JAWA motorcycles

‘Forever Bike Forever Value’, Or should I say ‘Steeds of Steel’?

Yes, the iconic motorcycle is back. The Jawa Moto,  famously known as Ideal Jawa (India) Ltd in India was a motorcycle company based in Mysore which sold licensed Jawa bikes from the 1960s and another brand name Yezdi from 1973. Jawa Moto,  originally founded in a little hard to pronounce country’ Czechoslovakia’ in 1929 by František Janeček who bought the motorcycle division of Wanderer. So, now you know how the bike got is the name (JAWA- Janeček and Wanderer)

Jawa was famous in those time period and was exported from Czech to around 120 countries, yeah, pretty much half of the countries in the world. In India, Jawa was produced by a manufacturer called Yezdi, and their slogan was ‘Forever Bike Forever Value. Yes, Jawa bikes were forever, I have seen many still have the iconic Jawa 250 cc in their backyard and some are keeping it as an antique.

After Jawa was launched in India there was a cult following these machines of steel. And the cult is still there to this present day. So, no wonder Mahindra wanted these machines back on road soon and just revived the company and started the production with the Mahindra engines, R&D and the Jawa’s body, design and legendary exhaust sound.

Looks and Design

Its been a long time since we have seen a Jawa on road, and now they are back with a bang. In terms of looks, there is no change that you can notice, you will be able to see the image of the old one in this new bike. From headlight to the twin exhaust pipe, even the fuel tank and the logo print looks the same.

It will appear the same but it is not, the fuel tank is bigger, the bike is a bit wider, even the tires are bigger and fatter. Even the instrument cluster is simple and with minimum information. Even the engine’s looks, design and been made so that it will resemble the way the previous engine looked.

The Jawa Standard and Jawa 42 looks almost the same and, the difference in looks is just the colours. You can choose from shiny silver, black, maroon, teal, blue, nebula blue and red. Many to choose from.

Specification

ENGINE	Single Cylinder, 4 Stroke, Liquid Cooled, DOHC
CAPACITY	293cc
BORE STROKE	76 x 65mm
COMPRESSION	11:1
MAX POWER	27bhp
MAX TORQUE	28nm
EXHAUST	Twin Exhaust
GEARBOX	Constant Mesh 6 Speed

Performance

When it comes to performance, this bike has not been made for performance. This bike has been designed to make you reach your destination comfortably and in a retro style.

It has got the same engine that you get in Mahindra Mojo, it has been tuned to give proper mid and low range performance. If you rev it normally the bike will never show that it is in strain, but once u push it harder the 100+  kph you start to feel it and once you touch 130 you can feel the strain on the engine.

But the suspension setup is really good, the ride quality is really good and comfortable. It's not just on road but it can also take the punishment of Indian off-roads. It's not sporty at all but still can handle the bends without scaring you.

Which style to go for either JAWA or JAWA 42 is up to you, whichever style that you find is attractive to you.

Performance of Jawa Standard and Jawa 42 are the same anyhow. Well, the engine is the same, wheel size is the same and almost everything is the same. Even mileage happens to be around 35 to 40 km/l for both.

Price: 42           - RS 1,83,985

          Standard – RS 1,94,156

Final verdict:

Looks and design: 8/10

Specs & features:7/10

Dynamics & performance: 7/10

Safety & quality: 7/10

Best suited for those who want a retro styled bike, and also for all those who want a good comfortable long distance or shorts distance ride. A bike which deserves a chance in India and, of course, value for money is guaranteed.

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TATA Harrier review

Do you remember the auto expo held in Feb of this year?

In that expo, Tata had showcased its H5X concept, which astonished, or should I say bewildered everyone who witnessed this concept car. Yes, that concept car, it is ready to roll down on the roads, and you will see it on the roads from the Jan 2019.

Looks and Design

It has been made on the platform Omega Arc, which is derived from Land Rover’s D8 or L550 platform. You can see that it is related to the Land Rover Discovery from its outside structure.

the  Harrier looks premium and appealing, it has got the new front design with the new way of positioning the headlights, slim going with the flow of the front grill and other just above the fog lamp. Some may like it and some may hate it but, you won't be able to ignore it.

It's not just the looks but also the quality. Don’t get the wrong idea that it’s just all looks, no, it is not!

Xenon HID Projector Headlamps which is a combination of fog lamp and headlamp. 3D LED Tail Lamps with Sporty Piano Black Finisher which gives it a bit of sporty feel with harrier batch adds to the appeal. To add to the premium touch they have also added a Harrier bath to the side and a logo projection on the ground from the side rear view mirror.  With 17 inches alloy wheel which ads to the big heavy SUV look.

It's not just outside that it amazes us but, it continues inside too. Elegant Oak Wood Finish Dashboard really gives the premium feel, with the Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel adds to it, followed by leather seats gives it the edge. It has also been given Floating Island 22.35 cm (8.8'') Touchscreen Infotainment System with High-Resolution Display, which displays all info clearly but could have been improved, but along with 9 JBL Speakers (4 speakers + 4 tweeters + 1 subwoofer, with amplifier) really gives the feel.

It's not just looks and style, safety has also been taken care off with 4-star rating. 6 Airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Front Fog Lamps with Cornering Function. Along with high strength, steel to make the body.

Specification

Engine

Max Power:	kW@r/min  103 kW(140 PS)@3750
Max Torque:	Nm@r/min350 Nm@1750-2500
Type	Kryotec 2.0 L Turbocharged Engine
Fuel, Emission norm	Diesel BS IV
Capacity, cylinders	1956 cc, In-line 4-cylinders
Transmission	Type6-Speed Manual

Performance

When it comes to performance, it has got Fiat engine same as what you get in the jeep compass but, it has been detuned to produce only 140 bhp. It might sound like the performance would have been degraded but not a lot compared to the jeep compass. It has enough torque and power to pull its own weight and cruise comfortably.

The best this about this car is its gearbox. It is so smooth and effortless that you will enjoy shifting gear, and the transition is smooth. Next, come to the suspension set up, it has been set up in a way that, all the road types can be handled with ease and comfort and it can even handle the off-roading. The chassis as it has been borrowed from the Land Rover looks fantastic and a smart move by Tata. It has also got the traction control system from the Land Rover which has been designed for the harrier.

But one thing this car needed the most was a 4X4 drive and, not an FWD (front wheel drive). What's the use of having a land rover chassis and off-road system if you don't have 4 wheel drive system. Still, it's not like it cannot do off-roading with the ground clearance and torque it has and with the system that has been developed it can do it. I can't say whether it will do it with ease or not but, it is not disappointing by the features and safety it provides.

Price: 12.99 - 17.99 Lakh (INR ex-showroom price)

Final verdict:

Looks and design: 7/10

Specs & features: 8/10

Dynamics & performance: 7/10

Safety & quality: 9/10

This car is for those who want value for money and a big premium Car, and who are not much into power and on-road performance.

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MOTO GUZZI GRISO 1200 8v se review

Source: Moto Guzzi India

The oldest and still standing European motorcycle manufacturer originated in Italy, is one of the most favored brands around the world. We could say they are the world’s 4th largest motorcycle manufacturer and Italy’s number one.

Since 2004, Guzzi is one of the 7 subsidiaries of Piaggio & C.

Talking about the Grisso, its production began in 2005, and it has been favored by many. The latest version 1200 8V SE being launched this year, we can’t miss out the review of this amazing piece of art this year.

Specification

Engine and transmission
Displacement:	1151.00 ccm (70.23 cubic inches)
Engine type:	V2, four-stroke
Engine details:	V 90 twin
Power:	104.50 HP (76.3 kW)) @ 7100 RPM
Torque:	107.00 Nm (10.9 kgf-m or 78.9 ft.lbs) @ 6600 RPM
Compression:	11.0:1
Bore x stroke:	95.0 x 81.5 mm (3.7 x 3.2 inches)
Valves per cylinder:	4
Fuel system:	Injection. Multipoint sequential electronic injection, Magneti Marelli IAW 5A phased, alfa-n system; 2 x Ø50 mm throttle bodies with Weber IWP 189 injectors, Lambda probe.
Fuel control:	Single Overhead Cams (SOHC)
Ignition:	Inductive discharge, digitally controlled, electronic twin spark ignition
Lubrication system:	Oil bath
Cooling system:	Oil & air
Gearbox:	6-speed
Transmission type, final drive:	Shaft drive (cardan)
Clutch:	A single plate with integrated flexible couplings
Driveline:	CA.R.C reactive drive; double universal joint with floating bevel gear, ratio 12/44 = 1: 3,666
Exhaust system:	2 into 1 stainless steel, with three-way catalytic converter and lambda probe

Looks and Design

It is a gorgeous looking bike, a mix of retro and sporty design. It looks simply elegant and muscular at the same time, it has its own charm to look at it. Circular headlight along with sleek design gives it a bit of retro look it wants.

The big 90° v twin big engine gives her a presence and a muscle feel. The instrument cluster is simple and minimalist, a combination of digital and analog. It might be missing some information display like a fuel gauge, but there is an indicator which will show that fuel is low in the fuel tank.

This bike has not been made to go faster and quicker than other, it has been made to connect with the rider and give you a check confidence and pleasure of riding a bike.

Performance

With a 109 bhp, it is a powerful bike with torque, but it is not a scary bike to ride. The power delivery is smooth and linear and gives confidence. Even while going around corners, it is not as agile that it is as quick a sports bike to flick sides to change corners, but it does rather well. This bike requires respect if you want respect in return.

You should keep in mind that it is a touring bike and not a retro sports bike. And it's really comfortable, and the ride position is a bit aggressive, still, you can take it for long distances. And its sound on track is really good. But there are some issues like the bike is not that refind there is some vibration once you rev it high. Taking your girlfriend around the town or, going for a small trip with your friends will be a nice experience with this beauty.

Price: 17.98 lakh (INR Ex-Showroom)

Final verdict:

Looks and design: 9/10

Specs & features:7 /10

Dynamics & performance: 7.5/10

Safety & quality: 8/10

For those who like to go the distance is style, power, comfort, and confidence. Not for those who want a sports bike or a touring bike, and those who like to stay at the high end of the rev.

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Self-Driving Cars: The tech we need vs the tech we deserve

What’s happening?

Today in every sector there are people developing   AI systems to make things easier and faster, and automotive is no exception. For years the self-driving cars are being developed by Google, Tesla, Apple, etc.

These companies have come so far while developing it, that we now have proper functioning semi-autonomous cars working on the roads with the help of this we will see how quickly self-driving vehicles are likely to be developed and be deployed based on experience with previous vehicle technologies, their benefits and costs, and how they are likely to affect travel demands and planning decisions such as optimal road, parking and public transit supply.

In this article, I will talk about how these cars will work, how it will handle itself on the road and, how it will protect the driver and other people. Next point that I will cover is; the readiness of India for this technology, Indian road conditions and drivers etc.

Next point will be is a decision taken by Indian Govt on this new technology. How the self-driving cars will affect the drivers and employees of taxi services in future.

What are Self-driving cars?

Self-driving cars are those cars which can take the decision for themselves while driving the (self or by partially by humans), they don’t need human intervention. Now the technology is developing at such a rate that in perfect condition they can take you from one destination to another with ease.

Let’s see how does it work

The car is fitted with lots of sensors to detect each and every object around the car. Which intern creates an image of the surrounding analysing each and every object present there and their speed and direction. After which it sends this information to the server where it is processed, you can expect to have that powerful processor in the car else there will no space left in the car except for the passengers. To create a space the car is continuously connected with the net and doing its job perfectly.

There are different levels of automation: (For on-road vehicles)

Currently, level 3 cars can be seen on road like Tesla, in which you can take your eyes off the road when you’re on highway and car will monitor itself and keep you in the lane at safe speed and secure.

How many lose their life because of an error?

WHO states that in more than 1.25 million deaths that occur every year more than 80 % of deaths are because of human error. What if we remove the remove the human than there will be no human error, hence reduction of at least 70% deaths in a year.

India has one of the highest death rates on the road compared to her Asian neighbour’s as well as the European and Western countries. One country which can be pointed out for having a higher number of death cases than India is China. In India, around 1 lakh to 1.5 people lose their lives in road accidents every year, and in China, it’s around 2 lakhs.

Why haven’t the technology reached here?

This technology needs a lot of infrastructures in the coming days for it to work properly. In India, the data network connectivity is not the best at all places which are needed by the car to work efficiently.

One thing is the condition of the roads; a car is continuously monitoring the road, and with these many potholes in the road, the car will stop its function as it will not know what to do (no pun intended).

Another factor is the drivers; in India, drivers don’t tend to follow rules. And for a technology which will go by rules, it will be tough to drive on road. Another factor is traffic, in India no one follow any rules even the lane rules, and the space between each car is close to zero-inch and a self-driving car keep a safe distance before going in any direction, so in a country like India it will get stuck in the traffic, unable to follow lane or traffic. In a way, we can say that India is not ready for a self-driving car.

The Indian government has banned the self-driving cars for now. In a news article, we found that: “India is resisting the push towards driverless cars in order to protect jobs, its transport minister has said”.

Job loss because of automation.

Nitin Gadkari said the government would "not allow any technology that takes away jobs".

He said India needed to recruit about 22,000 more commercial drivers and would be opening 100 training facilities to address the need.

India's road system and sometimes chaotic traffic make it a difficult place to develop the technology.

The Hindustan Times reports Mr Gadkari as saying: "We won't allow driverless cars in India. I am very clear about this.

"In a country where you have unemployment, you can't have a technology that ends up taking people's jobs."

To check how many jobs will be lost in India:

Avg cost of current taxi in Mumbai =7,00,000

Cost of cheapest currently working stage 3 autonomous car = 55,00,000

So you can guess what a fully self-driving car will cost, and if it is brought in India, the middle class and upper middle class are not going to be the one who is going to buy this car, and maximum drivers in service generate their revenue from the upper middle class and people below them. And for a technology to get cheaper it needs a good demand and for a technology this expensive it will take time to get a demand.

The government thinks it will take jobs, but I think it will create more jobs than it will take, as to make these cars in India they will need skilled workers and labours. After that maintain these cars on regular basis and a 24x7 helpline centre with a cloud system. it will definitely create lots of jobs.

Next thing is the mindset of India’s most the people, who can afford but, might not be comfortable with self-driving cars, or might not be aware of the technology. There needs to be some kind of awareness so that people can know about it.

Conclusion

To conclude that, the world will see a proper working self-driving car in the next 5 year. India is not currently ready for a self-driving car because of its infrastructure, and the Indian driver’s behaviour on road. Reason for banning self-driving cars is still not justified as it will not take as many jobs as they think, it might increase the jobs.

With all of these changes happening in our country as well as globally, we can expect a drastic shift in the automobile ecosystem in our country.

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