US based bike manufacturer Regal Raptor has announced plans to enter the Indian market via a Joint Venture with FaB Motors. Part of the Hyderabad based Rs. 600 crore Fabulous and Beyond (FaB) group, FaB Motors made the announcement during the recently concluded Hyderabad International Auto Show. Regal Raptor intends to invest close to Rs. 1,000 crores to setup a plant near Hyderabad to manufacture their range of cruiser and choppers. Regal Raptor isn’t a very well known brand worldwide and at just 25 years old, it does not have a rich history either, but is looking to establish itself in India and other countries by offering desirable yet affordable products to bike enthusiasts looking for a cheaper alternative to a Harley. They will be offering three bikes in the Indian market for now with production set to begin withing a year’s time. This the second American motorcycle manufacturer after UM to announce its plans to enter the Indian market this year.
MG Shahriq, managing director of FAB Motors said during the launch event, “Work on the manufacturing plant will begin in a couple of months. Phase-I of the project, which will churn out 500 bikes per shift a month, is expected to commence in a year from now.”
The three models that will be offered initially by Regal Raptor in India would be:
BOBBER
- Price: INR 3,33,000 (ex-showroom, Hyderabad)
- Engine: 320cc Twin Cylinder, 4-stroke, fuel injected, water cooled
- Power: 22.8bhp @ 8,500rpm
- Torque: 22Nm @ 6,500rpm
- Transmission: 5-speed
- Top Speed: 130kmph
DAYTONA 350
- Price: INR 3,23,000 (ex-showroom, Hyderabad)
- Engine: 320cc Twin Cylinder, 4-stroke, fuel injected, water cooled
- Power: 22.8bhp @ 8,500rpm
- Torque: 22Nm @ 6,500rpm
- Transmission: 5-speed
- Top Speed: 130kmph
DD-350E-9B
- Price: INR 2,96,000 (ex-showroom, Hyderabad)
- Engine: 320cc Twin Cylinder, 4-stroke, fuel injected, water cooled
- Power: 22.8bhp @ 8,500rpm
- Torque: 22Nm @ 6,500rpm
- Transmission: 5-speed
Based on what we can gather from the company’s hilariously worded description on their official webpage, the company was started by Mr Horse Zhang, the owner of Lifeng Group Ltd. and though, it is designed in the USA the main manufacturing base is in Shanghai, China from where it is exported to 39 countries worldwide. The units manufactured by the Indian plant setup by FaB Motors will export motorcycles to eight neighboring countries viz. Srilanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Yemen & Pakistan. The company plans to import units in CKD form and assemble them in India till the manufacturing plant is up and running. These bikes will be sold through 90 dedicated dealerships all across the country which should open up within a year.
Even though the logo is a bit too Harley-Davidson like, the name a bit dodgy (Fabulous and Beyond Motors), and the official webpage is infested with grammatical inaccuracies, what matters most is the final product that will go on sale. At the above mentioned price point it does seem like a very good deal and if FaB Motors and Regal Raptor manage to provide decent after sales and service support they could establish themselves as a serious contender in the Indian bike scene.
