The month of August could be packing a lot of excitement as we might see an Italian two-wheeler brand enter India, besides new offerings from existing companies. And there will be a new Royal Enfield model that will join the modern-classic bandwagon, one that we all have been waiting for over the last few months. And not just, Hero MotoCorp is all set to bring back a product it had discontinued some time back. Now, without any further ado, let’s take a detailed look at the bikes expected to be launched this month.
Royal Enfield Hunter
The first motorcycle scheduled to debut in the first week of August is the Royal Enfield Hunter 350. A lot of you have been eagerly waiting for the Hunter but have been seeing the bike only in spy shots and videos. But the wait is about to get over. Also, we will be riding the motorcycle comprehensively to tell you how it performs and whether it is worth all the hype.
Now, to give you a brief overview of the Hunter – it will be based on the same ‘J’ platform that has been utilised for the new Classic 350 and Meteor 350. That means a majority of cycle parts and the 349cc, air/oil-cooled engine will be carried over. As we know, this engine churns out 20.2bhp and 27Nm of torque and is extremely smooth, unlike the 350cc REs of the olden days.
In all certainty, the Hunter will be the most accessible Royal Enfield yet. Not just in terms of seat height and kerb weight, but also on the pricing front which is likely to be in the ballpark of Rs 1.30-1.40 lakh ex-showroom.
The next product will come from Honda on 8 August. Although the company hasn’t revealed anything about this model, there are high chances that it will be the CB 350 Brigade – a name which Honda trademarked some time back. As it is clear from the name, this will be a variant of Honda’s existing CB350 range which comprises the Hness and the CB350RS.
Now, the adjective used by Honda for this bike in its teaser is ‘Formidable’. If we put this word and the name Brigade together, they point toward something related to war and the military. So, this could be a version of the CB350 Hness which will have some connection with the army, just like the Classic 350 Signals which pays homage to the bikes used by the British armed forces during wartime.
If all of this turns out to be true, the CB350 Brigade will sport the same cycle parts and engine as the Hness and the CB350RS. However, there might be some changes to the styling along with additional features. As a result, the price will also be higher than its existing siblings.
The next motorcycle could be the facelifted version of the Hero Xpulse 200T that was recently spotted out in the open. The motorcycle was first launched with the Xpulse 200 back in 2019 but was discontinued in mid-2020, mainly due to poor sales. But now, Hero MotoCorp seems to be preparing to bring back the motorcycle, most probably in August.
Only the front section of the motorcycle was visible in the spy shot which showed a few add-ons like a body-coloured flyscreen on top of the LED headlamp that is placed slightly lower than before. There are new fork gaiters too. Interestingly, this is perhaps not a mere visual tweak. Hero might also equip the updated model with the new 199cc, four-valve engine that’s already featured on the new Xpulse 200 4V which is a part of our long-term garage. As we have experienced until now, the additional valve head aids in better top-end performance, thereby making it a more capable highway tourer. Accompanied by the updated styling, the inclusion of the new four-valve motor will surely increase the desirability quotient of the new Xpulse 200T.
Harley-Davidson Nightster
Next up on the list is the Harley-Davidson Nightster. The American brand teased the Nightster’s India arrival last month and it will probably be officially launched in August.
The motorcycle will join the brand’s Sportster range and is likely to replace the Iron 883 and the Forty Eight. Do note that this is Harley’s new-age offering in terms of the engine as it runs on the new 975cc, 60-degree, V-twin engine that gets liquid-cooling, unlike the relatively older Harleys with an air-cooled setup.
The Nightster is equally modern on the electronics front with the presence of three riding modes, traction control, torque control system, and dual-channel ABS. The design has stayed true to the Harley ethos with most of it being similar to the Forty-Eight and Iron 883, along with certain changes to make it look new.
The Nightster might come in three colour options with a price of a little over Rs 12 lakh (ex-showroom). If you’re too excited about the Nightster and want to know how it performs out on the road, you can read our first ride review of the bike.
Moto Morini
The Italian that’s ready to set foot in India is Moto Morini which has partnered with Adishwar Auto Ride India for its retail operations here. Now, Moto Morini will bring four 650cc motorcycles to India which are expected to be officially launched in August.
These four models include two adventure tourers called the X-Cape 650 and X-Cape 650X. Typical of ADVs, these bikes are equipped with 19-17-inch wheels with long travel suspension and a high 175mm of ground clearance. The hardware package is quite premium with things like Marzocchi inverted forks, KYB monoshock, Brembo brakes at both ends, and Pirelli Scorpian Rally STR tyres. Further, the feature list is decent with dual-channel ABS, full-LED lighting, a seven-inch TFT display, and a large 18-litre fuel tank.
The other two models belong to the Seiemmezzo 6 ½ series and are christened the Retro Street and the Scrambler. The names clearly indicate the kind of design and hardware these bikes feature. Both of them ride on a smaller 18-17-inch wheel combination, the ground clearance is lower at 170mm, and even the fuel tank is smaller at 15.5-litre. The list of features is similar to the X-Cape siblings with dual-channel ABS, full-LED lighting, and a five-inch TFT console.
All four motorcycles are powered by a 649cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine. However, the X-Cape siblings pump out more power at 60bhp while the Seiemmezzo twins produce 55bhp. The torque output, meanwhile, is the same at 54Nm.
As for the competition, there are plenty of offerings in this segment that are ready to lock horns with Moto Morini offerings. From the Kawasaki Versys 650 to the Triumph Trident 660, every product from the Italian brand has a rival waiting
