From Royal Enfield To TVS, Here's List Of Bikes That Can Conquer Indian Monsoons Effortlessly
In this article, we have listed the top bikes that can handle the Indian monsoon without breaking a sweat and bank balance either.
Finally, the much-awaited monsoon started in India. The season has somehow arrived early, or god has answered prayers who were asking for some relief from scorching heat. As the dark clouds roll in, the season brings scenic rides on the wet roads.
It feels thrilling yet concerning at the same time due to waterlogged roads, slippery patches, and unexpected potholes. To conquer all the challenges, a trusted set of wheels is supposed to be here to make every ride worth it.
Perfect Bikes In Monsoon
If you are planning to get yourself a motorcycle during this monsoon season, and wants to leave behind all the weather-related worries. Then do not worry, we have got your back. In this article, we have listed the top bikes that can handle the Indian monsoon without breaking a sweat and bank balance either.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
Name it and this off-roader will have it. Ever since the model was launched in India, it has captured most of the mass audience, a big thanks to its aggressive style and decent price range. It can be purchased at Rs 2.85 lakh, while the top model goes up to Rs 2.98 lakh (all ex-showroom).
The vehicle has been created specially to tackle terrains, where a normal bike in the same segment is afraid to reach. Himalayan 450 is equally confident in the monsoon as it is on rough terrains in Leh Ladakh. Its long-travel suspension, grippy dual-purpose tyres, and torque-heavy engine make it a rain-ready beast for both city and touring.
TVS Apache RTR 200 4V
This offering can be safely considered monsoon-friendly as it comes with multiple riding modes and offers dual-channel ABS. These elements are enough to give the riders complete confidence to reach any corner or cover any distance without second thoughts in their head. It also comes with a high-quality build that holds up well in prolonged moisture exposure.
The company has launched the model at the starting price of Rs 1.50 lakh (ex-showroom). Under this price range, it gets a 197.75cc engine that generates a maximum power of 20.2 bhp at 8500 rpm and a peak torque of 18.1 Nm at 7000 rpm.
Suzuki V-Strom SX 250
Priced at Rs 2.13 lakh (ex-showroom), the Suzuki V-Strom SX 250 could be a wise yet smart choice under the 249cc segment. The motorcycle is a perfect blend of style and performance, which is well-suited for slippery highways and rain-soaked trails.
Honda CB350 H'ness
Last but not least, the CB350. It is a modern classic with a refined engine and road manners. Although it is not an off-roader, but offers well-balanced dynamics with a rooted riding experience even on rainy days. It has been priced at Rs 2.14 lakh (ex-showroom).
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Govt to come up with norms for 27 pc ethanol blending in petrol by Aug end
'India has already achieved its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending. In Brazil, the ethanol blend in gasoline is 27 per cent,' Gadari said while addressing an event here. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the higher 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol in 2023. New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) The government will come up with norms for 27 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by the end of August, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday. Currently, automobile engines can run on E20 with minor modifications in engines for corrosion, etc. 'Presently, India does not have standard norms for the E27 fuel…the norms for E27 will be finalised before August end,' the road transport and highways minister said. India is 85 per cent dependent on imports for meeting its oil needs. 'We import fossil fuels worth Rs 22 lakh crore, which is also causing pollution… so diversifying agriculture towards the energy and power sector is the need of the hour,' he said. Gadkari said 11 automobile companies have manufactured vehicles which run on flex-fuel engines. 'India is food surplus and there is a need to protect the interests of farmers,' he added. Use of ethanol, extracted from sugarcane as well as broken rice and other agri produce, will help India — the world's third largest oil consumer — bring down its reliance on overseas shipments. The target of achieving an average 10 per cent blending was achieved in June 2022, much ahead of the target date of November 2022. PTI BKS BKS MR This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Govt gets investment proposal worth Rs 16,000 cr under electronic component scheme
'Received proposals worth around Rs 16,000 crore under ECMS,' an official source said. The government had opened applications for the Rs 22,805-crore electronics component manufacturing scheme (ECMS) on May 1. New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) The government is learnt to have attracted investment proposals worth Rs 16,000 crore under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme, according to sources. An industry body also confirmed the development, based on its discussion with government officials and industry players. According to the government source, the approval process has started and shortlisted projects are expected to be announced in September. 'The scheme has received a good response from both domestic and foreign companies,' the source said. Sources had earlier mentioned that Tata Electronics, Dixon Technologies, and Foxconn were among the big players that have shown interest in the scheme. Recently, Dixon signed separate agreements with Chinese electronic component firms — Chongqing Yuhai Precision Manufacturing Co Ltd and the Indian arm of Kunshan Q Technology — for manufacturing and sales of electronic components used in electronic devices like mobile phones and laptops, among others. The scheme aims to address the demand-supply deficit in the electronic component segment. Electronic Industries Association of India (Elcina), the country's oldest industry body of the Indian electronics sector, estimates that the demand-supply deficit for inputs in the electronics segment will increase to USD 248 billion (about Rs 21 lakh crore) by 2030 to cater to projected USD 500 billion electronics production, and it would be met largely by imports in absence of any measure from the government. The major portion of the scheme, Rs 21,093 crore, is earmarked for sub-assemblies like camera module, multi-layered printed circuit board (PCB), flexible PCB, and passive components that are fixed on the PCB by machines. A total of Rs 1,712 crore has been earmarked for making parts used in sub-assemblies and capital goods used in electronics manufacturing. The scheme classifies display module and camera module sub-assembly in category A, while category B products include bare components like non-surface mount devices (non-SMD), multi-layered printed circuit board, lithium-ion cells for digital applications, enclosures for mobile, IT hardware products and related devices. Category C includes components like flexible PCB, SMD passive components. Besides, components used in making items listed under A, B and C categories, as well as capital goods used in electronics manufacturing, have been clubbed under the D category. The government has opened the application window for A, B and C categories initially for three months starting May 1, and for two years for D category items. PTI PRS MR This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Tesla's entry and why manufacturing scene is not quite electric for India
US automaker Tesla's entry into India last week is an unpleasant reminder about how India keeps missing the manufacturing bus, again and again. This time, we've lost the race to produce and consume Electric Vehicles (EV), yet again, to China and the US. What makes the loss even more agonising is that, like China, India too started its EV journey pretty much at the same time around 2015. A decade later, or what now seems like between sundown and sunrise, China emerged as the leading EV market. Its conveyor belts simply seem unstoppable, while India stands still. Consider some more enviable statistics. China's annual EV sales rose from just 2,344 units in 2015 to a staggering 1.7 million in 2024. Over 50% of new cars sold were electric models in 2024 and it currently has over 41.3 million EVs on road. As many as 300 companies are manufacturing EVs there and four of the world's top 10 EVs sold worldwide are from China. In contrast, India has just a handful of producers. Total registered EVs stood at about 2 million as on 2024, accounting for 7.5% of India's total vehicle sales. But electric two-wheelers lead the pack, comprising 60% of total EV sales. The good news is India is expected to have an estimated 50 million EVs on the road by 2030, but then, China would have scaled another unbeatable milestone by then. In short, India is still warming up to the idea of large-scale EV adoption, while China is out to get another bite of meat, this time from global markets as it moves to the next stage of the consumption value chain. One of the reasons for such aggressive adoption of China-made EVs is the significant state-sponsored subsidies for consumers, and the availability of adequate charging infrastructure. India lacks both the charging infrastructure and suitable incentives. What's concerning now is how Beijing is flooding the global markets with its low-priced electric cars. China has subsidised EVs since 2009, but those incentives were phased out officially in 2022. Market watchers, however, believe that Beijing is artificially keeping prices low, as local governments are continuing to offer cash subsidies. Take for instance, the pricing of China's MG Motors and BYD, which are on par with Indian models, notwithstanding the high import tariffs of about 70%-100%. This has been the case with other markets too, which is why, the European Union recently opened an anti-subsidy investigation against China to know if it's gaming the pricing structure with unofficial state-sponsored incentives. Now, in this backdrop, the one thing that's upsetting about Tesla's much-awaited India foray is its seemingly half-hearted interest to tap India, touted to emerge as the world's third largest auto market. Moreover, the US automaker is grappling with excess capacity and declining sales, while China's BYD is at a threatening distance of dethroning Tesla as the world's largest EV maker. Given the circumstances, a large growing market like India offer a promising opportunity, but Tesla isn't as excited. Its India foray was low key and marked by the absence of its celebrated founder Elon Musk. This is quite different from other large MNCs like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google, which saw the respective billionaire bosses descending down on India to script history. Besides, Tesla's limited number of model launches and their pricing at over Rs 60 lakh each also makes its India journey uninspiring. Currently, Tesla imports fully assembled vehicles into India, which are subject to import duties as high as 70% to 100% if the car's cost, insurance, freight value exceeds $35,000. That said, India does offer attractive tariff rates of just 15% for willing companies under its EV policy launched last year. But to avail these lower tariffs, companies have to invest at least half-a-billion dollars in local production. The policy also sets a three-year timeline to set up manufacturing facilities and starting commercial production, with a goal of achieving 50% domestic value addition within five years. Besides, to ensure the progress of domestic manufacturing ecosystem, the government also opened another lifeline via its Production-Linked Incentive scheme, encouraging foreign auto companies to localise production. Then there's the other flagship scheme Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME), which too offers the much needed impetus to EV sales with state governments chipping in. It's not that India lacks the scale and strategic depth to emerge as a global leader in the automotive value chain. In 2022, India overtook Germany to emerge as the world's fourth largest automotive market and is set to reach a record 50 lakh units in the next few years. The automobile market contributes nearly 7% to the GDP, and the EV market in India is expected to touch $48.6 billion, creating 50 million direct and indirect jobs. But one reason that's deterring potential buyers and therefore prospective manufacturers is that fast-charging solutions remain scarce. Currently, India has only one public charging station per 135 EVs, significantly lower than the global average of one station for every 6-20 EVs, according to CareEdge research report. As per estimates, India now has over 12,000 public EV-charging stations and needs at least 1.3 million charging stations by 2030. Recognising the need, the government is also prioritising charging infrastructure. Among the notable initiatives are the setting up of 72,000 public charging stations with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore across the country by 2026. Above all, India imports over 90% of the EV batteries, which makes the end product expensive and also remains vulnerable to supply shocks. The question is, if and how the government will overcome these multiple challenges to restart the EV journey.
