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New Delhi Auto Expo 2012 – Motorcycle Manufacturers Draw Battle Lines for World’s Second Largest Market

In past years, the biennial Auto Expo in India slipped under the radar while the industry was focused more on shows such as EICMA in Italy and Intermot in Germany. But with India’s middle class starting to flex its financial muscle while other markets continue to struggle, the New Delhi show is becoming much more prominent, with major OEMs positioning themselves to claim a piece of the India’s 13 million vehicles-a-year market. We’ve already looked at India-produced Royal Enfield’s new Thunderbird 500 and Hero Moto’s hybrid scooter concept which debuted at the Auto Expo, and today we’ll look at what the major international OEMs presented.

US Motorcycle Thefts Down 6% in 2011

Americans reported 46,667 motorcycle thefts in 2011, a 6% decrease from 49,791 stolen motorcycles in 2010, reports the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Despite the drop in reported thefts, the non-profit organization representing nearly 1100 property and casualty insurance companies says the theft rate still averages out to one motorcycle stolen every 11 minutes in the U.S. The numbers were published in the NICB’s 2011 ForeCAST Report which examined theft reports as well as recoveries.

Want to Buy the Pope’s Harley?

In February, Bohnams auction house in Paris will allow both the Catholic and the Harley faithful to bid on a Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide owned by none other than Pope Francis, himself. Given to the Pope last year as part of the Harley-Davidson 110th anniversary celebration, the bike was unlikely to become the Popecycle because of the security required to protect the pontiff. The Pope donated the Dyna to the Roman Catholic charity Caritas Roma but not before signing the tank with “Francesco” at a special ceremony at the Vatican last November.