Top Cruiser Motorcycle Launches Of 2020

A lowdown on the coolest cruisers launched this year

The pandemic may have robbed us of saddle time, but that didn’t stop manufacturers from bringing some badass cruisers to our shores. Here’s a list of the low-slung beauties that were launched this year:

Royal Enfield Meteor 350
Launch Month: November
Price: Rs. 1.75 lakh to Rs. 1.90 lakh
Royal Enfield’s much-awaited cruiser finally made its debut, replacing the Thunderbird 350. The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is the first bike based on the brand’s new J Platform and features a new engine and frame. This is also the first bike from RE to feature a smartphone-compatible instrument cluster. The bike is available in three variants and 15 colours. More details on the Meteor 350 here.

BMW R18
Launch Month: September
Price: Rs 18.9 lakh
The BMW R18 features the biggest boxer engine the brand has built. The 1,802cc mill belts 91.1PS and 158Nm, of which 150Nm is generated from as low as 2000rpm. Its electronic aids include traction control and hill start assist. The bike’s design is inspired by the original R 5 that debuted over 80 years ago.

Triumph Rocket 3 GT
Launch Month: September
Price: Rs. 18.40 lakh
After introducing the Rocket 3 R last year, the iconic British brand launched the tour-friendly version, the Rocket 3 GT. The GT gets slightly higher handlebars, forward-set footpegs, and a large windscreen. Of course, the highlight is the behemoth 2.5-litre engine developing 167PS and 221Nm, making it the title holder for the biggest and the torquiest motorcycle engine in production.

Harley-Davidson 2020 Low Rider S
Launch Month: April
Price: Rs. 14.69 lakh
Before the American cruiser giant announced its exit (and re-entry) from India, the brand launched the Low Rider S featuring the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine making 155Nm. The bike also features USD forks and a twin-disc setup at the front, highlighting the sporty intent of the Low Rider S.

Other BS6 Launches
With the BS6 norms kicking in this year, some manufacturers only updated their motorcycles to meet the emission norms without any other significant updates like the Bajaj Avenger Street 160 and Avenger Cruise 220. The Suzuki Intruder was also updated this year with a price hike of Rs 12,000, inspite of having no additional equipment or features compared to the BS4 counterpart.

The Kawasaki Vulcan S BS6 received only a new colour scheme but missed out on the TFT and smartphone connectivity, seen on the Ninja 650 and Z650.

Triumph’s Bonneville Speedmaster too received its BS6 update this year, and surprisingly, neither the performance nor the pricing has changed.

The Harley-Davidson BS6 lineup now features Fat Boy, Low Rider and Forty-Eight, all of which have seen a nominal price revision ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000. Get all the details on the pricing here.

Meanwhile, Indian two-wheeler giant, Hero MotoCorp, has come to Harley-Davidson’s rescue and will now handle the sales and service of the American brand. To know what the future holds for the current owners and dealers, read our exclusive story here.