The Hindu : Business : Bike to take on Japanese rivals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
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Bike to take on Japanese rivals

Showing off the TVS Neo's features during a test drive at Sentul City, Indonesia, on Tuesday, the man behind its design was confident it could hold its own against sophisticated Japanese rivals.

"It's an extremely smart bike with a smooth finish and unique features,'' Vinay Harne, TVS Motor's Senior Vice President of research and development, said.

While the 110 cc Duralife engine takes care of power, a digital speedometer, LED lamps and a sporty look will help attract eyeballs.

The Neo is being marketed as an intelligent generation product, with features such as the i-ride, which offers both manual and automatic clutch options to satisfy the demands of male and female customers.

"It's a bike for the entire family,'' Mr. Harne said. Another unique feature is the i-start, which indicates when the engine is warmed up. "Indonesian riders take good care of their bikes and actually warm them up for 10 minutes every morning so that the engine is not affected... i-start saves time without harming engine durability,'' Mr. Harne said.

By indicating when the bike is being accelerated beyond efficient fuel limits, the i-econo feature allows for economic fuel management, while i-space offers storage for helmets and other items below the seat.

P. J.

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