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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Ducati has launched the fifth-generation Monster motorcycle in India, with prices starting from INR 1.39 million ex-showroom. The model arrives following recognition at the Red Dot Design Award 2026, where it won in the Product Design category.

The Monster introduces an 890 cc V2 engine featuring Intake Variable Timing (IVT), it produces 111 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 91.1 Nm of torque at 7,250 rpm, with valve clearance maintenance intervals set at 45,000 km.

The motorcycle uses a monocoque frame, a technopolymer subframe and a double-sided swingarm, bringing the overall weight without fuel to 175 kg. The suspension is handled by a 43 mm Showa upside-down front forks and a rear Showa monoshock. Braking is handled by dual 320 mm front discs with Brembo M4.32 radial calipers, while the vehicle rides on Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres. Ergonomic changes include a seat height of 815 mm and repositioned handlebars.

Electronic systems are managed via a six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (6D IMU), which includes cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control, engine brake control and four riding modes. System settings are displayed on a five-inch TFT screen operated via a handlebar-mounted joystick.

The model is available in Monster and Monster+ variants across three colour schemes, with the Monster+ including a headlight cowl and passenger seat cover. Ducati offers two maintenance coverage packages, Ducati Protect (+) and Ducati Protect (Pro), which cover servicing parts and labour for up to four years.

Bipul Chandra, Managing Director, Ducati India, said, “The Ducati Monster has always been the bike that introduced people to what a Ducati really feels like, and this new generation makes that experience more accessible than ever. With the new V2 engine, class-leading maintenance intervals and a completely reimagined design, it's a bike built for riders who want the full Ducati experience in a form that's easy to live with every day.”

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Chennai-headquartered mid-sized motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield brought its street culture platform, HunterHood, to Kochi on 8 August 2026, combining music, art, skateboarding, urban sports and creative expression. The sixth edition of the event followed previous iterations in Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Shillong and Lucknow.

Inspired by the Hunter 350 motorcycle, HunterHood serves as a platform for street-inspired cultures, gathering communities of artists, musicians, dancers, painters, urban sports enthusiasts and designers. Prior to the main event, Royal Enfield hosted a Community Pre-Jam on 7 August in collaboration with Loop Skatepark to engage local skaters and street communities.

The main stage featured performances from Kerala's independent and hip-hop music scene, including Tribe Mama MaryKali, Ranj x Clifr, GABRI, MC Couper, Baby Jean and Dabzee. The Community Stage presented rapper Ameekha Liyana Ansar, DJ Dsco Patrol (Nihell), street culture collective We Are The Boom and Chenda Melam percussion performances.

Skateboarding demonstrations were conducted by the Fly Squad Skateboarding Community and Kovalam Skate Club. Live graffiti, visual art and interactive installations were created on site by HH Art Spaces, Alan Pappy, Trespassers, SquidWorks, Karthik Venugopal, Samriddhi Arora and Om Chopra. Additionally, Kerala-based artist collective Trespassers completed a ten-day mural project focused on local youth culture and riding.

The event incorporated interactive workshops covering skimboarding, football, cricket, basketball and graffiti. Custom motorcycle builds were displayed by XLNC Customs, JD Customs, Garuda Machina, Kunwar Customs and Eimor Customs. The venue also featured an illuminated tunnel installation incorporating lights, Malayalam conversations and cinema dialogues to replicate the experience of riding through the city.

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India Yamaha Motor has announced the return of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Edition for the R15 V4 and MT-15 Version 2.0 motorcycle models. The release, the company says, responds to customer demand for the company's racing-livery options.

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Edition models display liveries inspired by Yamaha's racing division across the fuel tank, side panels, and tank shrouds. The R15 V4 MotoGP Edition is priced starting at INR 176,050 ex-showroom Delhi, while the MT-15 MotoGP Edition begins at INR 177,230.

Alongside the special editions, Yamaha updated colour variants across its FZ product range. The FZ-S Fi Hybrid receives an Ice Storm colour scheme, while the existing Matte Black version gets updated graphics. The FZ-S Fi line gains a Metallic Black finish.

Pricing for the updated FZ range starts at INR 129,880 ex-showroom Delhi for the standard FZ-S Fi, with the FZ-S Fi Hybrid variant priced at INR 139,200.

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Studds Accessories, one of the leading two-wheeler helmet manufacturer, has launched its latest product the Raider Youth, a full-face helmet designed for younger riders and adults requiring smaller head sizes at prices starting INR 1,175.

The release marks the introduction of a dedicated small-sized full-face model into the company's product line-up. The Raider Youth is an ISI-certified helmet that provides chin and lower-face coverage, moving beyond the open-face helmet designs that have traditionally dominated the youth and small-head-size segments in India. It is offered in two sizes: XXS (520 mm) and XS (540 mm), catering to children, teenagers and female riders or adults with smaller head dimensions.

The product features an outer shell constructed from ABS material paired with an expanded polystyrene (EPS) liner. The ventilation system uses top exhaust ports to channel airflow through the interior, while additional hardware includes a scratch-resistant quick-release visor, micro-fibre inner lining and a quick-release chin strap mechanism.

Sidhartha Bhushan Khurana, Managing Director, STUDDS Accessories, said, "Young riders today are more aware of style, comfort, and safety than ever before, and parents are increasingly seeking products that offer enhanced protection without compromising on usability. The Raider Youth has been developed to address these expectations through a purpose-built full-face design that delivers greater coverage and confidence for young riders. Its vibrant colour palette, modern styling, rider-focused comfort features, and trusted safety credentials have been brought together to make helmet usage both appealing and reassuring. We believe the Raider Youth will resonate strongly with young riders and their families while encouraging the habit of safe riding from an early age."

The initial launch comprises the Unicolor variant across 12 finish options, including solid, matte, and chameleon finishes: White, Black, Cherry Red, Flame Blue, Lavender Pink, Pastel Green, Petrol Blue, Dark Pink, Chameleon Pink, Chameleon Blue, Matt Black, and Military Green.

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