Autocar India
•13w

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.

Verified
•12w

Since you have a rather long commute with comfort and fuel economy as your top priorities, we'd recommend looking at these 160cc options - Honda Unicorn / SP160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Bajaj Pulsar N160. The Honda bikes are textbook commuters and are simple, no-nonsense machines which should also prove to be reliable and hassle-free to own. On the other hand, the TVS and Bajaj bikes are feature-rich, sporty commuters that will give you better performance while still being reaonably frugal and comfortable. 

In fact, if you want a little more pep, then the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V and Bajaj Pulsar N250 both are worth considering. These bikes offer a tangible step up in performance in comparison to their smaller siblings without sacrificing too much fuel economy and since you have a long commute every day, you will value the added performance on tap. 

Take test rides of these bikes to see which ones float your boat before you make a decision. 

Honda Unicorn

Honda Unicorn

•12w•

Just check Honda Nx200 As well

•12w•

Honda hness if you are looking for comfort and stable ride. Mileage will be around 35 to 40 kmpl if the road is mostly highway and free

•11w•

I use the n250, it easily gives 40+ mileage even 45+ on highways if you don't ride too aggressively. Reliable, powerful and really comfortable with a supple suspension. Just the handlebar position is too agressive leading to pain in wrists and palms. I changed to n150 handlebar which solves the issue partly.

•11w•

Scooters Are more comfortable than 125 cc bikes mainly because of wide seats and freedom to adjust foot position while driving.Constant seating position and No leg movement can cause even more pain to the back. In scooters one leg front and one back position sometimes gives good relief to the backpain. Iam daily riding 60 km for work Riding classic 350 Honda activa And Ather 450x If roads are Good .scooters are more convenient option even if you suffering back pain

•11w•

Not fully convinced

•12w•

Is your commute involve highway or more of a stop and go traffic? Also keep service cost in mind. Any smaller capacity bikes cost less in maintenance but when you go on higher cc bikes you service cost will double. Also look for vehicles that has longer service intervals. Look for vehicles that use fully synthetic engine oil by default by the oem service as it will last more km between services. If your commute is mostly highway then definitely prefer higher capacity bike like 200 to 300cc as this will reduce your commute time a little. CC's cannot be replaced later! My Recommendation are: 1. Suzuki gixxer 250 - This bike is highly underrated. 2. Yamaha MT15 3. Yamaha XSR 155

•12w•

I’m planning to buy a motorcycle. I’m 5 feet 11 inches tall and weigh 95 kg. My daily commute is around 40–45 km. Initially, I was considering the Honda H'ness CB350, but it’s quite expensive. Then I thought about the Honda Unicorn, but it feels too basic and lacks excitement. The Yamaha FZ series seems a bit over-styled to me. I also rode the TVS Apache RTR 180 2V, but considering my height, it felt too small. Now I’m confused between the Bajaj Pulsar 180 (OG) and the Bajaj Pulsar N160. The Pulsar 180 offers excellent value for money, while the N160 comes with many modern features. However, since I’ll also be riding with my family, I’m leaning towards the Pulsar 180 because of its long, single-piece seat, which is more comfortable for both the rider and the pillion. I’d really appreciate your suggestions and guidance on which one would be the better choice. @autocar.india

•12w•

@sujoybanerjee going by your height, weight n likings explained,.... Honda Sp160 can be a best fit

•12w•

What about relaunched Bajaj Pulsar 180 (OG) 2026 model with P220 exhaust and LEDs, as the commuter? @autocar.india

•12w•

You basically need a 125cc bike. Doesnt matter what is your budget. If you would have given ur height, weight and age it would help better. Honda SP125 is the best i can suggest for you, considering your 3 main priorities.

•12w•

@sushil.soans 5.6 ,62 kg

•12w•

@msb.1 then my earlier is much more suitable

•12w•

@sushil.soans *ealier comment*

•12w•

Honda hness if you are looking for comfort and stable ride. Mileage will be around 35 to 40 kmpl if the road is mostly highway and free

•12w•

Go for FZ or MT-15, I happen to have CB unicorn and SP 160. Both of which have the same trait of uneasiness while riding at 60 kmph speeds. Confidence and comfort is what i feel missing in both unicorn and sp160. I had a great time with fazer which happens to share engine with FZ, riding at 60 feels like breeze. No vibrations no other body parts rattling. And MT 15 is also worth considering. If you prioritize comfortable riding position.

•12w•

Since your commute is longer. I would suggest higher cc if the it is non traffic commute and will prefer 160cc if it involves more stop and go traffic. I would suggest looking at Suzuki gixxer 250 also.

More posts on similar bikes

•17h

I’m a first-time car buyer. My usage will be around 40% city driving and 60% on state highways, with a monthly running of approximately 800-1,000 km. The roads are somewhat okay, with some bad stretches but mostly good roads. I’m looking for an automatic transmission. Hatchbacks, compact sedans, and compact SUVs are all fine. My budget is flexible, between Rs. 12 lakh and Rs. 14 lakh. I have shortlisted 3-4 vehicles, namely: 1. Honda Amaze ZX CVT 2. Maruti Brezza ZXi Automatic 3. Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 Automatic Any other car recommendations are also welcome. I am currently posted in Varanasi, if that helps.

Verified
•10h

With 40 percent city and 60 percent highway use, the 3XO is the better fit among your three choices. Its turbo petrol engine has considerably stronger low- and mid-range performance than the Brezza and Amaze, which will be useful on state highways, particularly when carrying passengers and luggage. It also has a well-judged ride that copes well with broken roads.The Brezza ZXi AT would be the choice for easier ownership. Its petrol engine is smoother, and Maruti's service network is a significant advantage, while its ride quality is very good on poor roads. It is also the more relaxed choice if outright performance is not important.The Amaze ZX CVT is worth considering if you prefer a sedan. Its CVT is smooth, and the suspension is comfortable over rough city roads, while the large boot is useful for highway trips. However, its engine lacks the punch of the 3XO, particularly with a full load, and the cabin is narrower.The Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI AT is also worth adding to the shortlist if driving enjoyment is important. It has a well sorted chassis and a conventional automatic, making it particularly appealing for your highway heavy usage.

VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
VehicleHonda Amaze
VehicleSkoda Kylaq
•1d

I am planning to buy a sub-4-metre SUV with a budget of around Rs. 11-14 lakh. The car will mainly be used for weekend driving within the city, along with around 2-4 trips to my hometown each month, with each round trip being approximately 280 km. I also have the option of installing a home charging facility if I decide to go for an EV. I am confused about which powertrain would be most suitable for my usage-petrol, CNG, hybrid, or EV. I would like your valuable suggestion

Verified
•1d

With 2-4 trips to your hometown every month, your usage is actually high enough to make an EV worth considering, especially since you can install a home charger. A Tata Punch EV 40kWh would fit the budget and is the powertrain that makes the most sense for this usage. It has a claimed range of 468km, although real-world range will naturally be lower, and it supports DC fast charging, which is useful for your 280km round trips.If you prefer to stay with an ICE car, the Maruti Fronx 1.0 turbo petrol AT would be the pick. It gives you better highway performance than the naturally aspirated alternatives, while remaining compact and easy to drive in the city.CNG is worth considering only if keeping running costs as low as possible is the priority. A factory CNG Brezza or Punch will deliver excellent fuel economy, but CNG brings more frequent refuelling and less outright performance, which matters when you are doing regular 280km highway trips. A hybrid is not really a consideration in this sub 4 metre segment at your budget.The key question with the EV is charging on your hometown trips. If you can comfortably charge at home at both ends, the Punch EV becomes particularly attractive. If charging at the destination is uncertain, the Fronx turbo petrol is the safer choice.

VehicleTata Punch EV
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
VehicleTata Punch

Popular discussions right now

•1w

Hi, I am 35 years old. I have a sitting job in IT. Could you please suggest most comfortable bike in suspension considering I suffer from back and neck pain at work that increases while riding in city as well as my height (169 cm) and weight (68 kg) on city roads in India. Please consider city potholes. I will have to travel 20km daily in weekdays till Friday and on weekends, it will be 200 km. Earlier, I had Yamaha FZ S FI but I no longer own it. Now I own my father's Hero Super Splendor XTEC only. I was checking out Royal Enfield Classic 350, Meteor 350, Honda CB350 H'ness, Triumph Speed 400, etc. I had taken the test drive of Royal Enfield Classic 350 BS6 (2024 Model), but for my weight, during road bumping, it directly transfers shock and and vibration to my back. Please suggest your valuable feedback.

Verified
•6d

In our experience, all of the bikes you have shortlisted (aside from the Meteor to some extent) have proven to be adept at shielding the rider from road imperfections. Since you have mentioned that the Classic isn't doing the trick for you, perhaps it could mean that for your physique a bike with a different riding position may be the solution. Take a test ride of the Hunter 350, which now has very absorptive suspension and a similar feel from the engine. You should also consider the Harley-Davidson X440 (splurge for the nicer looking T if you can) as that bike also has a comfortable suspension setup and seating posture.

Royal Enfield Hunter 350
Harley Davidson X440

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Posted on: 1 Jul 2026