The New Delhi Auto Show 2010 is all set to begin on Tuesday, January 05, 2010. The auto show will run for 7 days until January 11, 2009.

The New Delhi Auto Expo is organized by CII Siam in association with the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) of India. The show is talked about as the biggest expo and the auto enthusiasts are predicting several auto launches from big companies during the expo. It is expected that there will be about 10 launches including SUVs to two wheelers.

The event managers say that there could be 1.8 million people visiting the show which if becomes true will be the largest ever at all beating the 2009 New York Auto Show which was visited by 1.2 million people. All said, considering the population of India the figure is not overwhelming.

The fact that India is fast recovering from recession and slump and the average middle class consumers will look forward to newer launches that can meet their ever rising requirements as well as budget.

As for bikes, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India limited will hopefully launch its entry level bike; a 110 cc bike at the show. The bike runs on 110cc engine and will come with a price tag of around Rs. 45,000. There are also rumors rife if Bajaj-KTM will unveil their bike.

Pragati Maidan Delhi will hopefully be a witness to many surprises, and live to the expectations of visitors and auto fans.

Our dads’ old and faithful warhorse Hamara Bajaj scooter attains superannuation

Majority of the generations who grew in the 70s through 80s have had Bajaj in their growing, whether childhood or teenage; their fathers must have definitely rode this scooter for many years. Decades back, people who looked for prospective grooms spoke very high of a person who had a Bajaj scooter. A Bajaj scooter was once upon a time regarded as a symbol of status and statement of a decent earning man. However, all that was a long time back story.

The company’s first scooter model, Chetak(intentionally it was given the name of Maratha ruler Chatrapathi Shivaji’s horse’s name), was launched in 1972. Chetak remained Bajaj’s flagship brand for over 10 years. There was a time when people had to wait hell lot of a time after pre booking their Chetak. A black market thrived selling the Chetak scooters. And, late 70s had been the Golden period for the Bajaj scooters, especially the Chetak. In 1977 Bajaj Auto claimed to have sold a lakh of Chetaks in just one financial year. There were times when people voted for Chetak rather than waiting long for Premier Padmini and Ambassador Cars. Post Hamara Bajaj campaign, the company touched one million mark by the end of 1995.

Chetak also claimed amazing resale value. However, the sale of Chetak’s started to dip in the early 90s and Chetak could never recover at all. First the Kinetic scooter kick butted the Bajaj scooter, and then came the bikes one after the other including Bajaj’s and sent these scooters to garage as worthless piece junk.

It was indeed Bajaj that gave birth to the scooter market in India and popularizing it under the heart-touching and sentimental ‘Hamara Bajaj’ campaign. Bajaj was founded in 1945 as first Bachraj Trading Corporation Pvt. Ltd. Having sold scooters for over 5 decades, Bajaj announced that it will phase out the scooter production and have its focus set high on bikes market. Bajaj couldn’t stop rolling out its bike models to save its scooter. The company believes there is no sense in making scooters which fail to appeal this generation. Scooters are hardly selling these days, and the second hand market too is almost dead for the same.

The company believes it’s a sacrifice they are doing by fading scooters to aim at becoming bike specialist in India. The same was announced by Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, Rajiv Bajaj at the launch of Bajaj Pulsar 135 LS bike.

Bajaj now sells a 100cc scooter (gearless one) Bajaj Crystal and it sells very little amidst competition from other gearless scooters including Activas, Access’ and the Kinetics. So, what had been a part of our childhood will now become a history and a passé.

Old Hamara Bajaj TV Advertisement Video

Country’s second largest bike maker, Bajaj Auto launched today Pulsar 135 LS (light sports) bike.

Pulsar 135 LS is a commuter bike loaded with style and features at Rs. 51,000 (ex-showroom price Delhi) which is quite attractive to say the least. Furthermore, Pulsar fans will not be disappointed with the new P135 LS as it impresses bike enthusiasts with its class and engine specs. The bike looks sporty and the Pulsar 135 looks like it has taken cues from the Pulsar.

The frame of the bike is rigid yet lightweight. Split sear and grab rails of Pulsar 135 LS resemble that of high-end 200cc and the 220cc Pulsars. The bikini faring of the headlight adds to the beauty of the bike. The side indicators are arrow like and the tail lamps are LED type. Speedometer is digital and the bike features Nitrox shock absorbers (gas charged) at rear.

As regards the mill, the Pulsar 135 LS runs on a 135cc 4-valve DTS-i engine which gives 13.5 bhp and generates 11.4Nm torque. The engine is integrated to a 5-speed gearbox. The new Pulsar 135cc also comes with ExhausTEC (Exhaust torque expansion chamber) technology to improvise torque generation at low rpms.

The bike comes with disc brakes in the front and drum brakes at the rear. Wheels are 5-spoked mag alloy type with matte finish, both in the front and at the rear.

Pulsar 135cc features electric start and auto choke, and helps people negotiate easily in the urban traffic jungle. Pulsar 135 LS is pitted against Honda Stunner and the bike impresses first time bike buyer and for a price of Rs. 51, 000 it is a deal for sure. Pulsar 135cc bike comes in 2 color choices of midnight Black and wine Red.

India will get Yamaha R1 in 2010. The multinational two-wheeler maker Yamaha India announced that it will launch new Yamaha R1 bike next year.

Just recently the international edition of R1 bike was launched although not in India. The new model will hit Indian roads in.

The new Yamaha R1 will be a super bike running on a 998cc engine and sports all the latest and modern features with some uniques as well.

Engine provides 998cc displacement and is a liquid-cooled, 16-valved, HOHC and inline 4-cylinder mill with a 6-speed gearbox. The bike features disc brakes on front and the rear; however, dual discs in the front and single disc at the rear.

The bike features MotoGP-inspired fly-by-wire engine technology and the YCC-T (Yamaha chip-controlled throttle) system enables immediate throttle response. This technology makes it a chosen and an award-winning bike. Then there is YCC-I (Yamaha chip-controlled intake) intake system.

Yamaha R1 also features Yamaha D-MODE or the drive mode where in rider can select throttle control maps and program the YCC-T according to the changing ride terrain and conditions. And as regards the styling, it doesn’t go with the regular crowd of the bikes instead breaks away from regular norms. The rider-friendly new Yamaha R1 bike retains all the technical advancements its predecessor had.

Yamaha has several bikes for the launch lineup in the coming years and these new yet-to-launch bikes should gratify motoring and biking quest of every ride enthusiast.

Keep waiting for the big Yamaha season ahead.

The much hyped 110cc bike from Honda India stable is unveiled. The company says that they expect to launch the new 110cc bike at the next year’s Auto Expo.

It’s expected that the new 110cc commuter bike will be named as Honda CB Twister. The pictures of Honda CB Twister have been surfaced online and creating hype for the new bike; thanks for unveiling the bike before its launch.

Check the pictures of the Honda CB Twister and you will know what Honda has made in the 110cc bike; sporty looks and aggressive styling. The auto designers at Honda must have taken inspiration from Honda’s super bikes to design the CB Twister; it looks like.

The fuel tank and the red-colored shock absorbers of the Honda CB Twister take after the CBF Stunner.

The headlight seems to have gotten more aggressive designing and it complements the stylized air scoops.

The CB Twister doesn’t like competing with Splendor or the Passion Plus, but is indeed a niche bike in the 100cc bike segment.

There are many uniques as regards the Honda CB Twister. The 6-spoked mag alloy wheels, colored shock absorbers, disc brakes in the front, stylish exhaust design, split grab rails and open chain. Besides, the paint finish looks amazing and gives CB Twister a more-bike-per-bike look. These unique features will hopefully put Honda CB Twister as an amazing machine in segment.

Twister 110cc is expected to be priced Rs. 55,000; ex-showroom Mumbai; but it might vary.

Indian bike market seems to be hotting up with newer launches; and certainly the consumer has a win situation here. Bajaj Auto seems to have its eyes set on expanding its lineup in the executive bike segment; the company announces that it will come out with a new Pulsar variant by December 2009.

The new Pulsar will be in the sub-150cc segment and the company is working its way to sell about one million Pulsars in the coming year along with the upcoming Pulsar.

The sub 150cc Bajaj Pulsar will come with new design as well as a power train. The company did not reveal the price point of the sub 150cc Pulsar.

Bajaj Auto has 3 variants of Pulsars; that run on 150cc, 180cc and 220cc engines. The new Pulsar will be a sub in the 150cc category. The company has been having an increase in its bike sale over the last 6 months and the second quarter of this year saw a selling of 45,000 units of all Pulsars as against 25,000 during the last year, same time. With the new sub-150cc Pulsar the company believes it can achieve the one million Pulsar sales in 2010. The new sub-150cc Pulsar is set for December 9, 2009 launch.