Harley-Davidson Enters Motorcycle Market In India

Photo Credit: Harley-Davidson

The Washington Post reports on Harley-Davidson, Inc. announcing plans to enter the motorcycle market in India in 2010. The company has established a subsidiary to be located in Gurgaon, near Delhi, and has begun the process of seeking dealers.

"As India continues to extend its global reach, so does Harley-Davidson," said Harley-Davidson Motor Company President and Chief Operating Officer, Matthew Levatich. "We believe Harley-Davidson has outstanding opportunities for continued growth around the world."

The company's current approach is to import its motorcycles, accessories and riding gear, and it will continue to evaluate how best to evolve its approach to the market as Harley-Davidson's business in India grows.

"India is important to our long-term vision of being a truly global company," said Harley-Davidson Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Wandell. "We are committed to India for the long term, and we are focused right now on establishing a strong foundation."

India is the second-largest motorcycle market in the world, with sales dominated by small, inexpensive bikes used as basic transportation. However, India's rapidly growing economy, rising middle class and significant investment in construction of new highways have opened the door to leisure motorcycle riding.

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2010 Suzuki GSX1250FA unveiled

The 2010 Suzuki GSX1250FA, for those who want a touring-spec Bandit

Via Motoblog

Suzuki have released pics of the 2010 GSX1250FA, a sports-tourer based on the GSF1250 Bandit, but with a full fairing and racier ergonomics. The bike is fitted with the same 1255cc inline-four, suspension components and steel tube chassis as the Bandit, but the GSX-R-style nose, fairing and exhaust system are different. ABS is optional and specially designed hard luggage is available from the factory.

To be honest, we don’t like this bike very much. It looks like a dated, hodge-podge, parts-bin special. The new Bandit looks so much better. Anyway, the Suzuki GSX125FA is expected to cost a bit less than 10,000 euro (US$14,600) and will be launched early next year.

We're sure it's a competent machine, but did they have to make it look so dull

Source: Fasterandfaster

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2Evil: The Scooter from Hell

2Evil, a 50bhp, two-stroke 'scooter' from France...
Via MCN

The French have created their share of mad machines, ranging from gently eccentric cars to the devilish little scooter – named 2Evil – you see here. All right, it’s stretching the definition of what you’d call a ‘scooter,’ but MXS, the 2Evil’s creators, insist it’s a scooter and we’ll just go with that.

Fitted with a custom-built Gilera-based two-stroke engine that consists of two 86cc cylinders, the MXS 2Evil spits out 50 horsepower, which is transferred to the rear wheel via a CVT. This ‘scooter’ does the standing eighth-mile (200 metres) in 6.5 seconds and hits a top speed of 149km/h. Impressive, for something that’s only fitted with a tiny, 172cc engine.

For more information, visit the MXS website here

The little video snippet of the 2Evil in action

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Husqvarna gets new manufacturing, R&D facility in Italy

Under BMW ownership, Husqvarna can look forward to bigger, better things in the near future...

According to a report on Dealer News, Husqvarna (which BMW bought from Claudio Castiglioni, back in 2007) will be shifting to its new headquarters in Italy, by May this year. BMW, which wants to bring various Husqvarna units – including engine, testing, development, styling and racing divisions – under one roof, is adding to Husqvarna’s existing facility at Cassinetta di Biandronno, in the Varese district of Italy.

BMW hope to sort out Husqvarna’s problems with quality control and spare parts supplies in the near future. While Husqvarna only sold 12,000 bikes in 2007, BMW hopes to increase sales in a big way over the next 2-3 years. In fact, the new manufacturing facility will have the capacity to produce up to 40,000 Husqvarna motorcycles every year.

BMW intend to keep Husqvarna as an off-road specialist brand and use R&D inputs from the company to improve/develop its own dual-purpose and off-road machines.

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