Top 7 Upcoming 150-300cc Bikes of 2016

The current Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTS-i has been dutifully serving Bajaj camp from the time it was launched in the Indian market. When Bajaj launched the Pulsar 200 NS in 2012, it became the torchbearer for Bajaj, and created a decent fan following. Bajaj is gearing up to launch the Pulsar 150NS in 2016. The bike will be powered by the same 149.5cc engine that is found in the Bajaj Pulsar AS 150. This engine delivers 16.7bhp of maximum power at 9,500rpm and 13Nm of maximum torque at 7,000rpm. In terms of features, the Pulsar 150NS is expected to be equipped with disc brakes both front and rear. Suspension is expected to be handled by telescopic front forks and an adjustable monoshock at the rear. The Bajaj Pulsar 150 NS is expected to be priced between Rs. 75,000 and 80,000.

Honda NXR 160 will be Honda's offering in a segment which was created by the Hero Impulse in 2013. One of the major reasons why the Hero Impulse failed to make any mark was its underpowered engine. Honda will try to reignite the segment with its NXR 160 in 2016. The bike is already being sold in many international markets with a single-cylinder, air-cooled, 162.7cc engine delivering 14.6bhp of maximum power at 8,500rpm and 14.41Nm of optimum torque at 6,000rpm. The bike looks similar to the Hero Impulse, but promises to be better built and provide more excitement, both on and off the road. Expect the Honda NXR 160 to be priced around Rs. 73,000.

Showcased for the first time at the 2014 Auto Expo, the Hero HX 250R has taken more time than it should to hit the Indian market. The main reason for this delay was the crisis Hero's partner - Erik Buell Racing - was going through. With Hero MotoCorp creating a brand new R&D center near Jaipur, things seem to be back on the track now for the Hero HX 250R. The bike, powered by a 249cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine, should see the light of the day sometime soon in 2016. The bike will have a claimed power output of 31bhp and 26Nm of power and torque respectively. These figures will be transferred to the rear wheel using a six-speed gearbox. With these looks and performance, the Hero HX 250R is expected to compete with the likes of the Honda CBR 250R. Expected price is around Rs. 1,75,000.

Hyosung showed its GT300R for the first time at the 2015 EICMA held in November 2015. The bike will be launched in India sometime around May, June to replace the existing GT250R. The bike which was showcased at the 2015 EICMA had a 275cc, V-twin, oil-cooled engine delivering 27.6bhp of power and 23.5Nm of torque. The power will be transmitted using a five-speed gearbox, and the bike is expected to have ABS as standard equipment. The Hyosung GT300R is expected to be priced at Rs. 3,10,000.

The much awaited upgrade of the highly-successful CBR 250R is also expected to roll out in 2016. With the market maturing, bike enthusiasts have been wanting something extra, and Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) will deliver just that in 2016. The CBR 300R is nothing but the CBR250R with a longer stroke of 63mm. This will make the engine of the CBR 300R have a capacity of 286cc. The single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine will be mated to a six-speed gearbox. ABS will be available as an option on the CBR 300R and the riders will have to rely on a 296mm disc at the front and a 220mm one at the rear. Expected Price - Rs. 1,75,000 to Rs. 2,10,000.

With its arrival in 2008, Yamaha YZF-R15 changed the way 150cc motorcycles were looked at in the Indian market. The bike offered performance which was unheard of in this part of the world despite being a single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 150cc motorcycle. Yamaha gave a much needed facelift to the R15 in 2011 and christened it Yamaha YZF-R15 V2.0. In 2016, Yamaha will roll out the V3.0 of the YZF-R15 and according to the speculations the V3.0 will have upside down forks at the front, new LED taillights and Daytime Running Lights (DRL). The bike will also get new styling for improved aerodynamics and more appeal. The power and torque, from the existing 16.7bhp and 15Nm, are also likely to go up. Expect the price to be around Rs. 1,20,000.

2016 is going to an exciting year for the TVS family. The BMW-TVS G310R is likely to make its debut at the 2016 Auto Expo in February and is eagerly awaited. Another reason why TVS was in news recently was the rumoured launch of its Apache RTR 200 in January or February. The 200cc motorcycles have got a very positive response from the Indian market with the KTM 200 Duke and the Pulsar 200 NS, and now TVS wants to throw its hat in the ring with the Apache RTR 200. The TVS Apache RTR 200 is rumoured to be powered by a 200cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine producing around 25bhp of power clubbed to a six-speed gearbox. Though nothing has been confirmed by TVS as yet, we are not ruling out the possibility of an ABS being given as an option. The TVS Apache RTR 200 is expected to be priced around Rs. 1,30,000.