Hi team, I’m planning on getting the BMW 450 GS when it is launched, but am worried about the maintenance cost. Can you share an estimate of how much I can expect to spend on maintenance over the years if I have a running of about 8,000 km a year? I’m an aggressive rider and mostly use it for weekday work commutes and occasional breakfast rides on weekends. Regards, Mohnish

Autocar India

•6d

The Bajaj Dominar 250 is not a high-volume product for Bajaj, and therefore, its production process isn't likely to be as speedy as something popular, say, a Platina. To expedite matters, you should ask your dealer for three things (preferably in writing or on e-mail): your order ID, the current status with a tentative dispatch week, and whether your colour is on hold. A worthwhile option worth considering is to source a bike from an alternative nearby dealer.If that also doesn't help you, put a short, polite post on Bajaj's official social media handles across various platforms. Also, mark the dealership’s General Manager and the Bajaj area sales manager, so you tick all the boxes.

Autocar India

•1d

From a logical point of view, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 makes sense for your use case, which is primarily in the city. The Classic is a lighter machine and will be easier to manage in the city. In your case, it will also be a largely familiar machine since you're coming from an older Classic 350, and there won't be too much of a learning curve. Plus, in comparison to the Interceptor 650, you'll also get better fuel economy from the Classic.On the flip side, the Interceptor will be a far better machine for highway riding, and its twin-cylinder engine gives it a different character. If you're looking for a change of pace from your Classic, the Interceptor could be the perfect step up because, despite its added power and weight, it is still an approachable machine. The one thing you need to be mindful of on the Interceptor inside the city is its wide exhaust pipes, which will stick out in traffic.A test ride will reveal whether you should go for the Interceptor or the Classic.

Autocar India

•5w

From a strictly technical standpoint, the higher grade 10W40 oil should theoretically help in hotter climates like ours because it will retain its viscosity at higher temperatures better than 10W30. Thereby being better suited to cooling the TVS Ronin's air/oil-cooled motor. However, this will likely void your warranty if it isn't recommended by TVS. We would advise you to stick to whatever the owner's manual and service advisors recommend, especially if your bike is still inside the warranty period. If your manual or service advisor strictly specifies 10W30 only, or you ride mostly in cooler weather, consider switching to a fully synthetic 10W30 oil from a different brand instead to keep cold‑flow performance optimal. But before you do all this, we'd first recommend a trip to the service centre to ensure that idle RPM is set as per the manufacturer's recommendation. Also, make sure to clean the engine’s as well as the oil cooler's fins and airflow path. Then, use the bike for a few weeks as you normally would to see if that has solved your problem.

Autocar India

•5d

Since your usage includes both city riding and highway runs, we would strongly recommend you go with the TVS Ntorq 150. The bigger Ntorq's engine can sustain 70-90kph easily on the highway, it is a stable and comfortable machine even at higher speeds, and most importantly, comes with the safety net of single-channel ABS, which will protect you in case you encounter a situation where you need to jam on the brakes.Be aware that since the Ntorq 150 has a large engine, its fuel economy is likely to be much lower than the 110-125cc options in the mainstream market. Although in isolation, when ridden sensibly, it does return good fuel efficiency.If budget is a constraint and you still want a scooter with ABS and one that returns good fuel economy, look no further than the top 2 variants of the latest-gen Suzuki Access 125. The Access remains the only 125cc scooter to offer you single-channel ABS from a reputed and established brand in India. It is also a well-sorted, comfortable and fuel-efficient scooter which has carved out its reputation for being reliable, so realistically over a longer ownership period, you shouldn't face many surprises.Decide how much you need to spend on your next purchase and take a test ride of the Access and Ntorq before you make a decision.

Autocar India

•4d

If you don't mind the look of the Harley-Davidson X440 S, then you should go ahead and buy that bike. Conventional mirrors are easier to use and during lane filtering, they don't protrude as much as bar-end ones. The ride-by-wire throttle on the X440 T does not offer any significant real-world advantage over the S variant's cable throttle, nor does it bring in significant improvements in performance in this application. The only reason to consider the T variant would be its improved fit and finish, a more cohesive tail section design and slightly better controlled suspension damping.

Autocar India

•6d

Buying a new or used vehicle depends mainly on two factors: your mindset regarding used vehicles, as well as the price and condition of the vehicle in question.If you plan to use the scooter every day for many years, a new one from the showroom is usually the safer bet. If your budget is tight or you only need it for a short period, a good pre-owned scooter can save money.A new scooter works well when you want zero hassle. You get full warranty, a few free services, and roadside help, so surprises are rare. The trade-off is the high on-road price, higher first-year insurance, and the biggest drop in value happens in the first couple of years.On the flip side, a used scooter makes sense when you find a clean one at a lower price. The catch is risk. You must deal with unknown wear and tear, and there’s also the chance that the vehicle might be out of warranty coverage.Simple rule: pick new if you ride daily, plan to keep it long, or are someone who wants worry-free ownership. Pick used only if you can verify service records, the scooter is fairly recent and in good shape, and the price difference is substantial.