The Hindu : Business : Comet 250 from Kinetic stable

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 25, 2004

Business

Business

Comet 250 from Kinetic stable

Originally Koreans borrowed technology from outside, mostly from Japan, but today they are inching towards the top of the charts and given time will be rubbing shoulders with the top contenders.

WE HAVE been seeing it in movies and on the small screen, now we can see on our roads as well. Kinetic Engineering launched its second fully imported sporty, high performance bike Comet 250 on October 12. This two-wheeler made by Hyosung Motors of South Korea brings breakthrough technology and performance with its 250cc, V-twin, 8 valves, liquid cooled engine that gives 27 bhp power, 21 Nm torque and a top speed crossing 140 kph.

The Indian biking community has grown almost three times in the past six years obviously proving that motor bikes are now preferred to scooters. Kinetic has been one of the pioneers in introducing offbeat bikes in India: it first brought the Cruiser Aquila though in very small numbers _ the first lot had only a hundred of them. Seeing the demand it imported a hundred more.

This time it has ventured with a bigger stride and imported 500 CKD (complete knock down) kits. It would seem the company is trying to establish a niche market of biking enthusiasts and testing the waters for such two-wheelers and thus be branded for triggering the adrenaline of youngsters.

It was indeed an interesting press launch as all motor biking jargons that one hears from young males were put forth by an equally enthusiastic and well clued. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Joint Managing Director of Kinetic Engineering. The Comet is priced at Rs. 1.67 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) and will be available only as a `limited edition' bike in select cities. These include Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, National Capital Region (Delhi), Chandigarh, Kolkata, Guwahati, Coimbatore and Siliguri. The bookings will close by November 20. It will be supported by Kinetic for after sales service and spare parts. It will be available in three colours — red, black and yellow.

Smart looking

This smart looking bike has a `naked look' styling inspired by some of the Monster motorcycles. It also has the latest technology in engine building that uses roller bearing camshafts, chain-driven DOHC valve gear operating on four valves per cylinder head and using dual squish combustion chambers for optimum volumetric efficiency and twin down draught Mikuni CV carburettors. It also features a robust looking magnesium finish inverted front forks in the front suspension and a mono shock rear swivel arm rear suspension along with 300 mm front disc brakes and 210 mm rear disc brakes. It has alloy wheels with six spokes and relatively big tubeless tyres (110 section in front and 150 section at the rear). Electric start, of course, is the call of the day.

Korean auto giants are giving the run for their money to competition and adding volumes to the international auto market. Originally they borrowed technology from outside, mostly from Japan, but today they are inching towards the top of the charts and given time will be rubbing shoulders with the top contenders! Hyosung, a Korean auto manufacturer, designed and built the Comet 250. Its reputation as a builder of well-priced and well-made motorcycles, that is comparable to Japanese majors, is sometimes referred to as the Hyundai of motorcycles. Kinetic has a technical collaboration with Hyosung Motors, and the product range includes Aquila, Comet and Laser and the GF series. Hyosung manufactures the Comet in 250cc as well as 650cc specifications.

The Pune based Kinetic group was one of the pioneers of the concept of personalised transportation in India with the launch of its moped Luna in 1974. It also revolutionised the Indian scooter market by being the first to introduce modern scooters with electric start and variomatic gearless transmission. Today the group manufactures an entire two-wheeler range of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. The company has three state-of-the-art manufacturing plants, a full-scale research and design centre and a nationwide distribution network comprising 450 dealers and over 1,000 service centres. It has also a technical collaboration with Honda Motors of Japan for scooters.

The group is a leading exporter to destinations that include the U.S., Europe, Latin America, Asia-Africa and Australia and has won 14 export excellence awards. Awaiting now for the 650 cc launch!

Tutu Dhawan

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