I am 48 years old and looking to buy a motorcycle for my daily commute and occasional touring. I have the Pulsar N250 in mind. Is it suitable for me? What other light motorcycles should I consider if I do not want to stretch my budget much beyond Rs 2 lakh?

autocar.india

•1h

The TVS Ronin is a good option to consider for your needs but you are right to be worried about TVS' aftersales because unlike its impressive products, it is rather hit or miss. Nonetheless, this remains an option you should consider, do visit your nearest TVS dealership and service centre and try to get some assurances from them before you go ahead with your purchase.In a similiar vein, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 too is a sweet and charming motorcycle which will suit your needs rather well. Royal Enfield has a widespread service network and the bike has been around long enough that you can trust it without major issues cropping up. Another underrated option that you should seriously consider is the newly launched Bajaj Pulsar N250SS. The Pulsar may look sporty and angular but it has a very neutral riding position, good suspension and a capable engine which can handle both city & highway duties. A test ride of all three should help you determine which is the best bike for your needs.

autocar.india

•2d

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!

autocar.india

•2d

Answering based on the things you have asked for, in ascending order:1) Depending on your stature, you will have different feelings about the rider's triangle on the RE Hunter 350 and CB350RS2) Both bikes have well-sorted suspension setups, so they will fare quite well. 3) Fuel economy depends on your riding style, prevailing traffic & weather conditions as well as a multitude of other factors, so it's hard to give you an accurate number. That being said, the Honda 350cc engine is known to be quite frugal (even in our experience), in comparison to the RE 350cc motor. 4) Local service is again a very subjective issue, even for people who reside in the same city and go to the same workshop, so we can't accurately comment on that. Historically speaking, both RE & Honda are known to have largely trouble-free service experiences. 5), 6) & 7) Both the Hunter and CB350RS are high-quality, reliable machines, and you will likely not go wrong with either of them, barring any isolated unit-specific issues.