Bikes of 2015: 500-900cc

1.) Harley Davidson Street 500: 

Expected Price: Rs 3.9 lakh

Expected Launch: Mid-2015  

At the 2014 Auto Expo, Harley Davidson launched the Street 750. And it came in at an extremely competitive price of Rs. 4.10 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). But this created a lot of curiosity amongst the enthusiast junta about the Harley Davidson Street 500 and the price that it will come at. The Street 500 will be based on the same chassis and will sport the smallest displacement engine to come off the Harley stable – the Revolutuion X 494cc liquid-cool V-twin engine. It is essentially the same engine that works force in the Street 750 but has been detuned to make 40Nm instead of 60Nm. However, the weight of the Street 500 will be the same as its elder sibling. In the looks department too, the Street 500 will be identical to the Street 750. 

2.) Honda CBR650F:

Expected Price: Rs 5 lakh

Expected Launch: March 2015 

After establishing a stronghold in the scooter market, Honda is now set to turn its eye on something a little more powerful. The Japanese motorcycle maker unveiled the CBR650F at the 2014 Auto Expo and said that it will bring the bike to India via the CKD route. The sport-tourer that looks akin to the litre-class CBR will surely appeal to the fairing-fixated Indian audience. The CBR650F will sport a 649cc liquid cooled inline 4-cylinder that makes 87PS and 63Nm. This means that the Honda offering has an advantage of 15PS over its arch rival, the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and in terms of torque rating it’s just one Nm down. In fact, the CBR650F will also gain an advantage thanks to ABS being offered as standard equipment. Expected to be launched around the Rs 5 lakh marker, the CBR650F will surely make for a very intriguing proposition in this segment. 

3.) Kawasaki Vulcan S:

Expected Price: Rs 4.5 lakh

Expected Launch: Mid-2015 

After officially unveiling the Versys 650 and the ER-6n, Kawasaki took the wraps off its cruiser offering, the Vulcan S. With complete understanding the Harley Davidson Street 750 is the only bike in this segment, Kawasaki is intends to get a piece of the pie with the Vulcan S. Powering the Vulcan S will be the same 650cc liquid-cooled parallel twin motor that has already proved its mettle in the Ninja 650 and the ER-6n. The Vulcan S will produce 62PS and 62Nm and will come mated to a 6-speed transmission. The Kawasaki Vulcan S employs the pipe perimeter frame as seen on the new Versys 650. But the rake angle has been hiked to 31-degree to endow the bike with a longer wheelbase to suit its cruiser dynamics. The Kawasaki Vulcan S has a fuel tank capacity of 14 litres and it weighs in at 226kg. Given that the Vulcan S has been priced at Rs 4.52 lakh and Rs 4.28 lakh for the ABS and the non-ABS version respectively, we expect it to come here at an extremely competitive price point too. 

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4.) Benelli TNT600i

Expected Price: Rs 6 lakh

Expected Launch: March 2015 

In October last year, Benelli announced with the DSK Group, they will bring their entire range of motorcycles to India. From their line-up, one of the most awaited motorcycles is the TNT 600i. Set to go against the already launched Kawasaki ER-6n, the Benelli TNT 600i with its sensational looks and intricate detailing is sure to please motorcycle enthusiasts. It sports a 600cc inline 4-cylinder unit capable of 83PS and 52Nm. The heart is refined and can easily rev right up its red line. It’s a mean sounding machine even in its stock form, something that is sure to attract a lot of buyers. But despite being an inline-four, Benelli will have to price the TNT 600i very smartly especially considering that the Italian marquee isn’t widely known in the Indian market. 

5.) Benelli TNT 600GT

Expected Price: Rs 6 lakh

Expected Launch: March 2015 

Along with the TNT 600i, Benelli will also introduce the TNT 600GT in the Indian market. This one essentially sports the same 600cc inline-four unit from its sibling, but boasts of a different body style altogether. Mainly focused for the touring junta, the TNT 600GT has a fairing, a comfortable riding position, a 27-litre tank and panniers at the rear for storing luggage. These panels will come as standard equipment in the TNT 600GT. While the market for this kind of a motorcycle is pretty niche, if Benelli manages to bring in at the right price, it can still give the Kawasaki Ninja 650 a run for its money.

6.) Benelli TNT899

Expected Price: Rs 7.5 lakh

Expected Launch: March 2015 

This will be Benelli’s third offering in the middle-weight segment, once again a naked. But just like the 600s, this one too will face some stiff competition from the likes of the Triumph Street Triple and the Kawasaki Z800. Motorcycles in this class have been successful in India in the recent past which allows an opening for a new reliable manufacturer like Benelli. The TNT 899 is powered by an 899cc inline three-cylinder mill that churns out an impressive 122PS and 88Nm, which is marginally higher than the Z800. In the looks department too, the TNT 899 scores well thanks to a beefy   and chiselled fuel tank, stubby mudguard, aggressively styled headlamps chunky tank shrouds and tubular frame. Simply considering the specification sheet, the design and the detailing, the TNT899 has what it takes to tap this segment just right as long as they price it right. 

7.) Ducati 899 Panigale: 

Expected Price: Rs 14 lakh

Expected Launch: Late 2015

Ducati took the wraps off the 899 Panigale, the replacement to the 848 EVO at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013. This year, with the Italian marquee set to officially come to India, the 899 Panigale will also be launched as part of its line-up.  Visually, the 899 Panigale looks identical to its elder sibling, the 1199 Panigale. In fact, it shares the same chassis too. As far as the heart is concerned, although the name suggests 899, the new “Desmoquadro” engine displaces 898cc from the L-win pumping an insane 150PS and 99Nm. What’s more, at 169kg it weighs just as much as a Kawasaki Z250 translating to an insane 880PS/ton. The 899 has been priced at $14,995 (Rs 9.64 lakh) for the red with black rims model and $15,295 (Rs 9.83 lakh) for white with black rims trim but in the Indian market it is expected to be launched at around Rs 14 lakh. 

8.) Ducati Scrambler:

Expected Price: Rs 7 lakh

Expected Launch: Mid 2015

In an exclusive chat with Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati, ZigWheels learnt that Ducati will introduce the Scrambler in Spring 2015. Going by that, it is expected that the Italian brand will mark its re-entry in India with the Scrambler. The Ducati Scrambler made its public debut at the 2014 INTRMOT show in Cologne, Germany. The Scrambler will be offered in four variants - Icon, Urban Enduro, Full Throttle and Classic - each offering its own style and performance-related interpretation of the Scrambler spirit. The Scrambler will sport the same engine as the Monster 796 V-twin but in this state of tune it will displace 803cc. The Scrambler will make 76PS of power and 66Nm of peak torque. ABS will be offered as standard on all the four models.  The Ducati Scrambler will take on the likes of the Kawasaki Z800 and the Triumph Street Triple in the Indian market. 

9.) Ducati Monster 821

Expected Price: Rs 8 lakh

Expected Launch: Mid 2015

Following the international unveil of the Monster 1200 at the 2013 EICMA show in Milan, Ducati then shifted focus to its middle-weight monster. Replacement to the Monster 796, this one will share its heart with the Hyperstrada and Hypermotard. Powering the new Monster is an 821cc, Testastretta, liquid-cooled motor churning out 113PS of power and torque rating of 90Nm. Mated to a six-speed transmission, the Monster 821 will be based on a tubular steel trellis frame. In terms of design the 821 will be similar to its elder sibling, the Monster 1200. On its launch, the Monster 821 is expected to be priced marginally higher than the outgoing Monster 796.