Autocar India
23w

I am 37 yrs old, with a serious back pain issue from slipped discs. Due to my job compulsion i need to commute 70 kms daily (30 km highway, 40 km city)on bike. While my old Unicorn is doing okay, i want to get a bike which has the most comfortable ride with least jerking (keeping my back pain in mind). I had earlier found the bullet classic 350 and avenger 220 to be mildly comfortable rides. Budget is not a constraint.

Verified
23w

If you want to stay in the same displacement range as your Unicorn, you can look at the Bajaj Pulsar N160 and the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. Both have great suspension, peppy performance and will return similar fuel economy to your Unicorn. 

If you want to make a step up, then bikes like the Royal Enfield Hunter / Bullet / Classic 350, TVS Ronin, and Honda CB350 trio will make for good commuting partners. These are bikes with upright, neutral ergonomics, plush suspension setups and torquey, smooth engines. Expect lower fuel economy in comparison to your Unicorn, however, by virtue of its larger displacement.

Lastly, the Hero Xpulse 210 is a wonderful do-it-all machine which will have the best suspension comfort of all the bikes listed here.

A test ride of all of these bikes will help you determine which one is best for you.

 

Bajaj Pulsar N160

Bajaj Pulsar N160

More questions on similar bikes

1d

I am 47 years old. My first motorcycle was a Suzuki Samurai, and I currently ride a Honda Shine (2013 model). I am now looking to replace my bike, but I am not sure whether I should go for the latest version of the Honda Shine or consider a different motorcycle altogether. I commute around 40 km to the office, three days a week, and typically ride another 20-30 km on weekends. I also have two daughters, and they are taller than their age would suggest. Would an EV be a better option for my usage? I live in a rented house, so I am not sure how convenient charging would be. I am also considering options such as the Honda Unicorn and a Royal Enfield Bullet. I have a lean build and weigh around 64 kg. Considering my requirements, which motorcycle would you recommend?

Verified
1d

Since you have had a long and drama-free stint with your Shine, the logical next step to make would be the Honda Unicorn. For your use case, which is mostly inside the city with short weekend leisure rides, the Unicorn makes for a good fit. It will offer a noticeable step up in performance and comfort compared to the Shine with only a small drop-off in fuel economy. The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 is lovely if you want a relaxed bike with new-age reliability and old-school feel, but since you have mentioned you are on the slimmer side of the spectrum, its weight could be a problem at slower speeds and its fuel economy will also be noticeably lower.If your landlord and the building you reside in, don't have a problem with you installing a charging solution at home, you can consider electric scooters like TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta and Vida VX2. If not, stick with a petrol-powered bike for now.To decide between the Unicorn and Bullet, we'd recommend a test ride of both since they are very different machines.

Honda Bikes Shine 125
Honda Bikes Unicorn
Royal Enfield Bullet 350
TVS iQube
Bajaj Chetak
Ather Rizta
Vida VX2

Popular discussions right now

5d

Hi, I am from South Mumbai and have owned an Yamaha RX100, which has been my everyday commuter for the past 20 years. I absolutely love it. Around 10 years ago, I also owned a first-generation KTM Duke 200 for a brief period. I now want to get into weekend riding, but I am a bit confused about which motorcycle to buy. I have shortlisted the Ultraviolette X47, Hero XPulse 210, KTM 390 Enduro R, and Triumph Scrambler 400X. I have always been fascinated by dirt-oriented and naked motorcycles. I plan to keep the bike for a long time and have no intention of changing it anytime soon. The Ultraviolette X47 appeals to me because of the technology it offers, while the others attract me for their off-road capability and suitability for our road conditions. Which one would you suggest for my requirements? Thank you.

Verified
4d

Since you seem like a leisurely weekend rider who wants to keep the machine for a longer duration and you lean towards off-road riding, we'd recommend you to pick between the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400X and KTM 390 Enduro R. Of the two, the Triumph bike is the more sensible, practical and daily-use friendly machine while the KTM is the more fun and niche option. The Scrambler's 350cc engine has the better low and mid-range spread of torque but the Enduro's 398cc single is fun when you chase the redlines. While both have off-road capabilities (the Enduro way more so than the Scrambler), they are good fun to use on the road to ride to your favourite twisty bit of tarmac. Some points to bear in mind are that the KTM bike has a super tall 895mm perch and comes with tubed tyres. While there's not much you can do about the seat, you can fit 19/17-in alloy wheels from the Adventure to sort out tubeless tyres for yourself. Coming to the Triumph, since you have mentioned you are from SoBo, you don't have a service centre nearby as of answering this query - authorized service centres are located in Goregaon, Nerul and Thane. There's also a massive price delta between these two and if you aren't looking to spend more, the Triumph is the better option. The best way to decide between them would be to take a comprehensive test ride of both and see which one you like the most. While there is a big price delta between both, since you're using the bike as a leisurely tool and are going to keep it for a long time, make the stretch for the Enduro if you like it. The X-47 (even with its larger battery pack) won't give you a realistic riding range of much more than 220km on a single charge (and this will be in the least powerful Glide riding mode, so performance will be quite gentle). Electric bikes are still quite a nascent market, charging stations are also very rare to find in most places and this is why for your needs, going with a petrol-powered bike makes more sense. Also, kudos to you for keeping the RX alive and using it daily!

Triumph Scrambler 400 X
KTM 390 Enduro R
Ultraviolette Automotive X-47

Posted on: 5 Jan 2026