The Indian automotive industry is going through tough times with the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown. This came at the same time when dealerships were trying hard to sell BS4 vehicles ahead of 1 April 2020. The deadline has been extended by the apex court but on a conditional basis.
If not for the lockdown, various BS4 two-wheelers were being offered at compelling discounts depending on the dealership. This includes regular commuters to premium and litre-class motorcycles. Here are some BS4 motorcycles discontinued in India for the BS6 era:
Honda CBR250R
The much-loved Honda sports motorcycle was launched in March 2011 as a BS3 product. It was upgraded to BS4 in 2018 but will not be upgraded to BS6 norms. Towards the end, Honda CBR250R became extremely outdated compared to its competitors. With its discontinuation, Honda Motorcycle India will no longer have a 250cc product in its line-up.
Yamaha Saluto RX
Yamaha Saluto RX
Launched in India in 2016, the 110cc commuter bike was priced at Rs.52,350. It failed to meet enough customer demands and was dominated by other 110cc commuter bikes from Bajaj Auto, Hero Motocorp and Honda Motorcycle. With the Yamaha Saluto RX being discontinued, Yamaha India now exits the entry-level commuter segment altogether.
Yamaha Saluto
Yamaha Saluto
Production of this 125cc commuter motorcycle, which was priced at Rs.60,850, has also been stopped post the BS6 era. Compared to the lesser Saluto RX, it had some premium features such as clear-lens side turn signals, wider rear grab rail and distinctive graphics. However, it failed to garner much attention in the 125cc motorcycle segment.
Yamaha Fazer 25
Yamaha Fazer 25
Priced at Rs 1.45 lakh, Yamaha Fazer 25 was a fully-faired version of Yamaha FZ25. It was launched in 2017 with the same 249cc engine but failed to impress. One reason was that it looked a bit weird especially when compared to popular choices in the 250cc sports or sports-commuter category.
Honda Livo
Honda Livo
Launched in 2017 at Rs 54,331, Honda Livo was aimed to be a stylish and premium offering in the 110cc segment. It now bids adieu as an upgrade to BS6 standards would prove uneconomical considering its low demand in the country.
Hero Xtreme 200
Hero Xtreme 200
Even though Xtreme 200 will not receive BS6 update, Hero MotoCorp has introduced the new Xtreme 160R as a lesser alternative. The motorcycle was showcased in February and seems to be a promising choice in the 160-200cc category.
Royal Enfield 500 model (Bullet, Classic, Thunderbird)
Royal Enfield 500
Owing to poor demand and falling desirability, Royal Enfield finally discontinued its ‘500’ air-cooled single-cylinder range. This includes Bullet 500, Classic 500, Thunderbird 500 and ThunderbirdX 500. While Royal Enfield is actively working on the new-gen Bullet and Classic, the upcoming Meteor 350 will replace BS4 Thunderbird model-line. Royal Enfield had also given its ‘500’ models a worthy tribute with the introduction of Classic 500 Tribute Black.
Royal Enfield Bullet Trials 350 & 500
Royal Enfield Bullet Trials
The motorcycles were introduced to celebrate the legacy of Royal Enfield Bullet at Trials Championships and as a tribute to Trials rider Johnny Brittain. However, the off-road-focused models failed to click on the market and a major reason for this was the already-existing Royal Enfield Himalayan.
Suzuki Hayabusa
Suzuki Hayabusa discontinued
Priced at Rs 13.80 lakh, the 1340cc super sports motorcycle received a final update for the 2020 model year. This was limited to cosmetic enhancements and a brake upgrade. It is arguably one of the most iconic motorcycles of the 21st century with fans all around the world.
Source: Bike - rushlane.com
