Top 5 Two-wheelers Launched At Auto Expo 2018: Yamaha R15 V3.0, Aprilia SR 125 And More

Published February 14, 2018
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This year the expo had quite a few bikes you’ll be able to get your hands on from next month onwards

The Auto Expo is mostly about manufacturers showcasing concepts and future models, giving us a glimpse of what to expect and their vision for the future. But occasionally, they do surprise us and use the Expo platform to launch their products. Here’s a list of 5 (and more) exciting bikes launched at the Auto Expo.

Yamaha R15 V3.0/ R3

Over the span of two days, Yamaha launched not one but two bikes. While the 2018 R3 was an update/revival, the R15 V3.0 is a completely new model. It was also one of the most highly anticipated bikes this year. The Yamaha R15 V3.0 has finally been launched and is available for Rs 1.25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). That gets you Yamaha R1 and R6-inspired styling, more power and tech-laden 19PS motor, slipper clutch, fully digital instrument console and all-LED headlamps. Owing to the low pricing, upside down forks and ABS (available internationally) are given a miss.

The Yamaha R3 meanwhile has been re-launched at Rs 3.48 lakh (ex-showroom), Rs 23,000 more than the discontinued model. The price hike comes thanks to dual-channel ABS and stickier Metzeler Sportec M5 tyres in place of the MRFs. It also gets a BSIV-compliant motor that makes the same 42PS. The new package should rid the R3 of its two major bugbears: braking and tyres. That we are excited about these two bikes is an understatement.

Aprilia SR 125

Aprilia was known in India for its large, powerful and expensive sports bikes. That was until it launched the sporty SR 150 scooter in India. The scooter clicked with the young crowd for its blend of looks, performance and agility. It has now launched the SR with a smaller heart. Named at the Aprilia SR 125, the scooter costs Rs 65,310 (ex-showroom Pune). The 124.49cc, air-cooled motor sourced from the Vespa 125 makes 9.65PS and 9.9Nm of torque and is mated to a CVT gearbox.

It uses the larger SR 150’s chassis and bodywork and that includes the large 14-inch wheels, front telescopic forks and the 220mm front disc brake. It, however, gets subtle graphics changes to differentiate it from the larger SR 150. In the future, the SR 125 will get Bluetooth connectivity through an Android and iOS app. It will feature service stations, petrol pumps, Aprilia showroom navigation assist, vehicle diagnostics and the ability to send out alerts in case of an emergency.

UM Renegade Thor

This year’s Auto Expo had a substantial electric presence thanks to the government’s aggressive push towards electric mobility. The good thing was the presence of manufacturers not looking at electric vehicles as mere means of transportation but exciting mobility solutions. One such example was the UM Renegade Thor electric cruiser which was launched at a steep Rs 9.9 lakh. It is an expensive bike but the one currently sold is the CBU version and UM promises us that it will soon be locally manufacturing the bike with a smaller battery pack. This will help bring the prices down to as low as Rs 4.9 lakh.

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This one meanwhile comes with a liquid-cooled asynchronous three-phase induction motor that makes 40.7PS and 70Nm of torque. It is mated to a 5-speed conventional transmission, a first for an electric bike. Claimed top speed is 180kmph. Power is courtesy of a lithium-polymer battery pack with 270km range and a fast charging option that charges from zero to 80 per cent in 40 minutes. UM, customers can get their electric bikes charged for free for two years at any of the UM outlets. Also, the first fifty customers will get to go to Tuscany for a tour of the UM electric plant.

BMW F 750 GS/ F 850 GS

The R 1200 GS has been BMW Motorrad’s most successful model worldwide. The BMW F 750 GS and the BMW F 850 GS offers that DNA in a lighter and more accessible package. The F 750 GS and F 850 GS has been launched at Rs 12.2 lakh and Rs 13.7 lakh respectively (both prices ex-showroom). Both bikes share the newly developed 853cc, parallel-twin engine but carry different states of tune.

In the F 750 GS, it makes 77PS and 83Nm of torque, whereas the F 850 GS runs a higher state of tune and makes 95PS and 92Nm of torque. The F 750 GS has been designed with touring in mind while the larger 850 should be a more capable off-roader. Both bikes are brought in via the CBU route so, given the latest revision in import duties, they should see a substantial drop in prices soon.

Twenty Two Motors Flow

You could term this year’s Auto Expo as the one for electric startups, with Emflux, Menza Motors and Twenty Two Motors taking centre stage. The Flow electric scooter, launched at Rs 74,740, was one such star attraction, not for its power or range, but for the host of innovative and segment-first features, it brought to the table. For starters, each scooter is remotely connected to the company’s cloud-based system, the data of which can be accessed via a smartphone. The benefits of this are remote tracking via its built-in geofencing feature. In layman's terms, if the scooter is stolen, you can turn off the power supply of the scooter via a mobile app.

Propulsion is via a DC electric motor that makes 2.8PS and allows the scooter to reach 60kmph. Charging is a lithium-ion battery with just 2 hours recharge time, which gives you a range of 160km. Fast charging is also available -- just a 10-minute charge gives you a range of around 20km. It also features a kinetic recharging system that adds six percent more to the battery life. It gets riding modes designed to provide optimum performance given the battery charge and terrain. Other riding aids include cruise control, hill-climb assist and reverse mode.

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