The UK-based bike maker will start production of a quarter-litre motorcycle in India, for all of Asia

The word is in that Triumph Motorcycles of UK will commence production of a 250cc parallel twin-cylinder engine motorcycle from next year at its new plant that is being set up in Narsapur near Karnataka. According to the blokes at Asphalt and Rubber website, the news came from Triumph’s distributor in Indonesia, Rudhy Siswanto of PT Global Motorcycle Trading.

With growing demand for quarter-litre motorcycles as shown by the KTM 200 Duke, the Kawasaki Ninja 250R and the Honda CBR250R, now Triumph too wants a share of the pie. The new motorcycle, said to be on the lines of the Street Triple naked machine from Triumph, will be made in India for the local market as well as exported to other growing Asian markets. It is also estimated that there will be more small capacity models that will be manufactured at Triumph’s Indian unit for local as well as export markets.

While this is great news for the Indian motorcycle enthusiasts, it is a clear indication that small capacity motorcycles is where the big names are now going to play in. Fun might have gotten smaller with less horses and undersized engine capacities, but it is the only way forward for global motorcycling giants in the world today. With economies reeling and sales of the litre-class monsters plummeting every year and showing no signs of revival in the near future, companies are being forced to look towards growing economies. The trend is also an indicator that street is where the numbers lie for the next decade.

The past decade has witnessed a heady dose of track-tuned, scary fast 1000cc MotoGP-inspired superbikes, which found enough takers among regular track day goers around the globe. Then the companies could happily ignore the street junta and also the undeveloped markets. But economic setback suffered recently and the one looming in the subsequent future has made everyone sit up and take notice of the fact that all the speed and racing madness is alright but when it comes to number crunching, the street bike market is what is going to get the moolah rolling in. Early signs came with major motorcycle companies like Suzuki and Kawasaki pulling out of MotoGP.