Casio Riseman : Booked!

I have always been a Casio fan : The protrek and Pathfinder series are the kind of watches I have always been looking for. And then i saw the all new Riseman. Oh my God. It is expensive, but I just couldnt resist the temptation.

The Casio Riseman is now in India thru Casio's official importers. Should be getting it in the next 3-4 days. In the meantime, read about the watch HERE

The watch is with me now - READ THIS

Bajaj-KTM update : The KTMs are coming to India

The RC8 on the lovely cury roads of Austria.

Noticed the recently updated blog header (top pic)...

Read it all in the August issue of BIKE INDIA magazine. I got a chance to ride some of the finest from the Austrain manufacturer and sooner than you realise, the KTMs will be here in India, thanks to Bajaj.

The RC8, a dream machine, was a blast to ride. The Adventure 950, Super Duke 990 and Duke 690 were some of the other bikes I got a chance to ride

The 690 Duke will probably the first KTM to hit the Indian market

The Yamaha YZF-R15 goes touring!

We had told you about the new mini SBK from Yamaha India - The YZF R15


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We have also tested the bike, both on the track, and in the city. Read THIS

And today, i took her for a 250km ride around Pune. We have already told you how the bike feels on the track and road and now, I will share with you if she can tour or not.

In the meantime, here are some teasers!

2009 Triumph Thunderbird 1600

Triumph revealed its new Thunderbird 1600 cruiser at a dealer conference yesterday. Details remain scarce, but we do know it has a 1594cc engine making something in excess of 100bhp, belt drive and an unnecessarily large 200/70-18 rear tire. Aside from competent handling that’ll be spoiled by that big tire, the looks indicate a depressingly boring Harley clone. Yes, we know it has an ugly parallel twin, but honestly, cover it up with your thumb and you can’t tell the difference between the Thunderbird and every other generic cruiser made in the last 20 years. Come on Triumph, you can do better. More details will be announced in the new year and more pictures, if you really care, after the jump.

Source

Bike India Anniversay Aug 2008 Issue

Bike India has the answer to the question that has been doing the rounds of each and every biking forum around the country. Yes, we have the EXCLUSIVE road-test of the Yamaha YZF-R15!


Highlights:

1. The R15 tested. Is it worth every penny?
2. The 15 takes on the rivals, on the track - Apache RTR Fi VS Pulsar 200 VS Karzima VS R15
3. We also have an exclusive proper first ride report by our experts of the baby Ninja 250R. Coming to a probiking showroom near you soon...
4. The Busa does it all : England to Turkey in 36hrs! Read this exclusive ride report of what the Suzuki beast is capable of
5. Bike India Power Personalities : Some of the men behind the worlds second largest two-wheeler market
6. What happens when you have the ZZR1400 next to a Busa in India?
7. We ride the 1098 from Ducati in India
8. Bike India rides what Bajaj and KTM are getting for us
9. Honda CBF - just another 125cc bike?
10. Bike India top ten - from bikes to advertisements, we have the best lined up for you
11. Thumpers ride up the roof of the world - the RE Himalayan Odyssey
12. The GSXR and Rizla ridden in India

And a lot more. The August 2008 is the Anniversary issue which means 50% more pages - yep, you will love this month's BI for sure..

You can also log onto www.bikeindia.in

23rd-31st August 2008 : Riding to the roof of the world

This is my third update on the planned ride to the worlds highest motorable roads.
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BIKE: Will be sending my June 2003 Hero Honda Karizma (223cc/17bhp) via train to New Delhi. Read more about the bike HERE

The plan is a bit changed now...Riding up via Rohtang Pass, we intend to hit Leh, the capital of Ladakh by Day3.
Permits to ride to the top of the world will be arranged in advance, which means on Day4, we ride to Khardung La Pass (18640 feet) and beyond into Nubra Valley
Day5: Ride back to Khardung La and beyond to Pangong Tso Lake via Changla Pass (app 18000feet)
Day6: Ride to Sarchu
Day7: Sarchu-Manali
Day8: Manali-Narkanda
Day9: Narkanda-Delhi

As of now, we are around six riders.
Got to get hold of spare tubes / tyre inflaters / tents etc!

Moto Guzzi Grsio 1200 8V comes to US

The US market seems to be having some kinda action lately. We told you about Aprilia getting in the Mana and RS125 for the Americans and now Moto Guzzi too is launching the Griso 1200 8V there soon.

Legendary Italian manufacturer Moto Guzzi draws deeply from its country's rich tradition to give full breadth to its latest creation, the Griso 1200 8V.... READ MORE

2008 Suzuki Hayabusa

Some days back, while I was in Delhi, I met up with one of the biggest superbike clubs in India - GODS. GODS stands for Group Of Delhi Superbikers.

Ofcourse, one bike that has always made me happy is the Busa. The club has around nine of these. Here are a couple of pictures of the bike that tops my wish-list!




Also, see this video of the 2008 Hayabusa being played around with

Good news for US markets: Aprilia RS125 and Mana coming their way

Yep, Aprilia will be selling the pocket rocket RS125 as well as the Mana in US markets now.



Unfortunately, only as a track day bike, but Aprilia will be bringing its super-light 125cc two-stroke road machine to the United States following an official announcement at Laguna Seca next week.

The RS 125 is a beautiful machine (judge for yourself), and weighs an incredibly light 264 pounds. That little 124.8cc single is potent enough to deliver 100 miles per hour through the six-speed gearbox. That is 100 pounds lighter than the lightest 600 supersport! Track day fun would be a guaranty.

The Mana will also be in US markets now

Aprilia is bringing its 850 Mana to the U.S. In fact, it is already here at a U.S. MSRP of $9,899. For that, you get an 839cc 90° V-twin in a modern chassis with modern brakes. You also get that special transmission that can be used as a 7-speed manual or an automatic with three selectable mappings (touring, sport, and rain).

More on my Leh ride this year

The plan is taking shape. Here are the mountain passes that we will be riding across

1. Sach Pass : 14500feet
2. BaraLacha La : 13050feet
3. Nakee La : 15547feet
4. Lachalang La : 16616feet
5. Tanglang La : 17582feet
6. Khardung La : 18640feet
7. Chang La : 17800/18000feet
8. Rohtang La : 13050feet

Honda DN-01 to finally go on sale in August!

We had told you about the Honda DN-01 concept bike way back in Oct 2007 and in March 2008 it went on sale in Japan.

Come August, and Honda will start selling the bike in UK as well.

The DN-01 features fully automatic transmission and the motorcycle is powered by the same 680cc V-twin engine that is used in Honda's Transalp.

The transmission can be changed between auto, sports-auto or a thumb-operated six-speed manual transmission.

As well as automatic transmission the DN-01 also features Honda's combined ABS system along with the Honda Ignition Security System (HISS).

Honda will also be releasing a range of aftermarket products for the DN-01, which will include heated grips, speakers, a bluetooth connection kit and a back rest.

The DN-01 will be available in graphite black or pearl amethyst purple for a price of £9200.

Source : Internet and MCN

Riding to the worlds highest motorable roads!

Finally!
I have rode all over India - from the deserts of Rajasthan to the beaches of Kerala. But one place that always remained virgin for me has been Leh-Ladakh.

This year, it seems I shall be breaking my virginity for Leh!!

Dates: 23rd-31st August 2008
From: New Delhi (760feet)
To: Khardungla (18640feet)
Bike: My 2003 Hero Honda Karzima

You may read my posts on the All India Road Trip, starting HERE

You may also read about my bike HERE

The plan as of now is to ride from the capital of India (my hometown) to the Himalayas. I might take the Sach Pass route via Dalhousie, or the Rohtang Pass route via Manali.
Then, riding through one of the toughest roads will take me to the capital of Ladakh, Leh. From Leh, an hours ride will get me to Khardung La, which at 18,640 feet is the worlds highest motorable pass. Phew!!

Planning is still going on - I wish to ride to Pangong Tso, Nubra valley, and if possible ride back via Spiti (which I did couple of years back...)

Shall keep you updated!!

Moto Morini Sport : New colors

We had told you about the Moto Morini Sport way back in Jan 2008
Recently, the company came out with new color options for the bike.

They’ve only just been made available in shops, but Moto Morini has already added a new colour option for the 1200 Sport.

The Sport was originally revealed in the option of British racing green/yellow - like Lotus sports cars - or a pastel blue/orange scheme inspired by the Gulf Oil sponsored race cars from the last 30 years.

But Gulf made a complaint about the colour, forcing Morini to drop the option, so now the factory has introduced a blue/white version, another colour scheme tipping a nod to the car world – this time American muscle cars.

The paint doesn’t cost any extra over the £7999 list price.

Source: MCN

Ducati Monstersedici RR? A 200Bhp Naked from Ducati?

The latest V-Max from Yamaha, the B-King from Suzuki and now, a 200bhp naked monster from Ducati?

Yes, seems true. There are very strong rumors floating around the net that the Italian company is working on basically putting a desmo engine into a Monster chassis! Sound uber fun, doesnt it?


Source: Biking forums, kawasaki-bikers.br

2009 VFR1000 : A reality?

While we all thought Honda would be coming out with an all new V4 engine (READ) it seems that the 2009 VFR will sport a V5 engine with a 1000cc capacity.

According to sources as well as famous motorcycling website motociclismo the VFR1000 will be ready by later this year!

It will replace the current VFR800 as well as the CBR11100xx superblackbird.

Honda has been picking up a lot of stuff from their racing bike, the RCV, for production models and it is learnt that even for the VFR1000, the engine takes a lot of cues from the RCV's mill.

Stay tuned for more!

SOURCE: Motociclismo, Internet

Valentino Rossi caught kissing topless chick!!

VALENTINO Rossi has been snapped kissing a mystery topless girl while relaxing on a boat with friends just off the shores of Conero on the east coast of Italy after last weekend's Assen TT, where Rossi crashed on the first lap.

The pictures were first published by Oggi magazine in Italy and show 'The Doctor' soaking up the sun and enjoying the company of his female companion.

The title of the spread in Italian is 'Il rombo di Valentino' which roughly means 'The roar of Valentino'.

If you're not jealous of the big man - put your hand up.

Source: Internet and biking forums