Two-wheeler market leader Hero Honda today pipped rival Bajaj Auto in launching the country's first motorcycle fitted with the fuel injection technology instead of the age-old carburettor.

Hero Honda today launched the 125-cc Glamour with the new technology and priced it at Rs 49,990 or Rs 5,500 more than the same model with carburettor.

Company executives said that though the price rise over the existing version of Glamour was steep, the increase was warranted by other new features such as the fuel mileage indicator fitted in the new model.

Both Hero Honda and Bajaj Auto were in a race to launch the country's first motorcycle with fuel injection technology that will enable better fuel economy and cleaner emission.

While Hero Honda has created record of sorts by bringing this 'car technology' into a low-end motorcycle, Bajaj Auto is planning to introduce it in its high-end version Pulsar. The motorcycle in which Bajaj Auto will introduce this technology is likely to be the 230cc Pulsar.

Interestingly Bajaj Auto today started advertising its new fuel injection bike with limited details. Leading newspapers in the country today carried advertisements of the new Pulsar DTSi-FI, the launch date for which is yet to be announced.

Hero Honda executives refused to fix any sales target for the latest launch. Company executives said that based on market response, the fuel injection system will be made a common feature for other models from its stable. No decision has been taken to phase out the existing version of the Glamour.

"Phasing out a model for is always based on customer response," said Pawan Munjal, managing director, Hero Honda.

The new technology is also the company's first step towards getting ready for stricter emission norms that will come into force in the country after 2010.

Discussing the issue of rising inputs costs at the sidelines of the media conference to announce the new model, Munjal said Hero Honda was not contemplating raising prices.

He said despite rising input costs increasing production costs, the company had chosen to absorb the hike.