Best Bikes in India 2015

The engine produces 15.7bhp of maximum power and 14.76Nm of peak torque. The new premium 160cc bike is undoubtedly one of the most refined machines in its category. The Honda CB Hornet 160R will challenge the likes of Suzuki Gixxer and Yamaha FZ-S V2.0, both of which have created a niche for themselves in the Indian market. With price starting from Rs. 79,900 (ex-showroom, Delhi), the bike has all the right things needed to be one of the front-runners in the premium 150cc segment.

Also Read: Honda CB Hornet 160R Review

The 300cc Mahindra Mojo is undoubtedly one of the most versatile bikes to be manufactured and launched in recent times. The bike has traits which make it a good tourer, fun city bike, perfect commuter, and to top it all, a looker. The 21-litre fuel tank, upside down forks at the front, a monoshock at the rear, dual headlamps, one-into-two exhaust, six-speed gearbox and a very useful meter console make it one of the most complete bikes present in the Indian market. The 300cc liquid-cooled engine produces 26.82bhp and 30Nm of maximum power and torque respectively. The engine revs linearly making it extremely easy to use the available power and torque across the rpm band. With a price tag of Rs. 1.63 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), this is one motorcycle which is worth every buck you spend on it.

The bike that made the India's urban youth made 'feel like God' - the Bajaj Avenger - has come a long, long way since the time of its inception, first as the Kawasaki Bajaj Eliminator in 2001 and then later rechristened as the Bajaj Avenger series, beginning in 2005. Ten years on, and after the introduction of a 200cc and then 220cc trim, the latest Bajaj Avenger has been allotted three trims - Street 150, Street 220 and Cruise 220 - out of which the Street 150 seems to be the one which will attract much more attention than the others. A price tag of Rs. 75,000 will make it the most sought-after cruiser among all of the three new trims. The 150cc air-cooled DTS-i engine delivers 14.3bhp of peak power and 12.5Nm of maximum torque. The longer wheel base makes its ride quality comfortable, and a more refined version of the engine found in the Pulsar 150 clubbed with a smooth five-speed gearbox makes the Bajaj Avenger Street 150 a breeze to ride in an around the city, as well as on the occasional long ride.

Also Read: Bajaj Avenger Street 150 Review

Honda CB Shine SP was one of the many products Honda launched in 2015. The 125cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine delivers a peak output of 10.57bhp and 10.3Nm. The Honda CB Shine is the most successful 125cc bike in India and Honda's largest selling bike worldwide. To carry on the legacy of the highly successful CB Shine, the CB Shine SP has been provided with a five-speed gearbox for a smoother ride at high speeds. The air-cooled single cylinder 125cc engine makes it one of the most refined motorcycles in the 125cc category. There is a drum brake at the front, with a disc as an option, and the rear has been complimented with a drum brake, and an optional disc brake in the CBS variant. The price of the self-drum-alloy version of the CB Shine SP has been kept at Rs. 59,900 and goes all the way up to Rs. 64,400 for the CBS trim.

Yamaha YZF-R3 has been the most critically acclaimed motorcycle of 2015. Where the adrenaline junkies jumped at the idea of a Yamaha parallel-twin coming to the Indian market taking the fun quotient provided by the YZF-R15 to a different level, many also wondered if the R3 was going be as affordable as its competitors. Where the KTM RC390 costs a little over two lakh, and the Kawasaki Ninja 300 failed to leave any mark (majorly because of its price) there is a lot the Yamaha YZF-R3 had to prove. With a price tag of Rs. 3.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the bike offers 41.4bhp of power and 29.6Nm of peak torque. The parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine and the six-speed gearbox work together seamlessly to provide brilliant performance. The bike isn't as aggressive as the R15 which makes riding this bike for long distances extremely easy and enjoyable. The only thing that goes against the Yamaha R3 is the absence of ABS which, we feel, should have been made available, at least as an option.

Launched in September, 2015, the Hero Maestro has been a success story for Hero MotoCorp so far. The 110.9cc scooter delivering 8.31bhp of maximum power and 8.3Nm of peak torque has created a niche for its own self in a very short time. The CVT transmission makes the power delivery very smooth and linear and the telescopic hydraulic telescopic suspension at the front and a spring loaded hydraulic damper at the rear make the Hero Maestro Edge a very comfortable scooter in and around the city. It's loaded with features too, including a large boot, a light in the underseat storage and an external fuel cap for added convenience. Hero has given the Maestro Edge a very sporty design which makes it one of the best looking scooters in its segment.

Also Read Spec Comparison: Hero Maestro Edge Vs Hero Duet Vs Suzuki Let's Vs TVS Jupiter Vs Honda Activa-i Vs Mahindra Gusto

Honda launched its CBR 650F - a 650cc sports tourer - in India a few months ago. Launched at Rs. 7.2 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the bike didn't get as widely accepted as Honda would have liked but the four-cylinder bike from the Honda stable provides promises like no other motorcycle available in the Indian market as of now. The Honda CBR 650F is the first four-cylinder motorcycle to be assembled in India and is available across 12 cities in the country. The 648.7cc, liquid-cooled engine delivers a peak output of 85.3bhp of maximum power and 62.9Nm of peak torque. The bike promises the performance of a very refined inline four-cylinder engine by offering the comfort of a sports tourer. The bike revs effortlessly from 4,000rpm to 11,000rpm making the power delivery extremely linear and usable.

The latest addition to the legendary Bajaj Pulsar line-up was the Pulsar RS200. The bike uses the same 199.5cc, fuel-injected engine which does its duty in the Pulsar 200NS, but it has been tuned to deliver a peak power of 24.16bhp @ 9,750rpm and a peak torque of 18.6Nm @ 8,00Nm. The throttle response is more rewarding than it is in the Pulsar 200NS and the fairing gives it a meaner and purposeful look. The dual projector headlamps and the sporty exhaust and LED tail lamp make the Pulsar RS200 one of the most aggressive looking motorcycles in the Indian market. The bike comes equipped with tubeless tyres and an ABS unit which is a welcome feature. The Bajaj RS200 can reach a top speed of 141Km/h.

Also Read: Bajaj Pulsar RS200 Review​

Ducati has re-entered the Indian market and the Italian motorcycle manufacturer is leaving no stone unturned to make sure that its second stint with the Indian market is nothing but spectacular. A lot of the responsibility lies on the shoulders of the Ducati Monster 821, which is not only the most successful Ducati worldwide, but also has what it takes to make a mark in the Indian market. Other than having unmistakable good looks, the bike has an 821.1cc, 112bhp Testastretta 11 engine which growls from the second it comes to life. The bike has a character of its own as it weighs mere 179.5kgs. The upside down 43mm fork at the front, monoshock at the rear, aluminium double-sided swingarm, and Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tyres at both ends work together with the Brembo braking system to induce utmost confidence in the rider. The Ducati Monster 821 also comes equipped with ABS as a standard fitment and hi-end electronics including switchable traction control and riding modes. The Ducati Monster 821 has been priced at Rs. 9,29,000 onwards (ex-showroom, Haryana).

One of the most able motorcycles in the Ducati line-up, the Scrambler, is undoubtedly the most unique motorcycle in the Indian market. The rider sits low on the bike and still has enough ground clearance to negotiate most of the road conditions India has to offer. The 803cc L-twin engine produces 75bhp of maximum power and 68Nm of torque, and so far has exceeded expectations of most who have ridden the bike. The throttle is extremely responsive, though some may find it snatchy, and the six-speed gearbox delivers every bit of those numbers in a very happy manner. The Pirelli MT 60 tyres on both the ends do their job pretty nicely both on and off the road. The Scrambler Ducati has a dry weight of just 176.5kgs which makes it extremely easy to throw this bike in a corner without worrying about the traction. In the Indian market, the Scrambler Ducati's prices begin from Rs. 6,62,000 which makes it one of the best value-for-money motorcycles for enthusiasts.

Also Read: Upcoming Bikes And Scooters In India