Over three dozen superbikes to be launched in 2021 to meet pent-up demand

Italy's Benelli plans one launch every 45 days, Ducati to deliver 12 models

Buyers of superbikes (those above 300cc) will have plenty to choose from this year as manufacturers are ready to scorch the roads with a slew of new models after a dull year. From Ducati and Benelli, to Triumph, Kawasaki, KTM and BMW Motorrad … superbike makers are looking to hitch a ride on the personal mobility trend and a pent-up demand.  The busy calendar of launches is attributable to the Covid-19 induced lockdown and an economic slowdown of 2020 that had thrown a spanner on the launch plans pushing most of it to 2021. The makers of these bikes are now betting big on the revival and eyeing a high double digit growth.

Take Italian bike maker Benelli, for instance, which wasn’t able to launch its range of BSVI line-up in 2020. This year it has the calendar full and has one launch planned every 45 days. “The year 2021 will be an exciting year for us,” says Vikas Jhabakh, Managing Director of Benelli India. Last month Benelli launched the BSVI variant of TRK 502 at an introductory price of Rs 4.80 lakh (ex-showroom, pan-India).

Adishwar Auto Ride India is the sole partner and distributor for Benelli’s premium product range in the country. It has set up an assembly plant for Benelli in Hyderabad where it assembles and imports a range of bikes imported from Italy and South East Asia regions.

 

On back of the new launches and a brisk volume growth, Jhabakh expects the Hyderabad plant to reach an optimal capacity utilisation in a year’s time. By then he is hoping to expand the number of retail touch points to 100 from the current 35, he said. The two and half year old brand in India has been stepping up localization to ensure it’s able to price the models competitively.

Others too are stepping on the gas. Ducati, another iconic Italian superbike maker said last month, it will introduce 12 new motorcycles in 2021 starting with Scrambler Icon which has been upgraded to comply with the BSVI norms. This will be followed by the Diavel and the new XDiavel in the first quarter of the year. Next will be an all-new motorcycles based on the V4 engine platform, including the Multistrada V4, the Streetfighter V4 and MY2021 Panigale V4. The latter half of the year will see bikes in the super-naked segment with its all-new offering, the Monster, followed by the SuperSport 950 and the Hypermotard 950 RVE, it added.

Iconic British brand, Triumph Motorcycles too has an aggressive product pipeline for India as it looks to make the most of the resurgence consolidate its position further in the niche space.  

“We are planning to launch nine new models from January to June,” Shoeb Farooq, Business Head, Triumph Motorcycles India, told PTI in a recent interaction. This will include special edition and refreshes. These motorcycle models include the Trident 660 and new Tiger 850 Sport, which will be adding volumes in the company's overall sales kitty, he said, adding that the company is going to address a completely new segment of the industry. Meanwhile, KTM Sports AG, part owned by Bajaj Auto too and Japanese Motorcycle maker Kawasaki too are expected to launch new models as they seek to consolidate their position in the world’s largest two wheeler market.