Expected to cost Rs 20-25 lakh, the Avantura bikes will be built locally using imported high-spec components.
27 Oct 2017 | 10060 Views | By Rishaad Mody
Avantura Choppers aims to be India’s first ultra-premium motorcycle brand that will specialise in chopper-style motorcycles. Choppers are an American style of custom bike that feature massively raked-out front ends, a long body and generally a very fat rear tyre. These bikes have traditionally been the darlings of the custom ...
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Avantura Choppers aims to be India’s first ultra-premium motorcycle brand that will specialise in chopper-style motorcycles. Choppers are an American style of custom bike that feature massively raked-out front ends, a long body and generally a very fat rear tyre. These bikes have traditionally been the darlings of the custom world, and despite seeing their formative years in the 1950s, they are still fairly popular today.
The first lot of Avantura bikes is currently under final stages of ARAI approval and the company hopes to begin sales by this quarter. The brand was set up by enthusiasts Gaurav Aggarwal and Vijay Singh and the motorcycles will be assembled at a facility in Vasai, outside Mumbai. Aggarwal is the CEO, while Singh is the chief revenue officer. The chief design officer is Kevin Alsop, the man behind the once famous American brand, Big Bear Choppers which was hit hard during the 2008 recession.
Alsop should bring in his experience with authentic chopper-style and build, but Avantura says these bikes have been developed with the Indian market in mind. That could mean that ground clearance should be reasonably usable and the suspension could be set-up for more pliancy than other custom machines, to make it better suited for our roads.
As for the bikes, not much is known for now, but there will two variants on sale initially. These will likely be differentiated by design with perhaps a slightly different engine tune. The company has declined to share more details at the moment but will reveal more information soon.
The choppers will be built using high-spec components sourced from overseas brands that specialise in this kind of work. Powering the bike will be V-twin engines that displace around 2,000cc, the largest ever from an Indian company.
The motors will be sourced from S&S, an American brand with over 50 years of experience in building multiple high-performance solutions, including full engines for V-twin cruisers and custom bikes. The transmission will be a six-speed unit by American brand, Rivera, while the suspension will come from another USA-based brand, Progressive. Tyres are sourced from Avon, brake calipers from French manufacturer Beringer and turn signals from German firm, Kellerman.
The Avanturas appear to offer the right ingredients for a high-end product and the price will reflect this. We believe these bikes will be priced between Rs 20-25 lakh (ex-showroom). However, many details are still unclear at this point, including how the bikes will be sold and what the set-up will be for service support and warranty.