Is the World into Downsizing?

Indian Motorcycle have unveiled their first modern era 750 cc V-twin engine which will be used by their factory racing team at AMA Flat Track racing. The engine will be used in a specially designed bike and will see its first full season only in 2017. This year though, the bike will be raced only on one circuit.

So can we expect this engine to trickle down to a production motorcycle in the future, albeit a few changes? We believe yes! After all that is the trend which Indian has been following so far. The first modern day engine bearing the Indian Motorcycle mark, after the brand was purchased by Polaris, was the 1,818 cc Thunder Stroke 111 engine. This was followed by the 1,131 cc mill for the Indian Scout.

Indian Motorcycle 750 cc engine 1

And the latest has been a 999 cc mill in the Scout sixty. So I wouldn’t be surprised if Polaris brings out a motorcycle with a 750 cc mill. Can this be the case of a brand like Indian downsizing? Globally many manufacturers have been shifting their focus towards the smaller capacity territory and have received a very favourable response. The best example is the work done by Harley Davidson with the  Street 750 and Street 500. Both these motorcycles have received extremely favourable response from fans and are doing great numbers.

2016-Harley-Street-750-Blue

Not only have they helped in making the balance sheets greener, but have also allowed the brand to carve out a completely new customer base. Even BMW Motorrad is concentrating on the smaller capacity territory with the G 310R. Their collaboration with TVS will play a pivotal role in making them a name to reckon with in the sub 500 cc segment. Additionally, the success story of the smaller KTMs need to introduction.

2-32 DUCATI SCRAMBLER SIXTY2

Royal Enfield is another name which is eying the 750 cc territory with a much talked about upcoming V-twin to take on the big wigs. The Italian bike maker Ducati too brought the Scrambler with a smaller 800 cc engine and now an even more compact 399 cc mill in the Scrambler Sixty2. So is the world into downsizing?