The nationwide lockdown at the start of this year brought the two-wheeler sales tumbling down, although that did not stop the manufacturers to launch new and updated products in the Indian market. The new products helped the two-wheeler brands in the country have a promising festive season in the second half of 2020. While we get ready to bid adieu to 2020, here we bring you the top-five two-wheeler launch stories from the year.
Hero Splendor Plus Black and Accent launched at Rs 64,470
Hero Splendor is among the highest selling product in the country, and it’s usually battling for the first spot with the Honda Activa brand. The company introduced the Hero Splendor Plus Black and Accent variant of the commuter motorcycle in October 2020. The Black and Accent variant received an all-black paint scheme. The black treatment was visible on the wheels, engine, and chain cover. The company also offered the option to customise the graphics on the motorcycle at the time of purchase for an additional cost of Rs 899. The changes were limited to the styling upgrade while the mechanical specifications and the underpinnings were similar to the standard Splendor Plus.
New 2020 KTM 200 Duke BS6 launched in India; priced at Rs 1.72 lakh
The 2020 iteration of the KTM 200 Duke received a major styling overhaul over its predecessor. The250 Duke inspired styling and bodywork brought in an angular headlamp with the LED DRL, an aggressive (and bigger) fuel tank, and a sleek tail section. The 2020 KTM 200 Duke is currently available in two colour options – orange with black paint and white with black colour. The mechanical specifications, too, received changes to comply with the new emission norms. However, this does not result in any drop in the power output numbers. The BS6-compliant, 199cc, single-cylinder, fuel-injected motor produces the same 24.6bhp and 19.3Nm of torque.
BS6 Hero Glamour launched at Rs 68,900
The BS6-compliant Hero Glamour was launched in the Indian market in February 2020. Apart from the BS6 compliance, Hero MotoCorp also gave a few styling revisions to the motorcycle. The front fascia on the BS6 model, for example, features a smoked-finish to the pilot lamps. The side and the rear panels have also received an updated look to distinguish the BS6 Glamour from its predecessor. The motorcycle is available in four colour options – Radiant Red, Techno Blue, Tornado Grey, and Sports Red. Mechanical specifications include a BS6-compliant 125cc engine that makes 10.73bhp of power at 7,500rpm and 10.6Nm of peak torque at 6,000rpm. In comparison, the BS4 model was tuned to produce 11.5bhp at 7,500rpm and 11Nm at 6,000rpm.
Bajaj Pulsar 125 Split Seat drum variant launched at Rs 73,274
Bajaj added a new variant to the entry-level Pulsar model, the Pulsar 125. Later, the Pune based brand introduced the drum brake variant of the motorcycle to the Indian market to attract more buyers. The changes, however, are limited to the differences in the braking setup. Everything else remains identical to the disc brake variant. The feature list on the Split Seat variant includes a halogen headlight with twin DRLs, muscular fuel tank with shrouds, engine cowl, and split-style seats. The mechanical specifications on the Pulsar 125 range are identical. The Pulsar 125 range is powered by a 124.4cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled motor that makes 11.64bhp and 10.8Nm of torque.
Honda Hornet 2.0 Repsol Edition launched at Rs 1.28 lakh
Repsol Edition brings the MotoGP inspired livery and orange paint theme to Honda motorcycles, and the company gave that treatment to its premium offering, the Hornet 2.0. The changes are limited to the addition of the paint option. The mechanical specifications, on the other hand, continue to include a 184cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel-injected engine that makes 17.03bhp and 16.1Nm of peak torque. The feature list, too, is identical to the standard model, and the Hornet 2.0 Repsol Edition continues to use LED lighting, LCD instrument cluster, muscular fuel tank, step-up saddle, and a short exhaust muffler.
