Best Bikes Of 2017 In India: Our Top Rated Bike Launches Of The Year

TVS Apache RR 310

TVS Motor Company launched its first fully-faired motorcycle, the Apache RR 310 which is developed in collaboration with BMW Motorrad. The Apache RR 310 brought many first-in-segment features and also reflects the 35 years of racing history of TVS. It is also the most powerful TVS bike to be ever produced to date. The Apache RR 310 also became the first Indian bike to feature a reverse-inclined engine.

Also Read: First Ride Review Of TVS Apache RR 310

The TVS Apache RR 310 injected a new life to the fully-faired 300cc segment. With its reasonable price tag, striking looks and exceptional performance the motorcycle is one of the biggest launches of 2017. The Apache RR 310 is designed to perform in a race track, city streets or a mile-munching road trip. The Apache RR 310 is a game-changing bike in the Indian motorcycle market and will be a fierce competitor to its rivals.

Also Read: TVS Apache RR 310 Vs. KTM RC 390 Comparison

KTM Duke 390

Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM transformed the performance motorcycling in the country, and the Duke 390 was a crucial product in India, but with the years passing, the design was ageing. This year, KTM launched the new Duke 390 in an entirely new avatar with a slew of best-in-class features which has also won the Indian Bike Of The Year (IMOTY) award. The new looks and features were an icing on the cake given its ballistic performance.

The new Duke 390 features full LED headlight, ride-by-wire throttle and slipper clutch. It is one of the affordable bikes in its segment with a kind of performance which can even keep up with the 600cc bikes. All in all, the KTM Duke 390 was one of the significant bikes that transformed the performance biking in India.

Royal Enfield Classic 500 Stealth Black

The Royal Enfield Classic 500 has been an evergreen motorcycle in the Indian market. With its classic retro looks and signature thumping sound, the Classic 500 was selling like hot cakes. This year Royal Enfield brought in the Stealth Black edition of the bike which features contemporary shade in a stylish matt finish.

Another significant unveil of this year were the Royal Enfield 650 twins. Royal Enfield became the first Indian manufacturer to develop a twin-cylinder 650cc engine. The company unveiled the all-new Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 at the 2017 EICMA motorcycle show in Italy. Both the bikes will be launched in India sometime in 2018.

Honda Grazia

Honda is a dominating player in the scooter segment in India and this year too the Japanese company came up with a lot of surprises. One of them was the Grazia premium scooter. The Grazia was an important launch of 2017 in many ways. First of all, the Grazia was Honda's first premium scooter in India. With the premium tag, the scooter brought several first-in-class features.

Also Read: Honda Grazia Vs. Honda Activa 125 Comparison On Specifications, Features And Price

The Honda Grazia was a fresh face in the crowded scooter segment in the country with striking looks and unmatched performance. And all this came at an affordable price tag which made things even better. Overall, we can say that the Grazia was the scooter of the year which brought a wave of changes to the otherwise traditionally designed scooters in the market.

Also Read: Honda Grazia Vs. Honda Dio Comparison

Suzuki Intruder 150

The cruiser motorcycles were always a niche segment in the Indian market, and the manufacturers were reluctant to launch products in this segment. But Suzuki came up with its new Intruder 150 with the design language inspired by the iconic Intruder 1800. The Intruder too was a kind of motorcycle which stood apart from the crowd.

Also Read: Suzuki Intruder 150 Vs. Bajaj Avenger 150 Comparison

The Intruder 150 was a revolutionary product in the entry-level 150cc segment with its premium design elements and distinctive looks. Despite being a 150cc bike, the overall appeal of the Intruder 150 gave a big bike feel. Without a doubt, we can say that the Intruder 150 was one of the game-changing launches in the entry-level segment.

KTM Duke 250

Along with the new Duke 390, KTM surprised the Indian buyers by launching the Duke 250 in the country. It is one of the best 250cc bikes you can buy in the Indian market. The overall design of the bike was inspired by its elder sibling, the Duke 390, but it missed out on few features to keep the costs down.

But when it comes to performance, the Duke 250 is the best choice among the currently available bikes in the same segment. KTM also priced the Duke 250 very aggressively which was one of the key points behind the success of the quarter-litre motorcycle.

Yamaha FZ 25

In 2017, Yamaha entered the 250cc segment with the launch of FZ 25. The FZ 25 became the company's flagship model in the FZ lineup and featured almost same design as its younger sibling. The FZ 25 is branded as a budget touring motorcycle which can handle daily commuting exceptionally well.

Yamaha is known for its reliable and smooth engine, and the FZ 25 is no different from that. Despite being a 250cc bike, the FZ 25 offers an impressive mileage which is very important for daily commuting. The FZ 25 filled a void in the Yamaha's lineup and was one of the exciting launches of 2017.

Benelli 302R

Italian two-wheeler manufacturer Benelli launched its first fully-faired motorcycle, the 302R in India this year. It was a much-awaited bike in India after it was showcased as a concept model at the 2016 Auto Expo. The production version of the model did not disappoint us and sports aggressive design. At a glance, the 302R looks like a big bike and also sounds like one.

Also Read: Benelli 302R First Ride Review

The spilt headlamp design of the Benelli 302R renders the bike a unique look. The motorcycle also comes with premium cycle parts such as lighter trellis frame, dual-disc brakes at the front and ABS as standard. The Benelli 302R spiced up the 300cc segment and is one the significant bikes launched in 2017.

Triumph Street Triple RS

British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph launched the top-spec Street Triple RS in India this year. The souped-up variant of the Street Triple sports higher power output and race-spec cycle parts. And all these comes at a reasonable price tag which made it a significant bike of 2017 in the superbike class.

The Triumph Street Triple RS comes with several premium features such as TFT instrument display, ride-by-wire throttle and multiple riding modes. The Street Triple RS is one of the best naked superbikes in the 800cc segment. The Street Triple RS is an excellent package for its price tag which makes it one of the best bikes launched in 2017.

Kawasaki Z900

Kawasaki launched the naked Z900 motorcycle in India which replaced the Z800. One of the most crucial factors was, the new Z900 came with a reduced price tag and missed out on few accessories being offered. The naked superbike was priced lower than its competitors which spiced up the 900cc segment.

The new Kawasaki Z900 is equipped with premium cycle parts such as USD forks, adjustable monoshock suspension, dual-disc brakes at the front and slipper clutch for efficient downshifts. Overall, the Z900 is one of the best naked superbikes in the market, and it was one of the best bikes of 2017.

Triumph Bonneville Bobber

Apart from the Street Triple RS, Triumph also launched its classic masterpiece in India in 2017. The Bonneville Bobber is a combination of classic Bobber styling and retro-style Bonneville which is complemented by modern components. The Bonneville Bobber brought in a completely new design language which made it a unique proposition in the retro-styled motorcycle segment.

Also Read: Triumph Bonneville Bobber First Ride Review

At first glance, the Triumph Bonneville Bobber takes us back in time, but when you look at the tech specs, you will come back to the modern era of motorcycles. The Bonneville Bobber comes with all the goodies such as traction control, ABS, rider modes (road and rain), and ride-by-wire technology. Despite the hefty 1,200cc engine, the bike was claimed to deliver a mileage of 24kpl. All these features made the Bonneville Bobber one of the best bikes of 2017.

Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750

How can the list of best bikes of 2017 be complete without a true-blue cruiser? Yes, Harley-Davidson's Street Rod 750 is the best cruiser launched this year. Compared to the Street 750, the Street Rod 750 features better hardware and more power. The Street Rod 750 sports an aggressive stance unlike the classic low-slung theme of cruisers.

The Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 sports more advanced components in the form of an upside down forks at the front, new rear shock absorbers, longer swingarm and dual-disc brakes at the front. The Street Rod 750 stands out from the crowd due to its unique design elements and sporty styling. The Street Rod 750 certainly made an impact in the world of big cruisers in the country.

Other Mentions

The above list features only the best bikes of 2017 and they are our top-rated bikes of the year. But there were several other bikes also which impressed us and stood out in the crowded Indian motorcycle market.

Bajaj Auto launched its new Pulsar NS 160 to compete in the ever-growing 160cc segment. The motorcycle features the same design of the bigger Pulsar NS200. Yamaha also introduced the fully faired version of the FZ 25, christened as the Fazer 25. The motorcycle was marketed as an entry-level sports tourer at an affordable price tag.

When we were thinking about the best bikes of 2017, Kawasaki came with its new entry-level adventure motorcycle right at the end of the year. The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 is a budget ADV bike which also came with a host of accessories.

DriveSpark Thinks!

The year 2017 has witnessed the introduction of several game-changing bikes in the Indian auto industry. Major manufacturers have launched their flagship offerings in the country which are the current segment leaders in the market. But, Hero MotoCorp has retained its supremacy in the commuter bikes segment despite any major launches in 2017.

The year 2018 promises to be even more exciting with many new launches happening in the coming months. Stay tuned to DriveSpark to get all the updates from the world of auto industry, as well as reviews, comparisons and interesting offbeat stories.