The year 2023 is all but over, and with 2024 drawing nigh, there is plenty to look forward to, including a host of new two-wheeler launches. That said, we saw a barrage of motorcycles enter our market this year, right from the Keeway SR 250 at the Auto Expo to the Yamaha YZF-R3. Let's take a look back at the top five motorcycles of 2023, starting with the new Royal Enfield Himalayan.
Royal Enfield Himalayan
Launched in November 2023, the all-new Himalayan, with its purposeful styling and new features, is available at a price tag of Rs 2.69 lakh to Rs 2.84 lakh (ex-showroom). The bike is offered in 3 variants – Base, Pass, and Summit.
The new Royal Himalayan uses a Royal Enfield's modern, 452cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled unit hooked up to a 6-speed gearbox and a slip-and-assist clutch. Called the Sherpa 450, the engine produces 40bhp at 8,000rpm and 40Nm of peak torque at 5,500rpm – about 15 to 16bhp and 8Nm more than the outgoing Himalayan.
Also Read: New Royal Enfield Himalayan to Become Expensive From January in India; Here's Why
Suspension duties are taken care of by a USD fork and a preload-adjustable mono-shock, and the motorcycle comes equipped with dual-channel ABS (which can be turned off at the rear) as standard.
Triumph Scrambler 400 X
The Triumph Scrambler 400 X, built in India at Bajaj's Chakan-2 plant, features a 398cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. Mated to a 6-speed gearbox with a slip-and-assist clutch, the engine makes 39.5bhp and 37.5Nm of peak torque. With a price tag of Rs 2.63 lakh (ex-showroom), it is the company's most affordable Scrambler in the range.
In terms of styling, the Triumph Scrambler gets split seats, a headlight grille, and a rounded side panel. The 19-inch front and 17-inch wheels are clothed in chunky MRF tyres, while the travel suspension is 150mm at both ends.
Features-wise, you get all-LED lighting, ride-by-wire, switchable ABS, a USB-C charging port, and a digi-analogue screen that displays a fuel gauge meter, a digital tachometer, a gear position indicator, trip information, etc.
Aprilia RS 457
Aprilia's first made-in-India bike, the RS 457, forayed into the growing mid-size bike segment in early December. The bookings are already underway, with deliveries to commence from March next year.
The Aprilia RS 457 is an RS 660-inspired supersport drawing power from a 457cc, parallel twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine with a 270-degree crank and double camshaft timing. The bike makes 48bhp and 44Nm of torque while weighing 175kg.
Another highlight is a ride-by-wire system, which has allowed Aprilia to offer 3 riding modes – Eco, Rain and Sport. Other elements include a slip-and-assist clutch, a quick-shifter (as an optional extra), a Bluetooth-equipped TFT display, backlit switchgear, a traction control system, as well as TVS Eurogrip Protorq Extreme tyres.
KTM 390 Duke
In its latest form, a larger 399cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine in the KTM 390 Duke produces 44bhp and 39Nm. The bike gets a new trellis frame, suspended by a revised upside-down front fork and a rear offset mono-shock.
Drawing inspiration from the Super Duke, the third-generation 390 Duke features a redesigned headlamp setup, boomerang-styled DRLs, split-style seats, new tank extensions, and an exposed rear subframe, all giving the bike a more powerful and aggressive appearance than before.
Features-wise, the Duke gets launch control, traction control, cornering ABS, a bi-directional quick-shifter, a TFT display with smartphone connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation, and riding modes. With all these updates, the bike is offered at Rs 3.11 lakh (ex-showroom).
Harley-Davidson X440
Launched in July, the X440 marked Harley's entry into the mid-size motorcycle segment. And it received a strong response right away. About a month into the launch of the Harley-Davidson X440, the bookings crossed the 25,000 mark in India.
In terms of mechanicals, the X440 gets a 440cc, single-cylinder, air/oil-cooled engine. Power and torque figures are rated at 27bhp at 6,000rpm and 38Nm at 4,000rpm, respectively. Mated to this brand-new engine is a 6-speed gearbox.
The retro-styled Harley-Davidson X440 features a round LED headlamp, a boxy fuel tank, wide handlebars, and a long tail section with chunky grab rails, drawing design cues from the old XR1200. The design is complemented by a digital console with Bluetooth connectivity, a side-stand engine cut-off, dual-channel ABS, and a USB charging port.
Write your Comment