Your weekly dose of bike updates: KTM RC 125, Suzuki Gixxer 250, Honda Activa 125 BS-VI and more!

A few exciting launches and shift to BS-VI emission standards is what the last week was all about. From premium to mass-market, every segment had something special for us. To give you a quick summary, here’s a round-up of everything that enthralled us in the last week. 

Ducati Hypermotard 950 launch

Ducati has launched the Hypermotard 950 in India at Rs 11.99 lakhs. The motorcycle demands a premium of Rs 82,000 over the Hypermotard 939, the model it replaces in the country. While the motorcycle received a comprehensive design update, the mechanicals also went through an overhaul to make the supermoto further manic. Powering the Hypermotard 950 is a 937cc, L-twin motor which makes 112bhp and 96Nm while being mated to a six-speed gearbox. In India, the motorcycle locks horns only with the Aprilia Dorsoduro 900 which is also a supermoto.  

Honda Activa 125 BS-VI unveiled

Honda unveiled its first BS-VI-compliant two-wheeler, the Activa 125, in India. The company achieved adherence to the upcoming emission norms by making several changes to the engine. This includes an upgraded fuel-canister, closed-loop catalytic converter, electronic fuel injection and Electronic Control Unit (ECU). Despite the changes, the 125cc, air-cooled motor continues to produce 8.5bhp and 10.54Nm. Honda will launch the BS-VI Activa 125 towards the end of the second quarter of the current fiscal year.

MV Agusta F3 800 RC launch

MV Agusta has launched the F3 800 RC (Reporto Corse) limited edition motorcycle in India. The Italian bikemaker has allotted only 6 units for the country and has priced it at Rs 21.99 lakhs. That is around Rs 4 lakhs expensive over the standard F3 800 which is justified by the cosmetic and mechanical alterations executed on the motorcycle. It comes with a race kit which bumps up the power from 146bhp to 153bhp while it also sheds 8kgs from the overall weight over the standard motorcycle. All the changes have been made with the help of MV Agusta’s racing division which makes it a very special motorcycle to own. 

KTM RC 125 teased and bookings open

KTM has teased its upcoming entry-level sportsbike, the RC 125, for the Indian market. The teaser video said ‘Coming soon,’ which meant by the end of this month or by the first week of July; as confirmed by the dealers. Moreover, bookings for the RC 125 have also begun at a few dealerships for a token amount of Rs 5,000. Borrowing its styling from the RC 200 and the RC 390, the RC 125 is based on the newly-launched 125 Duke street bike. As for the pricing, the baby RC is expected to be around Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 costlier than the 125 Duke which is priced at Rs 1.30 lakhs. 

Suzuki Gixxer 250 images leaked

Suzuki is expected to introduce the Gixxer 250 around the festive season this year in India. While the launch is still a few months away, the naked version of the Gixxer SF 250 was leaked through pictures. The images don’t give away the complete design but they do reveal that the motorcycle will retain cues of its smaller sibling, the Gixxer 150. However, the overall bodywork will get edgier panels for giving the bike a muscular appeal. Expect Suzuki to price the Gixxer 250 around Rs 1.60 lakhs to Rs 1.65 lakhs and it will go up against the Bajaj Dominar 400 and the KTM 250 Duke in India. 

(All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi)