Bike RPM

Bajaj Auto sales show marginal decline in July 2009

Bajaj Auto has reported a negligible decline (less than 0.5%) in its motorcycle sales during July this year, at 168,163 units, as compared to 168,971 units sold in July 2008. The company’s total two-wheeler sales declined from 169,971 units in July 2008 to 168,731 units in July this year. Exports improved marginally, from 67,253 units in July 2008 to 68,585 units during July this year.

Bajaj’s total sales (including three-wheelers) in July this year stood at 192,835 units, as compared to 193,704 units in July 2008. According to a company press release, Bajaj expects its performance to improve over the next few months. The company is also expected to launch a new entry-level commuter bike in the 100-125cc segment, though there is still no word on when it’ll launch the much-awaited Kawasaki Ninja 250R.

[Via: indiaautomotive]

Tags: auto, bajaj, bike, compared, comparison, in, india, last, manufacturer, month, motorbike, motorcycle, sales, to, units, year

BMW Motorrad To Launch Superbikes In India

13 years back BMW has entered the Indian superbike scene with the F650 through a joint venture with the Hero Group, but things did not go as planned. BMW is planning another foray into the country’s minuscule high-end motorcycle market and is planning to introduce its Motorrad range of super bikes in India which will cost in excess of Rs. 10 lakh.

However BMW India could take 1-2 years before anything is finalised. BMW Motorrad is a brand used by the German company for its motorcycles, which are in production since 1923. BMW Motorrad’s G series, F series, R series and K series are available around the world. These bikes range from 450 cc capacity to 1300 cc capacity and are designed for off road, sport and touring purposes.

[Via: motorbeam]

Tags: anything, bmw, car, company, final, german, in, india, indian, launch, manufacturer, market, not, superbikes, to, yet

Mac Motorcycles

UK-based motorcycle design studio have teamed up with product designer Ellis Pitt to form a new company called Mac Motorcycles. Ellis has collaborated with the team at Xenophya for the past nine months to design a range of simple, lightweight and sporty bikes.

Mac Motorcycles have planned four models namely the Spud, the Ruby (top right), the Peashooter and the Roarer (bottom right). The bikes will be powered using an air-cooled single cylinder 500cc Buell Blast engine in a tubular backbone frame.

Ellis explains “Between us we’d designed, modified, built and ridden all sorts of motorcycles over the last 30 years and thought it was time to produce a motorcycle that reflected our philosophy. Our influences have been diverse and we’ve made unusual connections between genres of motorcycles such as choppers, Italian singles from the 1950s, flat trackers and competition specials”.

What underpins Mac Motorcycles’ philosophy is the belief that the riding experience and the stories that go with motorcycle journeys seem to have been hijacked by technology and plastic.

The company initially plans to produce a few hundred bikes in small batches for markets in the UK, North America, Japan and Australia gradually increasing production with time. Expect to buy one of these beauties between £8k (approximately Rs 6.24 lakh) and £10k (approximately Rs 7.80 lakh).

Tags: announced, based, coming, company, launched, mac, manufacturer, model, motorcycles, naked, new, soon, sporty, UK