The Indian two-wheeler sector will undoubtedly experience a lot of change in 2023 as many brand-new motorcycles and scooters are anticipated to make their debut here. The product from the joint venture between Bajaj and Triumph that we are most anticipating is one of these. Many articles have been written on this partnership over the past few months, and there have also been numerous spy photos that have circulated online.
Even if the buzz has already started, there are still a few significant questions that require a solution. When will these bicycles actually go on sale? And how powerful will their engines be? Which body types are we considering? How much will they cost, exactly? Well, we are delighted to tell you that we have received some information on these fronts from our trusted sources and here’s what they have divulged.
Projected Lineup
Bikes with four different body designs are anticipated from the Bajaj-Triumph partnership: a modern-classic roadster, a scrambler, a café racer, and a flat-tracker. The first two have already been shown to us in spy photos, but we’ll get to that later. Speaking about displacement, Bajaj-Triumph is currently developing single-cylinder engines with liquid cooling that have displacements of 250cc and 400cc. That makes a total of eight motorcycles if the firm releases four body styles with each of these engines. However, the flat-tracker might only have a 400cc engine because this type of bike requires a powerful low-end punch, and a 250cc engine might be inadequate for it.
It is anticipated that Bajaj-Triumph will follow Husqvarna’s lead and only release 250cc versions in India before releasing 400cc variants overseas. It goes without saying that in our nation, there is a greater demand for 250s than 400s. The 250cc market has expanded over the years, and some of the quarter-liter bikes have been doing reasonably well.
Design
A modern-classic roadster and a scrambler, two of the four alternative body types we described, have already been observed a few times. The 250cc versions of these bikes will probably be sold in India under the names Scrambler 250 and Street 250 because Triumph uses a similar name for their larger 900cc motorcycles.
The images make it evident that these goods appear intriguing and appealing. Although the hardware and primary bodywork are visually identical, there are several changes. Small fly screens, circular mirrors, knuckle guards, ribbed seats, block-pattern tyres, and a dual-barrel exhaust system are all features of the scrambler. The roadster, on the other hand, lacks a fly screen, knuckle guards, and ribbed seat, giving it a more conventional and simplistic appearance. Instead, it features road-biased tyres, a single exhaust canister, and bar-end mirrors.
Engine and hardware
There aren’t any specifics yet on the bikes’ engine characteristics. If we were to guess, the 250cc and 400cc engines would both be fairly powerful and manoeuvrable. We predict that these engines will provide a tonne of low- and mid-range torque, typical of modern-retro offerings, along with respectable amounts of power. They might have a flat torque curve, which would make them quite simple to ride. According to our estimation, the 400cc engine could produce 35–40 horsepower and a similar amount of torque, while the 250cc engine will likely provide power and torque in the range of 25–30 bhp/Nm. All of the variants’ exhaust notes ought to be unique and fit their respective genres.
According to what we can infer from the spy photos on the bicycle components, the roadster will be fitted with 10-spoke alloy wheels with a 17-inch diameter. But it was clear that the scrambler trim was using a bigger front wheel. Premium upside-down forks and a mono-shock with varying travel for springs based on their body design will make up the suspension system. A single disc at each end will provide braking power, likely with switchable dual-channel ABS.
For the cars headed for India, it is unlikely that the suspension arrangement will be adjustable because doing so would significantly increase the price. The inclusion of mind-blowing technologies like a traction control system, cornering ABS, or a rapid shifter is also not what we anticipate from these bikes. Bajaj-Triumph might only include features that are standard today, such full-LED lighting, a digital console with Bluetooth connectivity and navigation, and a slipper clutch because the pricing needs to remain competitive.
