Kinetic Group has launched the iconic FB Mondial Hipster 300 in India for INR 3.37 lakh. The Italian moniker will be a part of Motoroyale dealerships, reaching India through the CKD route for lesser taxation than the completely built-up platform. FB Mondial HPS 300 is their first product for India, carrying a unique design that is typical of bikes with high displacement engines. The fuel tank and seating layout are clearly derived from a cafe racer, further carrying familiar street-specific headlight and single pod instrument console. On the other hand, the lower half is a scrambler with spoke wheels, thick dual purpose tires and Scrambler style exhaust.
The motorcycle was first seen internationally at EICMA 2017 and later, the HPS 125 was spied testing in Pune. Cosmetically, both bikes are similar, with HP Mondial offering the smaller engine for displacement sensitive markets like Europe. The list of parts used is also kept the same for the premium feel that buyers of the high displacement group get in most countries. The 249cc, single-cylinder engine on the HPS 300 is good for 25hp at 9000 rpm and 22 Nm at 7000 rpm. The engine comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox. Dual channel ABS is available as standard on the bike.
The front comes with 41mm USD forks and 280mm disc brake while the rear gets conventional dual shock absorbers with just 120mm of travel and 220mm disc brake. The tires used on HPS 300 measures 110/90-18 for the front and 130/70-17 for the rear. A direct rival for this unique 250cc street fighter may not arrive soon in India but, the higher than the usual price tag of INR 3.37 lakh has placed it right against BMW G310R and KTM 390 Duke. Both the other options are extremely powerful but, dry weight of just 135 kg makes HPS 300 a worthy competitor. It comes with a seat height of just 785mm.