Despite there being a lot of hype around these bikes, manufacturers seem reluctant to bring them to India
Despite there being a lot of hype around these bikes, manufacturers seem reluctant to bring them to India
After spending nearly three days ogling and drooling over some exquisite beauties, there were loads of two-wheelers at EICMA 2024 that simply left us longing for them. However, there were some bikes that we would definitely like to see in India but sadly, we know they wouldn’t make it down. So here’s our list of the bikes that we know will not see the light of day in India but they should actually.
We have been crying out for ages for Honda to ride in the CRF300L. After all, the engine for the same is made in India and it has the right set of tools for a relaxed yet confident touring riding experience. The new updates to the motorcycle aim to make it more pliant and better suited to handle harsh terrain as well as now comes laden with a bit of modern tech.
The Yamaha Aerox 155 has proven that India is ready for large scooters. And what better way to go maxi in India than the Honda X-ADV, a 750 cc parallel-twin engine powered scooter that is capable of rough roading. It is based on the Forza 750 maxi-scooter but on the X-ADV, the suspension has a bit more travel, rolls on wire-spoke tubeless wheels that are shod with dual purpose tyres. And it has convenience galore with a humongous underseat storage area.
Motorcycles hardly represent the entirety of what their spec sheets suggest and the Yamaha Tenere 700 personifies that to a great extent. The 690 cc parallel-twin mill puts out nearly 72 horses and 68 Nm and the suspension on hand is rather simple. However, it should be a great mile muncher that can take on some serious stuff without breaking a sweat. But if Yamaha does even decide to bring it to India, it will be priced over the likes of the Triumph Tiger 900, making it hard to digest the steep asking price. Hence, the Tenere 700 remains a distant dream.
The sub-500 cc space is hotting up with a bucket load of options available. Now, think if we had a 450 cc parallel-twin that made a bit more performance than the Himalayan 450, just as much suspension travel, tubeless spoke wheels and dual purpose tyres but crucially weighing over 20 kilos less than the Himi, wouldn’t that be great. That is essentially the CFMoto 450MT. This Chinese ADV looked hot and had great quality levels on offer. But alas, it might not come because: China.
KTM is all ready to launch the 890 Adventure R on November 14. The bike does have a stylish retro-styled sibling: the Husqvarna Norden 901. The typical Swedish classiness that one expects from Husqvarna is present in abundance as the Norden exudes elegance in simplicity. And don’t think it to be devoid of modern tech as this Swede ADV is loaded to the brim with electronic rider aids and high end hardware components. Alas, the Swedish brand hasn’t fared well with the smaller bikes, and hence, expecting this ADV in India is futile.
And for the final bike, we had to go retro. Yamaha epitomises the perfect balance between neo and retro with the XSR900. Recently, Yamaha took a step further with the GP series, offering buyers a more serious cafe racer vibe. And not to mention the drop dead gorgeous half fairing with the Marlboro-esque livery, it is just a sight to drool at for hours. But sadly, Yamaha won’t bring it to India and might just give us an even more hideous avatar of the FZ-X. Sigh.
