1. Turbocharged Jan 2021 Magazine

love cafe racers. Everything about this form of transform this already authentic cafe racer into motorcycles is exciting, from the way they’re an even more special, bespoke machine. So when styled to the riding position and the happy- TURBOCHARGED heard of one such build from retro vibe you get from them. In fact, if it Bangalore, there was no way we could have missed wasn’t for the cafe racer movement that started out on riding it! in London back in the 1960s, the modern Meet the Big Boar 865, a custom Continental GT I sportsbike wouldn't have existed today. built by Acclaimed Customs. The 865 as the name Maybe that’s another reason why Abhay and suggests is the actual engine displacement thanks to I like such motorcycles because we are after a big bore kit. That’s why the name, ‘Big Boar’ – I’m all, more inclined towards sportsbikes. And when already liking this thing! I expected a stock-looking it comes to café racers in India, the Royal Enfield GT that was all go and decent show but was I wrong. Continental GT is one of the only ones you can buy Rohit Kopparam who runs Acclaimed Motors and straight out of a showroom. Customs believes in something I relate to as well. When there's big power let there be big styling too and The 650cc twin version has gained tremendous the Big Boar is a true example of this thought. What popularity not just in India but the world over for was once a stock Mister Clean chrome Conti GT now its refinement, quality levels and performance. In gets gold pinstriping and blacked out contrast areas fact, it truly is one of the best cafe racers available on the tank. A custom ‘Big Boar’ insignia sits proudly today and enjoys a massive following among custom on the side shields and the crankcase covers are also motorcycle builders. I’ve seen a lot of custom jobs blacked out with special paint to handle heat. based on the Continental GT 650 and some of them January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 101

[ REVIEWS ] The tail has been shortened to give a more for an increased duration. Gear-ratios are similar but authentic look along with custom-made tail lights and time taken to get to speeds has reduced drastically a matching chrome cowl. The gold forks upfront are in each gear. While the stock 650 puts out 35.6PS part of the theme and get a different hue to go with and 44.2Nm at the wheel, the Big Boar is on another the Öhlins FSK145 front springs (talk about attention page, producing an impressive 52.6PS and 67.8Nm to detail!). Other changes include better LED lighting at the wheel – way higher than the stock figures at and while it’s a bolt-on part, Acclaimed Customs has the crank! added a nice little cover to the headlamp. You’ll notice there’s one exhaust missing too, more on that later. The best bit is that it maintains the stock GT’s smooth graph but takes the output to a much higher I couldn’t wait to ride it and to go with the theme level throughout the rev range. Acclaimed has also my lid had to be chrome too, and then there was the employed a PowerTronic plug-in ECU powered by gold visor and mask (insert evil grin). The first thing Race Dynamics to match the higher outputs and that hits you is the massive torque gain. The motor different hardware, while better breathing comes also gets to its redline in a jiffy and by far, this is in the form of a BMC air filter and manifold. This easily the quickest Royal Enfield I’ve ridden, thanks package is like no other Continental GT around and to the big bore kit from S&S cycle. if you want the same treatment on your Interceptor or Conti, give a shout out to Acclaimed Customs and Acclaimed has done a stellar job of installing the they will be happy to work on it! The magical ‘ton’ kit – after all it isn’t just a swap job. The increased or 100mph, 160kmph in our world (I barely saw it piston size means the bore is up from 78mm to for a second thanks to the instrumentation being 90mm though stroke length hasn’t changed. The mounted vertically next to the lower side of the stock motor is already over-square and the big bore tank!) is achieved with ease and will earn the respect kit elevates it to another level. The Big Boar also gets of any cafe racer fan. a high-performance camshaft offering a higher lift 102 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM: The adjustable front Ohlins suspension adds to overall dynamics. Rohit believes in attention to detail and the Big Boar is a true example. The S&S Cycle big-bore kit may be built for the Conti GT but takes a lot of expertise to install The exhaust note is sonorous courtesy the 2-into-1 custom SS Moto exhaust which not only shaves weight but fires out all that power in anger. I ended up getting addicted and did several roll-on acceleration runs! The feeling of the rear stepping out every time I twisted the throttle only added to the fun. The machine needs better stopping power though and Rohit says it’s on the upgrade list that will only keep growing. Wait, don’t we totally relate to this? Dynamics have been improved thanks to the Öhlins springs with adjustable preload. The bike is shod with Timsun tyres that do a good job but a set of stickier rubber, Pirellis may be, will be better. The riding position is more aggressive courtesy lower clip-ons on a different triple clamp, like it should be on a cafe racer. So the ‘Big Boar’ is a massive upgrade and shows how capable the 650 motor is. In a way this 865 is more like a preview to a larger twin we could expect from RE in future. I’m also glad to see the cafe racer culture come back with a bang thanks to motorcycles like the Continental GT. Custom builders internationally are back to building unique cafe racers and it’s a proud feeling to know that a made in India cafe racer by Acclaimed Customs has now brought this tradition into our world! January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 103

{ FEATURE } WORDS HALLEY PRABHAKAR PHOTOGRAPHY GAURAV CHANDRASHEKAR HEROES OF TURBOCHARGED: ANAND DHARMARAJ This is the first of our monthly series wherein we introduce you to the men and women in the Indian automotive industry that we look up to! HE RACED IN THE SEMI-PRO CATEGORY T here are those who love motorcycles and IN THE USA BACK then some who literally live them. If there IN THE DAY WHEN was one person who defines the latter, it HE WAS WORKING has to be the man you see smiling away in THERE AND BAGGED the pictures here. Meet Anand Dharmaraj, MULTIPLE PODIUMS a real inspiration to us and thousands more IN THE WSMC motorcyclists out there. Anand has been (WILLOW SPRINGS riding motorcycles for a lot longer than any MOTORCYCLE CLUB) of us here at TURBOCHARGED and in fact, CHAMPIONSHIP Abhay and I both pretty much honed our track riding skills from him. However, coaching bikers to go faster on track is just one of the many reasons why we all look up to him. Fitting then, that we’re kickstarting this series by featuring Anand and getting to know him better! We spent a day with the man himself at the Indimotard Greasehouse, the place where Anand works his magic on motorcycles day in, day out. I had first met Anand way back in 2004 when I was introduced to him by Rajen Joshua, a rally veteran and the man who inspired my brother and resultantly me as well, to get a lot more exposed to the world of motorcycling. Back then Anand was riding a mammoth BMW R 1150 GS (he still rides it!) and had just returned back from the USA. I remember asking him, who works on a Beemer in India, as a GS in India was a very rare sight, back then. “I fix it myself” he was quick to reply, and I was left speechless and inspired! Fast forward to 2021 and Annai, as we all call him very dearly, has gone on to do so much for himself and the entire motorcycle and motorsport community. Not everyone knows that Anand was initially into semiconductor and chip design, working on all kinds of microprocessors before getting into motorcycles, full- time. Maybe, that’s why he loves working on machines and the parts that go into them. But there’s more to his love for two-wheels than just working on them – our 104 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

man has some serious racing miles under his belt! (Throttle Wide Open) was started by Indimotard and He raced in the semi-pro category in the USA back co-founded by Anand himself. Today, TWO is one of the finest track schools in the country and as I in the day when he was working there and bagged mentioned at the start, Abhay and I have both attended multiple podiums in the WSMC (Willow Springs multiple track weekends and learnt a lot from Anand Motorcycle Club) championship. While there, one of (and Shumi!) during our tenure at OVERDRIVE. For his track buddies and fellow racer was MotoGP and that matter Anand has trained hundreds of riders WSBK rider John Hopkins – that’s something that over the years and some have even gone on to become Abhay and I were in awe of when we first got to know! professional racers! Anand has some 40 years of riding experience and there’s always something one can Anand moved back to India eventually but made learn from him. On that note, would you believe if I sure that budding riders and enthusiasts benefit told you Annai is now 54 years old! from his vast track experience and learnings. In fact, the very first motorcycle track school in India, TWO January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 105

{ FEATURE } CLOCKWISE: Anand was part of the team that created history by becoming the first Indians to take part and complete the Baja 1000. They did it twice, in the years 2017 and 2019 and that’s the two medals he’s posing with My first ever motorcycle track day at the Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore was also with Indimotard back in 2006 and Anand even offered to teach a few of us the basics of track riding even before the school was founded. But Annai didn’t stop there, he brought in the concept of premium, guided motorcycle tours into India and organises rides to the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, South Africa and even Europe. When not riding on the racetrack or touring somewhere, Anand is usually chilling at his garage, the Greasehouse. What started off as a place to fix his motorcycles is today one of the most complete workshops in the country. All kinds of motorcycles, from old-school to modern can be found here either getting a performance build or complete restoration. From custom to competition-ready builds, Greasehouse does it all. Anand has vast experience working on motorcycles from various eras and this makes it all the more special. Greasehouse also develops and produces accessories and performance products for motorcycles, like exhausts, suspension and more. Of course, Anand isn’t just fast on tarmac but is very experienced when it comes to riding off-road as well. He took part in the Raid de Himalaya and even finished fourth overall in the 2008 Raid. His love for off-road meant he had to take on something even more challenging so Anand and his buddies represented the country, becoming the first Indians to compete and finish the prestigious and world- famous Baja 1000 in Mexico! As the name suggests, the rally is a 1000 mile or 1600km long off-road race where riders battle extreme 106 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

heat and dangerous terrain, testing their physical CLOCKWISE: Apart from running his own track school, Anand is also an and mental limits. Anand and team finished 17th and official DRE (Ducati Riding Experience) instructor, one of only two in India. seventh in 2007 and 2019, a tremendous feat indeed. He’s an experienced rider on and off-road, the Aprilia and the Husqvarna There’s been a lot of interest in off-road lately in the behind him bear testimony to the fact! country especially after seeing our homegrown heroes take part in events like the Dakar and Baja 1000. And keeping this in mind, just as I write this, Anand has started an off-road riding school in association with the Big Rock Dirt Park near Bangalore, which is another feather in his hat! There are a few such schools in India already, but Annai wishes to take it to the next level and make it a lot more focused and streamlined just like he has done over the years with the track school. In our books, Anand is thus a real hero and someone not just we at TURBOCHARGED, but thousands look up to – he does pretty much everything there is to do with motorcycles! He races, builds and fixes them, teaches riders to make full use of their potential and even takes them on some amazing two-wheeled tours. Thank you Anand, you are a true inspiration to us all. January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 107

[ MOTORSPORT ] R A L LY O F A R U N AC H A L What happens when a state backs a motorsport event? T he 2020 season of the Indian National Rally by a puncture in the final stage. Nearly 4 and a Championship had a late start with the first half minutes behind him was Karna Kadur (and two rounds commencing in December last Nikhil Pai) piloting a Team MRF-backed R2-spec year. It did start on a positive note though Volkswagen Polo. They finished second overall. with the eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh Team JK's Dean Mascarenhas (and Shruptha playing host to the first two-rounds of INRC Padival) driving a Polo came in third overall 2020. The state has been big on supporting Indian and even placed first in the INRC 2 category. motorsport. Its hilly region and challenging roads make it an ideal spot for conducting a motorsport ROUND 2: event there. The rally was made interesting Again Gaurav Gill sailed comfortably to a first-place by adding night stages. Thanks to government win and was the quickest in all stages of round 2. support, the rally stages were properly cordoned While round 1 proved to be challenging for Team off with police and medical personnel deployed JK’s Amittrajit Ghosh (and Ashwin Naik), they at strategic locations and the stages concluded managed to place second in round 2. Piloting a without incident. Mahindra XUV300, the duo set a blitzing pace and were just one and a half minutes off Gill’s overall ROUND 1: time. Karna Kadur had to settle for third place. Ace rallyist and Arjuna award recipient Gaurav Gill (with navigator Musa Sherif) easily was the Due to COVID playing spoilsport, the 2020 quickest overall. Piloting a Team JK-backed INRC calendar has been compressed into 5 races Mahindra XUV300, Gill comfortably managed set within a two-month period. With two rounds to win 3 out of the 4 stages only being held back over, the third round is set to commence in Coimbatore. 108 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

the Red Bull factory. This year, due to the COVID protocol being followed, there wasn’t too much opportunity to mix in the paddock as we all had to stay in our respective bubbles. SPEED TALK: JEHAN DARUVALA Let’s talk about your challenges stemming from moving from F3 to F2. Jehan Daruvala becomes the first Indian to win a Formula 2 race At the start of the year I realized that I and will continue to race with Red Bull in 2021! had good pace over one qualifying lap but found the tyre management much more WORDS BENJAMIN GRACIAS Nationals with Rayo Racing and won the difficult than I had anticipated. In F3, title in the micro-max category in my we didn’t think so much about the tyres. C ongratulations on becoming the second year. The closest track where we Every driver has a natural driving style first Indian to win a Formula 2 could drive fast go-karts was in Kolhapur. which I had to adapt to suit the F2 car and race! It must be an elating feeling So when I was in school, Rayomand the tyres which have various compounds. after having troubles all season? Banajee used to take me and his team to I have progressively improved in this Thank you. It feels good to have Kolhapur on a Friday evening. We used aspect through the season and am won the F2 race in Bahrain! The to drive all day on Saturday and Sunday confident of having good race pace next season didn’t start off the way I had and then come back at 1.00am to attend year. I am glad that I have sorted out anticipated and I knew I had the pace school next morning. Soon after, Rayo the start procedure as well, which was but the issues I had with the starts kept suggested that we try at an Asian level and one of the most important factors that taking me backwards. Midway through we went to Malaysia to compete. There hampered the first half of my season. the season, things changed, and I was too, I was very competitive and went on fighting for positions in the top few. to win the Asian Yamaha Karting title. What’s your take on the new Formula 2 The podium and the win in Bahrain was Rayo realised that I had potential to go format for the 2021 season? special as I finally stood on the top step in further in the sport and I am thankful to The new format is going to be interesting this season. Hearing the Indian National him for pushing me in the right direction. to say the least and a challenge for Anthem being played on a global stage everyone. Even if you qualify on pole, made me feel very proud and I hope to 2020 was also your first F2 season as a you will still be starting 10th on grid for take this forward to the next season. Red Bull Junior Driver. How has your the first race, so it will be ideal to finish experience with the Red Bull team been? in the top 5 as the order will again be Tell us about your early days, your The opportunity of being part of the Red reversed for the next race. Also, it will association with Rayo Racing. Bull Junior Team is huge. be important to make sure not to get I started karting recreationally at the age entangled in any mishaps that could of 9 with my dad when we happened to They have been most supportive in compromise the race on Sunday. see an ad for a 3 day karting camp by the preparation for every weekend. I was Rayomand Banajee that got me hooked. exposed to training on the simulator at I participated in the Indian Karting January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 109



TAIL ENDERS A TALE IN THE END The MG ZS EV commences family duties in the TURBOCHARGED garage, we take our long-term Royal Enfield Meteor 350 back to its roots, the Benelli Imperiale 400 is welcomed with a long ride,while the Hero Xtreme 160R seems to be the perfect companion for night rides January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 111

[GARAGE] WORDS ABHAY VERMA PHOTOGRAPHY GAURAV CHANDRASHEKAR MG ZS EV Range anxiety is a myth. The MG ZS EV feels like a quick, conventional SUV to live with! P apa, do you have to charge this car everyday week or more before needing to recharge it. Our office like your phone?” My five-year old questioned. is 12km from home so even if I consider 250km per She was puzzled to see me ‘charging' the MG ZS charge I’m theoretically looking at needing to recharge EV! No, I quickly replied. Her query reminded the ZS EV just once every ten days, or three times a me of how I was hesistant about adopting EVs month for that matter, which is phenomenal! not long ago. Besides range anxiety, I also felt electric cars would be boring to drive. New-age What's more the ZS EV offers 143PS and 353Nm electric cars have taken care of the concerns though, (delivered instantly unlike internal combustion being fun to drive while offering excellent range. engines), making you want to put pedal to the metal at every opportunity. Sport mode is addictive and offers They have in fact made me change the way I look great bragging rights – you can out-accelerate most at EVs, to the point that I’m considering getting one at cars on the road, including petrol-powered entry-level home now. So when MG Motor India offered us the ZS luxury cars with higher outputs. In fact the ZS is quick to EV I couldn’t resist, as I've been wanting to 'live' with accelerate even in Eco mode, so unless you’re really in an electric car. MG claims the ZS EV can do 340km on the mood for that rush, Eco delivers the desired results. a single charge, so you could use it for commutes for a Charging is convenient – if you buy the ZS EV, MG 112 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

Motor will install an AC fast charger at your home or office (free of cost!) which recharges the batteries to 80 percent in 6-8 hours. The portable charger does a good job too – it recharges the batteries to full (from about 50 percent) overnight. So every other day or so I plug the charger in once back home in the evening and by the time I have my cuppa the next morning, the batteries are fully charged! So driving past fuel stations – especially ones with a queue – is now a pastime. Effectively, besides being a zero-emissions car, the ZS EV also saves me the time and hassle of visiting fuel stations – especially in current times when you want to avoid physical interactions with people. MG Motor also offers 24x7 assistance for mobile charging in case you run out of charge. This virtually ensures you will never be stranded on the road even if low on charge. The ZS EV also boasts an elaborate feature list. Be it voice commands, full-time internet connectivity, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlamps or a panoramic sunroof, the ZS has it all. Also, MG's smartphone app is all I need to check charge status, range and more. Flip the rear seats down and you have massive cargo space as well - I moved a motorised treadmill in the ZS EV last week! With premium features like these and the convenience of being able to commute for days without needing to recharge batteries, the ZS EV makes a very strong case for itself as a family car! CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM: Fuel pump queues are a thing of the past. Drop the rear seats and the ZS EV can swallow a treadmill! Comprehensive console offers tonnes of info and has a pre-installed music app. Adjustable KERS helps recharging on the go. Mumbai-Pune expressway has an EV charging station! January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 113

[ GARAGE ] Family Reunion What better way to introduce Royal Enfield’s newest cruiser to the fleet than taking it back to its roots! WORDS BENGAMIN GRACIAS T he year was 1996 (I was in sixth class in school back then!) and the place was the Auto Expo in New Delhi. Royal Enfield had just taken the veil off its first-ever cruiser motorcycle, the Citybike 500, which was the one that laid the template for the Lightning 535, Thunderbird, Thunderbird X and now the Meteor 350. What you see in on these pages, ladies and gentlemen, is the very motorcycle that took centre stage at the Auto Expo, 25 years ago! A few months after the Expo, a 20-something year old rode the bike down to Pune from Delhi, with his father sitting pillion. It was a six-day sojourn punctuated by visits to Royal Enfield dealerships along the way and delayed by a flooded bridge in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. To those in Royal Enfield circles and rider groups, Baljeet Singh Kochhar is that friendly, down to earth rider who is smiling perpetually and will show up even at 3am if your bike has broken down and you are stranded by the road. LEFT: Baljeet is an affable gent who has a lot of stories to tell 114 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

GARAGE UPDATE Total: 1,137km Previous: 945km Current: 2,082km Fuel: 34.5litres Mileage: 33kmpl Pros: Relaxed riding position Cons: Erratic fuel gauge January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 115

[ GARAGE ] BALJEET HAS PARTICIPATED IN A FEW DIRT AND DRAG RACES ON HIS CITYBIKE BACK IN THE DAY AND ALSO WON A FEW ACCOLADES! He is also popular as someone who loves tone, Baljeet replied, “Vadiya chaldi hai” before collecting and working on old-school two-wheelers, admitting that time has robbed the bike of some of its which explains the excellent condition of his 25- performance. Interestingly Baljeet has participated in year old motorcycle. It still has the original paint a few dirt and drag races on it back in the day and also and working meters and lights! Even the 500cc won a few accolades! air-cooled lump comes to life in a single kick. Ever the enthusiast, Baljeet agreed to join us for a He was even gifted an Amal performance ride, allowing us to welcome what is the first-ever carburettor for his Citybike by the famous ‘Bullet long term test motorcycle at TURBOCHARGED Bose’ – if you don’t know who Bullet Bose is, you don’t and also Royal Enfield’s latest, the Meteor 350! belong to your Royal Enfield! Subhash Chandra Bose Post the customary greeting Baljeet marvelled that is the old man’s full name, who is another legend in his motorcycle needed little coaxing to start despite Indian motorcycling, but I’ll save that for another day. not being used for a long time. Talk about character. Back on the move, I have no problem keeping up with As we headed out I noticed the ease with which Baljeet on the Meteor, its tall gearing and torquey Baljeet is pulling away on his two and half decade motor allowing it to settle into a relaxed rhythm. old motorcycle. Once outside the city, we took a We soon reached the outskirts of Pune, a hilly area break where I ask him about it. In a typical Punjabi dotted with tiny hamlets. And that’s where I got a good opportunity to soak in Baljeet’s motorcycle. The old 116 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

lady is still a beaut. Its teardrop fuel tank sits at a steep angle while the ape hanger handlebars, stepped seats and padded backrest look properly retro. The dual-tone pinstriped handlebar has a unique ‘Enfield’ logo, just Enfield, not Royal Enfield – the Royal prefix was added later. In comparison, the Meteor is a perfect example of how Royal Enfield’s designs have evolved with time and looks very appealing with its large windscreen, wide handlebars and comfy two-piece seat and pillion backrest. The new Royal Enfield logo encased in chrome sits prominently on the tank – this is the Supernova variant and I think the Meteor looks best in this guise. The Citybike isn’t devoid of features either. Its twin- pod instrument console includes a tachometer and fuel gauge. The Meteor misses out on a tachometer but gets more modern stuff like a semi-digital instrument console, Bluetooth connectivity and separate pod for navigation. Baljeet is kind enough to allow us to ride LEFT: The Citybike at the 1996 Auto Expo; Riding the motorcycle from Delhi to Pune. BOTTOM: Baljeet approves of the new Meteor 350; The Citybike got a tachometer back in 1996! January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 117

[ GARAGE ] THEY’RE BOTH SEVERAL GENERATIONS APART, BUT WHAT BINDS THEM IS HOW ENDEARING THEY CAN BE his prized possession, provided we kick start it refined and easier to ride. ourselves! I am apprehensive, having heard about The proverbial thump is a lot more subdued and the back kick old-school Enfields were notorious for. It is unfounded and more to do with a technique less mechanical and there’s no way it can match that involves a decompression lever. Get it right and the charm of the Citybike’s thump. That said, the you are rewarded with a one kick start. I obviously Meteor has its own charm as a modern-retro, given took a few tries but thankfully did not shatter my the refinement, build quality and comfort. Even kneecap in the process. Boy am I glad my long-term Baljeet nods in agreement after a spin on the Meteor Meteor has the convenience of a thumb starter! 350. It’s a bike that promises to take Royal Enfield’s Riding the Citybike needs you to rewire your brain to legacy forward, particularly in the cruiser space. As the fact that the gear lever sits on the right and the we pull over and Baljeet is back to telling me stories brake pedal to the left. It takes a couple of kilometres of his experiences with the Citybike, I cannot help but to get used to. On the move, the laidback riding take my eyes off the two motorcycles parked together. position and soulful thump get you into a relaxing They’re both several generations apart, but what mood. You tend to forget that the brakes are non- binds them is how endearing they can be, instantly. existent (it is a 25-year-old bike after all). There is a Both have their own distinctive charm and both are lot of mechanical noise but it is more symphony than the perfect recipe for some great story-telling. And cacophony. In comparison, the Meteor is far more that’s the other thing Royal Enfield is known for, besides being a motorcycle manufacturer, no? 118 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

[ GARAGE ] KTM T he KTM Duke 790 is sort of a better. I’m looking forward to touring a limited edition motorcycle in lot on the 790 but need to figure luggage DUKE 790 India, only 100 units were sold options. While the upswept-exhaust here. I was lucky to be the last looks unique and supermoto like, one The ‘Scalpel’powers few to book one (that too at can’t install saddle-bags and only a tail- its way into the a huge discount!) in March bag makes sense. A positive however turbocharged garage! 2020 just before the BS6 norms is the motorcycle’s fuel efficiency. kicked in. Alas, we entered lockdown Riding to the racetrack and back (a WORDS HALLEY PRABHAKAR and by the time I received the keys to my total of 700kms of highway riding) was ride, it was almost the end of 2020. That covered effortlessly and she returned an Garage Update said, I’ve clocked close to 3,000km in a impressive 25kmpl! Total: 3,200 kms few months (the wait got to me). I have Previous: NA been commuting in town, touring on it When it comes to service costs the This month: 3,200 kms and I am the first to take the 790 Duke to first full-service comes in at 1000kms Fuel: 168 litres the MMRT for a track day! and cost me close to `9,200. That’s way Mileage: 19kmpl more than I expected and a look at the Pros: Effortless to ride The 790 is loaded with electronic detailed bill explained why. Apart from Cons: High service cost aids and KTM’s first-ever parallel-twin oil cost and labour charges, the oil filter motor is actually very refined. The riding and strainer kit alone costs `4,100 since modes come in handy but to me, it’s best it’s imported from Austria. KTM India left in Street or Sport mode. Track mode recently announced that the strainer transforms this motorcycle from hyper can be reused and this should help in to hooligan and is best suited to a wide keeping service costs in check. There’s a and fast racetrack, not even the MMRT. lot of riding ahead and I can’t wait to add Triple-digit speeds come in effortlessly some mods too. The 790 Duke truly is a and one can cruise all-day long day if do-it-all motorcycle and puts a smile on needed and the large seat only makes it my face after every single ride! January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 119

[ GARAGE ] BENELLI IMPERIALE 400 Switching to a roadster from an adventure tourer sounds erm..interesting! T he excitement of a brand new the Himalayan suits my go-anywhere motorcycle is one of the best nature, but the Imperiale has added an WORDS VEDANT SATHYE feelings for bikers. But for the interesting twist to my daily commutes. likes of a first-gen Royal Enfield GARAGE UPDATE Himalayan rider, the situation At 205kg it is heavy but is a great Total: 449km could get slightly confusing if touring companion given the wide and Previous: 2,042km the new motorcycle in question comfortable seat, a refined 374cc long- Current: 2,491 km is an arch-nemesis of Royal Enfields – stroke motor that chugs along effortlessly Fuel: 16 litres the Benelli Imperiale 400! However, can at highways speeds and performance to Mileage: 28kmpl you really resist the temptation of a retro overtake other motorists without effort. Pros: Engine tractability Benelli with all its gleaming chrome and I am yet to get acquaint myself with the Cons: Engine heat in traffic the imposing stance. bike's intricacies, something which I plan to do via long-distance trips in the My long term Imperiale had to be coming months. picked up from Mumbai which means my first experience with it began with a near- For now, the raw and aggressive 200km solo ride to Pune. It turned out to thump of my ‘made-like-a-gun’ engine be a very pleasant ride as the weather was has been replaced with a creamy chug cool, the roads empty and the tank full! of this Italian steed and frankly, the change does make me grin inside Being an outdoorsy individual, my helmet. 120 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

HERO XTREME 160R The newest sub-200cc Hero streetbike in the country is a peppy little number and is in the house! I ’ve always had a softer corner for The bike had done a mere 300km on streetbikes. They’re a great way to the odometer when we got it and I’ve WORDS ABHAY VERMA have fun every day. They’re light, only managed to clock about 200km compact, easy to manoeuvre and since, but I’m liking the motor already. Garage Update can also be perfect hooligans. The engine puts out 15.2PS and 14Nm Total: 308 kms I had got a little taste of Hero’s but more importantly the 160R weighs Previous: 536 kms Xtreme 160R nearly a year ago at just 139.5kg (kerb). And given the crisp This month: 228 kms Hero’s test track in Jaipur which had left fuel injection and excellent bottom-end Fuel: 5 litres me wanting for more seat time. So I was grunt it is quick off the line. I’ve also Mileage: 45kmpl quick to grab its keys when Hero sent us figured the 160R is a very good wheelie Pros: Bottom-end grunt the 160R for a long term test! Right from machine. I wonder if Hero engineered Cons: Front brake needs more bite the time it broke cover as a concept at it to be one! It gets single-channel ABS the EICMA, two years ago, I found the only and I wish the front brake offered Xtreme 160R’s aggressive design to be more bite. However, the rear works very appealing. It looks like a scaled well, allowing me to lock the rear down version of a middleweight naked. wheel to slide it around with ease! The I particularly like the rear half – the seat, reminder for the first service has come rear cowl, tail light and exhaust offer a on and that's something I will talk about very European feel. next month. January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 121

[ABOUT TIME] BREITLING FA R E R SUPEROCEAN HERITAGE MORGAN AUTOMATIC PILOT This pilot's watch pays tribute to Sir Morien Bedford '57 OUTERKNOWN Morgan also known as the \"Father of Concorde. The fact that this watch pays homage to the original Highly functional features include white readouts coated in Super-LumiNova and two separate circles 1957 SuperOcean is not the cool thing about it. It's also the ECONYL yarn Nato strap that's made out of for hour and minute reading. nylon waste pulled out of the oceans. ` 7 7, 0 0 0 * www.farer.com `3,01,240* www.breitling.com OAK & OSCAR URWERK *All prices excluding taxes OLMSTEAD MATTE EMC STORMTROOPER Sometimes, the simplest of watches can be the most Star Wars fans will appreciate this electromechanical desireable. The case, back plate and crown gets a watch thanks to the ceramic coating on the dial in the matte black ceramic coating while the black face gets same white shade of Stormtrooper armour. A cool constrasting white numbers and hands. It sure makes feature is the tiny anodised black lever that charges a for a classy dress watch. Maxon micro-generator. `1,13,955 www.oakandoscar.com `95,69,367* www.urwerk.com 122 www.turbocharged.in January 2021



[PRODUCT WATCH] DSG EVO-2 PRO RIDING GEAR Planet DSG's new Evo-2 Pro line- up ushers in more protection in the textile riding gear range `11,499 (jacket) `9,999 (pants) www.planetdsg.com The highlight of DSG's new Evo-2 Pro textile riding jacket and pants is that they can both be connected via a zipper system that goes around the waist, effectively turning them into a two-piece riding suit. While the jacket gets a speed hump with external hard shoulder and elbow protectors, the pants come with a set of removable TPU knee sliders. There is no denying the protection afforded by a leather suit, but the DSG jacket and pants use rugged 600 Denier A+ Cordura that should survive a low-speed slide. On the plus side it is a lot lighter than leather and offers better ventilation too. It even gets accordion stretch panels at key spots for better flexibility. The only downside is the lack of storage as the entire ensemble has just one proper pocket. TOP RIGHT: The DSG riding jacket is ROYAL ENFIELD available in red and fluorocent green colour FACE MASK options. TOP: The DSG riding pants offer a `175 to `250 riding suit-like snug fit. www.store.royalenfield.com The COVID-19 pandemic brought about the face mask culture. This everyday essential item is turning into a fashion accessory and even Royal Enfield has jumped aboard the face mask bandwagon with its Garrison range. Royal Enfield says that besides the motorcycle-inspired design, its face masks offer anti-microbial, anti-pollution, anti-dust and anti-odour properties. 124 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

GOPRO HERO 9 BLACK `49,500 www.reliancedigital.in The GoPro Hero 9 Black is larger and slightly heavier than the previous generation action camera but ushers in a 23.6-megapixel sensor. That’s more than twice the Hero 8's 12-megapixel sensor. In layman terms, it means that you can now shoot in 5K and click print resolution images. Another big highlight is the removable front lens – a GoPro first. This means that if you scratch the lens, it is now replaceable. The newfound adaptability also allows you to attach different lens mods and achieve different results the way you can in a conventional camera. You now get a front colour screen in addition to the large rear colour screen. The front screen remains always on making it easy to always see what you are shooting. GoPro says that the always-on feature does not affect battery life. Thanks to a larger battery, the Hero 9 outlasts its predecessor. GoPro says that the new battery also performs better in cold weather. New features include Scheduled Capture that allows you to schedule a preset time for auto shoot and HyperSmooth that reduces camera shake to produce a smooth filming experience. RACER DUNE GLOVES `3,999 www.gthouse.shop The Dune is a pair of lightweight riding gloves meant for adventure trail riding. Currently available only in black, these are made of a combination of AX suede and perforated leather with stretchable spandex on top and promise an excellent fit. The short cuff gloves get a velcro closure system with an extended TPU pad for a secure fit. Protection comes in the form of an Ergoflex knuckle guard and protection on the fingers. The palm area gets a D3O pad to protect your hand from hard impacts. It also gets touch tips on the index finger and thumb areas which allows you to check your smartphone without taking off your gloves. January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 125

[ PRODUCT REVIEW ] ROYAL ENFIELD NIRVIK JACKET Besides motorcycles, Royal Enfield also makes good riding gear. Case in point, the new Nirvik jacket. The all-season touring jacket feels comfortable even in daily usage thanks to excellent ventilation courtesy of two front vents and a large one at the back. All-season usability comes in the form of rain and warm liners that zip inside but can be worn separately as well. The Nirvik impresses in terms of protection too. It gets level 2 D3O armour on the shoulders and elbows, level 2 protectors at the chest and a Level 1 D3O back protector. These are said to offer optimum protection without compromising comfort. At its price point, the Nirvik is a really good alternative to other touring jackets. `14,950 | www.store.royalenfield.com RE X LEVI'S 511 PRO MI AIR MOTORCYCLE JEANS COMPRESSOR The 511 Pro looks like regular Levi's at first glance is The Mi compressor makes a lot of sense if you tour on a pair of proper motorcycle denims. It also offers the motorcycles. Its 2000mAh battery has enough juice to fill convenience of four pockets, plus a zippered pocket on up 3 fully deflated tyres or at least five car tyres. It also gets the right thigh and gets reflective strips around the calf a white LED to use as flashlight, which helps when using in area. There's internal pockets for hip and knee protectors, the dark. To fill air you simply connect the hose to the tyre which you need to buy separately. The jeans is comfortable and set the desired pressure. It is surprisingly small in size to wear all day and again, is priced well! and is also light enough to be carried in a backpack at 0.5kg. `6,999 | www.store.royalenfield.com `2,499 | www.store.mi.com 124 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

SCOTT HELMET AND GOGGLES The SCOTT 350 Evo Plus helmet offers a snug fit. It served me well during my ride for our cover story. It wears a fantastic paint finish and looks smashing! The Prospect Pro goggles boast strong construction and offer a larger field of protection. The glasses are tinted to help avoid sunlight glare, but they can be used at night too. Comfort for touring could have been slightly better though. `14,990 (helmet) | `8,900 (goggles) www.scott-sports.com SCOTT MOTO GLOVES Like most of SCOTT's touring products, these are very comfortable to wear all-day long. They offer a snug fit and the velcro closure straps are easy to open or close. I like the fabric for the fact that it gives you a good feel of the levers (great for wheelies!). A concern though is that there is no hard protection on the glove limiting them to off-road use. While they do feel very protective, hard knuckle protectors will make them feel even better. `3,990 | www.scott-sports.com SCOTT 350 ADV MOTO JACKET The SCOTT ADV jacket is slightly loose-fitting compared which makes it comfortable, as I found out on my week-long ride for our cover story this month. It is also weatherproof which means it worked well for me in snow and ensured I wasn't particularly shivering on the motorcycle. There's soft fabric inserts at places where the jacket touches the skin like the collar which adds to comfort. Storage pockets are large, especially the back pocket. I felt ventilation at the front could be better though. I did make full use of the hand warming pockets just behind the front pockets. A fly in the ointment is that the jacket does not ship with shoulder, elbow or a back protector and you have to buy them separately. `10,990 | www.scott-sports.com January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 125

[FUTURE MOBILITY] INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES Electric vehicles have come a long way from offering range anxiety to being as conventional as your petrol sedan W elcome readers, to India's WORDS SHASHANK SINGH inverter can also adjust the power supply youngest magazine. In the frequency to govern the electric motor’s first series of Future Mobility, electric motors have not changed much rpm. With the throttle position input, the I would like to start with over the years, better electronic control ECU can help the inverter gauge the level electric vehicles. From being a technologies have made them more of voltage input required. This way the niche segment, they are set to replace efficient and powerful. Yesteryears motor produces optimum torque across conventional vehicles. (We even have heavy lead-acid batteries have moved all speeds. So in a way, the inverter is a an electric SUV in our TURBOCHARGED on to efficient lithium-ion battery packs. gearbox for the electric drivetrain. garage!). New generation batteries store six times more energy than before while being The icing to the cake is the modern The electric motor is the simplest compact and can deliver this energy quick charging system. Faster charging of all engines in the world. With just faster as well. It can even power the car’s means you don't need to stop for hours one moving central shaft and rest of infotainment system, air conditioning, to get on the road again. Modern the stationary windings, there are far adjustable seats and more. batteries can be charged to eighty fewer chances of anything inside an EM per cent of their capacity within 30 failing. Thanks to its inherent design In simple terms, batteries power minutes, enough time for a coffee break. EMs are more reliable than complex the electric motor, which in turn This means you can now travel with internal combustion engines. It is more moves the wheels of the vehicle. more passengers and luggage farther energy-efficient as well owing to fewer However, a battery supplies current while enjoying modern amenities like moving parts and there is no wastage of in DC (direct current) form and most you would in a conventional car. The energy while at idle or coasting. While EMs run on AC (alternating current). good times have only begun. This is where the inverter steps in, it converts DC into AC current. The 128 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

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[ OUT OF FOCUS ] My eyes are up here, Team TURBOCHARGED'S version of Our Ed also moonlights as a gear model! Gaurav! Two and a Half Men Contact for assignments! Why does Abhay have to be in Go to Himachal in December they said. This is what one week without sleep in every damn selfie of mine? It'll be fun they said freezing cold looks like Everything in this photo looks really good! Sun roof in cold winters. Come on Halley! Apart from those two that is So smart these two are! Children read this! Somebody gonna run to bathroom Not one issue in and we’ve already Ya’ll need to get out my territory! real fast. Hehehehe resorted to such things. God save us Frikin humans... 130 www.turbocharged.in January 2021



RNI NO. MAHENG/2021/14581