New Bike Launches in 2017: Between Rs 1-2 Lakh

Year after year the two-wheeler industry of India has progressed at a good pace. Gone are the days when the two-wheeler options were limited, as manufacturers nowadays are continuously updating their product portfolio to stay ahead in the game. In India, the modern buyer wants a combination of different characteristics in a motorcycle such as performance, efficiency, running costs, and price of the commodity. In order to fulfill the need of the prospective buyer, manufacturers introduce new models every year. Here is a list of such upcoming bikes of 2017 that are expected to be priced between Rs 1 to Rs 2 lakh.

TVS Akula 310:

Expected Price: Rs 1.8 – Rs 2 lakh

Based on the BMW G310R, TVS had showcased the Akula 310 concept at the 2016 Auto Expo. The bike shares vital components such as the steel trellis frame and the 313cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder motor with the BMW offering. It also has a unique cylinder head that is twisted by 180 degrees for better efficiency of the engine. The bike is expected to produce around 34PS of power and 28Nm of peak torque.

The styling of the bike is expected to be aggressive and sporty to make it appealing to youngsters. While the bike at the expo featured a carbon-fibre fairing, TVS is likely to drop it for the production model in order to keep the cost in check. The Akula 310 will be the flagship model for TVS and also the first fully-faired motorcycle from the Hosur based two-wheeler giant.

2017 KTM 200 Duke:

Expected Price: Rs 1.6 lakh

The 2017 edition of the 200 Duke will be largely similar to the new 390 Duke unveiled at the 2016 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. Following its elder sibling in terms of styling, the 200 Duke will feature a bottom-protruding headlight design and slightly longer tank extensions. The LED headlight has been given a miss to keep cost low. In order to keep the cost in check, the bike will not receive the TFT display instrument cluster and ride-by-wire throttle system.

The bike will mostly continue to be powered by the same 199.5cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, DOHC engine that is expected to produce slightly more power than the current 200 Duke (25.85PS). The engine will be mated to a 6-speed transmission. The launch of the new 200 Duke can be expected to occur in mid-2017 after the launch of the new 390 Duke in the first quarter of 2017.

Yamaha FZ-250:

Expected Price: Rs 1.5 lakh

Yamaha currently has the YZF-R25 in the entry-level performance segment of motorcycles. This space will soon be shared by a new 250cc offering rumoured to be called as the ‘FZ-250”. The bike has been spotted on the road with minimal camouflage and Yamaha had scheduled a press conference on January 24 suggesting the official launch of the motorcycle. 

The FZ250 will be a naked street bike with minimal use of body panels. It is expected to feature an LED headlamp housed in a petite fairing while the fuel tank gets chiselled extensions. The stepped seat and sleek tail section complete the overall look of the bike. Being a street bike, it will come with a stubby exhaust, similar to the one found on the FZ version 2.0.

The FZ250 will be powered by a 249cc, oil-cooled, single-cylinder, fuel-injected mill that has been borrowed from the Fazer 250 sold in Brazil. The motor is capable of producing 20.7PS of max power and 20.4Nm of peak torque. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a 5-speed gearbox. The bike will come with telescopic forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear for suspension duties. Braking will be handled by disc brakes on both ends, while ABS has been given a miss to keep cost low. 

Bajaj Pulsar RS400:

Expected Price: Rs 1.4- Rs 1.6 lakh

Bajaj Auto had unveiled the Pulsar RS400 during the 2014 Auto Expo. At the same time, the company had also unveiled the Pulsar CS400 which has now been recently launched as the Dominar 400. On the same lines, Bajaj is likely to launch the much-awaited Pulsar RS400 in the coming year. The bike might be launched with the same Pulsar badge or the new Dominar nomenclature. The Pulsar RS400 will be the elder sibling of the RS200 and hence is very similar in terms of styling. Equipment-wise, the bike will feature a full-digital instrument cluster with a small screen displaying essential details. 

Powering the Pulsar RS400 will be the same updated engine that will be powering the new 390 Duke which will soon go on sale in India. The 373.4cc mill will come with Bajaj’s Triple Spark Technology and different internal components keeping the costs in check. The bike will feature a slipper clutch that will transmit power to the 6-speed gearbox. The power output of the Pulsar RS400 will, however, be slightly lower than the new 390 Duke. Like the RS200, the upcoming RS400 will be equipped with disc brakes at both ends with dual-channel ABS. Expect Bajaj to launch the bike in the second half of 2017.

UM Hypersport:

Expected Price: Rs 1.8 lakh

The Hypersport is a dual-purpose motorcycle that is highly anticipated to be launched in 2017 as the company had confirmed bringing more products to India. The Hypersport was a part of UM’s display at the 2016 INTERMOT motorcycle show in Germany. The bike features the typical dual-purpose styling with attracting decals on the body panels. The Hypersport comes with upside down forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear with internal adjustment for the long suspension travel. It sits on aluminium alloy wheels with sporty tyres to offer confidence at high speeds and around tight corners as claimed by UM. Braking is handled by a 265mm disc at the front and 220mm disc at the rear. The bike has a seat height of 820mm and an overall dry weight of 144kgs. 

The Hypersport is powered by UM’s new range of engines. It uses a 223cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, air-cooled motor that is rated to produce 16.5PS of power and 17.69Nm of peak torque. Transmission duties are handled by a 5-speed gearbox, transmitting power to the rear wheel. In terms of equipment, the Hypersport features a digital instrument console along with an intermittent anti-theft light helps prevent theft. Expect UM to launch the bike in India by late 2017. 

Yamaha YZF-R15 v3.0: 

Expected Price: Rs 1.3 lakh

The Yamaha YZF-R15 is a bike that ushered the dawn of new modern motorcycles in the 150cc segment. The R15 has been a very popular bike among its competition in the segment. Since Yamaha confirmed that the new R15 will be more powerful, faster, refined, and safer and feature-rich as compared to the current model, several bikers are eagerly waiting for the bike to break cover. Now, since the bike is also sold in the Indonesian market, the version 3.0 of the R15 has been spied in production-ready stage suggesting that the launch will soon happen in 2017. 

As per reports, the bike is likely to be powered by a slightly larger 155cc mill which will result in a power hike to 18-20PS and a peak torque of 17-18Nm. Transmission duties will continue to be handled by the 6-speed gearbox with the possibility of revised gear ratios. In terms of styling, the bike will undergo an extensive makeover with a more aggressive front with an air intake between the twin headlight setup (expected to be LED units). The bike remains fully-faired with sharper lines and a more aerodynamic tail section. The biggest highlight will be a new all-digital instrument cluster and upside down forks at the front. Expect the YZF-R15 v3.0 to be launched by early 2017 in the international market followed by its launch in India by mid-2017.

UM Renegade Classic: 

Expected Price: Rs 1.5 lakh

Showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo in Delhi, the Renegade Classic will be the third bike to join UM’s existing portfolio in India. The Renegade Classic will be a premium offering from UM as it comes with several highlights such as chrome parts, additional windscreen, dual-paint scheme and split-seats to name a few. As compared to the Renegade duo, the Renegade Classic makes use of fuel-injection instead of carburettors. Powering the bike is the same 279.5cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled engine which is likely to produce 25PS of power and 22Nm of peak torque which is slightly higher than the other two Renegades.

The cruiser will feature 41mm telescopic forks at the front and twin hydraulic shock absorbers at the rear. Braking duties will be handled by a 280mm disc with a 2-piston caliper and 130mm drum at the rear. The cruiser will also get the benefit of ABS which will be an optional extra. In terms of competition, the UM Renegade Classic will compete against the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350.

All above mentioned prices are ex-showroom (expected).