Italian brand, SWM will launch the Superdual T in India on October 11, 2018. Before this, the company showcased it at an adventure motorcycle event in Pune. In India, SWM will be sold by Kinetic Group under the Motoroyale brand, which currently sells MV Agusta in India. There is also the probability of Motoroyale launching FB Mondial and Hyosung.
SWM was founded in 1971 in Italy and focused its attention on enduro, trials and motocross motorcycles. Facing financial issues, the company withdrew from the market in 1983 before it was given a new lease of life by Chinese two-wheeler manufacturer Shineray in 2014. The Superdual is offered internationally in two variants – the Superdual T, which is more road-focused, and the Superdual X, an off-road version. The Superdual T will be launched first as Motoroyale feels it has a wider customer base.
The model is powered by a 600cc, single-cylinder, four-valve DOHC liquid-cooled motor that delivers 57hp and 53.5Nm of torque, and is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The bike uses a 45mm, rebound-adjustable, upside-down fork and a fully adjustable monoshock. Suspension travel at the front is 210mm and at the rear is 270mm.
ABS is standard and the Superdual T uses a 300mm disc at the front and 220mm at the rear. The fuel tank capacity stands at 19 litres and the bike has a dry weight of 169kg. It sports a 19-inch wheel up front and a 17-inch wheel at the rear. The steep seat height of 898mm may work against it, as rivals like the Kawasaki Versys 650 (840mm) and Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT (835mm) have lower saddles.
SWM is likely to price the upcoming Superdual T at around Rs 6 lakh (ex-showroom) and it will rival the Suzuki V-Strom 650XT (Rs 7.46 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi) and the Kawasaki Versys 650 (Rs 6.69 lakh, ex-showroom, India).
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
