Indian team wins first TTXGP
Everyone knows that the hot favorites for the worlds first zero carbon Grand Prix at the Isle of Man are US giants Mission Motors and Brammo, who have invested millions of crisp US dollars in their electric machine and who have been working on this project for years now. To everyone's surprise, a minuscule Indian Team that started its preparation in a shed on the outskirts of London just a couple of months ago managed to top the time sheets.
Team Agni has vast experience with electric race bike, as team leader Cedric Lynch had built his first electric performance bike way back in 1981. The team had worked for months at a stretch for the TTXGP (the electric superbike GP).
This Indian took the frame of a 2007 Suzuki GSXR 600, fitted it with two Agni 95 reinforced motors and a Kokam lithium-polymer battery of 63 cells that could produce around 16 kilowatt-hours of energy.
The team claims that their e-Superbike can churn an impressive 40 to 50 bhp. So, it was no surprise that their creation was the first to complete the 37 miles course, with team rider Rob Barber riding at an average of 84.81 mph! Meanwhile, Brammo finished third and Mission Motors fourth.
Arvind Rabadia, a former newspaper delivery man worked with veteran engine developer Cedric Lynch to build the winning bike. And how much do you think the team spent on their winning bike? Nope, it's not a couple of millions, but the cost of Agni X01 was around $30,000. That's much lower than the millions spent by other entries.
Rob Barber, the TT racer who rode the Agni X01 for the TTXGP said that it feels like home as soon as you ride it. The rider says that Agni feels better and more peaceful the traditional Suzuki GSX as you can concentrate more because your eyes aren't bleeding.
The TTXGP received 60 entries from 15 countries to compete in the race. Only 16 actually landed at the starting line, out of which just nine finished the actual race.
PRO Class times
* Team Agni (Rob Barber): 26:41 (Agni Motors is indian company, building electric motors)
* Mission Motors (Thomas Montano): 33:45
* XXL (Thomas Schoenfelder): 34.07
* Brammo/Bike (Roy Richardson): 35:47
* Brammo/Bike (Mark Buckley): 35:52
* HTBLAUVA - TGM (Paul Dobbs): 41:53
Open Class times
* ManTTx Racing (Dan Kneen): 32:01
* Barefoot Motors Racing (Chris Petty): 33:35
* Electric Motorsport (Chris Heath): 36:26
* NSR - Kingston University (George Spence): 40:44
[Via: BikeIndia]
Royal Enfield To Launch 2 Bikes
Heavy-weight motorbike maker Royal Enfield on will launch two models by early next year and plans to expand its overall production capacity by over 35% by 2010. At present, Royal Enfield is evaluating possibilities for launching the two bikes with two different engines, twinspark 350cc and 500cc engine with EFI technology.
"We have plans, we have enough engine platforms for bringing in new models. We will be launching two more models by the end of this year or early next year," Royal Enfield Divisional General Manager (Sales and Marketing) Shaji Koshy said.
Royal Enfield is also increasing its production capacity to 60,000 units per annum by 2010 from the existing 44,000 bikes a year at its facility in Chennai. They would also invest Rs 25 crore in enhancing capacities and launching new products by 2010.
[Via: Motorbeam]
Bajaj to launch 220cc Pulsar on June 23
CNBC-TV18 reports that Bajaj Auto is all set to launch the fastest bike made in India on June 23. This bike will be in the higher 220cc segment. The all-new 220cc Pulsar will replace the old model as it sports an all new DTS-i engine.
CNBC-TV18 reports that Bajaj Auto is all set to launch the fastest bike made in India on June 23. This bike will be in the higher 220cc segment. The all-new 220cc Pulsar will replace the old model as it sports an all new DTS-i engine.
Here is a verbatim transcript of Swati Khandelwal's comments on CNBC-TV18.
We pick up from sources that this bike will be launched on June 23. This is on the flagship model that Bajaj already has-the Pulsar. Bajaj's new 220 cc Pulsar will replace the old model as it sports an all new DTS-i engine.
The major attribute to this bike would be its speed. In fact, we understand from sources that it is going to be the fastest bike ever made in India. Its top speed will be over 140 km/hour and that is almost 15 km/hour higher than its predecessor. We also understand that this bike is going to be priced much lower than its predecessor. The earlier version of the vehicle came in at about Rs 85,000 and this is close to Rs 70,000 ex-showroom Delhi.
This bike is going to compete with the existing Yamaha's FZ16 and R15. We understand from sources that Bajaj is hoping to sell or at least capture one-third of the total super sports bike market, which is the Rs 65,000 plus market. To garner that, they will be looking for selling about one-third of the total market which is about 15,000 units per month.
We pick up from sources that this bike will be launched on June 23. This is on the flagship model that Bajaj already has-the Pulsar. Bajaj's new 220 cc Pulsar will replace the old model as it sports an all new DTS-i engine.
The major attribute to this bike would be its speed. In fact, we understand from sources that it is going to be the fastest bike ever made in India. Its top speed will be over 140 km/hour and that is almost 15 km/hour higher than its predecessor. We also understand that this bike is going to be priced much lower than its predecessor. The earlier version of the vehicle came in at about Rs 85,000 and this is close to Rs 70,000 ex-showroom Delhi.
This bike is going to compete with the existing Yamaha's FZ16 and R15. We understand from sources that Bajaj is hoping to sell or at least capture one-third of the total super sports bike market, which is the Rs 65,000 plus market. To garner that, they will be looking for selling about one-third of the total market which is about 15,000 units per month.
[Via: moneycontrol]
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