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Delhi
JA

Jack

11w

What bike can I prefer at a ₹2 lakh price range? This will be my first bike, with daily usage of around 30-35 km and an occasional ride of about 200 km once a quarter.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
10w

Since this is your first bike, you should ask yourself what sort of rider you are and then pick the machine accordingly. If you feel you enjoy speed and want a sporty, engaging machine, then something like a KTM 160 / 200 Duke, Yamaha YZF R15 V4 / MT-15 and XSR155 will be good options to consider. 

If you want to have a relaxed riding experience and want something stylish, then a Royal Enfield Hunter 350 or TVS Ronin would be a good starting point. Lastly, if you want a single 'standard' bike that can do most daily things, then something like a Honda CB300F would be a good option. 

If you want something that prioritises fuel efficiency, a 160cc commuter from Honda, TVS, Bajaj, Hero or Yamaha would be the way to go. 

Take thorough test rides of each machine you consider before making up your mind up. 

 KTM 160

KTM 160

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More questions on similar bikes

RG

Ravi Ganesh

1w

I am a 42-year-old private company employee with a height of 5 ft 11 in and a weight of around 120 kg. I am looking to buy a reliable commuter motorcycle that can also be used occasionally for touring. My budget is around ₹1.5 lakh. Could you suggest a good bike that would suit my build, offer comfort, reliability, decent mileage, and low maintenance?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
6d

Within your budget, you have three very different options you can look at - Yamaha XSR155, TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, TVS Ronin and Hero Xpulse 200 4V. The XSR is the least powerful but is also the lightest motorcycle here. It will also feel the sportiest to ride because its engine and underpinnings are derived from the popular Yamaha R15 and MT-15. The downsides of the XSR are that it is a rather petite motorcycle. For someone of large stature such as yourself, this will be a potential challenge, and its rear suspension is quite stiff. It can get uncomfortable over repeated bad patches. The Apache RTR 200 4V is another sporty roadster, and with its larger engine than the XSR, it will feel more at home at sustained higher speeds. Its suspension comfort and more spacious seats will also be helpful for your usage. The TVS Ronin is a relaxed roadster with its smooth and torquey engine and relaxed and neutral ergonomics. Also, plush suspension setup and relatively larger size - compared to the other two bikes here - the Ronin has the potential to be the most suited to your use case.Moving on to the Hero Xpulse 200 4V, this is the bike you should buy if you want to venture off-road on your long tours. It will have by far the most plush suspension of all the bikes here, although its on-road handling will leave you wanting once you pick up the pace. We'd recommend a test ride of all three before you make a decision. Also, do note that all four bikes are all slightly above Rs 1.50 lakh (your stipulated budget), within that amount, there's no credible option for your requirements.

Yamaha XSR155
TVS Apache RTR 200 4V
TVS Ronin
Hero MotoCorp Xpulse 200 4V
SA

Saurabh

1w

I am planning to buy a reliable motorcycle that can cruise comfortably for long distances while also offering a great ownership experience in terms of reliability, fuel efficiency, and service costs. I am interested in the Suzuki V-Strom SX, but I feel a bit skeptical since it is now an older model. Is it still worth buying the V-Strom SX in 2026, or are there other motorcycles that can match the expectations I mentioned above?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
6d

The Suzuki V-Strom SX may be a dated machine, but it is a great option for someone who wants a relaxed, reliable and fuel-efficient touring machine. If you are open to considering other form factors aside from the adventure bike style, there are some other machines that will fit the bill for your usage as well. In the neo-retro space, the TVS Ronin, Honda CB350 models and Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350 will be good options to consider with their relaxed riding triangles, smooth and torquey engines, as well as plush suspension setups. These bikes won't be as fuel-efficient as the V-Strom, but the drop isn't going to be too drastic either. Take a test ride of these bikes before you make a decision.

Suzuki V-Strom SX
TVS Ronin
Honda Bikes CB350
Royal Enfield Classic 350
Royal Enfield Bullet 350
DK

Dharmender Kaushik

4d

I want to buy a 125-150 cc bike. My height is 165 cm. I want it for the daily office commute. I want a bike with low seat height, not too high, with a refined engine, decent mileage of 45+ and with ABS.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
12h

Pretty much every single 150-160cc commuter comes with at least single-channel ABS, so that won't be a deciding factor for you. Our top picks in this class are the Bajaj Pulsar N160 and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V if you want something sportier and feature-rich. If you want to stick to a simple, no-nonsense machine, then the Honda Unicorn remains a safe bet. If ridden sensibly, you should see in excess of 45kpl for all of these 150cc bikes.In the 125cc class, if having ABS is non-negotiable, then your options are restricted to the TVS Raider and Honda CB125 Hornet. Of these three, the TVS is our top recommendation. The 125s will be quite fuel-efficient, and you'll seldom see a mileage figure below 50kpl, no matter your riding style.You should first decide which segment you want to stick with and then take a test ride of the bikes accordingly before you make a decision.

TVS Raider
Bajaj Pulsar N160
TVS Apache RTR 160 4V
Honda Bikes Unicorn
Honda Bikes CB125 Hornet

Posted on: 28 Dec 2025