Top 7 Upcoming 300-500cc Bikes of 2016

2016 will see a bunch of mid-size motorcycles being launched in India. Some of these are much awaited entry-level performance bikes like the new BMW G 310R and a full-faired twin cylinder Benelli. Others, which have already created quite a buzz, like the Royal Enfield Himalayan and the affordable cruiser from American bike maker UM Motorcycles, will also make their debut in the New Year. Here's a looks at the top 7 mid-size bikes to hit the Indian market in 2016.

1. BMW G 310R

The BMW G 310R is one of the most awaited motorcycles of 2016. BMW Motorrad, the two wheel arm of the German auto giant has jointly developed the G 310R with Indian two wheeler manufacturer TVS. The G 310R has been designed and engineered in Germany, but will be built at the TVS factory in Hosur, near Bengaluru.

The naked street G 310R is powered by a single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 313cc engine, which makes 33.6bhp of power and 28Nm of torque. The unique feature of this engine is its architecture - with the cylinder tilted backward in open-deck design with the cylinder head turned 180 degrees. This is said to make the weight balanced With a counter balancer, expect a smooth, free revving engine. BMW claims a top speed of 145kmph and fuel efficiency of around 30-35kmpl.

Cycle parts are of high quality too, employing 41mm upside down front fork, and an adjustable monoshock at the rear. Braking is handled by a 300mm rotor front disc brake and a 240mm disc at the rear, with standard two-channel ABS. The bike is expected to hit dealerships by the middle of 2016 and priced at around Rs 2 lakh.

2. Bajaj Pulsar CS 400

The Bajaj Pulsar CS 400 will be flagship of the Pulsar range from Bajaj Auto. The bike was showcased last at the 2014 Auto Expo and is likely to be launched in the New Year. The Bajaj Pulsar CS 400 will be a muscular naked-street offering, the muscular front end with thick upside down front fork reminiscent of Ducati's best-selling sport cruiser Diavel. The Pulsar CS 400 will be powered by the KTM 390 Duke-derived 373cc single-cylinder engine which has been re-tuned for the CS 400. That should still make it produce upwards of 40bhp power.

It has been a long wait since 2014 for the latest Pulsar from Bajaj, but 2016 is likely to see the launch of the CS 400, sometime in the first quarter. With brawny looks, and a proven engine, the CS 400 is certainly going to be an attractive and affordable entry-level performance bike. Expect it to be priced between Rs 1.5 - 1.6 lakh.

3. Royal Enfield Himalayan

The Royal Enfield Himalayan will be the latest product from the Chennai-based motorcycle manufacturer in over two years. The adventure tourer from Royal Enfield has already undergone extensive tests, both at the Madras Motor Race Track as well as on public roads and is expected to be launched sometime in February, 2016. The Himalayan sports traditional adventure sports styling, with high ground clearance, high capacity fuel tank, upswept exhaust and a windscreen for long distance travel. Suspension will be traditional front forks with long suspension travel and a monoshock at the rear, the first for any Royal Enfield.

The engine is an all-new single-cylinder, four-stroke 410cc engine, which will make around 28bhp power and 32Nm of torque. Royal Enfield will move on from the traditional push-rod architecture with the new engine, which will have overhead cams and equipped with a counter balancer to make it more refined and free revving. The Royal Enfield Himalayan is expected to be priced between Rs 1.6 - 1.75 lakh and is likely to be a popular choice for the motorcycle touring community.

4. UM Renegade Sport

American motorcycle manufacturer UM Motorcycles will be launching its cruiser range, designed and developed specifically for the Indian market in early 2016. In India, UM has tied up with electric bike maker Lohia and set up a manufacturing plant in Kashipur, Uttarakhand. UM has plans to make this facility a manufacturing hub eventually to export bikes to other markets in South Asia, South East Asia and even Europe.

UM will be unveiling and launching three motorcycles at the 2016 Auto Expo, under the Renegade name. The first, which was already unveiled at the EICMA show in Milan in November 2015, is an all-new cruiser motorcycle powered by a new 300cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, fuel-injected engine. The engine is expected to make around 26bhp power and 23Nm of torque. UM will be launching two more models, based on the same platform. Expect the Renegade Sport to be priced around Rs 1.7 lakh.

5. Hyosung GD 450

DSK Hyosung will be launching the GD 450 naked bike sometime later in 2016. The bike, based on the GD 450 Concept showcased at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy, will be a muscular naked street motorcycle powered by a single cylinder motor.

The Hyosung GD 450 uses a single-cylinder 449cc liquid-cooled engine which produces 49bhp of maximum power at 7,500rpm and peak torque of 47.7Nm at 7,000rpm. Power is delivered to the wheels through a 6-speed, close ratio gearbox. Suspension consists of 41mm upside down front forks and a dual side aluminium swingarm with an offset gas charged shock at the rear. Braking is handled by a 300mm petal disc at the front with a four piston caliper and a 230mm single disc with a two piston caliper at the rear. There's no word yet of a launch date, but expect it to make it to the market towards the end of 2016, at an expected price of between Rs 2.25 - 2.75 lakh.

6. DSK Benelli Tornado 302

The Benelli Tornado 302 will be the first fully faired motorcycle to be launched by the Italian brand in India, and will be the first fully faired Benelli globally since the Tornado 1130 which was launched in 2003. The Tornado 302 will be powered by the same engine as the one on the TNT 300 - a liquid-cooled, parallel twin engine, making around 35.5bhp power at 12000rpm and 27Nm of peak torque at 9,000rpm.

Suspension consists of 41mm upside down forks at the front and a lateral monoshock at the rear, adjustable for preload. Braking is handled by 260mm floating discs with a four-piston caliper at the front and a single 240mm disc with a single piston caliper at the rear. ABS will be offered as an option. The Benelli Tornado 302 will be unveiled at the 2016 Auto Expo and expected to make its way to India sometime later in the year. Expect it to be priced around Rs 3.25 lakh.

7. Yamaha MT-03

Yamaha India will be launching the naked variant of its YZF-R3, called the MT-03 in 2016. The Yamaha MT-03 is essentially a stripped down version of the Yamaha YZF-R3, employing the same 321cc parallel-twin, liquid cooled engine making 42bhp power at 10,750rpm. With the fairing and a few other bits gone, the MT-03 sheds about 4kg from the R3 at 165kg.

The Yamaha MT-03 looks muscular and chiselled without the fairing and is certainly going to attract buyers who want an everyday bike with decent performance. The bike will be street-oriented and will have a single piece handlebar rather than the clip ons the Yamaha YZF-R3 comes equipped with, providing a more relaxed seating position. Expect the MT-03 to be priced around Rs 3 lakh once it's launched in India. The Yamaha MT-03 will compete against the likes of the Benelli TNT 300, Kawasaki Z250 and even the KTM Duke 390.