Top 5 International Bikes That We’d Love To See In India

We round up five of the most exciting yet reasonably priced international-spec two-wheelers that we believe would be great to see in India!

When it comes to offering India-specific products, most of the two-wheeler manufacturers have been quite conservative. This is because the market is extremely price-conscious, especially in the lower-capacity segment. However, the market above 150cc is witnessing a major boom with many new entrants offering some of their best products for the enthusiasts. In parallel, many motorcycle manufacturers abroad too offer an incredibly drool-worthy range for a reasonable price point, and here are some of them that are apt for our roads:

Honda CBR250RR:

When Honda unveiled the CBR250RR back in 2016, us enthusiasts went gaga all over it. Well, obviously, because the motorcycle looked incredibly futuristic and aggressive right from the word go. This was a far cry from their usual design language which is a lot sober - a perfect example being the Honda CBR 250R which even in its 2018 avatar looks boring. The CBR250RR is powered by a 249.7cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled motor which pushes out 38.7PS at 12,500rpm and 28.3Nm at 11,000rpm. 

It’s not just the engine that makes us hanker after this bike though. You get Comfort, Sport and Sport+ riding modes too - something that’s not normally found in bikes under this class. Apart from this, the motorcycle packs an all-LED lighting system, full digital instrument cluster and dual-channel ABS. While we really wish Honda replaced the ageing CBR250R with the RR in India, the Japanese auto major has confirmed that this motorcycle is not going to be launched in the country.

Honda Rebel 300:

The Honda Rebel 300 would be a perfect product for those who are looking for a badass-looking cruiser but with the reliability and refinement of Japanese engineering. There’s no dearth of power either, thanks to the 27.3PS, 27Nm 286cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. For optimal safety, there’s dual-channel ABS acting on the 296mm front and 240mm rear disc.

If Honda decides to launch this motorcycle, about Rs 2.25-2.5 lakh (ex-showroom) seems to be a fair price for the bike. However, instead of bringing in this bike and localising the production, Honda has decided to design and develop its own cruiser (read Royal Enfield rival) for the Indian market. We believe we’ll hopefully see the finished product in 2020.

Suzuki GSX-R150:

Suzuki sells the GSX-R150 in the Indonesian market at Rp. 29,150,000, on-road, Jakarta (Rs 1.45 lakh). This motorcycle packs properly sophisticated features like a liquid-cooled DOHC engine, digital instrument cluster, LED headlamp and a novel keyless ignition too! The engine generates a healthy 19.1PS at 10500rpm and 14Nm at 9000rpm, working alongside a 6-speed transmission.

Suzuki has not had any 150cc motorcycle with a modern liquid-cooled engine for the Indian market so far. The Gixxer SF is more of a naked bike slapped with a fairing. However, the GSX-R150, if launched, would be an ideal product for the Indian market, locking horns with the only other competitor in its segment, the Yamaha YZF-R15 Version 3.0.

Yamaha Aerox 155:

Think of the Yamaha YZF-R15 v3.0. Now imagine it as a scooter, and that’s exactly how the Aerox 155 looks. It doesn’t just stop with the design, as the Aerox packs the R15 v3.0’s advanced VVA-equipped motor too! However, for more scooter-friendly dynamics, the engine makes marginally less power and torque than the bike, at 15PS and 13.8Nm. Notable features include a huge 25-litre underseat storage, LCD instrument cluster, Stop-Start System and ABS.

While we do know that the NMax 155, which is more of a maxi-scooter, is likely to be launched in mid-2019, we feel the Aerox would be a better candidate in the 150cc performance scooter segment, if priced at around Rs 1 lakh ex-showroom. This is if Yamaha heavily localises it, as the price in the Philippines market is around Rs 1.65 lakh.

Peugeot Django Heritage 150:

There’s a healthy demand for retro scooters in India, with a classic example being the Vespa range. Though they are priced on the higher side, they still bring in consistently decent sales numbers. Other manufacturers have also started offering retro-looking yet affordable alternatives like the TVS Jupiter Classic edition, Yamaha Fascino, and the likes.

Since Mahindra already has a stake in Peugeot Motorcycles, we feel this is the right time to bring the Django Heritage into the market. It comes with an elegantly flamboyant retro bodywork housing an 11.2PS, 150cc air-cooled engine, modern LED lighting system, semi-digital instrument cluster and a 12V power socket in the glove box. Peugeot should partner with Mahindra Two-wheelers and bring the Django Heritage 150 to India. If it does, then the Django Heritage would cost around Rs 1.2 lakh (ex-showroom).