Classic Legends has launched its third brand – an iconic British brand called as BSA, which at one time was also the biggest brand in the world – in India on the eve of the 78th Independence Day. 

The launch of BSA brand – that was born in Birmingham (England) and is also known as the Birmingham Small Arms Company – is accompanied by the launch of the Gold Star 650 cc classic looking motorcycle, the first units of which were shipped to the UK from the manufacturing plant at Pithampur (near Indore) in late 2022. 

Tasting success un markets of Europe, Turkey, New Zealand and Philippines, the Gold Star 650 motorcycle is a modern piece of engineering that reflects the DNA and brand recall of the iconic British motorcycle brand that BSA was until it went into oblivion.   

Of the opinion that bringing BSA to India is about sharing a piece of world motorcycling history with India, Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group, mentioned at the launch of the Golda Star 650, that the indomitable spirit of BSA, a brand built in the fires of battle is imbued in the new Gold Star. The motorcycle embodies the essence of motorcycling excellence," averred Anupam Thareja, Co-founder of Classic Legends Pvt Ltd. “Every detail, from the tank's iconic shape to the engine's big single character, has been meticulously crafted to capture the spirit of BSA's golden age while delivering the performance, reliability, and innovation that define a global brand. We've poured our hearts into ensuring it lives up to the storied legacy that has set the gold standard for generations worldwide,” he elaborated. 

Touted as India’s biggest single cylinder motorcycle with a bore of 100 mm, the BSA Gold Star is quite understated in its styling. The BSA museum in Birmingham was involved in getting the motorcycle to have the right DNA. A DNA that would resurrect the experience of what the iconic BSA motorcycles were to ride and cherish before the brand stalled.

The liquid-cooled engine with a displacement of 652 cc produces a peak power of 45.6 PS and a peak torque of 55 Nm. The single-cylinder unit was developed by the Technical University of Graz (Austria) while Rotax offered a starting point. It snuggly fits into a frame that was developed by Ricardo Motorcycles of UK. 

With Redline Studios of UK doing the design and styling of the motorcycle, the Classic Legends R&D centre in Pune (India) played a major role in integrating the motorcycle with deep localisation level.

The consideration from the start was to build a heritage motorcycle with British design that is modern yet of the single cylinder kind since that to be a Gold Star. To go with the idea, best-in-class components were sourced such as the Brembo brakes with dual channel ABS. 

Flaunting aluminium Excel rims and Pirelli tyres, the Gold Star 650 motorcycle can attain a top speed of over 160 kmph (100 miles). 

What is the biggest highlight is the NVH. It is far superior than anticipated, according to a company source, and was achieved through much engineering effort that would mean moving the engine oil sump away from under the crankcase. This, he explained, helped get the ergonomics right. To ensure that the tank, seat and other components fell into place the way they should have. 

Getting the ergonomics right facilitated low CG and in-turn a superior NVH, he quipped. Stating that a silent chain was used with three guides, he explained that a balancer shaft was also fitted to aid NVH. 
Particular attention was also given to get a flat torque curve so that it is at home in Indian riding conditions. 

With a five-speed transmission and a light action clutch, the Gold Star 650 is claimed to offer a consistent throttle response rather than be a bit jerky or bit unpredictable. With particular attention to ride and handling, the BSA Gold Star motorcycle was subjected to a series of virtual and field validations (and testing) to achieve the desired results. 

No less than 500,000 km of cumulative endurance testing was carried out in India and UK; 1000 cumulative hours of engine testing was carried out; 100,000 cumulative km of roller bed testing was carried out, and 200,000 km of road testing was carried out. 

Replete with features such as a 12-volt socket and USB charging port and adjustable rear shock absorbers, the BSA Gold Star is priced at INR 2,99,00 ex showroom. It will be available at select 40 dealerships out of the 400 dealerships that Classic Legends has as part of its retail channel network starting with immediate effect. 

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), the two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, has opened its first dealership in Bathinda, Punjab, under the name Pluton Motors, which follows the recent opening of Pluton Wheels in Ludhiana.

With the addition of this location, SMIPL's retail network expands to 1,245 outlets across India. The Bathinda outlet functions as a 3S facility, consolidating sales, service and spare parts within a single location. The opening marks the company's 13th retail location in Punjab.

The facility displays Suzuki Motorcycle India’s complete two-wheeler lineup, including the Access, Avenis, and Burgman Street scooters, alongside the company's electric scooter, the e-Access. The performance motorcycle segment is represented by the Gixxer, Gixxer SF, Gixxer 250, Gixxer SF 250 and the V-Strom SX adventure motorcycle.

The dealership incorporates a service workshop with diagnostic tools for vehicle maintenance, and handles the distribution of official accessories, apparel and merchandise.

Kenichi Umeda, Managing Director, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “Pluton Suzuki in Bhatinda brings us closer to our customers, giving them easy access to our full range of scooters, motorcycles, and after-sales services. This dealership allows us to be by the side of our customers, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable ownership journey. Beyond the products, we also look forward to engaging with customers through our initiatives like Suzuki MotoFest, the Access Mileage Contest, V-STROM Experience rides, and Gixxer Pitstop that truly celebrate the spirit of motorcycling. We sincerely thank our dealer partner, Gauarav Kanodia & Rajan Aggarwal for their collaboration in making this possible. With this new addition, we now have 13 touchpoints in Punjab.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Chennai-headquartered Royal Enfield, the mid-size motorcycle segment leader under Eicher Motors, has officially expanded its twin-cylinder lineup with the launch of the Bullet 650 in India.

The introduction marks the most powerful displacement variant in the model's 94-year continuous production history, following its initial public presentation at the EICMA 2025 motorcycle show in Milan.

The motorcycle is priced at INR 364,856 (ex-showroom) and is available for retail purchase at authorised Royal Enfield dealerships across India.

The Bullet 650 transitions the classic commuter nameplate onto Royal Enfield's 650cc parallel-twin engine architecture, featuring a 6-speed gearbox equipped with an assist and slipper clutch for lighter lever operation. The chassis is built around a steel tubular spine frame.

It is developed in partnership with Showa, featuring 41mm front forks with 120mm of travel and twin-tube hydraulic shock absorbers at the rear providing 112mm of travel. The motorcycle retains traditional proportions with a 19-inch front spoked wheel and an 18-inch rear wheel setup to maintain its signature upright stance.

The mechanical layout is completed by a pair of dual peashooter exhaust pipes finished in chrome, tuned to deliver a distinct, low-frequency twin-cylinder exhaust note.

The styling cues of the Bullet 650 pay direct homage to its historic post-war iterations, specifically referencing design hallmarks established by the brand in 1954:

The Bullet 650 features the iconic teardrop fuel tank decorated with a vintage-inspired 3D winged badge and hand-painted gold pinstripes. The front fascia retains the traditional steering casquette housing an updated LED headlamp, flanked by signature ‘tiger-eye’ pilot lamps.

The switchgear uses polished aluminium housings equipped with retro-styled rotary switches and adjustable hand levers.

The seats come fitted with a contoured, single-step bench design to offer optimised cushion support for long-distance riding alongside easy ground clearance for the rider.

The instrument cluster bridges vintage aesthetics with modern instrumentation, integrating a classic analogue speedometer with a secondary digital LCD layout that relays fuel levels, trip parameters, a gear position indicator, and automated service reminders.

The motorcycle debuts with two primary dual-tone factory paint schemes engineered to highlight its old-school lines – Cannon Black and Battleship Blue.

B Govindarajan, Managing Director, Eicher Motors and CEO, Royal Enfield, said, “For over nine decades, the Bullet has stood as a symbol of authenticity, resilience, and unmistakable character — defining Royal Enfield’s philosophy of Pure Motorcycling. With the all-new Royal Enfield Bullet 650, our approach was not to reinterpret the Bullet, but to elevate it with modernity and authenticity. Every element — from its proportions and silhouette to its stance and detailing has been carefully evolved to retain the pure essence and character of the iconic machine, while seamlessly integrating the power and refinement of the parallel twin 650cc platform. The interest since its global showcase at EICMA 2025 reaffirms how deeply the motorcycle resonates with the riders across the globe, proving it is the original icon of the motorcycling universe.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has surpassed the 10 million cumulative two-wheeler sales milestone across North India, which includes Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh – accounted for approximately 15 percent of the company’s overall domestic wholesale volume during FY2026.

The milestone highlights Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India’s ongoing consolidation in key volume categories across northern states. According to internal wholesale tracking data for FY2026, the manufacturer secured an approximate 75 percent market share (nearly three out of every four units sold) within the entry-level 110cc scooter sub-segment in the region. The brand also maintained a strong volume share within the 125cc commuter motorcycle class, driven by steady regional demand for platforms like the Shine 125 and SP125.

To manage its regional sales volume and support vehicle lifecycle requirements, the company currently operates an expansive network of more than 1,000 authorised customer service and touchpoint locations across the northern zone.

Looking forward, HMSI intends to build on this regional volume foundation by systematically expanding its premium ‘BigWing’ retail network. This physical expansion will coincide with a strategic push to enhance its mid-size and higher-displacement motorcycle line-up to address premiumisation trends in semi-urban and metro markets.

Mutsuo Usui, Director of Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “Reaching the 10 million milestone in North India reflects how deeply two-wheelers are embedded in everyday mobility across the region, particularly beyond the large urban centres. Our focus has been on building consistent access and reliability over time and we see this continuing as customer expectations evolve.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler manufacturer Ultraviolette Automotive has announced a major engineering pivot for its upcoming Tesseract e-scooter, transitioning the vehicle to a new 100V high-voltage powertrain architecture.

This shift, it claims, makes it India’s first electric scooter built on a 100V platform. To accommodate these extensive technical re-engineering cycles and subsequent validation testing, the official commercial launch has now been pushed to January 2027.

The technical overhaul follows a public roadshow across 30 Indian cities, where the company said it gathered direct consumer feedback from prospective buyers. Ultraviolette has received over 70,000 bookings for the Tesseract since its initial conceptual reveal.

The transition from a conventional 60V setup to the 100V platform was driven by the challenge of managing high current flow and exponential heat generation while chasing performance targets. The production-spec Tesseract is equipped with a 15kW peak power electric motor, delivering roughly three times the power output of mainstream electric scooters and mimicking the performance metrics of a 200–250cc combustion engine.

The production-spec Tesseract is scheduled to enter early assembly and tool-up phases by the end of 2026. Production will be handled at the company's upcoming manufacturing plant, which is set to boost Ultraviolette’s localised production capabilities from 60,000 units annually to 150,000 units to support the higher volume requirements of its mass-market scooter line. The company is targeting initial retail distribution and customer deliveries within the first quarter of 2027, with base prices projected to start around INR 145,000 (ex-showroom).

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO and Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, “Building the Tesseract has been an incredibly ambitious and challenging journey for us. As we pushed the platform further through development and validation, it became evident that achieving the benchmarks we had set for ourselves required additional engineering and refinement – especially on the ride ergonomics and radical redesign of the battery architecture. While this extends our launch timeline, it ensures that every Tesseract customer receives a scooter that is not only future-ready but embodies the Ultraviolette DNA of performance, technology, and reliability.”

Niraj Rajmohan, CTO and Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, added, “From the very beginning, the vision for the Tesseract was to create a scooter that would redefine benchmarks for the industry. Delivering on the performance and technology promises we made, while staying true to the Ultraviolette DNA, required us to rethink and evolve the platform significantly. The transition to a 100V architecture is a major step in that direction, enabling higher levels of power delivery, load carrying capability, and efficiency. Every engineering decision we have made on the Tesseract has been guided by our commitment to deliver a product that sets a new standard for mobility- in India and globally.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!