My budget is Rs. 2 lakh, but I am willing to extend it if it is worth it. My daily commute is 80 km, with 40 km in the morning and 40 km in the evening. My major priorities are comfort, good mileage, and reduced rider fatigue.

autocar.india

•23h

The Honda Unicorn is a proven and reliable machine, and for someone like yourself that values comfort over performance, it makes sense. The Unicorn's flat, single-piece seat, neutral ergonomics and comfortable suspension will ensure that over bad roads, you're shielded from the jolts to a good degree. Its not as if the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V isn't a comfortable machine but it has a sportier riding position which will not be as comfortable as the Unicorn's upright and neutral one. In the same vein, you should also look at the Bajaj Pulsar N160, especially the variants with a single-piece seat. Overall, the Pulsar and Apache are more feature-rich and sportier than the Unicorn which is a straightforward, no-frills commuter and a test ride will help you decide which one is the better choice for you.

autocar.india

•2d

We'd advise you to choose between the Honda SP160 and the Bajaj Pulsar N160. The SP160 is essentially a dressed-up and more feature-rich Unicorn, so you're getting a proven base to work with, and it should be well-suited to traffic-riddled commutes. It will be quite frugal and comfortable for two-up riding with its spacious single-piece seat.The Bajaj Pulsar N160 will be a step above the Honda in terms of performance, and it also balances fuel economy quite well. Its riding triangle is accommodating of larger riders like yourself, and its suspension is well-suited to dealing with bad roads. We'd recommend you go for one of the single-seat variants on offer because it will offer better seating comfort, especially when riding two-up. These bikes are quite similar, and to decide between them, take a test ride of both. The Yamaha FZ Hybrid offers you a nifty and quick-working start/stop system but its not worth its asking price. And on top of that, the FZ isn't as accomplished as its rivals from TVS, Bajaj and Honda so we'd recommend you decide between the SP160 and N160.

autocar.india

•5d

Since you have the budget that permits you to venture into the 300-400cc category if you so wish, you can look at the Royal Enfield Hunter / Classic / Bullet 350, any of the Honda CB350 models and even the 350cc Triumph 400 models like the Speed T4 and Speed 400. These bikes are premium machines with larger engines than normal commuters, which means fuel economy will range between 30-40kpl most likely, although mileage can vary quite widely depending on multiple factors. If you want to prioritise fuel economy and instead settle for something more frugal, like a 160cc commuter will be our recommendation. Options like the Bajaj Pulsar N160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Honda Unicorn / SP160 are our picks in this class. The Apache and Pulsar are more powerful and feature-rich machines, while the Unicorn and SP160 are straightforward, no-nonsense commuters. Make sure to decide which segment you want to shop in and then take a test ride of all the options in that class before you make your decision.