Upcoming Two-wheeler Launches Delayed Due To Coronavirus Pandemic

COVID-19 has had a drastic impact on the automotive industry with various upcoming bike launches deferred

The coronavirus outbreak has become one of the biggest threats to the global economy. World markets have come to a standstill while stock prices and bond yields plummet. The automotive sector has also taken a huge hit with several new two-wheeler launches being pushed ahead. While there’s no official confirmation, we expect the BS6 deadline of April 1, 2020, to be rescheduled as well.

Triumph Street Triple RS And Tiger 900:

British bike maker Triumph has postponed the launch of the 2020 Street Triple RS due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. It was slated to launch on  March 25, 2020. According to the manufacturer, a new launch date will be announced post-March 31. This is likely to have a knock-on effect on the Tiger 900 as well. Expect the bikes to be launched around June 2020, hopefully, once everything settles down.

Kawasaki BS6 Range:

Though Kawasaki unveiled three of its BS6 bikes in the last couple of months, it hasn’t launched any of them in India just yet. Its upcoming BS6 lineup includes the 650cc range which consists of the Kawasaki Ninja 650, Versys 650, Z650. These bikes are likely to be among the first bikes to be launched in their BS6 avatar with a price hike of up to Rs 81,000. Kawasaki also launched the Z900 Special Edition in India which features the new-gen styling but the current-gen BS4-compliant motor. The Z900 Special Edition model is believed to be the same bike that’s sold in certain Asian countries which adhere to lower emission regulations. By playing its cards right, the Japanese manufacturer will be able to get rid of its existing BS4 stocks. 

Harley Davidson Low Rider S:

American bike maker Harley-Davidson will be downsizing its Indian product portfolio for 2020. This means several Softail models and one Sportster model won't make the cut for the BS6 era. The brand had plans of launching the Low Rider S soon, however, it may be delayed further. Expect the manufacturer to announce the prices of the BS6 models in the coming weeks.

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350/Meteor:

Royal Enfield is currently working on a number of new motorcycles based on its 'J' platform. We come across a number of spy shots of various test mules on the internet almost every week. The Meteor, which looks like a Thunderbird, was expected to be unveiled at EICMA 2020. Considering India is currently on a complete lockdown, we can expect some delay in the bike’s unveiling. However, since EICMA is still eight months away, Royal Enfield may just be able to stick to its schedule. 

Hero Xtreme 160R:

Hero MotoCorp has taken the wraps off the all-new Xtreme 160R and was slated to launch the bike in March 2020. Now though, it’s expected to be postponed by a couple of months. The bike gets all-new bodywork that draws inspiration from both the Xtreme Sports and the larger Xtreme 200R. It's the only motorcycle in its segment to feature LED light all around. Other notable features include a digital instrument console, engine side-stand cutoff switch, and hazard lamps. The Xtreme 160R comes in two variants: drum and disc with three colour options: white, red and blue. 

Gixxer Gixxer 250, Gixxer SF 250 BS6:

Suzuki unveiled its entire BS6 lineup, including the quarter-litre Gixxers, at Auto Expo 2020. Dealerships have already started accepting bookings for the bikes, hinting at its imminent launch. As of now though, the launch is likely to be pushed by a couple of months with bikes expected to reach dealerships by May or June.