2017 EICMA: Top 5 Motorcycles Coming To India

The late end of every year brings with it some of the most exciting times for motorcycle enthusiasts, as manufacturers head to Milan to showcase their best and latest work at the EICMA motorcycle show. Now, the big unveils have happened and we’ve witnessed all that the Milan motorcycle show had to offer this year. And with Europe and North America becoming rapidly saturated markets for bikes, India is fast turning into one of the top destinations for bike makers large and small. Of this eclectic mix, here’re the top five bikes that are coming to India next year.

Royal Enfield 650 Twins

It was no secret that Royal Enfield was developing a large capacity engine. Enthusiasts finally got to see the engine just days before EICMA, and it was soon followed by the unveiling of the two bikes the engine would be housed in, at EICMA itself.

RE’s 650cc parallel-twin mill represents the next chapter for the Indian manufacturer, which has been hard at work, trying to shed off its image of making unreliable machines with archaic technology. It produces 47.6PS of power and 53Nm of torque, and features a slip-assisted clutch. RE claims that it ought to do more than 130kmph in an unstressed manner on the highway, and be more refined and reliable in the long run.

Dubbed the Interceptor and the Continental GT 650, Royal Enfield’s new bikes represent a clear step up from its 350cc, 500 and 535cc offerings. And yet, they aren’t so powerful that they become intimidating for any existing or new customers. Their simplicity in design should ensure manufacturing costs are kept low and also allow for some aggressive pricing.

Sales will start in April 2018 in Europe, with India launch slated for later in the year.

Benelli Imperiale 400 and 402S

Among a surfeit of new models at EICMA, Benelli’s Imperiale 400 and 402S are the ones we came away the most interested in as they are the ones coming to India soonest, probably sometime in the middle of 2018.

The Imperiale 400 is a retro-styled naked, powered by an air-cooled, single-cylinder, fuel-injected 373.5cc engine that produces 20PS of peak power at 5500rpm and 28Nm of max torque at 3500rpm. Featuring a twin-pod instrument console, split seats, Monza-style fuel cap, lustrous dark red paintjob and liberal use of chrome, it is one of the coolest looking retro machines we‘ve seen in recent times, and certainly one of Benelli’s best designed products. It isn’t difficult to notice which bike was the inspiration for this new motorcycle, and it goes up against a bike that probably has the highest cult following in India.

On the other hand, the 402S is a power cruiser that comes powered by an inline-twin, liquid-cooled 400cc engine that is good for 40PS at 9000rpm and 35Nm at a heady 7000rpm. Featuring a teardrop-shaped headlamp, chunky radiator shroud, exposed trestle frame and weirdly placed floating rear turn indicators, it looks like a scaled-down XDiavel, and should appeal to enthusiasts of a similar lifestyle.

UM Scrambler X and Adventure TT

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UM Motorcycles took the wraps off its smallest engine yet: a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 125cc single, housed in the body of a scrambler bike. Titled Scrambler X, it gets spoke wheels with gold rims, off-road tyres, high-set front mudguard, bar-end mirrors, stomp grips on the fuel tank, two panniers, and what appears to be a tuned exhaust. It has long-travel USD forks at the front and a long-travel monoshock at the rear.

Featuring the same 125cc heart as the Scrambler X, the Adventure TT wears the garb of a cross country machine, a bit like the BMW F 650. It has a high-rise handlebar and large, almost vertical windscreen, half fairing, an analogue-digital instrument cluster and an aluminium rack at the rear. It is suspended on long-travel front and rear suspension and a high-set exhaust that should allow for trail riding.

Expect both bikes to come to India with bigger 300cc units when they do.

Triumph Tiger Lineup

The next generation Triumph Tiger 800 and 1200 lineup – the “Explorer” name has been laid to rest, RIP – might look like they got just incremental updates from the looks of it, but Triumph has actually given both lineups a raft of comprehensive updates. Both the engines have been revised to be more responsive and provide better off-road traction, low-speed manoeuvrability and acceleration. The first gear has been shortened and a lighter and better sounding exhaust has been added to provide freer flow of burnt petrol. Everything from ride-by-wire and cornering ABS to traction control and hill hold has been refined. Electricals like the electrically adjustable windscreen, heated grips and seats and power sockets have also been optimised for rider comfort and reliability. A new “Off-Road Pro” mode is now available on the off-road biased Tiger models. The Tiger 800 now gets a new TFT screen, new switchgear and cruise control, while the bigger Tiger gets cornering lamps, among other changes.

Since almost the entire Triumph Tiger range is sold in India, we expect the 2018 range to make their way to our shores soon, replacing the current models.

Kawasaki Z900 RS Café

Kawasaki put on quite the show at EICMA this year, with a bevy of new models and updates to existing ones. And one of the most interesting of this bunch was the new Z900 RS Café. Paying homage to the iconic Z1, the café racer has bolder colours and graphics, but that’s not just it. As you might’ve guessed, motive power comes from the 900cc motor of the Z900. The RS Cafe comes with KRTC traction control and an assist and slipper clutch. Suspension duties are handled by 41mm USD front forks and a horizontal rear monoshock. The Z900RS and Z900RS Café represent Kawasaki’s proper entry into the fast-growing modern classic biking scene.

So these are just a smattering of what is landing on our shores once we are past this winter. Time to save up!