Hi Autocar, I currently own a KTM Duke 200 and want to upgrade to a sporty, reliable twin-cylinder machine. My budget is ₹7-8 lakh, and I have shortlisted the Ninja 500 so far. Is it worth its asking price, and what are my other options in this range? I have ruled out the Royal Enfield twins. Thanks!

Autocar India

•7w

The Kawasaki Ninja 500 - while priced very high for what it is - is a sweet, capable and in true Japanese fashion. It is a machine that is likely to be reliable and last you for years without giving significant issues, provided you maintain it correctly.

You could also take a look at the Yamaha R3, although most dealers we have spoken to in major metro cities have informed us that they don't have any stock, nor are they expecting a new shipment anytime soon.

Its best to speak to your nearest authorised Yamaha dealer and see what the situation in your area is like. The R3 is a rather simple machine with no frilly features. But it packs a potent engine and chassis, and it has also cemented its reputation for reliability in our market.

The Kawasaki Z650 and Ninja 650 are the only reliable big bike options below the 10 lakh rupee mark from a reputed make. Also, you'll have to considerably extend your budget for anything else. Should you be able to do so, bikes like the Suzuki GSX-8R and Honda CB750 Hornet will be the next stepping stones.

Try to take a test ride of these machines to see which one suits you best before you make a decision.

Explore bikes mentioned

Yamaha

from ₹3.79 Lakh

Kawasaki

Ninja 500

from ₹6.28 Lakh

Kawasaki

Z650

from ₹8.00 Lakh

Kawasaki

Ninja 650

from ₹8.71 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Rainak Sharma

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I am 5ft 4 inches in height. Which Royal Enfield would be suitable for me so that I don't have to tiptoe? I was thinking Meteor 350.

Autocar India

•30m

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has a very manageable 765mm seat height, which should suit your stature. But if you want the lowest 350cc Royal Enfield bike, then it would be the Goan Classic. The Goan has an even lower 750mm perch, which will be even easier to flatfoot.Do bear in mind that the Goan Classic's handlebars are taller than usual, and this is something you should pay attention to on a test ride. We'd advise taking test rides of both the Meteor and Goan and pick whichever one suits you best and the one you prefer the look of more.

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Dipak

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Greetings. My TVS Jupiter currently comes with 90mm tyres on both the front and rear. Can I upgrade to slightly wider 100 mm tyres for better ride quality and handling?

Autocar India

•3d

Since you're looking at just a small upsize in your tyre sizes, you can go ahead and replace the tyres of your Jupiter with 100-section units from the stock 90-section ones. It will help give you more sure-footed handling as well as a slight improvement in ride quality. The flip side to this change will be that wider tyres will increase rolling resistance, which is going to have a small but noticeable negative impact on fuel efficiency. Another point to bear in mind is that the scooter's steering will feel heavier in general, but especially at slower speeds.

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Rayvonne Gonsalves

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I currently own a Dominar 250 and was looking for an upgrade. Want a comfortable bike for city 70% and highways 30%. On long rides the Dominar seats feel very hard and I need frequent breaks. I checked out the Honda CB350C and Hness but didn't find the ride quality so impressive. I'm 5ft 6in and have tested the Triumph speed 400 and Scrambler 400x and have made up my mind to go for the Scrambler 400X. But since theres a lot of buzz around that the same will be discontinued to make way for 350cc models, would it be wise to wait for it? Another option im looking for is the TVS Apache RTX 300. What would you suggest?

Autocar India

•4d

The Triumph Scrambler 400 X that you have shortlisted is a good one bike to do it all. If you have your heart set on it, you should indeed hurry up and get one soon before the 350cc replacement is launched in the coming months. While its slightly smaller successor will be identical in most ways, the smaller engine with likely reduced performance could affect performance at highway speeds. So it's better to go for the 400cc model while you can. The TVS Apache RTX 300 is another great all-rounder, and if you are ready to deal with its size and weight, then you should absolutely consider it. Do bear in mind that for someone of your stature, the RTX could prove to be a little much inside the city at slower speeds. So we would recommend a thorough test ride before you make a decision. Another option worth considering is the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450. It has a very approachable 780mm seat height, which will be helpful for you and has good performance and comfort for both city and highway usage. Since all the bikes you're considering are quite different, take a test ride of each before making a decision.

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