Independence Day 2023: Top Bikes For The Indian Army

The Royal Enfield Bullet has been the darling of the Indian Army for quite some time now. In fact, it was in 1949 when the Indian government first ordered Royal Enfield motorcycles for patrolling our borders. The rest, as they say, is history. The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 has been used by our armed forces ever since and can be seen patrolling borders, performing incredible stunts and doing their everyday duty with dignity and honour.

However, this Independence Day we’ve decided to bring a slight twist to the tale and present a list of potential candidates that should be used by the Indian Army or armed forces in general. So, these are some two-wheelers we feel should be a part of the Indian Army fleet apart from the venerable Royal Enfield Bullet 350 -

Royal Enfield Himalayan:

Given the original purpose of choosing Royal Enfield for patrolling borders, the Himalayan would be the perfect ADV for it. The Royal Enfield Himalayan is rugged, powerful and purpose built; all traits will serve the armed forces well, especially in areas with rough terrain. It's powered by a 411 cc, single-cylinder engine which produces 24.3 bhp and 32 Nm of torque. This motor comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox. There is a brand new 450 cc Himalayan on the cards, which has been spied multiple times already. Perhaps the new Himalayan in the ‘Pine Green’ paint job could be exactly what the armed forces need in certain parts of the country.

Hero XPulse 200 4V:

Just like the Royal Enfield Himalayan, the Hero XPulse could also be the perfect fit for areas with rough terrain and off-road conditions. The XPulse 200 would serve as a lighter and nimbler solution to the Himalayan. It is powered by a 199.6 cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled motor that churns out 18.9 bhp and 17.35 Nm of torque. This engine comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The latest XPulse 200 4V edition could just be the perfect two-wheeler for extreme off-road conditions, especially with the optional Rally Kit. Another benefit of the XPulse 200 is the rather affordable maintenance cost and also better fuel efficiency.

Royal Enfield Classic 350:

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 could possibly serve as a replacement for the aging Bullet 350, with the older UCE engine. Although there is a new Bullet 350 coming by the end of this month, the new J-platform, 349 cc engine has already made its way to the Classic 350 with some impressive results. The classy, rugged and charming appeal of the Classic 350 could very well make it the perfect all-rounder for the Indian Army. It can even be fitted with a side-car for carrying more personnel. Perhaps Royal Enfield already has plans for the new-age Bullet 350 arriving later this month.

TVS iQube:

Given the electric vehicle revolution in our country and the world, the TVS iQube could serve as the perfect green two-wheeler for the armed forces to use for their daily commute within cantonment areas. The iQube’s simple, rugged and convenient nature could strike the perfect balance between keeping rides economical and environmentally-friendly. The iQube comes packed with a 3.04 kWh battery pack which is good for an ARAI-certified range of 100 km. Its motor produces a peak power figure of 4.4 kW, while peak torque figure stands at 33 Nm.

We feel that all of the aforementioned two-wheelers would be great additions to the Indian armed forces stable and perform a number of crucial duties as well. Which motorcycle or scooter would you add to the mix? Do you agree with our list? Don’t forget to drop a comment on any of our social media handles. We’d like to wish all our readers a very happy Independence Day!