Yamaha R1

Dealing in the big ones now, ehh? Yep, the next addition to the xBhp Garage was another litre-class, rocket of a superbike, and another one from Japan, the Yamaha R1. Ever since the first iteration came out in 1998, the R1 had to go up against the fastest sportbikes such as the Fireblade and the Ducati 916. And while it did hold its own against the competition, it had to keep evolving to maintain that.

998 cc | 170 Bhp | 118.3 Nm | Recommended engine oil > Castrol POWER1 RACING 10W40

The one that graced our garage was the 2007 R1 which underwent one major change when compared to its predecessor; Yamaha ditched the 5-valve system for the 4-valve one. It also had variable inlet trumpets to give it more grunt in the midrange without losing out on its monster top end.

We had another superbike in the garage and one pan-India roadtrip under our belt. As you may have guessed it, it was time for another one. Supported by Castrol POWER1, xBhp went across India in search of India’s most passionate biker. On this roadtrip called Passion Hunt, we gauged the prowess of many riders in different cities based on different riding activities. The challenge was tough but then, the reward was fitting as well… a brand new Yamaha R1!

We are sure that the winner of the contest, Malcolm Ilavia from Mumbai, enjoyed the 170 bhp monster just as much as we did riding it around India!

Kawasaki Ninja 250R

If there is one motorcycle that ruled the hearts of so many Indians, despite being out of reach, it was the quarter-litre Kwacker… Ninja 250R. Loads of power, buttery smooth parallel-twin, exhaust note to die for, and handling to boast about, the Ninja 250, especially in lime green, made the hearts of young Indians skip a beat. And so, we decided that we have to have one in our garage too.

249 cc | 32 Bhp | 20.6 Nm | Recommended engine oil > Castrol POWER1 10W40

The Ninja 250R rode on a legacy that few motorcycles can brag about but with that, it had a lot to prove as well. It was known as one of the best, if not the best, learner motorcycles in the world. The 33 horses that the sweet mill of the Ninja 250R made were delivered in a manner that made riders fall in love with it. It was smooth right from the get-go and until the very end of its rev range. The song that it sang around 12,000 rpm… bliss!

Along with the engine, the chassis, the geometry, and the suspension of the Ninja 250R made it a complete package. It was steady as a rock in a straight line and quick like a true Ninja in the corners. It was not only a joy to ride for newer riders but for seasoned ones as well. We can say that as we had the firsthand experience of that during another one of our cross-country rides; the Grand Indian Roadtrip powered by Castrol POWER1.

Yamaha FZ1

After having a couple of litre-class missiles in the xBhp Garage, one thing that was missing was an equally ballistic naked, a streetfighter to be more precise. After all, no matter how much one loves their fully-faired superbikes, an almost equally powerful streetfighter devoid of the excess bulk and equipped with flat handlebars is perhaps the best representation of street riding… crazy street riding.

998 cc | 150 Bhp | 105.8 Nm | Recommended engine oil > Castrol POWER1 RACING 10W40

While there were some options out there, we wanted the FZ1 because it was powered by the R1 engine. What made us crave the FZ1 even more, was that it was powered by the 2004 R1 mill which meant 5-valves per cylinder.

998cc, 20 valves, liquid-cooled inline-4 capable of making almost 150 bhp and 106 Nm of torque… and the deft hands of Yamaha’s engineers to make a splendid chassis. The result was a motorcycle which found it really hard to keep its front wheel on the ground. But show it some corners and it could handle itself just as well.

We had the pleasure of riding our FZ1, powered by Castrol POWER1, around India during the Grand Indian Roadtrip. We loved the R1 and the FZ1 was essentially a naked-R1… which made it a motorcycle which was even more fun to ride. We were so impressed that after the trip, we turned the FZ1 into the ‘Batman’ of the xBhp Garage during the Batman vs Predator project.

KTM 200 Duke

Adding this one to the xBhp Garage was a no brainer. It was the case with all the bikes that we have had here but it is KTM we are talking about. And that too a Duke. It is motorcycling personified. While all the other performance motorcycles were improving what we already had in the market, the KTMs came in and took it to a whole new level. 200cc may not seem a lot but 25 bhp of power, 19 Nm of torque propelling a motorcycle that weighed a mere 136 kg… wet! That is a whole lot.

199.5 cc | 25 Bhp | 19.2 Nm | Recommended engine oil > Castrol POWER1 CRUISE 15W50

The KTM 200 Duke was, and still is, one of the most proficient motorcycles in the market. It is a darn hooligan on the street, a more than respectable tool on the racetrack and for the ones who like to stunt… IT IS PERHAPS THE BEST THERE IS IN THE CATEGORY.

A lot of people had a lot to say about the 200 Duke but none of it mattered once they swung a leg over it. The powerful and peppy engine, the beautiful chassis complemented by aggressive geometry and the niche it had carved out for itself made sure that the 200 Duke earned a whole lot of fans and buyers… us included.

Another testimony to the sheer brilliance of this motorcycle is that despite being accompanied by a couple of superbikes on the Grand Indian Roadtrip, our Castrol POWER1 fed 200 Duke never gave out the slightest hint of being dull which, to be honest, is saying something!

Suzuki Hayabusa

Now that we are here, we realize that this was the real no-brainer. A motorcycle with a cult following ever since it first came out, and a statement on so many levels that it is hard to keep up with? We had to have it in the xBhp Garage. We did… and we still do. It recently went out of production and we did a tribute to it which you can read here.

1,340 cc | 195 Bhp | 154 Nm | Recommended engine oil > Castrol POWER1 RACING 10W40

Now, to say it all started (in India) with Dhoom would be factually wrong. Those who knew motorcycles, were aware of the legend of the Falcon even before the movie came out. The movie just took its story to the masses. Suddenly, everyone knew that there was a motorcycle called Hayabusa and that it was insanely fast.

But to a motorcyclist, the Busa is more than just a fast motorcycle. Not to take anything away from it in the speed department (it was one of the culprits behind The Gentlemen’s Agreement), but it is just a mechanical marvel.

From the handling to the performance (197 bhp of it), and, of course, the attention, the Falcon is a worthy addition to the xBhp Garage. And our love for it has made the Busa see through 3 pan-India roadtrips; The Collector’s Ride, The 02 Ride, and most recently, the #RoadtripUnited. And with the prowess of Castrol POWER1 behind it, it is still going strong.