Bikemakers at Auto Expo 2023: Complete A-Z guide

Auto Expo 2023 marked the return of Asia’s largest trade show after a hiatus of three years, and many new manufacturers took to the stage and previewed their products. Here’s a recap of everything that the two-wheeler industry had to offer at Auto Expo 2023. 

Ampere

Greaves-owned Ampere revealed the new Primus electric scooter. It gets a new 3kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, which gives it a claimed IDC range of 120km. The Primus’ mid-mounted motor has a peak power output of 3.8kW and power is transferred to the rear wheel via a belt final drive, a first for an Ampere product.

The NXG and NXU e-scooter concepts from Ampere are based on a new modular platform and feature the same mid-mounted motor as the Primus. While the NXG will be a more premium offering that will be available for private buyers, the NXU is targeted at the B2B segment and last-mile delivery services.

Benda

Benda doesn’t (officially) sell any products in the Indian market, but the Keeway V302C is a rebadged Benda BD300. Benda showcased a few other bikes such as the BD500, which is powered by a 496cc, V4 liquid-cooled engine. The V4 engine makes 56.3hp at 10,000rpm and 45Nm of torque at 8,000rpm. The engine features cylinder deactivation tech that shuts off the rear cylinder bank at idle (a feature found on the Ducati Diavel V4. The BD500 also gets electronically adjustable rear suspension, enabling you to tweak the ride height as per your requirement.

Another eye-catching cruiser was the LFC700, which features a 680cc, inline-four liquid-cooled engine making either 84.5hp or 92.5hp, depending on the version. The bike with the latter engine tune also gets better specs in the form of a slipper clutch and Brembo brakes.  

Alongside was the LFS700 naked bike which features the same engine as the aforementioned cruiser but in a sporty package. 

Benelli

Alongside its entire Indian line-up, Benelli showcased two motorcycles from its international range, the 752S sporty naked and the neo-retro Leoncino 800. Both are powered by the same liquid-cooled, 754cc, parallel-twin engine making 75hp at 8,500rpm and 67Nm of torque at 6,500rpm. Apart from the styling differences, the Leoncino 800, at 212kg, is 14kg lighter than the 226kg 752S.  

Chetak Technologies Limited

Bajaj Auto's maiden electric product, the Chetak e-scooter, was present at the Auto Expo, under the new sub-brand Chetak Technologies Limited. Recently, the Chakan-based brand has announced that the Chetak e-scooter will be retailed through exclusive showrooms.  

Keeway

Keeway added a second model – the SR250, priced at Rs 1.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) – to its SR line-up of neo-retro motorcycles. Powering it is a 223cc, single-cylinder air-cooled mill that makes 16hp and 16Nm of torque. Bookings for the SR250 have commenced, with deliveries set to begin in April 2023. The SR250's launch marks Keeway’s eighth new product in the Indian market. 

Liger Mobility

Mumbai-based Liger Mobility unveiled two e-scooters at Auto Expo 2023, the X and the X+, with their USP being a self-balancing feature. While both get a lithium-ion battery pack, the Liger X has a removable unit, unlike the Liger X+. Bookings for both begin in mid-2023 and deliveries are set to commence by the end of this year.

Matter Energy

Ahmedabad-based start-up Matter Energy revealed two new concepts, the EXE and the UT. Both are based on the same platform and get removable battery packs. The Concept-EXE has angular bodywork and striking colours, while the Concept-UT appears to be an electrified take on an adventure tourer. The earlier Matter e-bike, too, was shown but its name and pricing are still under wraps.

MBP

Italian by origin but Chinese by ownership, MBP (Moto Bologna Passione) has showcased two products at Auto Expo 2023, the M502N naked bike and the C1002V cruiser. The M502N makes 46.9hp and 45Nm from a liquid-cooled, 486cc parallel-twin. The C1002V cruiser gets a liquid-cooled, 997cc, V-twin engine, an aluminium alloy frame, a 5.0-inch TFT dash and a projector LED headlight.

Moto Morini

Moto Morini showcased their entire Indian portfolio at Auto Expo 2023, which included the Seiemmezzo 6 1⁄2 and X-Cape 650 duo. The Seiemmezzo 6 ½ is a neo-retro roadster, and is offered in two guises, a scrambler and a roadster. Similarly, the X-Cape 650 is offered in two variants, the X-Cape 650, which gets cast alloy rims, and the X-Cape 650X that gets tubeless wire-spoke rims. 

QJMotor

QJMotor showcased the 400R sportbike, which is based on the SRK400 street naked, alongside the rest of its Indian portfolio. The QJMotor SRK700 street naked was also showcased at Auto Expo 2023 which features a 698cc, parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine making 72.4hp at 8,000rpm and 67Nm at 6,000rpm. Although, at 196kg, it is on the heavier side. Not just large-capacity machines, QJMotor even showcased three 125cc bikes, two cruisers – SCR125 and SRV 125 and the TRX125 sporty naked.

Tork Motors

Tork showcased the new Kratos X electric bike at Auto Expo 2023, and it gets features such as a 7.0-inch touch-compatible TFT dash, an aluminium swingarm and a FF (Furiously Fast) riding mode. The Kratos X will be a more premium offering than the Kratos R, an updated version of which was also shown at the show. The updated Kratos R gets two new colour schemes and a new digital dash.

TVS

TVS was present at the show but only with its electric scooter, the iQube. TVS showcased the range-topping variant of the iQube ST, which claims a real-world range of 140km, an updated TFT dash and a larger underseat storage compartment. 

Ultraviolette

Ultraviolette has revealed a race-spec variant of its F77 e-bike and the changes are pretty extensive. The battery architecture has moved from 60V to 120V, the motor has been reworked extensively with a higher insulation rating and different windings. Carbon-fibre panels, Brembo radial master cylinder, winglets, adjustable rearsets and Pirelli Supercorsa tyres are some of the changes made to the bike, alongside the exclusion of all road-legal necessities such as mirrors, headlight and number plate holders.  

Vida

Another subsidy of an Indian legacy OEM, Hero's sub-brand Vida, was present at the Expo, with the V1 range of e-scooters. The Vida V1 Pro is currently the most expensive electric scooter on the market today.

Zontes

Alongside its entire Indian line-up, Zontes showcased two 350cc maxi-scooters – the 350D and the 350E. Both feature the same liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, 350cc engine making 36.2hp at 7,500rpm and 38Nm of torque at 6,000rpm. The main area of difference between the two is weight, with the 188kg 350D being 10kg lighter than the 350E, although the latter gets a larger 16-litre fuel tank as opposed to the 12-litre unit on the 350D. Another model that was showcased was the Zontes U1-200 motard. 

Also See:

Auto Expo 2023: Ampere Primus, two new e-scooter concepts revealed

Auto Expo 2023: Keeway SR250 launched at Rs 1.49 lakh

Auto Expo 2023: Liger X, X+ self-balancing e-scooters revealed

Auto Expo 2023: Tork Kratos X, updated Kratos R e-bikes revealed

Auto Expo 2023: Matter Concept-EXE, Concept-UT unveiled

Auto Expo 2023: MBP M502N, C1002V showcased

Auto Expo 2023: Ultraviolette F99 Factory Racing Platform unveiled