Top 10 bike launches of 2015

1.)    Suzuki Gixxer SF: Last year, Suzuki launched the Gixxer and after a long time managed to bring in a great all-round product. In fact, it even bagged the 2014 Bike of the Year award from ZigWheels. This year, they put some more clothes on it and brought in the Gixxer SF. At the heart of things, the Gixxer SF gets a 154.9cc air-cooled unit that makes 14.8PS of power and 14Nm of torque. Launched at a little over Rs 83,000, the Gixxer SF became the most affordable fully faired-offering in the country. That, clubbed with a gem of an engine from its naked sibling and great handling dynamics, makes it a brilliant value-for-money proposition.

2.)    Bajaj Avenger Street 150: Just like Suzuki, Bajaj Auto took the game up a notch with the launch of the most affordable cruiser in India. Along with the launch of the 2015 Avenger 220, Bajaj also brought in the 150cc variant. It has the same tried and tested 150cc single pot unit but it has now been worked upon to make it more refined than ever before. At Rs 75,000, Bajaj has managed to keep it in line with other 150cc offerings. The only thing going against it though, is its overall design. Although the Avenger Street 150 has a lot of new elements to make it stand apart from the older Avenger, it retains the same silhouette and that does come as a disappointment.

3.)    Honda CB Hornet 160R: Honda hasn’t quite had great luck when it comes to premium 150cc offerings, the biggest examples being the Dazzler and the CB Trigger. This time round, the case might be a bit different. In the CB Hornet 160R, Honda has managed to bring in a good looking motorcycle with the tested engine that powers the Unicorn 160. In the Hornet 160R however, it makes marginally more power and torque at 15.9PS and 14.8Nm respectively. Moreover, thanks to Honda’s HET technology, it is expected to return respectable efficiency too. Despite all of that, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer has managed to undercut some of it rivals thanks to a sticker price of Rs 79,900 for the non-CBS version.

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4.)    Hero Maestro Edge: To tap into the lucrative scooter market, Hero MotoCorp has brought in the Maestro Edge, the new and first fully-developed scooter from them to roll off the production line. Powered by an 110cc air-cooled unit, the Hero Maestro Edge makes 8.4PS and 8.3Nm. Despite bring the first engine to be produced in-house, the Maestro Edge is extremely refined throughout its rev range Moreover its edgy design and features give it an ‘edge’ too. Let’s not forget the fact that Hero has the largest dealership and service network in the country going in its favour too. Priced at Rs 49,500 Hero has positioned it as the brand’s most premium scooter offering and yet it is in line with the competition.    

5.)    Piaggio Vespa VXL and SXL 150: While most manufacturers are playing in the 110-125cc scooter segment, Vespa has made a bold move with the launch of the VXL 150 and the SXL 150. This 150cc unit though, isn’t an all new one. In fact, it’s the same old unit with a larger bore and stroke. However, in this state of tune it makes 11.6PS and 11.5Nm. Like all other Vespa offerings this one too bears the retro styling that we associate the brand with. Vespa has been absolutely clear about its brand’s premium positioning and with these 150cc offering they further reinstate that. However, priced at Rs 84,641 and Rs 88,696 (ex-showroom Mumbai) they are priced insanely close to some of the premium 150cc motorcycles which might be a cause of concern for them. Full marks to them for being brave enough to bring in a 150 though.

6.)    Bajaj Pulsar RS 200: At the 2014 Auto Expo, Bajaj showed us the RS400 and gave us a glimpse of what a fully faired Pulsar could look like. This year, the Chakan based bike maker launched that model in the market, albeit in a 200cc version. The Pulsar RS200 is the first fully faired offering from Bajaj. To speak the truth, the over-the-top looks of the bike might not go well with all kinds of buyers, but that aside, it’s all smooth sailing for the Pulsar RS200. Although the same workhorse as the 200NS, this one makes more power and torque at 24.5PS and 18.6Nm. Figures aside, it even feels smoother. The RS200 scores well in the handling department too. Like all of its motorcycle launches, Bajaj has managed to price the RS200 well too. The RS200 is on sale at Rs 1.20 lakh for the non-ABS version and Rs 1.32 lakh for the ABS version.

7.)    Yamaha YZF-R3: For as long as most enthusiasts can probably remember, there have been rumours of a more powerful Yamaha for the Indian market. This year the tuning fork brand brought all rumours to an end with the launch of the YZF-R3. Set to compete against the likes of the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the Benelli TNT 300, the R3 sports a 321cc parallel twin unit. The R3 makes 42PS of power and 29.6Nm of torque. Although a little late to join the party, the R3 ticks all the right boxes for a bike in this class. Much like any other Yamaha, it delivers power smoothly, has excellent road manners, and at Rs 3.25 lakh, it makes a strong case for itself.

8.)    Mahindra Mojo: After making us wait for more than 5 years, Mahindra finally launched the Mojo. Considering that Mahindra is just stepping into the world of performance motorcycles, the Mojo is indeed a good attempt. The 295cc motor churns out 27.19PS and 30Nm. The Mojo feels refined, boasts of good riding dynamics, and rides pretty well too. While the attempt sure is impressive, Mahindra might be a bit late launching the Mojo, knowing that there are some extremely able offerings in its price range. Mahindra launched the Mojo at an introductory price of Rs 1.58 lakh but hiked it by Rs 5,000 at the end of the first month.

9.)    Honda CBR 650F: With just the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and the Hyosung GT650R, the middle-weight motorcycle class was kind of getting stagnant. But with the launch of the CBR650F, Honda is ready to ruffle things up a little. The 649cc unit boasts a strong mid-range that gives it great rideability in the city and on the highway. The 87PS of power and the 63Nm of torque are extremely usable and delivered with absolute smoothness. At Rs 7.30 lakh, pricing is the only thing going against the CBR650F.

10.)  Ducati Scrambler: After a rough first stint in India, the Italian bike maker has finally entered our market officially and brought its entire model range to our shores. But thanks to a price tag of Rs 6.78 lakh, it is the Scrambler has made the Ducati brand accessible to a lot of motorcycling enthusiasts. The Scrambler’s 803cc L-twin motor makes 74.78PS and 68Nm. Thanks to its unique retro-modern styling, performance and the fun to ride factor, the Scrambler is certainly an aspirational motorcycle for most enthusiasts in India today.  

PS: All prices ex-showroom Delhi