All the bikes to be rolled out of the company's stables would be in the range of 100cc to 180cc, company sources told UNI here.

``We have no plans as yet to address the higher-end segment, which has a very niche market. We want to address the mass market which is in the 100cc range,'' the sources added.

The company had earlier announced plans to enter the motorcycle segment in collaboration with its part-owner Piaggio SPA of Italy. They had planned to launch the Gilera range of customs bikes, modified to suit Indian conditions.

However, with the ongoing tiff between the two partners in LML -- Piaggio and the Kanpur-based Singhania, the project is likely to be delayed and even derailed.

``Though a final decision on the Gileralaunch has not been taken as yet, it is for sure that we would not be coming only with the custom bikes. We have to be present here with a mass product as customs bikes do not have a huge market,'' the sources said.

LML had earlier decided to roll out four motorcycle models in the 100cc to 125cc category by June 1999. The first two models, both in the 100cc category, were to be introduced in the first quarter of 1999, were to be in the 100cc category.

As per the company's original plans, the bikes were to be introduced with a local content level of around 85 per cent, to be raised to 100 per cent within a few months. The partners had even stated that they will be investing Rs 450 crore in the venture to churn out new models. Of this, Rs 225 crore has already been invested and the rest was to come this year.

But now with a legal battle on between the two partners, the fate of the project hangs in a balance. ``This battle would affect the cordial relations between Piaggio and LML and if the stand-off isnot resolved, it might have serious repercussions on the future of the joint venture,'' Piaggio sources said.

Piaggio India's resident manager Mario Emprin Gilardini has already said that the company would oppose any move by the Singhanias to buy out the Italian two-wheeler major's 23.6 per cent equity in LML.

The Singhania family has filed a suit in the Kanpur court against its joint venture partner seeking claim on its 23.6 per cent stakeholding in the company and to prevent Piaggio from selling it to an outsider.

But Piaggio has opposed this move stating that Singhania's interpretation of the joint venture agreement to exercise such an option on Piaggio's shareholding in LML was erroneous.

Gilardini, in a statement issued here, had said, ``Piaggio will oppose such interpretation of the joint venture agreement in all the necessary forums in order to safeguard its position, as India continues to represent a strategically important country in the ambit of Piaggio's internationalpresence.''

Presently, the Singhanias and Piaggio hold 23.6 per cent each in the company while financial institutions control around nine per cent equity and foreign institutional investors about seven per cent. The rest is with the public.