The 2016 Auto Expo has nearly come to an end. We pick some of the best and most relevant two-wheelers from the event that will be launched in the country.
This year’s Auto Expo gave us a good glimpse of what the future holds for bikers in India. And we have to say that motorcycle enthusiasts of the country are presumably going to be spoilt for choice in the coming time. Let’s take a look at some significant motorcycles/two-wheelers that were put on display at the 2016 Auto Expo.
BMW G310R
The BMW G 310R made its first public appearance in India at the 2016 Auto Expo. Expected to be launched sometime around the second half of 2016, the BMW G310R is the smallest capacity engine from the company since 1948. The naked roadster was designed and developed in Germany, while the company’s India partner, TVS, builds the motorcycle at its Hosur plant. In metal, the G 310R looks quite appealing and the fit and finish of materials is remarkable. Among some of the highlights, the motorcycle gets inverted front forks, ABS as standard, four-piston brake caliper, tubular steel frame etc. Powering the G 310R is a 313cc, single-cylinder, four-valve, liquid-cooled engine with double overhead camshafts and fuel injection. The engine develops 34bhp of max power and a peak torque of 24Nm. The BMW G 310R is expected to be priced around Rs 2-2.5 lakh.
TVS Akula310
If you were to choose the most exciting motorcycle shown at the 2016 Auto Expo, the Akula310 race-spec concept would probably trump all the others and come out on top, easily. Claimed to be a thoroughbred racer, the motorcycle features a highly stiff space frame chassis with lightweight carbon-fibre bodywork that looks absolutely stunning. Additionally, the motorcycle has an aluminium sub-frame, cast alloy swing-arm, heat-management gills, dorsal fins under the seat, on-board gyro cameras, digital speedo, USD forks, radial calipers, etc. As the name suggests, the motorcycle will be powered by the same 313cc, single-cylinder, 4-valve, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine that powers the TVS-built BMW G310R. The engine comes mated to a quick shifting 6 speed gearbox. While the motorcycle is still being developed, TVS has assured us that we may see a production ready version of the bike in just over a year!
UM Renegade range
UM Motorcycles unveiled the Renegade range of cruiser motorcycles for the Indian market. At the 2016 Auto Expo, the company showcased three motorcycles of the Renegade range- Commando, Sport S and Classic. All three bikes are powered by a 279cc single cylinder water-cooled engine, developing 25bhp at 8,500rpm and 21.8Nm of torque at 7,000rpm. Power transmission duties are carried out by a six-speed transmission. All the bikes have a fuel tank capacity of 18-litres, which should come as a relief for the motorcycle tourers among us. The Sport S is the most affordable of the range as it’s priced at Rs 1.49 lakh. The Commando and Classic are available at Rs 1.59 lakh and Rs 1.69 lakh, respectively (all prices are ex-showroom, New Delhi).
Benelli TRK 502
Benelli showcased four new motorcycles - TNT Naked T-135, BX 250, Tornado 300 and the TRK 502 – at the Auto Expo this year. While all four motorcycles will be launched in the country eventually, the TRK 502 is undoubtedly the most important of the bunch for our market. Showcased first at the Milan Motor Show in 2015, the TRK 502 is an all-new adventure motorcycle. The TRK 502 is powered by a 499cc, in-line, two cylinder, liquid-cooled engine, developing 46.9bhp and 45Nm of peak-torque. The TRK 502 incorporates upside down forks up front and a pre-load adjustable rear monoshock. The motorcycle comes with Brembo brakes - 320mm dual discs in the front and the rear gets a single disc that measures 260mm. The TRK 502 has a 20-litre fuel tank.
Hero XF3R
Country’s largest two-wheeler Hero MotoCorp revealed a street-naked concept at the Auto Expo. Billed as the XF3R, the concept motorcycle gives a glimpse of Hero's futuristic design language that its performance-oriented bikes will follow. The middleweight naked motorcycle is powered by a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, 300cc, fuel-injected engine. Design wise, it’s quite appealing as well. It has USD forks, single-sided swing arm, air-intakes on either side of fuel tank, single side mono-shock rear suspension, twin port exhaust and a steel trellis frame. The tastefully designed mesh alloy wheels come shod with Pirelli Sport Demon tyres on both ends. Whether it makes it into productions is anyone’s guess, though.
Honda Africa Twin
The 2016 Honda Africa Twin will be launched in the country in a few months’ time. After a 12 year hiatus, Honda resurrected the popular Africa Twin adventure touring motorcycle in 2015. In its current guise, the adventure tourer comes powered by by a 998cc parallel-twin engine featuring a unicam four-valve design. The engine develops 94bhp of max power at 7,500rpm and a peak torque of 98Nm at 6,000rpm. Globally, the motorcycle is offered with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed DCT gearbox with on- and off-road riding modes. In India, the motorcycle will be offered with manual gearbox only. The adventure tourer is also expected to be assembled in India via CKD units, while it will go on sale in the second half of 2016.
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Aprilia SR 150
The Aprilia SR 150 is perhaps the most interesting scooter to be showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo. The contemporary looking scooter will create a new segment for itself, and will fusion of sportsbike-inspired design and the convenience of an automatic scooter. Piaggio will manufacture the SR 150 at its production facility in Baramati, Maharashtra. It’s expected to go on sale around August-September this year. The sporty looking two-wheeler is likely to come powered by a 150cc engine, mated to an automatic gearbox. The scooter employs a 220mm disc brake (front) and 140mm drum brake (rear).
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