Acko Drive Top 5 Bike News: January 19 - 25, 2025

2025 has started and with that two-wheeler companies have also started to usher in new bikes and scooters. But on the other hand, some are also at the edge of going completely broke, which in turn has forced them to take precarious measures. So, here’s a rundown of some the major happenings from the two-wheeler industry this week:

Royal Enfield Scram 440 Launched

Royal Enfield kickstarted its 2025 campaign by reviving its urban scrambler, the Scram 411, in a slightly bigger avatar by launching the new Scram 440. While the bike essentially looks the same as before, new to this year includes a bigger engine, better brakes with switchable ABS, and a bunch of new colour options. Royal Enfield’s signature LED headlight makes its way here too, and lastly there are two different variants, each catering to distinct riding style. Tap the link here to know all about the Scram 440’s key highlights, and the link here to know how the two variants differ from each other. 

Stefen Pierer Steps Down As KTM’s CEO

KTM is on the verge of going bankrupt. The Austrian company, which is currently under self administration mode, has a reported debt of €2.5-2.9 billion (₹22,537 to 26,143 crore). Coupled with an unsold inventory of 2,65,000 bikes, KTM is clearly in deep waters. To tackle this issue more effectively, its CEO, Stefen Pierer has stepped down from his position to make wayt for Gottfried Neumeister. How did KTM find itself in such dire straits? Tap the link here to find out

Bajaj’s Brazil Plant Crosses Its First Production Milestone

It was just seven months ago that Bajaj commenced operation at its Brazil facility located in Manaus. The plant, which reserves the capacity to manufacture 20,000 units on an annual basis, has already crossed its first production milestone of 10,000 units. Thus demonstrating a strong demand for Bajaj bikes in the Brazilian market. What makes this achievement all the more commendable is the fact that Bajaj’s portfolio at its Manaus facility includes just the Dominar 400. Tap the link here to know more about the facility and what it means for Bajaj.

Honda Activa Updated For 2025

Honda finally launched the new Activa with features that brings it on par with some of its key rivals. While the scooter looks the same as before, it now gets a premium 4.2-inch TFT display for the first time. This unit supports smartphone connectivity via Honda’s RoadSync app which further gets you features like turn-by-turn navigation and call/SMS alert. Launched at ₹80,950 (ex-showroom, Delhi), it's still quite the premium affair when you compare it with the likes of the TVS Jupiter 110. But does the new 2025 Honda Activa pack enough of a punch to take on the Jupiter 110? Find out in this spec comparison. 

Ola Roadster Bike Nears Production

Ola Electric became quite the household name in 2024 for all the wrong reasons. But that hasn’t stopped the Bengaluru-based public EV company from introducing new products. Next in line to hit the market will be its debut electric motorcycle called Roadster. While the bikes have already launched and the prices are already known, deliveries are yet to commence and that is slated to start soon. Bhavish Aggarwal recently took one of the production bikes out for a quick spin and he shared the same clip on his social media account. The futuristic-looking bike has quite the promising spec. But how reliable it will be and has Ola taken a different approach this time, remains to be seen.