Top 7 Upcoming Bikes Launches Of 2025 | TVS Apache RTX 300, Hero XPulse 421, BMW F 450 GS, KTM 160 Duke & More

While we saw many new interesting launches in 2025 like the Royal Enfield Classic 650, Hero XPulse 210, Xtreme 250R, TVS Apache RTR 310 and more. 2025 promises more such action in the second half of the year as well. In fact, recently Honda updated its commuter portfolio with the Shine 100 DX and the Honda CB125 Hornet and many new entrants are expected in the EV space too. However, we are focusing on the top 7 motorcycles which are most likely to go on sale in our country in the second half of 2025. From the TVS Apache RTX 300, BMW F 450 GS, KTM 160 Duke to the Hero XPulse 421 many new exciting bikes are heading our way.

TVS Apache RTX 300

Expected Launch Date - August-September, 2025

Expected price - ₹2.50 lakh to ₹2.70 lakh (ex-showroom, India)
Rivals - Royal Enfield Scram 440, Yezdi Adventure, Suzuki V-Strom 250

After competing in the Dakar Rally for years, TVS will finally enter the ADV bike segment. This has been a long wait, but the TVS Apache RTX 300 will finally go into production. We got a glimpse of the bike at the Bharat Mobility, before it was whisked away and the test mule was spied with TVS bossman Sudharshan Venu himself riding the bike. 

The big news is that the RTX 300 will debut the new RT-XD4 engine and all-new platform. The 299 cc single-cylinder engine will be the most powerful motor to be engineered and developed by TVS themselves unlike the 310 cc motor that was sourced from BMW. As you can see on your screen the power figures look healthy and the RTX 300 should have enough grunt to munch miles on the highway. The styling is very different in comparison to other TVS bikes and by ADV standards it does look good. While it does get long travel suspension, the RTX 300 is more of a road-focused tourer than a hardcore off-road bike as seen with the 19/17-inch alloy wheels. We expect the new bike to go on sale by the festive season. 

BMW F 450 GS

Expected Launch Date - August-September, 2025

Expected price - ₹4.50 lakh to ₹4.80 lakh (ex-showroom, India)
Rivals - Kawasaki Versys X-300, Honda CB500X, Royal Enfield Himalayan 750

Next up is another ADV bike from TVS. Not really, more like a bike built by TVS and we are talking about the BMW F 450 GS. Yes, the long awaited successor for the G 310 GS will finally make its debut in 2025. We had seen the concept bike earlier this year and the G 1300 GS inspired styling does make it look cool. BMW has been very secretive about the details of this new machine but what we know for sure is that the twin-cylinder engine will deliver 45 bhp and the kerb weight will be 175 kg.

While the concept bike was sporting spoke wheels and off-road tyres, the test mules spotted in India and abroad were running on alloy wheels and different tyres. This leads us to believe that there could be 2 variants of the bike, one for road touring and the other being a more hardcored off-road variant. This could also have been done to keep the pricing aggressive as the road-focused variant will be more affordable. The BMW F 450 GS production version will make its global debut at the 2025 EICMA motorcycle show in Italy later this year and with TVS building the bike, one can expect a premium but not very expensive price tag. 

KTM 160 Duke & RC 160

Expected Launch Date - September-October, 2025

Expected price - ₹1.70 lakh to ₹1.90 lakh (ex-showroom, India)
Rivals - Yamaha R15 V4, Yamaha MT-15, TVS Apache RTR 200 4V

One might wonder why KTM needs to develop a KTM RC 160 when it already has the RC 200. The simple answer is the Yamaha R15. The R15 dominates its segment and it even crossed the 1 million sales landmark earlier this year, so yeah, you get an idea how popular it’s. Another reason is the poor sales of the KTM 125 series, which has been discontinued from the Indian market. So the KTM 160 series will be the new entry-level bikes from KTM but with good performance to take on the R15 and the MT15. 

Through our sources, we have come to know that the new 160 cc engine will be based on KTM’s 200 cc motor and it could produce around 19-20 bhp, which should give it an upperhand compared to the Yamaha. The KTM 160 bikes will carry forward the same frame, suspension and braking hardware as seen on the KTM 200 range, so there will be no compromise when it comes to hardware. The KTM 160 Duke is expected to go on sale first, followed by the RC 160 next year. 

New KTM RC 390

Expected Launch Date - November-December, 2025

Expected price - ₹3.20 lakh to ₹3.40 lakh (ex-showroom, India)
Rivals - TVS Apache RR 310, Kawasaki Ninja 300, Yamaha R3

Keeping the momentum going is the new RC 390. So while we have already seen the Duke and the Adventure on the new 390 platform, the RC has been kept waiting. The 2025 KTM RC 390 will undergo a complete cosmetic makeover as seen on its other two siblings and I can’t wait for that to happen soon as personally the current styling is ugly after the timeless design of the Gen 1 bike.

The major update will be the new 399 cc LC4 motor which should give it ample performance to thrill its rider. The new frame, wheels and adjustable suspension should help improve its handling dynamics even further. The other major upgrade will be in the features end as the new RC 390 will get cruise control, multiple ride modes, and lean-sensitive TC and ABS. The new bike will make its global debut at the EICMA motorcycle show and India launch is expected by the end of 2025. 

Hero Karizma XMR250

Expected Launch Date - September-October, 2025

Expected price - ₹1.90 lakh to ₹2.10 lakh (ex-showroom, India)
Rivals - KTM RC200, Suzuki Gixxer SF250

The iconic Hero Karizma made a big comeback with the XMR and let’s be honest, it has been a flop. I am not saying the bike is bad, it just doesn’t seem to have impressed the Indian bikers and one of the reasons could be the smaller 210 cc engine in comparison to the larger 223 cc engine of the original bike. Hero has already showcased the Karizma 250 and it will be banking on the new bike to revive sales.

It’s based on the Hero Xtreme 250R, so the underpinnings and the engine are the same. Going by my experience with the Xtreme 250R, I am quite confident that the new Karizma XMR 250 will be a fun to ride and engaging bike. In comparison to the 210, the new bike produces 4 bhp and 5 Nm more torque, TFT display and fatter tyres. With deliveries of the Hero Xtreme 250R not commencing at full pace, we expect the launch of the new Karizma to be delayed to the end of 2025. 

Hero XPulse 421

Expected Launch Date - December, 2025

Expected price - ₹3 lakh (ex-showroom, India)
Rivals - KTM 390 Adventure S, Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 

Talking about delays, the Hero XPulse 421 is quite a veteran. And it seems the wait is finally over as the flagship Hero ADV bike will go on sale by late 2025. The company had showcased a sketch of the upcoming motorcycle giving us a glimpse of its styling and it does look purposeful! The new bike will debut with an all-new trellis frame and it will be suspended on long travel USD fork and a monoshock unit, which most likely will not be adjustable.  However the 21/17-inch spoke wheels and off-road tyres should make it a capable off-road machine.

The ADV machine is expected to be powered by a 420 cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which has been tuned for performance and should have a similar nature to the KTM 390 Adventure. With respect to features, we expect a TFT screen, multiple ride modes, Bluetooth connectivity and switchable ABS. 

Royal Enfield Himalayan 750

Expected Launch Date - December, 2025

Expected price - ₹4 lakh (ex-showroom, India)
Rivals - Kawasaki Versys X-300, Honda NX500, BMW F 450 GS, Kawasaki Versys 650

And on to another ADV bike, and something very interesting, a twin-cylinder Himalayan. Yes, that’s a reality as the Himalayan 750 has been spotted testing for many months and recently the RE top management was seen riding the test mule in Leh. But it isn’t similar to other Royal Enfield 650 Twins. 

The new bike is built around a new trellis frame and unlike the Himalayan 450, it is more comfortable touring on tarmac than sliding around in the dirt. For the same purpose, it will get the new larger 750 cc, twin-cylinder engine and this should make the Royal Enfield Himalayan 750 an able tourer. The design language seems similar to the Himalayan 450, but the upcoming bike rides on 19/17-inch spoke wheels and it will be interesting to see whether tubeless spoke wheels will be offered as an option or not.