Korean motorcycle manufacturer Hyosung is gearing-up for a new inning in India. Hyosung was sold in our market by DSK-Motowheels but with its partner running into financial troubles, it was compelled to shut down its Indian operations. Hyosung will now be re-launched in our market by the Kinetic Group under the Motoroyale brand. As part of its new portfolio, the Korean two-wheeler manufacturer will launch the new Mirage 250 in India.

The new motorcycle is the replacement to the Aquila 250 cruiser which was previously on sale in our market. While the Aquila 250 featured more traditional styling, the new Mirage 250 adopts a more urban and modern design language. It goes with minimalism as a theme, with its teardrop-shaped fuel tank, multi-spoke alloy wheels and stubby front and rear mudguards. The Mirage 250 also features a single-pod instrument console below which sits a round headlight with LED position lamps, and the taillight is an LED unit as well. While the Aquila 250 had a fuel tank capacity of 14.1 litres, the Mirage 250 has a larger 15-litre unit. Hyosung claims a range of over 400km on a full tank of fuel for its new cruiser. It’s also gets equipped with a shorter ‘cow horns’ handlebar, which means the riding posture will be slightly sporty as is usually the case with most cruisers of this style.

Powering the motorcycle is an updated, Euro 4 compliant version of the company’s 250cc V-twin motor. The engine produces 25.8 hp at 9,000 rpm and 21.7 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm. In comparison, the Aquila 250’s power output stood at 26.5hp and 21Nm although the Mirage’s powerplant is, as you can tell, slightly torquier and is expected to offer better refinement levels as well. Another vital change is that the Mirage employs larger wheels - a 19-inch wheel at the front and a 16-inch wheel at the back (the Aquila sported a 16/15-inch combination). Braking hardware has also been updated with a 300mm front disc (the rear-end also gets a disc) and dual-channel ABS is standard. The frame has been suspended on a telescopic fork and twin shock absorbers.

The Hyosung Mirage 250 will be locally assembled and will be priced around Rs 3 lakh (ex-showroom) when it goes on sale in September 2018. While it won’t compete with the Royal Enfields on a price point, it will offer a refreshing premium entry-level cruiser experience to those seeking a laid-back ride with a fair bit of exclusivity as well.