Top 5 Most Powerful Motorcycles Between Rs 2 Lakh And Rs 3 Lakh: Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, KTM 390 Duke, BMW G 310 R And More

Over the last decade, India’s premium motorcycle segment has seen an upswing thanks to various international brands deciding to offer their bikes and scooters here in the country. This has resulted in buyers moving from conventional commuter options to something more powerful. If you happen to one of them and are looking to upgrade or invest in a new ride, here’s our pick of the most powerful motorcycles between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh (ex-showroom) sold in the country.

5) TVS Apache RR 310

• Price - Rs 2.23 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

• Power - 34PS @ 9700rpm

• Torque - 27.3Nm @ 7700rpm

The TVS Apache RR 310 is an absolute stunner. The Hosur-based company says it takes design inspiration from a shark. And that can be seen with all the cuts and creases across the bodywork, giving it a sporty look. Pair it with either the red or black colour option with racey white strips and you have a motorcycle you’d love to have in your garage.

But, while it’s still comfortable at doing daily chores and hitting the twisties at will, the engine refinement level hasn’t really set a benchmark. This 313.2cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled unit sourced from the baby Bimmer is noticeably vibey from 6000rpm to 7000rpm, but feels at home between 3000rpm to 4000rpm mark. Even the trackability of the motor is quite good, with the bike being able to pick up from slow speeds at high gears without lugging. Overall, it’s not an unrefined mess that you can’t live with and a good touring option as well.

4) BMW G 310 R

• Price - (will call the dealership tomorrow and get updated pricing)

• Power - 34PS @9500rpm

• Torque - 28Nm @ 7500rpm

If the TVS Apache RR 310 takes design cues from a shark, the BMW G 310 R takes inspiration from its older siblings - the BMW R 1200 R and the S 1000 R, which is hardly a bad thing. Disguised in a naked streetfighter look, the G 310 R is compact yet muscular with its beefy tank extensions, exposed frame and an overall butch look. You’d be tempted to snap a picture or two with it.

Yes, it carries the same engine as the Apache RR 310, making the same power and slightly more torque. However, ride them both one after other and you’ll notice the difference. This is mostly due to different sprocket sizes and different ECU calibration. While the Apache RR 310 is very rev-friendly, the G 310 R feels punchiest at its mid-range. Thanks to it being 11kgs lighter, the BMW is more responsive to throttle inputs too. In fact, the deeper engine note and quick in-gear acceleration make it feel more alive than the TVS.  

3) Kawasaki Ninja 300 ABS

• Price - Rs 2.98 lakh (ex-showroom India)

• Power - 39PS @ 11,000rpm

• Torque - 27Nm @ 10,000rpm

Last year, Kawasaki brought some important updates for the Ninja 300, Including a dual-channel ABS unit and more affordable pricing. Other than that, the bike remains pretty much the same (unless you don’t count the new blue paint option). The Ninja 300 continues to retain its sharp and sporty lines borrowed from the Ninja ZX-10R. But there’s nothing that really stands out here. It’s a safe design, and if we had to choose one just on the basis of looks, we’d go with the Apache RR 310.

But that’s not the case when you take a look under the skin. It’s 296cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine, while not being the most affordable one anymore, is surely the smoothest and free revving at this price range. It has a peaky power delivery and barely has any grunt down low. So it’s not surprising that the Ninja 300 feels more at home while being revved harder for a more sportier ride. It’s only after 5000rpm does it wake up and feels its best at the top end, which is between 9500rpm to 13,500rpm. But don’t get us wrong, the motor is quite tractable in city, allowing you to ride at 30kmph in fifth gear without any judder.

2) KTM 390 Duke & KTM RC 390

• Price - Rs 2.42 lakh (390 Duke); Rs 2.39 lakh (RC 390) (both, ex-showroom Delhi)

• Power - 43.5PS @ 7000rpm

• Torque - (37Nm @ 9000rpm on Duke / 36Nm @ 9000rpm on RC 390)

One thing you can’t expect from the KTM sibling’s is subtleness. With the race-inspired graphics and bright orange-coloured alloy wheels, you wouldn’t go unnoticed even if you tried. The RC 390, while being less flashy of the two, is still quite flamboyant in its segment thanks to its edgy design and unique headlamp setup. The 390 Duke, on the other hand, is based on the beastly looking 1290 Super Duke R. And it lives up to those expectations. It's super sharp bodywork, exposed framework and the inverse pitchfork-shaped LED headlamps at the front ooze quality.

The bikes’ internals are as crazy as their designs. Both pack the same 373.2cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine capable of delivering a gut-punch if you’re not careful. But believe it or not, the updated Duke is few tenths slower than the older-gen model, making it more civil and manageable in the urban environment. The RC 390 feels more aggressive to ride thanks to its aggressive ergonomics. But we feel its full potential can only be exploited on a race track. Although both motorcycles may not offer the same levels of engine refinement as other bikes on the list, you cannot ignore KTM’s value for money proposition here.

1) Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 & Continental GT 650

• Price - Rs 2.50 lakh for the Interceptor 650; Rs 2.65 lakh for the Continental GT 650

• Power - 47.6PS @ 7250rpm

• Torque - 52Nm @ 5250rpm

There were a lot of hopes riding on the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 ever since their first public appearance at the 2017 EICMA. And we’re happy to report that they’ve come through. Not only are the two bikes quite stunning to look at, both bikes also score highly on the mechanical front as well.

This is down to the all-new, 648cc parallel-twin, oil- and air-cooled engine that’s been developed from the ground up. This motor will keep you flowing fast and smooth without any major hiccups. In fact, you can clock 120kmph or more comfortably on long stretches of tarmac. Royal Enfield has nailed refinement level with this new engine as barely any vibrations come through the pegs, handlebar or the fuel tank, a definite improvement over the company’s other models.