Kuldip Purohit, Co-Founder and Business Head, Royal Brothers, shares with us the journey so far, the challenges they faced and what lies ahead for this motorcycle rental company.

Purohit says, “Royal Brothers signifies brotherhood and brings a sense of belongingness. We wanted to showcase our brand as one which can be trusted like a brother and provides safety and comfort like a brother does.” He further explains that they wanted to use the term ‘Royal’ in some sense, possibly because one of their earliest achievements was securing a wide range of Royal Enfield motorcycles for their fleet, and also because the team members were all of the same age – like brothers in arms.

Speaking about the challenges the team faced in securing an RTO authorisation, Purohit said, “We took almost six months to procure the first licence in Karnataka. As the officials were not aware of the procedures and the bike rental scheme, we had to educate them about the Central Government’s scheme and the State Government’s role in processing the application.”

When asked if Royal Brothers was a passion product for a team that enjoyed motorcycles or more of a lucrative business opportunity, he said, “Royal Brothers was started with a passion to change the way the industry behaves. Even after 100 years, the rental market is still unorganised and is not treated as an industry. We wanted to change the unorganised sector into an organised one.” He further added by saying that the co-founders and employees are all passionate bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts; their common goal to serve people made it a lucrative business in the process.

Commenting on the recent Covid-19 ordeal, Purohit said, “Covid19 was a challenging and stressful period. Even though it’s not fully over, we believe we have been able to manage it well and will continue to do better in the future. Lockdown was announced suddenly and we had a lot of our assets deployed with customers and on the roads. The first month was difficult, but thanks to the team’s dedicated efforts, we were able to recover the vehicles from the customers and get them back to our yards.”

To ensure customer safety, all rental bikes are checked and sanitised before delivery. The company also makes sure that the assets are regularly washed, cleaned and sanitised, and a proper temperature log of the executives is also maintained.

Elaborating on how the company managed to cut losses when there was no revenue from bookings during the lockdown period, the co-founder spoke about Royal Brothers X, a long-term subscription model, conceived during the second month of lockdown. This enabled customers to book a vehicle for up to nine months and in-turn generated some revenue for the company to sustain the blow.

Commenting on the efforts that go into maintaining and servicing a large fleet of two-wheelers, the business head claimed that they would get the service done at the OEM service centres in the initial days when they had five motorcycles. Going ahead, the Vehicle Health Management team (VHM) was formed with the sole responsibility of maintaining the quality of the fleet across all 23 cities.

The VHM also determines when to retire a particular asset based on a certain number of KMs on the odometer or the number of years on particular models. Market factors also play a crucial role in the discontinuation of certain models in the Royal Brothers’ fleet.

Royal Brothers recently established a touchpoint at the Bangalore International Airport, making it one of the first bike rental companies to do so . Speaking about the operation, Purohit said, “The project took more than six months to materialise. We had a lot of restrictions due to Covid and also the way airports function. We had to procure a lot of approvals from various teams and authorities to begin with. Also, the vehicle models and their maintenance at the airport required a new set of SOPs which we had to develop specifically for the airport. All our executives were trained as per the airport security, functioning and operating guidelines.”

Taking innovation a step further, Royal Brothers has been working with Ather to spread awareness on EVs by facilitating test rides at select locations across Bangalore to help people understand the capabilities of the vehicle.

In these trying times of pollution and rising fuel prices, this initiative strengthens the need for eco-friendly mobility. Furthermore, the company offers Ather scooters in its fleet alongside other prominent EVs. “We believe in sustainable development and would like to play our part in a greener mobility solution,” he adds.

Speaking on the secret behind the company’s success, Purohit says, “Everything looked challenging in the beginning; however, we were determined to succeed. My personal motto is – If there is a problem, find a solution.”

“We have worked round the clock on the feedback of the customers and that has brought us success. The easiest way to figure out the loopholes and lags in the business model for a service-driven business is to listen to its users. We followed the same and kept making changes on a regular basis,” he adds.

Commenting on Bangalore, the metropolitan city of blossoming entrepreneurs and countless start-ups, Purohit says, “Bangalore is Love. We all love the city and believe that there is no other city in the world that could have given us what this city offered us. Bangalore and its people are not averse to new ideas and offer full support to budding entrepreneurs.”

In Royal Brothers’ case, he says, Bangalore has grown over the years and so has the acceptability of bike rentals in the market. He appreciates residents whose entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds. “There is no dearth of talent in the city. One can find capital, talent, guidance and mentors in abundance,” he concludes.

When asked on what lies ahead for Royal Brothers and if we could expect a gradual inclusion of four-wheelers in the fleet, Purohit said, “We are not looking to move into the four-wheeler category anytime soon, but also not ruling out the possibility. Currently, we want to focus on the two-wheelers and make Brand RB the largest in SE Asia.” (MT)

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Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL), a franchise-based off-road motorcycle league, held the Season 2 launch of the competition in Mumbai. The event saw popular Indian actor Salman Khan further deepening his involvement with the event, by not only being the brand ambassador, but also his plans to become an investor in the league.

Furthermore, ISRL also aims to setup ‘ISRL Proving Grounds’, a dedicated grassroots motorsport development facility spread across 7 acres in Pune. It will offer amateur racing, kids’ track, motocross, supercross, ATVs and electric bikes among others.

ISRL, owned by Team Supercross India, is led by former international racers Veer Patel (two-time national SX Champion) and Eeshan Lokhande.

Salman Khan, said, “I’ve always been passionate about motorcycles and off-roading, when I saw what ISRL is building bringing together world-class talent, supporting home-grown athletes, and creating an entire ecosystem and lifestyle around the sport, I knew this was something I wanted to be part of, not just as a face, but as a believer. This league is about pushing boundaries, and that’s something I connect with deeply. With the launch of the ‘ISRL Proving Grounds’, we’re giving India’s youth the opportunity to access the support, tools and coaching they need to chase big dreams and compete on a global stage. At the same time, ISRL is equally focused on promoting responsible riding and the importance of safety for racers and fans.”

Veer Patel, Managing Director, ISRL, said, “Salman Khan’s evolution from brand ambassador to investor is a testament to his confidence in ISRL’s vision. This move brings unmatched cultural capital and mainstream trust to our league, reinforcing our positioning as a credible, scalable business built for India’s next generation. His association sends a clear message to the market that Supercross is ready to lead the future of motorsport, youth engagement and brand innovation in India.”

ISRL is positioning itself as India’s sole dedicated platform for experiential growth within the automotive industry, offering brands a unique live-action format to connect with passionate bikers and young audiences. Following an its debut season across Pune, Ahmedabad and Bangalore, ISRL's five-year roadmap includes rapid expansion, international collaborations and significant growth in franchise value and sponsorships, aiming to redefine India's sports-entertainment and automotive marketing landscape.

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has launched the updated 2025 Apache RTR 310 at introductory prices starting INR 239,990.

The OBD2B-compliant 2025 TVS Apache RTR 310 now with the Build-To-Order (BTO) platform and Dynamic Pro Kit (DPK) offerings. It gets a host of new features such as Gen-2 cluster with multi-language UI, USD 43 Dia front suspension (base variant), sequential turn signal lamp (TSL) with new styling, hand guards, transparent clutch cover, key less ride (DPK), drag torque control, cornering drag torque control (BTO & DPK) and launch control feature in RT-DSC.

The motorcycle delivers 35.6 PS at 9,700 rpm and 28.7 Nm at 6,650 rpm. It also gets three new colour options with graphics, along with iconic Race Replica Sepang Blue on the top-end BTO variant.

Vimal Sumbly, Head Business – Premium, TVS Motor Company, said, “The TVS Apache RTR 310 has been a trendsetter in the naked sports segment since its debut. With the 2025 edition, we’re building on its bold legacy by integrating future-ready tech, intuitive digital interfaces, standout styling and with unwavering commitment to rider safety. This refreshed freestyler reflects the new era of motorcycling, one that is connected, customisable and committed to sustainability. We’re proud to bring this upgraded experience to our community of TVS Apache riders who live to push boundaries every day.”

The 2025 Apache RTR 310 is now available in five variants across key markets such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai.

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Bajaj Auto-owned Austrian motorcycle brand KTM has launched KTM Service on Wheels (SOW) in Leh circuit, which is aimed at providing aftersales service to motorcyclists on the Manali, Keylong – Jispa - Sarchu route.

KTM's Service on Wheels will function between Jispa and Sarchu, providing quick response and assurance of safety for riders on these remote stretches. With this the company now features touchpoints at Bhuntar, Manali, Keylong and Leh, supported by a full-fledged 3S dealership in Leh.

The company shared that it will now be able to offer quick repair, spares backup, or preventive inspections for KTM riders at 12,500 feet.

Manik Nangia, President, Probiking, Bajaj Auto Ltd said, “The KTM spirit is all about pushing boundaries, and we are proud to support our riders with unmatched service coverage through the Leh sector. With KTM Service on Wheels, we’re ensuring that adventure never has to stop due to service constraints. It’s our way of delivering true peace of mind, right in the heart of India’s most rugged motorcycling landscape.”

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India Yamaha Motor (IYM), a leading two-wheeler manufacturer, has introduced the 2025 FZ-X motorcycle with a 4.2-inch colour TFT instrument cluster and also incorporates turn-by-turn navigation at INR 149,990 (ex-showroom Delhi).

The 2025 FZ-X hybrid model is available in Matte Titan and incorporates a Smart Motor Generator (SMG) and a Stop & Start System (SSS). These enables quieter start, battery-assisted acceleration and improved fuel efficiency. The engine automatically shuts off when idle and restarts with clutch action.

The FZ-X Hybrid instrument cluster connects to smartphones via the Y-Connect app and offers Turn-by-Turn (TBT) navigation, integrated with Google Maps, providing directions, intersection details and road names.

Itaru Otani, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India Group, ““We were thrilled by the overwhelming response to our Hybrid Technology when we introduced it in the 2025 FZ-S Fi Hybrid. Extending this breakthrough to the FZ-X model felt like a natural next step. We are confident that adding hybrid power to the FZ-X model will further boost Yamaha’s appeal, particularly among riders who seek a practical yet premium riding experience. At Yamaha, we continually listen to our customers’ evolving needs, and this latest offering underscores our commitment to innovation. By integrating advanced technology with a deep understanding of rider needs, Yamaha is redefining the future of mobility.”

A standard FZ-X variant (non-hybrid) is also available at INR 129,990 (ex-showroom, Delhi) in Dark Matte Blue and Metallic Black.

The FZ-X has a neo-retro design and a metal body. It is powered by an air-cooled 149cc fuel-injected engine. The 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve motorcycle produces 12.4PS of power at 7,250rpm and 13.3Nm of torque at 5,500rpm. It also features a Traction Control System (TCS) and single-channel ABS. The motorcycle has telescopic front suspension and 7-step adjustable Monocross rear suspension.

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