The top five motorcycles to expect over the next two months
November and December constitute an exciting time for motorcycle enthusiasts thanks to a plethora of exciting new launches. With the last two months of the year upon us, we have some very exciting motorcycles to look forward to. While the most exciting of the launches is Royal Enfield’s first liquid-cooled offering, there are also Yamaha's entry-level bikes in the pipeline. You also have Aprilia, which has finally decided to enter the supersport segment with the RS 457.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 452: Kick-starting the lineup is the most exciting launch of November, the brand-new Royal Enfield Himalayan 452. With the unveiling just around the corner, motoring journalists have already been invited to test the bike. Details about the new ADV have slowly been pouring in with the latest being those of the specs, most of which were already spied and leaked through rumours. Powering the new Himalayan is RE’s newest Sherpa engine. This new 452cc power plant is a liquid-cooled engine that generates 40 hp of maximum power at 8,000 rpm and 40 Nm of peak torque at 5,500 rpm. This finally brings Royal Enfield into proper competition with its main rivals the KTM 390 Adventure and the BMW G 310 GS. The Himalayan does a lot of other firsts for RE as well. Transmission is via a new six-speed shifter, the instrumentation is a full-colour digital affair complete with navigation by Google, new upside-down forks from Showa do suspension duties at the front and the tail light has been integrated into the LED turning indicators. Royal Enfield plans to unveil the new Himalayan 452 at the upcoming EICMA motorcycle show in Milan on November 7. A launch should follow shortly thereafter and we expect prices to be near the Rs 2.8-lakh mark.
2/5
Ducati Scrambler 2G range: Last year, Ducati unveiled the updated Ducati Scrambler 800 range and while bookings had begun back in August, the bike is expected to launch some time this month. As one of the best-selling Ducatis in India, the Scrambler 2G will be available in three distinct variants—Icon, Full Throttle and Nightshift. Powering the bike is the same 803cc L-twin engine that generates 73 hp of maximum power and 66.2 Nm of peak torque. However, there have been some changes to the mechanicals. For instance, the rear monoshock has been repositioned, the trellis frame has been tweaked and the bike is 4 kg lighter than the previous-gen Scrambler. The bulk of the updates, on the other hand, comes in the form of tech and visual changes. There is a new 4.3-inch full-colour TFT display for instrumentation complete with Bluetooth connectivity, riding modes, cornering ABS and traction control. The Scrambler 800 is also your entry to the world of Ducati, signifying the Italian brand’s desire to make it as accessible as possible. This means there is a whole host of customisation options that the buyer can use to personalise his or her motorcycle. As far as prices are concerned, Ducati’s website states that tentative prices start at Rs 10.39 lakh for the Icon and Rs 12 lakh for the Full Throttle and Nightshift.
3/5
Aprilia RS 457: The Aprilia RS 457 was unveiled internationally a while ago and the bike is now finally coming to India. With pre-bookings already under way, we expect the supersport to finally make its way here some time this month. Powered by a 457cc liquid-cooled engine, the Aprilia goes up against a range of bikes already established in the Indian market such as the KTM RC 390, the TVS Apache RR 310 and even the Kawasaki Ninja 400. The parallel-twin engine churns out 48 hp of maximum power and is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. It is suspected that a quickshifter could come in as an accessory, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet. Suspension is handled by an upside-down fork up front and a rear monoshock while braking duties are taken care of by 320 mm disc and a 220 mm disc at the front and back, respectively. As far as features go, the RS 457 will come equipped with a 5-inch TFT instrument cluster, ride-by-wire tech, three-level traction control and back-lit switchgear. Of course, we do not know what the exact prices are going to be, but we are fairly sure the Aprilia will burn a bigger hole in your pocket than its KTM rival. For context, the KTM RC 390 is priced at Rs 3.14 lakh, ex-showroom.
4/5
Kinetic e Luna: Do you remember the Luna moped? Well, Kinetic Green Energy seems all set to rekindle memories with the launch of a complete electrified version of the iconic two-wheeler. Christened the e Luna, details of the upcoming moped are extremely scarce. Leaked images online, however, suggest that the design will be extremely similar to the old bike. It will be based on a tubular frame with a square headlamp housing, a naked instrument console, flat footbed and a tiny two-piece seat. Unlike the Athers and the Chetaks on the street, the e Luna will be sold with a more utilitarian outlook. With an emphasis on load-carrying capabilities thanks to a modular design, the bike should be able to tackle rough terrains and aid in last-mile connectivity with ease. There has been no announcement on the powertrain or battery capacity yet, but we should see more details coming in soon. Expect prices to be in the range of Rs 80,000 to Rs 90,000. (Image: Sulajja Firodia Motwani/X (Formerly Twitter)
Yamaha R3 and MT-03: Finally, Yamaha will be bringing in its entry-level supersport, the R3 and its naked bike counterpart, the MT-03, to India some time later this month or early next. Both bikes were showcased at the MotoGP IndianOil Grand Prix just recently. Powering both bikes is a 321cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that produces 42 hp of maximum power and 29.5 Nm of peak torque. This puts the R3 right up there rivalling the Aprilia we mentioned. The MT-03, on the other hand, will take on the likes of the KTM 390 Duke, BMW G 310 R and Apache RTR 310, among others. While the MT-03 is completely new to India, the R3 is making a comeback. Yamaha is expected to take the completely built-up (CBU) route for both bikes initially before switching over to completely knocked-down (CKD) units. In terms of pricing, the R3 retailed at Rs 3.50 lakh ex-showroom and the new bike with all of its upgrades such as new forks, LED lighting and fresh new styling should be priced at a slight premium.
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