Nabed

KTM 200 Duke: First Ride

2011-12-21T19:39:00.000-08:00

Blatantly endorsing the fun side of motorcycling and giving street-riding a whole new meaning, the KTM 200 Duke is everything it promised and more. Our very first ride on this Indo-Austrian bloke proudly flashing its orange livery

The guitar-shaped test-track at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan facility offers some interesting tight corners as well as a high-speed bowl and then a long straight which leads into the final sweeping left-hander. I have about half a day long date with a motorcycle that all bikers in the country have been eagerly waiting for – the KTM 200 Duke. Envy? Be my guest. It is a machine that is nothing like what we have ever seen on our Indian roads. The orange veil of Austrian charm has been covering my vision ever since I attended a special feedback event for KTM motorcycles organised by Bajaj Auto about four years ago in Pune where the company unveiled some of the KTM superbikes to get reactions from bikers in the country. Obviously then the excitement has been very difficult to contain all this while.

But the wait has certainly been worth it and more. I say this after having spent considerable amount of time with the KTM 200 Duke for most part of the day wringing its throttle on the Bajaj test-track showing no mercy. Just a glance at the orange machine gleaming in the afternoon sun would compel even the most blasé observer to not only sit up and take notice but would force him to jump on the saddle of the KTM 200 Duke without hesitation. The radical and absolutely in your face bearing of the 200 Duke is so neatly executed by its makers, that despite looking like its come from another planet, it has a very welcoming and inviting poise that just cannot go unattended. This is the best-looking motorcycle that the Indian market has ever witnessed till date and there are no two ways about it.

As minutes passed drooling over this gorgeous motorcycle, soon it was time to get onto the saddle and ride. Without wasting a minute more I hopped onto the bike allotted to us but even before I could thumb the starter, one thing instantly evident was the bike’s road-friendly ergonomics, true to its street-fighter genes. No unnecessary tries at making it best of all worlds with tourer-friendly laid-back yet sporty two-piece clip-ons or a feeble effort like some of its rivals to club racing ergonomics with comfort in one package. This is an out and out naked hooligan for the street who is utterly shameless about its arrogant character and one who does not feel intimidated nor threatened by anything the rider has to throw at it. Within the early few laps itself the KTM Ready to Race genes came to the fore in a, if I may call it, brutal manner throwing non-stop bursts of power and torque no matter what gear and speed I was in.

Nabed Alam Bora Ninja 250 r

2011-07-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

My new Ninja

Quick comparo: Honda CBR250R vs Yamaha YZF-R15

2011-05-29T11:01:00.001-07:00

While most eyes are on the battle of the 250s between new Honda and the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, are we missing the Yamaha YZF-R15 which could take the biggest hit post the arrival of the Honda CBR250R?

Similarity is a strange characteristic, since it almost always incites a direct comparison. Carrying the same displacement of 250cc, the newly launched Honda CBR250R and the Kawasaki Ninja 250R suffer from a similar fate. I say suffer, since anyone who has ridden the two bikes knows that apart from the cubic capacity, there is little similar between the two bikes, and that is unfair to both. For the Kawasaki, it is about being pitted against a much cheaper motorcycle that should technically be one segment below itself. And for the baby-CBR, it’s about needing to punch way over its weight, a street-spec single-cylinder going up against a scaled-down, multi-cylinder sportsbike.

So we decided to do a quick comparison between the new Honda and the scalpel sharp Yamaha YZF-R15. A quick comparison is what we churn out from our office desks - it means we didn’t take the two bikes out on the road side-by-side but having ridden enough of both, decided to pen down the thoughts off the top of our heads to paint a better picture. On paper again, the two bikes are very dissimilar for a straight scrap, but we know too many of our readers, who find the Ninja 250R way beyond their budgets, were looking at an R15, and would want to know if they should shell out the extra money for the CBR instead. Short reply – if you are not a cornering junkie, yes.

If you are into learning the art of cornering and wish to have a race-replica that’s affordable though, there still is nothing that comes close to the R15. I have been using it as my long termer for quite a while now, and everyday I ride it makes me love it even more. The bike does everything right – it is neutral in its handling, light and nimble enough to change direction at the speed of thought, has beautiful brakes that can comfortable bring you to a halt from whatever speed the bike is capable of – and all that is wrapped into a chassis that speaks to you but never shouts. The engine is refined and revvy, and match the best in its class in terms of acceleration and top speed. It has its shortcomings as a city commuter though, starting from the seating position, and ending thereabout. Fantastic bike. But too focused.

That’s where the Honda CBR250R takes the game away. Of course, it has a lot more power and grunt which means its comfortable cruise speeds are higher than the R15’s. It also has a significant ‘big bike’ feel to it when compared to the minimalist Yam. The seating position is more comfortable too, which means the CBR is set to become the de-facto sports tourer for the nation. But take it out on a set of demanding twisties, and the 45 kilo additional weight compared to the R15 begins to show as clear as the sun. The soft suspension which soaked up everything in its path suddenly becomes the root of all nervousness mid corner. Exits are quick and effortless, but big front-end dive under brakes makes the whole corner entry experience less spontaneous. Don’t expect to get your knee down anytime soon. This is a bike to take things easy on.

By the end of our quick comparo, we get a feeling of being unfair once again, but that’s just the CBR250R’s fault for straddling the sparse Indian performance bike space so well. Or, looking at it another way, it provides the perfect rung to climb on to if the R15 is too little and the Ninja too much. Plus, if you are the sort who does not have a sufficient explanation to the patent question about why the R15’s rear tyre is so skinny, you won’t have to face that question again. At an additional cost of about Rs 70,000, you get a bike that cannot do things half as well as the R15 can, but can do twice as many things instead.

As given in zigwheels.com

Quick comparo: Honda CBR250R vs Yamaha YZF-R15

2011-05-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

As given in zigwheels.com

Winner of Roadies 8

2011-05-18T12:51:00.001-07:00

Winner of roadies season 8

Hello everyone! Roadies season 8 kicked off with a decent start. The twists which Raghu created were truly amazing. The roadies this time, had to go all the way to Brazil.The winner of Roadies season 8 was been recently revealed from a Brazilian source who was present at the time of performance of task. According to the source -

The finalist roadies were Suchit and Mohit. They had to perform a task were both of the roadies would have to entrap themselves from the trap which holded them beneath the water. Raghu was also present at the time of performance of task. Mohit managed to get a upper hand over Suchit. The crew clapped around as both the roadies were able to complete this death defying feat. For the first time Ranvijay said that he would want to crown both of them as roadies 8 winner . But as the rules say there has to be a winner. Other roadies stood aside as the results were announced.The winner of roadies season 8 is Mohit .

Mohit jumped across and celebrated his win, really it was a pretty tough call for him. With the majority of people thinking that Suraj would pull this roadies season off, it was Mohit in the end who proved that none stood beside him. And also that no one belongs to his caliber. The winner of this season roadies truly deserved it said the participants of season 6. Raghu also enjoyed the victory as the deserving one got the title.

2011-04-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

Who are we ? Nabed, Durluv, Sabir, Amit, Bitupon, Samiran, Amitabh, Toushif

Riding : Three R 15 and P 200

After a break of six months we the members of D.A.R.K(DIBRUGARH AMAZING RIDERS KLUB) decided to go for a trip to the unexplored Aurnachal Pradesh. After a brief planning we decided to go to Annine.

We started our journey on 21^st January we tank up our bikes and packed our bags and started by 10 A.M after riding for 4hrs we reached Saikhowa Gath where we took ferry to cross the mighty river Brahmaputra and reached the other side Sadiya . Though the road was not good our experienced made us feel it easy to ride couples of hrs later we entered the check gate of Aurnachal at Santipur gate we saw our Inner Line Permit and headed to Roing where we stayed later that night with one of our friends brother

Early next morning on 22^nd we tanked up coz there was no more petrol pump ahead and started to Mayodia Pass it is said that it got its name from a girl called Maya who was lost in snow and was not found. Though the roads were good but the turns were scary. After riding for couples of hrs we reached Mayodia which is 2655 meters from mean sea level. Snow-capped peaks, turbulent rivers, mystic valleys and abundance of rich flora & fauna attracted us .We parked our bikes and enjoyed the view and played with the snow after some snaps we started to Hunli the road was covered with snow and it made us difficult for us to ride it took 1hrs to cover only 28kms later on we stopped at 65 to have our launce while going to Hunli we witness some scintillating and thrilling scenery of the surrounding. Couples of hrs later we reached Hunli and stayed in the circuit House.

Early next morningon 23^rd The view from the circuit house was awesome. The clouds just coming down to kiss our face and our bike we stared for our next destination Annine which was 208kms away from Hunli on our way we saw Wild Mithun while on our way the view was heart touching later we reached Annine by 5pm and stayed in I.B it was a remote area only 4hrs of current in a day. Later that evening it was more memorable as the snow started to fall.

Next morning on 24^th we started our return back journey the road was full of snow and it made impossible for us to ride it took whole day to reach Roing

The next morning on25th we decided to go to Tezu after couples of hrs later we reached Tezu A friend of ours had already made arrangement for us.His Mom was very eagerly to she us and welcome us later that evening we went to see Tezu Mala which happens every year and we were lucky to be there .

The next day 26^th Januray was our returning day we saw the flag hosting and soon set off for our home we came through the famous Parsuram kund on our away back we had to stop for security reason by 8 P.M we reached our home covering a distance of 1578 kms thugh we were drain up but we knew that we had our best time of our life riding our bike something that we can’t forget.

Special Thank’s to Nice Roy(Tezu) and Tanuj Deori (Roing) for making the arrangement.

Yamaha SZ review - Double-edged Yam

2011-02-01T07:53:00.000-08:00

With the new SZ, Yamaha has set their sights on two segments - the premium 125cc in terms of price and considering its displacement, obviously, the 150cc segment. They’ve promised the best of both worlds with the SZ and it sounds too good to be true. However, the impressive thing is, the SZ actually comes close to giving you the best of both worlds!
LOOKS

The SZ comes in solid block colours, while the SZ-X offers graphics as an extra, while also coming in other shades. The SZ is a full-size 150 with a sporty-ish stance and it needs the brighter colour options to fully highlight its sporty shape. Instrumentation is bare-basic and there isn’t even a tachometer or a front disc brake. However, fit and finish is up to Yamaha’s usual standards.

ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN

The 153cc motor pushes out 12 bhp@7500 rpm and 1.3 kgm@4500 rpm. While that might not sound like much, the SZ never feels underpowered during normal riding conditions. Only on neverending highways, it struggles to get past an indicated 110 kph. But high-speed cruising is not what the SZ is made for anyway. In the city, the motor feels extremely smooth as does the five-speed gearbox. It pulls well from as low as 30 kph in top gear, lending it good commuting charactersitics. And while we haven’t had a chance to accurately measure fuel efficiency yet, over our 450 km ride at the bike’s launch hinted that a 55-60 kpl number will be easily achievable.

RIDE AND HANDLING

The SZ is a neutral handler and does well in this department even though it comes shod with TVS tyres, which are not really the best in terms of grip. Combine that with a missing front disc and what we have is a motorcycle that falls behind other 150s in the braking department. The 150 mm front drum did not suffer from brake fade, but it certainly is no disc. That aside, the SZ did not disappoint on the curves. It confidently holds a line around corners and even under hard braking, it maintains its poise. The riding position is comfortable for commuting and even though ride quality is a little on the stiffer side, it falls into the ‘plush’ category nonetheless.

WHAT TO EXPECT

For Rs 54, 340, ex-showroom, the SZ is fair value for money, given that it’s a well-built motorcycle that does almost everything well and undercuts its competition by a fair margin. However, we’d like to see better tyres and a front disc at the same price, which would make the SZ a much stronger value-for-money proposition.

MOTODATA

Yamaha SZ-X

POWERTRAIN

Displacement: 153 cc

Max power: 12 bhp@7500 rpm

Max torque: 1.3 kgm@4500 rpm

Transmission: 5-speed

CHASSIS

Type: Single downtube with engine as stressed member

Brakes: 150 mm drum (f), 130 mm drum (r)

Suspension: Telescopic forks (f), Shock absorbers (r)

Tyres: 2.75 X 17 (f), 100/90 X 17 (r)

DIMENSIONS

L/W/H (mm): 2050/730/1040

Wheelbase: 1320 mm

Kerb weight: 132 kg

Ground clearance: 165 mm

Fuel tank: 14 litres

PRICE

Rs 54,340, ex-showroom,

2010-04-07T09:50:00.001-07:00

	3OH!3 - PunkB*tch .mp3

	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Nabed Alam Bora

2010-02-15T08:23:00.000-08:00

DJ Bassem - Bass Beat Mp3 Download Free

2009-10-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

DJ Bassem - Bass Beat Mp3 Download Free

Trip to Burah Hill (Kazirangha)

2009-10-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

TRIP LOG: Sixteen of us from the D.A.B (Dibrugarh Amazing Bikers) undertook a 650km+ round trip from Dibrugarh to Kazirangha National Park on last month

After planning well we decided to start on the 2^nd September, so we started from Dibrugarh at 5.00 clock in the morning. After riding for 4 hrs continuously at steady speed of 70to90 km/h we reached Jorhat where we stop to have Tea there we also had a photo session at the beautiful Jorhat by-pass.

At 10.00am we re-started our journey and riding continuously for 2.30hrs we finally reached Kazirangha National Park at 12.30 pm. Unfortunately we came to know that the National Park was closed that week due to flood. Then we went to the office of the forest range officer and requested him to allow a view of this world famous park. The range officer was very kind and he himself took us a little bit inside to a view point called Gorpur view point where we friends were lucky enough to see the world famous One-horned Rhino, various types of deer and different species of monkeys. We also saw different types of snake in a lake we saw tortoise.

After that we bade the range officer and returned from the view point back to the national highway N.H37. There itself we friends decided to go further to the Burapahar Hills, Nagaon District. After for one more hours we reached the beautiful Burapahar Hills where we rested for about half an hour and witnessed the beautiful countryside scenery andhad photo sessions. We also had our meal in a nearby resort then after a rest and refilling our bikes we started our way back home.

On our way back home we also went to see the beautifull night view of the Numalighar Oil Refinery. After that beauty of a sight we rode our way back home. After riding for 4 hrs we reached Sibsaghar at 11.30pm where we stopped and took tea.

Lastly we reached Dibrugarh at 1.30 midnight all we tired friends thanked each other for there company and supported in our 20hours+ long bike trip covering a 650km+ .we bade each other and everyone went to our respective sweet homes a very tired but with great joy of heart.

2009-10-12T11:30:00.001-07:00

2009-10-12T11:22:00.001-07:00

http://picasaweb.google.com/nabed46/BuraPaharr?feat=embedwebsite#slideshow/5391749636291487506

2009-10-11T11:31:00.001-07:00

After months of speculation and excitement, the baby Kwacker has finally been brought to India by Bajaj - at a price tag of Rs 2.7 lakh ex-showroomThe bike comes into India from Thailand via the CKD route, and we can count on it to kick start a new era in India's performance biking culture.

Bajaj Auto has launched the highly anticipated and much awaited sportsbike, the Kawasaki Ninja 250R in Pune. Enthusiasts will be surprised to know that the bike coming to India is the 2010 model of the marque, with its matte black exhaust and a new green-black paint scheme. The bike will retail through Bajaj Probiking outlets throughout the country, and will a price tag of Rs 2,69,670 ex-showroom Delhi and Rs 2,69,580 ex-showroom Chennai.

Having seen major success around the world for its combination of practicality, ease of use, controlled power delivery and fabulous handling characteristics, the Ninja 250R is bound to make for one of the most desirable and affordable big bikes in the country. Its four-valve per cylinder, liquid cooled parallel twin engine churns out a very respectable 33PS of power at a screaming 11,000rpm - a fact that most sportbike enthusiasts will be satisfied with. Thanks to its liberal wheelbase, stability and ease of ride is also at a high.

The bike comes into India from Thailand via the CKD route, and we can count on it to kick start a new era in India's performance biking culture.

2009-10-11T11:24:00.001-07:00

The bike that kick started the Indian big-bike scene has received its first major revamp. Read on to check out the pricing and the details of the new bike!

Hero Honda has launched the revamped version of its performance motorcycle, the Karizma ZMR. Introduced at a price of Rs 91,000 ex-showroom Delhi, the new bike will go up against the likes of other performance bikes in the Indian market such as the Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi and the Yamaha YZF-R15.

Hero Honda has ensured that the new bike is not just a cosmetic upgrade, but the changes in the exteriors and the design are major and will establish the Karizma ZMR as an all-new bike. The ZMR now features a full fairing that clads the entire engine to pronounce the big-bike feel. Redesigned rear quarter panels and an all new LED taillamp round up the design changes on the new bike.

The engine sees a mild power upgrade from 16.8PS to 17.6PS, but now features fuel-injection that replaces the carburetor. Taking a cue from its competitors, the new bike has also been fitted with an oil-cooler, which should take some of the heat off the completely clad yet air-cooled engine.

Related Story Link

New Hero Honda Karizma

On the features front, the new bike sports clip-on handlebars and an all-new digital speedo-tacho unit. The bike seems well kitted for its price, but the competition seems to have a headstart in terms of technology and outright performance. We should be getting our test bike soon, so watch out for a complete road test with performance figures real soon.

Road Test: Yamaha Fazer

2009-09-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

Focused on infiltrating every segment in Indian motorcycling, India Yamaha Motor has dished out a dynamic-looking tourer model based around the FZ16, Varad More takes it for a spin

With the Indian sub-continent brimming with picturesque locales in all directions, it doesn't come as a surprise to us that motorcycle touring is fast gaining popularity in the country. Adventurous souls from the biking ilk are swiftly coming to the fore and their perfect idea of a weekend is a long ride through the less traversed Indian roads. There is no dearth of two-wheeled explorers in our country, but what's missing is the variety of bikes that can cater to this large portion. As of now there are only a handful of bikes that can be termed as 'Tourers', like the Royal Enfields, Karizmas and the Pulsars.

Good gets Gorgeous
A new player has joined the big boys - the Yamaha Fazer, a more tour-friendly variant of Yamaha's street-fighter 'Lord of the Street' FZ16. The transformation of a naked hooligan machine to a more relaxed and sophisticated tourer has been done quite smartly on the Fazer. The most striking adaptation is the beautifully sculpted and aerodynamically designed fairing upfront that holds the twin headlights in place. It's quite interesting to see how adding a well-designed, purpose-built fairing can change the character of the FZ16, externally. Apart from the new fairing upfront, there are the new decals complete with a simpler seat design, visually the rest of the bike remains unchanged from the FZ16.
Swing a leg over the Fazer and the most striking change is the ergonomics and the big-bike feel, courtesy the fairing and the matte-black dash housing the digital console. The handlebars have been raised by a few millimetres letting the rider sit with a much more relaxed and upright posture as compared to the FZ16. The view you get from the saddle is that of a contemporary sport-tourer and looks the part. The quality of plastics used is world-class and there are no shoddy gaps or ill-fitting fibre panels anywhere on the bike. Yamaha is known for its build quality as well as reliability and the new Fazer once again substantiates this fact.
With its new found vigour, Yamaha India is on a roll and their cash register hasn't stopped ringing since 2008. The company has introduced market defining models like the YZF-R15 mid-2008 and later the FZ16, but now, it seems to be losing its edge. From the outside, the Fazer looks like any other modern-day touring motorcycle which can munch miles at a stretch, but, if you look at the basic requirements of a biker interested in touring, the Fazer does not live upto it. For instance, the bike does not come with hooks for a bungee cord or a cargo net, which are must-haves for any tourer. The rear seat is comparatively small to support and accommodate a pair of loaded saddlebags over bad roads. The fibre panels concealing the fuel tank work against the Fazer's touring potential, as this wipes out the possibility of employing a magnetic tankbag, one of the most commonly used touring tools.

Longer the better, we mean the gear ratios
And then there is the ultra-refined 153cc air-cooled motor serving the FZ range, which felt great on the FZ16 and the FZ-S, but feels out of sync on the Fazer as it remains untouched. How we would have loved to see a gruntier and taller geared pro-touring setup designed specifically for the Fazer. We understand that developing an all-new motor costs a lot of time and money. Especially, for a company like Yamaha India which was struggling to find its foothold in the Indian market until last year. However, while venturing into a field which requires certain standards to be maintained, you have to take that extra bit of effort in order to make sure that the product actually delivers what it promises. By extra effort we mean the gearing on the Fazer, which too remains unchanged from the FZ16. The shorter gearing drastically dampens the Fazer's touring spirit and what you get is a more relaxed FZ, ideal for weekend getaways.
The Fazer is built entirely around the FZ16 chassis and under the skin it retains cycle parts unchanged from the FZ. So handling too remains unchanged, albeit the revised laidback riding posture that puts less stress on the arms making for a more comfortable and less demanding riding experience. No matter how big and promising the Fazer looks, it is definitely not the most ideal tool for crossing state boundaries. It comes with oodles of feel good factor and draws attention from passersby just like bears to honey. However, the underpowered motor along with short gearing mess up the touring aspect and the Fazer remains nothing more than an able motorcycle for those pleasurable weekend rides and comfortable city-commuting.
Add to that the on-road price tag of Rs. 80, 830 and it puts the Fazer directly in the price bracket of the Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi and the Hero Honda Karizma. Both these bikes have been tried and tested with tourers taking them several hundred miles to the highest motorable passes in Leh all the way down to the shores of Kanyakumari. The only place where the Fazer really scores over the biggest Pulsar and the old warhorse Hero Honda Karizma is fuel efficiency. Not a defining factor, nonetheless an important one for touring. Looks of a hardcore tourer coupled with comfortable ergonomics and decent tank range make the Fazer a decent buy for bikers looking for a stylish, manageable and frugal motorcycle to explore the outskirts of their respective cities.

Mahindra Scorpio Micro-hybrid – The future is now!

2009-07-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

Mahindra has led the way in bringing hybrid technology to the Indian masses with the Scorpio mHawk Micro-hybrid SUV. We take a closer look at the car that gives a huge pampering to your conscience.

The increase in traffic on Indian roads over the past decade is not only an indication of increased buying power, but also an indication of depleting natural resources and rising pollution levels. Rush hour commutes are pretty much the same ordeal in any of the major cities in the country. Never-ending traffic jams, cars interlocked bumper to bumper, moving at snail's pace only to be stuck again a few meters ahead for another agonizing interval of time has become de rigueur for any daily road user. In the midst of this rising chaos, the approach to a solution is two-fold. The first approach is by enhancing and reinforcing a city's infrastructure - widening roads, making flyovers, keeping a smooth flow of traffic and generally encouraging citizens to make more use of public transport systems. While this stand has to be taken by the government, the second approach is wholly in the hands of automotive manufacturers and in India, Mahindra seems to be taking the cause forward.

Mahindra launched the new ‘mighty muscular’ Scorpio successfully to excellent customer response. Always aggressive in its looks and attitude, the Scorpio’s dominance on Indian roads is a well-known story. But this time around, there’s a surprise in store for everyone, as this bully now has a soft corner.

The revolutionary new Micro Hybrid technology makes Mahindra’s Scorpio really gentle – on the environment that is. This technology allows it to intelligently switch off the engine when not required. Thus going into standby mode after few seconds of engine idling, ready to spring back to life the moment it’s needed again. This ensures you burn less fuel and reduce emissions. Providing much needed relief to the environment, our lungs and our wallets too!

What is a hybrid anyway?

In a very broad sense, hybrid engines are units that employ two power sources during normal operation - generally an IC engine and an electric motor. Based upon the involvement of the electric unit in the IC engine's functioning, hybrid systems are classified into three. First up are the 'Strong hybrids' that employ an electric motor that can power the vehicle over short distances without help from the fossil fuel powered engine. Second in line are the 'Mild hybrids' that make use of the electric motor only during accelerating from a stand still to assist the IC engine, thus reducing stress on the latter. The third kind, which is what Mahindra has opted for on the Scorpio mHawk, is called the 'Micro hybrid'. Contrary to its name, the system does not employ an electric motor. Micro hybrids are based on an intelligent start/stop system that governs the car's IC engine.

So how does a micro hybrid system work then?

What the Micro hybrid system does in very simplified terms is that it shuts off the engine if the vehicle has been stationary for a predetermined period of time. On the Scorpio mHawk micro-hybrid, a young team of engineers from Mahindra’s R&D centre has developed an electrical circuit that controls the engine. The system basically consists of a relay that acts as an automatic start/stop switch for the engine, a clutch and gear lever position sensor and a mode selector switch with three pre-sets. The system can be set for a time delay depending on how heavy or light the traffic is. As long as the vehicle is stationary with the gear lever in neutral and the clutch pedal isn't depressed, the system will automatically shut off the engine after the pre-set time has elapsed. When the driver wants to move ahead, all he has to do is depress the clutch pedal and the system cranks the engine back to life.

In a nutshell, the Micro Hybrid technology :

Switches off the engine when the Scorpio idles for a preset duration (*2 seconds in Scorpio VLX, 5 seconds in Scorpio M2Di)

Switches the engine back on, the instant your leg depresses the clutch pedal

Burns less fuel, thus reducing pollution and helping to conserve the environment

Do I have to drive differently?

Not at all. The Mahindra Scorpio mHawk micro hybrid drives exactly like its regular counterparts would. There is absolutely no change to power delivery and those horses under the hood are churned out with utter smoothness. The micro hybrid just helps make these vehicles even better in the city, thanks to the enhanced mileage. In addition to that, the rugged and the pothole munching Scorpio retain every single quality that customers have come to love.

Ok, so what's the big deal again?

It's about savings silly! This process (micro hybrid) ensures that the unnecessary idling of the engine is avoided and thus not only ensures more fuel savings but also prolongs engine life by eliminating wear and tear during idling. Keeping in mind the increased number of start/stop cycles that the starter motor will have to take care of, the motor itself has been reinforced to last longer than usual starter motors. That's not all, if someone chooses to leave the engine running in certain situations, such as when the air conditioning is switched on a hot summer's day, the third pre-set on the mode selector switch allows for the micro-hybrid system to be bypassed and the vehicle functions as normal.

Way to go, Mahindra!

The system has been constantly recording fuel savings of up to 8 per cent. There is absolutely no effect on the driving characteristics of the vehicle and it continues to run like any stock Scorpio. The Mahindra Scorpio Micro-Hybrid is available in showrooms at a minimal extra price for the micro-hybrid system and is poised to set the pace for further such innovations in Indian vehicles - definitely the right way to go! It is really great to see Indian manufacturers taking the initiative to go green. The micro hybrid system is ideal for India for a variety of reasons. The first reason being that it is huge step forward in the fight against greenhouse gases and emissions, secondly it will help reduce the load on fossil fuels, and lastly it is a technology that is affordable and will not really increase the overall price of the vehicle too much, thanks to the fact that there is no expensive componentry involved. The micro hybrid is for this reason a true winner, for at a reasonable extra cost, it will also provide savings that are quite substantial. Its suitable for the Indian environment, it is a brilliant technology that is simple, and at the end of the day it does not require a heightened level of care or infrastructure to support it. Go Green! It’s the new mantra, and Mahindra seems to know where to head!

All about the performance kit from Yamaha

2009-07-10T07:07:00.001-07:00

All about the performance kit from yamaha

The 3.7km long Chennai circuit was the place where I got my first taste of the R15's full potential, last year. After that I have been visiting the MMST race-track very often and have had many occasions to ride and race the R15 there. But all those bikes were in stock-trim without a single modification. So this looked really promising. An entire day with the best track-tool on one of the only two race-tracks in the country meant I would show no mercy on the bike or stop for nothing, at all. The weather sure was on our side as it was cloudy and over-cast throughout the day, which also meant that the lap-times would drop more than before due to lower track temperatures. A couple of laps on the stock bike and the best lap time I could do was 2 minutes 19 seconds around the long loop of the Chennai circuit. Then I jumped onto the race-spec R15 and the first thing I noticed was the exhaust note, which reminded me of the race-spec Yamaha T135 underbone bikes I raced in January at the Yamaha ASEAN Cup in Bangkok. It was insanely louder than anything on our Indian roads, and had a lovely throaty growl at idle revs. Coming out of the pit-lane I whacked open the throttle and the R15 raced ahead with an enthusiasm of a school-kid darting out of the day's last class.

Two laps down, the lap time dropped by a few seconds but it took me sometime getting used to the altered power delivery. Sadly, Yamaha had only two bikes ready with them and with the entire media fraternity present at the do, it limited the track-time on the modified bikes. The two modified bikes ran different gear ratios with one running a stock gear setup while the other bike had a slightly shorter gearing. The back-straight on the Chennai circuit allows for a good top-speed run and on the stock bike the best figure I have ever seen on the speedo is 134km/h. On the modified R15 with stock gearing, I touched 141km/h on the same back straight! With a quicker exit on C6, better rubber and more suitable track temperature, I?m sure that figure could easily cross the 145km/h mark.
The power delivery was smoother and had a much punchier feel to it over the stock bike. The revs climbed much faster with an aggression never felt on the stock bike. The performance kit changed the character of the R15, entirely. Suddenly from its docile and forgiving self, the R15 had become a hooligan yet comforting in a very nice way. Revving all the way upto almost 13,000rpm, the new ECU gives the bike a wider powerband starting from 7,500rpm, allowing the rider to keep the power handy at all times, effortlessly. Throughout the track, the revs never dropped below 8,000rpm and it allowed me to keep the bike in its sweet spot all the time. In the real world though this will work against the R15 as on the crowded city streets it will require the rider to keep dancing on the gear lever. In the cityscape, one needs power low down the rev-range to really enjoy riding around the town and make swift overtakes. Yamaha claims that the entire performance kit bumps up the horsepower by 30%, which means with the kit the R15 would make 21PS of power! This means the R15 with the performance kit will have the best in-country power-to-weight ratio of 175PS/tonne!

The brake upgrades only improved things even more as I could comfortably enter the corner carrying all my speed and then trail brake with precision to correct the line. Late brake manoeuvres and shedding excessive corner speed was a breeze on the bike thanks to the braided brake hose and the 296mm diameter front disc. The rear set adjustable pegs were set on medium position and it didn't make much of a difference than the stock setup. However, the rear sets have three more rearward settings, which I believe can be more useful for the track.

The bike is in its element on a racetrack and feels much more fun than the stock setup, fulfilling all the needs of a hardcore racer. The primary target for Yamaha is the R15 championship racers and serious track-day goers. Yamaha has announced that this kit will be for closed circuit use onlY

performance kit

1] Re-mapped ECU
2] High-lift cam-shaft
3] Full exhaust system
4] Special alloy sprockets
5] Adjustable Foot rests
6] Larger diameter petal disc front brake
7] Stainless steel brake hose
8] Race-spec master brake oil cylinder

RE-mapped ECU

Re-mapped ECU:

The R15 chassis always felt under-used with that puny 150cc liquid-cooled motor and every time on the track it felt like the bike could do with more horses. Well, that is the focus of the advanced ECU in the performance kit. The rev-limiter has been moved further and instead of 9,800rpm cut-in point of the stock ECU, the race-prepped ECU kicks-in only after the rev-counter needle breezes past the 12,800rpm mark. And that makes a hell of a lot of difference! Yamaha has developed this special ECU which is tuned and mapped to suit the other performance upgrades that come in the package. However, the ECU has been configured with a prefixed map canceling out the great opportunity of allowing the end-user to program it according to his own liking and needs. How we would love to see a programmable ECU on offer! Maybe that's the next thing in line from Yamaha...

High-lift Camshaft:

Yes! You read it right. The package also boasts of a high-lift cam which provides better flow of air-fuel mixture by getting the valve further out of the way than stock. The altered ECU further helps in smoothening out the extra power produced by the engine and care has been taken that the high-lift camshaft does not put strain on the valvetrain.

Full exhaust system:

This one will be a big seller. Loud, throaty and adds instant punch to the bike. The full exhaust system is a bolt-on part and immediately improves low-end torque and power delivery. And one thing is for sure, you can't sneak into your home after a late night ride, 'cause this stainless steel muffler will wake up your entire neighbourhood. It's short, sweet and smart as a whip. And yes, this is a race track only feature as is the ECU because of both useability in traffic and also the noise level is above the permissible street limit of 80db.

Duralumin Special Alloy Sprockets:

The key factor behind R15's mind-blowing performance and handling has always been its superlight frame. Yamaha has kept this focus on its after-market parts too and the sprockets are no exception to this. As of now, there are two options for the rear sprockets with 40 teeth and 42 teeth, made out of lightweight special alloy called Duralumin. The product line-up hasn't been confirmed for the sprockets yet, as Yamaha has plans to introduce multiple sprocket options depending upon the demand and need of the users.

Brake upgrades:

Braking was phenomenal on the stock bike too, but the bigger 296mm diameter petal disc upfront coupled with a stainless steel braided brake hose, put the R15's brakes into a different league altogether. The feel has improved significantly and the bike inspires a lot of confidence under hard-braking and mid-corner speed-shedding, dropping braking times and distances by a big margin over the stock bike. The kit also includes a la MotoGP race-bike style master brake oil cylinder. The improved power and braking demands stickier rubber though than the stock tyres can deliver and this is a sore spot worthy of being treated. Exactly a year ago, many were stunned with the performance of the tyres employed on the R15 and were raving mad about them. However, the stock tyres now seem to be struggling to cope with the added horses

Quick throttle:

The package also includes a racing quick throttle that reduces the total travel angle of the throttle from the stock bike's 90 degrees to 60 degrees. The quick throttle helps in reducing throttle actuation time and provides quicker response from the bike with minimal movement of the wrist. A boon for racers.

Rear set footrests:

Apart from the performance boosting bits to the drivetrain, Yamaha have thoughtfully provided one very critical upgrade to the bike which is exquisitely crafted rear set footrests. This positional placement of foot rest with allied linkages perfectly optimized for gear shifter and rear brake pedal is most welcome and highly recommended. It is three-way adjustable depending on rider preference and comfort.

The entire kit works in perfect harmony as the high-lift cam, ECU, the exhaust and the sprockets all have been tuned to work together to give the best possible performance. All of this sincerely satisfies the needs of a serious track-enthusiast or the newbie racer. To match the go, Yamaha is also offering an HID headlight kit for that added bling factor!

The sad part is that Yamaha still hasn't disclosed the pricing of these parts or the full kit as they are yet to determine the exact costs, since the parts will be imported directly from Daytona (the firm) in Japan. Yamaha will start taking orders from July for these parts by email and via their website. The parts will be available by September and trained technicians at Yamaha dealerships will install these parts on the customer bikes.

my biker group

2009-05-09T11:39:00.000-07:00

With my beast

2009-05-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

About me

2009-02-05T06:53:00.000-08:00

Top 25 Things that I Like : -

1)To laugh out when something hurts in my heart.

2)To write shayaris in lonliness.

3)To listen to songs when alone.

4)To read books late nite when sleep is away.

5)To go to bed & watch radium stars on my ceiling and to listen to soft songs while it rains outside.

6)To weep the way no one can understand.

7)To wait for person till they realise my importance.

8)To receive a call from someone, I don’t see a lot, but one whom I want to see.

9)To play with kids to realise the lost meaning of innocense in todays world.

10)To laugh at myself looking at mirror, making faces.

11)To get Calls at midnight from Loved ones that last for hours.

12)To get attention when I dont expect.

13)To accidentally hear somebody say something good about ME.

14)To wake up and realize it is still possible to sleep for a couple of hours.

15)To hear a song that makes me remember a loved ones.

16)To take Cold Shower on Hot days

17)To watch the sunset from the hill top.

18)To choose my friends.

19)To drink coffee alone and think for hours long about past.

20)To go in kitchen and find my Favourite food cooked in bowls

21)To See an old friend again and to feel that the things have not changed.

22)Love To take an evening walk along the breezy beach coast.

23)To laugh …….laugh……..and laugh …… remembering stupid things done with stupid friends.

24)To drive on empty straight roads at late nights

25)To eat Chocolates, cakes, pastries in manner no less then a Kid…