American motorcycle brand Cleveland
CycleWerks will be the latest foreign motorcycle maker to step into India. And
mind you, as the appetite for unconventional motorcycles is beginning to rise
in India, the focus seems to be shifting on motorcycles which are a little different
from the ones already selling in the country.
The Cleveland CycleWerks
launch plans come close on the heels of Avantura Choppers announcing the launch
of their 2000cc chopper style motorcycles in India recently. Mumbai headquartered
Avantura Choppers have roped in the legendary Kevin Alsop (Founder of Big Bear
Choppers, USA) as the Chief Design Engineer of the brand.
Now it is the turn of Cleveland
CycleWerks India which will venture into the Indian auto market soon with its
affordable retro-inspired American bikes at the Auto Expo 2018. Producing bikes
since 2009, Cleveland has established itself as a strong brand in a short span
of time globally with distribution across 23 countries and has now entered India
in collaboration with Laish Madison Motor Werks Private Limited (LMMW) to offer
high-quality and affordable motorcycles for its India consumers. Headquartered
in Mumbai, the brand has a fully integrated assembly facility in Pune.
Cleveland CycleWerks India will be offering
models like the Ace, a retro-classic commuter, the Misfit, a café-racer and a
dirt bike that goes by the name of FXr. These would be followed by the Heist
and Hooligun.
The Misfit is a 250cc
juggernaut that comes with a massive 320mm front rotor, and inverted forks with
tunable valve stacks that turn the roughest roads into a sweet ride. As for the
Ace, it’s considered as a 9-5er, speed fiend, family man, road warrior, cool
rider which can be used as a scrambler to get off the beaten path, a café-racer
to get the selfie crowd pouting or even commute to work on it-if only to cut
travel time by intimidating other vehicles into submission.
With its distinctive
minimalist dials, aluminium wheels and 300 mm front rotor and heart-thumping
power pack, it's equally effective at stopping traffic and getting away from
it. The FXR brings high-adrenalin biking to the streets. Deceptively skinny,
with the gas tank concealed in the frame, the FX is delightfully nimble on its
21’ front and rear wheels. 125cc of pure adrenalin on tap makes this a fun and
versatile ride, whether you’re wheelie-ing your way to and from work or bouncing
across a mountain trail on a weekend jaunt.
Cleveland’s American-branded
motorcycles are ergonomically designed with superior technology, classic
retro-inspired design, and affordable price point. The FXx model was released
worldwide in late 2014 (2015MY) with the 110cc auto-clutch motor, kick start
only. Customers in SE Asia and Japan
asked for a on-road version.
The FXR sets a new direction
for Cleveland's modern line of bikes.
Cleveland's FX models fill a niche need in the market, smaller, lighter,
skinnier, less complex and less competition focused then the current mainstream
offering. The FXx is a focused offroad
and track bike, it is not however, squarely focused on competition 250cc class
racing.
The FX is a unique product
that is focused on fun for the other 99% of people who are not competing in a
250cc class race. Some of the unique features
are the FXx and FXr: 21-21"
aluminum wheels, weight 85KG (187lbs) wet.
The FX has a tremendous amount of ground clearance at 360mm
(14.2"). Rear Swing arm is high
tensile strength steel. The steel frame
doubles as the gas tank. The company has
added electric start for 2016/17, all motors are now 125cc hand clutch. The FXR has a longer rear subframe to
accommodate the rear lights, fender and plate mount. There is a digital dash on the FXr with gear
indicator, tachometer and warning lights.
All bikes now come with
non-adjustable inverted forks, and mono shock in the rear. The FXr comes with a fully adjustable rear
piggyback shock. The company is
producing the 110cc auto clutch version for outside the USA in both FXx and FXr
variants.