Top 5 India-bound small bikes for 2018

Top 5 India-bound small bikes for 2018

Along with big bikes, the world also saw a number of impressive small capacity motorcycles being unveiled at international motorcycle shows. Here is the list of the top five bikes expected to make their way to India next year.

BMW G 310 R

The BMW G 310 R is the Bavarian manufacturer’s first small-capacity streetfighter motorcycle. It gets raised straight bars and slightly rear set foot pegs for an upright yet aggressive riding position. Powering the 313 cc water-cooled, single cylinder engine that produces 34bhp of power at 9,500rpm and 28Nm of torque at 7,500rpm. It is mated to a six-speed transmission. 

The bike will go head on with the likes of the KTM 390 Duke when it is launched in the first half of 2018.

Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0

The YZF-R15 has been a popular motorcycle in India ever since it was introduced in 2008. Now Yamaha plans to launch the YZF-R15 Version 3.0 in India early next year.  The bike gets a new design which is inspired by its bigger supersport sibling, the YZF-R1. The international model gets a 155cc engine that produces 2bhp more than the current model. However, we expect the V3 to retain the same 150cc engine, which delivers 16.7bhp and 15Nm of torque, to keep costs in check. 

Unfortunately, the bike will use conventional telescopic forks instead of the inverted forks found on international models. The bike will compete against the Bajaj RS 200 in India.

Yamaha YZF-R3

Yamaha also revealed the 2018 YZF-R3 in international markets only with revised paint schemes, much to enthusiast’s dismay. The bike continues to be powered by 321cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that produces 42bhp at 10,750 rpm and 29.6 Nm of peak torque at 9,000 rpm. Although this engine will now be BS-IV compliant when it is launched in India. The bike also retains the 41mm telescopic front forks of the outgoing model. 

The YZF-R3 will compete against the KTM RC 390, Benelli 302R, the upcoming Ninja 400 and the TVS Apache RR 310 which will be launched tomorrow.

Kawasaki Ninja 400

The world was taken by storm when Kawasaki unveiled the Ninja 400 at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show. The bike features a slew of new technologies, weight saving measures and a bigger engine. The Ninja 400’s styling cues are inspired by its bigger supersport siblings, the Ninja H2 and Ninja ZX-10R. It is powered by a 399cc parallel-twin engine churning out 44.8bhp and 38Nm of torque. This engine is mated to a six-speed transmission with a slipper clutch.

The Ninja 400 will replace the Ninja 300 currently sold in India. It will directly compete against the KTM RC 390 and YZF-R3 in India.

Hero Xtreme 200S

Hero unveiled the Xtreme 200S at the 2016 Auto Expo. The bike retains the same design language as the standard bike although with sharper lines all around. It gets a 200cc single-cylinder engine that produces 18.4bhp and 8500rpm and 17.2Nm at 6000rpm. The Xtreme 200S is expected to be the first Hero product to get optional ABS.

The bike will compete against the Bajaj Pulsar NS200, TVS Apache RTR 200 4V and KTM 200 Duke.