ECIMA is arguably the most anticipated global motor show for bikers. With brands from around the world taking part and presenting their vision for the future of two wheels! And, as is customary, the first day of EICMA 2022 has been nothing short of thrilling. The lineup was diverse, ranging from BIG ADVs to the Super Meteor 650, Royal Enfield’s stylish new big-boy cruiser. So, here’s our list of the top five India-bound bikes that wowed us.
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650
Ooh la la… Isn’t the Super Meteor 650 stunning? The Meteor 350 is a beautiful motorcycle in its own right, but the Super Meteor really stands out with its big and burly cruiser look.
A big cruiser borrows its super torquey 650cc engine from its siblings, the Continental GT 650 and the Interceptor 650, and it certainly does visual justice to its cruiser look. With a kerb weight of 241kg, we wonder if 47.6PS and 52.3Nm will be enough performance on the road.
The Super Meteor’s new chassis and upside-down fork, which is a first for any Royal Enfield, are clearly working in its favour. Even the braking hardware has been revised to better anchor its higher kerb weight. This bike has been a long time coming, and the first contact has been well worth the wait. We hope to be revealed at Rider Mania 2022.
Honda CL500 Scrambler
The CL500 scrambler will be the fifth 500cc bike in Honda’s middleweight lineup, and it sure looks cool! It’s based on the Rebel 500 but has been heavily modified to look (and hopefully ride) like a scrambler. It has a 471cc liquid-cooled parallel twin engine that produces 46.6PS and 43.4Nm and weighs around 192kg (kerb). Yes, it’s a little more powerful and a little chubbier than the Duke 390, but that twin-cylinder experience will be oh so sweet!
The CL500 scrambler will be the fifth 500cc bike in Honda’s middleweight lineup, and it sure looks cool! It’s based on the Rebel 500 but has been heavily modified to look (and hopefully ride) like a scrambler. It has a 471cc liquid-cooled parallel twin engine that produces 46.6PS and 43.4Nm and weighs around 192kg (kerb). Yes, it’s a little more powerful and a little chubbier than the Duke 390, but that twin-cylinder experience will be oh so sweet!
Also Read: Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Unveiled
Suzuki V-Strom 800DE
Suzuki wants to join the celebration of twin cylinders, which appears to be the season’s theme. This year, it debuted the new V-Strom 800DE at EICMA, and the ADV is built on an entirely new platform. While the bike retains its familiar V-strom appearance, the new headlight with vertically stacked LED projectors appears far more menacing.
It’s powered by a brand-new 776cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that produces 84.3PS and 78Nm. A counterbalancer improves refinement, and a 270-degree firing order produces a raspy exhaust note that mimics the feel and power characteristics of a V-twin engine.
The new middleweight ADV features an all-new frame, fully adjustable Showa suspension with 220mm of front travel, a slew of electronic rider aids, and a new 5-inch TFT display. While the ADV’s launch dates have yet to be revealed, the likelihood of it arriving in India is high, but not anytime soon! (Diazepam)
Honda XL750 Transalp
You thought Suzuki was the only Japanese manufacturer to offer a middleweight ADV with a parallel twin? Honda has decided to join in the fun as well! How long have we been pleading with Honda for a middleweight ADV? We prayed for an 800cc Africa Twin, and the Lord of Motorcycles replied, “I bring thee the Transalp!”
This one also has a parallel twin heart, a 755cc liquid-cooled one, and produces around 93PS and 75Nm. Yes, the engine is the same as the one found on the new Hornet 750, but Honda has given the Transalp a new fuel map to better suit its ADV nature.
Ducati Scrambler 800
The Transalp is a proper ADV, standing tall on wire-spoke rims 21 inches in front and 18 inches in back. It even has an impressive kerb weight of 208kg, but it lacks fully adjustable suspension. Even so, this should be a capable motorcycle both on and off the road. It, too, receives a slew of rider aids as well as a TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity.
Given the Africa Twin’s success in India, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Honda launch the Transalp here in the future. We hope that bikes like the Suzuki VStrom 800DE and Transalp will breathe new life into a segment dominated by the Triumph Tiger 900 and BMW F850GS.
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