I am 40 years old, 5'2" tall, and weigh 70 kg. I currently ride a Yamaha Fascino and want to buy a motorcycle. The purpose is more to fulfill a long-held wish than for utility. That said, I will use it for daily commutes within a 10 km radius, often with my daughter. I have never owned a motorcycle before, although I have ridden a Royal Enfield Bullet 350 a couple of times. My budget is around Rs. 2.5 lakh. Could you suggest motorcycles that are reasonably fuel-efficient, relatively easy to maintain, and suitable for ownership over the next 10 years? Thanks!

autocar.india

•1h

With a budget of Rs 13-14 lakh, an automatic SUV and monthly running under 500km, the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic is the recommendation. It offers a strong value-for-money proposition, a spacious cabin and a comfortable ride, making it well suited for both city and occasional highway use. The turbo petrol engine paired with the automatic gearbox delivers good performance without being overly complex. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is the alternative if reliability and low running costs are the absolute priority, but the 3XO feels like the more complete package for your requirements.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•5d

Since you want comfort as a top priority in your next purchase, the two bikes that will deliver that much better than the others in your shortlist are the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 X. The Himalayan is more adept on the highway front, but the Scrambler is the better city bike, so depending on where you spend more time, pick between these two. The TVS Apache RTX 300 is a phenomenally capable bike (especially for the price), but its engine feels a little dull once you spend some time with it. If you are okay with that, then as an overall package, the TVS is quite hard to fault. If you decide you want something more road-biased, then the 350cc Triumph Speed 400 and Honda CB350RS are good options to consider. We'd skip the RE Meteor models because the Super Meteor has stiff rear suspension, and instead of the Meteor, look at the Classic / Bullet if you want more comfort with an old-school relaxed retro vibe. These are all very different machines within a broad price range, so depending on the segment you are looking at specifically, we'd advise you to take test rides of the options above and then make your decision.

autocar.india

•2d

Electric motorcycles do make sense for daily predictable city commutes with a fixed distance and secure charging. There's no hassle of changing gears and modulating the clutch, and your running costs are also pleasingly low. However, it seems like you want to venture out farther from your home in Pune, in which case a petrol motorcycle is the more enjoyable choice. The Harley-Davidson X440 is a wonderful machine because it is one of the last authentic, air-cooled, long-stroke, single-cylinder experiences available today, and since you are looking to buy a machine that you can build a cherished bond with over time, it has the right ingredients to make that happen. Stepping up from a 125cc machine, you will also appreciate the step up in performance and comfort it has to offer you. From the Triumph stable, we'd recommend you take a good, long look at the 350cc Scrambler 400 models because they are great city machines that can also prove to be good fun on the highway and when the road turns squiggly. If you want a properly sporty riding experience, then the 350cc KTM 390 Duke and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 are good options to consider, and these will be - by far - the fastest and sharpest machines from the ones listed here.Make sure to take exhaustive test rides of all machines before you make your decision.