1. Turbocharged Jan 2021 Magazine

GIVI S957B PHONE MOUNT I used the S957B on this trip. Priced at `4,199 it is an excellent phone mount with a touch sensitive front. The top shroud ensures visibility even in harsh light and there's a slit at the bottom to put your charging cable through. The build is sturdy and there's shock absorption points to ensure your phone will not get damaged in a fall. It uses a patented quick-release system to mount on or take off with a single click. Comes with a waterproof cover as well! ABOVE: The rear three-quarter is easily the best angle to look I could have jumped with joy on seeing the Honda. It was mine at the GLC 43, given its fastback-like roofline, the boot-lip for a week, making me the first journalist in the country to review mounted spoiler, rear diffuser and quad exhausts. The large the Africa Twin 1100 – the manual one at that! The red-blue-white tail lights only add to its sporty stance paint scheme adds to its visual charm and I couldn’t help but soak in the design. It looks sharper and more aggressive than the 1000 and being the Adventure Sports version it also gets a 24.5-litre fuel tank. Above all else, the bike packs in tonnes more technology and the list of updates overall is so long, this deserves to be called a generation change. There’s a revised chassis with a bolt-on subframe underpinning it all, reworked suspension for better ride and handling, tubeless tyres on spoked wheels, cornering lights, an adjustable windscreen, a massive 6.5 inch TFT colour touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity! The display also has a shroud to ensure good visibility in harsh sunlight. The screen offers staggering amounts of information but what is more mind-boggling is the number of buttons and switches on the left side of the handlebar. Trust me when I say that the information onscreen and the controls are a bit much and it took me a couple of days to get used to it all. I even ended up pressing the wrong switch when trying to honk or use the turn indicators, rather frequently. Engine displacement is now 1084cc and outputs are up to 102PS and 105Nm. I was in awe of the manual transmission as soon as I started riding. The DCT was good but I prefer my motorcycles with a clutch and gear lever – DCT is just too much electronic intervention for my liking! January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 51

{ FEATURE } 52 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

Honda has also revised engine internals and updated the GIVI TN 1178 CRASH GUARD electronics suite to include a six-axis IMU, six riding modes, wheelie control, multiple engine braking levels and rear wheel lift An engine/fairing guard is essential protection to have on to name a few. As for my plan to ‘get’ more luggage space, I got a set an adventure tourer like the Africa Twin as riding off-road of panniers for the Africa Twin! Givi India was more than willing to increases the risk of putting the motorcycle down significantly. help me out with a set of hard panniers, the Trekker Alaska, which Even if at slow speeds, dropping the motorcycle can cause is one of their premium products, along with an engine guard and noticeable damage to plastics and paint, while high speed falls phone mount. The plan was to head out well before sunrise the can potentially damage the engine casing and more. I realised next morning, but the morning posed an unexpected issue, dense the importance of engine protection when I slid and fell on ice fog. The fog meant our speeds were ultra-low, which allowed me three times, but having the crash guard helped in heaps. This to soak in the bike better. The seat is more comfortable than the one works on the manual and DCT both. Price: `18,999 CRF1000L and the adjustable windscreen helps, though I wish it would go a notch lower. LIP SMACKING PARATHAS TOPPED WITH It can only be adjusted using both hands, which means you cannot DOLLOPS OF HOME- move it on the go or single-handedly. I was looking forward to using MADE BUTTER ARE THE Apple CarPlay – first time on a motorcycle, but when I connected my ESSENCE OF ROADTRIPS iPhone cable via USB I learnt you also need to connect a Bluetooth WHEN IN NORTH INDIA headset (ideally helmet communication system) to access CarPlay, to avoid distractions on the go. The Africa Twin’s heated grips were some relief in the cold, helping me keep my hands warm. This, while Halley was enjoying the warmth of the AMG’s heated seats! No respite from the fog in sight, we took a break for some grub at the famous Jhilmil Dhaba at Karnal. Lip smacking parathas topped with dollops of home-made butter are the essence of roadtrips when in North India! As we gorged on the food, the conversations began. Halley was loving the AMG’s power delivery and the fact that despite being a fire-breathing monster, the GLC 43 felt well-suited to touring duties in Comfort mode. In fact the bike and SUV both were feeling like comfortable touring machines already. The CRF1100L is particularly a huge improvement over the CRF1000L on this front. Post our brekkie the going got quicker as the fog cleared, though traffic refused to thin out January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 53

{ FEATURE } TOP: The fact that world-class, high performance machines like the GLC GIVI TREKKER ALASKA PANNIERS 43 Coupe and Africa Twin are now made in India makes my heart swell with pride! ABOVE: If the AMG is laden with ultra-modern tech, the Africa Twin Panniers are must-haves for touring, especially solo rides and is up there with it and gets Apple CarPlay! Givi's Trekker Alaska panniers are a great set to have. They use the mono-key system so you use the same key to take them off or unlock them. Capacity is 36 litres and they take in well over a week's luggage easily. Mounting them on requires one single click. They are made of aluminium with stainless steel hinges and are light in weight. There's four belt-strap loops to tie on more luggage and handles that make carrying them easy. They are also priced excellently at `53,899 a pair! 54 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

I COULD SEE HALLEY HUSTLING THE BURLY GLC 43 THROUGH CORNERS AND FOLLOWING HIM WAS AN AURAL TREAT, GIVEN THE AMG’S EXHAUST NOTE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER REVS all the way to Chandigarh. We had a quick stop on the outskirts patches of snow by the road and some black ice, which called to say hello to our columnist and dear friend Vir Nakai who is for caution. The Africa Twin’s headlights could have offered from Chandigarh itself but pretty much lives in the Himalayas better illumination too, but the saving grace for me were its on a motorcycle! cornering lights. Corners were lit up perfectly as the lights came on right before the curve and went off as soon as the The fact that we had to take frequent stops to shoot wasn’t bike was straightened. Neat! helping make time but shoot we had to, to bring you these stunning visuals of the natural beauty our country holds! As They really helped me see well, especially around corners we climbed the hills I got to experience the Africa Twin around where the black ice was waiting to catch me off guard. As corners and it felt very confident, especially for a motorcycle we finally got to our hotel, we noticed the parking lot was running a 21 inch front wheel. Even more impressive was the covered with a thin layer of snow. The white stuff is what we’d engine which offers its full wealth from low revs and builds been waiting to see! It had snowed just a day back, which power in a linear manner, almost like a V-twin. This and the means the snow was fresh – however, there were no hopes crisp fuelling mean throttle control is precise. The Africa Twin of snowfall again for a week or so. Damn! The next morning also helped me reaffirm my belief that Honda makes some of I dabbled with the bike’s electronics, setting traction and the best engines with its kind of refinement and performance! engine braking to full and selected off-road mode. Halley In fact the Africa Twin’s engine made me wonder if 150-160PS did the same in the AMG and we were waiting for Vijay ADVs are really needed. Parmar, veteran motorsport personality and organiser of the Raid de Himalaya to join and lead us to the snowy sections. The bike offers all the performance you need on the road – Expectedly, the mountain man showed up in his trusty Isuzu the bike is not only quick to get to 100kmph – 4 seconds or less D-Max V-Cross with raised suspension, winches and more. I reckon, besides have lots of go in reserve even at 160kmph which it clocks in fourth gear! Halley – a diehard Honda fan Vijay also got a set of chains for the Africa Twin. I got my himself – couldn’t stop waxing eloquent about the AMG motor, first taste of going down on hard-packed black ice before we talking about its power delivery, exhilarating performance could put them on, just as I was going down a slope! I grabbed and the way the SUV can mask its speeds. That said I was able the front brake lever as soon as I felt the rear lose traction to catch him on straights and in corners both, despite the GLC and found myself down, having lost the front end before I 43 making four times the power as the Africa Twin! Of course knew it! Vijay and his man Friday Akshay were quick to put a set of grippy, 255-section, 20 inch tyres at all four ends meant the improvised snow chain onto my rear tyre and it helped in he had far better traction and grip as compared to my bike heaps, instantly! The bike felt more rideable though I had to around bends. I could see Halley hustling the burly GLC 43 be extremely cautious, be it releasing the clutch, opening the through corners and following him was an aural treat, given throttle or simply manoeuvring the motorcycle. Suddenly, the AMG’s exhaust note, especially at higher revs. Our plan the Africa Twin seemed to make its large dimensions felt. was to stay in Narkanda, nearly 60km ahead of Shimla and I also learnt that riding on soft snow is easier than hard- famous for its skiing slopes. packed ice because there’s no way to get traction on ice. Post sunset things changed for both of us. The air was getting There’s some hope from tyres with metal spikes, but even colder – my in-dash temperature readout showed 7 degree they offer limited traction is what Vijay mentioned. Halley Celsius. There was a sense of excitement and adventure to it seemed better off in the AMG but was visibly concerned, with all, exactly what I had been missing. Halley realised he could literally no traction whatsoever given the GLC’s road-biased have done with brighter headlights given that the mountain tyres. This besides the fact that it is more performance SUV roads were pitch dark. The roads were also narrow and the than off-roader. Loss of traction is imminent on snow and as GLC’s 2096mm width wasn’t helping, especially with lots of I realised, grabbing the front brake lever is a natural instinct oncoming traffic. As we crossed Shimla we started getting but a big mistake on ice. I went down the second time, at just January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 55

{ FEATURE } SNOW RIDING/DRIVING IS SOMETHING EVERY ENTHUSIAST SHOULD EXPERIENCE AS THE COLD, HARD-PACKED ICE IS A GREAT WAY TO LEARN TO BE SMOOTH 56 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

MI NOTEBOOK 14 LAPTOP The sheer amount of hi-res photos and video footage that we generate requires us to have the very best laptops for processing data and editing videos quickly. This becomes all the more important on roadtrips like this one. Hence we carried the Mi Notebook 14 Horizon with us. It uses a 10th generation Core i7 Intel processor and has a 512GB SSD, the battery back up is fantastic - we used the laptop for over 10 hours before needing to recharge. It is sleek and the body is made of high quality aluminium with a satin finish which makes it ultralight in weight. Watch out for our full review next month once we use it properly! about 5kmph! The learning was that even speeds as low as 7kmph can be too fast on ice. In fact riding on ice had me experience the tail stepping out at single digit speeds – something unimaginable otherwise! Try anything heroic though and you’ll be quick to land on your backside. Clearly, if you want to ride a big ADV on ice you need to prepare it well. We stopped for a few photo ops for Gaurav (who fell down himself a couple of times wielding his camera), where Halley and I got talking about the experience. Snow riding/driving is something every enthusiast should experience – the cold, hard-packed ice is a great way to learn to be smooth, whether on two wheels or four. We both wanted to ride and drive more on ice but knew we weren’t equipped too well! So we decided to head back to the hotel for the day. Of course, given that we hadn’t seen each other in a really long time we also had lots of catching up to do! The evening was spent watching the sun go down from the porch of the hotel, in front of a bonfire and we sat in multiple layers of woollies. This, is what I was missing – the joy of hitting the road and heading to places far away. The day was over but not the road trip. Halley and I agreed that we were both itching to swap vehicles the next morning! Both of us have equal love for cars and motorcycles both and neither of us could resist the temptation. Lots of interesting talks happened over the course of the evening as we sat warming ourselves in front of the fire. We couldn’t help January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 57

{ FEATURE } MI 10T PRO TOP: Halley and I were out on the road together after many years and there's tonnes of stories to tell each other besides which many laughs If it ain't on the 'gram it didn't happen is what today's generation were had remembering old times! ABOVE: Team TURBOCHARGED posing says! And great photos have made for great memories for ages with Vijay Parmar, someone we all look up to as a biker and a lot more! now, no? So we carried the Mi 10T Pro for this roadtrip to take some cool photos for our social media pages. The 10T Pro throws its weight around like no phone does with its 108 megapixel snapper! Pictures shot in 108mp mode are actually worth printing without needing edits. There's a Snapdragon 865 processor in there along with 8GB RAM and the screen is a crisp 6.67 inch display. And battery performance is well, excellent. Watch out for the full review 58 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

but discuss how far things have come for the Indian ROADTRIPS ARE automobile industry – back in 2008 when we both started A GREAT WAY our careers as young, 20-somethings, AMGs were a rare sight and came in as CBUs. Most people didn’t even know TO REDISCOVER about adventure tourers as a form of the motorcycle. But YOURSELF AS YOU today the Indian automobile industry has grown to offer EXPLORE PLACES enthusiasts pretty much everything there is on offer in the world. And the fact that manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz and Honda (and several others too!) are assembling high performance, world-class automobiles in India today speaks volumes about the importance of the market. The next morning we swapped vehicles as decided. Heading back to Chandigarh, where we were to spend the night was even more fun for both of us. Halley enjoyed the liberating feeling of riding a fast and highly capable Japanese adventure tourer downhill on some of the best roads, even as I was barrelling down in the 390PS, German luxury performance SUV. And that evening lots of laughs were shared as we spoke about the last couple of days. It had been a fun three days on the road with two very exciting automobiles. In fact the experience of taking a world-class SUV and adventure touring motorcycle – both now made in India – on a road trip, with an old friend was surreal. I want to believe there’s a lot more in store for us enthusiasts as besides the availability of such performance oriented machinery, the infrastructure and roads are getting better. And roadtrips are a great way to rediscover yourself as you explore places. Good company of friends only makes such experiences better, as I discovered on this trip, yet again, because as petrolheads we find solace behind the wheel or in the saddle with like-minded people. In fact this, is our kind of ‘normal’! January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 59

[ FEATURE ] WORDS ABHAY VERMA PHOTOGRAPHY GAURAV CHANDRASHEKAR Supercharged Sunday The sportscar and supercar scene in Pune is picking up! Like every other major metro Pune, our base that showed up. I've seen buyers' tastes evolve over and my hometown, has its own sportscar the years and the number of cars has been growing scene. Most owners prefer keeping a low steadily - the cars you see here are just a fraction of profile though which is a reason why despite the total number of sportscars in Pune. In fact Pune having an sizeable number of members (who is home to the first BMW M8 sold in the country! I own some enviable cars!) the Pune Supercar see people here wanting cars that are exclusive, like Club isn't really highlighted like the clubs in the Aston Martin Vantage here, or even the BMW other cities. 330d Convertible. Besides these, the bevy of cars that showed up included an Audi RS5, Audi RS7, Audi That said meets happen regularly and I do get RS8, BMW M8, a Mercedes-AMG G63, Lamborghini to see some of the beauties, as a few owners are Urus, Mercedes-Benz SLC 43 AMG, Mini Cooper S very old friends! So when the big boys decided to and Porsche 718 Boxster. Here's to hoping more meet up casually on a Sunday morning last month, such exotics make it to Pune soon! I couldn't resist joining them to check out the cars 60 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

TOP: Audi seems to be among the favourite brands with sportscar buyers in Pune and we had three of them show up - an R8, RS7 AND RS5. ABOVE: The Porsche 718 Boxster, BMW 330d Convertible and Mercedes-Benz SLC 43 AMG looking good with the top down. BELOW LEFT: The Brits made their presence felt with the Aston Martin Vantage and Mini Cooper. BELOW RIGHT: The first BMW M8 in Pune and India! January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 61

{ FEATURE } ALL ABOUT HORSE POWER Meeting the man bringing us the country’s newest racetrack – right in our backyard! 62 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

WORDS ABHAY VERMA PHOTOGRAPHY GAURAV CHANDRASHEKAR M y first time on track was for a motorcycle lot to promote motorsport in the country over the race at the Madras Motor Race Track and past decade, so I had to just drive a Volkswagen to I was hooked for life. I’ve been lucky to be Nanoli! The T-Roc seemed perfect – a 150PS, 1.5-litre in a profession where riding and driving turbocharged petrol engine under the hood, engaging at racetracks is part of the job, but that’s to drive and yet having ample ground clearance to not the case for many others. I’ve seen tread off tarmac. Once at Nanoli, as I was taking a friends in Pune/Mumbai lament the lack tour of the parts where the racetrack will come up, of a racetrack nearby for years. Track days for them I couldn’t resist driving the T-Roc on what will be the mean taking time off work, besides the logistics of main start-finish straight! The circuit will be 2.9km transporting cars or motorcycles to the circuit which long making it smaller than the MMRT but longer makes it too expensive to be a regular engagement. So than the KMS, Coimbatore. It will offer multiple when news broke out of a new racetrack coming up configurations, but the full circuit will include 12 near Pune, I couldn’t resist getting in touch with Mr corners and two straights. Khushroo Dhunjibhoy’s office, the gentleman building the Nanoli Speedway at Nanoli village near Pune! Besides the road-racing circuit the facility will also have a proper off-roading and 4x4 zone too. Former A few emails later I was set to meet the man Indian F1 driver Karun Chandhok has been involved himself, at Nanoli. Pune is home to Volkswagen in the development. Karun has been working closely Motorsport and the German car maker has done a with Driven International, the UK-based firm January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 63

{ FEATURE } DESPITE THE PANDEMIC responsible for building multiple racetracks around THE DHUNJIBHOYS the world. In fact, Driven has also been involved ARE HOPEFUL OF in the redevelopment of the Kari Motor Speedway. COMPLETING THE FIRST As for Nanoli, a simulated lap time of 1 minute and PHASE BEFORE THE 21.6 seconds in a Jaguar F-Type tells us the Nanoli MONSOONS THIS YEAR Speedway will be a medium to fast circuit. Mr Dhunjibhoy is 73 years old, but looks younger and the first thing that hits you about him is his friendly nature and he is a typical Bawaji in that sense! Turns out he grew up around horses but when he learnt to ride and drive in his early teens he was immediately bitten the bug which led to him quietly taking a car or motorcycle out late night for rides! Despite the pandemic the Dhunjibhoys are hopeful of completing the first phase before the monsoons this year. This will include an Equestrian club and club house, complete with a 24-room hotel for members. They are also developing an agro- tourism space and an art gallery. The racetrack was to be developed first, but is now part of the second phase. Work on the actual racetrack construction is expected to begin by December this year and if all goes well, most of the tarmac laying should be done before the monsoons next year! 64 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

BOTTOM: Mr Khushroo Dhunjibhoy has spent his Ben Wilshire of Driven International has been life around horses besides having a keen interest in helpful in planning says Mr Dhunjibhoy. He has also automobiles since his teens. He likes motorcycles more been to the Goodwood Festival of Speed and is hoping than cars, but tells us the last bike he owned was a to replicate the model here and look at hosting an Honda CBX1000, since his wife didn't let him buy any India edition in future. Access to the Nanoli Speedway motorcycles after that citing them as too dangerous! will be limited to members only – they have received over 2,500 applications already! Mr Dhunjibhoy is keen on promoting motorsport though and is ensuring memberships are affordable for regular enthusiasts as well and not just the elite supercar owners. He says he’s seen guys come to Goodwood – really old men included – to have a good time with cars and bikes and wants to promote that culture through Nanoli Speedway. Mr Dhunjibhoy’s son Zahir is a big time petrolhead too and is also overseeing the development work. They also want to have riding/ driving schools at the facility to help create more interest in motorsport at a grassroots level. Besides this, Nanoli will also have dedicated garages for those who want to leave their cars and motorcycles there and spaces for automotive events too. Mr Dhunjibhoy says he and his wife have planted thousands of trees at the property over the years, besides providing employment to people from villages nearby. Meeting the man and spending that hour or two listening to his stories was a fantastic experience to say the least. In fact everything that he mentioned about his plans has me really excited. For petrolheads like me, especially those in Pune/Mumbai or even Kolhapur, Nagpur, Indore, Ahmedabad and the like this is no less than a dream come true. Now to wait for the track to get ready! January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 65

{ FEATURE } KARUN SPEAKS WE'VE TRIED TO USE THE NATURAL Here's what Karun Chandhok has to say about Nanoli Speedway TOPOGRAPHY OF THE LAND \"I've been working with Driven plot than Chennai and Delhi tracks TO CREATE International on a number of so had to be quite efficient with space SOME EXTRA projects around the world for a few utilisation. Once we came up with 5 CHALLENGES years now but obviously working on different options we then picked the one in India is a bit extra special for best bits from each one and created FROM TOP: Driving different cars on the virtual me. I think the location of the Nanoli a 3D model which I drove on my Nanoli racetrack helped Karun tweak the track Speedway is going to be something simulator. The sim sessions allowed layout and fine tune corners very special when people see it us to generate some real data using themselves. There are lush green different car models and also to tweak hills around and we've tried to use the track layout because there were the natural topography of the land a couple of things that looked good to create some extra challenges. The on CAD but didn't feel right when I Western part of our country is home drove it. In the end, I'm pretty happy to a lot of Supercars and Bikes but with the track layout we've achieved. without a race track close by, people It should serve as a good track for have been driving them only on the track days but also using the skid pan public roads which is obviously not and the different radii of corners, safe to be going fast on. Having a hopefully the auto manufacturing track that's 90 minutes from Mumbai hub in and around Pune will also find and Pune will be a great escape for it a useful venue for testing and R&D. people to go and enjoy their cars and bikes in a safe environment and have The Dhunjibhoy family who are a lot of fun. owners of the track are lovely people who very committed to the project As for the process, after visiting and having driven the track in the the site, the team and I worked on virtual world, I'm excited to see it some 2D designs in CAD looking at take shape in the real world over the the shape of the plot. It's a smaller next 18 months.\" 66 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

TAKE T WO ALL ABOUT TWO WHEELS New Ducatis, next-gen Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R and BMW S 1000 R decoded. We've ridden the Ducati Panigale V2, Triumph Street Triple R, Honda H'ness CB350, Aprilia SXR 160, KTM 250 Adventure, BMW G 310 GS and a very special Royal Enfield! January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 67

[TAKE TWO] Code Red Ducati updates its line-up for 2021 and gives the Monster a generation change promising more thrills with its larger motor Ducati's naked streetbike, the Monster gets a generational Stylema R calipers with Brembo MCS update and this can be radial-pump, SDM open dry clutch considered its most and anodised aluminium Rizoma comprehensive one yet. footpegs. The limited-edition Diavel 1260 Lamborghini edition gets Worked from the ground up, styling bits inspired by the ultra- Ducati's next-gen (just) Monster exclusive Lamborghini Siàn FKP gains a lot of new bits and bobs 37. Besides acres of carbon fibre, and it loses some iconic bits. The it gets the same Gea Green shade trellis frame for example, has been and forged wheels design as the replaced with a new aluminium hypercar. The SuperSport 950 now alloy unit similar to the Panigale V4. gets Panigale inspired styling, a new For the price of iconism, you get 4.3\" colour-TFT instrument console substantial weight savings. The new and 6-axis IMU-based electronics. front frame weighs just 3kg! Overall, Ducati's Scrambler range gets a the new Monster weighs 166kg new Nightshift model. Set to replace (dry) - 18kg less than the Monster the Cafe Racer and Full Throttle, It 821. The other significant update gets flat-track styling courtesy a flat is a larger 937cc Testatretta liquid- handlebar, flat seat and side number cooled V2 motor that delivers 111PS plate panels. The SuperSport 950 at 9,250rpm and 93Nm at 6,500rpm now gets Panigale inspired styling, – 2.8PS and 7Nm more than the a new 4.3\" colour-TFT instrument Monster 821. Effectively you now console and a 6-axis IMU based have more power in a lightweight, electronics. Ducati's Scrambler sharper chassis. range gets a new Nightshift model. Ducati's Panigale V4 SP makes a Set to replace the Cafe Racer and comeback and gets a mean-looking Full Throttle, It gets flat-track styling MotoGP winter test inspired black courtesy a flat handlebar, flat seat and red livery. It gets carbon wheels, and side number plate panels. 68 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

GREEN ROCKET V2.0 K awasaki has finally given its Ninja ZX-10R a new look. Thankfully the green lab coats drew inspiration from the flagship Ninja H2 instead of the Ninja 400/ZX-6R. The new bodywork gets a more palatable face and the most inconspicuous winglets amongst the current crop of superbikes. Despite passing Euro 5 regulations, the 998cc in-line four motor continues to belt out 200PS and 115Nm. The first 3 gears and final gearing are shorter for improved acceleration. Its 6-axis IMU electronics package gets 3 preset and 4 customisable riding modes, cruise control accessible through a 4.3-inch colour TFT instrument console. Minor chassis updates include a more focussed riding position, 8mm longer swingarm, lower triple clamp and retuned Showa suspension. These should make the ZX-10R more engaging to ride on the track. BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA B MW has finally come around to updating its litre- class naked bruiser and while at it they have changed... well, everything. Gone is the asymmetric look and in its place is a face similar to the smaller F 900 R. The tail lamp though is carried over from its faired S 1000 RR cousin. With the new body panels, the S 1000 R looks more conventional than its predecessor. It gets the all-new 999cc in-line four-cylinder motor and Flex frame from the S 1000 RR. Power output remains an impressive 165PS and 114Nm which sounds properly scary for a naked. 80Nm of torque is available from as low as 3,000rpm while 90Nm is available between 5,500rpm and 12,000rpm. That should allow for some mad wheelies. At 199kg (dry) it is 6.5kg lighter than its predecessor and can drop another 4.8kg if you opt for the M package. The new Flex frame is narrow around the knee area for a more ergonomic riding position. We expect the new S 1000 R to be launched in India sometime this year. Prices for the litre-class naked are expected to start around `18 lakh ex-showroom. January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 69

[ TAKE TWO ] ROYAL ENFIELD CLASSIC HHONDA GOES BOLDonda keeps the Japanese retro motorcycle cult alive with the 350 NEW COLOURS 2021 CB1300 Super Four and CB1300 Super Bol D’or. While the Super Four continues to draw inspiration from 80's naked Honda Royal Enfield's highest-selling motorcycles, the Super Bol D’or kicks it up a notch with its old- motorcycle now gets two new school half fairing. The Bol D’or (meaning Gold cup) pays tribute colour variants: Orange Ember to the 24-hour endurance race held in France since 1922. Honda and Metallo Silver. The former participated in and won the Bol D’or multiple times in the 70s and 80s. gets a dual-tone black and orange Power comes from a 1,248cc, in-line four cylinder liquid cooled motor. paint job along with black finished It features a relaxed state of tune and offers a tame 110PS and 118Nm. motor, exhaust and wheels. On Both motorcycles also come in a more focused SP version that gets Ohlins the latter you get a dual-tone suspension and Brembo brakes. Sadly, the new CB1300 motorcycles are black and silver paint scheme not coming here and are intended for the Japanese market only. with chrome finished motor and exhaust along with machine-cut alloy wheels. Both motorcycles cost `1.83 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). A EUROPEAN TRACING THE RIGHT LINE LOVE STORY F or 2021, Yamaha's sports tourer gets a lot MV Agusta has collaborated more than a new name. The Tracer 900 with French carmaker Alpine and moniker has been dropped as has the bulky the result is this highly exotic bodywork. It gets a sharper-looking face motorcycle. Only 110 units of the with twin headlamps hidden in the fairing, Superveloce Alpine will be created. YZF-R1 style. The 890cc in-line triple CP3 The motorcycle shares its blue motor derived from the 2021 MT-09 is 43cc larger paint scheme with the Alpine A110 than before. It now delivers 119PS at 10,000rpm sports car. It gets an Alcantara and 93Nm at 7,000rpm. seat with blue stitching, CNC- machined fuel filler cap and twin To complement the new motor the Tracer 9 gets asymmetric Arrow exhaust pipes. a new aluminium Deltabox frame that is claimed to Carbon fibre is used in key areas offer a more upright riding stance and better front- to lower weight as well. The price? end feedback. It gets a longer swingarm as well. €36,300 (`32.5 lakh). The updated six-axis IMU comes with four riding modes, traction control, wheelie and slide control. The premium GT variant gets electronically- controlled, semi-active KYB suspension. 70 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

LAUNCHES THIS MONTH KAWASAKI Z H2 AND Z H2 SE KTM 125 DUKE `21.9 lakh and `25.9 lakh `1.52 lakh Kawasaki's flagship hypernaked boasts of a The baby Duke is significantly more supercharged motor pushing out 200PS. To keep expensive now and gets a new bodywork, taller 823mm seat, larger fuel tank and things civil you get the full electronic shebang split-trellis frame to look identical to the including launch control. While the Z H2 gets fully 200 Duke. Weight is up by 7kg but the 125cc mill remains unchanged. adjustable Showa suspension, the SE variant comes with semi-active electronic suspension. (All prices ex-showroom, New Delhi) Aprilia SXR 160 YAMAHA FZ-S FI VINTAGE EDITION `1.26 lakh `1.10 lakh Aprilia's flagship maxi-scooter is big on looks The FZ-S FI goes old-school with a British and features. It gets all-LED lighting, tinted Racing Green colour and tan brown seat. windscreen and a comprehensive LCD It gets the same features as the Darknight instrument console. It shares its powertrain variant which includes Yamaha Connect X and underpinnings with the SR 160 but gets Bluetooth module. The 150cc powertrain smaller but nice-looking 12-inch alloys. and underpinnings remain unchanged. January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 71

[ REVIEWS ] WORDS ABHAY VERMA PHOTOGRAPHY GAURAV CHANDRASHEKAR Ducati Panigale V2 It’s a machine that looks you in the eye and asks if you really need more power Engine: 955cc, L-twin, liquid-cooled DUCATI PANIGALE V2 Power: 155PS @ 10,750rpm Torque: 104Nm @ 9,000rpm Weight: 200kg Power to weight: 575PS/tonne Price: `16.99 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi) 72 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

I ’ve fancied supersport machines for long, for There was a time everyone wanted to be seen on fully- their purity of purpose more than anything else. faired bikes, even if a modified Bajaj Pulsar. But a lot has The sharpness, agility, ability to attain manic changed over the past few years – bikers have taken to speeds and of course the way they can have you cruisers, streetbikes, adventure tourers and more in the break into a smile (whether you are in the saddle interest of better comfort, practicality and the like. Does or just ogling at one!) is unique to them. Ducati that mean focused supersport machines (Ducati likes to has given us some of the most lust-worthy call it the super-mid segment) like the Panigale V2 are passé? I think not. sportsbikes and I’ve been lucky to ride a few. Two days with it on the roads of the Delhi-NCR, The Italian bike maker’s newest such machine specifically some freshly laid tarmac on the outskirts of Gurugram helped me decide. Interestingly I had is the Panigale V2. Again, I was lucky to ride it at the jumped onto the V2 after a week of riding the Honda Africa Twin CRF1100. Just imagine the transition – a big, Jerez circuit in Spain last year. My seat time with the 100PS adventure tourer with tall seating and upright handlebars to a compact, 155PS supersport with low Panigale V2 at a European racetrack (that hosts rounds clip-ons! Such is the life of an automotive journalist! Hehe… That said, despite the V2’s committed seating of MotoGP and WSBK both every year) only helped me my forearms weren’t hurting, even an hour later. And that’s just one of the many things Ducati has worked on, reaffirm my belief about supersport motorcycles being while engineering the V2. some of the purest and most engaging machines. The V2’s acceleration, throttle response, handling and cutting-edge electronics, not to forget that gorgeous design based on the Panigale V4 all make one exhilarating motorcycle. A year later, I find myself in the saddle of the V2 again, this time on Indian roads. January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 73

[ REVIEWS ] It replaces the 959 Panigale which was a proper TOP: The fully-adjustable Showa Big Piston Forks and fully- crotch rocket but a little too taxing physically, be it on adjustable Sachs monoshock offer a fine balance between the road or on track. That’s besides the serious amounts ride and handling of heat it generated – I remember an ex-colleague almost having a heatstroke after riding it in heavy traffic wearing a leather race suit in summer! And one of the things I noticed about the V2 was the better heat management. Even in traffic it didn’t threaten to roast my legs, courtesy the more efficient channelling of heat from the redesigned fairing. Of course, this fairing and the overall design is straight off the V4, which is also why the V2 looks so beautiful. I particularly like the daytime running lights and recesses for the headlamp projectors. What also strikes you once you swing a leg over is how compact the bike feels. From the saddle you also notice that the fairing is so small, the TFT display instrument cluster just about fits in! The rear end looks particularly alluring courtesy the single-sided swingarm and tail piece both. Overall, the V2 is easily one of the most gorgeous motorcycles on sale in the country today. And then there’s the riding experience. With a 955cc, liquid-cooled L-twin sitting between your legs there’s no dearth of grunt. Throttle openings above 3,000rpm result in your surroundings getting blurred very quickly. With its 155PS and 104Nm the Panigale V2 in fact makes you wonder if you really need a full- blown litre-class superbike. Most litre-class machines focus more on on-track performance and almost all of them put out upwards of 200PS today, which can be too much on our roads. And that’s something the Panigale V2 takes care of, really well. In fact its 155PS itself is a bit much on our roads – I reckon it’ll do 0-100kmph in just about 3.5 seconds or less, which is superbike territory as it is. Given the acceleration exercising restraint on public roads becomes uber-important, but giving it the stick on open stretches has the Panigale V2 go well beyond 150kmph before you even realise. Simply put, the Panigale V2 ensures you don’t miss the wet-your-pants quick acceleration of litre-class machines. Getting to the limits of its performance reserves is beyond the reach of most riders, on public roads at least. All this, while being relatively far more comfortable. In fact I dare say, the Panigale V2 will make for a rather good supersonic touring machine! It also gets some of Ducati’s best electronics, borrowed from the Panigale V4, that offer a fantastic safety net and help you put the power down very easily. Truth be told, without electronics you’ll probably scare 74 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

THE FAIRING AND OVERALL DESIGN IS STRAIGHT OFF THE V4, WHICH IS WHY THE V2 LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 75

[ REVIEWS ] FOR SOMETHING MEANT TO GO REALLY FAST AROUND CORNERS SPECIFICALLY ON TRACK, THE V2 OFFERS A NEAR UNREAL BALANCE BETWEEN RIDE AND HANDLING 76 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

yourself silly trying to ride something as lethal as the Panigale V2 on public roads! Rider aids include a six-axis IMU which brings with it wheelie control and cornering ABS, besides the latest DTC (Ducati Traction Control), DQS (Ducati Quick Shifter) and EBC (Engine Brake Control). In short the bike is virtually idiot-proof and you really have to do something stupid to crash on one! More so, since DTC EVO 2 is derived from the Panigale V4 R and Ducati’s MotoGP machine. It detects wheel slip without you even realising you lost traction for a millisecond. I couldn’t help but marvel at the V2’s ride and handling either. For something meant to go really fast around corners specifically on track, it offers a near unreal balance between the two. It soaked up undulations on the road well, even ironing out at least smaller potholes and ruts and the ride quality only seemed to get better at higher speeds. Show it a set of corners and the V2 lets you attack with aplomb – I’m not one to try and have my knee sliders graze against tarmac on public roads but the V2 and its sticky Pirellis made it easier than I imagined. Mid-corner stability is excellent and in fact the Panigale V2 might actually show litre-class machines a clean pair of heels around corners on public roads with its more usable power delivery. Two days in the saddle of one of the hottest Italian motorcycles had me believe supersport bikes are still a thing. Like I said at the start, the Panigale V2 begs you to answer a question – do you really need a 200PS machine unless looking to set lap records? Besides being blazingly fast on track the V2 is a supersport machine that’s very rideable on the road and can make for great weekend rides with friends without breaking your back or wrists. And it’s a stunner to look at. All this while costing a lot less than every fully- faired superbike at `16.99 lakh ex-showroom! January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 77

[ REVIEWS ] WORDS ABHAY VERMA WITH THE STREET TRIPLE RS THAT PHOTOGRAPHY GAURAV CHANDRASHEKAR CAME OUT IN 2017, TRIUMPH Triumph UPPED ITS GAME Street FURTHER IN EVERY Triple R DEPARTMENT THAT MATTERS One alphabet less in the suffix, a lower price tag and lots of character define Triumph’s latest addition to the Street Triple family I t’s easy to see why middleweight sport nakeds have risen to immense popularity over the past half-decade or so. They’re light and fun to ride, have loads of character and handle well enough to cut it for going fast around corners – in the hills or on track. They also make for great everyday motorcycles. As for me, I’ve always found them to be a tonne of fun – they’re easy to pull wheelies on and ride on one wheel given the excellent bottom-end and midrange grunt, not to forget, the quick directional changes they allow which makes them perfect for in-city sorties as well. Triumph’s Street Triple needs no introduction as a middleweight sport naked that ticks all the aforementioned boxes and is one of my favourite wheelie machines in its segment. With the Street Triple RS that came out in 2017, Triumph upped its game further in every department that matters, though the R version is one we weren’t able to experience, until last year. The R is effectively the base version on sale in the country now and promises a sportier feel than 78 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE R Weight: 168kg Engine: 765cc, Inline 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 12-valve Power: 118PS @ 12,000rpm Torque: 79Nm @ 9,350rpm Power-to-weight: 702PS/tonne Price: `8.84 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi) January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 79

[ REVIEWS ] TOP: The Brembo M4.32 brake calipers may not be as sharp as the M50's on the RS but you do not really miss them on the road; The R looks a lot like the RS save for the red subframe and mirrors. BOTTOM: The 765cc motor offers performance a lot closer to the RS than the S the S. But is it emotive enough to make you want it like the RS does every single time you ride it, while not costing as much? I just had to find out – by riding it to one of my favourite hill roads near Pune. Visually the R looks a lot like the RS with its matte grey finish, identical body panels and ‘eyebrow’ design for the LED daytime running lamps. The subframe is finished in red here, which does tell you this is the R besides which the R gets conventional rear view mirrors and not bar end ones. I’m not a fond of the design of the mirror stalks though. I do like the part-analogue, part-digital instrument console better than the TFT display on the RS. Somehow, the large tachometer and blue shift lights still look very appealing. The R also gets the tiny windscreen, but misses out on the belly cowl the RS gets. Overall build quality is premium and the R has the same high end feel we are used to from the British bike maker. The bike is also very compact, something that adds to its appeal. Despite 80 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

TOP: The analogue tachometer with its blue shift lights the compactness I’ve always appreciated how spacious the saddle is somehow look more appealing that the RS' fully-digital unit and the perfect seating position. You crouch forward ever so slightly to reach the handlebars while the footpegs are rear set just slightly. The engine’s state of tune is obviously different from the RS. It's 765cc, liquid-cooled inline triple offers a slightly lower 118PS at 12,000rpm here as opposed to 123PS on the RS. Peak torque produced is the same at 79Nm though. A 5PS deficit isn’t earth shattering on a motorcycle putting out over 100PS, which means the R is a potent machine. And that’s something the bike tells you clearly from the word go. In typical Street Triple fashion it loves being revved and lets you have a whale of a time every time the throttle is wide open. I was quick to note that the engine refinement on the R is a smidgen lower than the RS, which feels silkier in comparison. Power delivery and overall performance though is very impressive – be it traffic light GPs or accelerating out of corners in the hills, the Street Triple R begs to be ridden hard. I can also tell you with full conviction that the Street Triple R is a fantastic wheelie machine! I’ve not pulled second gear wheelies in a while, but the R eased me into trying them with its friendly power delivery. The Street Triple R thus has oodles of character which is what makes it so endearing. What’s more, even when riding sanely, January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 81

[ REVIEWS ] 4,000rpm to 8,000rpm is pretty much all you need, as there’s enough poke from the engine in that rev range. However, opening the throttle wide even when you don’t really need to accelerate hard is something you find yourself doing a lot. The aural theatrics of the intake and exhaust make the Street Triple one sweet sounding motorcycle. Triumph has also specced rider aids well, so you get multiple riding modes to choose from besides which you can also turn traction control off. What also adds to the joy of caning the Street Triple R is its bi- directional quickshifter. I’ve always liked quickshifters for the more satiating gear changes they offer and the Triumph unit works brilliantly, at all times. The bike also impresses a lot on the handling front. Its steering geometry is sharper than the S (which felt slightly lethargic around corners) and that helps the bike turn in and change direction quickly. Credit that to the 41mm Showa Separate Function Big Piston upside down forks that handle preload and damping individually. The Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tyres also add to confidence and overall I wasn’t missing the sharper, more track- focussed manners of the RS when riding the R in the hills. Ride quality is pretty decent overall but you do feel the sharper potholes and ruts given the limited suspension travel at both ends, which can be discomforting at times. Not that I minded those few moments of discomfort though, because otherwise I enjoyed every moment in the Street Triple R’s saddle. It’s a motorcycle that’s quick to endear itself to you with its friendly, easy performance while also being potent enough to enthral the more experienced lot of riders. As a performance motorcycle it ticks a lot of boxes. Priced at `8.84 lakh ex-showroom, it costs a lot lesser than the RS, while offering a wholesome experience that’s nearly as visceral! TOP: You will find yourself accelerating harder just to hear the exhaust note that's so pleasing at high revs 82 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

I’VE ALWAYS LIKED QUICKSHIFTERS FOR THE MORE SATIATING GEAR CHANGES THEY OFFER AND THE TRIUMPH UNIT WORKS BRILLIANTLY January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 83

[ REVIEWS ] WORDS BENJAMIN GRACIAS PHOTOGRAPHY GAURAV CHANDRASHEKHAR Honda CB 350 Honda plays the retro game right on its first attempt HONDA CB 350 Weight: 181kg Engine: 348.36cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled Power: 21.1PS @ 5,500rpm Torque: 30Nm @ 3,000rpm Power-to-weight: 116PS/tonne Price: `1.87 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi) 84 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

A s it stands, the neo-retro segment of motorcycles is TOP: The clean looking semi-digital instrument console hides a one where besides the looks, pretty much everything Type-C USB charging port under the skin is properly modern. Unlike the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Benelli Imperiale 400 that feel retro inside-out. And then there’s the new Honda H’ness CB350 that’s trying to straddle both segments. It has a lot riding on its shoulders then, no? It is a looker to begin with, courtesy the design inspired by the 1970’s Honda CB family, especially in this dual-tone blue and white paint scheme (offered only in the DLX Pro variant). In fact, the paint scheme instantly reminded my father about the bikes he rode in his youth! Besides the round headlamp, long fuel tank with the old-school Honda badge and flat seat you get lots of chrome – on the mudguards, handlebar, exhaust and even the crankcase. Despite oodles of the shiny stuff the CB350 does not look garish. The round (LED) turn indicators at the front double up as pilot lights and remain on. And as you would expect on a Honda, build quality is top-notch. Paint finish is premium, panel gaps are consistently tight and weld seams are neat. Features include all-LED lighting – everyone January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 85

[ REVIEWS ] HONDA HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF CREATING THE ‘THUMP’, WHICH WAS PRETTY MUCH THE SELECT RESERVE OF ROYAL ENFIELDS FOR THE LONGEST TIME in office agreed unanimously that the CB350’s headlight is one motorcycles. The seating is upright which complements the of the coolest executions of all-LED lighting meets chromed bike’s positioning, though the heel and toe gear shifter could round housing! The instrument console is a large analog unit have been positioned better. Over distances, the firm seat with a small display integrated in and also packs in Bluetooth cushioning helps but I would have liked a wider seat. connectivity to offer information about phone calls, messages, weather and navigation. Heck, Honda has added a Type-C USB The CB350 uses a 348cc, air-cooled engine offering 21.1PS port to the side of the pod as well! and 30Nm. The engine’s long-stroke nature means peak torque is available just 3,000rpm onwards, but I would have preferred The display is a little too small though and the information shorter gear ratios to make the most of that. What is impressive it offers too comprehensive, including average fuel efficiency though, is the slickness of the transmission itself and the light, and range. Beat this – the H’ness even gets traction control! slip and assist clutch. I also like how the CB’s engine is eager What also deserves a mention is the exhaust note – Honda has to build revs (unlike its rivals) and helps the bike accelerate done a very good job of creating the ‘thump’, which was pretty quickly. There’s more power in reserve as you build revs much the select reserve of Royal Enfields for the longest time. which makes the CB350 enjoyable, besides the supreme engine From the saddle the H’ness also reminded me of the Triumph refinement. The icing on the top is the bassy exhaust thump Street Twin – it felt like a downsized version of the Brit twin that is loud enough to get you noticed. The Honda also feels that’s no less than a benchmark when it comes to neo-retro surprisingly light and easy to ride – this, despite its simple 86 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

underpinnings and suspension. It’s also confident around corners and encourages peg scraping antics. Mid-corner bumps unsettle it a bit due to the firm suspension, but things never get out of hand. I also like the grip from the MRF Zappers, while Nissin brakes offer a strong bite along with ample feedback. Overall, the CB350 handles more like a modern naked than a retro motorcycle, which is one of my favourite bits about the bike. The retro segment is one where buying decisions are based more on emotion and Royal Enfields have ruled it for eons given their emotive feel and the legacy around the brand itself. What the Honda brings to the table besides being emotive and engaging is its charm. And that charm comes from the motorcycle’s simplicity. It feels like that honest friend of yours who has no airs about himself and is ever-ready to join you for a ride. And then there’s the refinement and premium build. With prices beginning from `1.87 lakh ex-showroom New Delhi for the DLX version (the DLX Pro here commands a premium of `6,000 over that), the H’ness is more expensive than Royal Enfields, even the Meteor 350. But for the price you get excellent build quality, refinement, character and performance. The only chink in its armour is that you cannot simply walk into any Honda dealership to buy one. It’s on sale only through Honda’s premium BigWing dealerships. We’re hoping that’s something Honda will change and offer the bike across dealerships since this is a potential winner for the Japanese manufacturer. TOP: DLX Pro variant gets a dual horn setup. BOTTOM: Information on the digital instrument console can be navigated via a four-way switch on the handlebar and two buttons on the console January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 87

[REVIEWS] WORDS ABHAY VERMA PHOTOGRAPHY GAURAV CHANDRASHEKHAR BMW G 310 GS The youngest GS gets a BS6 update that enhances its credentials BMW G 310 GS Weight: 169.5kg Engine: 313cc, single-cylinder, 4-valve, liquid-cooled, DOHC Power: 34PS @ 9,500rpm Torque: 28Nm @ 7,500rpm Power-to-weight: 200PS/tonne Price: `2.85 lakh onwards (ex-showroom, New Delhi) 88 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

M y first tryst with the BMW 310 GS was in the TOP: The long-travel suspension works well in off-road riding company of several other adventure tourers at conditions; ByBre brakes offer a good bite and the dual- one of my previous publications, where we had channel ABS isnt intrusive either planned a mega ADV shootout with nearly a dozen motorcycles. Interestingly, despite being one of the smallest motorcycles in that line-up (which included its own siblings like the F 850 GS and R 1250 GS), the so-called baby GS did not get overshadowed and managed to carve a niche for itself in my head. I felt the motorcycle had lots of potential. It was taking in some serious thrashing on trails and was yet unscathed, besides letting me cover distances quickly in comfort on the highway. The one chink in the motorcycle’s armour was its pricing. The G 310 GS was a lot more expensive than everything else it competed with, which was a deterrent to its success. So the fact that BMW Motorrad has given the G 310 GS a massive price cut of `64,000 along with the BS6 update is no less than a pleasant surprise! Like most other manufacturers did, BMW also took the BS6 emissions update as an opportunity to give the motorcycle some tweaks. And the results, may I add, are quite interesting. The first thing that strikes you about the BS6 version are the kickass paintjobs. Admittedly, last year’s colour schemes were not January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 89

[ REVIEWS ] very appealing, unlike what we see on BMW’s bigger adventure TOP: The motor has enough grunt to pull big wheelies. machines. That’s been addressed, and addressed bloody well this BOTTOM: Serrated footpegs and brake lever offer good grip time. There’s a Rallye paint job that looks very good, but what takes though the brake lever could have been a tad wider the cake is this smashing ’40 Year GS’ livery you see here. It’s an ode to the BMW R 100 GS that kickstarted it all for the German bike maker. The lighting is all-LED now. I think the headlamp looks a lot more appealing thanks to the new daytime running lamp which is an LED strip sitting bang in the middle of the headlight. The golden hue of the upside-down forks complements the 40 Year GS paint job really well too, making for a very good looking front end. The instrument cluster is the same monochrome LCD display. This could have been upgraded to a colour TFT but BMW hasn’t done it. Ergonomics are the same – the wide handlebar and spacious, well-cushioned seat are excellent for long rides. What I also like is the plastic quality, particularly the switches. They feel as premium as any other BMW machine and every time I used the switches, particularly the turn indicators, I was reminded of how premium the 310 GS feels despite being the most affordable BMW. Overall, even though body panels are the same the updated G 310 GS looks a lot better thanks to the new headlight and paintjobs. Scratch beneath that good looking skin and you’ll find the 310 GS uses ride-by-wire now which, in my books at least, is a big upgrade. Fuelling is thus crisper and throttle response more precise. Outputs for the liquid-cooled, 313cc single-cylinder mill remain unchanged at 34PS and 28Nm but the engine does feel smoother and more refined than ever before. In fact, engine vibration was always a concern and while you still have some vibration coming 90 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

in from the footpegs and seat, they have gone down. The addition TOP: '40 Years GS' livery makes the G 310 GS look of ride-by-wire is the biggest gain though as I mentioned and you quite appealing and is an ode to the R 100 GS can feel the difference as soon as you start riding. Just like before, the motor is quick to build revs and thus acceleration is quick given the linear power delivery. So the 310 GS is an excellent companion on the road just like before – touring in comfort is a given thanks to its ergonomics and engine performance both. Take it off tarmac you realise that yes, this bike certainly shares its DNA with some of the world’s best ADVs. It may not be running spoked wheels but those alloy wheels on the 310 GS can take some serious thrashing off-road. The ergonomics also make it easy to stand up and grip the tank with the inside of your knees, aiding confidence when riding off tarmac. The Metzeler Tourance tyres do their bit in making the bike a capable mountain goat as well. Brakes work well on road and off it too, especially the ByBre-sourced front calliper.The front ABS isn’t too intrusive either. I must say, the price drop has made the bike a lot more value for money than it ever did overall. Retailing at `2.85 lakh ex-showroom it makes a much stronger case for itself as a motorcycle you could ride to work every day, head out for a week-long ride on or even just go trail riding on a weekend. Effectively, the G 310 GS is an even better example of what BMW Motorrad’s exciting world of adventure tourers has to offer. THE ADDITION OF RIDE- BY-WIRE IS THE BIGGEST GAIN AND YOU CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE AS SOON AS YOU START RIDING January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 91

[ REVIEWS ] WORDS BENJAMIN GRACIAS PHOTOGRAPHY GAURAV CHANDRASHEKAR KTM 250 Adventure KTM’s 250cc motor has impressed in its many avatars, does the 250 Adventure continue the trend? KTM 250 ADVENTURE Weight: 177kg Engine: 248cc, single-cylinder, 4V DOHC Power: 30PS @ 9,000rpm Torque: 24Nm @ 7,500rpm Power to weight: 169PS/tonne Price: `2.52 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi) 92 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

W hen I rode the KTM 250 Duke first, I felt its engine was the most un-KTM like motor from Team Orange. Instead of being frantic and keeping me on my toes, the 250cc mill was mild-mannered but deceptively quick. That’s a reason why we really liked it on the Bajaj Dominar 250. Let’s move away from that thought for a minute and look at the 390 Adventure. When we rode it, most of us journos came back feeling the bike made more sense as a tourer than it did as an adventure tourer, fairing way better on highways than on trails. And now, come back to the thought of the 250cc mill being better-suited to touring. Will it suit the touring nature of KTM’s Adventure family better? More so since the 250 is intended to offer better bang for the buck considering it gets most of the 390 Adventure’s hardware at a lower price point? Of course, we know how well parts sharing has worked for KTM in India. So the 250 Adventure gets the exact same bodywork, fuel tank, seats, split trellis frame, WP Apex suspension and even the same MRF Meteor tyres on the same alloys as the 390. What it does not get is a full LED headlight, colour TFT instrument console, Bluetooth connectivity and 4-way toggle switch, traction control and quickshifter. We’re not complaining though. The 250’s halogen headlamp with LED daytime running lamp offers a bright and focussed beam, the LCD gets large readouts that are more legible. Thanks to the 250cc motor putting its power down in a more linear manner (besides the lower outputs as compared to the 390) you won’t even notice the lack of January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 93

[ REVIEWS ] traction control or miss the quickshifter. What you do miss is the TOP: Serrated footpegs get removable rubber lack of Bluetooth connectivity, though KTM has offered provisions pad; LCD instrument console is easier to read for a phone mount and a 12V charging socket here as well. than the 390's colour TFT. BOTTOM: The 250 also gets an adjustable windscreen, 12V socket and The fact that the 250 Adventure shares a lot with the 390 sounds provision for a smartphone mount. RIGHT: Extra good until you realise that both weigh nearly the same. KTM tried protection comes in the form of a metal plate solving this conundrum by updating the final drive for better low- end grunt, though this just about compensates for the weight gain. You still have to work the gearbox a fair bit in the city, given that the 250cc motor makes most of its power higher up the rev range. Thankfully clutch action is light and the gearbox butter-smooth. The 250 Adventure also lets you sit close to triple-digit speeds comfortably on open roads but when it comes to overtaking is when it calls for a bit of planning. Highway manners are impressive overall including seat comfort, though the windscreen is not large enough to keep windblast at bay. Off-road it’s all good as long as you are revving upwards of 5,000rpm. Anything below that and the bike bogs down. So like the 390, the lack of low down grunt means you have to work the motor to enjoy trails. Credit where due though – what I just said effectively also means the 250 Adventure is easier to ride, manoeuvre and 94 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

SIMPLY PUT, UNLIKE control off tarmac because there’s lesser power going to the rear THE 390, THE 250 wheel. Simply put, unlike the 390 the 250 Adventure will not scare ADVENTURE WILL NOT newbies. The long-travel forks have the same level of firmness here SCARE NEWBIES as the 390, so despite the travel you can feel sharp ruts and larger potholes. As speeds increase the suspension feels more reactive and soaks up things better, making the bike feel more planted on trails. On tarmac the wide handlebar offers excellent leverage and thanks to the firm suspension, it feels almost as confident as a Duke despite the 19-inch front wheel. You get dual-channel ABS with a switchable off-road mode that turns rear ABS off. However, we noticed that even in off-road mode the ABS cuts in at times, depending on speeds, when you try locking the rear to get the tail out. So is the 250 Adventure a worthy option for someone wanting to cut his teeth in the world of adventure touring? Yes, given its solid engineering and everything that it packs in, not to forget the friendlier motor. The seat height could be a bit of a deterrent but is not a deal-breaker. I also wish the suspension setup was a wee bit softer. If you’re looking at lots of trail riding, something like the Hero XPulse 200 or Royal Enfield Himalayan will make more sense but if looking for something that can tread off tarmac while offering great touring ability, the 250 Adventure ticks quite a few boxes. Especially given the sticker price of `2.52 lakh (ex-Delhi). January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 95

[REVIEWS] WORDS BENJAMIN GRACIAS PHOTOGRAPHY ROSHNI MANGHANI Aprilia SXR 160 An Italian maxi-scooter? Yes please APRILIA SXR 160 Weight: 129kg Engine: 160cc, single-cylinder, 3-valve SOHC Power: 11PS @ 7100rpm Torque: 11Nm @ 5750rpm Power-to-weight: 85PS/tonne Price: `1.26 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi) 96 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

H ere’s a fun fact: India’s first maxi-scooter, help the scooter stand out when viewed from the the Kinetic Blaze offered around 0.6PS front. At the rear, it’s the wide LED tail lamp unit, more than the Aprilia SXR 160 with a wrap-around grab rail and fat rear tyre that do it motor displacing just 5cc more. Then for the SXR. Wheel size is down to 12 inches from again back in 2008, the Blaze wasn’t the SR’s 14 inchers but the alloys look smashing burdened by the far more stringent and add dollops of visual appeal to the scooter. BS6 emission norms the Aprilia has There’s lots of premium bits from end to end – all- to pass. Back to current times, though LED lighting, massive 5.7 inch LCD display with Aprilia India prefers the term ‘cross- readouts for speed, revs, engine temperature, max’ for the SXR 160, in our books it belongs to a fuel gauge and more. In fact, there’s enough the maxi-scooter class more than anything else. information to put premium sportbikes to shame! When it comes to the looks, Italian women and The information can be accessed on the fly via automobiles both look stunning and the SXR a mode button, while Bluetooth connectivity is 160 follows the trend like everything else Aprilia available as an optional extra. What you do get makes. In fact, the SXR 160 looks particularly as standard is a USB charging port inside the good in the red you see here and matte blue as lockable glovebox. Overall build quality is good well. The large bodywork, smoked windscreen and panel gaps consistent, while the textured and RS 660 inspired LED headlamp unit really plastics and paint finish exude a premium feel. January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 97

[REVIEWS] BOTTOM: The large 5.7-inch LCD screen is quite For its size and styling, the SXR 160 disappoints with comprehensive and includes a speedometer, tachometer, its lack of storage space though. Its lockable glovebox fuel gauge, average fuel consumption, engine and ambient has two tiny storage compartments that can’t hold temperature gauge, odometer and trip meter more than your phone or wallet and the underseat storage is also a little too small by maxi-scooter standards. The latter is due to the larger, 7-litre fuel tank, which is not a bad trade-off given the lesser number of trips to fuel stations. The seating is such that you are seated on the scooter and not in it, due to the low-set handlebars and high floorboard. The floorboard also feels cramped though the saving grace for taller riders is that the seat allows you to sit back comfortably, while also letting the pillion sit in comfort. Cushioning is firm but is not a bother, while seat height is 10mm lower than the SR 160 at 770mm. The powertrain is of course straight off the SR 160 though it has been tuned to offer more linear performance here. 98 www.turbocharged.in January 2021

It still offers 11PS and 11Nm. Despite the 11kg weight OVERALL, PERFORMANCE gain over the SR, the SXR is quick off the line and I also IS SUCH THAT YOU CAN reckon it will do 100kmph easily. Overall, performance HAVE A GOOD TIME IN is such that you can have a good time in the city and on THE CITY AND ON OPEN open roads as well. One concern with Aprilia’s scooters ROADS AS WELL has been the stiff ride in the interest of sporty handling and the good news here is that the SXR’s ride quality is better than the SR. The suspension setup is still firm but will not make you wince in pain if you were to hit a pothole hard. Another reason behind the SXR’s more pliant ride are its higher profile tyres on the smaller wheels. Effectively, the SXR has lost some of the SR’s agility but handles well enough to enthral, despite its larger dimensions and higher weight. The 120-section MRF Zapper N tyres offer lots of grip while the brakes offer a strong bite like the SR’s and both elements add to the SXR’s sporty feel. The SXR only gets single-channel ABS, which is not too intrusive thankfully. At `1.26 lakh ex-showroom New Delhi, the Aprilia SXR 160 costs almost half a lakh more than the Suzuki Burgman 125, the only direct rival. While that is a hefty premium, the SXR 160 does have a lot going for it, being an Aprilia. And it’s Italian, after all! January 2021 www.turbocharged.in 99

[ REVIEWS ] WORDS HALLEY PRABHAKAR PHOTOGRAPHY GAURAV CHANDRASHEKHAR Cafe Grande Meeting one of the most badass Continental GTs in the country Engine: 865cc, twin-cylinder, air-cooled BIG BOAR 865 Power: 55.35PS (at the wheel) @ 7,200rpm Torque: 67.8Nm (at the wheel) @ 3,800rpm Weight: NA Power-to-weight: NA Price: NA 100 www.turbocharged.in January 2021