By T Murrali

As India will be moving to the new emission regime from April this year, the manufacturing companies are fielding new models of new variants with BS-VI engines. India Yamaha Motor (IYM) has announced a slew of new brands, in line with its concept of ‘The Call of the Blue’ that carved out the ‘The Yamaha Uniqueness’ of product line-ups and experiences through the ‘Blue Square’ network. IYM has fielded four vehicles with several innovative features and technologies, with plans to create a strong network of dealers; nonetheless, it has still kept a conservative sales growth target of 4 percent.

In 2019, the company sold 624,000 units (with 40 percent scooters and the rest motorcycles), witnessing a 13 percent drop in sales over the previous year, matching the industry average. It exported 296,000 units during the year. For 2020, IYM has set a target of 650,000 units with the same break-up for scooters and motorcycles. This is just 4 percent more than last year’s sales. However, it aims to raise exports to 315,000 units.

Ravinder Singh, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Planning Group, Yamaha Motors India Sales Pvt Ltd, said, “We have been able to increase our market share in deluxe and premium segments and maintain it in the scooter segment (for Fascino), thanks to our focused brand strategy: ‘The Call of the Blue.’ Our success in 2020 will depend on creating a strong network and we have started working on this direction. ‘Blue Square’ is one such initiative.”

‘Blue Square’ 

‘Blue square’ is a unique concept intended to offer Yamaha’s racing DNA to exciting, stylish and sporty products and experiences. ‘The Call of the Blue’ started in 2018 expanded to products and experiences in 2019.

‘Blue Square’ is created as a destination for all two-wheeler enthusiasts. The concept was to expand the company’s uniqueness for fuelling the passion for riding in India featuring a wide range of riding gears and accessories along with the two-wheeler line-ups that deliver good driving experience. Yamaha Blue Square Showrooms will serve the excitement to grow into a popular culture by turning it into an aspiration for every young rider.

To a question on how ‘Blue Square’ will help the company to strengthen its market position, Singh said the company’s objective is to focus on youngsters. It launched the brand campaign ‘The Call of the Blue’ mainly to connect with the young customers. Now IYM is taking it to the next level with ‘Blue Square,’ which according to him is more of the brand connection, linking its BTL (below the line) activities. “From ATL (above the line) activities to BTL, we are connecting the customers and giving the experience of sporty and stylish vehicles, which is our core DNA, to the product.” The additional dealerships planned for this year will be primarily for ‘Blue Square’ outlets, he said. 

Many of the existing dealerships will also be upgraded to deal with its new introductions of 155cc motorcycle MT-15 and the 125cc scooters, the Ray ZR 125 FI and Street Rally 125 FI, and the iconic Fascino 125 FI. Shifting from the 110cc segment, IYM is strengthening its market in the 125cc scooter segment and the motorcycle line-up.

MT-15

Known for its balance of torque and agility, MT-15 has enhanced control postures and single-channel ABS. A special colour ‘Ice Fluo-Vermillion’ was also introduced. It received rave reviews in many countries for its distinctively aggressive appearance. The new BS-VI compliant MT-15 has a rear radial tyre. Its advanced design expressing torque and agility is popularised further by a minimal look, dynamic headlight, short tail and an overall finish that illustrates its unique style.

The new bike comes with VVA engine for nimble acceleration with model-specific ECU,  optimized secondary reduction gear ratio for snappy riding in town, A&S clutch for stress-free gear shifts, motard-like riding position with a great deal of freedom on a tight, concentrated silhouette, 282mm front disc brake with single-channel ABS for excellent stopping power. The advanced design expressing torque and agility is further accentuated by dynamic front face styling headlight, short tail with a vertical tail light and overall graphics and finish.

Ray ZR 125 FI, Street Rally 125 FI

The new scooters come with several new features, new engine technologies and are available in a range of new colours. The new Ray ZR 125 FI and Street Rally 125 FI are powered by a BS-VI compliant, air cooled, fuel injected, 125cc blue core engine that produces a power output of 8.2 PS @ 6,500 RPM and a torque of 9.7 Nm @ 5,000 RPM. The power output and economy are 30 percent and 16 percent higher respectively than the earlier scooters.

The styling concept is ‘Armored Energy’ which evokes the feeling of a powerful motorcycle laced to proportions, details, striking design and new technologies. The sporty, sharp-looking headlight is Class C-compliant while the Y-shaped LED position light adds greater originality to the design. The turn signals at the front and rear use individual mounting stalks like those used for motorcycles. The Ray ZR 125 FI is available in both drum and disc brake versions, and the disc brake version gets digital instrument cluster as a new feature. The new Ray ZR 125 FI is available in a wide range of colour variants including Dark Matte Blue, Metallic Black, Cyan Blue, Matte Red Metallic and Reddish Yellow Cocktail.

The new Street Rally 125 FI also fuses motorcycle elements with those of a scooter and scatters them throughout the design. Brush guards shield the rider's hands from oncoming airflow and add a sporty, adventure-influenced touch to the machine. It additionally offers fully digital instrument cluster, side panels designed to look like a rugged frame, block-pattern tyre, sporty coloured wheel stripes (front and rear) and side panels intended to look like metallic protectors. The new Street Rally 125 FI is available in two colours: Deep Purplish Blue Metallic and Sparkle Green.

Fascino 125 FI

The new Fascino 125 FI is powered by a BS-VI compliant, air cooled, fuel injected, 125cc blue core engine that produces a power output of 8.2 PS @ 6,500 RPM and a torque of 9.7 Nm @ 5,000 RPM. The power output and economy are 30 percent and 16 percent higher respectively than the earlier scooters.

Along with the new features and technologies, the visual impression of the new Fascino 125 FI rests on its classic European styling as it gets an all-new exterior design, higher quality bodywork, newly designed headlight, new gauges and other features that produce a feeling of elegance and status. The new scooter is designed to be a fashionable vehicle with styling that embodies strength, refinement and beauty along with classical touches. The vehicle is available in disc and drum brakes and a wide range of colour variants including Vivid Red, Metallic Black, Yellow Cocktail, Matte Blue, Dark Matte Blue, Suave Copper and Cyan Blue.

Lightweighting

The body weight of the new Ray ZR 125 FI, Street Rally 125 FI and Fascino 125 FI is 99 kg, which is, at the least, 4 kg lighter than Yamaha's earlier scooters. All the new scooters come with ‘stop & start system’ that prevents engine idling and subsequent start with a single throttle twist which uses the sensors to assess the riding environment. The vehicles have front disc brake with unified brake system. In addition, the smart motor-generator fitted to these vehicles uses electronic controls to bring a quieter engine start without the need for a separate conventional electric starter. One of the key features is the ‘side stand engine cut-off switch,’ which prevents the engine from starting if the side-stand is not retracted. This is a unique feature as it can prevent accidents and ensure safety of the rider.

Talking to this publication on the objective to introduce the engine cut-off switch to the side-stand, Yasuo Ishihara, Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Research & Development India Pvt Ltd, said that in Europe these safety systems are mandatory. Since it is a safety feature the company wanted to introduce it in India also. “We have decided to incorporate this feature in the two-wheelers (Ray and Fascino) that we have launched now. In a phased manner this feature will be introduced in all the models we produce.”

The company has also introduced stop-start systems and this was possible as it replaced the starter motor with a combined generator-cum-starter motor. Ishihara said that in India the traffic is dense with more stopping and starting conditions, not only at traffic lights but also on congested roads. This mild hybrid helps in managing these situations while conserving fuel. However, when there are frequent stops and starts, the power drawn will be more from the battery; therefore the company has increased the battery capacity.

Yamaha has also reduced the total kerb weight by 4 kg. This was achieved as the design team was given very stringent targets to reduce weight. There were targets set for every major part in the vehicle. This combined with high-end design helped the company achieve weight reduction despite increasing the sheet metal content. For instance, in the earlier version of the scooters, the front fender was in plastic but in the BS-VI version this has been replaced with metal. According to him, one of the reasons for weight reduction was that the vehicles have no starter motors, since the generators do that function. Despite introducing new technologies, localisation in all the models is over 90 percent, he said.

Target Customers               

The target customers for the three scooters, according to the company, are the youth (18-24 years) who are high on adventure, and who find the true reflection of their riding personality by the mobility they ride and its performance. Motofumi Shitara, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India group of companies, said, “Customers can now take the experience of all such exciting Yamaha two-wheelers at the new ‘Blue Square’ outlets of Yamaha which is conceptualized to garner the racing spirit along with its comfort, ambience and the beacon of the Yamaha Blue. The company also plans to expand its brand strategy of ‘The Call of the Blue’ including product strategies and networks in 2020. The ‘Blue Square’ which was opened recently in Chennai will expand to 100 outlets in 2020 and eventually would consolidate the 125cc scooter market share and sports market share for the brand. The ‘Call of the Blue’ will be scaled up in 2020 to offer the excitement, sporty and stylish experiences to a wider audience.”

Digital Communication

On the communication side, he said, the company is more focused on the digital platform. Despite fielding new stylish models with more safety features and power, the company has set itself a growth of just 4 percent for the current calendar over 2019. Seeking his reason for this, Singh said it is justified. “At this moment we are very conservative. We are talking to dealers and we are also taking feedback from people like you. We see a clear shift from 110cc to 125cc (in scooters) and it will increase in the coming years as people are further upgrading.” Therefore, the segment will further evolve. But it all depends on increasing affordability, which is directly linked to economic growth. The key point is that India is a country where more than 50 percent of the population is young. This is precisely the reason for the company to field products targeting the youth, he said. “Based on the features and the pricing we are going to get a good amount of market share in this segment; still we are taking cautious steps,” he explained.

The company will focus on three areas to connect with its customers easily - Premium, Deluxe and Scooters. Otherwise, connecting with customers from the commuting point of view would be difficult for Yamaha. This is the reason for the company to upgrade its scooters to 125cc, Shitara said.

Currently, IYM has 593 dealers across India with about 2,000 touch points. The company has allotted INR 1,500 crore for building capacity and capabilities, to be spent over four years from 2018. It had to invest INR 16 crore to develop BS-VI engines. Though modifications to the engine were minimal, the additions were in the form of double catalytic converters for exhaust, O2 sensors and advanced OBD modules. Investments have also gone into precision machining of parts for BS-VI related elements, and the development of new parts.  (MT)

In the India Bike Week, 2024, that will take place in Goa on 6 and 7 December, will see the Pulsar brand of motorcycles from Bajaj Auto make a ‘Definitely Daring’ debut. This will involve a unique experience of riding on a 100 ft. long bridge on the recently introduced NS400Z that is also 24 ft. high. 
Bajaj Auto, in collaboration with Ghost Ryderz (which is claimed to be India’s number one stunt riding team), will provide participants an experience that is unique as well as ‘learning’. For the first time, the two-wheeler major is taking Ghost Ryderz to India Bike Week to provide an opportunity for the participants to stunts such as a ‘wheelie’ or ‘stoppie’ under guidance of experts and in a safe manner. 
The participants at the India Bike Week will also witness signature Pulsar Stunt Shows featuring daring performances with never-seen-before stunts. Bajaj Auto has partnered with Tiivra to offer the participants an opportunity to experience the NS400Z and the all-new N125 on a specialised fun track curated to showcase Pulsar's performance and agility.
“Over twenty-four years, we have built a strong following of ‘Pulsar Maniacs’ across India who love the bike for its daring attitude and sporty DNA. We have always found innovative ways to connect and engage with our loyal customers across India. For our debut at IBW we decided to create moments that define Pulsar’s philosophy of being ‘Definitely Daring.’ At IBW, we’re inviting enthusiasts to experience the thrill, the adrenaline, the pure joy of riding a Pulsar,” said Sumeet Narang, President, Marketing, Bajaj Auto Ltd. 
 

KTM, the world's largest and India's fastest-growing premium European brand, has announced a price cut of INR 20,000 for its KTM 250 DUKE 250 cc motorcycle in India as part of its year-end celebrations.

Featuring two ride modes, Street and Track, the motorcycle now also boasts new LED headlamp setup with integrated pilot lights and a 5-inch colour TFT display with turn-by-turn navigation and Bluetooth connectivity. Bi-directional Quickshifter now comes as standard on the KTM 250 DUKE 250 cc.

The 2024 KTM 250 DUKE will be available at INR 225,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi) instead of its original price of INR 245,000 till 31 December 2024.

India Yamaha Motor Pvt Ltd has announced that it has partnered with the Delhi edition of Comic Con India, the country’s premier pop culture event to reach out to comic enthusiasts, anime fans and motorcycle aficionados across the country. 
The Japanese two-wheeler maker aims to create unique opportunities for ‘Gen Z’ and younger audiences to engage directly with the brand while it explores growth opportunities for its motorcycles and scooters. 
The company has always drawn the attention of a niche audience through its performance oriented and premium offerings. It is therefore keen to reflect the same by unveiling a spectacular experience zone featuring its iconic, blue-themed design, perfectly complementing the electrifying Comic Con atmosphere. 
The Yamaha Pavilion promises to captivate pop culture enthusiasts and high-performance engineering fans alike, offering action-packed activities, exclusive Comic Con merchandise, stunning displays of its adrenaline-charged motorcycles, and countless photo-worthy moments.
Yamaha is also organising an online contest for riding and Comic Con enthusiasts, offering a chance to win free Delhi Comic Con Super Fan Passes. Those who are keen to participate, could visit Yamaha's official handle on Instagram or Facebook page; look for the contest post and take a screenshot when the Samurai is aligned properly with the MT-15 bike. 
The event would conclude on 3 December 2024 with eight winners being selected. The Delhi edition of Comic Con India will be held at NSIC Grounds, Okhla, from 6 December to 8 December 2024. 

Royal Enfield has launched the Goan Classic 350, a bobber-inspired motorcycle that is inspired by the ‘70s and ‘80s iconic Goan moto-culture.

Powered by Royal Enfield’s popular 349 cc air-oil cooled, single-cylinder engine, the Goan Classic produces 20.2 bhp at 6,100 rpm and 27 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. Staying true to the bobber style, the Goan Classic 350 features chopped fenders, mid-ape handlebars, floating rider seat and whitewall tyres on tubeless spoke wheels. The Goan Classic 350 also features bolt-on arrangement pillion seat to switch between single and dual seat configurations and comes with a range of bobber-inspired Genuine Motorcycle Accessories (GMAs) including a custom rider seat, handlebar grips, bar-end mirrors, touring screen, touring handlebar, deluxe foot pegs and foot control rubbers.

The Goan Classic 350 is built on a twin downtube spine frame and comes with telescopic front suspension with 41 mm forks and twin rear shock absorbers, along with dual-channel ABS with 300 mm front and 270 mm rear disc brakes. The dashboard features a gear position indicator and Tripper navigation pod, while a USB Type-C charging port ensures connectivity. The Goan Classic is available in three single-toned colour options (Shack Black, Purple Haze and Trip Teal) and one double-toned option (Rave Red). The single-toned colour variants are priced at INR 235,000 (ex-showroom Chennai), while the double-toned option is priced at INR 238,000 (ex-showroom Chennai).

Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director – Eicher Motors Ltd, said, “The Goan Classic is a heartfelt tribute to the spirit of freedom and individuality that Royal Enfield has championed for decades. To me, this motorcycle is an embodiment of the cool, laid-back Goan moto-culture, and Royal Enfield’s passion to build motorcycles that are more than just machines, and are a means to self-discovery and expression. This motorcycle feels right at home, not just on the streets of Goa but brings the relaxed and easy Goan vibe to free-spirited and freewheeling riders everywhere.” 

B Govindarajan, CEO, Royal Enfield, said, “Rooted in custom bobber culture, the Goan Classic is a beautiful fusion of classic design and modern engineering. From the low-slung silhouette and the single floating rider seat, the contours and ergonomics, and the dazzling kaleidoscope of colourways, the Goan Classic has a very bohemian and free-spirited vibe combined with relaxed and comfortable riding manners. This is a motorcycle for those who ride not just to get from place to place, but to live and experience every moment with authenticity."