Top 8 bikes at 2016 Auto Expo

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The 2016 Auto has been a very important milestone for the Indian two-wheeler automotive industry. Lot of motorcycles and scooters in concept and production were showcased. While some of them will eventually make its way to the Indian market, some of them will be used as a design inspiration. We bring you top eight bikes that stole the show at the 2016 Auto Expo.

 

Hero XF3R

The XF3R is a naked street fighter concept from Hero MotoCorp. Unlike other concepts, that looks little difficult to go into production in the exact same form, the XF3R, somewhat will carry most of its design to production, whenever it goes that is. It gets a single-sided swingarm which is a segment first, trellis frame, 200cc liquid-cooled engine and that aggressive stance that is sure to attract a lot of attention. 

TVS Akula 300

Remember the recently unveiled G310R from BMW? Well, the TVS Akula 300 is based on the same platform. So it gets the same engine, same chassis but different design. That’s because the Akula 300 is meant to be a fully-faired motorcycle, which will be sold in India by the end of this year. 

Triumph Street Twin

The Street Twin is a pretty looking bike and things doesn’t end there. With those classic looks, the bike is also equipped with latest technologies like the ride-by wire system, anti-lock braking system (ABS), traction control. And yes, don’t forget the new 900cc parallel twin engine that churns out 80Nm via a six-speed gearbox. This classic has been priced at Rs 6.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and that’s a pretty good price tag for a bike like this. 

Yamaha MT 09

The launch of the MT09 came as a shocker as we were expecting something smaller bike the MT03 from Yamaha. But nevertheless, the Kawasaki Z800 and the Triumph Speed Triple has a new competitor, and a very serious one. The MT09 churns out 115bhp and 87.5Nm of power and that makes the ride pretty exciting. In terms of styling, the MT09 doesn’t go all aggressive, rather it takes a sober approach but still has the Yamaha DNA. 

Honda Navi

Technically, the Honda Navi is a scooter. But why have we included it in this story? Blame the design. The Navi is a small compact scooter that’s been launched to target young buyers who are looking for a fun two-wheeler. The Navi fits the bill. It is powered by the same 110cc engine from the Activa and that has helped the Japanese manufacturer price the Navi as low as Rs 39,500. The Navi can be customised using various colourful panels and yes, it’ll be sold through the same Honda showrooms. 

UM Renegade Commando

The Renegade Commando is cruiser from UM, which has been launched at Rs 1.59 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The cruiser is pretty interesting to look at, thanks to the matte green and grey paint schemes that gives the bike a military feel. You should visit the UM pavilion for the sole reason that they're a new manufacturer and has entered the Indian market with pretty interesting bikes.

Hero Xtreme 200 S

We never thought Hero will launch a 200cc avatar of the Xtreme 200S because the design of the Xtreme and the Xtreme Sports were never considered to be the industry best. What Hero has done with the Xtreme 200S, they’ve played around with the tank and tail section, added new paint and decals and has equipped the bike with a 200cc engine. Hero plans to launch this bike within this year. Our guess is the festive season. 

Benelli TRK 502

The Benelli TRK 502 is the most practical bike India will get. Being an adventure bike that is equipped with a 500cc parallel-twin engine, it won’t be just an affordable bike but also useful for the Indian roads. The rugged tough looking TRK 502 is not a production version yet, but Benelli has assured us that the production version will look exactly like this.