The last week was as exciting as it could get owing to the grand launch hosted by Hero MotoCorp. Accompanying this were a few other buzzing reports which kept us hooked on to the keyboard in order to keep you updated. Now, let’s recollect all the two-wheeler stories from the last week which had our spirits high.
Hero XPulse 200 and XPulse 200T launched
After a slew of spy shots surfacing online for months together, Hero finally launched its highly anticipated offerings of this year – the XPulse 200 and its touring variant, the XPulse 200T. While the former has been priced at Rs 97,000 (for carbureted model) and Rs 1.05 lakhs (for fuel-injected trim ), the latter comes with a sticker price of Rs 94,000 (available only with a carbureted engine). Notably, the XPulse 200 has now replaced the Royal Enfield Himalayan to be the most affordable adventure motorcycle in India.
Hero Xtreme 200S launched
At the Hero launch, the Xtreme 200S was the motorcycle we least knew about. Based on the naked Xtreme 200R, the ‘S’ model is on the sportier side as it comes adorned with a full fairing. Sharing its underpinnings with the 200R, the motorcycle gets a sleek LED headlamp and a fully-digital instrument cluster which shows oodles of information while being Bluetooth-enabled. The Hero Xtreme 200S gets a price tag of Rs 98,500.
Bajaj Avenger Street 160 ABS launched
Bajaj also updated its portfolio by launching its new cruiser bike, the Avenger Street 160 ABS. The motorcycle has replaced the Avenger 180 in the Indian market. Retaining the same styling and majority of its components from the Street 180, the new Avenger 160 is powered by a 160cc, carbureted mill which churns out 15.3bhp and 14.6Nm. At Rs 81,037, the motorcycle is Rs 7,000 cheaper than the Avenger Street 180.
Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 launch on 20 May
With a teaser image showing a headlamp and a little bit of fairing, Suzuki invited us for a launch on 20 May. We believe this will be the quarter-litre faired bike, the Gixxer 250 SF, which we all have been waiting for. The motorcycle is likely to resemble the Suzuki GSX-S1000F, a litre-class touring motorcycle, in terms of design. After launching the SF variant, the Japanese bikemaker will also reportedly launch a naked version of the motorcycle at a later stage.
KTM 390 Adventure spied with official accessories
The spy shots of the KTM 390 Adventure continue to emerge but this time it was spotted with the official ‘KTM’ branded touring accessories in Europe. The motorcycle was equipped with a top box and soft panniers, both sporting a zipper locking mechanism. These accessories are likely to be offered as an option with the motorcycle. As for the launch, this 390 Duke-based adventure bike is expected to debut by the end of this year.
New Honda Activa under development
Honda’s highest selling two-wheeler, the Activa is set to undergo a major overhaul, according to a report which surfaced on the internet. The scooter will be powered by a new engine which will be compliant with the upcoming BS VI emission norms. While the design may also be refreshed, a major change will be brought to its features as it is likely to offer smartphone connectivity options similar to those on the TVS NTorq 125. The upgraded Honda Activa is likely to be introduced in the first half of 2020.
