India's TOP 8 entry-level performance bikes

With more power, better performance and reasonably marked price tickets, these bikes are emerging as the perfect solution for India's youth.

Entry-level performance motorcycles, also known as affordable performance bikes, are, just like their name suggests, motorbikes that pack up enough thrill to satisfy the power-hungry riders while keeping a close check on the price tag as well.

Amazing blends of affordability and excitement, these bikes are what they call 'bikes of today'. With the country's youth looking for more power and better performance in their rides, together with reasonably marked price tickets, these bikes are emerging as the perfect solution.

Here's some proof of their growing popularity: KTM recorded a whopping sales figure of 8,500 for the Duke 200 in the very first year of its entry into the Indian market.

Here is a list of those entry-level performance bikes that are presently selling hot in the Indian bike market together with a few of those that are soon going to join the band of popular bikes.

1. KTM Duke 200

Priced at a sum of Rs 1.30 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), KTM Duke 200 is an entry-level performance bike from the Austrian bike marque that is known for its exceptionally lightweight structure, together with its amazing handling and cornering properties, that makes for an incredibly easy ride.

To power this marvellous machine the company has chosen a 200cc, liquid-cooled, spark-ignition petrol power-house, capable of pumping out a peak 25bhp along with 19Nm of peak torque while returning a mileage of 35.7kmpl.

2. Honda CBR 250R

Known as the best amongst all entry-level performance bikes not only in India but the world as a whole, Honda CBR 250R is the biggest and the fiercest rival known to the sensational Kawasaki Ninja 250R.

Placed in the price bracket of Rs 1.48 to Rs 1.75 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), this enthralling ride comes housed in a power-packed 249.6cc, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke SI petrol engine that promises top power and torque outputs of 25bhp at 8500rpm and 22.9Nm at 7000rpm respectively.

This motorbike offers fuel-economy of 28.1kmpl.

3. Kawasaki Ninja 250R

With a fabulous 249cc, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, Parallel-twin petrol engine sitting under its hood, the spectacular sports bike, Kawasaki Ninja 250R, promises to generate a maximum of 32.5bhp at 11000rpm together with a peak torque of 22Nm at 9500rpm while the fuel-economy that it claims to return is 22.8kmpl.

Arch rival of the Honda CBR 250R, this motorbike costs a sum of Rs 2.96 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and is known as the biggest game-changer for its manufacturers in the global bike market.

With its origins dating back to times as early as 1983, the outstanding success of this sports star has motivated the creation of several modern day rides including the CBR 250R itself.

4. Hyosung GV250

Slated down for a launch in India around mid-2013, Hyosung GV250 is an attractive new cruiser from DSK-Hyosung that gets powered by a 249cc, air/oil cooled, V-twin petrol mill capable of generating a top 28.5bhp along with 21.6Nm of peak torque while returning a fuel-economy of 30kmpl.

Likely to come tagged with a price of around Rs 2.5 lakh, this upcoming bike will soon be becoming the least priced premium cruiser in the country.

5. Hyosung GT250R

Launched last year in the Indian bike market, Hyosung GT250R marks the return of the Korean manufacturer to the entry-level performance sector of the country after staying away for almost eight years.

Borrowing most of its styling cues from elder sibling GT650R, the electrifying outfit that this sports bike dons demands a terrific road presence and is perfect for those who like to make a statement wherever they go.

A 249cc, oil-cooled, V-twin petrol engine, capable of churning out a maximum of 28bhp at 10000rpm along with 21.6Nm of peak torque at 8000rpm while promising a fuel-efficiency of 30kmpl, has been chosen by the company to drive this fascinating motorbike.

6. Bajaj Pulsar 375

Likely to be rolled out sometime around the festive season of Diwali, Bajaj Pulsar 375 is a spanking new sportsbike from the second largest manufacturer of motorcycles in India. A 373cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected petrol engine, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission gearbox, is expected to appear under the hood of this newbie, promising top power and torque outputs of 40bhp and 30Nm respectively.

With such a powerful engine at its service, it won't take much for the bike to touch the thrilling mark of 160kmph, becoming the fastest Pulsar till date. As for the price tag, if rumours are to be believed, a figure close to Rs 1.5 lakh is likely to appear there.

7. KTM Duke 390

From the leaders of the premium motorcycle segment of India, comes the sensational KTM Duke 390 that has created a major unrest amongst the fans of performance bikes in the country even before it actually sets foot in the bike market.

Packing up the charismatic design and sturdy build of the Duke 200 with a more powerful engine and an advanced Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), the Duke 390 can be expected to hit the showrooms sometime after March.

Speculated to be priced somewhere between Rs 2.3 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh (on-road), this new beast will most probably be driven by a 373cc, single-cylinder petrol engine capable of pumping out a peak 43bhp along with a maximum of 35Nm of torque and taking the ride from an absolute standstill to a 100kmph in not more than 7 seconds.

8. Kawasaki Ninja 300R

Latest of the Ninjas, Kawasaki Ninja 300R, will soon be zooming across the Indian streets as its manufacturers gear up for a mid-2013 launch. Earlier rumoured to be arriving as a substitute for the Ninja 250R, the Ninja 300R will now be sold side by side with its younger sibling.

With its price expected to fall somewhere around Rs 3.75 lakh, the bike will be driven by a mighty 296cc, fuel-injected, parallel twin engine that promises peak power and torque outputs of 38.47bhp at 11000rpm and 27Nm at 10000rpm respectively.

To work in synchronisation with this power-mill, a 6-speed rear-wheel drive manual transmission gearbox has been employed by the Japanese bike-major.