Hyosung Aquila 250 and GD250N to be launched in India

Hyosung’s Aquila 250 cruiser was first seen in 2003, when Kinetic Motors had brought in 200 units of the bike for sale in India, but was phased out due to unavailability of spares and service points. Now DSK Hyosung is all set to re-launch the Aquila 250 at the coming Auto Expo 2014 in February. This will be followed by the launch of the street-naked Hyosung GD250N around April 2014, a motorcycle which will be a competitor for KTM’s Duke.

 

The Aquila 250 was loved by many for the cruiser experience it offered at its price point. It has a lot of bling factor, thanks to the chrome wrap around the bodywork, and the instrument cluster gets a chrome finish, with twin-pod analogue dials and high handlebars. An ergonomically designed low seat (with saddle stitching matching the bike’s colour) and forward-set footrests make for comfortable riding on long journeys. 

 

The Hyosung GD250N, meanwhile, has a more stripped out design, accentuating the engine, rear suspension and chassis. The body of the GD250N has been redesigned to offer a tipped-forward stance, keeping the street naked styling in mind. This theme has been carried forward to the instrument cluster as well, offering a single LCD display for the rider. The rider’s seat is set between the fuel tank and the pillion seat, making it lower than the saddle of the KTM Duke. 

 

The Aquila 250 gets a two-by-one chrome-finished exhaust, adding to its cruiser charm, while the stock exhaust on the GD250N stands out from the bike’s design lines, but also contributes to mass centralisation, helping deliver better handling characteristics.

 

Hyosung’s Aquila 250 is powered by a four-stroke, air-cooled, 249cc, V-twin engine with four valves per cylinder, producing a maximum power output of 27bhp. The fuel injected engine sends its power through a drive chain via a five-speed gearbox, and can be fired up by an electric starter. The perimeter cradle frame on the motorcycle includes a 41mm telescopic suspension in the front and coil-spring shocks at the rear. A semi-floating, 275mm single disc brake with a dual-piston caliper up front and a drum brake at the rear pack in sufficient braking power. 

 

On the other hand, the GD250N is powered by a four-stroke, liquid-cooled, 249cc single-cylinder engine with fuel injection, delivering 28bhp to the rear wheel through a drive chain, via a six-speed gearbox. The diamond-type tubular frame chassis with an alloy swingarm has been kept naked with a minimum amount of work on its lower half. The suspension on the GD250N is comprised of upside-down forks up front and a monoshock at the rear, similar to that on the KTM Duke. The 17-inch wheels on offer are accompanied by a 300mm petal disc in front and a 230mm petal disc at the rear, enabling strong braking power.

 

The Hyosung Aquila 250 is expected to be priced at approximately Rs 2 lakh, whereas the Hyosung GD250N is assumed to be priced somewhere between the prices of the KTM 200 Duke and the 390 Duke, and will be assembled in India.