Royal Enfield has been one of India’s most popular bike maker and with the kind of legacy it brings along, it truly deserves to be. However, a part of reason why the brand is doing so well in the Indian bike market is the lack of competition in the segment. All that is bound to change as at least five new motorcycles by International brands are set to launch in 2018-2019 to eat into the sales of Royal Enfield. Since there are hardly any cruisers in the segment except the Bajaj Avenger, brands like Cleveland Cyclewerks, Benelli, Honda and Jawa will launch their products at lucrative price points.
4 New Motorcycles That Will Take On Royal Enfield Motorcycles:
Benelli Imperiale: One of the most hotly anticipated motorcycles by Italian bike manufacturer Benelli will take on the Royal Enfield 350cc and 500cc motorcycles in India. The bike relies on the retro street looks which manage to look very charming. The 373cc engine of the Benelli Imperiale makes about 20PS of power and 28Nm of torque which puts it in line with the 350cc Royal Enfield. Expect the price to be somewhere around 2-2.25 Lakh Rupees.
Honda Rebel: Honda will be launching a new set of cruiser motorcycles in the capacities of 300-600cc. The first bike to launch is rumoured to be named ‘Honda Rebel’ and will come with an astonishing price tag. The Royal Enfield rival shares most of its parts with the Honda CBR 250 which is manufactured here in India. Expect the prices to be close to 2-2.5 Lakhs.
Mahindra Jawa: The Jawa brand name could mean a lot to you if your family ever owned one of the Yezdi motorcycles back in the 1960s or 1970s. Well Mahindra and Mahindra have signed a licensing deal with Jawa Motorcycles to bring back the bike to India. The Jawa and Yezdi brand names are equally nostalgic for Indian customers and will take on the Royal Enfield motorcycles.
Cleveland Cyclewerks: Another American company, Cleveland Cyclewerks has showcased its products at the Auto Expo 2018 and plans to bring as much as 4 motorcycles to India. The motorcycles get 229cc engines that make 15.4PS of power and 16Nm of torque. These power figures are considerably lower than that of Royal Enfield Motorcycles and still the prices are expected to be north of 2.5 Lakh Rupees in India.
Royal Enfield Has Always Managed To Outsell New Competitors In The Past
A lot has been said and written about the lack of technology and features in the Royal Enfield motorcycles but they still manage to outsell every competitor that enters the segment. The UM motorcycles launched two products in the Indian market but the response of the customers has been close to negative. It might have to do with the brand having no history in the Indian market and no class leading features being offered in the two products. However, with established players like Honda set to enter the segment, it will be interesting to see how Royal Enfield manages to hold its own.
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