The year 2018 is going to be full of automotive action and will see several unveils, debuts and launches of motorcycles. A prime reason for that is that the year 2018 also includes the biannual Auto Expo which gives us a glimpse of what is to come from almost every auto manufacturer in the industry. But that’s not all, there are still many motorcycles that may not be showcased at the Auto Expo but are still more than likely to make their way into the India market later this year.
So, we have decided to put together a list of the top upcoming motorcycles launches that are set to take place in India this year. The list contains motorcycles from several different manufacturers and several different types of motorcycles and hence, it is in no particular order.
Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster
Triumph Motorcycles’ most successful range of motorcycles in India is their Bonneville range of motorcycles and the latest member that is set to make an entry into this family is the Bonneville Speedmaster. It was first showcased in India during the 2017 India Bike Week. The motorcycle carries resemblance with the Bobber Black and the T120, and that’s because this one does carry over several elements from both these motorcycles, along with its own unique set of parts. We have already sampled this motorcycle in California, USA. You can read all about it, here.
Triumph Tiger 1200
The Triumph Tiger is known for being one of the most capable adventure-touring motorcycles. The 1200cc engine equipped Tiger has been known as the Tiger Explorer till now but the 2018 model, drops that moniker and will be simply called the Tiger 1200. It also gets an inclusion of six riding modes, quick shifter, cornering adaptive headlights, keyless ignition, TFT instrument cluster and the likes. There’s also a revised rider geometry.
The in-line three-cylinder engine on the latest model will be capable of producing 141 hp and 122 Nm of torque. Add to this the 11-kilo kerb weight reduction to the motorcycle and the bike should certainly feel more engaging to ride than before.
Triumph Tiger 800
The other engine option that you can opt for in the Tiger range of motorcycles is the 800cc one. This, like the bigger Tiger, will be called Tiger 800 and it receives a weight reduction as well. The engine on it will be pushing out 94 hp and the gear ratios have been revised for a quick feedback to the rider. The biggest visible change on it, though, will be the LED headlights and the addition of an adjustable wind deflector. Again, like its bigger brother – the Tiger 1200, the Tiger 800 gets six rider modes.
Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0
Definitely one of the most exciting and looked forward to launches of the year – the all-new R15. Called the R15 V3.0, the motorcycle has already broken cover in Indonesia. Everything aside, it will definitely be one of the best looking 150cc motorcycles in India. In terms of what it will get, several spy shots of the testing unit of the R15 V3.0 suggest that the India-spec model could give a few features from the Indonesia-spec model a miss. This includes the likes of an upside-down front suspension setup, different tyres but thankfully, the bike could be powered by the same engine as the Indonesian model. This means we expect it to be powered by a 155cc single-cylinder engine comes with fuel injection and liquid cooling and is expected to make somewhat about 19 hp and almost 15 Nm of torque.
Suzuki V-Strom 650
The V-Strom 650 is Suzuki’s version of a middleweight adventure touring motorcycle which comes with a liquid-cooled 645cc V-twin engine that churns out 70 hp and 66 Nm of torque. It could make its way to India in two variant forms – the standard 650 and the 650XT, which is a more off-road focused version of the standard offering.
The V-Strom has been known for being capable both on and off-road and has been credited for its potential to be a diverse motorcycle, no matter what kind of riding conditions you throw at it.
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT Twin
Royal Enfield recently surprised all its fans with two larger capacity motorcycles, called the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT Twin, which were showcased to the world at the 2017 EICMA which is held in Spain.
The biggest attraction for both of these motorcycles is the new engine that they sport – a 648cc parallel-twin motorcycle. While the engine gets fuel injection, it will be an air-cooled unit and will produce 47 hp and 52 Nm of torque and will come mated to a 6-speed transmission. Both the bikes different approach to styling and usability as the Interceptor 650 comes across as a more relaxed, cruiser-like motorcycle whereas the Continental GT Twin has a cafe racer-like styling and takes a sportier approach.
Norton Commando 961
Kinetic group’s venture of multi-brand superbikes named Motoroyale, along with iconic British motorcycle maker Norton, has announced a joint venture (JV) as per which India-made Norton motorcycles will be sold in India by the end of 2018. The companies announced that the first set of Norton motorcycles entering India and going on sale would be a limited edition, British-made CBU versions of the Norton Commando in the first quarter of 2018. They also added that by the end of 2018, made-in-India versions of the Commando series will be up for sale. Post the introduction of Commando, the Norton Dominator model and its variants – Commando 961 Sport; Commando 961 Cafe Racer; Dominator Sport and DomiRacer will be introduced.
You can read more about it here.
Ducati Multistrada 1260
You cannot have a list of exciting motorcycles and not Have Ducati in it. The reason is simple, their motorcycles are just that good. Promising to keep the excitement going is the upcoming Multistrada 1260 – the (even) bigger sibling to the Multistrada 950 and the Multistrada 1200. It will be powered by a 1262cc liquid-cooled, L-Twin engine that produces 158 hp and 129.5 Nm of torque. It will be kitted to the brim with electronics with features like cornering-ABS, back-lit handlebar controls, four riding modes, wheelie control, cruise control, keyless ignition, Vehicle Hold Control (VHC) and hands-free Bluetooth connectivity to your smartphone. How’s that for exciting?
Kawasaki H2 SX
What’s bigger than a Kawasaki H2? The H2 SX. And not only is it bigger in dimensions, it is also a more ‘sensible’ option, perhaps. The H2 SX is one of the fastest sports tourers in the world and features a new frame, more touring-focused engine tuning, bigger fairing and a better fuel economy. There’s no shortage of power, though, as the bike produces a whopping 200 horsepower from its supercharged engine.
Kawasaki Z900 RS
The other Kawasaki that makes it to this list is the gorgeous Z900RS. A throwback from the house of Kawasaki, it looks like one of the prettiest retro-themed motorcycles in the world – it is a homage to the iconic Z1 after all. It will come fitted with a 948cc, in-line 4-cylinder that produces 111 hp and 98.5 Nm of torque. It sports classic lines, a bikini fairing at the front and the RS is tuned for better mid-range power delivery. But, it’s not as ‘classic’ as it may look, as the Kawa will come with a traction control system and a digital-analogue instrument cluster which would show pretty much all the details you would need to know.
BMW G 310 R
Wrapping up our list is the highly awaited and the set-to-be entry-level offering by BMW Motorrad – the G 310 R. It will be powered by a 313cc single-cylinder engine making 33.6 hp and 28 Nm of torque. This engine has been made in partnership with TVS, and it also made way to the Apache RR 310. It has been almost forever since we saw the first glimpse of this motorcycle at the last Auto Expo held in 2016 and it cannot be launched sooner. Watch this space for updates.
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