Team ZigWheels Dream Garage For The Price Of One Kawasaki Ninja H2R

The recently launched, track-only 2021 Kawasaki Ninja H2R costs an eye-watering Rs 79,90,000. Now that’s a lot of money for a single motorcycle. Having said that, it definitely deserves such premium pricing because it isn’t easy to engineer an insane 326PS supercharged motorcycle that’s capable of reaching 400kmph! We couldn’t help but wonder what us plebs would choose if we had close to Rs 80 lakh in our account. Here’s our dream list:

Kartikeya’s Garage

Suzuki Hayabusa 3rd Gen: I got the second-gen Hayabusa right before the axe fell. And I’m very happy I did, the purity of the engine, the minimalism of its electronic package, and the versatility of its performance were all pluses in my books. So, what could make me happier? Having the third-gen stand right alongside it! For the quickshifter, for the new look, for the lean angle display. To see it in the mirrors of the 2nd gen (or vice versa) goosebumps, everytime.

Honda Africa Twin (Manual): Sweet! I know you could say this for (almost!) every Honda, but the Africa Twin hits a sweet spot that is just so hard to find. It isn’t creamy, it isn’t rabid either, but it is absolutely tireless - I once did the run from Udaipur to Pune, got caught in pouring rain, got stuck in Mumbai traffic (duh!) and yet got home fresh enough to head out for dinner with the family. And when you go off-road, it feels dirt-y! Yumm. But, I'd like the manual please. Sorry, not sorry. 

Aprilia RSV4 RF: It really is the silver bullet for better lap times. I’ll admit chasing lap times is something that sits on the periphery of my vision. But, the RSV4 brings them to the front and centre, because it never brandishes its immense abilities like a blunt weapon, instead it wields them with delicacy and precision. The result, a oneness that’s all the more impressive considering the bones of the RSV aren’t exactly young. Oh, yes, the lap times come through too. 

KTM 450 SX-F: For the braap! I fear this motorcycle more than the others on this list, because I have spent the least time on it. It can bang down iron-clad, spiked-with-nails doors that would make my heart bleed at the very sight of them, metaphorically. Literally, it can climb mountains, leap boldly, charge tirelessly; I can’t. Which means, like friends do, it will drag me into unasked-for adventures; and hopefully, like an excellent friend would, it will haul me out of them - a wiser and better me than before. 

Priyadarshan’s Garage

I’ve never been much of a “dream garage” guy. But the thought of the price of the Kawasaki Ninja H2R to play with, i.e. Rs 80 lakh, certainly is tempting enough to start contemplating one. While those who know me would guess I’d be looking forward to getting my (imaginary) hands on a Honda CB500X, I’ll start this list with the 500X’s elder brother - the Honda Africa Twin DCT. At Rs 17.50 lakh, it’s a bargain compared to the H2R, and in this dream scenario, I’d keep the same amount aside to deck out the bike - panniers, lights, crash protection… the works! Why DCT? Well, that would make it convenient enough to be a giant Activa for the grocery runs on the days it’s not being used to travel across the country.

Then of course, I would love to get my hands on a Ninja ZX-14R. Why? Because it’s literally a sofa capable of doing 300+kmph. But since I can’t get one of those in India right now, I’d ‘settle’ for the new Hayabusa (Rs 13.80 lakh).

For my usual style of riding, which favours hooning over sense, I would’ve loved the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory. But with its BS6 version missing, looks like I’d have to go for something else with a similar attitude - the Ducati Streetfighter V4S, which would be about the same price - Rs 23 lakh.

That still leaves with me over Rs 25 lakh in my kitty, which in theory is more than enough to get my hands on a used 600cc supersport bike (maybe an old Honda CBR600RR), do it up properly and keep it at a racetrack like MMRT for the occasional track day.

Oh… and whatever remains will certainly need to go towards gear… and maybe some track lessons!

Arun’s Garage

I am so middleclass that I have never even dreamed of owning motorcycles worth Rs 80 lakh, let alone owning the Kawasaki Ninja H2R. But with Rs 80 lakh in my account waiting to be splurged, time to let my imagination run loose!

My first pick would have been the Ninja H2, because you get to experience almost 70 percent performance and dynamics of the H2R for less than half the price but it isn’t on sale currently. So I shall walk directly into a Ducati dealership and get myself the Streetfighter V4 for the simple reason that it’s fast, naked (paunch friendly), 200PS plus V4 and looks rad! This won’t be the only Ducati I shall purchase as my next pick will be the new Diavel 1260 S. Why so? Because it’s the most pointless and one of the most iconic cruisers ever made and I dig that. 

After making my wallet lighter by Rs 44.50 lakh and making the Ducati dealer super happy, I shall head to BMW Motorrad. To satiate my trackday hunger, I will buy the BMW S 1000 RR Pro variant (Rs 21.40 lakh). You might wonder why I didn’t opt for the Pro M Sport and the simple reason is carbon fibre wheels and Indian roads aren’t a good combo. I have an L-Twin, V4 and an in-line-four in my garage, how does a triple sound? 

Among the big ADVs that I have ridden, my favourite is the Ducati Multistrada 1260S and since that isn’t available, the Triumph Tiger 900 GT (Rs 13.70 lakh) will suffice my touring needs. Before my ADV fiends are up in arms questioning why I didn’t opt for the Honda Africa Twin or the BMW R 1250 GS, my answer is simple, I haven't ridden them yet. So that’s my dream garage at Rs 79.60 lakh, I saved Rs 40,000, my middle-class parents would be so happy.

Jehan’s Garage

Rs 80 lakh for a dream garage! That’s some serious money. And if I ever were to build a dream garage for that sort of moolah I would allocate at least one-eighth of that budget for tyres. With the remaining Rs 70 lakh, I would obviously first pick up a great track tool. It would have to be something Italian and technologically superior. But instead of the Ducati Panigale V4 S, I would rather have the Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory. It's far saner, and a great tool to improve my track-riding skills. 

I would also have two adventure motorcycles, the Ducati Multistrada 950 S for fun on tarmac and my current long-termer the Hero XPulse 200 with the Rally Kit. A Triumph Street Triple R as a daily rider would be an awesome addition to the garage. 

Lastly, as a retro buff and a bawa that loves British twins, I would love to have the Triumph Thruxton R. But since the cafe racer isn’t likely to arrive again, I would happily settle for its sportster sibling, the Speed Twin, instead. Now, that’s quite a garage, wouldn’t you agree?

Praveen’s Garage

I’m more of a cruiser and off-road enthusiast than a track junkie. When Triumph unveiled the Bonneville Bobber back in October 2016, I instantly fell in love with the motorcycle. The minimalistic yet drop-dead gorgeous design with painstaking attention-to-detail made me wish for one real bad. And now that the 2021 iteration is out, I’d buy not one but two Bobbers! One of them will be a fully kitted-out version that costs around Rs 14.1 lakh, that will be used for my rides. The other one would be a bone stock motorcycle (Rs 11.75 lakh) sealed in a glass box in the middle of my living room. I can never get tired of appreciating how beautiful this motorcycle is.

I’d then buy a Triumph Rocket 3 (Rs 19.35 lakh) because it is one of the most ridiculous production cruisers out there. Its earth-warping torque, humongous engine, loads of technology makes it truly a force to reckon with. And then, the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 (Rs 20.90 lakh) will cater to my whims of craving for some V-twin powered goodness. Being The Terminator’s motorcycle, it’d really make you feel Bad to the Bone!  

My next motorcycle would be the Honda CB650R (Rs 8.67 lakh), another beautifully designed in-line four-cylinder 650cc naked. My ideal choice for grocery runs and intra-city travel would be the practical yet immensely capable and tech-laden Ather 450X (Rs 1.46 lakh). I’d probably shuttle between the Honda and the Ather for my local commutes depending on my mood. Lastly, I’d go with the Honda CRF300L for my off-road needs. The Thai-spec bike costs an equivalent of Rs 3.42 lakh, so after all these purchases, I’d still have around Rs 17,000 left, which I'd use for fuel.  

Gaurav’s Garage 

You’d have to be an absolute lunatic to spend around Rs 80 lakh on the Kawasaki Ninja H2R. Why splurge on ONE bike that can only be ridden on the track when you can build a dream garage with the same money. 

I’ve always dreamt of owning an Italian exotic, and I can’t think of anything as breathtakingly beautiful or emotive as the MV Agusta Superveloce S. Sure, it’s no 200PS screamer but it’s motorcycle art at its best! That’s 23,600 euros (Rs 20.84 lakh) spent, but worth every penny.

Next up is what can only be considered as a hooligan in the streetfighter segment, the KTM 1290 Super Duke R. A bike that loves pulling wheelies with every gear shift and turns in like a track bike. The preferred choice for most of my rides. Another GBP 21,499 (approximately Rs 22 lakh) burnt.

Of course, no garage is complete without an ADV. And the Dakar-inspired Yamaha Tenere 700 would be the perfect fit here in my opinion. It’s pretty reasonable too at $9,999 (Rs 7.3 lakh). Still plenty left. I’d spend about 18 lakh on a Gooseneck trailer to ferry these bikes around if and when I need to. The rest I’d keep aside for some good gear, and spares.

Punya’s Garage

If I had Rs 80 lakh to spare, my garage would consist of a Ducati Panigale V4 S (for track duties), a Triumph Street Triple 765 RS (for weekend stints), a BMW S 1000 XR (to go the distance and explore uncharted roads), a used Suzuki GSX-R1000R (for the sake of fanboy in me) and a KTM 390 Duke for office and Anda-bread runs.

In addition to these, I’d also like to prepare a track-only Triumph Daytona 675R, solely for racing in championships. Considering I’ll still have money to spare, I’d invest that into something fruitful. After all, bikes like these don’t run cheap!

Pratik’s Garage

Rs 80 lakh is a lot of money and considering it's hypothetical, I’d splurge. Making sure to have one of each kind, my list includes the Ducati Panigale V4S (track only). A pre-owned BMW R NineT Racer that I’ve been peeping at for the past year near my college vicinity. 

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A Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled to hoon around and a Hero Xpulse 200 to work on my off-roading capabilities. Considering I pack light while travelling, the BMW F 900 XR should do the job. Lastly, a Husqvarna FS 450 (imported obviously) for the nearby go-kart track. This certainly won’t be goldilocks of a garage, but for the given budget, I’d be a happy kid. 

Manaal’s Garage

Right off the bat, Rs 15 lakh would be reserved for spares and customisation. To satiate the track nut in me, a used Triumph Daytona 675R would do the trick. As much as I fantasize having a 200PS missile between my legs, I prefer splurging on what I’ll end up doing more than track sessions.

Touring in boxes (read buses, trains and planes) is fine, but nothing beats exploring Mother Earth on two wheels. And what could be a better companion for that than the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure? Not only will it be apt for touring, but can even tackle harcore trails. 

For the everyday hustle and some spirited riding, I wouldn’t look beyond the Triumph Street Triple R for its easy-going nature. The remaining moolah will be used for project builds based on a Yamaha RX-100 and a Royal Enfield Continental GT.

Sudipto’s Garage

First things first, considering my teeny tiny parking space is already chock full with my Dad’s ’88 Kinetic Honda DX, my ’97 Yamaha RX-Z, ’17 KTM Duke 390 and my [car name redacted] I’ll already need to stash some money on the side to grease the palms of my housing society’s board-members. That way, they can turn a blind eye at a few exotic bikes taking up space in the visitors’ parking area. Now, getting to the matter at hand, I am yet to ride any of the bikes I’ll be mentioning here. But then again, I am yet to spot Rs 80 lakh in my bank account, so there!

Ahem, anyway, I’ll start off by adding another Katoomer to my garage, with the KTM 790 Adventure (Rs 13-14 lakh). Considering how good the all-around nature of this mid-size ADV has proved to be, I’ll use it as my daily runabout!

Next I’ll get my paws on a used Royal Enfield Continental GT 650, and tack an 865cc big-bore kit onto it. The total cost of this endeavour would be somewhere in the Rs 7-8 lakh bracket. This bike will be used chiefly as a track weapon, and I’d imagine it’ll stick out as a sore thumb in a lineup that usually witnesses edgy shapes and exotic, usually Italian names. 

Speaking of track bikes, though, I would be remiss not to mention the Triumph Daytona 675. Yes not the 'R. I’m not the picky sort, and the only difference between the two is the Ohlins pogos, which is anyway lost on a not-so-extreme rider like me. I’d reckon a well-maintained pre-owned example, along with an Arrow exhaust, full HotBodies race fairing and R&G crash protection et al can be had for around Rs 12 lakh. 

And finally, I’d plonk for a BMW R 1250 GS. Why? The king of ADVs, of course! Perfect for covering massive distances over any road condition in absolute comfort (considering the wife would be riding pillion) and a huge (literally) head turner on our roads. 

Well, that leaves me with about Rs 25 lakh still in my pocket, enough to cover the costs for the periodic service, tyres, top-of-the-line gear, and track lessons and fees (and there’s also hush money to account for, remember?).