Acko Drive Top 5 Bike Stories Of The Week

While the previous week had been all about the CNG bike, this week has been all about the reactions to this change. There also have been some international launches this week along with very special news from Royal Enfield. 

Opinion - Bajaj Freedom 125 Opportunities, challenges and future

Bajaj Auto has introduced the world's first CNG motorcycle, the Freedom 125. The bike is claimed to be much cheaper to run than a petrol-powered motorcycle and is also more environmentally friendly. However, the availability of CNG stations and safety concerns around CNG vehicles could be a challenge. The future of the Freedom 125 depends on how well it addresses these challenges and how the market responds to this new technology. Click here to learn more about it.

After Bajaj, TVS Is Now Exploring CNG Option

TVS’ first CNG-powered two-wheeler might hit Indian markets by 2025. TVS is looking to enter the new CNG scooter market following Bajaj's launch of the Freedom 125 CNG motorcycle. The details aren't confirmed yet, but we think TVS might use theJupiter scooter as the foundation for its alternate fuel debut. It is still a question of how it will integrate the CNG tank without sacrificing storage space.  There are also questions about safety and how the CNG tank will affect handling. We explain how TVS has experience with alternative fuels before and for more info click here.

Bhavish Aggarwal vs Rajiv Bajaj

The heads of Ola Electric and Bajaj Auto are engaged in a war of words! Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola, responded to a comment by Rajiv Bajaj, head of Bajaj Auto, about electric vehicle startups. Aggarwal posted a video clip of Bajaj's remark and said that Bajaj might regret his words soon. This is the second time in a week that Aggarwal has commented on Bajaj's statements.  Read more to see how this plays out.

BMW R 1300 GSA

BMW Motorrad has unveiled the R 1300 GS Adventure, a more hardcore version of its R 1300 GS adventure bike. The new bike features a bulkier design, more advanced features, and new hardware components that are all aimed at enhancing its long-distance capabilities. The bike keeps the same 145 bhp and 149 Nm engine as the R 1300 GS but adds a first-ever automatic transmission system for a BMW motorcycle. The bike will be available in multiple colour schemes globally, but its arrival in India is expected by the end of 2024.  Click here to learn more about the other changes.

Royal Enfield 250

Royal Enfield is making two big moves. First, they're launching the powerful Guerrilla 450 motorcycle next week. Second, they're developing a new 250cc engine platform, codenamed "V", to make their bikes more affordable and attract a younger generation of riders. This 250cc platform is expected to be released in 2026 and could lead to a wider variety of affordable Royal Enfield bikes in the future. Here is more about this upcoming smaller engine. Here are more details