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IN PICS: The all-new Hysoung Aquila 250
The latest Hyosung Aquila 250 is an appealing cruiser with good attention to detail, says Faisal Ali Khan of MotorBeam.com
Before we start let us run you through a simple definition of cruisers: These bikes were designed in America between the 1930s and 1960s and allowed riders to rest their feet forward, hands up and keep their spine erect.
Cruiser bikes are a favourite with many in the Indian market but the choice in this segment is very limited.
Although there are many cruisers available today, most are very expensive and out of the reach of most bike enthusiasts. Now DSK Motowheels has launched the Aquila 250, a 250cc cruiser motorcycle at an affordable price of Rs 3.10 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).
Most of you would already know the quarter-litre Aquila for more than 10 years now when Hyosung in partnership with Kinetic sold the Aquila 250 in the Indian market.
The latest model has changed in several ways and is here to woo the cruiser-loving janata.
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IN PICS: The all-new Hysoung Aquila 250
The Aquila 250 is an attractive looking bike. The classic cruiser styling goes down very well with onlookers.
Finished in white, this Hyosung machine looks the part with its Rolls-Royce inspired wheels, immaculate paint job, attention to detail (like the red stitching on the seats) and the massive use of chrome for that premium touch.
Long with the right muscle is how the Aquila 250 appeals. The bike's design is inspired from Hyosung's ST7.
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IN PICS: The all-new Hysoung Aquila 250
The chrome madness continues even on the instrument cluster which has chrome rings around the pods.
The console is mostly analogue with a traditional looking tachometer and speedometer while a small round digital display carries the trip, odometer and fuel meter.
The analogue meters have red and white fonts and is backlit. It looks gorgeous at night.
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IN PICS: The all-new Hysoung Aquila 250
Powering the Hyosung Aquila 250 is a 249cc, V-Twin engine which outputs 26.21 BHP and 21.37 Nm.
This engine comes from the GT250R and has a very wide powerband, redlining all the way to 10,800 RPM.
The motor does feel a little out of sync at the lower end and doesn't idle with smoothness but has a strong mid-range punch.
It's between 4500-7500 RPM where this powerplant feels the best, moving the Aquila with good progress and emitting a throaty sound via the 2x1 exhaust system.
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IN PICS: The all-new Hysoung Aquila 250
The top-end isn't the smoothest as the V-Twin motor does vibrate a bit, transferring all that to the footpegs and handlebar.
0-100 km/hr takes 11.32 seconds which is decently quick for a motorcycle of this size.
The linear performance, strong mid-range and wide powerband makes the Aquila 250 a fun to ride the motorcycle. One can expect a mileage of 25-30 km/l from this Hyosung cruiser.
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IN PICS: The all-new Hysoung Aquila 250
The Hyosung Aquila 250 might look like a heavy bike but it isn't. It weighs only 167 kgs and that's light for a cruiser motorcycle of this size.
The less weight and grippy Shinko tyres give the Aquila good handling characteristics and it's very easy to manoeuvre this bike in the city. The motorcycle remains glued to the road through long sweepers but feels a bit unstable at high speeds as wind does affect it a lot.
Ride quality being on the stiffer side isn't very good and you do feel quite a lot of the road. In spite of lack of a rear disc brake, the Aquila stops with sure-footedness and doesn't lock its wheels easily.
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IN PICS: The all-new Hysoung Aquila 250
The Hyosung Aquila 250 isn't a perfect machine but it does excel in certain ways.
The seating position is good for both tall and short riders alike with the bike having good performance for both city and highway duties.
The quality is good and the Aquila 250 looks very appealing on the road with its classic cruiser styling. At Rs 3.10 lakh (on-road, Mumbai), the Aquila 250 is an attractive proposition for those who want a cruiser motorcycle without shelling out too much money.
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