Preetam is a seasoned motoring journalist with a specialisation and passion for two-wheelers, even though every now and then he tries to take off on long multi-day drives to the mountains as well. He has been riding motorcycles since the early 1990s and started touring since the late ‘90s when motorcycle touring was an almost unheard-of concept. He has owned all sorts of motorcycles, from two-stroke singles, twins and four-stroke thumpers and multi-cylinder models. He’s been heading two-wheeler content at car&bike for over 9 years and helps provide a key perspective to all two-wheeler industry and product-related stories. He has also played a leadership role in mentoring others in the car&bike editorial team along the way.
Triumph Motorcycles will add a new motorcycle to its modern classic range on August 24 in India. The Triumph Street Scrambler shares the same engine with the entry-level Triumph Street Twin but is equipped with some more off-road oriented equipment. We expect the new Triumph Street Scrambler to be priced around Rs. 8 lakh (ex-showroom). There have been a plethora of Triumph bikes launched this year and we believe there is more to come.
The Yamaha Fazer 25 is a full-faired version of Yamaha's quarter-litre naked street, the Yamaha FZ25. It shares the same engine and cycle parts as the FZ25. It is priced at Rs. 1,29,335 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
The tragic road accident in the heart of Delhi which resulted in the death of a 24-year-old young man has once again brought the focus back on high-end superbikes. Are bikes to be blamed for such incidents, or is it one more tragedy due to human error and irresponsible riding?
We take a look at the booming mid-size capacity motorcycle segment in India. Bajaj and Triumph have already announced a partnership to build smaller Triumph bikes in India, and as Honda looks to grab leadership position in the Indian two-wheeler industry, it's again the mid-size motorcycle segment which will be on the radar for Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India.
The new motorcycle will be made in India, and 100 per cent localised, and is expected to go up against segment leader Royal Enfield. Honda is strongly considering launching this motorcycle by 2020
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has inaugurated the fourth assembly line at the company's Narsapura plant near Bengaluru, Karnataka, increasing annual production by 6 lakh units. With this expansion, the Narsapura plant is now Honda's biggest two-wheeler plant worldwide, with 24 lakh annual production capacity.
The Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin looks great, performs great and is a very capable off-road machine. We spend some time with the new Africa Twin to see what it offers
Bajaj Auto takes a shot at the premium 150-160 cc motorcycle segment with the all-new Bajaj Pulsar NS160. We spend some seat time with the new Pulsar NS160 on a rainy day to see what it offers
Mahindra Two Wheelers has acquired rights to the Jawa and BSA brands through its subsidiary, Classic Legends. Mahindra has plans to introduce Jawa motorcycles at some point, but there are no plans to launch the BSA brand in India. As for Yezdi, it's a different brand altogether, and Mahindra has no association with it
The Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled is the latest iteration of the Scrambler brand from Ducati. It shares the same engine, but gets classic off-road design and more off-road oriented equipment
We spend some time with the Yamaha FZ25 and its closest rival, the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. The Apache 200 has a slightly smaller engine, but both bikes are evenly matched in terms of performance, and sit more or less in the same price bracket.
The gigantic Indian Chieftain Dark Horse; it's a massive bagger with loads of road presence and is a proper headturner. Is it the practical cruiser? We spend some time with the Chieftain Dark Horse to see what it has to offer
Suzuki has completely updated the sixth generation GSX-R1000, the first complete upgrade of the GSX-R in several years. It gets an all-new engine, new frame, new suspension and comes loaded to the brim with electronic rider aids. We get some track time on the new Suzuki GSX-R1000 and the top-of-the-line GSX-R1000R
We spend some time with two new performance roadsters - the Triumph Street Triple S, and the Kawasaki Z900. Both are nakeds, both promise a lot of performance, and more than enough bang for your buck. We try to decide which one to choose
Here's a look at all you need to know about the new Husqvarna 401 motorcycles, which will be made in India by Bajaj Auto. The Swedish brand is owned by Pierer Industrie, headed by KTM CEO Stefan Pierer
GST prices on two-wheelers announced by manufacturers are only marginally different from pre-GST prices and will have no real impact on the industry, experts say
The new Kawasaki Z900 gets a new engine, new chassis and sheds a lot of weight than the bike it replaces - the Z800. It's an all-new model for 2017, but is it good enough? We spend some time with the new Z900.
GST impact on bikes will affect ex-showroom prices once Goods and Service Tax (GST) comes into effect from 1 July 2017. Prices of two-wheelers will have some impact due to the new tax structure. The GST impact on bikes though isn't all that simple. We take a look at how bike prices will be affected from 1 July 2017 when GST rates will be implemented
The new Triumph Street Triple S gets more power, more torque, standard ABS, traction control and riding modes. We spend some time with the feisty and fun Striple, and come back very satisfied
BMW Motorrad has already sold close to 150 bikes in the two and a half months since the company started operations in India, and it's the adventure bikes like the GS and GSA, which seem to be leading the sales volumes
