Pro Moto XC- Ashish Raorane has set the fastest known time record from Batal to Kunzum La, Himachal Pradesh, on the KTM Adventure 390.

Ashish on the KTM 390 Adventure went head-to-head with 11-time Raid de Himalaya winner, Suresh Rana, and his rally-spec championship car on a high-speed face off for the title of Kunzum Kaiser.

The World’s Highest Hill Climb Challenge is a 12.5 km treacherous mountain pass stretch from Batal (4000 m) to Kunzum La (4551 m) with 20 hairpin bends. The average temperature is -5 degree Celsius. 

Suresh hit the road first to set the time on his rally-spec championship car. The car started at a blistering pace, but unfortunately, due to engine block damage on turn 18, he had to bow out. The time set at turn 18 was a very competitive 11 minutes 49 seconds.

Ashish was next to take on the challenge on the entry-level sports tourer. He pushed the machine to its limits and continued to lead the time on every turn. He reached the Kunzum La finish line at an impressive time of 13 minutes and 4 seconds, thereby setting the fastest known time record.

A marine engineer by profession, Ashish has been racing international rallies as a privateer or the past 3 years. Last year, he competed in the Baja World Championship, finishing 12th in the world rankings. He also became the first Indian to complete the Africa Eco Race. Ashish also participated in the 2021 Dakar Rally with his KTM 450 Rally Replica machine.

Ashish said, “Considering the altitude at which this challenge is taking place, cold sub-zero temperatures, windy conditions, treacherous nature of the road due to loose rocks and hairpin bends, this was definitely a very dangerous challenge. But I was confident that the KTM 390 Adventure and I will conquer this challenge. I first rode the KTM 390 Adventure during the launch in Pune, and I really loved the way the bike handles and ergonomics that the bike has.”

Speaking on the occasion, Narayan Sundararaman, Head of Marketing at Bajaj Auto Ltd. said “The KTM 390 Adventure has seen a phenomenal response since its launch and holds promise of offering a truly capable and versatile adventure tourer to the biking enthusiasts. The World’s Highest Hill Climb Challenge has given us an opportunity to demonstrate the off-road credentials of KTM 390 Adventure. The recent years have witnessed an increasing trend in adventure touring and the interest in outdoor exploration is on the rise. The 390 Adventure has been conceptualized to address this trend and has been designed for adventure travel.” (MT)

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Classic Legends, one of the leading mid-sized motorcycle manufacturers, has launched a nationwide service initiative titled the ‘Legends’ Care Camp’ across its authorised Jawa, Yezdi and BSA dealership network. The event is scheduled to run from 23 May to 31 May, 2026.

This initiative reflects the company’s commitment to improving the aftersales experience and customer satisfaction. The service camp will take place in various cities, providing owners with comprehensive vehicle health check-ups and benefits related to service, spare parts, labour and accessories.

During the camp, trained technicians will conduct a 72-point motorcycle inspection. This assessment focuses on key performance and safety areas, including: engine performance, braking systems, clutch operation, electrical systems, tyre condition, suspension, battery health and overall vehicle condition.

The initiative is designed to ensure optimal riding performance and safety, particularly as riders prepare for the monsoon season. Customers visiting dealerships can also access expert consultations on motorcycle upkeep and special offers on periodic maintenance.

Jayapradeep Vasudevan, Head of National Business Operations, Classic Legends, said, “At Classic Legends, customer experience and rider satisfaction remain at the core of our approach. Through the “Legends’ Care Camp”, we aim to offer riders expert service support and proactive vehicle care, ensuring their motorcycles continue to deliver the performance, reliability and riding experience that our brands are known for.”

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Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has launched its XPulse 200 4V and XPulse 200 Pro motorcycles in the United Kingdom, expanding its international adventure motorcycle line-up.

The rollout represents the next phase of the manufacturer's European expansion, following its initial entry into the UK market last year through a distribution partnership with MotoGB.

The motorcycles were introduced at the Inch Perfect Trials in the Ribble Valley, marking the brand's latest European expansion following recent market entries in Italy and Spain. Distribution and aftersales service will be managed via MotoGB’s network of 36 sales and service outlets across the UK, with all models backed by a two-year warranty.

Both models are powered by a 199.6cc, four-stroke, four-valve, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine paired with a five-speed constant-mesh transmission. The engine produces 18.9 BHP at 8,500 RPM and 17.35 Nm of torque at 6,500 RPM. The motorcycles feature an LCD instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation, a Class-D LED projector headlamp and three anti-lock braking system (ABS) modes (Road, Off-Road and Rally).

Harshavardhan Chitale, CEO, Hero MotoCorp, said, “The launch of the XPulse 200 series marks an important step in strengthening Hero MotoCorp’s global adventure motorcycling portfolio in the UK. The XPulse has created a strong identity globally as an accessible yet highly capable adventure motorcycle that appeals to both - everyday riders and off-road enthusiasts. With its proven performance, versatility and adventure-focused DNA, we are confident that the XPulse range will strongly resonate with the riders. As we continue to expand across international markets, our focus remains on bringing globally benchmarked products and building deeper customer engagement worldwide.”

The XPulse 200 Pro includes hardware adaptations for off-road use, featuring handlebar risers to assist with standing positions and an extended gear shift lever designed to accommodate off-road riding boots. Both variants are equipped with protective bash plates, handguards, and a rear luggage plate with integrated cargo hooks as standard equipment.

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company, a part of TVS Group, has appointed Ravindran Shanmugam as an independent director for a 5-year term, effective 13 May 2026, pending shareholder approval.

Shanmugam is a technology entrepreneur and business leader with experience in digital transformation and AI platforms. He currently serves as the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Mablle, an AI-based interior design platform in Singapore. He has previously worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company and is an alumnus of the University of Oxford.

Sudarshan Venu, Chairman, TVS Motor Company, said, “Ravindran Shanmugam brings deep expertise in digital & consumer-focused businesses, and AI-led transformation, along with strong experience in strategy, entrepreneurship and scaling businesses across global markets. His perspectives will add valuable depth to the TVS Motor board as we continue to strengthen our future-ready growth ambitions. We are delighted to welcome him and look forward to benefiting from his insights and guidance.”

Ravindran Shanmugam, said, “I am honoured to join the board of TVS Motor Company, an institution with a strong legacy of engineering excellence, customer trust and global ambition. Mobility is being reshaped by technology, digital ecosystems, AI and evolving consumer expectations, and TVS Motor is well positioned to play a meaningful role in this transformation. I look forward to contributing to the board’s deliberations and supporting the company’s long-term growth journey with perspectives from technology-led transformation, platform businesses and consumer-focused innovation.”

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has reported revenue of INR 472.70 billion for FY2025-26, up 30 percent YoY, as compared to INR 362.51 billion last year.

The company reported its operating EBITDA for the year stood at 12.9 percent, while operating profit before tax reached INR 49.75 billion, up 40 percent YoY.

For FY2026, combined sales of two and three-wheelers increased by 24 percent to 5.88 million units. Within this total, motorcycle sales rose by 24 percent to 2.71 million units, while scooter sales grew by 27 percent to 2.41 million units.

Three-wheeler sales reached 219,000 units, an increase of 63 percent, while electric vehicle sales grew by 33 percent to 371,000 units, bringing the total customer base for this segment to more than 900,000.

For Q4 FY2026, the company recorded revenue of INR 128.08 billion, the operating EBITDA margin for the quarter was 13.1 percent. Normalised revenue for the quarter grew by 36 percent when excluding benefits from government incentive schemes recorded in the prior year.

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