What does the sound of a two-stroke, good food, and Royal Enfield have in common? A fan base! We talked to two couples who share a love for motorcycling and travel all around the country in their Royal Enfields. Joseph Antony and Roshini, friends-turned-lovers, married around eight months ago and have been dreaming up their vacations since. We also talked to recently-wed Kanyakumari natives Jeno Primal and Hepzibah Amal, who had a blast in Kerala during their honeymoon bike ride through the state.

Joseph and Roshini run a cute restaurant called ‘Joe’s Café’ near Chennai. The café is so popular among tourists and bike riders that it was featured in ‘Lonely Planet’, a travel guide which is often referred to as the bible of travellers. The couple loves exploring places and has made a loop trip from Manali to Shimla and Darjeeling. Joseph Antony, affectionately called ‘Joe’, is a native of Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) and grew up adoring his neighbour’s new two-stroke motorcycle. Moreover, his passion for motorcycles and the sound they make were nourished by this neighbour, who would allow Joe to sit on the bike often. Years passed, and Joe found himself with a girl who shared his passion for motorcycles. Roshini, who disguised herself as his best friend first, tells the story of how they realised they were in love and decided to take the relationship to the next level by getting married to Joe. Roshini also grew fond of the Royal Enfield Classic 350’s iconic ‘duk duk’ sound, and her friendship with Joe has only fuelled her love and passion for bike travel and exploration. Roshini is currently training to ride heavy motorcycles on the highway and is under the tutorship of Joe, which she hopes will enable her to ride from Chennai to Mahabalipuram soon. Even though travel plans were limited due to the pandemic lockdowns, the couple took a ride to Pondicherry to see if long-distance travel as a couple on a motorcycle was viable. Roshini laughs while she says, “first, he wanted to test me.” The couple travelled to Ooty and swore on bikes to have a romantic trip. Roshini says that being open to the elements and close to the person you love makes the whole trip more enjoyable and lively. The ability to stop anywhere and take detours to explore new places makes bikes the perfect romantic getaway machine. The couple’s brand loyalty has helped them narrow down to the model they would purchase when Joe thinks Roshini is fully equipped to ride a motorcycle. Roshini has been eyeing Joe’s Royal Enfield Himalayan for some time now. Joe says the key to a long-distance couple travelling on a bike is prioritising the pillion rider. The couple had certain hand gestures that they would use to communicate with each other while riding. They make sure they have time to relax during their vacation and limit the riding to, say, two days while on a seven-day trip.

Now let’s go through the experience of the civil engineer couple Jeno Primal and Hepzibah Amal from Kanyakumari. For a long time, Jeno has been an ardent biker and has been travelling with his friends almost every weekend. He has travelled almost everywhere in the country and plans to tag his wife, Hepzibah, along with on these rides. The couple, who got married in December last year, went on a honeymoon ride in Kerala soon after. They rode through Vagamon, Alappuzha, and Munnar. While looking for a life partner, Jeno’s main aim was to find a partner who loved riding as much as he did. Jeno says he was excited to have found just that and was also happy not to limit his weekend rides with his friends. Jeno says being married changed his travelling habits a bit, from staying in a tent to staying in a hotel, or riding through the night due to the lack of traffic, to limiting bike travel to day-time. Couple-riding has brought about a sense of responsibility and safety in him, allowing him to take a different approach towards riding. Long straight roads bore the couple, who find excitement in twisty roads like the ones in the hill ranges of Kerala. The couple knew each other for six months before marrying, and they claim that bike rides brought them closer together. Like Joe, Jeno too shares a love for Royal Enfield and is waiting for the spied, more powerful version of the Himalayan to be released and cannot wait to get his hands on one. The couple says the brand is a significant factor in bike-lovers. The pandemic has hindered their plans, but the couple believes they will be able to explore the North-East of India soon

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Hero MotoCorp, a leading two-wheeler manufacturer globally, has announced its official entry into the Republic of Italy. This expansion marks the company’s entry into its 49th international market.

Product distribution will be managed by Pelpi International, a large distributor that offers sales, service, and parts through a network of over 160 dealers. Initial distribution will focus on key cities with 36 dealers, with plans to expand to 54 touchpoints.

The three models available at launch are the Xpulse 200 4V, Xpulse 200 4V Pro and Hunk 440. Both models comply with E5+ and EU standards.

Hunk 440: This model enters the L3e−A2 performance category. Its engine delivers torque of 36.0 Nm at 4000 rpm and power of 27 BHP at 6000 rpm. It features dual-channel ABS with 320 mm front and 240 mm rear discs, USD Cartridge Forks by KYB, a full-digital TFT display and navigation. The Hunk 440 starts at EUR 3,990 (Incl. VAT) and is available in Twilight Blue and Phantom Black.

Xpulse 200 Family: The Xpulse 200 4V Pro has a 4-Valve head that produces 18.9 BHP and 17.35 Nm torque. It includes three ABS Modes (Road, Off-road, and Rally). It is equipped with a digital speedometer, inverted LCD Display, navigation, and LED Projector headlamps. The Xpulse 200 4V starts at EUR 2,990, and the Xpulse 200 4V Pro at EUR 3,190.

Hero MotoCorp will offer a standard 3-year warranty and an additional 2-year warranty as a launch offer, extending the total warranty to 5 years.

Sanjay Bhan, Executive Vice-President, Hero MotoCorp, said, "Entering Italy, the very heartland of two-wheeler culture, marks a defining milestone in Hero MotoCorp’s global expansion journey. We aim to redefine ‘The Future of Mobility’ at a global scale with next-gen smart mobility solutions that cater to diverse riding preferences. With products that reflect both the Explorer and Liberator spirit, we are inviting Italian riders to experience Limitless Freedom and Limitless Adventure every day. Our success in the Dakar Rally with Hero MotoSports is a testimony of our global engineering excellence and the innovation in products that we are bringing for Italy market."

Cesare Gali, Managing Director, Pelpi International, said, “We are proud to champion Hero MotoCorp’s entry into Italy. Their global scale, product quality, and the unparalleled commitment of a 5-year warranty give us immense confidence. The Hunk 440 and Xpulse 200 fill crucial, highly competitive segments in Italy, offering a unique blend of technology and value that will resonate deeply with Italian consumers.”

Pelpi International will make the brand available with 36 dealerships across key cities.

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Chennai-headquartered mid-size motorcycle major Royal Enfield has further expanded its online presence on e-commerce platform Amazon India. The company is making available its entire range of 350cc motorcycles on the e-commerce platform.

The partnership aims to offer convenience in the purchasing process, in addition to payment options available on the platform. The purchase option is currently open to customers in five cities: Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Pune.

The range of 350cc models available includes the Classic 350, Bullet 350, Hunter 350, Goan Classic 350 and the new Meteor 350. These will be sold through a dedicated Royal Enfield brand store on Amazon India.

Delivery and aftersales service will be handled by the customer’s chosen Royal Enfield dealership in the city. The brand page also allows customers to buy genuine motorcycle accessories (GMAs), riding gear and merchandise.

Royal Enfield 350cc motorcycles are now available on two e-commerce platforms, reaching ten cities in India. They are sold through Amazon.in in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Pune, and via Flipkart.com in Bengaluru, Gurugram, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai.

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Aprilia Racing has achieved global success with the limited-edition RSV4 X-GP, announcing that all 30 units sold out in just fourteen days following its introduction at the Catalunya Grand Prix.

The company stated that the immediate sell-out confirms the strong international appeal of Aprilia's ‘X’ brand, which the company states is a reference point for exclusivity, innovation and pure performance.

Enthusiasts from markets including Europe, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Malaysia and the United States secured the bikes, with booking requests reportedly exceeding availability during the presentation weekend itself.

The RSV4 X-GP was created by the Noale Racing Department to mark the 10^th anniversary of the RS-GP's debut in MotoGP, featuring the official MotoGP Team livery. It is the most powerful RSV4 ever built, boasting 238 HP for a mere 165 kg of weight, creating an ‘unprecedented riding experience.’

The bike introduces several track-focused innovations derived directly from the RS-GP prototype, notably becoming the first factory derivative bike in the world to feature leg and tail wings – aerodynamic solutions previously exclusive to the MotoGP machine. It also includes a structural carbon seat support.

Massimo Rivola, CEO, Aprilia Racing, said, “X confirms its status for Aprilia Racing as an exclusive and niche brand with enormous potential. Aprilia Racing is synonymous with innovation and it fills us with pride to see that, even at a strategic and product level, we have created an iconic brand and a new type of absolutely exclusive bike, conceived specifically for track enthusiasts.”

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Suzuki Motorcycle India, the two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, has introduced new colour line-up for the Suzuki Gixxer SF and Gixxer motorcycles.

The fully faired Suzuki Gixxer SF priced at INR 137,231 (ex-showroom Delhi) gets two new colours - Metallic Oort Gray + Pearl Mira Red and Glass Sparkle Black + Metallic Oort Gray. The company is also providing exchange benefits up to INR 5,000 and extended warranty at INR 1,999 or insurance benefits up to INR 7,000 as part of the festive sales offer.

On the other hand, the Suzuki Gixxer priced at INR 126,421 (ex-showroom Delhi) gets three new colours - Metallic Oort Gray + Pearl Mira Red, Glass Sparkle Black + Metallic Oort Gray and Metallic Triton Blue + Glass Sparkle Black. The company is offering exchange benefits up to INR 5,000 along with an extended warranty at INR 1,999 or alternatively insurance benefits up to INR 6,000.

The Suzuki Gixxer SF and Gixxer are powered by a 155 cc, BS-VI OBD-2 B-compliant single-cylinder engine equipped with Suzuki Eco Performance (SEP), delivering 13.6 PS of power and 13.8 Nm of torque. This engine has a proven track record, having set a national endurance record in the 150cc category.

Both motorcycles feature European-inspired styling, highlighted by a LED headlamp and tail lamp, a sporty dual-muffler and split seats. The motorcycles also get a Bluetooth-enabled multi-function digital console with the Suzuki Ride Connect application. Key safety and performance features include single-channel ABS, wide radial tyres and a 7-step adjustable mono-shock for handling across varied conditions.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President – Sales and Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “The fresh colours of Gixxer SF and Gixxer underline Suzuki’s commitment to blending style, performance and innovation while catering to the aspirations of young Indian riders. With these enhancements, the motorcycles reflect Suzuki’s engineering and design philosophy, combining sporty character with comfort for both everyday city rides and long-distance touring. Along with attractive purchase benefits and easy ownership options, the updated line-up adds to the festive excitement and strengthens the connect of the GIXXER brand with customers across the country.”

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