Hero Honda launches FI tech on 125 cc 'Glamour' bike, in India

New Delhi, June 26 (UNI) Two-wheeler manufacturer Hero Honda today launched the Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) technology, a first for two-wheelers in India, with the 125 cc 'Glamour' bike, and cited improved drivability as its USP.

''The PGM-FI technology will entail environment-friendly bikes which can meet the most stringent emission norms of the future, and will include improved drivability and better fuel efficiency,'' Hero Honda Motors Chairman Brijmohan Lall told reporters here.

The FI technology, which has been used in cars till now, is currently available in Japan and across South East Asia in the bigger bikes, but will now be availabe for smaller two-wheelers in India.

The 125 cc 'Glamour' FI model, available in two variants -- Drum Kick Base model and the fully loaded Disc self, is priced at Rs 49,990 and Rs 53,990 ex-showroom Delhi, respectively, and will cost Rs 5,500 more than the Glamour bike.

Asked about why the 125 cc 'Glamour' was chosen for the launch of this technology, MD Pawan Munjal said the model entailed lower costs for the technology and would be more affordable. ''We are looking to extend this technology across all our other models in a phased manner, depending on the response it generates.'' The FI technology is presently available in 67 big cities and is dispatched to 180 dealers across India in the first phase. It will be available for test drives from today.

''In the next couple of months, we will take the FI further to our remaining dealers,'' Mr Munjal said.

At present the FI technology kit will be imported from Japan, ''but as volumes pick up, we will make it more indigenous,'' he added.

Fuel Injection is an intelligent computer controlled Electronic system which scans critical engine operationg conditions through sensors and provides input to the Electronic Control Unit, to inject the accurate amount of fuel as per the requirement.

The other add-ons available with FI include a Real Time Mileage Indicator (RTMI) that displays the average mileage for the preceeding 10 seconds, a Bank Angle Sensor, a safety measure introduced for the first time in India, that will cut off fuel supply and ignition if the bike falls over, and an easy start in all weather conditions, including very high altitudes.

The overall two-wheeler market has been growing rapidly and is expected to jump 17 per cent at 8,500,000 units from 7,300,000 units in 2005.

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