Indian Motorcycling is changing as we speak. A good chunk of the population has grown to love their 300 cc motorcycle while not worrying so much about the mileage. The talk of buying a Ninja 650 or a Benelli TNT 600i does not seem like a far-fetched dream. In the light of this ever-growing evolution, let’s take a look at top motorcycles under Rs 5 Lakh.1: Benelli Tornado 302 R:
The full faired Benelli is a good example of a sport touring machine. The bike has an inline twin motor which produces 38.26 BHP @11500 RPM and 26.5 Nm of torque @10000 RPM. The liquid-cooled Fuel injected engine is in DOHC setup with 4-valves per cylinder. The bike has a high compression ratio of 12:1, as a result, its engine enjoys the redline.The seating position on the bike is a bit aggressive but comfortable. There is ample of wind protection in the cockpit due to the tall visor up front and the LED headlamps offer a clear view of the road, at all times. Other noteworthy features of the bike include 41 mm USD forks, 745 mm of accessible seat height and 4 piston caliper dual discs at the front. Benelli Tornado 302 R retails at a price of Rs 3.48 lakh (ex-showroom).
2: Yamaha YZF-R3:
Next in line is Yamaha YZF R3. It has been a good option for all those looking for comfort highway touring with performance in a reasonable amount, over the years. Although today’s market offers a wide variety of entry-level motorcycles, Yamaha R3 is still able to hold its ground because of the company’s strong focus on engine design and build quality. The 321 cc twin cylinder engine of Yamaha YZF R3 produces 42 PS of power @ 10750 RPM and 29.6 Nm of torque @ 9000 RPM. The liquid-cooled FI engine consists of parallel twin cylinders in DOHC setup and a small 44.1 mm stroke ensures that the bike reaches higher RPM every time. The seat height of the bike is 780 mm and the ground clearance is 160 mm. The instrument console is loaded with features like a low-fuel warning light, low oil indicator, low battery indicator, along with the usual information. The ex-showroom price of Yamaha YZF-R3 is Rs 3.48 lakh.
3: KTM Duke 390:
With an amazing power to weight ratio, Duke 390 can decimate several other twin cylinder motorcycles due to its high torque and, power as well. The single Cylinder on Duke 390 gives it a better initial power delivery but misses out on a smooth top end. The liquid cooled engine produces 42.9 BHP of power @ 9000 RPM and 37 Nm of torque @ 7000 RPM. These figures are higher than other twin cylinder motorcycles in this engine class. It is one of the reasons why the same single cylinder 373 cc engine has been adopted by Bajaj and Husqvarna, in their motorcycles. The seat height of the bike is high at 830 mm with a towering 185 mm of ground clearance.
Even after packing a bigger engine, the KTM Duke 390 is able to keep its weight at a manageable 167 kg, due to its naked styling. Again, the same styling also causes the rider to feel a lot of wind blasts while traveling at high speed. The Duke 390 has a digital TFT console which features everything from Bluetooth connectivity to ride modes. The ex-showroom price of Duke 390 is Rs 2.38 lakh.
4: TVS Apache RR 310:
The another made in India TVS Apache RR 310 fits the bill perfectly. The bike produces 34 HP @9700 RPM and 27.2 Nm of torque @ 7700 RPM. It has a single cylinder which is reverse inclined as a result the headers are rerouted from left to the right side. The bike is a sports bike with a little less aggressive position and soft suspension. People may argue that it is a sports tourer, which it is but at the end of the day it can still be ridden on the track and that’s what matters. The Apache RR 310 has a good heat management system and great aerodynamics. The seat height on the bike is quite tall at 810 mm but the overall weight of the bike is manageable at 169 kg. The bike features a vertically slim console, Bi-LED headlamps, 41 mm inverted cartridge suspension and an 11-litre fuel tank. Currently, TVS Apache RR 310 is the fastest Indian motorcycle in production. It retails at Rs 2.23 lakh ex-showroom.
5: Kawasaki Ninja 300:
Kawasaki India has decided to relaunch their highly successful entry level motorcycle- Ninja 300 soon after the Bavarian launched their G 310R and G 310 GS. Kawasaki has introduced 2019 model of Ninja 300 at Rs. 2.98 lakhs (ex showroom Delhi). The massive price cut of Rs. 62,000 makes the Ninja 300 as cheapest twin cylinder motorcycle you can buy in country. This has become possible due to heavy localization and a few cost cutting measures taken by the company. The Ninja 300 comes with tried and tested 296cc parallel twin cylinder motor. The DOHC twin pod engine churns out healthy 39 Ps of power at 11,000 Rpm and a torque output of 27 Nm at 10,000 Rpm. The bike comes equipped with Slipper clutch and Anti Lock Braking System (ABS) as standard equipment.
6: Kawasaki Z650:
There is no other most bang for buck bike in the middleweight segment than the Kawasaki Z650. The bike is tailor-made for Indian roads and Indian people. With its affordable price of just Rs 4.99 lakh ex-showroom, the bike remains unchallenged in its class. The Z650 features a parallel twin engine which produces 67.2 BHP @ 8000 RPM and 65.7 Nm of torque @ 6500 RPM. The torque in the bike begins to climb at 3000 RPM and goes all the way from mid-range up to 7000 RPM, from where it starts to come down. The power increases linearly since it is a parallel twin engine, the delivery is bound to be very predictable. There is a steady climb of power up to 8000 RPM and a little surge at 9000 RPM. The Z650 excels as a touring bike because of a comfortable seating position and a big 15-litre fuel tank.
For on the spot braking the bike comes with semi-floating 300 mm disc with dual pistons up front and a single piston 220 disc at the back, both are acted upon by a BOSCH 9.1M ABS. Dimensions wise, the Z650 has a seat height of 790 mm and a ground clearance of 130 mm and a kerb weight of 187 kg.
While talking about the middle weight segment, we have stretched ourselves from 310 ccs to 650cc. It just goes to show that there are not many middleweight bikes available in India. This leaves manufacturers, a lot of room to showcase their talent and in the future make this list, even longer.
By: Yetnesh Dubey