Best of 2016: Top bike and scooter reviews

This year, the two-wheeler segment saw the launches of some interesting and unique products and we have done our best to get our hands on the latest ones to give you our riding impressions. Through the course of 2016, we have tested scooters from the likes of the new Aprilia SR 150 and the unique scooter-motorcycle cross, the Honda Navi, to bikes ranging all the way from the TVS Victor and Apache RTR 200 to the likes of the Ducati 959 Panigale and the 2016 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R.

Here is a look at some of our most popular reviews

TVS Apache RTR 200

The Apache series has always been the flagship of TVS’ offering with sporty styling, quick performance and able handling, all on the menu. The latest RTR 200 builds on this legacy with racier looks, a larger and more powerful engine and the provision of several options to meet various customer requirements. So just how good is it? To find out, we travelled to the manufacturer’s Hosur test track. Read our review to see what we found.

Royal Enfield Himalayan

The Himalayan has the Royal Enfield feel – retro, adventurous and thoroughly rugged. Like all Royal Enfields, this too is an easy bike to work on and has been designed with practicality in mind. The bike maker has also taken into consideration off-road prowess and provided Royal Enfield’s first adventure tourer with a slim fuel tank, a suspension with up to 200mm of travel and on- and off-road tyres. So just how good is it? Read our review for the answers.

Also read our detailed road test of the Himalayan for an in-depth analysis.

UM Renegade Commando, Sport S

UM Motorcycles attracted great interest from Indian buyers when it first showed its bikes at the 2014 Auto Expo. In 2016, the interest in their bikes spiked when UM revealed prices which positioned the bikes in a sweet spot for the affordable cruiser market. The Renegade Commando draws inspiration from the classic cruiser with its stance, chunky fenders and wire-spoke wheels. The Sport S on the other hand resembles a muscle cruiser, like the Suzuki Intruder, with its sportier colour schemes, skinnier fenders and drag style handlebars. So, just how good are UM’s first bikes in India? Read our review of the pre-production bikes here.

Bajaj V15

Even before it was revealed, Bajaj’s new 'V' family of motorcycles gained instant appreciation and fame for having been made from the metal of the scrapped warship, INS Vikrant. So just how good is Bajaj’s patriotic 150cc cruiser? Read our review here.

Also read our comprehensive road-test of the Bajaj V15.

Aprilia SR 150

Certainly a new segment creator, the Aprilia SR 150 is aimed at those looking for the sensation of a sportbike, along with the convenience of an automatic scooter, to liven up their daily city commute. While it may share its heart with the Vespa 150, Aprilia claims to have retuned its mechanicals. It’s affordable too, with Aprilia locally assembling the bike. So just how is this aggressive looking scooter? Read our review to find out.

Also check out our comparison between the Vespa SXL 150 and the Aprilia SR 150 to see just how different the two scooters are.

Honda Navi

The Navi created a real buzz when it was revealed. It’s designed like a motorcycle but has an engine and running gear of a scooter which leaves a cavernous hole where a bike would generally have its engine. The running gear too is no stranger, Honda has lifted it from the popular Activa 110. So can the Navi offer the best of both – the convenience of a scooter with the mannerisms of a motorcycle? Read our review to find out.

Also check out our detailed road test here.

Yamaha R3

Granted we reviewed the bike around the Buddh International Circuit last year, we never got to put it through the full beans of our comprehensive road test. Now we see how Yamaha’s small-capacity twin-cylinder sport bike performs in everyday situations on Indian roads. Read our road test here.

Suzuki Access 125

Yes, Suzuki has sold the Access 125 in India for quite a while, but this is an all-new scooter. Its lighter, longer, better dressed and also gets a new 124cc engine. True, the displacement is identical to the older unit, but this one uses a smaller bore and a longer stroke, a bumped-up compression ratio, and reduced internal friction for more efficient combustion. So just how much of a step-up is the new Access? Read our review to find out.

Triumph Bonneville Street Twin

Triumph had unveiled its all-new Bonneville family last year with three distinct models – the entry-level Street Twin, the larger-engined Bonneville T120 and the Thruxton café racer. With these bikes now available in India, we decided to focus on the Street Twin, the bike which replaces the base Bonneville in the company’s line up. While it looks familiar, Triumph claims it is all-new. So just how different is the Street Twin from its predecessor? Click here for the answer.

Kawasaki ZX-10R

Kawasaki has updated its ZX-10R. With the 2016 ZX10R, Kawasaki has focused only on how well the motorcycle rides, instead of how it looks. Cosmetics have taken a back seat as almost every other component on the 2016 ZX-10R has been updated. So just how much has the bike change? Read on to find out.