The trend of adventure-touring bikes is not new to India. Many Indian actors and actresses rode such bikes – of foreign make – to stardom. After being projected as machines that were truly out of reach of the masses, adventure-touring bikes have come a long way in the country. Seeking rejuvenation with the arrival of premium machines like the Triumph Tiger and Honda Africa Twin, they have spread themselves to newer budget points. They have got themselves closer to a point where they can appeal to the masses. Offerings like the Royal Enfield Himalayan and Hero Xpulse have got the prospect of owning an adventure-touring bike closer to riders having a tight budget to comprehend. Considered as dandy machines that could ride on the road, and off it, these bikes have come to draw the attention of young riders. Proving to be highly aspirational, adventure-touring bikes, with high ground clearance and a longer-travel suspension among other attributes, are aligning well with the exponential rise in the trend to ride on and offroad.

Not to be left out, Honda has launched the CB200X adventure touring bike at a price of INR 144,500 (ex-showroom, Mumbai). Earlier, the company had the Hornet to offer. Based on the Hornet 2.0, the CB200X is a sizeable touring-ready bike. It looks quite different from the Hornet 2.0. As an entry-level machine, it draws good attention. Introduced post much research and understanding of the buyer and user psyche, the CB200X, with its wind visor, sharp tank shrouds that connect the LED headlight to the tank and the handguards with integrated turn signal indicators, looks attractive. The pillion grab rails have been revised and are now bigger and wider. To ensure better off-road control and ride, conventional road tyres have been given a preference over knobby tyres. The thinking behind it is that conventional tyres will provide optimum grip. The new machine is available in three colour variants – Sports Red, Pearl Nightstar Black and Matte Selene Silver Metallic.

With an upright riding posture, the handlebars of the CB200X are raised. Comfortable for long-distance touring, the wind visor, although small, helps in reducing wind resistance at high speeds. A diamond-type chassis frame – it is the same as Hornet – evenly distributes the weight at the front and the rear. The kerb weight of CB200X is 147 kg. With a fuel tank capacity of 12 litres, the bike offers a riding range of between 400 and 500 km. This is subject to the nature of one’s riding style, however. Equipped with gold-coloured upside-down forks at the front and a rear mono-shock suspension, the CB200X offers a good ride and handling ability. If there are instances when the rider is made to think that he could do well with some more suspension travel, the bike does a fair job of negotiating the surfaces that come its way.

Powered by a 17 hp, 184 cc engine, the bike does 16.1 Nm of peak torque at 6,000 rpm. Keeping up with the city traffic with ease, the bike supports an easy ride over a variety of road surfaces due to its high ground clearance. Out on a highway, it does tend to ask for more power and torque. But then, find a sweet spot and the CB200X makes an easy task of riding it. Sans any riding modes that would help modulation of traction as per the surface underneath, the bike is fitted with conventional alloys. It is equipped with tubeless tyres. The front tyre specification is 110/70 – 17, and that of the rear is 140/70 -17. The 276 mm petal disc at the front and 220 mm solid disc at the rear ensure good braking ability as well. There is a single-channel ABS on the front wheel.

The upswept exhaust and tail fender of the CB200X come from the Hornet 2.0. Featuring a fully digital instrument console, which relays gear position indicator, digital clock, service due indicator and battery voltmeter, the CB200X is priced at INR 10,000 more than the Hornet 2.0. Speaking at the launch, Atsushi Ogata, Managing Director, President and CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, mentioned that the CB200X was designed keeping in mind the evolving lifestyle of the Indian youth. As an urban explorer, it presents a riding experience that would cajole the rider to explore. The CB200X is a perfect riding companion for daily city rides and also for short weekend getaways, he said. (MT)

 

Hero Xpulse 200 Vs Honda CB200X

In the sparsely populated sub-200 cc adventure category in India, the Hero Xpulse 200 could be considered as the direct rival of the CB200X. The 220 mm ground clearance and 190 mm front fork travel lends the Xpulse 200 great manoeuvrability on and off the road. The bike weighs 157 kg and is powered by a 17.8 bhp, 199.6 cc engine that does 16.45 Nm peak torque at 6,500 rpm. Heavier than the CB200X by 10 kg, the Xpulse 200 is priced at INR 120,000 (ex-showroom, Mumbai). It is less costly than the CB200X by roughly INR 20,000. It will be interesting, therefore, to see how the CB200X grabs the pie of the category from the Xpulse 200, especially when the buyer is expected to be highly cost-conscious. (MT)

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle company Ultraviolette Automotive collaborated with the Madras Regiment Centre (MRC) of the Indian Army for a five-day rally across Tamil Nadu, by providing a fleet of F77 motorcycles.

The ride honoured the army Veterans and Veer Naris of Madras Regiment and the Armed Forces community in the region.

Under the aegis of the Dakshin Bharat Area, the rally covered six districts of Tamil Nadu - Tirupur, Karur, Dindigul, Madurai, Theni and Coimbatore. The team of army personnel engaged with approximately 3,000 veterans and veer naris during the journey: addressing various concerns, sharing crucial information on entitlements, and providing immediate assistance. The F77s covered a cumulative distance of over 6000 kilometres.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, " Collaborating again with the Indian Army for this remarkable outreach initiative is an honour that resonates deeply with Ultraviolette's ethos. Our vision to create world-class technology is inspired by the spirit of the India - undaunted, resilient, and driven by purpose. The F77 embodies the very principles that define our Armed Forces - precision, performance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. To witness Ultraviolette playing a key role in this rally, honouring veterans, and their families, is not just a privilege but a defining moment in our journey".

Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), a leading manufacturer of two-wheelers in the country, has reported wholesales of 112,948 units for April 2025, which is 14 percent higher than 99,377 units it sold last year.

The company reported an 8 percent growth in its domestic sales at 95,214 units, as compared to 88,067 units last year, while exports grew by 57 percent at 17,734 units, as against 11,310 units for the same period last year.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “This positive start to the year fills us with gratitude. Each unit sold represents the beginning of a new journey with our customers and we are thankful to be a part of it. We will continue to work sincerely to meet the evolving expectations of our customers and contribute positively to their journey with us.”

Last month, the company further upgraded its product lineup, including the Hayabusa to be OBD-2B compliant.

Chennai-based two-wheeler and three-wheeler maker TVS Motor Company has announced its wholesales for April 2025. The company reported witnessing a 16 percent growth, selling 443,896 units, as against 383,615 units last year. 

The domestic two-wheeler sales include 220,527 motorcycles and 169,741, while exports accounted for 106,683 units.  

EV sales grew by 59 percent, rising from 17,403 units in April 2024 to 27,684 units last month.

Three-wheeler sales grew by 50 percent YoY from 9,023 units to 13,566 units.

Blending the pulse of street culture, community and high-octane energy, Royal Enfield hosted the first-ever edition of HunterHood in Mumbai and New Delhi during the last weekend of April 2025. 
Inspired by the spirit of Hunter motorcycle of the company, the HunterHood event – the latest cultural initiative built around the ethos of “From the streets, For the streets” – brought together riders, artists and urban explorers across the two Indian mega cities. 
The company also unveiled ‘The 2025 Hunter 350’ with three new colourways and upgraded features inspired by and designed for ‘The Coolest Neighbourhoods of the world’.
Featuring unique programming in the form of skateboarding sessions, spontaneous cyphers, vibrant graffiti art, live music jams, dynamic dance circles and exhilarating BMX stunts, the event witnessed high-octane performances by some of India’s top musicians like Dino James, Wild Wild Women, Shah Rule, Suggahunny, The Spindoctor, OG Shez, Ikka, DK Mocity, Dhanji, Lush Lata and Samriddhi Bhargav. 
The event saw over 12 homegrown, premium and emerging street-led brands spanning skateboarding, apparel, sneakers and the culinary space participate. It was attended by 5,000 people across the two mega cities.