It is the time of year end: The time for the get best-of lists. For Indian biking enthusiasts, 2015 has been a year of fun, interesting and exciting with over 10 new launches and the arrival of the updated version of the existing models.
The years 2015 has seen a number of bike launches from commuter motorcycle to super sports bikes. It is an extremely difficult task to narrow down the best bikes of 2015 because one person's best might be another's worst. Here we list the best bike launches of 2015 in India by different makers and the list includes the two wheelers that are just brilliant and also the bike that worth money.
Bajaj Pulsar RS200
Launched on 26 March, Pulsar RS200 is powered by 199.5cc single-cylinder four-stroke SOHC four-valve liquid-cooled engine, which is tuned to churn out 24bhp of power @ 9,750 rpm and 18.6nm of torque @ 8000 rpm and comes mated to a six-speed transmission. Available in two variants, Pulsar RS 200 ABS is priced Rs 1. 3 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
The features of Pulsar RS 200 include twin projector headlamps, crystal LED tail lights, ABS and stubby exhaust, digital-analogue instrument cluster, split seats and clip-on handlebars.
Bajaj Pulsar AS 200
Built around the perimeter frame, Pulsar Adventure Sport0AS200 draws power from the 199.5cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine, which can churn out 23bhp of power at 9,500rpm and 18.3Nm of peak torque at 8,000rpm, coupled with six-speed transmission. The model, which is based on the Pulsar 200NS, has been priced Rs 91,550 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Bajaj Pulsar AS 150
Powered by a 149.5cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine, which is tuned to dish out 16.8bhp at 9,000rpm and 13Nm at 7,500rpm, Pulsar AS 150 features quarter-fairing and projector headlamp. Available in three colours — blue, red and black — the model has price tag of and Rs 79,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Suzuki Gixxer SF
The year 2015 also saw the Gixxer SF model ride out of Suzuki's stable in India. Seated on a wheelbase of 1,330 mm, Suzuki Gixxer SF measures 2,050 mm in length, 785 mm in width and 1,035 mm in height. The power comes from a 154.9cc single-cylinder engine that churns out maximum power output of 14.6bhp at 8,000rpm and a peak torque of 14Nm at 6,000rpm. Suzuki Gixxer SF gets features like LED tail lamps, clear-lens indicators and a digital instrument cluster. The model, which is being billed as the most affordable fully-faired bike, is on sale in the market with the price pegged at Rs 83,439 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Yamaha YZF-R3
Powered by 321cc twin-cylinder fuel-injected engine, which can churn out 42 PS of power at 10,750 rpm and 29.6 Nm of torque at 9,000 rpm, Yamaha R3 comes mated to a six-speed transmission. It was brought to India as CKD (Completely Knock Down) units from the company's manufacturing plant in Indonesia. R3, which takes on the likes of Kawasaki Ninja 300, KTM RC 390 and Honda CBR 250, has a price point of Rs 3.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Mahindra Mojo
Mahindra Mojo is powered by a 292cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that can churn out 27bhp at 8,000rpm and 30Nm torque at 5,500rpm. The power is transmitted via a six-speed constant-mesh transmission.
The Mojo measures 2,100mm in length, 800mm in width and 1,165.5mm in height. The tourer has a wheelbase of 1,465 mm and seat height 814.5 mm with a ground clearance of 173.5 mm. The two-wheeler comes with a fuel tank capacity of 21 litres and has a dry weight of 165 kg.
The Mahindra Mojo, the quarter-litre motorcycle which made its India debut in October this year, was originally priced at Rs 1.58 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Following a hike, it now costs Rs 1.63 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi.
Bajaj Avenger Street 220, 220 Cruise and Avenger Street 150
Pune-based two-wheeler-maker Bajaj added new Avenger edition in India this year — Street 220, Street 150 and Avenger 220 Cruise. The Avenger Street 220 and 220 Cruise have been priced at Rs 84,000. Bajaj Avenger Street 220 and Avenger 220 Cruise get power form the 220cc single-cylinder four-stroke air-cooled engine churning out 19bhp at 8,400rpm and 17.5Nm of torque at 7,000rpm. The smaller version, 150 Street, is powered by Pulsar 150's engine that is tuned to generate 13bhp and a maximum torque of 12.5 Nm, and is priced at Rs 75,000.
Honda CB Shine SP 125
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India launched the CB Shine SP for a starting price of Rs 59,000. The SP stands for the "Smart Power" technology that offers engine start and stop technology, which shuts off the engine in idle contitions and restarts it when the clutch is pressed. The new Honda CB Shine SP 125 is powered by the same 124.73cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine that does the duty in the regular Shine, developing 10.57bhp at 7,500rpm and 10.3Nm of torque at 5,500rpm. The new addition to the mechanical department is the five-speed gearbox.
Ducati Multistrada and Scrambler Urban Enduro
Ducati India launched the Multistrada adventure motorcycle range that includes Multistrada 1200 and 1200 S, priced at Rs 14.42 lakh and Rs 17.04 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi, respectively. At the heart of the Multistrada is the Testastretta L twin-cylinder dual-spark liquid-cooled engine with Desmodromic variable timing that develops 160bhp at 9,500rpm, up 10bhp from its predecessor. The engine also develops 136Nm of torque at 7,500 mated to six-speed transmission.
Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati launched the Urban Enduro variant of its Scrambler motorcycle in India with a price tag of Rs 7.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Bengaluru). Powered by an 803cc L-Twin Desmodromic distribution, 2-valves-per-cylinder air-cooled petrol engine which can pump out 75bhp of power @ 8,250 RPM and 68Nm of torque @ 5,750 RPM, the Duacti Scrambler Urban Enduro comes mated to a six-speed gearbox.
Honda CB Hornet 160R
The much-awaited Honda CB Hornet 160R was launched in India at Rs 79,900 (ex-showroom, Delhi) on 10 December. The 160cc motorcycle that was showcased at the 2015 Honda RevFest rivals Suzuki Gixxer, TVS Apache, Bajaj Pulsar 150 and Yamaha FZ in India.
The power comes from a 162.71cc single-cylinder engine that can churn out 14.5Bhp of maximum power at 8,000 rpm and 14.61Nm of peak torque at 6,000 rpm. The engine comes mated to a five-speed gearbox and also gets Honda Eco Technology.
