Middleweight Motorcycles for 2014 (500-800cc)

Since the time Kawasaki came into the market with the Ninja 650R and the Hyosung entered with its faired GT650R, the naked GT650N and the cruiser ST7 in 2011, the demand for motorcycles in this segment has constantly been on the rise. As expected, the segment was quick to gain pace and ever since moto-maniacs have been waiting long for other manufacturers to bring some substantial middleweight motorcycles. Sadly though, there hasn’t been much action in this category in the past two years. But the 2014 promises to bring a lot more excitement with some really thrilling machines scheduled to come to Indian shores. Take a closer look at all the motorcycles that you can expect to be launched next year. 

Harley Davidson Street 500

Expected Launch: January 2014

Expected Price: Rs 4 lakh

Along with the Street 750, Harley also showcased the Street 500 at the 2013 EICMA Motor Show. Like its elder sibling, this one too will be based on the all new Harley Davidson platform and host a 500cc Vee-twin Revolution X liquid-cooled powerplant. Visually, the Street 500 will be identical to its elder sibling except maybe a marginal difference in the form of badging. With the launch of the Street 500 scheduled along with its elder sibling, motorcycling enthusiasts will now have another breed of offering in the under Rs 4 lakh bracket which will do Harley a world of good in terms of numbers considering the potential that this segment holds and the fact that there is just the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the Hyosung GT250R on offer as on date. 

Harley Davidson Street 750

Expected Launch: January 2014

Expected Price: Rs 5 lakh

Talks of Harley Davidson planning to develop middleweight motorcycles specifically for India and other emerging markets have been floating around in rumourmill for a while now. The American two-wheeler manufacturer put an end to all speculation when they finally took the wraps off the Street 750 and the Street 500 last month at the 2013 EICMA Motor Show. Powering the Street 750 will be the V-twin Revolution X engine, which will be the first liquid-cooled unit for the Indian market. That’s not all; this motorcycle will also mark the debut of HD’s all-new platform for the first time in 14 years. The Street 750 will be built in India at Harley’s production facility at Bawal in Haryana which will ensure that the company puts an extremely aggressive price tag to it. Although HD hasn’t really divulged into any specifics as far as the pricing is concerned we estimate the Street 750 to be launched at around Rs 5 lakh. The Street 750 will make its debut at the 2014 India Bike Week in January and will be launched soon thereafter. So, for all motorcycling enthusiasts who have long been waiting for an affordable bike with the Harley symbol on it, the wait will soon be over.   

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

Kawasaki Z800

Expected Launch: Early 2014

Expected Price: Rs 8-10 lakh

Although Kawasaki has been around in India with the Ninja 250/300 and Ninja 650 for a while now thorough its link with Bajaj Auto, they recently commenced their solo operations in the country with the launch of the ZX-10R and the ZX-14R in November. The Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer now looks set to expand its portfolio with the Z1000 and the Z800. The Z800 will be powered by an 806cc inline-four cylinder liquid-cooled engine that will produce 113PS of power at 10,200rpm and maximum torque of 83Nm at 8,000rpm. Mated to a six-speed gearbox the Z800 can see a top whack of 233km/h. This naked mean machine will come to Indian shores via the CBU route but will still boast of being the cheapest in-line four cylinder motorcycle available in the market. Up until now the Ducati Monster 795 was the only naked motorcycle available in the 800cc segment, but the launch of the Z800 will expand the horizons for the buyer.                        

BMW F 800 GS

Expected Launch: mid-2014

Expected Price: Rs 11 lakh

Last year, BMW launched their adventure tourer, the BMW F 650 GS in India. They also took the wraps off their 2014 lineup which included an all new middleweight tourer – the F 800 GS. Scheduled to mark an entry into Indian shores next year, the F 800 GS is powered by a 798cc water-cooled, parallel twin engine producing 85PS at 7,500 rpm and peak torque of 83Nm at 5,750rpm. A quick glance and you will see that this new offering continues to hold the DNA that we have already seen on its larger R 1200 GS as well as the baby F 650 GS. With the Harleys already present in the 800cc segment, the Z800 also on the cards along with the F 800 GS, there surely is going to be a sudden boom in this class of motorcycles, but I am sure no one is complaining!