India is one of the few nations with the youngest population. Furthermore, the spending capabilities of Indians have improved over the decades. Still, a large part of India’s population prefers owning a bike over a car.
Why?
Well, the reason is simple. A bike comes with a relatively affordable sticker price compared to a car. Furthermore, a bike’s running costs are lower than a car’s. On top of this, the motorcycles available in India are amazing to look at. Then there is the easy availability of bike loans.
What are the top bike brands in India?
Well, in terms of market share, Bajaj Auto and KTM are two of the leading bike brands in India. This post in the following sections will shine a light on the sales chart-topping bikes from both brands.
Here goes.
KTM Duke 200
KTM, just like the rest of the bike brands in India, recently updated the prices of its bike line-up. Despite the updated prices, the Duke 200 continues to be one of the best-selling bikes in India. The latest iteration of the bike also recently got fresh paint schemes. The new paint schemes are known as Electronic Orange and Dark Silver Metallic.
The latest iteration of the bike continues to come with –
- A halogen headlight unit
- An LED taillight unit
- All LED turn indicators
- An orange backlit LCD instrument cluster
- Switchable ABS
- WP Apex upside-down front fork suspension
- WP Apex rear mono-shock suspension
- Front + rear disc brakes paired with dual-channel ABS, etc.
The latest iteration of this KTM bike comes with the same BS6-compliant 199.5cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. The peak power produced by the engine is 24.6bhp which is available at 10,000rpm. The peak torque of 19.3Nm is available at 8,000rpm. The bike comes with a six-speed gearbox.
Bajaj Pulsar N160
Bajaj started revising its portfolio when the brand launched the Pulsar N series. The Pulsar N160 entails two trims. The base trim of the bike has a sticker price of Rs 1, 22,854. The top trim on the other hand has a sticker price of Rs 1, 27,853. The difference between the base and the top trim is just one. The base trim is offered with single-channel ABS. The top trim on the other hand is offered with dual-channel ABS. The colour options available for this bike are Racing Red, Techno Grey and Caribbean Blue. The top trim entails an additional colour scheme known as Brooklyn Black.
The overall dimensions and looks of the N160 are similar to the Pulsar N250. It means that the N160 comes with –
- The same projector LED headlight unit
- The same front LED DRLs and
- The same side panels.
The bike is powered by a brand new oil-cooled 164.82cc single-cylinder engine. The peak power output of the engine is 15.7 bhp. The peak torque output of the engine is 14.65Nm. The engine is paired with a five-speed gearbox. The chassis of the bike is the same one that one can find in the N250. The N160 has conventional telescopic forks for the front wheel. The rear wheel, however, comes with a monoshock suspension.
The bike rides on 17-inch alloy wheels. Bajaj has also equipped the bike with a semi-digital instrument cluster. One can also find a USB charging port on the bike!
Bajaj Pulsar N250
The N250 is the most powerful N series Pulsar in Bajaj’s line-up. The N250 is praised for its minimalistic but pretty aggressive front section. It is meant for those who do not like the fairing on the F250. The N250 comes with a single-piece handlebar.
The N250 comes with an LED projector headlamp unit. The LED DRLs are designed like eyebrows. The aggressive design of the bike’s front section continues to the side of the bike. One can witness this when they lay their eyes on the sharp fuel tank extensions. The rear section of the bike also boasts a raked and sleek look.
The bike has quite a few mechanical features that one would not find in OG Pulsars. For instance, the N250 comes with gear shift assist. Furthermore, the transmission of the bike is paired with a slipper clutch. The semi-digital centre console also boasts a brand-new design. One can also find a USB charging port that is tucked beneath the handlebar of the bike.
The bike is powered by a brand new 250cc, oil-cooled engine. The peak power and torque outputs of the engine are 24.1bhp and 21.5Nm respectively. The transmission on the bike has 5 gears. The bike rides on 17-inch wheels. The suspensions are a telescopic fork at the front and a monoshock at the rear. The fuel tank can hold 14 litres of petrol. The bike comes with front and rear disc brakes. Bajaj offers the bike with dual and single-channel ABS.
Test riding a bike is the best way to gauge whether it is the right fit for a rider. Hence, for the best results, the reader should visit the nearest bike dealership today!
