Indian Grease Monkey

Aerodynamics - New design cues!

2008-12-21T13:22:00.002+05:30

The Grease Monkey is back after quite a while. And as u guessed, this has to be quite an interesting topic to be discussed otherwise why would the grease monkey be back instead of monkeying around!!
He found a great article on the recent design trends in cars based on the aerodynamic research which greatly interests and inspires the grease monkey. The article briefs on how the recent trend on edgy corners adds to the aerodynamic efficiency of the cars like the Volt's edgy rear corner that increases the turbulence at the rear creating lesser aerodynamic drag. The article also points out Toyota's "Aerocorner" design approach.
Happy reading!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/automobiles/21AERO.html?_r=2&8dpc

Singapore GP - 1st F1 Night Race!

2008-09-23T22:30:00.003+05:30

The 1st ever Night Race in F1 history!.... and yes its this weekend!..... Watch the teaser here...

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid626910340/bctid1803209539

2008-09-17T23:09:00.004+05:30

Though Toyota is miles ahead with the prius, GM has a concept that will change the rules of the hybrid game.

Check out Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid that will not consume gas when you drive for work.

Just tells, Americans dont really need a lot of time 2 get back in the game.

Performing a wheelie!

2008-08-28T01:54:00.011+05:30

Hey I know it’s been eons since I wrote something, that’s why I thought when I start off again, I it should be interesting and exciting 2 throttle up your sense. What better way than to tell you how to do a wheelie!!
Heres an amatuer's take on performing one... I have done a few basic wheeling stunts on my bike while in India (ofcourse, am just a street biker). And it’s very exciting and I should say it takes courage n time 2 understand the art. But once you understand, the sheer pleasure is exhilarating! Also an added bonus of impressing the other sex! Infact it could be your real motive too for all I know!
As I was about to write about the stunts, I found a similar post on xkmph.com by Santanu, the administrator for the site. Here is the link:
http://xkmph.com/discuss/index.php?topic=730.0
Until I tell you a few variations in my style, drive fast, take chances, be safe!

Images courtesy: GutzyRoadies.com and wikimedia.org

R15 Review on IBN Live

2008-06-16T23:22:00.004+05:30

This is a very good review video from IBN Live:

Part 2:

What more can I say!!... Get your hands on it now!
If you are not able to watch the videos, head to the IBN Live site

Yamaha R15 website launched!

2008-06-12T08:28:00.003+05:30

The link on the teaser has been unlocked. The R15 website is up! Download the loads of nicely shot wallpapers on it!

The way Yamaha has built the product shows everywhere!.... The marketing of the rpoduct is awesome, atleast on the web. Which is good as this is a niche segment and the targetting is perfect. Coudnt have done a better job!

Yamaha R15 Specification

2008-06-12T07:12:00.008+05:30

As the Yamaha R15 goes on sale from today, I thought I might post some trivia on it before other bloggers do! ( Kinda selfish huh! ;))

Yamaha R15 Specs as found on Rocking Roadies

Engine : 149.8cc, 10.4:1 compression, Liquid cooled, 4 Valve, Forged Pistons, 4 valve SOHC
with hi performance Radiator

Fuel Injection - Delphi 6 hole type with Sensors n feedback to ECU and centred spark plug

6 speed gearbox
Steel deltabox frame
Power 17ps/8500 rpm
Torque 15nm/7500 rpm
Top speed 140 kph

Tyres:
Front MRF 80/90 17" Tubeless
Rear MRF 100/80 17" Tubeless
Fuel Tank - 12 Litres
Overall length - 1995 mm
Width - 670 mm
Height - 1070 mm
Wheelbase - 1290 mm
Min. Ground Clearance - 160 mm
Ignition - Self
Suspension:
Front - Standard microscopic

While most specs are known by now, the Power and Torque numbers are news. The bike develops 1PS less than the Pulsar 200(18PS@ 8000RPM) and 3PS less than the Pulsar 220. Nevertheless, thats an impressive spec for a 150cc bike as it betters the 16.5 PS cranked by Pulsar 180.

The rear tyres are thin, this doesnt come as a surprise as the Auto Expo featured a thin tyre version only.

Also the compression ratio specified is not quite what I expected. I expected a CR between 12:1 and 13:1 which would match the P220 CR of 12.8:1.

Wishing R15 a gr8 debut from all Indi bikers!!

Welcoming a new era of super-sport biking on Indi roads!!

P.S: I am though not very sure about the authenticity of the R15 Power and Torque numbers posted in Rocking Roadies.

UPDATE: Figures are correct

Yamaha R15 promo video

2008-06-10T00:29:00.007+05:30

Watch this Bangalore Wheels promo on full screen!

Though the video quality in the next video is not very good, nevertheless this is a worth-watch promo

YAMAHA R15 debut on June 12!

2008-06-06T03:39:00.006+05:30

YAMAHA YZF R15 countdown begins!

Buckle up for the most exciting new age bike to scorch Indian roads! ( ya, the infamous Indian roads). Scroll down for the teaser from Yamaha...

Mustang Shelby

2008-05-30T23:20:00.003+05:30

!@#$%. Yes, I swear by the Mustang. Period.

Thats one product from Ford, no matter how hard others like corvette try, will never succeed to replicate or replace. If you are looking for some interesting videos, take a look at this Winding Road Videos page. My pick would be the Mustang Shelby GT500KR, Mustang Bullit and the toy car Mini Cooper. Enjoy the videos!

Watch F1 Live!

2008-05-29T14:17:00.003+05:30

Any gain re-inventing the wheel? Nope... There you go!... Thats why I try to post things that are most relevant and important, at the same time making sure that I am not telling the story again.

Are words the only way in a blog to express ones thoughts and convey a message?.. There you go again!... Thats why I have a signifact amout of pics and videos to better pull it off.

To reinforce my belief on the above gyaans, here are some amazing F1 video link on how to overtake, how the brakes and differentials work in a F1 car etc: http://www.itv-f1.com/VideoWorldwide.aspx
There's further to it...
If thou shalt miss the action on Tv, though shalt be given another opportunity to live on the web. Thou shalt be provided with www.itv.com/f1 to enrich the holy knowledge on F1. Amen.

Taking a fast turn

2008-05-28T19:02:00.000+05:30

The other day I was drawn into an interesting argument with a friend of mine, on whether or not to depress the clutch while taking a turn. I finally convinced him on how the bike would go on "freewheeling" and have no control while turning with the clutch depressed. The same goes for cars too. Never use the clutch while taking a turn as you will have no control over the wheel and neither will the engine. More so in case of a bike as it loses traction as the grip on the road and eventually heads for a skid. And you, for a night-mare... as hardly any of my desi buddies wear any protective gear whatsoever, not even the most basic - the helmet.
An advice to fellow Bangaloreans, if not racing jackets, you would get good riding jackets for a fair price in the city. Trust me, brands like Weekender (Thanks Bips! ) and others in town have really good ones. Also, they are a lot better than the jackets in the US. Get ones with tough solid fiber on the outside and a cloth lining on the inside. Never go for the gawky, low quality thin section rain-coat types! Really, I find it bizarre, people wear it when they ride bikes! It makes little sense as it is neither protective nor keeps heat. You either sweat in the day or shiver in the night with these on.
Anyways, there’s my 2 cent worth.

09 PASSAT CC n Land Rover LRX

2008-05-25T12:11:00.003+05:30

Check out the new 09 PASSAT CC showcased @ 08 Detroit Auto Show!

and the now Indian Land Rover LRX Concept!

Jeffrey Archer Speech

2008-05-23T04:11:00.003+05:30

For all Desi fans of Jeffrey Archer watch this video of his visit 2 Landmark in Mumbai, and the speech he gave.
http://specials.rediff.com/news/2008/may/22video1.htm

Rise n Shine!

2008-05-19T07:47:00.004+05:30

Now that the blog is back (with a bang!), I would like to apologise for the break. I was busy moving to US, but trust me thats good for the blog as the new dimension on how the Indian auto industry compares with the rest of the world, will gain further credence and solid ground. A lot could have happened during the break, but nope, fortunately none! Sun still rises in the east, Chennai still remains hot, India still remains the same, of course Nano and Yamaha R15 are yet to be launched! Guess we dint miss the action.

Talking about India, I have some news. In spite of the fact that the India auto market is still a developing and emerging one, the good news is that it is making news all over the world not because it is a fast growing market but because it is making long strides on the technology hall of fame. Don’t believe me? The news (phew! how many ‘news’ do I put in the para!) is from Businessweek about the technology related to cost cutting and manufacturing techniques used in Tata Nano. And Businessweek is a leading business magazine in the US! If you thought that Nano was a just a onetime media hit and the world just forgot about it after Auto Expo, think again, the article was posted on May 9, 2008, a week back!

But the good news (again!) ends there. If you compare the auto industry in both the countries, they are at opposite ends. You pull my collar and say India is still a developing country and I am a fool to compare the two. Well, while it is true that it is still a developing country, the country is denied of good quality cars and technology because it is least equipped to handle the good stuff. It is the sheer lack of infrastructure courtesy Government of India that is responsible for the misery we citizens have to face. Infrastructure needs big strong hands to pull up it up. A good infrastructure is the back bone of a economy, and plays a vital role especially in a developing country like ours. Indians and Indian firms are making huge waves all over the world about the quality of workforce. But the waves might die down sans impact without the proper foundations of economy.
For the supporters of the Indian Government who brush my accusations and show me the Mumbai-Pune highway, sit up, observe during one of your numerous official jaunts (more a pleasure trip!), you will find that all of the economies which are doing well, have excellent and innumerable such freeways (yep, that’s what they call them in US!) to back them up.

If it all India wants to continue on its dream run, this is what the world has to say: catch up or catch you later!

Bak wid a loud bang!

2008-05-16T12:11:00.001+05:30

The blog is back with a bang!!.... In true, literal sense!
This video is the brand ambassador and precursor of things to come... Watch IT!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR_naKxLEPc

Loads of Hot Pics of YAMAHA R15!!

2008-03-14T12:12:00.013+05:30

I know people are not going to be amused if I am going to talk about or post pics on Yamaha R15 as it is no news now. But then, I just found this large collection of R15 pics on Flickr taken @ Auto Expo 08, that it left me no choice but to rave about it...

Some quick facts about the bike to be launched soon in India , that has made desi bikers mouth-water and spend sleepless nights thinking about the beauty....

The 1st 6-speed road ready bike in India ( of course excluding sports bikes like R1, MT01 and its likes).
A high revving 4-valve FI( Fuel Injection) engine ( chech out the pic where the revmeter shows calibration upto 12,000 RPM!) with an expected 20BHP output !
Front and Rear Disk Brakes alongwith Rear mono-shock suspension.
And ofcourse the most important, the R1 like front-faring and lots more...

Before you grow tired of my ravings and rantings, here is the link to the photo collection

http://www.flickr.com/photos/praveen_p_sathaye/sets/72157603768379821/

Sincere thanks to this person, Praveen P Sathaye, for hosting the photos.

08 Civic in US

2008-03-04T19:16:00.009+05:30

The phenominal success of Honda Civic in India is not surprising given its breath-taking looks and amazing performance. It has left people on road staring at it till it faded away in style. The car has had an amazing run, with many people worshipping it. Will the 08 Civic that has been launched in US make it to India? Well lets first look at the pics and see if it is a worthy successor to the god on Indian roads...

The new Civic logo

Hmm.... Looks great, but still not a worthy predecessor to the current version, atleast I dont think so.... Coming back to the critical question, will it hit Indian Market? Most probably no, as this is not the equivalent car in India. The cars in US and India are different versions. Civic in India, Japan and other Asian countries are the JDM( Japanese Domestic Market) version and the Civic in US and other American countries are the USDM version. Nevertheless, the JDM Civic is marketed in Canada under its luxury brand Acura as Acura CSX.

Acura is similar to Lexus from Toyota in that both are luxury brands from their respective parent companies. Perhaps, this is what is called 'Glocalisation'. A global product with attention and details specific to local market requirements. Looks like Honda is a pro at it!

Honda Fit and Suzuki Splash

2008-02-28T18:56:00.010+05:30

Of the numerous launches slated for '08, the two most interesting of the lot are the Honda Fit and the Suzuki Splash.
The 2009 Honda Fit is a car with loads of space and comfort packed in. The car will certainly be

pricey, but build quality looks promising enough. The next-gen looks on the car in line with the other cars from Honda stable like the City, Civic is very upmarket and eyecandy. As you can see, the contours on the bonnet reflect the City and Civic trend. The delight to the owners will be the steering wheel borrowed from Civic! ..... The steering wheel featuring in Civic has had many jaws drop and yearn they had it in their smaller car. Bingo! Here they are... just for you!

Another very interesting feature is the paddle shift in the US version, very much doubt whether it would make to Indian shores.
Suzuki Splash, an equally interesting compact car. Expected to be priced below Swift, as it will

sport a smaller engine- 1.0L & 1.2L petrol, the car has fresh looks like its big brothers Swift and SX4. The rear has a very different look, a flat back, similar to the Santro and i10. With the pricing below Swift, it will give tough competition to i10, though i10 has a early bird advantage. The car is also marketed in Europe as the Opel Agila.
Watch the space for more updates.

F1 Aerodynamics

2008-02-12T19:27:00.002+05:30

I came across this excellent article on basics of aerodynamics involved in F1 cars. The article is written in a such a simple language that everyone can understand. Worth looking into.

http://www.f1technical.net/articles/7926

Tata Rs.1 lakh car - Tata Nano!!

2008-01-10T12:17:00.001+05:30

The much hyped car of the year, finally launched!! Called NANO to symbolise its small size and the advanced tech it combines with!

First Impressions -
Looks really cool and trendy. Certainly doesnt have the cheap car look. In fact it could set a trend similar to what Beetle set post World War II!
By looking at it, the power to weight ratio could be comparable to M800, though I think it might be a tad lower. It sports a 660cc 2-cylinder petrol engine and is expected to offer 30bhp (Maruthi 800 produces 37 BHP)
Overall, am very much impressed by NANO... Certainly a potential trend setter and could soon muster a decent fan-following!

Auto Expo 08 Newz! - Bajaj small car!

2008-01-08T17:53:00.002+05:30

Bajaj unveils small car concept called Lite!!

More info available @ this rediff page

Images courtesy Rediff.com

Auto Expo 08 Newz!

2008-01-08T17:51:00.001+05:30

Tata 1-lakh car scheduled to be unveiled on 10th Jan gets Z category security!

New Innova?

2007-12-16T14:52:00.001+05:30

The other day while going out for lunch, I had spotted a large SUV 'under-cover' ;), running with a black cover on it with slits for wind-shield and number-plates. Since Toyota is the only 4-wheeler with plant near Bangalore, my guess is that this is an all new Innova. Supportingsore my hunch is the fact that I had seen it near Mysore Road, (the plant is located between Bangalore and Mysore). So if M&M is coming out with Ingenio to take on the existing Innova, they should be pretty quick.

SWIFT Sedan Scoop Pic!

2007-12-16T14:48:00.003+05:30

Scoop pic of Swift Sedan likely to be launched in Jan/Feb '08 from this post:

http://www.vicky.in/straightfrmtheheart/hot-news-on-2008-maruti-suzuki-swift-sedan/

SX4 Sport SUV in US

2007-12-16T14:33:00.002+05:30

SX4 Sport SUV running in US. Sports a 17-inch alloy wheels! The car doesnt look like an SUV, though. Dont think they will manufacture it in India and even if they do, I dont think a 17-inch wheel will touch the gravel. This is just a FYI post.

Swift Sport

2007-12-11T16:46:00.001+05:30

Swift Sport looks cool and hip with turn lamps integrated into rearview mirrors.
Swift being an international model from Suzuki, its hard to tell if Indian roads might see this sport variant.

All new 2009 Corolla debuts in US

2007-11-27T20:53:00.002+05:30

Hope to see one soon on Indian roads as the present one is long due an upgrade.

Images: courtesy Toyota

F1 Trivia:

2007-11-27T20:23:00.001+05:30

F1 driver's helmet undergoes stringent and extreme endurance tests. The helmet visor is punished by an air-gun pellet that travels @ 500km/h to test its durability!!
Image: Courtesy McLaren F1

Apache RTR Vs CBZ Xtreme

2007-10-03T19:16:00.001+05:30

Last week, I was lucky to test drive these 2 new bikes on successive days. I wanted to ‘freewheel' them for a long time but never found an opportunity. So on the day of the ride, off I went like an excited kid jumping to drive. I got my hands first on CBZ Xtreme and then on the Apache RTR.
Day 1 (should be saying late night): By now, I have got used to the Xtreme looks, though I still feel the old CBZ is a design to beat in spite of it belonging to the prev bike gen. The Xtreme ride and engine revs were very smooth. I felt as if it was a Unicorn tuned for a further smoother ride. The low end torque somehow didn’t impress me much, I had a feeling I was riding a 125cc machine. For a bike in this category and looking to compete with the likes of Pulsar 150 and Apache, this fatigue won’t help much.
At high speeds above 80kmph, the ride felt solid and confident. I also had the feeling the brakes weren’t sharp and didn’t respond quick enough as I expected. I am also not a big fan of the pilot lamp on the bike. Nevertheless, the ride was exciting and was a good bike to drive without much strain on me and the bike. Overall rating: 3.5/5.
Verdict: Certainly better than the previous generation 150cc bikes.

Day 2 ( Night 2):
Apache RTR. This was a red one belonging to my friend. First look, I was very impressed at how it was different from the 150. Small aesthetic and visual touches at the right areas on the 150 and what do we have? Stunning and gorgious RTR!
Just sitting on the bike gave me a very comfy feel. Before talking more on the bike let us just go back and ponder on what Apache users feedback were on. The bike had a bad gearbox, changing gears - a pain in the neck. Vibration felt at high speeds. Handling - not very comfortable for city ride and felt less confident at high speeds. Surprisingly I found the bike to have none of these. In fact I should say, the bike outperformed Xtreme on all these parameters.
The low-end torque was too good to be true. The ride was very comfortable and brakes had good response. I just love the digital tacho on Pulsar 150 and dream as I may on other bikes, but it was there on RTR. I think the digital tacho gives the bikes the international appeal and that of a superbike. The new clip-on handles were very comfortable. When it was time to stop, I didn’t want to put my feet down, the ride was so good, I wanted to go on. Overall rating: 4.5/5
Verdict: Innovative Engineering by TVS. Eager to see the same quality engineering flow to Flame also (The new TVS 125cc bike).

Final Word: In spite of being very late successor to CBZ, not much technical innovation has gone into the Xtreme as it uses the same Unicorn engine. However the bike feels good and solid. An upgraded Unicorn is my take.
RTR, a smart piece of engineering and a great upgrade for Apache 150. What tops the cake, is that it is a km or 2 more fuel efficient than the Xtreme and I heard its a 1 or 2k cheaper than Xtreme, 2 more reasons to choose the RTR.
People looking for a rush of adrenaline should go for Apache RTR. For a smooth care-free ride it is the Xtreme.

Road Racing Tips

2006-12-27T19:29:00.002+05:30

I tripped over this link while surfing through blogs. Though these are tips on professional biking, they are easy to understand and can be used for city biking also (with care). Let me caution you, any of these tricks u try and get unlucky, am not responsible!!! Happy reading...
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/howto/122_0610_20_pro_motorcycle_roadracing_tips/

gr8 xpectations- big let down - cbz xtreme

2006-10-10T20:55:00.001+05:30

It's been long time since I posted, but this big let down on the bike god, that i worship, CBZ, has prompted me to post this note. Many must be waiting to get their first glance on CBZ Xtreme, 'from the makers of CBZ', though once u have a glance at it, u will wonder if it was them who came up with the original version.

Well, what do u think on looking at the pics, does it really look like a CBZ or, as I would put, 'yet another bike from HH'?
On the first look itself, so many qouestions popped into my head:
Y would a bike really need a so-called 'Pilot Lamp' when there is a large head lamp that more than serves the purpose of 'piloting'?

Y have an integrated tail lamp, when the original 1 was just 2 good 2 beat.

In spite of having faced repeated failures with ambition and achiever, Y sport the same fuel tank those failure models use?

Looks like Pulsar and Apache are likely to strike cbz off, as their most-feared destroyer.

Xtreme looks more like a marketing gimmick than a tribute to the god.

On letting down my hopes of a revival, let me at least pay my tributes to the true legend of the original cbz.

Reservation – More like a self-goal

2006-04-19T00:12:00.000+05:30

This post is not an anti-reservation campaign but it brings out the relevence to the current scenario. Reservation has been quite an issue right from independence.
It has created an overwhelming change in the lives of the socially oppressed. It has opened windows of opportunities for them. It had played an important role in the upliftment of the socially backward people post-independence. It was very much relevant post-independence. As decades have passed the society has changed, the country has changed. But after 50 years of Independence, does it really benefit the people now?

The then-socially backward are today equally competent. But the reservation system has alone remained more or less the same; the main reasons being political ambitions. Today the job market is booming and it looks for competent people from renowned institutions. But sometimes it happens that a competent student from a renowned institution, from the backward class may not really get the job, because the job providers think that this guy has got a back door entry to education, though he is competent. So its not always going to help the needy. In fact it defeats the whole idea of reservation. What was relevant 5 decades ago will not be relevant in today’s atmosphere. Things change, scenario changes. In fact reservation deprives them the opportunity to compete in a level playing field.
Infact it’s a negative approach to the problem. Why in the first place provide reservation of seats? Its more a fix to the problem, than eradication of the problem. Instead providing them monetary support to study, to setup their own business, will be a positive approach.
What will more work out, will be to provide reservation not based on social status (which is irrevelant now), but based on the financial and educational status of the family. As the country is evolving its important for the policies also to keep equal pace. But as always, they fall on deaf ears!

gr8 Indian Bull

2006-04-04T22:40:00.000+05:30

This is my first post. Hope ppl like it!

Who would have thought the indian bull would charge at this blistering pace!
The Financial markets are souring high with a pace nevr seen b4, defying all laws of the market challenging the likes of Nasdaq!
The Indian customer is highly valued as he has more money in his pocket than his likes in other developing countries!
Big MNCs r vying to open their branches in India!
There is a never b4 optimism not only in the Indian mind, but also in Bush's (Hope he reads this :-) ! ).
Burgeoning group of Indians in the billionaire list stand testimony of the Indian Bull!
Smiles on the face of Indian graduates who find it easier to get jobs that suit them as the opportunities column in national newspapers keeps increasing in size each day.
Bollywood films are maturing n coming of age, with sensible movies like Ab tak chappan, dil chahta hai, Swadesh, Being Cyrus, etc.

IIM graduates getting best pay packages, proving time and again that Indian minds are perhaps the hardest to compete with!

Narain making his mark in f1 history with his gr8 debut in Melbourne last year and a test driver with Williams this year.
Sania Mirza becoming the best debut performer in WTA rankings and the list goes on...
Not to be left behind Indian cricket is also in gr8 form with its winning streak series after series!

Isnt it turning out to be something like - Steer you boat to the Indian shores if you dont want to sink!

3 cheers to the gr8 Indian Bull !!

Hope u likd this post.
Pl feel free to write comments.