As we have said earlier, motorcycling as a culture is finally coming into its own in India. The market is opening up and we are seeing major global performance motorcycle manufacturers opening up operations in India. Be it Harley-Davidson, Triumph, Aprilia, Benelli, Ducati, MV Agusta, Kawasaki, Indian and many other manufacturers are seeing India as an up and coming performance motorcycles market.
While India has just three racetracks where one can take their sportsbikes and have fun, there is no dearth of terrain or land that is unchartered. For an enthusiast, there is no better feeling than going on a ride which challenges the man and the machine in equal measure. This is where the adventure tourer motorcycles or ADVs come into play. These machines are tough, purpose-built and are more than happy to take you off the beaten path and into the unknown apart from doing regular jaunts on the highway.
Here is our list of the best Adventure-Touring motorcycles available in the country.
1. Royal Enfield Himalayan:
(Royal Enfield Himalayan)2. Kawasaki Versys 650/1000:
(Kawasaki Versys 650)It is just a little short of sacrilege, writing about both these Kawasaki motorcycles in the same breath but still. The name Versys is actually derived from 'versatile' and 'system'. Both these motorcycles are great mile munchers and come with a long list of electronics which make life easier for not so experienced riders. The ergonomics are spot on and won't tire out the rider even after spending long hours on the saddle. The Versys 650 has a 649cc engine which churns out 68bhp and 64Nm of torque. The Versys 650 is the next most affordable ADV after the Himalayan. The Versys 1000 gets a 1049cc engine that is good for 118bhp and 1032Nm of torque. The price for the Versys 650 is Rs. 6.6 lakh and for the Versys 1000 is Rs. 13.28 lakh (ex-showroom-Delhi).
3. Triumph Tiger 800 range:
(Triumph Tiger 800 XCx)Perhaps one of the most famous ADV motorcycles across the world, the Triumph Tiger 800 range is currently a hot favourite in India too. At present, there are two ranges available for purchase, which are the XR range (street-biased) and the XC range (off-road biased). Both the ranges share the same 800cc 3-cylinder engine that produces 94bhp and 79Nm of torque along with a host of electronics and varied suspension units on different models that are on offer. You can read our review of the Triumph Tiger 800 here. The motorcycles are indestructible and are willing to conquer any terrain at all, provided the rider is competent enough. The prices for the Triumph Tiger 800 range start at Rs. 10.6 lakh and goes up to Rs. 14 lakh (Ex-showroom, Delhi).
4. Ducati Multistrada 1200S:
(2016 Ducati Multistrada 1200S First Ride Review)Ducati recently launched the latest generation of its famed tourer, the Multistrada. Like any other ADV, versatility is its strong point, so much so that Ducati says that the Multistrada is four motorcycles rolled into one. It is powered by an 1198cc engine that is good for 160bhp and 138Nm of torque. Like all other Ducatis, this one too is loaded with a suite of electronics. Although the Multistrada is fairly street-biased, Ducati will be bringing the Multistrada Enduro to India by the end of 2016 or early 2017. It will be kitted with features and equipment suited to off-roading as well. The price for the Multistrada starts at Rs. 17 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
5. Suzuki V-Strom 1000:
(Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS)The last but definitely not the least, the Suzuki V-Strom 1000 rounds up our list of ADV motorcycles in India. The ride quality is amongst the best and the V-Strom is surprisingly easy to live with for a motorcycle as big as it is. It has Traction Control and ABS but the latter cannot be switched off. Also, the V-Strom does not get a bash plate like other motorcycles in this list. But make no mistake, it can tackle broken roads with consummate ease and will not let you down on the worst roads either. Also, it is almost manageable as a daily ride too. We say almost, because you will have to shell out a decent amount of money for fuel. The V-Strom is powered by a 1,037 V-Twin Engine that produces 98bhp and 103Nm of torque. The Suzuki V-Strom 1000 is priced at Rs. 14.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
