Ducati are clearly on a roll; beyond the new Monster and Multistrada, the premium Italian brand has also planned to expand their Scrambler range with two new models. The Scrambler Desert Sled is the first of the Scrambler line-up to sport serious off-road capability. It is taller than the other Scramblers in Ducati’s stable, with a wide motocross-style handlebar, spoked wheels with Pirelli dual-sport tyres and more suspension travel.
The other new Scrambler is more at home on tarmac. Ducati have tapped into the demand for retro-styled modern street bikes and developed the sporty Scrambler Café Racer. Aside from stunning looks, this variant gets a sporty riding position, courtesy of clip-on handlebars. It also features a shorter wheelbase and lower rake angle than the other scramblers, and gets alloy wheels shod with Pirelli Diablo Rosso II rubber to help in negotiate the twisties. Expect the new Scramblers to hit showrooms by October.
Relatively unknown in this part of the world, Italian brand SWM have been around since 1971, and are currently working on bringing their 600-cc, single-cylinder-powered dual-sport motorcycle to India. This bike will be available in two variants, and we expect the road-biased SuperDual T to enter our market before the off-road version, the SuperDual X. The liquid-cooled powerplant makes 54 PS and 53.5 Nm of torque, and the bike gets adjustable suspensions at both ends. The SuperDual 650 is scheduled to hit showrooms by the end of the year, and with an expected price of around Rs 5.5 lakh, this bike is primed to be a hit among the growing adventure enthusiasts in the country.
The fully-faired version of the Benelli TnT 300, this is a motorcycle that we have been looking forward to for some time now. Powered by a 300-cc parallel twin that makes 36 PS and 27 Nm of torque, the Tornado 302 is not simply a TnT 300 with a fairing thrown on; this entry-level sport bike has been built from the ground up, features a new trellis frame and gets a host of new components. This bike is sure to find buyers thanks to the attractive Italian design, responsive twin-pot engine and expected price of around Rs 3.5 lakh. It should be in showrooms by the end of June.
This adventure-styled motorcycle from Italian firm Benelli ticks all the right boxes for a mid-sized touring bike, including the long-travel suspension, oodles of ground clearance, large beaked fairing and windshield and a range-stretching 20-litre fuel tank. The engine is a 500-cc parallel twin that makes 48 PS and 45 Nm, with the torque available at just 4,500 rpm. With adventure touring gaining momentum in India, a reasonably-priced and user-friendly go-anywhere bike should see quite some demand. With an expected launch this October, the Benelli TRK 502 will be priced reasonably in the region of Rs 4 lakh.
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