Santa Claus is almost ready to make his annual global sojourn, and that means it’s time to look back at the hits of 2018. Here are the launches of 2018 that our readers liked.
1. Jawa motorcycles launched in three variants starting at Rs 1.55 lakhs
Classic Legends is in the process of bringing back to life a couple of marques that were very popular, to the Indian market. Jawa is the first of them, and it is designed to compete with the Royal Enfield Classic and tug at the heartstrings of those who remember their Jawas and Yezdis. However, they’re modern enough under the classic styling, with a liquid-cooled 300cc motor, six speed gearbox, and ABS. You can read about them here.
2. Hero Passion Pro and Passion Xpro launched in India
The Passion Pro and Passion XPro got a comprehensive update, with the addition of Hero Motocorp’s new 110cc engine that debuted in the Splendor 110. The 110cc engine is more powerful than the old one by 9 per cent. They also get the patented i3s Start/Stop system unique to Hero’s products. There are more features as well – there is a part-digital instrument cluster that has a tripmeter and a service reminder as well. Read about them here.
3. Ampere launches two electric scooters in India
There aren’t too many electric two wheeler options in India, thanks to the lack of charging infrastructure. That’s what makes Ampere’s twin launches so interesting – this is a company that focuses on Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. The V48 and Red Li-Ion are electric scooters that can only do 25kmph, but that also means that they do not need to be registered, and that can be a distinct advantage in rural areas. For more about Ampere’s offerings, click here.
4. KTM 125 Duke ABS launched in India at Rs 1.18 lakhs
150cc is the lowest manufacturers were willing to go to with ABS systems. The requirement states that anything above 125cc needs an ABS system, so all the manufacturers conveniently developed engines just under 125cc. Not so with KTM; the 125cc Duke now has a single-channel ABS system as an option. It thus becomes a real alternative to the likes of the Yamaha YZF-R15. More about it here.
5. TVS Radeon launched at Rs 48400
TVS’s offensive continued in 2018 with the launch of the Radeon. The company made no bones about what it was aiming for, in the 110cc segment, and that is the segment leader. It has a couple of features unique to the segment, in the tank pads on either side of the tank, and a USB charging port. It doesn’t skimp on the practicality, with LED DRLs that reduce fuel consumption and the largest seat in the segment. It competes on spec near the premium end of the 110cc commuter segment, but the pricing places it squarely a rung below that, making it extremely good value for money. Click here for more on the Radeon.
