10 Motorcycles We Wish To See In India

The motorcycle market in India has finally come of age and there are various factors that could be attributed to this. One of them is the trickling down of technology from bigger bikes to more affordable ones. Another reason is the introduction of affordable middleweights with performance that is adequate enough for Indian roads as well as them bridging the gap between small capacity bikes to 1000+ cc ones. Despite all these developments, there are a few motorcycles that haven’t reached our shores yet. Here’s a compilation of bikes that we think would be apt for our Indian market.

Honda CB500X:

Honda has always been known for its innovative products and the CB500X is undoubtedly one of them. Armed with a refined DOHC twin-cylinder 471cc engine, adventure tourer stance with a comfortable single-piece seat, adjustable windscreen, LED headlamps and a pro-link monoshock suspension, the bike is tech-laden and how! Braking duties are taken care by a combination of 320mm disc brakes at the front and 240mm at the rear with optional ABS. The upswept exhaust also ensures good water wading capabilities. Another interesting feature is the information-rich digital instrument console. All these coupled with a reasonable seat height of 807mm make this bike apt for Indian roads. To put it into perspective, the seat height of this bike is just 7mm more than the Royal Enfield Himalayan!

Yamaha NMax:

Yamaha’s maxi scooter, the NMax is equipped with a liquid-cooled, fuel injected single-cylinder 155cc engine that’s good for 15PS of power at 8000rpm and 14.4Nm of torque at 6000rpm. The design has been inspired from its bigger cousin, the TMax, and the scooter is anchored by 230mm discs on both ends. The scooter also features twin rear shocks, traditional front forks and a digital instrument console, apart from a large 6.6-litre fuel tank capacity. If launched in India, the NMax’s radical look along with an equally potent engine could make this scooter a worthy successor to the legendary Kinetic Blaze.

Honda X-ADV:

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When the go-anywhere capability of an adventure motorcycle meets the convenience of a scooter, the Honda X-ADV is born! The scooter is powered by a 745cc, liquid-cooled, SOHC 8-valve, parallel twin-cylinder engine which puts out 54.7PS of power at 6250rpm and 68Nm of torque at 4750rpm. The scooter gets top-notch parts like pro-link rear suspension, 41mm adjustable inverted forks with a massive 153mm of travel, dual front and single rear disc brakes with ABS, advanced six-speed dual clutch transmission, LED headlamps and tail lamps. The claimed fuel efficiency of this adventure scooter stands at 27.5 kmpl. Honda claims that with a tank capacity of 13.1 litres, the effective range is approximately 300 km. The X-ADV, if launched in India, could actually be the first factory scooter that’s equipped enough to let riders confidently explore the famed Leh-Ladakh region.

BMW R nineT Racer:

Cafe racers originated from the United Kingdom, but with the beautiful R nineT Racer, ze Germans have proved that they’ve mastered the art of making a classic looking sporty bike. BMW Motorrad has endowed this bike with the traditional air-cooled, twin-cylinder Boxer engine. The bike also sports BMW’s performance livery and to match the show with the go, the 1170cc engine produces 110.1PS of power at 7750rpm and116Nm at 6000rpm. The power is transferred to the rear wheel via a six-speed transmission linked to a robust shaft drive system. Suspension duties are taken care by a pair of traditional forks at the front and an adjustable monoshock at the rear. 

When it comes to safety, ABS is standard while Automatic Stability Control (ASC), which is BMW’s version of traction control unit, is optional. The combination of the peppy engine, aerodynamically designed fairing and sporty seat ensure the rider can cruise effortlessly at high speeds, all the while looking like a million dollars. If launched in India, the R Nine T could go head-to-head with Triumph Thruxton R, which currently has no competition in India.

Yamaha SCR950:

If you want a classic bike with American style V-twin and Japanese build quality, look no further. The SCR950 is powered by an air-cooled 942cc engine which is good for 49PS at 5400rpm and 73.3Nm of torque at 3400rpm. The power is fed to the rear wheel through a wide-ratio 5-speed transmission coupled with a low-maintenance belt drive. The bike uses a double cradle frame with a rigid engine mount system that offers nimble handling. The wide and tall handlebar, gas-charged rear suspension and the long bench seat ensure optimal comfort for the rider while going over uneven terrains. If the SCR950 comes to India, it could be a good alternative to the Ducati Scrambler, Triumph Street Twin and some Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Kawasaki Versys-X 300:

Small-capacity adventure bikes are perfect for India because of their inherent lightness and frugal nature. The Versys-X 300 is the smaller cousin of the Versys 650 and employs the same engine as found in the Ninja 300. The backbone-type frame uses high-tensile steel and the wheels are spoked ones. The off-road capability is further enhanced by front forks with 129mm of wheel travel and a rear Uni-trak suspension which offers 147.3mm of wheel travel. The bike is also equipped with ABS with disc brakes on both ends. The bike has a huge 17-litre fuel tank and Kawasaki claims the maximum range is over 385 km, if ridden with a light wrist. The Versys-X 300 could be a formidable opponent to the Royal Enfield Himalayan, which is currently the only budget adventure bike available on sale in India.

Honda Rebel 500:

Honda motorcycles are known to be refined, reliable and robust. The Rebel 500 is a bobber and is powered by the same 471cc liquid cooled parallel twin engine that’s found in the CBR 500R. Although Honda hasn’t revealed the power and torque figures, expect the bike to put out healthy numbers with ample bottom-end grunt. To give you a perspective, the CBR 500R makes 47.5PS of power and 43Nm of torque. The bike is anchored by disc brakes on both ends with optional ABS. When it comes to the suspension, the front uses conventional forks while the rear incorporates twin springs. If Honda brings the Rebel to India, we’re sure the bike will have a huge potential for touring and with Honda’s trademark build quality, those ride to the hills will sure be a breeze.

Yamaha MT-10:

Looking at the design of the Yamaha MT-10, it really does feel like the bike is the Devil’s incarnate. With sharp ridges and slashes, massive and muscular fuel tank with cowls on either sides, and those flashy neon green wheels, the bike seeks attention wherever it goes. The looks are complemented by an equally punchy performance thanks to the 998cc liquid cooled, in-line four-cylinder engine that churns out160.4PS of power at 11500rpm and 111Nm of torque at 9000rpm. The bike also uses top cycle parts like an aluminium deltabox frame with aluminium swingarm, inverted forks at the front and link-type monoshock at the rear, dual 320mm front discs and a single 220mm unit at the rear.

The bike is also loaded to the brim with modern technology like ABS, a switchable traction control system, quick-shifter, cruise control, three engine running modes and a slipper clutch. The ergonomics is also versatile enough for both relaxed cruising and aggressive riding. The MT-10 could be an ideal competitor to Kawasaki’s upcoming 2017 Z1000.

KTM 1290 Super Duke R:

The Duke range from KTM has revolutionised the Indian performance motorcycle segment. With explosive power and aggressive pricing, the Duke series has captured the Indian market like no other bike could. It is only reasonable that KTM should bring the mother of all Dukes - the 1290 Super Duke R to India. The Super Duke R is powered by 1301cc liquid-cooled, V-twin that makes a massive 176.5PS of power and 141Nm of torque. Damping duties are done by adjustable inverted forks at the front and an adjustable monoshock at the rear. Twin 320mm Brembo discs at the front and 240mm disc at the rear are standard on this bike.

The bike also features a single-sided swingarm and lightweight alloys for optimum handling. Technological aids include switchable ABS, traction control system, multiple riding modes, slipper clutch and a quickshifter. The Super Duke R, if launched in India, could rival the likes of BMW S1000 R, Ducati Monster 1200R, etc.

Honda Grom:

After Rajdoot GTS (also known as ‘Bobby’), it was Honda which resurrected the monkey bike segment in India with the Navi. The attractive pricing and funky looks won the hearts of many young enthusiasts. The Grom is Honda’s more powerful monkey bike. Powered by a 124.9cc air-cooled engine, the Grom was indeed a sprightly performer, thanks to its lightweight and compact dimensions. The bike is also equipped with modern inverted forks at the front, a rear monoshock and disc brakes at both ends. The Grom may not appeal to price-conscious, mature audiences but will certainly put a smile on the faces of young riders craving for some fun.

The Indian motorcycle market is evolving and in time, we could be lucky enough to enjoy some of these bikes on our shore!

Also read: 5 Most Affordable Faired Motorcycles In India