Triumph announced that it reached an agreement with Bajaj – one of the largest motorcycle firms in the world – to develop and build an all-new range of so-called ‘baby’ Triumphs that would fill in the 200 – 750cc engine displacement category.

While the plan called for the companies to roll out the first models in the collaboration in 2022, the project has been pushed back as a consequence of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now that the pandemic crisis seems to be loosening its grip, both parties say they’re back on track to develop the bikes.

Triumph Head of Brand Management Miles Perkins says prototypes have already been created and plans are back in the offing.

“That’s going great guns, I have seen the development motorcycles – and the prototype for those – it’s all on track,” Perkins says. “We haven’t yet confirmed exactly what the bikes are and exactly when we will launch them but the news is forthcoming soon.”

And fear not, though Triumph hasn’t confirmed exactly which the partnership will create models, it has said the resulting bikes will be sold globally rather be sold only in Asian markets more conducive to sales of cheaper, small capacity motorcycles.

According to Perkins, Triumph found the ideal partner in Bajaj. He says the company’s large market share in India and experience working with KTM and Kawasaki were key to the deal.

“The relationship with Bajaj and conversations I have had with the team over there and the engineering team working with them are very like-minded and passionate individuals, and their focus and commitment are outstanding. They have similar leadership family principles and values,” Perkins says. “The working relationship is strong, the design development is completely Triumph, these are Triumphs and the partnership is building it and selling them around the world. What Bajaj brings is phenomenal in terms of the ability to develop quality in this volume, especially in the lower capacity range.”

Perkins also says the Triumph TE-1 EV prototype has been built and is ready for testing. It represents an electric sports bike model developed in partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering, and Perkins calls it “a blueprint for a future EV Triumph.”

Power for the TE-1 comes from an electric motor that delivers 174 horsepower at peak and 107 horses of continuous power. Triumph chose not to publish additional specifications, but Motorcycle News learned the bike weighs 485 pounds and offers up to 120 miles of range. Quick-charging technology zaps the battery pack with an 80% charge in about 20 minutes. Triumph stressed it aimed to give riders the performance of an internal-combustion-powered bike in an electric package, but what you see isn’t necessarily what will land in showrooms.

Triumph will begin testing the TE-1 prototype in the coming months, but it told Motorcycle News that it still needs to clear the cost hurdle before approving the production model. When it will do that is up in the air.

Triumph calls the TE-1 EV a prototype platform development and not an actual motorcycle available for sale, it’s a project which the company is using for “learning and developing the team’s experience but also developing the partnership of technology with several partners for a full-on electric Triumph platform that will follow in years to come.”

Aug 06
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Electric drive systems to convert petrol motorcycles

By General Posts

by Satya Singh from https://www.rushlane.com

It’s good to know that electric two-wheelers are registering greater acceptability among users. However, sales of new electric scooters alone may take a long time to achieve the goal of 100% electric ecosystem. One also needs to focus on millions of fossil-fuel powered two-wheelers that continue to pollute the environment. The need of the hour is dedicated conversion kits that can be produced on a mass scale, are affordable and can be easily fitted in existing two-wheelers.

Saietta electric motor for Continental GT
UK-based Saietta Group specializes in developing electric drive systems for electric vehicles (EVs). It has come up with an electric motor that can be fitted directly onto Royal Enfield Continental GT. A number of tests are currently underway to assess overall performance and viability of converted Continental GT.

The company has plans to mass-produce the motors, once everything has been fine-tuned and perfected. These motors will also be distributed to Indian OEMs through Padmini VNA. The latter is a leading manufacturer of advanced auto components.

It is to note that Royal Enfield is in the process of developing its own range of electric motorcycles. These will continue to use the retro theme that can be seen on existing Royal Enfield motorcycles. However, it’s not certain when exactly these motorcycles will be launched. It’s also not certain if Royal Enfield will be able to dominate the electric segment, just as it does in 350cc to 650cc segment. It will be interesting to see how the king of thump performs in a green, silent world.

Hero Xtreme electric motor
Targeting the commuter segment, Saietta has converted a Hero Xtreme with an electric motor. This too has been equipped with a swappable battery system. As compared to charging an electric two-wheeler, a swapping ecosystem offers multiple benefits.

Batteries can be swapped within seconds whereas charging can take several minutes even with fast charger. Another benefit is that customers don’t have to invest in buying the battery. They just need to pay for using the battery, which works out much cheaper.

From a design perspective, it is obvious that converted Continental GT and Hero Xtreme will need some sort of a body kit. In their current form, the motorcycles come across as a work-in-progress unit.

Existing users of these motorcycles are unlikely to make the switch to electric until the visual shortcomings are take care of. Even though the motor is an innovative work and pioneering move by Saietta, one cannot completely ignore aesthetics associated with a motorcycle.

Company Website at https://saiettagroup.com/

Aug 05
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Harley-Davidson back in India through Hero Motorcycles

By General Posts

from https://www.financialexpress.com

Harley-Davidson back in India: First batch including Pan America 1250 booked already.

Hero MotoCorp has onboarded 12 Harley-Davidson dealers and increased its customer touch-points across the country.

Around 100 Harley-Davidson bikes, constituting the first batch assigned to the Indian market this year, have been completely pre-booked indicating robust demand for the iconic brand in the count, according to an industry source.

The booking process for 13 Harley-Davidson models, which are priced between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 35 lakh (ex-showroom), started in April this year after Hero MotoCorp announced the prices of the 2021 model range.

In October last year, Hero MotoCorp and Harley-Davidson announced a partnership for the Indian market.

As per its licensing agreement, Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, has taken over the exclusive distribution rights of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, parts and merchandise in India, after the latter decided to close its operations in the country.

Since then, Hero MotoCorp has onboarded 12 Harley-Davidson dealers and increased its customer touch-points across the country.

The two-wheeler major is also developing a range of premium motorcycles that will be sold under the Harley-Davidson brand in India.

“The company has received bookings for more than 100 motorcycles already, including a complete lot of the upcoming Pan America 1250 adventure motorcycles.

“The other models include the likes of Softail, Fat Bob, and Street Bob motorcycles,” the industry source told PTI.

Currently, Hero MotoCorp has 12 dealerships catering to the Harley bikes in the country.

The source said there would be more units assigned to the country as the first lot is totally pre-booked. The iconic American brand has already started taking bookings for the next batch, he added.

When contacted, a Hero MotoCorp spokesperson declined to comment saying, “We will be soon making an announcement on the commencement of the retail sales of Pan America 1250 in the country. We will share further details at that time.”

Hero MotoCorp expects a tie-up with Harley-Davidson to help accelerate its presence in the premium bike segment where it aims to establish a complete portfolio cutting across segments and engine capacities.

The company, which is the leader in the budget bike segment (100-110cc), is also in the process of developing electric two-wheelers for both mass and premium segments.

Jun 08
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Royal Enfield presents Rupees 20 Million to State for Covid-19 relief works

By General Posts

from https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com

Approximately US $ 276,000 was presented to State of Tamil Nadu, India which is the home of Royal Enfield. Its commitment to extend support to the state government is being accompanied by other initiatives in the region, the company said.

Chennai: Royal Enfield, part of Eicher Motors Ltd, has committed INR 20 million to the Tamil Nadu Disaster Relief Fund for the Covid-19 relief works in the State. The cheque for this was handed over to Chief Minister M K Stalin by Vinod K Dasari, CEO, Royal Enfield, at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

“Tamil Nadu is the home of Royal Enfield motorcycles and we are committed to supporting the State in all its efforts to combat the devastating second wave of the pandemic. Our commitment to extend support to the state government today is being accompanied by a host of initiatives that Royal Enfield is undertaking in the region for the community. We continue to assess the situation closely and will extend further support to the relief and rehabilitation efforts in the long run,” Dasari said.

Dec 03
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Royal Enfield is coming after Harley-Davidson

By General Posts

In its last financial year before the pandemic struck, Enfield company sold about 824,000 bikes globally. Harley, by contrast, shipped about 218,000.

Last year Enfield company doubled the size of one of its three factories, bringing overall production capacity to 1.2 million motorcycles a year.

To build buzz Enfield company has tried marketing to American customizers and flat-track competitors, and in 2018 it put Cayla Rivas, a teenage motorcycle racer, on a souped-up Continental in pursuit of a speed record for its bike class—and compelling footage for YouTube. (She hit 157 mph on Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats.)

Although it may sound counterintuitive, “the U.S. and Europe are very important” to making Enfield the aspirational bike of choice for the developing world, he says.

Lal wants to be as big a player in the West as possible, but he argues that Royal Enfield doesn’t necessarily have to sell that many bikes in developed countries for the strategy to be considered a success. What it does need to do is move enough to give them a patina of cool at home and in other emerging markets, such as Southeast Asia.

Read the full article at Bloomberg. Click Here.