Your Weekly Dose of Bike Updates: Yamaha R2, Royal Enfield Himalayan 440, and More!

A couple of long-awaited launches made the last week a bit exciting for the Indian two-wheeler industry. What it comprised more of was updates regarding some interesting upcoming products. In case you couldn’t keep track of all of it, here is a round-up.

2026 Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Launch

Royal Enfield updated the Continental GT 650 in India. The Cafe racer has undergone some much-needed changes to its looks and features. The bike now starts at Rs. 3,58,427 (ex-showroom, Chennai), making it around Rs. 5,322 more expensive than before. The updated bike now comes with a black windscreen on all the colour schemes, giving the cafe racer a clear look from the front. Additionally, there’s also a USB Type-C charging port for charging your phone on the go. Lastly, the indicators are now LED units.

2026 Ducati Monster Launch

Ducati India launched the 2026 Monster at a starting price of Rs. 13.99 lakh ex-showroom. The fifth-generation model now gets a new 890cc V2 engine, lighter chassis, revised ergonomics and an updated electronics package. Standard Monster costs Rs. 13.99 lakh in Ducati Red, while the Iceberg White and Sport Livery versions are priced at Rs. 14.23 lakh. Monster+ starts at Rs. 14.34 lakh in red and rises to Rs. 14.45 lakh for both Iceberg White and Sport Livery. Plus essentially adds a headlight cowl and passenger-seat cover to the standard equipment.

Ampere Magnus G Max Launch

Ampere Magnus G Max received a tech update in India and is priced at Rs. 1,09,999. The scooter now runs Ampere’s new NxG.io software platform, adding more than 30 connected features to a product that has been built around simple everyday mobility. Most notable additions are cruise control, hill hold assist and turn-by-turn navigation. These are joined by Find My Scooter, Ping My Scooter and a wider set of connected functions accessible through the Ampere Connect application.

Yamaha R2 Pre-Bookings

Yamaha started pre-bookings for the upcoming Yamaha R2 sports bike in India. The upcoming model can be pre-booked via the Yamaha website for Rs. 10,000 as a down payment. The amount will later be adjusted against the bike’s final on-road price at the time of purchase. The brand plans to launch the R2 on 27 August 2026, and customers who have pre-booked the motorcycle will get priority delivery, subject to stock availability.

Royal Enfield Himalayan 440 Launch Date

The new Himalayan 440 is all set to be launched on 4 September at the Royal Enfield Himalayan Basecamp in Leh, Ladakh. The new model is based on the Royal Enfield Scram 440 and uses the same 443cc, air/oil-cooled, single-cylinder LS440 engine. It produces 25.4bhp and 34Nm and is paired with a six-speed gearbox. This engine is known for its effortless torque and should make for a laid-back tourer. The strong low-end grunt should also make it more suitable for off-roading, with the chassis expected to complement its capabilities.