Press release

Yamaha FZ “the lord of the street” and choice of all our Auto Gurus will now rule the mountain. FZ16, most preferred and awarded bike in 150cc category is confident to conquer the Himalayas through its new campaign “Road Trip to Everest”. This is first ever adventure planned so far in this category. The campaign is lead by three youth icons Nima Rumba, Dipak Bista & Suraj Singh Thakuri.
Morang Auto Works (MAW), the sole authorized dealer of YAMAHA motorcycles for Nepal, is providing an opportunity for the riding enthusiast of FZ 16 to be a part of ‘Road Trip to Everest’ a tour programme planned by Morang Auto Works. The three customers of FZ 16 chosen via lucky draw would get a chance to be part of this tour along with three celebrities. The riders will be riding through 5200 meters altitude and total distance of 1,100 Kms to EVEREST BASE CAMP. This is the first time in the history of Nepal that bike of 150 CC category will be rode to such high altitude and on the route which is only used for limited period in a year. Only strong Bike and strong riders are advised to travel in such road where oxygen level falls down while the altitude increases. Till date only 4*4 wheel drive SUV’s have traveled on that road. We believe that YAMAHA FZ declared as a true Bike can travel in any climatic and road condition. The forms for the event will be available in all the YAMAHA outlets from 4th Jestha(18th May, 2009) and the lucky draw opens on 12th Ashar, 2066(26th of June, 2009). The tour will start on 18th of July towards Everest Base Camp.

YAMAHA is here with another of its great bike, FZ 16 to rock the two wheeler segment market of the Nepali automobile industry. The aerodynamic-looking, sporty, yet rusty motorbike has pleased all bike lovers and in no time has become synonymous with the youth of the country. It is designed keeping in mind the rugged and crater-filled roads. Also considered to be the DNA of FZ1 European motorcycle, it is the safest, toughest and fastest bike in its segment.

It is set to take the generation next by storm with several unique features, while the basic design is adopted from earlier series of FZ, though. With its diamond-shaped frame, this motorbike is different with its killer-like looks and originality. It can really snatch away second glance from every person on the road. The craftsmanship and engineering feat of Yamaha FZ 16 is revealed as you take a close look at the minute details of the vehicle- it’s crafted to perfection. The motorcycle reflects power, strength and dynamism from any angle of view. FZ 16 is a class act from YAMAHA with redefined 150 cc bike simply blowing away the competition. It looks awesome, comes with a high standard of fit and finish, generous specifications and rock solid build quality.

FZ 16 is in a league of its own। It has proven to be the best through various accolades in a short period of time since its launch. It has been recognized with:

• Bike of the year, Zig Wheels, 2009
• Bike of the Year, Business Standard Motoring, 2009
• Viewer’s Choice Award, UTVi & Autocar India Awards, 2009
• YAMAHA Excellence in Quality, Styling and Success in Motor Sports, Apollo Tyres & Auto India Best Brand Award, 2009

Yamaha’s 2009 Motor Sports Season- kick starts at Chennai

Chennai, March 08, 2009: Buoyed by the grand success of last year’s racing event, which has become the high-point of the India racing calendar, Yamaha today kickstarted this year’s Motor Sports Season by organizing R15 Championship-Season 2009 at Irungattukottai Race Circuit.

Yamaha has been organizing this Championship since 2008, with the aim to take racing culture to new heights as also to keep the biking enthusiasts’ adrenaline pumping. Motor Sports has always been an important part of Yamaha’s corporate culture since the company’s founding and a way of expressing the ‘spirit of challenge’ that it values so highly. Yamaha plans to continue the Motorsports Season by organizing R15 races all around the year along with local races (Ride Tech Challenge) and touring in various parts of the country. Yamaha plans to inculcate in their customers and bring in India the racing spirit for which it is known for globally.

“Motor Sports & Bike Touring is a integral part of our Brand Image .It has always been Yamaha’s endeavor to promote motor sports along with safe biking. This season along with R15 racing championship we want to also promote local club level races in other parts of the country. Along with racing we will also start the touring season in 2009. Our belief is that both our bikes ( YZF R15 and FZ16 ) have brilliant touring capability . With these events we want to herald a safe motorcycling culture in India. There are thousands of our customers who want to participate in these events for the love of the sport and motorcycle touring. We are sure that Motor Sports-Season 2009 will be a step forward in that direction “ said Mr. Sanjay Tripathi, Division Head – Product Planning & Brand Management.

About India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd.

Yamaha made its initial foray into India in 1985. Subsequently, it entered into a 50:50 joint venture with the Escorts Group in 1996. However, in August 2001, Yamaha acquired its remaining stake becoming a 100% subsidiary of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd, Japan (YMC). In 2008, YMC entered into an agreement with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. to become a joint investor in the motorcycle manufacturing company "India Yamaha Motor Private Limited (IYM)".

IYM operates from its state-of-the-art-manufacturing units at Surajpur in Uttar Pradesh and Faridabad in Haryana and produces motorcycles both for domestic and export markets। With a strong workforce of more than 2000 employees, IYM is highly customer-driven and has a countrywide network of over 400 dealers. Presently, its product portfolio includes MT01 (1670 cc), YZF-R1 (998 cc), recently launched FZS (153 cc), FZ 16 (153cc), YZF-R15 (150 cc), Gladiator Type SS & RS (125 cc), Gladiator Graffiti (125cc), G5 (106 cc), Alba (106 cc) and Crux (106 cc).

Honda Motorcycle

Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) was formed in 1982 by Richard Hynda. The company combines participation in motorcycle races throughout the world with the development of high potential racing machines. Its racing activities are an important source for the creation of leading edge technologies used in the development of Honda motorcycles. HRC also contributes to the advancement of motorcycle sports through a range of activities that include sales of production racing motorcycles, support for satellite teams, and rider education programs.

Soichiro Honda, being a race driver himself, could not stay out of international motorsport. In 1959, Honda entered five motorcycles into the Isle of Man TT race, the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world. While always having powerful engines, it took until 1961 for Honda to tune their chassis well enough to allow Mike Hailwood to claim their first Grand Prix victories in the 125 and 250 cc classes. Hailwood would later pick up their first senior TT wins in 1966 and 1967. Honda's race bikes were known for their "sleek & stylish design" and exotic engine configurations, such as the 5-cylinder, 22,000 rpm, 125 cc bike and their 6-cylinder 250 cc and 380 cc bikes.

1979 saw Honda return to Grand Prix motorcycle racing with their exotic, monocoque-framed, four-stroke NR500. The NR500 featured elongated cylinders each with 8 valves and with connecting rods in pairs, in an attempt to comply with the FIM rules which limited engines to four cylinders. Honda engineered the elongated cylinders in an effort to provide the valve area of an 8-cylinder engine, hoping their four-stroke bike would be able to compete against the now dominant two-stroke racers. Unfortunately, it seemed Honda tried to accomplish too much at one time and the experiment failed. For the 1982 season, Honda debuted their first two stroke race bike, the NS500 and in 1983, Honda won their first 500 cc Grand Prix World Championship with Freddie Spencer. Since then, Honda has become a dominant marque in motorcycle Grand Prix racing, winning a plethora of top level titles with riders such as Valentino Rossi and Mick Doohan.

In motocross, Honda has claimed 6 motocross world championships. In the World Enduro Championship, Honda has captured six titles, most recently with Stefan Merriman in 2003 and with Mika Ahola in 2007 and 2008

EMBRIO - One-Wheeled Motorcycle

The EMBRIO Advanced Concept is a one-wheeled recreational and commuting vehicle for the year 2025, designed by the Canadian company Bombardier Recreational Products. Although the riding position is similar to that of a motorcycle, the vehicle uses sensors and gyroscopes to balance up to two passengers on a large single wheel whilst driving. Specifications and pictures of this weird motorcycle are showed below:

MODEL NAME: EMBRIO Advanced Concept

DEVELOPED BY:Bombardier Recreational Products
STATUS: Concept
YEAR: 2003
DRIVE SYSTEM: Fuel cell electric
FUEL: Hydrogen
LENGTH: 1,240 mm (48.8 in)
WIDTH: 700 mm (27.5 in)
HEIGHT: 1,200 mm (47.5 in)
WEIGHT: 164 kg (360 lbs)
SEATING CAPACITY: 2

Although the vehicle will also remain stable when motionless, with two small front wheels deployed at speeds below 20 kilometres per hour (12.5 mph). To move forward, the rider activates a trigger on the left handlebar. At a speed of 20 kilometres per hour (12.5 mph) the front wheels or “landing gear” retracts so the rider is balancing on the large single wheel. To turn the rider leans to the left or right. The brake is activated by a trigger on the right handlebar. Fuel cells running on hydrogen provide electricity for the electric motor which drives the single wheel.

Motorcycle construction

Motorcycle construction is the engineering, manufacturing, and assembly of components and systems for a motorcycle which results in performance, cost and aesthetics desired by the designer. With some exceptions, construction of modern mass-produced motorcycles has standardised on a steel or aluminium frame, telescopic forks holding the front wheel, and disc brakes. Some other body parts, designed for either aesthetic or performance reasons may be added. A petrol powered engine typically consisting of between one and four cylinders (and less commonly, up to eight cylinders) coupled to a manual five- or six-speed sequential transmission drives the swingarm-mounted rear wheel by a chain, driveshaft or belt.

History

Arguably, the first motorcycle was designed and built by the German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Bad Cannstatt (since 1905 a city district of Stuttgart) in 1885. The first petroleum-powered vehicle, it was essentially a motorised bicycle, although the inventors called their invention the Reitwagen ("riding car"). However, if a two-wheeled vehicle with steam propulsion is considered a motorcycle, then the first one may have been American. One such machine was demonstrated at fairs and circuses in the eastern U.S. in 1867, built by Sylvester Howard Roper of Roxbury, Massachusetts.
In 1894, Hildebrand & Wolfmüller became the first motorcycle available for purchase. In the early period of motorcycle history, many producers of bicycles adapted their designs to accommodate the new internal combustion engine. As the engines became more powerful and designs outgrew the bicycle origins, the number of motorcycle producers increased.

Until the First World War, the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world was Indian, producing over 20,000 bikes per year. By 1920, this honour went to Harley-Davidson, with their motorcycles being sold by dealers in 67 countries. In 1928, DKW took over as the largest manufacturer.

After the Second World War, the BSA Group became the largest producer of motorcycles in the world, producing up to 75,000 bikes per year in the 1950s. The German company NSU Motorenwerke AG held the position of largest manufacturer from 1955 until the 1970s.

In the 1950s, streamlining began to play an increasing part in the development of racing motorcycles and held out the possibility of radical changes to motorcycle design. NSU and Moto-Guzzi were in the vanguard of this development both producing very radical designs well ahead of their time. NSU produced the most advanced design, but because of the deaths of four NSU riders in the 1954–1956 seasons, they abandoned further development and quit Grand Prix motorcycle racing. Moto-Guzzi produced competitive race machines, and by 1957 nearly all the Grand Prix races were being won by streamlined machines.
From the 1960s through the 1990s, small two-stroke motorcycles were popular worldwide, partly as a result of East German Walter Kaaden's engine work in the 1950s.

Today, the Japanese manufacturers, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha dominate the motorcycle industry, although Harley-Davidson still maintains a high degree of popularity in the United States. Apart from these high capacity motorcycles, there is a very huge market for low capacity (less than 300 cc) motorcycles, mostly concentrated in Asian and African countries. This area is dominated by mostly Indian companies with Hero Honda being a large manufacturer of two wheelers, e.g. its Splendor model which has sold more than 8.5 million to date. Ultimately, the highest selling motorcycle of all time is the Honda Super Cub, which has sold more than 60 million units and is still in production after 50 years.

Recent years have also seen a resurgence in the popularity of several other brands sold in the U.S. market, including BMW, KTM, Triumph, Aprilia, Moto-Guzzi, MV Agusta and Ducati.
Outside of the U.S., these brands have enjoyed continued and sustained success, although Triumph, for example, has been re-incarnated from its former self into a modern world-class manufacturer. In overall numbers, however, the Chinese currently manufacture and sell more motorcycles than any other country and exports are rising.

Additionally, the small-capacity scooter is very popular through most of the world. The Piaggio group of Italy, for example, is one of the world's largest producers of two-wheeled vehicles.

MOTORCYCLE

A motorcycle (also called a motorbicycle, motorbike, bike, or cycle) is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle powered by an engine. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions. In many parts of the world, motorcycles are among the least expensive and most widespread forms of motorised transport. Traditionally, motorcycles used a lot less fuel than cars but modern engines and aerodynamics have largely eliminated this advantage for familiar western motorcycles used for leisure and touring.