The year 2023 is set to witness the arrival of several products in the Indian market. These would range from entry-level models to performance-oriented motorcycles. Here we list the top upcoming motorcycles that we would see in India in 2023.
Royal Enfield
Chennai-based manufacturer, Royal Enfield, has started the year with the launch of the Super Meteor 650 which will compete in the middleweight segment of the Indian market. This cruiser motorcycle is based on the same platform as the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650, however, it features different hardware and more features than the existing 650cc motorcycles in Royal Enfield’s portfolio. The company is also expected to expand its 650cc range with the launch of the Shotgun 650 but that motorcycle is still some time away.
Meanwhile, the next product from Royal Enfield will most likely be the next-generation Bullet 350 which will use the company’s new J-platform. This platform already underpins the likes of the Meteor 350, Classic 350, and Hunter 350. The changes would be limited to the mechanical upgrades while the styling will remain similar to the outgoing Bullet 350. There’s also the Bobber 350 under development, but that motorcycle may not arrive before the end of 2023.
Then, later in the year, Royal Enfield should bring out the much-awaited Himalaya 450 which will be the company’s first liquid-cooled motorcycle. This adventure-tourer will be available in two variants – standard and Rally – although the details about the latter are limited. The company will also introduce a roadster motorcycle that will be based on the same platform as the Himalayan 450, albeit with more road-focussed hardware and sportier ergonomics. This model will rival the likes of the KTM 390 Duke and the BMW G 310 R in the Indian market.
Hero MotoCorp
Hero MotoCorp, too, is working on a premium adventure tourer motorcycle and this product was spotted on several occasions through spy images and videos. This model will most likely arrive under the Xpulse brand and feature a higher displacement than the existing range. The spy images have confirmed that this upcoming adventure tourer will use a liquid-cooled motor but the details about the displacement are not available yet. We expect this motorcycle to arrive in the 300-400cc displacement segment, which will put it against the likes of Royal Enfield Himalayan, KTM 390 Adventure, and BMW G 310 GS. Hero MotoCorp has equipped this motorcycle with hardware to match that of the rivals, and the upcoming adventure tourer will feature LED lighting and Bluetooth connectivity. It will also use upside-down front forks and a rear monoshock to handle the suspension tasks.
The same engine is also expected to power a road-going fully-faired motorcycle that was seen alongside the adventure tourer. It is still not clear whether this model will arrive under the Xtreme range or the Karizma brand. Once launched, this motorcycle will rival the likes of the KTM RC390, TVS Apache RR 310, and the BMW G 310 RR in the Indian market. The liquid-cooled assembly should result in promising power output figures. Meanwhile, the feature list is likely to be similar to the adventure tourer model and this motorcycle, too, should come with LED lighting and Bluetooth connectivity. We may see both of these models in our market by mid to late 2023.
KTM India
KTM is working on the next-generation 390 Duke and spy images have revealed several styling and mechanical upgrades on this upcoming motorcycle. The styling, for example, will be heavily inspired by the latest-generation KTM 1290 Super Duke R. The spy images also revealed revised engine casing and a re-routed exhaust which clearly hints at mechanical changes, but the finer details are not available yet. Apart from mechanical upgrades and styling changes, we expect KTM to revise the feature list and add more electronic rider aids to the next-generation 390 Duke.
It will be safe to assume that the styling changes would be brought down to the lower displacement Duke series as well. Thus, the 125 Duke, 200 Duke, and 250 Duke, too, should get the updated design. The updated KTM Duke range should debut around mid-2023.
Bajaj Auto
Bajaj Auto has been aggressively expanding its Pulsar range and we recently saw the Pulsar P150 arrive in the Indian market. This year, the company is expected to launch the Pulsar P125 which will be sold alongside the existing 125cc Pulsar models in the Indian market. The new Pulsar P125 will draw styling cues from the Pulsar P150. However, we expect this lower displacement model to get budget-friendly features such as a halogen headlight instead of the projector-style LED unit on the Pulsar P150. Further, the Pulsar P125 may come with a combined braking system (CBS) instead of ABS to keep the prices competitive. That said, Bajaj Auto may surprise use by introducing a single-channel ABS version of this motorcycle.
Triumph Motorcycles India
Triumph Motorcycles India has already announced the 2023 Street Triple range for our market and commenced the pre-bookings for this motorcycle series ahead of its launch in March 2023. The company will offer two variants of the Street Triple range in India – R and RS – while the Moto2 edition will not be available in our market. For 2023, the Street Triple range gets several styling and mechanical upgrades over its predecessor.
Apart from the Street Triple range, the company will also introduce its entry-level models in the Indian market. These motorcycles, which have been developed in collaboration with Bajaj Auto, will compete in the quarter-litre segment of the Indian market and rival the likes of the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and TVS Ronin. This quarter-litre range will be available in two variants – roadster and scrambler. The company will also manufacture higher displacement variants of these motorcycles but in the initial phase, they would be limited to exports only.
BSA
Lastly, the BSA brand will be revived in India with the launch of the Goldstar 650. This motorcycle has been spotted in the production-ready guise in the Indian market and we expect this product to arrive very soon. The new BSA Goldstar will rival the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and thus we expect it to arrive in the Rs 3-3.5 lakh (ex-showroom) price range. However, unlike the Interceptor 650, this BSA model will feature a single-cylinder layout. It will also pack budget-friendly hardware to keep the costs low and competitive.
