Your weekly dose of bike updates: KTM 390 Adventure launch, TVS iQube electric launch and more!

It felt like the last week went by in a jiffy as each day was profoundly eventful. From KTM launching its most anticipated motorcycle to Royal Enfield updating its ADV for BS6, almost every major bike maker had something special in store. In case your busy schedule didn’t let you keep a track of  it all, here’s a round-up of the top five most important two-wheeler stories from the last week.

KTM 390 Adventure launched

After unveiling the 390 Adventure in December 2019 in Goa, KTM finally launched the motorcycle with a price tag of Rs 2.99 lakhs. That makes it Rs 52,000 more expensive than the 390 Duke, the model it is based on. Besides the highly-potent 373.2cc engine and adventure-centric components, the ADV gets a few segment-first features such as a bi-directional quickshifter, traction control and cornering ABS. It also gets full-LED lighting and a fully-digital TFT display. In terms of competition, the KTM 390 Adventure goes up against the BMW G310GS and the Kawasaki Versys X-300. 

New Royal Enfield Himalayan BS6 launched

Royal Enfield launched the new BS6-compliant version of its adventure offering, the Himalayan. While it remains unchanged in terms of cycle parts, the 411cc, single-cylinder engine has been revised to be compliant with upcoming emission norms. Although the overall styling remains unchanged, RE has introduced three new colour options for the bike, which were showcased at the 2019 EICMA show in Milan. Moreover, new features such as switchable ABS and hazard switch has also been introduced in the Himalayan. 

TVS Apache RTR 160 BS6 launched

TVS Motor Company also added a new offering to its BS6 line-up, the new Apache RTR 160. The 159.7cc, two-valve, single-cylinder motor of the bike now gets fuel-injection, as required for adhering to BS6 norms. Despite the update, the power figures have surprisingly gone up by 0.3bhp and 0.9Nm at 15.3bhp and 13.9Nm. Interestingly, TVS has also incorporated the GTT (glide through technology) feature for smooth low-speed riding in traffic. Furthermore, refreshed graphics complete the list of updates. The motorcycle is now priced at Rs 93,500 (front disc) and Rs 96,500 (rear disc) which is a premium of around Rs 5,000 over its BS4 counterpart. 

Honda working on 200cc Adventure motorcycle

With the entry-level adventure space growing rapidly, most of the major bike makers are eyeing to get grab a chunk of it. One of these companies is Honda which is working on a 200cc adventure motorcycle, as we told you in our exclusive report last week. We got our hands on a picture of the motorcycle which clearly shows its adventure-oriented components and design. This bike will be powered by a 200cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled motor and the power figures are likely to be on par with the Hero Xpulse 200, which will be its direct rival.

TVS iQube electric scooter launched

TVS has finally forayed into the electric segment by launching the iQube e-scooter in India. It has been priced at Rs 1.15 lakhs (on road) and aims to compete against the Bajaj Chetak and the Ather 450. One of the main highlights of the iQube is the fully-digital colour TFT display which gets TVS’ SmartXonnect feature for smartphone integration. It is claimed to deliver a battery range of 75kms on a full charge while the top speed is rated to be 78kmph. Bookings for the iQube are open at Rs 5,000 through its official website and at select dealerships in Bangalore. It will be introduced in other cities in a phased manner.  

(All prices are ex-showroom)