Another year, another set of motorcycles to look forward to. Luckily for us, some of these are motorcycles that will have a great combination of desirability and affordability. We list the motorcycles that you should start saving up for in 2017.
BMW G310R and G310 GS
The Germans are coming – and their first launch will be a motorcycle that will ostensibly compete with the KTM Dukes. However, Munich has chosen to split the 200 and 390 Duke and offer a 310cc streetbike in the form of the G310R. If that doesn’t float your boat, they’ll have an adventure-touring version in the G310 GS, but it will also be a road-biased motorcycle.
KTM 390 Duke
The KTMs have reigned supreme in the premium motorcycle segment, and it isn’t difficult to see why. They offer incredible performance at the price, but the manufacturer wants to take it forward and be a game changer once again. So we’ll see a TFT colour screen for instrumentation, and even Bluetooth connectivity. Nothing changes when it comes to performance, however – it promises to be as thrilling as before. Here is where you can read more about the upcoming KTM 390 Duke.
Hero Xtreme 200S
Hero MotoCorp has been quietly refreshing its range and making them the most technologically advanced products in their segments. However, the premium segment isn’t Hero’s strength, but a larger displacement motorcycle will be required to go global. Enter the Xtreme 200S, 200cc of streetbike that will take the fight back to the likes of the Apache and Pulsar in the domestic market.
TVS Akula 310
The other half of the TVS-BMW partnership, the Akula will be a fully-faired product that will share a lot of mechanical bits with the G310R. This flagship product will catapult TVS into a segment above the Apache, and it promises to still deliver the core principles of TVS motorcycles: sound engineering and bang for your buck.
Yamaha FZ25
More and more manufacturers are moving up the displacement ladder in a bid to satisfy the enthusiast. Yamaha will join the movement with its 250cc FZ based on its SE Asian counterpart. If the FZ and R15 are anything to go by, this should be one of the most fun-for-the-money motorcycles in the market. We can’t wait.
Special mention: Tork T6X
Electric vehicles are the future, and it is only fitting that the second-largest motorcycle market have an indigenous electric product that it can be proud of. The Tork T6X is about being clean and green, yes, but not for an instant does it give up on the fun factor.