There has been a (welcomed) avalanche of activity in the mid-capacity motorcycle segment lately, both from Indian bikemakers and international manufacturers. From scramblers to ADVs, sports bikes to street nakeds, there's something for everyone. In light of this, here are some of the recent mid-capacity motorcycle launches from last year and this year.
Hero Mavrick 440
The Hero Mavrick 440 embodies a neo-retro roadster style, showcasing a muscular design and distinctive features like the sculpted metal tank with sporty extensions. Underneath, it's powered by an air-/oil-cooled 440cc SOHC single-cylinder engine borrowed from the Harley Davidson X440, delivering 27.3PS and 36Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed transmission equipped with a slip-and-assist clutch.
Aprilia RS 457
Drawing inspiration from its larger counterpart, the Aprilia RS 660, the 457 emerges as the quintessential sports bike awaited by the Indian market. It's powered by a brand-new 457cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin cylinder engine, delivering 47.6PS. Paired with a 6-speed gearbox, it offers the option of a quick-shifter accessory.
Triumph Speed 400 And Scrambler 400X
Launched one after the other last year, both the Speed 400 and the Scrambler 400X are equipped with the same 398.15cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine, which produces 40PS at 8000rpm and 37.5Nm at 6500rpm. However, while the Speed is more of a roadster offering with a lower seat height and a neo-retro design, the Scrambler is slightly more off-road biased, featuring a taller seat height and overall scrambler aesthetics.
KTM 390 Duke And Husqvarna Svartpilen 401
Similarly, the Austrian madness and the Swedish subtlety were on full display last year with the launch of the third-gen 390 Duke and the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401. Both are powered by the same 399cc liquid-cooled Euro 5.2-ready engine, producing 44.86PS of power and 39Nm of torque. However, while the Duke is a little more aggressive and loud in its design, the Husky is more subdued and quiet. Additionally, it also lacks cornering ABS, alloy wheels, and riding modes while being Rs 20,000 more affordable.
Yamaha MT-03 And R3
Yamaha bought the updated R3 and the MT-03 this year, with some design changes. Powering the new-gen motorcycle is a 321cc, inline twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine that makes 42PS and 29.5Nm.
Harley-Davidson X440
Launched last year, the Harley-Davidson X440 boasts a strong neo-retro stance, drawing inspiration from the iconic XR1200. It features a retro-styled round LED headlight and a modern LED DRL strip with 'Harley-Davidson' branding. Powering the roadster is a new 440cc air-oil-cooled single-cylinder engine, delivering 28PS at 6000rpm and 38Nm at 4000rpm, with 90 per cent of torque available from 2000rpm.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
One of the major highlights of last year was the launch of the all-new Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. Now equipped with the 452cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder 'Sherpa' engine, generating 40PS at 8,000rpm and 40Nm at 5,500rpm. It is coupled with a 6-speed gearbox featuring a slip-and-assist clutch.
TVS Apache RTR 310
The new TVS streetfighter is powered by a 312.7cc reverse-inclined liquid-cooled engine, producing 35.6PS at 9,7000rpm and 28.7Nm at 6,650rpm. It features a 6-speed gearbox with a bi-directional quick-shifter and slipper-and-assist clutch. The engine offers Sport, Track, and Supermoto modes with 35.6PS and 28.7Nm, and Urban and Rain modes with 27.1PS and 27.3Nm. It accelerates from 0-60kmph in 2.81 seconds, and from 0-100kmph in 7.19 seconds.
