I’m 5'9" tall and weigh over 95 kg. I usually travel on weekends within the city and often encounter bad roads. Scooters like the Activa feel uncomfortable. I’m considering the Hero Xpulse, but reviews mention the pillion seat isn’t comfortable. I didn't like the other options in retro style. Should I go for the Xpulse or consider alternatives?

autocar.india

•2d

The Ultraviolette X-47 base variant is a well-rounded option for your needs, and it will definitely not only reduce your running and maintenance costs, but also the effort needed to ride a motorcycle in stop-and-go traffic since there's no clutch to modulate or gears to shift.Coming to the software glitches and navigation issues, while Ultraviolette has made progress with updates and bug fixes that are usually quick, you could still face occasional niggles on such a tech-heavy machine. If absolute reliability and zero fuss are your top priorities, a petrol alternative like the TVS Apache RTX 300 or Hero Xpulse 210 is worth considering.It will all hinge on what sort of riding experience you prefer and whether you really are ready to make the switch to an Electric bike. A test ride of all three should help you make your decision.

autocar.india

•5d

The Suzuki V-Strom SX is a severely underrated machine, and we at Autocar are quite fond of it. It would actually serve your needs well, but we'd recommend you don't buy the V-Strom right now because Suzuki is understood to be working on an all-new Gixxer 150/250 lineup, which will likely debut towards the end of this year or perhaps at the start of 2027. These same updates are then likely to trickle over to the V-Strom in due course. Instead, for now we'd recommend looking at the TVS Apache RTX 300 and Hero Xpulse 210.

autocar.india

•5d

Since you have a long daily run, predominantly on the highway, we'd recommend you step up to something more powerful. Specifically, the Hero Xpulse 210 will be a good fit for your needs. It has great suspension, which will isolate you from the worst of our road imperfections; good performance on the highway and when ridden sensibly, it will also give you decent fuel economy. If you want to stick with a street-biased commuter, look at the Honda Unicorn and Bajaj Pulsar N160. These will feel more natural for you to ride and will return good fuel economy, although highway performance will be weaker than the Xpulse. The Pulsar N250 is also a good machine which would make sense for your use case.Take test rides of these bikes before you make your decision.