Earlier offered in only a handful of premium motorcycles, upside-down (USD) or inverted front suspension forks have now become a common occurrence even in smaller and more mass-oriented products. A decade ago, finding an upside down front fork on a 150-160cc motorcycle would have been a far-fetched dream for most riders in India.
However, now things have changed, way more than anyone would have expected. For the uninitiated, USD forks offer better handling and stability than conventional telescopic forks especially, while braking harder or through corners. Let us go through the top five most affordable motorcycles on sale in India that come equipped with USD front forks.
1. Bajaj Pulsar N160
Ex-showroom Price: Rs 1.37 lakh
Bajaj Pulsar N160 is the most affordable motorcycle in the country as of now to come with USD front forks. This feature is only available in the top-spec variant of the bike. It is powered by a 164.82cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine producing 15.7 bhp of and 14.65 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to a five-speed gearbox.
2. TVS Apache RTR 160 4V
Ex-showroom price: Rs 1.40 lakh
The next in this list is TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. The golden-coloured USD front forks are offered only in the top-spec trim. Powering the Apache RTR 160 4V is a 159.7cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled, four-valve engine that develops 17.31 bhp and 14.73 Nm of peak torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 5-speed gearbox.
3. Hero Xtreme 160R 4V
Ex-showroom price: Rs 1.41 lakh
The TVS is followed closely on the heels by Hero Xtreme 160R 4V which is only offered in a single variant. Powering the Xtreme 160R 4V is a 163cc, single-cylinder, air/oil-cooled engine with a four-valve setup. Mated to a five-speed gearbox, this engine delivers 16.6 bhp and 14.4 Nm of peak torque.
4. Bajaj Pulsar NS200
Ex-showroom price: Rs 1.45 lakh
Another Pulsar in this list is the Bajaj Pulsar NS200. Based on a perimeter frame, the Pulsar NS200 sits on USD front forks and a gas-charged rear monoshock. Powering the Pulsar NS200 is a 199cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that produces 24.13 bhp at 9,750rpm and a peak torque of 18.74 Nm at 8,000rpm. This engine is paired with a six-speed gearbox.
5. TVS Apache RTR 200 4V
Ex-showroom price: Rs 1.54 lakh
The second TVS Apache in this list, the Apache RTR 200 4V gets USD front forks only on the top-spec trim. Powering the naked streetfighter is a 197.75cc, single-cylinder, four-valve, oil-cooled engine that is linked to a five-speed gearbox. This motor kicks out 20.2 bhp at 8,500rpm and 16.8 Nm of peak torque at 7,500rpm.
