Delhi

•1d

I’m a 40-year-old man, 6 ft 4 in tall and of slim build, and I’ve never ridden a motorcycle before. I don’t have a commute, since I live on a residential campus, so the bike will be for fun weekend rides. I’m considering the Honda XR 300 Rally Edition, because I don’t want to spend much more than Rs 2 lakh and its power-to-weight ratio is good. As a first-time rider, I want a light bike that can survive falls and drops without much damage. I also live in a non-metro city, where service and maintenance can be a problem, so I’m choosing Honda for its reliability. Is this the right choice, or have I missed anything?

•4m

The Honda XR300 Rally you're considering seems to have quite a lot going for it, judging from what we know of it so far. Another alternative you could consider is the Hero Xpulse 210, which has been around for far longer and is more of a proven commodity than the XR300 Rally. It's not as if the Xpulse is free from issues, but they are well documented and usually have a quick and inexpensive fix. Given that the XR300 Rally is a brand-new product, there could be small teething issues at the start, although given the badge on the tank, you're likely to be in safe hands in terms of the ownership experience, even if there are.

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Honda Bikes

XR300 Rally

from ₹2.25 Lakh

Hero MotoCorp

Xpulse 210

from ₹1.79 Lakh

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•3d

Hello Autocar team, I’m looking to buy a bike for my daily commute, and I ride more than 40 km a day. I want a feature-rich bike with the latest tech, good performance and strong fuel efficiency. Could you suggest some bikes that meet my requirements?

•1h

You haven't specified your budget, so we'll suggest some options across various price brackets - within reason. The prices we have mentioned are all ex-showroom, Delhi prices and on-road prices will be higher.If you are open to spending Rs 1 lakh - Rs 1.50 lakh, you can get proven 125-160cc options from reputed brands such as Honda Unicorn / SP160, various Yamaha FZ models, Bajaj Pulsar 125 / 150 / N160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Hero Xtreme 160R 4V. These are all straightforward commuters, but the newer variants are packing in the latest tech and features, which is something you value. If you're okay to extend to Rs 2 lakh, then options like the Bajaj Pulsar N250SS, TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, Hero Xpulse 210, TVS Ronin and Yamaha XSR155 come into the picture. Depending on where you look, you get more performance, more comfort or both compared to the bikes under Rs 1.50 lakh listed above. These bikes will return lower fuel efficiency owing to their larger displacement motors but compensate for that with better performance.Depending on your budget, take a test ride and then make your decision. Should you need more help, please write back to us, and we'll get back to you!

TVS Apache RTR 160 4V

Hero MotoCorp Xtreme 160R 4V

Bajaj Pulsar N250

TVS Apache RTR 200 4V

Hero MotoCorp Xpulse 210

TVS Ronin

Yamaha XSR155

•21h

I’m looking for a two-wheeler in the 150-200cc segment that’s suitable for family rides and has a slightly sporty look. Which one would you recommend?

•2h

Take a look at the Bajaj Pulsar N160 SS, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Hero Xtreme 160R 4V. These bikes offer great fuel economy, have good seating and suspension comfort and have the latest in terms of styling and features too. All three are largely similar to ride, with small nuances in terms of performance and comfort so it would be worthwhile to take a test ride of all three (with a pillion, if you travel two-up often) to judge which is the best for you before you decide.

Bajaj Pulsar NS160

TVS Apache RTR 160 4V

Hero MotoCorp Xtreme 160R 4V

•6d

I have been riding a RE Hunter 350 for the past 4 years and love its low-end torque and relaxed city character. However, I hope that it brings back the lightweight, punchy, "zingy" thrill of the old Yamaha RX 100/135. I have shortlisted KLX230 and have taken it test ride in Bengaluru on broken, waterlogged, pothole-filled roads and have thoroughly enjoyed it. The S variant wasn’t available for me to try. I enjoyed the deltabox/VVA engine of XSR155. Is it worth modding W175 to US LTD look? Dealer says it is off sale. SR250 fits my aesthetics, but I have doubts about its reliability and long-term ownership. Also, does a dual-sport or a light street bike like the XSR 155 make the ultimate garage companion to a Hunter 350? Is it worth holding out for/modding the W175 or trusting Keeway. Also, do the Yamaha/Kawasaki dual-sports beat them out-of-the-box for raw, lightweight fun?

•6d

Since you already have a Hunter, getting another road-oriented bike will give you largely the same experience and we'd recommend choosing a different form factor to broaden your horizons. From your shortlist, the Kawasaki KLX230 (and the lower seat height & suspension travel 'S' version) will be the best fit for your two-bike garage. In that same vein, we'd also recommend Honda's new XR300L & XR300 Rally because they will have similiar capability as the KLX but are far more affordable and will likely have a small performance edge owing to their larger-capacity motors. Once you're able to test ride the XR300s, pick between these & the KLX for your next purchase.

Royal Enfield Hunter 350

Honda Bikes XR300 Rally

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Popular discussions right now

•6d

Hi, I am planning to purchase the new Dominar 400 (350) but since Bajaj is rolling out a new 5-inch TFT, Golden USDs and new colors in the bike, I am waiting for its update. Do you think that it is worth waiting for? What could be the expected launch time for the updated Bajaj Dominar 400 with the new 5-inch TFT?

•6d

It is reasonable to expect that the latest slew of updates to Bajaj's motorcycles will eventually make their way to the 350cc Dominar 400, although the brand has made no indication towards this actually being the case. Its platform sibling, the Pulsar NS400Z, recently received this same update as well. If you are planning to purchase the Dominar, we'd recommend you go ahead with your decision because there's no confirmed information regarding when the bike will receive these features and you could potentially be looking at rather a long wait.

Bajaj Dominar 400

Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z

•5d

Hi Autocar team, I'm really stuck between two bikes for my first motorcycle purchase and could use your advice: the Honda Rebel 300 and Triumph Bonneville T40. I'm 5'10" tall, weigh 75 kg and currently ride an Activa 125. I also have some experience riding 150cc bikes in both city and highway conditions. Budget isn't a major constraint, as I'm comfortable spending around Rs 3.5-4 lakh on-road. Since the price difference between these two bikes isn't a deciding factor for me, choosing between them has become even harder. My usage will mainly involve a short daily commute of 7-8 km, with occasional weekend highway rides of 100-150 km. I love the Rebel's distinctive looks, but its 125mm ground clearance makes me nervous about uneven speed breakers and rough patches. The Bonneville T40 looks gorgeous, has plenty of ground clearance and seems more practical for occasionally carrying a pillion. However, its tubed-spoke wheels make me anxious about punctures on Indian roads. The delivery timelines also matter slightly, as I want to move away from my daily commuter. Another point to consider is that both dealerships are in another city, around 100km away on a round trip, so I'd have to travel that distance for servicing and any issues that might arise. Between the two, which would you pick as a sensible yet characterful step up from a commuter? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

•3d

Given that we are yet to ride both the Triumph Bonneville T40 and Honda Rebel 300, we can't yet comment on which one is better, although judging purely from a practicality standpoint, the Bonnie ought to tackle Indian roads better with its longer suspension travel, larger wheels and taller ground clearance. If you must have either of these bikes, we'd recommend waiting a few months until ownership and media reviews are out and you can test ride both before making a decision. This is especially pertinent since you mentioned that neither brand has a presence in your city and it's a 100km round trip for you.In the meantime, why don't you check out the slower and heavier but charming and proven Royal Enfield Classic 350? The Classic may lose a comparison against these two judged purely based on its specification sheet, but if you like an effortless, torque-rich riding experience with great comfort, then the Classic will be up your alley. We've seen spy shots of the bike (finally!) coming with centre-laced spoked wheels, which will permit tubeless tyres, and we recommend you go for that when it is launched.

Triumph Bonneville T40

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•2w

Hi, I am a 3rd-year student and am confused between two bikes, the Meteor 350 and the Hunter 350. I am 5'6 and 64 kg. I am a beginner, just learning to ride a bike from my father on his Splendor. I would like to use it in cities and on highways.

•5d

Given the fact that you are a beginner, the more affordable, lighter and smaller RE Hunter 350 will be a better fit than the heavier Meteor. Another factor working in the Hunter's favour is that its riding position is very neutral and its suspension is supple, which will make it adept at tackling bad roads without passing on the jolt to the rider's back. The Meteor, with its feet-forward riding position, will transmit more of the road imperfections to your back.

Royal Enfield Hunter 350

Royal Enfield Meteor 350

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