Keeway K-Lite 250V launched in India, gets long-stroke V-twin heart and belt drive system with Harley inspired exhausts
In its maiden India entry, Hungarian manufacturer Keeway has launched its first motorcycle, K-Lite 250V, the entry-level V-twin Cruiser. Prices are set to be announced later.
Bookings are currently open for a token amount of Rs. 10,000/- at Benelli dealerships across the country and new cruiser is being sold alongside the Benelli motorcycles. While it will be available for test rides on 26th May, deliveries will commence from June.
Taking some inspiration from the K-Lite cruisers sold abroad, the new 250V gets a new design with many updated bits. The tank, for example, is quite bigger than the K-Lite 125 cruiser. Even the tires and forks are fatter with the 250V getting USDs upfront.
The overall silhouette of the bike looks somewhat like the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob. The single piece seat gets a step-up pattern at the rear while the seat height is 10 mm lower than the already low seat height of the Bajaj Avenger at just 715 mm. It will definitively be a boon for short riders.
Like its scooter siblings, the 250V gets all-LED lighting with a semi-digital instrument cluster mounted on the tank with a gear position indicator as well. Despite the short seat height, ground clearance is a good 160 mm which will very well suffice our road conditions.
There are 3 colours on offer- Matte Blue, Matte Black, and Matte Grey.
Though the bike has small dimensions, it’s rather heavy tipping the scales at 179 kg. It’s lighter than the Royal Enfield Classic 350 just by 13 kg. The fuel tank capacity is healthy 20 litres which should be enough for long hauls.
The cruiser gets alloy wheels and disc brakes at both ends with dual channel ABS as standard fitment. The front wheel gets 120/80-R16 tyre while the rear gets 140/70-R16 unit.
Power comes from a 249 cc air-cooled 4-valve V-twin engine that exerts 18.7 HP at 8500 RPM and 19 Nm at 5500 RPM. Interestingly, the engine is proper long stroke unit like the Royal Enfields with 49 mm bore and 66 mm stroke.
But, due to its smaller displacement, it revs quite freely with a throaty exhaust note. The foot rests at placed at the front for a relaxed riding experience. The bike misses out on a center stand though.
Also, for the first time on a small cruiser in India, Keeway is offering a proper belt drive system which should nearly offer a seamless smooth ride like that of a Harley-Davidson.
The twin upswept exhausts look like the ones on Harleys. The engine sits on a double cradle frame with a full engine guard placed at front.
While Keeway’s roots are in Hungary, it’s currently owned by the famous QJ Group of China that also owns the Benelli brand. The K-Lite 250V is likely to compete against the likes of the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and Meteor 350.
