Classic Legends Is Ready for Electrification In India

Classic Legends Is Ready for Electrification In India

Credited of resuurecting some of the most coveted two-wheeler brands in the world such as BSA and Jawa/Yezdi brand of motorcycles, Classic Legends is ready for electrification in India, mentioned Co-Founder Anupam Thareja at a function recently in Kolkata for the launch of the Jawa 42 FJ.  

He said that the company is all set for enter the electric two-wheeler market in India but is not looking at pioneering the effort. planning to be one of the pioneers. “At Classic Legends, we're prepared for this transition. While we don’t aim to be the first to market, we've invested heavily in research and development over the past four years, improving our technology year after year. Our engineers are constantly working to make electric vehicles better, faster, longer-lasting, smoother and with enhanced user interfaces. We're focused on making electrification more efficient and practical,” he added. 

Commenting that electrification is a gradual process and it has already begun in India with impressive strides, Thareja said, "The country's progress has been anything but linear—it's advancing rapidly. In the two-wheeler segment, scooters are leading the charge because they are ideal for intra-city commutes. On the other hand, the electric motorcycle market is still relatively small."

Providing an example of fitting a 500-km range battery into a motorcycle, which would make it larger than the motorcycle itself, Thareja averred, "The advancements in technology and infrastructure are essential prerequisites for widespread motorcycle electrification.”

Revealing that the company has already entered the electric motorcycle market in Europe, Thareja commented, "In India, we have just introduced the biggest single-cylinder motorcycle the BSA Golstar and the Jawa 42 FJ, which marks an exciting new chapter for the '42 Lfe' theme." 

Increasing market share

Launching the Jawa 42 FJ in the eastern India market starting with the launch in Kolkata, Classic Legends is keen that this motorcycle builds on the success of the 42 and 42 Bobber. A 350 cc neo-classic model, the Jawa 42 FJ points to superior design and an unparalleled riding experience.

With first set of deliveries of the new motorcycle already carried out in Kolkata, Classic Legends is working to expand its network in Bengal. It is working to take the touchpoint network from the present 13 to more than 20 by the end of this fiscal. The company, in this direction, is planning to open 200 showrooms across India as well. These would be across Tier I, II and III cities. 

With some of its models competing with another retro-motorcycle maker Royal Enfield, Classic Legends has impressive plans to increase its market share in place. They are engineered to ‘increase the overall neo-classic motorcycle market, said Thareja.

Planning to sell 100,000 units of its Jawa and Yezdi range by the third quarter of FY2025-26, the company is working towards quickly gaining the ground it lost to Covid-19 pandemic.  

"We aim to gain higher sales in the premium motorcycles segment. Presently we are selling 4,000 to 5,000 units per month among the brands which the company owns. We aim at selling one lakh units per annum in the next 12 months,” said Thareja. 

“We may be a four-year-old company, but Covid effectively took out two years. If you discount those, it feels like in just two years, everyone knows about Jawa. Today, when someone considers buying a 350cc motorcycle, the brands under Classic Legends are as prominent as any other in the market. As we gradually introduce new models with varied pricing and segmentation, our focus isn’t just on increasing market share. Our goal is to expand the motorcycling community, not just our slice of the motorcycle market. In the next 12 months, we expect to surpass the 100,000-unit sales mark. Currently, we sell around 5,000 bikes monthly across both the Jawa and Yezdi brands,” he explained. 

Enter BSA Goldstar

Partnering with e-commerce platform Flipkart, which has helped with the sale of its motorcycles, Classic Legends is banking big on the BSA Goldstar 650 retro-classic motorcycle in India. Launched on the even of India’s 78th Independence Day in Mumbai and produced at the company's plant in Pithampur, Indore, the BSA Goldstar 650 is already being sold in the overseas markets of Europe such as UK. 

Commenting on the rationale behind relaunching this iconic machine, a company official noted, “When you look at this motorcycle space today, there aren't many players. You have Triumph, but Harley Davidson doesn’t compete with the BSA Goldstar. In the mid-cc segment, it’s really just Classic Legends and Royal Enfield. The 650cc segment is highly competitive, but it’s also about expanding the spectrum of options available in the market.”

“Royal Enfield popularised the 650cc segment by introducing a two-cylinder engine. Meanwhile, Kawasaki offers three-cylinder engines, and Honda provides four-cylinder options. What makes Classic Legends stand out is that we brought back the big single-cylinder engine, which has been absent from this category for over a decade. It offers a unique riding experience and will contribute to enhancing India's motorcycle culture. Even if volumes take time to grow, this segment will continue to thrive.”

Thareja, who owns 20 percent stake in Classic Legends, said that Jawa and BSA bikes are also sold in the Czech Republic and the UK respectively, besides India.

Suzuki Motorcycle India Opens Dealership In Bathinda

SMIPL

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.”

Royal Enfield Launches Bullet 650 At INR 365,000

Bullet 650

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.”

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Crosses 10 Million Sales Milestone In North India

HMSI

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.”

Ultraviolette Reworks Tesseract E-Scooter With 100V Architecture, Launch Pushed To January 2027

Ultraviolette Tesseract

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.”