The cheapest 100cc bike

Global Automobiles, a part of the Xenitis Group, on Wednesday launched 'Rock100', the country's cheapest motorbike in the 100cc category. The 100cc bikes of its nearest competitors – such as TVS, Bajaj and Hero Honda – are priced over Rs 30,000. In fact, there’s no 100cc bike at this price point in India, and probably in the world.
Picture of Xenitis Global auto Rock100
Priced at Rs 19,990 ( approximately 488 $) 'Rock100' is likely to usher in a price war in the domestic motorcycle market, particularly in the rural and semi-urban areas, Chairman Santanu Ghosh told reporters at the launch function. Rock 100, powered by a 100cc engine, also provides one of the best mileages in the category at 125 kilometers per litre, the company officials claimed.

He said the motorcycle would be manufactured at the company's plant in Hooghly district of West Bengal. The plant has a three-shift production capacity of 30,000 units per shift every month.

Ghosh said the company plans to export 10,000 motorcycles per month. Earlier, the company had launched 125cc motorcycle in eastern India.

Global also plans to manufacture 150cc, 200cc and 250cc cruiser bikes in the near future.
Source The ET and BS

So if you never heard of a Bike manufacturer by the name of Global Automobiles here is a Brief overview about the company:-

Global Automobiles was born with the aim of building up eastern India 's first Two Wheeler (motorcycle) manufacturing unit.
the company has set up a state-of-the-art factory at Chinsurah, Hooghly .

The factory was formally inaugurated on the on 15 th February 2007 by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of West Bengal.

With an installed production capacity of 3.6 lacs two wheelers per annum, the factory will employ close to 2000 people in a phase-wise manner and it is also expected to provide an indirect employment opportunities to over 5000 people.

Global automobiles, the Group's automobile manufacturing subsidiary,launched its first two-wheeler brand Xpression in April 2007 and and rolled out a second brand Xpression Plus in the three months that followed. A range of bicycles, a product of another Group subsidiary, is also on the anvil. By 2008, Global will foray into the manufacturing of cars,buses and trucks.

The company behind Global automobiles, Xenitis Group was the first company to launch sub-10,000 PCs five years ago forcing major PC makers to offer ultra-low cost entry-level models. Then it launched India’s first laptop to be priced under Rs 20,000.

The website

The review of Xpression Plus

Limited edition Splendor Plus

Bajaj has tried to redefine the entry level bike segment with its 125cc XCD. This was realy a welcome move, thought that yes may be we have started going in the right direction, started to see a shift from 100 to 125 and from 125 to 150+ , till i read this:-

NEW DELHI: India's largest two-wheeler maker Hero Honda Motors Ltd (HHML) today launched a limited edition variant of its 100 cc motorcycle Splendor Plus priced at Rs 41,250 (ex-showroom Delhi), to commemorate sales of two crore bike units in the country since its inception in 1982.

The company plans to manufacture only 50,000 units of the limited edition variant of Splendor Plus which would sport various added features such as black body colour, silver mono tone stripes, black five spoke alloy wheels, a black engine and matching chain cover.

I guess HH would never let go the 100cc segment. I guess what they want to say is thanks for all the all the support and appriciation that the Indian comuter has shown towards the 100cc for over 2 decades. You like 100cc? Here you go, take some more.

"Brand Splendor holds a special place in the hearts of millions of Indians for over a decade now. Through the launch of this bike, we would like to thank each of our customers and present to them the special edition commemorative Splendor," Hero Honda Managing Director & CEO Pawan Munjal said.

Source The Economic times

The Hindustan Times claims:-

Hero Honda, the country's largest motorcycle maker, on Monday rolled out a new bike 'Splendor NXG' in the deluxe segment as it seeks to consolidate its market share in India.

The company launched two variants of 'Splendor NXG' with spoke or cast wheels carrying a price tag of Rs 40,990 and Rs 41,990 (ex-showroom Delhi).

So whats it a new Plus or a new NXG? I am not bothered much, but will update tomorrow morning after confirming.

You may also find the following interesting:-
1) Apache RTR 160 EFi
2) Hero Honda Hunk 150 cc
3) TVS Flame 125
4) Bajaj XCD 125

Bajaj will roll out LPG variant of Platina

Bajaj Auto is going to launch cheapest running bike platina LPG version. The most popular 100cc bike platina now powered by both petrol and LPG. This platina LPG version will be available in market soon,most probably end of 2007. The normal 100cc bike platina petrol will also remain in market.The new platina LPG version contain a 5 kg LPG cylinder along standard 10 litre petrol tank. Bajaj platina LPG version will look same as the normal petrol platina, But there is problem to accommodate LPG kit which may change the design of fuel tank. Bajaj Auto will import LPG kits from Italian suppliers and these LPG kit are reliable and well at performance.

Platina LPG version drops power approximately 20% which is huge hurdle and effect performance hardly. The performance loss will be reduced by adding additives which increase octane number and enhance performance of bike.

The platina LPG cost Rs5000 more,but running cost will be lower by 35-40 per cent than normal petrol Bajaj Platina and this saving will cover extra cost of bike.

Read article on Indian Express