I am writing from Coimbatore. I currently own a Yamaha SZ-R and am looking to upgrade my bike with touring in mind. I have shortlisted the Kawasaki Versys X-300 and the Suzuki V-Strom 250. I am 5 feet 5 inches tall. I test rode the Versys and found it comfortable in terms of ride quality. I am yet to test ride the V-Strom. Budget is not a concern. I am looking for a no-nonsense machine that is comfortable and good to ride. Are there any upcoming bikes I should wait for?

Autocar India

•1d

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

•2d

Since you're used to the stiff suspension and tight seating triangle of your sporty Aprilia SR 150, the Yamaha Aerox 155 will likely feel very similar in those regards. Of course, the Aerox's more modern, liquid-cooled engine will feel superior and its good fun to use on both fast roads and in slower city traffic. Expect very good fuel economy and reliability from the Aerox as well and its quick-thinking start-stop tech is one of the best in the business. On the other hand, the Hero MotoCorp Xoom 160 feels like a much larger and more luxurious scooter in terms of its seating and ride comfort. Compared to the Aerox, the Xoom's ride comfort is much better although its not outright plush. If you live in an area with predominantly bad roads, the Xoom will cope better than the Aerox. Its engine is also fairly punchy, but in terms of handling, the Xoom won't match the sprightly Aerox because it is a heavier and more relaxed machine. It can still take sweeping corners pretty quickly but its not going to be as agile as the Yamaha. Both have similar features and under seat storage areas but the Xoom's start/stop tech can get tiring to use in the city because its much slower than the Aerox's excellent system. Neither of the two scooters will have any storage space on the floorboard because their underbone frames have prominent spine sections, unlike your Aprilia, which will be something you'll have to work around. While both are directly comparable on paper, the real-world picture is actually quite different. Depending on the sort of experience you're after and which one feels better to use, make your decision. To do that, we'd recommend exhaustive test rides of both.

Autocar India

•2d

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.