Hyosung Bikes To Be Manufactured in India By Garware

We’ve heard nothing about Hyosung bikes for the past few weeks atleast. Not all can forget the hypes that this brand created in the market at the time of launch. But, unfortunately, this South Korean brand suffered a setback with the announcement of the price of the Kawasaki Ninja 650R which falls in the same category as the Hyosung GT 650.

Garware Motors Ltd which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Garware Bestretch Ltd plans to go in for 100 per cent manufacturing of Hyosung bikes in the country over the next two years.

The company which has a tie up with the South Korea based S&T Motors , currently assembles the bikes at its plant at Wai in Maharashtra, said Mr Hyder Ali Khan, Chief Operating Officer, Garware Motors Ltd.

The company’s assembly plant in Maharashtra has a capacity to manufacture 8 to 10 bikes a day.

“In the first phase, we are looking at manufacturing close to 40 per cent of the parts that goes into the bike locally. We are in talks with two to three vendors for the same,” Mr Khan said.

Let’s see what all measures the company will take to mark its presence here. By competing against few of the most reputed competitors. In fact, the first move should be to reduce the price of its bikes by atleast half a lakh, which I don’t think the company will be interested to do now at this point of time. Let’s just wait and watch to see what’s gonna happen here.

Regards,

Som

New Yamaha YZF R15 Version 2.0 – What Has Changed?

After a lot of hide n seek, we now have the new r15 version 2.0 in front of us. The day I saw the first scoop pics, I was surprised about this move from Yamaha and was scratching my head as to what ‘new’ would Yamaha pump in this already way advanced product. However, this move clearly reflects that Yamaha wants a bigger pie of the segment. You have already been busy reading the blog server space since a few days, spare this one more as I try to understand what exactly has seen the dustbin and what is coined in.

1. Name: Yamaha would call this bike as YZF-R15 version 2.0 to keep a proper distinction in the market vis-à-vis the outgoing model, though the decals and badges on the new variant would still be ‘R15’.

2. Engine: Sporting the same 149.8cc single cylinder liquid cooled SOHC engine, version 2.0 still produces exactly 17PS of maximum power at the same 8500 rpm & 15 Newton meter of torque at the same peak point of 7500 rpm which are the most disappointing factors for majority of people from the ‘dissatisfied’ list.

However, good news is that Yamaha has employed a new Engine Control Unit (ECU) along with a new drivetrain to enhance the straight line as well as high speed acceleration of the bike. Yamaha also promises superior performance, better throttle response and an improved clutch operation. Secondary reduction ratio has been altered as well. It is 3.133 for version 2.0 which was 3.000 for the older model. Primary ratio remains unaltered at 3.042

3. Aluminum Swingarm: In comes India’s first long aluminum swingarm which has a truss structure to enhance rigidity and is designed to curtail wayward movements to boost stability.

Also, if noticed carefully, the chain adjustment assembly towards the end of the swingarm is also new. R15 was already a benchmark in handling in India. And if these enhancements have increased it, we have an even better track machine in our hands.

4. Split Seats: As if this has become a trademark in high powered bikes; Yamaha splits the seats of the new model into two. I hope it provides slightly better rear support to the rider. It comes with an anti slip seat cover which resists slipping sitters forward. The underside of the rear seat also provides a small storage compartment for holding small tools, documents and can be opened from the keyhole provided in between the two seats.

5. Increased Seat Height & Riding posture: The seat height of the new bike has been increased by 10mm – from 790mm to 800mm. The riding posture also seems to be slightly more open chested and easy on the rider.

6. Omission of Grab Rails: The R125 like tail doesn’t house any place for grab rails; and with those forceful forward biased rear seat, I see a big grin on every boys face!

7. New design alloys: The newly designed thin 5 dual spoke alloys look upmarket and probably also help in shedding some grams of that flab.

8. Overall Body Changes: The rear has been completely redesigned and bears a resemblance to R125. The wider and pointed tail is beautifully crafted and the rear portion is lifted. Number plate assembly and redesigned exhaust are also given a more sportsbike look. Mudguards & saree guards, I guess are forcefully put to adhere to Indian norms. Similar to Pulsar 135LS, but look way better on this bike. Redesigned middle cowl also adds character to the bike and gels well with the overall flowing theme of the new design.

9. LED Tail, Dual Horn: The small white ending, illuminates in red LEDs. Also, the new bike comes with more audible dual horns.

10. Wider tyres: Curtailing all misconceptions and also to add that extra glamour, Yamaha decided to shed off its 100 section extremely grippy rear tyre. And shod is a wider 130mm Radial tyre with a 70mm wall (in place of 80 for the older bike). The front tyre has also become fatter by 10mm and is now 90/80 in place of 80/90 of the previous iteration. However, Yamaha has not mentioned anywhere that this would be of the same soft compound which constituted the leech-like rear rubber of version 1.0. All the display bikes were shod with MRF rubber during launch.

11. Disc: Also, a larger 220mm diameter rear disc brake has been put to duty to tame the wider tyre.

12. Colors: Version 1.0 was available in Yamaha Blue, Sunset Red, Midnight Black and launched later Impact Yellow. For the version 2.0 you have the option of choosing from Racing Blue, Midnight Black and Sunset Red with probably Impact Yellow kept for a future launch. Black and Red really look phenomenal on this bike.

                 

13. Increased Weight: Sadly, with all these enhancements, R15 has gained a meaty 5 kilograms in weight which would not please an enthusiast. The version 2.0 is 136kgs compared to 131kg of older version.

14. Increased Wheelbase: Wheelbase has seen an increment of 55mm and is now 1345mm wide as compared to 1290mm of the outgoing model. According to specs shared by Yamaha, version 2.0 stands 25mm shorter @ 1970mm compared to 1995mm of older version. Width and height remain same at 670mm & 1070mm respectively.

15. No ABS model as an option as was speculated.

16. Price: The most important aspect! Yamaha has increased the price of the new model by approximately 6-8k ex showroom and hence this bike would be dearer by around 10k than the outgoing model. R15 Version 2.0 is priced at Rs 1,07,000 ex showroom New Delhi.

R15 has put on 5kgs of extra weight and along with those wider tyres, things do not look very performance/mileage friendly. Maximum power and torque have remained the same. And still Yamaha claims better performance? Yamaha has tinkered with the power/torque curves of this bike as I assume. There might be a better torque concentration towards the lower rpm band to reduce that powerlessness feeling under 7k rpm and probable sprocket play for a better top end.

Nonetheless, things will become clearer when we get the bike in our hands. All in all this seems to be a very nice upgrade and people who are dissatisfied must understand that R15 was a bike which was launched way ahead of its times 3 years ago and still we do not have a single bike which can compete technically with this one. I am completely satisfied with whatever Yamaha has done till now. My apprehension is more towards the pricing. This (although) little price increase might inch them slightly closer to probably the arch rival – Honda’s CBR250R. Although, R15 is still more track focused but not many weigh two bikes this way in India.

Well, a lot has been demystified, a lot remains to be unfolded which only a test ride can expose. We, at BikeAdvice would try to lay our hands on the bike ASAP to come up with a nice detailed test report. Keep happy, Keep revving!

Regards,

Som

Yamaha R15 V2 – First Impressions

    It was really great to be one of the very few who have taken the glimpse of the newly launched Yamaha YZF-R15 V2.0. Let me share how the bike exactly looks like and what Yamaha Motor India claims about the bike.

   The entry of the bike to the stage itself was very stunning. Unlike the regular stripping the cover on the bike to reveal it, the company tried the new method of making 3 guys in full racing suites to ride the 3 different coloured bike onto the stage from the other end of the hall.

    At the first shot, the bike looks really cool and it is very visible that the bike has underwent major cosmetic surgeries in order to make it even hotter than the current model. Unlike most other companies, to whom upgrades mean just a change in paintjob or graphic designs, Yamaha has really taken the pain to come up with the next version of its flagship model.

     The front half of the bike is almost the same except the alloy and the side fairing. I’ll come to the alloy wheel a little later. Regarding the side fairing, there is a slight change in the way the air vents are placed. The company claimed that this would aid in improving the resistance value by as much as 4 per cent compared with the existing model, which in turn will improve the performance of the bike.

     The rear part is entirely fresh and is damn appealing. The rear part of the bike along with the rear set is pushed up which gives a feel that the rear seat is actually swinging freely. Yamaha claims this seat to me slip resistant.  There is also a storage compartment under the rear seat and the lock for it is visible clearly, but it is not (at all) odd in terms of looks. The mono-shock at the rear looks very sexy with this modification even though it existed in the old one too.

     The  grabrail is removed  from the rear seat, which  assists the  machine in offering a perfect sport  bike look  which is the  exact kind of image with  which  Yamaha wants to project the R15 Version   2.0. The  excellently designed  LED  tail  light  adds  to the brilliance  of the  design. A very  look  at  it  would  reveal  the  fact that  is derived  from  the  R6. I, being a  big  fan of  R6’s design admired this new version to the core.

      The swing arm is completely made of aluminum which aids the company in claiming to be India’s first 150 cc bike to house an aluminum swing arm. This will help the bike when being used in race tracks during cornering.

      One fact I didn’t like in the bike was the usage of saree guard. But, as Indians we don’t have any options and we’ll be forced to have them fitted on the bikes, irrespective of it spoiling the design or not.

      There is also a small metal piece that is fitted onto the exhaust which displays ‘R15’. What made me wonder was the fact that every single change that this bike is incorporated with is visible just on the first sight. Brilliant work mates! The way the end of the exhaust appears is also new.

       In one of my earlier review about the current model, I’d mentioned that the bike badly needs a  wider rear tyre. I was  relieved seeing  the wider tyre at the rear as the bike passed me to the stage. The 130/70  radial tyre adds to the stability of  the  bike. The front  tyre has also  become fatter by 10 mm with the new 90/80 radial tyre.

    The 5 spoke alloy with double spokes looks not so impressive, but doesn’t spoil the look of the bike from any side. This is another new addition to the new version.

     Apart from the looks, Yamaha also claims that the performance will have an edge compared to the existing model with the installation of new ECU and a drivetrain. In order to comment on this, we’ll have to get our hands on this bike which will reveal the truth.

     There was a question put forth to Mr. Roy Kurian, National Business Head of IYM which was, “On what basis did you come up with this new version?” He said, “The customers of the current model were satisfied with the front half of the bike, but they felt that there existed a scope for improvement at the rear.”

      Three colour schemes of these bikes were displayed at the stage. Out of the three, the one with Sunset Red share is truly an eye catcher. A close observation of this bike will reveal the fact that there is a dual colour scheme employed. The white paintjob is amazing, especially at the rear where the space between the rider’s seat and the rear seat is painted in white. Oh Baby! That’s still in my eyes.

Regards,

Som