Royal Enfield commissioned a new plant in Thailand to assemble its motorcycles out of CKD kits supplied from India. The facility marks the two-wheeler maker’s first such in Thailand and sixth globally. 
Located at Samut Prakan near Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, the facility – fully owned and operated by Royal Enfield – will help the two-wheeler major to cater to the home market of Thailand as well as the surrounding markets. 
Adding to the number of such facilities Royal Enfield has in Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Bangladesh and Nepal, the Thai facility is spread over an area of 57000 sq. ft and can do 30,000 units per year. 
Modern, efficient and flexible, the facility will initially cater to the home market of Thailand. It will ramp up in a phase wise manner to cater to the other markets in the region over time. 
Of the opinion that the reception from the international audience has been great as they look for motorcycles that are accessible and a unique extension of their personality, B Govindarajan, CEO, Royal Enfield, averred, “Royal Enfield has been working extensively to grow the middleweight motorcycling segment globally. We have an evocative range of motorcycles across various platforms catering to our global audiences.”
Emphasising that Royal Enfield is a truly global brand and ranks among the top mid-segment motorcycle brands in markets such as the UK, Korea, Australia-New Zealand among others, he explained, “Our strategic intent is to have an international expansion strategy of investing in markets with huge potential to grow. Thailand assembly plant caters to this vision. We thereby are bringing more and more motorcycle enthusiasts to experience the DNA of Royal Enfield - Pure Motorcycling”.
 

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The 12th edition of India Bike Week (IBW) concluded on 22 December 2025, marking the festival's first shift from Goa to the hill station of Panchgani in Maharashtra. Supported by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), the event attracted approximately 16,000 attendees including motorcyclists, clubs and families.

The festival featured motorcycle launches, racing competitions, stunt shows, and sessions with global overlanding figures. Local infrastructure was developed in coordination with authorities in the Satara district to accommodate the influx of visitors.

Product Launches and Industry Reveals

Several manufacturers utilised the event to introduce new products to the Indian market:

• Triumph: Launched the updated Trident 660 middleweight motorcycle.
• Aprilia: Introduced new colour schemes for the RS 457, presented by MotoGP pilot Lorenzo Savadori.
• KTM: Announced the KTM Adventure Rally Cup, a competitive programme for adventure riders.
• SMK Helmets: Released the Cygnus helmet, featuring an LED sensor system that pulses during deceleration.
• Reise Moto: Launched four specialised tyre ranges: tourRad (touring), torqR 03 SX (supercross), trackR (flat track), and twistR (EV).
• Gulf: Introduced the Syntrac range of fully synthetic engine oils.
• VIDA: Showcased the DIRT.E K3, a motorcycle designed for children.

Competition Results

The festival hosted several FMSCI-backed races and custom-build contests:

Martin da Costa, Festival Director, India Bike Week, said, “This edition will truly go down in IBW history as a season that rose above numerous challenges. We are deeply grateful to the local authorities and Kamran Dubash from the Dubash Airfield for warmly welcoming us and supporting the hosting of IBW 2025 in the beautiful town of Panchgani. It is incredibly heartening to see bikers and enthusiasts from across the country come together to celebrate the undying spirit of the biking community—one that never gives up. This experience only strengthens our resolve to continue delivering newer, richer, and more exciting experiences at India Bike Week every year.”

The event included technical workshops and stunt displays. Pol Tarres performed a Hard Enduro show, while Skoda conducted over 750 off-road trials in the Kodiaq. Mentorship sessions were led by overlanding figures such as Elspeth Beard and Simon & Lisa Thomas, focusing on long-distance travel and technical riding skills.

The festival concluded with musical performances by King and Karan Kanchan, alongside a camp-style gathering in the Western Ghats.

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Italian superbike manufacturer Ducati India unveiled the Desmo450 MX motocross machine at the Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL). The debut took place on Sunday, 21 December, during the league's final race in Calicut, marking the first time the model has been shown in the country.

The ISRL is a franchise-based supercross league, and the unveiling serves as a step in the brand's strategy to increase its presence in the Indian motorcycle market.

The Desmo450 MX incorporates technology developed through the company's racing programme. Key technical features include: a 449.6 cc single-cylinder unit, desmodromic distribution valve system, chassis constructed with an aluminium frame and comes equipped with an electronic traction control system designed to define rear wheel slippage.

The introduction of the motocross model follows the growth of the off-road segment in India. The company plans to launch the motorcycle for sale in the Indian market next year.

Bipul Chandra, Managing Director, Ducati India, said, “The reception for the Desmo450 MX in Calicut was phenomenal. The passion and excitement from the fans were palpable, and it was the perfect welcome for our new off-road chapter. Unveiling the Desmo450 MX at the ISRL finale was the ideal decision, it confirms our belief in the immense potential of the Indian market, and we look forward to launching it next year.”

The Desmo450 MX is intended for use by both amateur and professional riders, with its design and electronics suite developed to manage performance in racing conditions.

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Bajaj Auto-owned Austrian motorcycle brand KTM has updated the 160 Duke featuring a 5-inch colour TFT display at INR 178,536, while the base variant comes at INR 170,545. The screen uses bonded glass and includes navigation and Bluetooth connectivity.

The 5-inch display is derived from the Gen-3 KTM 390 Duke. It is operated via a switch cube on the handlebar using 4-way menu switches. Riders can connect smartphones through the KTM Connect and KTM My-Ride apps to access vehicle data and travel information.

Features of the connectivity system include: Turn-by-turn directions displayed on the screen. Identification of incoming calls with the option to accept or decline via the mode switch. Outgoing calls and address book access are disabled during transit. Control of smartphone music players, including track selection and volume adjustment, when paired with a helmet headset.

The 160 Duke includes a Supermoto ABS mode, which can be toggled through the display menus. This setting disengages the ABS on the rear wheel for specific riding requirements.

The interface also allows for customisation of shift RPM and limit RPM. The display background transitions between dark and orange themes based on these settings. Users can also configure shortcuts for specific functions and infographics on the screen.

Manik Nangia, President, Probiking, said, “With the new TFT display, the KTM 160 Duke becomes even more intuitive and engaging to ride. This upgrade reinforces KTM’s focus on combining sharp performance with advanced rider technology in an accessible package.”

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Pune-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major Bajaj Auto has launched the 2026 Pulsar 220F with new LED blinkers and graphics at INR 128,000.

The 2026 model retains the frame of the previous version while introducing updates to the lighting and aesthetic components.

The Pulsar 220F continues to use the same DTS-i engine platform. It features 220cc Twin Spark DTS-I, single-cylinder oil-cooled engine, which produces 20.9 PS at 8,500 rpm. It gets front and rear disc brakes with single-channel ABS.

The motorcycle now features updated graphics and LED turn indicators. It is available in four colour options: Black Cherry Red, Black Ink Blue, Black Copper Beige and Green Light Copper.

The 2026 Pulsar 220F includes a digital console equipped with Bluetooth connectivity. This system integrates with the Ride Connect app to provide turn-by-turn navigation and phone notifications to the rider.

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