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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Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has reported its financial results with standalone revenue of INR 95.79 billion and a net profit of INR 11.26 billion, up 65 percent YoY for Q1 FY2026.

The consolidated profit includes a onetime gain of INR 7.22 billion, on the back of dilution of investment in associates.

During the quarter, the company sold 1.36 million two-wheelers, with growth in the 125cc scooter segment (Destini 125, Xoom 125) and 100cc motorcycle segment (HF Deluxe Pro). Hero’s electric mobility brand, VIDA, continued to gain traction, while international operations outperformed industry trends.

The company expects demand to remain healthy in the coming quarters on the back of the upcoming festive season and a robust line-up of new products.

Vivek Anand, Chief Financial Officer, Hero MotoCorp, said, “Our profitability and margins remained resilient, supported by strong demand for our entry & deluxe motorcycles and 125cc scooter segments. We are witnessing good traction in our electric mobility business (VIDA), and global operations also remained ahead of industry, reflecting the strength of our brand in international markets. With favourable customer sentiment, upcoming festive season and a robust pipeline of new product launches, we are confident of sustaining and driving growth in the coming quarters.”

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Triumph has launched the new Thruxton 400 in India at prices starting INR 274,137, with a global release planned for later in the year.

The Thruxton 400 joins Triumph's Modern Classic line-up with the bike's chassis and suspension have been revised to provide a sportier ride. Rider technology includes switchable traction control, a torque-assist clutch, a ride-by-wire throttle, and an integrated analogue speedometer with an LCD screen. The Thruxton 400 has service intervals of 10,000 miles (16,000 km) or 12 months and comes with a two-year unlimited mileage warranty. The motorcycle is built with a new fairing housing a classic round LED headlight and has four colour scheme option – Lava Red Gloss and Aluminum Silver, Pearl Metallic White and Storm Grey, Metallic Racing Yellow with Aluminum Silver and Phantom Black with Aluminum Silver

The motorcycle features a 398cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine with a 12:1 compression ratio, producing 42 PS (30.89 kW) at 9,000 rpm and 37.5 Nm of torque at 7,500 rpm. It features a six-speed gearbox, a wet multi-plate slip & assist clutch and is equipped with a Bosch electronic fuel injection system. The motorcycle chassis is a hybrid spine/perimeter tubular steel frame with a twin-sided, cast aluminium alloy swingarm. It has a wheelbase of 1371 mm, a seat height of 805 mm and a wet weight of 181 kg. Featuring a 13-litre fuel tank capacity, the motorcycle comes with a claimed fuel efficiency of 27km per litre.

In terms of suspension, on the front it gets 43mm upside-down forks with 140mm of wheel travel, while the rear suspension uses a gas monoshock RSU with an external reservoir and preload adjustment, providing 130mm of wheel travel.

For stoppage, it uses a single 300mm fixed disc with a four-piston radial caliper on the front and single 230mm fixed disc with a single-piston floating caliper on the back, both with ABS.

Paul Stroud, Chief Commercial Officer, Triumph Motorcycles, said, “The Thruxton name is synonymous with an exhilarating ride, a focused riding position and the iconic cafe racer silhouette. The new Thruxton 400 delivers all that and more, representing exceptional value that will appeal to a younger audience who long to own a stylish motorcycle with the modern performance and premium finish of a Triumph. With its uprated engine and sportier ergonomics, the Thruxton 400 is an exciting addition to our Modern Classic range, building on the accessibility and confidence inspiring handling that has made the 400 range so popular.”

Rakesh Sharma, Executive Director, Bajaj Auto, said, “The Triumph business in India has seen tremendous momentum over the past year – from expanding our network and experience stores to a growing community of passionate riders who are engaging deeply through regular rides and events. The response to the Modern Classic 400cc range has exceeded expectations, and the new Thruxton 400 is a worthy addition. It blends authentic cafe racer styling with exhilarating performance and exceptional build quality. With this launch, we continue to offer Indian riders not just motorcycles, but iconic machines that evoke emotion and foster community.”

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Delhi-NCR-based Steelbird Helmets, one of India’s leading helmet manufacturers, has expanded its product line-up with Vintage 3.0 series, an open-face helmet inspired by retro designs of 1970s at prices starting INR 1,299.

Rajeev Kapur, Managing Director, Steelbird Helmets, said, “At Steelbird, we don’t just make helmets – we create riding companions that reflect a rider’s identity. The Vintage 3.0 is a salute to motorcycling heritage, combining retro design with cutting-edge safety and unmatched comfort. It’s for riders who want to stand out, stay safe, and feel free on every ride.”

The Vintage 3.0 features an advanced screw-free Quick Release Mechanism that allows riders to easily switch between the heritage-style peak and a full protective visor. It can also accommodate Steelbird’s 3-in-1 mask system and comes with a rear elastic strap holder to anchor riding goggles securely.

In terms of safety, the Vintage 3.0 meets ISI (IS 4151:2015) and DOT (FMVSS 218, USA) standards. Vintage 3.0 helmet uses high-impact ABS outer shell, high-density EPS liner, breathable mesh and soft, removable cheek pads that can be washed and reinstalled. The optical-grade visor features high-quality polycarbonate to provide visual clarity, UV protection and scratch resistance. The micrometric quick-release buckle system is tested to endure up to 225 kg of load, aligning with stringent European norms for rider safety. It weighs around 1,000 + 50gm, making it ideal for extended uses. The helmet is available if 15 colour options, including – Sea Blue, Coral Peach, Cherry Red, Battle Green, Armada Blue and Glossy Black. It comes in three shell sizes — Medium (580 mm), Large (600 mm) and Extra Large (620 mm).

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Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), the two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, has introduced a vibrant new dual-tone colour for its sporty 125cc scooter – Suzuki Avenis.

The scooter is now available in new Metallic Matte Platinum Silver No. 2 / Glass Sparkle Black colour, in addition to the existing Glossy Sparkle Black / Pearl Glacier White, Glossy Sparkle Black / Pearl Mira Red, and Glossy Sparkle Black.

Mechanically unchanged, the Suzuki Avenis continues to be powered by a BS6 OBD-2B-compliant 124.3cc, all aluminium, 4-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that is BS6 OBD-2B compliant, which produces 8.7 PS @ 6,750 rpm and 10 Nm @ 5,500 rpm.

It is equipped with Suzuki Eco Performance (SEP) technology for a balance of performance and fuel efficiency. The scooter comes with front box with USB socket, external hinge-type fuel cap, long and comfortable and sporty step seat and 21.8L large under-seat storage. Further, the Avenis features a telescopic front suspension, Combined Brake System, large 12-inch front tyre and a side stand interlock system.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “At Suzuki Motorcycle India, we focus on offering products that reflect the evolving preferences of riders. The new colour on the Avenis adds a bold twist to its sporty personality and gives our young customers another exciting way to express their style on the streets. With this addition, we continue to enhance the appeal of Avenis while keeping the excitement alive.”

The Suzuki Avenis is priced at INR 91,400 for the Standard Edition, while the Ride Connect Edition is priced at INR 93,200 (both ex-showroom Delhi).

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