Upcoming 250-300cc Capacity Bikes For 2016
2016 is just around the corner and the hugely transforming two-wheeler market in India promises an exciting new year. We saw many new motorcycles unveiled by various manufacturers for 2016, most of them from this year’s Tokyo Motor Show and the EICMA. Being the last month of 2015, let’s take some time and talk about the expected entry-level performance 250-300c category of bikes for 2016.
Without doubt, one of the most awaited bikes for 2016 in the 250-300cc category would be the BMW G310R which was unveiled at EICMA. The radical new BMW G310R with a reverse-inclined engine produces a respectable 34 bhp and peak torque of 25 Nm. This would be one bike that we have to look out for in 2016 as it is a completely new player in the Indian market. Will the BMW-TVS venture take the Indian two-wheeler market by storm the same way Bajaj-KTM did two years ago? It would completely depend on how competitively the new BMW G310R is priced. We expect it to be priced similarly as the KTM 390s.
Next in line would be the new Yamaha MT-03. Yamaha India recently confirmed that the MT-03 will be launched in early 2016. The MT-03 is basically the stripped down naked version of the Yamaha R3. The styling is the same as the Yamaha MT-25 carrying the aggressive MT class DNA. The MT-03 will be powered by the same 321cc engine from the R3 which develops 41 bhp of power and 29.6 Nm of torque. The R3 was launched in August this year but the high pricing resulted in very low sales. The in-line twin-cylinder platform is appealing but the performance of the R3 is similar to its competition in the form of the KTM 390s, which are rather affordable. With the new BMW expected to be launched, the Yamaha MT-03 and R3 will have a much tougher year ahead.
The EICMA 2015 also saw the American manufacturer UM Motorcycles unveil their India-bound motorcycles, the UM Renegade cruiser range. UM Motorcycles have collaborated with Lohia Motors for sale in the Indian domestic market. The bike is powered by a 279cc engine which pumps out 25 bhp of maximum power and 22.7 Nm of torque. This new entry to the cruiser segment will be in direct competition with the Bajaj Avenger and the Hyosung Aquila.
Other bikes for 2016 in the 250-300cc category which are expected but not yet confirmed to be launched are listed as follows. Benelli revealed the new Tornado 302 at EICMA which is powered by the same engine as the TNT 302. Hyosung came out with two new motorcycles, Hyosung GT300 and GV300 at the EICMA. We speculate that the Indian manufacturers will come up with the long awaited Pulsar CS400 from Bajaj and the Hero HX250R which were unveiled at the Auto Expo earlier. Apart from these we have recently heard rumours about Suzuki working on a 250cc version of the Gixxer which is similar to the 150cc Gixxer SF currently in the market.
Download Quikr App for Android, Windows and iOS devices here.