BIKES OF 2021

2021 was a recovery year for the two-wheeler market, with brands bombarding enthusiasts with jawdropping launches across all categories. We’ve compiled a list of the best models launched in India this year.

- Suvrat Kothari

2020 was among the most forgettable years for biking enthusiasts. Just when you thought you could fasten the D-ring, zip up the riding jacket and put on your boots for a liberating ride out of town, the government would extend the lockdown by a few more weeks. We motoring journalists with our press cards loved the empty roads. We, however, are not an evil breed, and the joy of motoring must be shared. Sadly, manufacturing plants were forced shut, sales plunged, and worse, many of us lost our jobs. All we could do was sit tight, wait for our jabs and pray for the economy to resume breathing.

Though nearly half of 2021 was once again lost to the second avatar of the pandemic, the big difference was that people went back to buying bikes soon after the lockdowns were eased, and brands responded accordingly. There were many exciting launches. Suzuki launched the new Hayabusa shortly after introducing it globally; Ducati introduced the lustrous V4 range; Royal Enfield reimagined the Classic 350, its bestselling model; while Bajaj gave its aging Pulsar a new lease of life with the new N250 and F250. It was a much-needed shot in the arm for motoring enthusiasts.

There were some unique entries as well, ones that shouted louder with their exuberant dresses than with their ability to walk the ramp. BMW Motorrad experimented with the bombastic 1800cc R18, while Harley-Davidson, the American ‘Hero’, made its presence felt with the Pan America 1250. With manufacturers coming out with all guns blazing this year, the launches were many, making it challenging for us to compartmentalize the new models according to their design. So, we’ll decode it by the CC displaced.