Hello Team! I commute daily to the office, around 30km round trip. My route includes a few rough patches and disjoints on flyovers. I currently ride a Meteor 350, but I am struggling with it as the rear suspension is absolutely pathetic. I am not planning to sell it due to personal attachment. I am now looking for a second, lightweight motorcycle in the ₹1.5-2 lakh range, which will be my primary commuter and used occasionally for single-day rides. Smooth gearshifts are a priority, along with excellent suspension, as I have started experiencing back pain. I am 5 feet 10 inches tall and weigh 75kg. I shortlisted the Xpulse 210 but dropped it due to concerns around quality issues and tube tyres. I really like the RTX 300, but it is out of my budget. I also like the CB300F Flex Fuel, but have heard that the rear suspension is stiff. The same concern applies to the Gixxer twins and the RTR 200. So, please assist me. At the moment, I am confused between the Hero Xtreme 160R Combat Edition and the Pulsar N160. I really liked the overall feel and sound of the N160. The Hero sales and test ride experience was not great, although the bike itself felt good. I also like the TVS Ronin, but did not find it as comfortable as the other two. Please help me decide.

Autocar India

•3h

Honestly, both bikes are great at their job and will suit your needs well, but they offer very different experiences. The Hunter 350 is a very different Royal Enfield from what we've seen before, but carries some signature strengths like plush ride quality, a characterful and torquey engine, as well as great curb appeal and good finish levels. Plus, when you buy a RE, you get access to a brand which has built a very good community and ownership experience in terms of events and rides, which is something few brands in India offer you today.Do bear in mind that the Hunter is a heavy machine, and this is just something you will have to work around. It's not as heavy as other Royal Enfields, but it is a good 20 kilos heavier than the TVS Ronin.Coming to the Ronin, this is a lighter, more agile and eager-feeling machine than the Hunter. It isn't overtly sporty and will be comfortable for daily use. The Ronin's lighter weight and smaller engine also translate to better fuel economy in general. The TVS is also the more affordable machine to purchase, and the price difference isn't insignificant. If you are on a tight budget, this is something to consider.Both bikes have a very different feel despite being similar on paper, and to make an informed decision before your next purchase, take a test ride of both.

Autocar India

•3d

Since you're innately familiar with Royal Enfield ownership, upgrading to the Himalayan 450 seems like a safe bet. The Himalayan's suspension can iron out pretty much any road imperfection you encounter and its performance will be a big step up over the Hunter you own too. The only caveat with going for the Himalayan is that it is a tall and heavy bike, and these attributes will make their presence felt at slower speeds inside the city. If you want slightly higher performance levels on a lighter machine, then the KTM 390 Adventure models (whether you opt for 350cc or 399cc iterations is up to the budget you have) are worth considering. The KTM bikes have great handling, punchy top-end performance and come with features like adjustable suspension, traction control and a bidirectional quick shifter - depending on the variant. In your Rs. 7 lakh budget, you can also get the BMW F 450 GS, although depending on your city's taxation structure, you may need to stretch your budget a little if you are eyeing the top Trophy variant. The new entry-level GS is a competent machine and will be a step up in refinement from the single-cylinder machines mentioned above and it is also lighter than them. You will, however, need to be prepared for higher running and maintenance costs expected of a machine wearing the BMW badge. Take test rides of these machines to decide which one works best for you before you make your next purchase. If none of these options seem enticing, you could also retrofit the latest-gen Hunter's suspension to your older model which will bring some much needed relief in terms of ride quality. Do bear in mind that this swap will likely void your warranty and we'd recommend reaching out to your nearest dealership for more clarity on the same.

Autocar India

•4d

In the 150/160cc commuter bike segment, options like the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Bajaj Pulsar N160 are great bets if you want your commuter to pack in a little bit of spice and some feel-good features like a USD fork, TFT display and the like. These bikes are also quite fuel efficient and comfortable, making them good daily-use machines. If, on the other hand, you want a simple, no-nonsense commuter, then we'd advise you to look at the Honda Unicorn / SP160. Both are mechanically very similiar but the SP has more features and sharper styling than the Unicorn which has the same silhouette since it debuted 20 years ago. Depending on the sort of bike you prefer, make a choice between these three. To make an informed decision, we'd recommend test rides of all three before you make your purchase.