Top 5 Bikes of 2023: Royal Enfield Himalayan, Triumph Scrambler 400 X, KTM 390 Duke and More

The year 2023 is all but over, and with 2024 drawing nigh, there is plenty to look forward to, including a host of new two-wheeler launches. That said, we saw a barrage of motorcycles enter our market this year, right from the Keeway SR 250 at the Auto Expo to the Yamaha YZF-R3. Let's take a look back at the top five motorcycles of 2023, starting with the new Royal Enfield Himalayan. 

Royal Enfield Himalayan

Launched in November 2023, the all-new Himalayan, with its purposeful styling and new features, is available at a price tag of Rs 2.69 lakh to Rs 2.84 lakh (ex-showroom). The bike is offered in 3 variants – Base, Pass, and Summit. 

The new Royal Himalayan uses a Royal Enfield's modern, 452cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled unit hooked up to a 6-speed gearbox and a slip-and-assist clutch. Called the Sherpa 450, the engine produces 40bhp at 8,000rpm and 40Nm of peak torque at 5,500rpm – about 15 to 16bhp and 8Nm more than the outgoing Himalayan.

Also Read: New Royal Enfield Himalayan to Become Expensive From January in India; Here's Why

Suspension duties are taken care of by a USD fork and a preload-adjustable mono-shock, and the motorcycle comes equipped with dual-channel ABS (which can be turned off at the rear) as standard.  

Triumph Scrambler 400 X

The Triumph Scrambler 400 X, built in India at Bajaj's Chakan-2 plant, features a 398cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. Mated to a 6-speed gearbox with a slip-and-assist clutch, the engine makes 39.5bhp and 37.5Nm of peak torque. With a price tag of Rs 2.63 lakh (ex-showroom), it is the company's most affordable Scrambler in the range. 

In terms of styling, the Triumph Scrambler gets split seats, a headlight grille, and a rounded side panel. The 19-inch front and 17-inch wheels are clothed in chunky MRF tyres, while the travel suspension is 150mm at both ends. 

Features-wise, you get all-LED lighting, ride-by-wire, switchable ABS, a USB-C charging port, and a digi-analogue screen that displays a fuel gauge meter, a digital tachometer, a gear position indicator, trip information, etc.

Aprilia RS 457

Aprilia's first made-in-India bike, the RS 457, forayed into the growing mid-size bike segment in early December. The bookings are already underway, with deliveries to commence from March next year.

The Aprilia RS 457 is an RS 660-inspired supersport drawing power from a 457cc, parallel twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine with a 270-degree crank and double camshaft timing. The bike makes 48bhp and 44Nm of torque while weighing 175kg. 

Another highlight is a ride-by-wire system, which has allowed Aprilia to offer 3 riding modes – Eco, Rain and Sport. Other elements include a slip-and-assist clutch, a quick-shifter (as an optional extra), a Bluetooth-equipped TFT display, backlit switchgear, a traction control system, as well as TVS Eurogrip Protorq Extreme tyres. 

KTM 390 Duke 

In its latest form, a larger 399cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine in the KTM 390 Duke produces 44bhp and 39Nm. The bike gets a new trellis frame, suspended by a revised upside-down front fork and a rear offset mono-shock.

Drawing inspiration from the Super Duke, the third-generation 390 Duke features a redesigned headlamp setup, boomerang-styled DRLs, split-style seats, new tank extensions, and an exposed rear subframe, all giving the bike a more powerful and aggressive appearance than before.

Features-wise, the Duke gets launch control, traction control, cornering ABS, a bi-directional quick-shifter, a TFT display with smartphone connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation, and riding modes. With all these updates, the bike is offered at Rs 3.11 lakh (ex-showroom).   

Harley-Davidson X440 

Launched in July, the X440 marked Harley's entry into the mid-size motorcycle segment. And it received a strong response right away. About a month into the launch of the Harley-Davidson X440, the bookings crossed the 25,000 mark in India.

In terms of mechanicals, the X440 gets a 440cc, single-cylinder, air/oil-cooled engine. Power and torque figures are rated at 27bhp at 6,000rpm and 38Nm at 4,000rpm, respectively. Mated to this brand-new engine is a 6-speed gearbox.

Also Read: First-Ever 'Hero Premia' Showroom Launched in Kerala, to Offer Karizma XMR, Harley-Davidson X440 and More

The retro-styled Harley-Davidson X440 features a round LED headlamp, a boxy fuel tank, wide handlebars, and a long tail section with chunky grab rails, drawing design cues from the old XR1200. The design is complemented by a digital console with Bluetooth connectivity, a side-stand engine cut-off, dual-channel ABS, and a USB charging port.