Entertainment
Most anticipated bikes of 2014
The motorbike market is burgeoning every year, courtesy the youth population which forms the bulk of its buyers.Ankit Tuladhar
Suzuki Gixxer
Suzuki has introduced a new bike in the 150cc naked-bike segment. The Gixxer is the most powerful bike in its category, excluding the Apache RTR 160 and its 160cc displacement. Suzuki’s new technology promises performance and economy in a single package. The Gixxer’s new engine puts out 14.6 bhp and has a claimed a mileage of 63.2 kmpl, which is astounding. It has a wide-section 140mm tyre in the rear.
Bajaj Pulsar 400 CS
Bajaj has allowed us a glimpse of what 400CS will look like, but they are yet to provide any details about the specs of the bike, and we are yet to know of its release date. They did throw us a hint that it would take the Avenger’s place. As far as we know, CS stands for Cruiser Sports. So it will most likely replace the Avenger line-up.
Bajaj Pulsar 200/400 SS
Bajaj is also bracing itself for the launch of the fully-faired version of the popular 200NS. The 200SS will use the same engine as the 200NS but it will feature a Fuel Injection (FI) system which will replace the carburettor system and will have a re-tuned engine. They also plan to use the same chassis as of the 200NS but with a slight tweak, so as to give it a sportier feel. On the other hand, the 400SS is rumored to use an all new 375cc engine. As of yet, no other specifications have been shared.
Kawasaki Ninja 250 SL/ Ninja RR Mono
Bowing down to the demand of their fans for a pocket-friendly bike, Kawasaki has introduced a cheaper, single cylinder Ninja (called the Ninja 250SL in some market and Ninja RR Mono in others). The new Ninja comes with an all new trellis frame. It puts out 27.6 bhp at 9700rpm, which is slightly less than its double-cylindered sibling, but the torque of 23nm is enough to put it above its bigger twin. And despite borrowing a lot of elements from the Ninja 300RR, the Ninja 250SL has single headlamps and is almost 20kgs lighter. Aesthetically, it has copied a lot from its elder sibling the ZX6R. We do hope that this bike will make its way to our roads soon.
KTM RC 200/390
The RC brothers are all set to come to Nepal at last. Considered by many to be the most awaited bikes of 2014, and recently launched in Italy and India, both the RC200 and the RC390 use the same engine as their Duke sibling, but possess a slightly tweaked chassis, a shorter wheel base and a steeper steering angle. While the RC200 will come with the same MRF tyres as the Duke 200; the RC390 will retain the sticky Metzelers. And following the footprints of the Dukes, the RC390 will come with an ABS while RC200 will miss out on that feature.
Going by the looks, both bikes in the RC series seem heavily inspired by the RC8R ( KTM 1190CC superbike). But the RCs possess a higher top speed (given the fairing that drastically improves the aerodynamics of the bike) and are more agile and easy to maneuver—thanks to its shorter wheelbase, steeper steering angle and stiffer suspension setup. KTM have started the booking of these bikes and we hope to see them running in the streets of Nepal very soon.
Hero HX250R
Hero has created a stylish new quarter-litre sports bike with the help of EBR (Erik Buell Racing). It is the first Indian 250 cc bike to feature an undertail exhaust. If the bike comes as it was displayed in the Indian Auto Show, then it will come equipped with Pirelli sport demon tyres. The 250cc engine produces 31bhp and 26nm of torque. All in all, it seems to be one of the best bikes in its category and might even be a game changer if priced correctly.
Honda CBR300R
Honda has already released its CBR300R in countries like the United States and Australia, but we are yet to receive it here. Honda updated the CBR250R with a bigger capacity, re-tuned engine. The new CBR300R looks similar to the Honda Fire Blade (CBR1000RR) with dual head lights. The CBR300R sports a 286cc engine which puts out 30.4 bhp. Adding to all this is the fact that it is 6kgs lighter, which makes it accelerate faster and gives higher top speed.
Mahindra Mojo
Mahindra is stepping up its game with the all new Mojo. The Mojo features a 300CC engine but the rest of its specs are yet to be officially announced. The Mojo was recently showcased with Pirelli tyres, wave disc brakes, dual exhausts, dual headlights and a very unique look. The bike looks really aggressive given its twin headlights. The price and the launch date of the Mojo are yet to be announced, despite the rumour that it will be launched soon.
Yamaha R25
This bike created a lot of buzz when its concept was first showcased. Heavily inspired by the YZR M1 (Yamaha’s MotoGP race bike), the bike features a parallel twin 250cc engine which produces 36bhp. Sadly, experts say that India will receive the single-cylinder version of this bike and it’s highly likely that the suit will be followed in Nepal as well. But, it’s just a speculation and as of yet, as no information has been formally disclosed by the company.




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