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As motorcycle touring becomes more popular with each passing day, European manufacturers eye the mid-size segment in the Indian motorcycle industry.
Triumph Motorcycles has recently announced two new Tiger 800 models in India, adding to the two Tigers already present in their adventure touring portfolio. These two new on-road-off-road motorcycles include the Tiger XRx and the Tiger XCx. The new Tiger 800 variants are powered by a three-cylinder, 12-valve, liquid-cooled engine that churns out 95PS of peak power, and a maximum of 79 Nm of torque. This engine is mated to a new gearbox, which shares parts and technology with the Daytona 675’s gearbox.
While the XRx is the more road-biased variant, the XCx is meant for more hardcore off-roading, and the latter even comes equipped with WP suspensions as standard.
The new Tiger 800 will be the first motorcycle in India (in its class) to offer cruise control. Safety features on the new Tigers include ABS and traction control as standard, including different modes to enjoy different kinds of terrain.
These bikes also offer different throttle maps to suit the rider’s needs. These new Tigers will come to India via the CKD (completely knocked down) route, and are priced at ₹ 11.6 lakh for the XRx and ₹ 12.7 lakh for the XCx.
Ducati ScramblerWhile the Brit manufacturer has focused on adventure touring, Ducati is set to unleash something more old-school – the Scrambler.
Unlike the big Triumph Tigers, the Ducati Scrambler is a more compact machine, with minimalist design for weight saving and off-road functionality.
The Scrambler features an L-Twin 803-cc liquid-cooled mill that produces 75PS of peak power, and a healthy 68Nm of torque, that kicks in at a rather low 5,750rpm. The Ducati Scrambler will be available in four variants, Icon being the base model, and graduating through Urban Enduro, Classic and Full Throttle models.
Each variant will have different capabilities in terms of terrain handling and a lot of visual elements will differ to make the Scrambler a very customisable bike.
The Italian company will also let customers mix and match components to suit their styles.
The Scrambler will feature wide handlebars, headlamps with glass lens and LED guide-light, Dual Sport wheels, aluminium tank panels and ABS as standard fitments.
The Ducati Scrambler range will begin at ₹6.38 lakh.
The Benelli StableThe other Italian brand that is set to ride on Indian roads is Benelli. The now Chinese-owned company just announced the prices for their much awaited motorcycles.
The range starts at the TNT 302, with an in-line two cylinder 300cc engine, at ₹ 2.83 lakh.
With these price and specs, it’s pitched against the KTM Duke 390 (which, by the way, also got upgrades like a new slipper clutch for aggressive downshifting), and the Kawasaki Z250, another parallel-twin.
In the middle-weight segment, the line-up includes the TNT 600i, with an in-line four cylinder 600cc engine, and designed to be a streetfighter.
The 600i is priced at ₹5.15 lakh. The 600i’s touring cousin, the 600 GT will sell for ₹5.62 lakh.
The heavyweights from Benelli include TNT 899, powered by an in-line, three cylinder 898cc motor priced at ₹ 9.48 lakh and the 1131cc behemoth, the TNT R at ₹ 11.8 lakh.
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