Auto Expo 2016: Bikes to watch out for this year
Words: Benjamin Gracias
A sneak peek at the upcoming bikes at the 2016 Auto Expo.Performance biking seems to be the theme this year with 300cc motorcycles setting the tone. Oh and the Africa twin is coming too.
BMW G310R
The first bike born out of the BMW-TVS alliance should mark its presence at the Expo. Highlights include a 313cc liquid-cooled single, making 34bhp and 28Nm of torque in a compact 158kg frame, S1000R inspired styling, upside-down forks, radially-mounted front disc and an expected price tag of around Rs 2 lakhs.
DSK Benelli Tornado 302
The first fully-faired Benelli for the Indian market is based on the TNT 300. It gets a 300cc parallel twin which produces 35bhp and 27Nm of torque. The Tornado 302 will share cycle parts with the TNT 300 though the anti-lock braking system is new. When launched, expect it to be priced around 30 grand over the TNT 300.
DSK Hyosung GT 300R
The GT 300R will replace the GT 250R in India. In place of the earlier 250cc engine, there is now a 275cc V-twin engine making 20bhp and 24Nm of torque. The new design is now sharper and taut while the seat is now longer and sits lower for better ergonomics. The front twin-disc setup is replaced by a single 300mm disc.
Honda Africa Twin
Yes, the Africa Twin is coming to India. It is powered by a 998cc parallel twin engine. It develops 94bhp and 98Nm of torque at 6000rpm. It will come with ABS and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). The big news is that the Africa Twin will be launched at the Expo.
Indian Scout Sixty
It’s a smaller, more affordable version of the Indian Scout. Engine displacement is down to 999cc, from the 1133cc on the Scout. It also gets a five-speed transmission instead of a six-speed, less chrome and no ABS. Power output is now 78bhp, though reviews claim the riding experience is just as good as its bigger brother.
Mahindra MGP30
At the heart of Mahindra’s Moto 3 race bike lies a 249cc DOHC, four-stroke motor which has been part of the reason for the team’s success in Moto3, and also for other teams switching over to the MGP30. Other trick bits include Ohlins dampers and Brembo radially mounted brakes.
Peugeot Django
Peugeot scooters will be marking their entry in to the Indian market with its 125cc -150cc retro-styled scooter. Classic design cues include 12″ wheels with white-walled tyres, two-tone paint schemes and a choice of 24 colours, extended body, retro dashboard, split seat, flat foot-board and chrome touches.
Suzuki GSX-R 1000LZ
It’s the lightest, most powerful and best handling GSX-R Suzuki’s ever built. The specs reveal 200bhp from its all-new 999cc engine with 111Nm of torque in a 200kg bike. The 6th generation Gixxer gets an all-new chassis with 10-level traction control, rider modes, ABS, ride-by-wire and a bi-directional quickshifter.
TVS Apache RTR 200
The Apache RTR 200 gets a 200cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled mill mated to 6-speed gearbox. Expect power output to be around 24 bhp and torque to hover around 20Nm. It gets a Double Cradle Synchro STIFF frame, petal discs front and back, and Michelin soft compound rubbers.
Triumph Bonneville
Truimph will bring the new Bonneville family that includes the Boneville T100, Thruxton and Street twin. The motor is a new parallel-twin that gets liquid-cooling and makes 105Nm of torque, up by a whopping 54 per cent. There’s a new six-speed gearbox and ride-by-wire, ABS, traction control and two rider modes.
UM Renegade
UM Motorcycles is all set to make its debut in India beginning with the Renegade series of cruisers. The Renegade Commando will come with a 223cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine which makes 18bhp and 15.5Nm of torque. UM Motorcycles has tied up with Lohia Auto in order to manufacture the bikes locally.
Yamaha MT03
After the YZF-R3, the MT-03 is the most anticipated product from Yamaha. The smallest of the MT series is based on the YZF-R3 and gets the same 321cc parallel-twin, good for 41bhp and 30Nm of torque. The 168kg kerb weight should give it a bit of an edge in performance. Expect the price to hover around Rs 3 lakhs.
