I’m planning to buy a new bike for daily office commutes in Mumbai and 1–2 rides per year within Maharashtra. I need good pillion comfort, suspension suited for Mumbai’s pothole-filled roads, and easy maneuverability in heavy traffic. The initial cost can be high, but I want low maintenance and fuel expenses. Spare parts should also be easily available. You can suggest a cruiser or adventure bike as well, if any.

Autocar India

•17w

Since you haven't specified your budget, recommending will be a little difficult, so we'll give you a variety of options. You should strongly consider the Classic 350/Bullet 350 from Royal Enfield, as well as any of the Honda CB350 models in the cruiser space. These bikes have lovely seating and suspension comfort and are good to ride inside the city as well as on the highway - so long as you don't go over 100kph too often.

In the adventure bike space, we would recommend the KTM 390 Adventure X or the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450.

Both of these have genuine highway capability, loaded up with a pillion, and can also handle daily commuting with ease. The adventure bikes will be more expensive to buy and run compared to the simpler, retro-styled cruisers, considering they are larger, more tech-laden offerings.

Explore bikes mentioned

Royal Enfield

Bullet 350

from ₹1.96 Lakh

Royal Enfield

Classic 350

from ₹2.21 Lakh

Royal Enfield

Himalayan

from ₹3.79 Lakh

KTM

390 Adventure X

from ₹4.06 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Pinank

•1w

I am 35 years old, a swimmer with an athletic build, 6 feet tall, and weigh 70 kg. I live in Ahmedabad, a city with poor road conditions, heavy traffic, and unpredictable road behavior. Hard braking and quick manoeuvring are often necessary due to potholes, slippery roads, and sudden pedestrian or vehicle movements. I tried the Pulsar NS125, but with a heavy pillion rider (90 kg+), I found it difficult to manoeuvre in tight traffic. The bike felt heavy, braking was harder to manage, and I experienced back pain after riding with a heavy pillion. Under the same conditions, I do not face any back pain when riding the Honda Twister with a similar pillion. Please suggest a new or used bike within a budget of ₹1.8 lakh that is suitable for city use, has a sporty look, offers comfortable seating, and is easy to manoeuvre without causing back pain, even with a pillion rider. Should I wait for the Kawasaki Ninja 125 launch? I am also considering a used Kawasaki Ninja 300 for the next two years—will it be comfortable for city riding, and will its seating position help avoid back pain while handling traffic with a heavy pillion rider?

Autocar India

•1d

Within your budget, you will get very old examples of the Kawasaki Ninja 300, which will likely not be in good shape after all these years. We'd recommend you go for a new bike for the peace of mind that comes with it and the warranty coverage that comes with it. Since you have mentioned you want something sporty, we'd recommend the Bajaj Pulsar NS200 and the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. Both have energetic engines, good handling and will also be comfortable for day-to-day use with their upright ergonomics. Both are also reasonably comfortable bikes to carry pillion with, although larger people will be pressed for space. A test ride of these two should help you decide which is best for you.

Kawasaki Ninja 300

Bajaj Pulsar NS200

TVS Apache RTR 200 4V

Venkatakrishnan

•2w

I currently have an MT Revenge 2 helmet. It has been five years, and I am looking to replace it. Could you suggest a lightweight helmet with good noise insulation and ventilation? I want to use it daily. My budget is around ₹25,000. Please suggest a good helmet.

Autocar India

•2d

KYT retails a variety of helmets in India, and of them, the R2R Pro would make for a good upgrade from your MT and will come in well under your specified budget. You can also get the entry-level K1 S from AGV, although you may have to settle for solid colours within your budget.Shark and Suomy helmets are also understood to be working on certifying their helmets for our market, and if you are open to waiting for some time, you could potentially get a lid from these brands as well.We recommend trying on any helmet you shortlist before purchasing, as fit can vary significantly between brands.

sandesh tipugade

•1w

I own a Bajaj Avenger 220 Cruiser, and I am quite satisfied with it. However, I want something bigger and better in terms of comfort, safety, and speed. For touring purposes, which bike should I go for with a budget of ₹4 to 5 lakh?

Autocar India

•2d

If you are looking to upgrade to a cruiser body style, your options are limited to the Royal Enfield Shotgun / Super Meteor 650 within your budget. These bikes are large, stylish, twin-cylinder machines that will be relatively easy to live with from an ownership and running costs standpoint. However, both weigh 240kg (or more), and that could potentially be too much to deal with on a daily basis.A test ride of these bikes should help you understand their riding experience and whether or not their weight is manageable for you.On the other hand, if you're willing to wait a while, Honda is reportedly gearing up to launch a localised version of the Rebel 300 later this year. This would be a more manageable and approachable machine given its single-cylinder engine and more compact dimensions.

Royal Enfield Shotgun 650

Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

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