2017 was an exciting year, with lots of two-wheelers getting launched in India. Interestingly, the industry seems to be moving towards slightly larger, more premium and performance oriented motorcycles though, and commuters clearly took a back seat in 2017. Here's the lowdown on five of the best motorcycles that were launched in the country this year.
* Bajaj Dominar 400
The Dominar 400 marked Bajaj Auto's foray into the premium performance motorcycle space. Powered by a 373cc, air-cooled single cylinder engine developed alongside the KTM 390 Duke's motor, the Dominar's engine offers 35PS and 35Nm. Bajaj has added its own technology to the engine, including its patented triple spark plug or DTS-I, while a single overhead camshaft has been employed to bring costs down. The idea behind the Bajaj Dominar 400 was to offer an affordable premium motorcycle that also boasts touring virtues and challenge manufacturers like Royal Enfield. Priced under Rs 1.5 lakh the Dominar 400 has sure made performance more affordable, but hasn't exactly clicked with audiences.
* Honda CRF1000L Africa TwinThe Honda Africa Twin, a legendary name, made a comeback last year and has received an unprecedented response globally. Honda launched the motorcycle in India but only with its automatic transmission, the DCT, causing purists in the country to cry foul. Truth be told, the DCT version of the Honda Africa Twin is not half as bad as most would've thought, and we in fact had a great time riding it to Ladakh and back for our 19th anniversary issue! Powered by an all-new, 1000cc parallel-twin engine the Africa Twin offers 88PS of power and 91Nm ? the outputs aren't among the highest as far as full-sized adventure tourers are concerned. That said the Africa Twin feels compact, light and nimble, particularly off-tarmac.
* Kawasaki Ninja 650
The Kawasaki Ninja 650 had caused quite stir in the Indian market when it was launched originally in 2011 ? a middleweight sportsbike from Kawasaki boasting friendly virtues, priced affordably (as it came in via the CKD route) was just what the doctor ordered. But it was also labelled as boring by many since it tried to be the jack of all trades ? sport riding, commuting and touring. The new generation Kawasaki Ninja 650 was launched in India in 2017 and has been received well, as it looks a lot sharper and sportier, drawing inspiration from its siblings like the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.
* KTM 390 Duke
The 390 Duke is one of the biggest success stories as far as made in India performance motorcycles are concerned. It offered a fantastic mix of all the right elements when launched back in 2013 and was a perfect step-up for those graduating from the KTM 200 Duke or similarly specced motorcycles. The second generation 390 Duke was launched last year and comes across as a far better product. It continues to employ the same 373cc, liquid-cooled single cylinder engine that is now smoother and more refined, and outputs are the same at 43PS and 37Nm. The bike is now sharper, more fun to ride while being equipped with better suspension and an all-new LCD display that offers a lot more information on the go in a far better format. Priced at Rs 2.35 lakh ex-showroom the KTM 390 Duke is still one of the best value for money packages as far as affordable performance motorcycles go.
* Yamaha FZ25
After eons of waiting Yamaha finally launched the FZ25 in India, its first quarter-litre motorcycle here, as also a bonafide upgrade for owners of the FZ16. It is powered by a relatively simple, 249cc, air-cooled single cylinder engine that produces a humble 21PS and 20Nm, but the bike is also very light, given its kerb weight of 148kg. The result is a terrific power to weight ratio that makes the FZ25 a brilliant motorcycle for fast commutes. Bottom end and midrange grunt are the engine's strongest areas, and coming from Yamaha the engine is high on refinement and smoothness. The FZ25 is also a capable handler and loves corners, which makes it a great choice for riding in the hills, while the seats and suspension setup are plush enough to make it good for touring as well. Its price tag of Rs 1.18 lakh ex-showroom makes it affordable as well and the FZ25 is indeed one of the best motorcycles to be launched in India in 2017.