Gone are the days of imported technologies and ridiculously limited choices. The two wheeler industry in India has been maturing at a rapid pace over the last decade and this year’s Auto Expo has been a testament to its new found status as an emerging R&D hub.

Over the past few days, Indian and foreign manufacturers alike showed off several innovative new models across categories that were conceptualised and designed entirely in India.

Breaking convention Honda led the charge with its new segment-defying Navi personal mobility solution. The vehicle, which is a unique blend of scooter and motorcycle, is powered by the same 109.19cc engine that is currently used in the Activa line of gearless scooters. The Navi was designed for the Indian market at Honda’s R&D facility in Noida. Its light weight, compact dimensions and storage bay indicate that it is intended to be a moped of sorts. But the design cues, which are more along the lines of what you’d expect from a performance motorcycle, completely belie this expectation. However you’d like to categorise it, this particular Honda is going to be a disruptive offering for sure considering its price tag of ₹39,500 (ex-showroom Delhi).

The expo was littered with the usual raft of attention hogging futuristic concepts, with the TVS Akula 310 concept in particular drawing a lot of attention. The Hosur-based company says that it expects to turn the fully-faired design into a production model within the year. Mahindra displayed the latest edition of its MGP3O racing motorcycle, which will see action in several competitions including the MotoGP championship over the coming year.

Away from the showfloor Several companies chose not to exhibit at the Expo, but utilised the attention generated by the country’s premier automobile trade show to launch new models on its sidelines. Bajaj got the ball rolling early, teasing a new 150cc motorcycle through a Republic Day advertisement that spoke of a product that would be ‘part motorbike, part war hero’. The Bajaj V, which is a commuter styled like a café racer, is made from steel that was sourced from the once-glorious, now-defunct aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. It is powered by a newly-developed 149.5cc DTS-i mill that makes 12PS of power 13Nm of torque. The bike has an imposing demeanour reminiscent of a cruiser, with large tyres and a low seating position. It is expected to be available towards the end of March at a price tag close to ₹60,000. Another company conspicuous by its absence at the Expo, Royal Enfield, showed off the first entirely new platform it has built since what seems like the dawn of time. The Himalayan, a 410cc motorcycle ‘purpose-built for adventure and touring in the Himalayas’, draws on the company’s vast experience with building bikes that have helped generation after generation conquer the country’s tallest peaks. The single cylinder engine which powers the bike is all-new just like the chassis and produces 24.5 bhp of power and 32 Nm of torque. The bike will also be the first Enfield to feature a monoshock suspension.

However, the most noticeable difference from existing stable of REs will be the lack of the classic Enfield ‘thump’. If the teaser videos are any indication, this bike will sound like most of its contemporaries, bringing decades of ear-shattering yet heart-warming aural tradition to an end.

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