Autocar India
2d

I am 40 years old, 5'2" tall, and weigh 70 kg. I currently ride a Yamaha Fascino and want to buy a motorcycle. The purpose is more to fulfill a long-held wish than for utility. That said, I will use it for daily commutes within a 10 km radius, often with my daughter. I have never owned a motorcycle before, although I have ridden a Royal Enfield Bullet 350 a couple of times. My budget is around Rs. 2.5 lakh. Could you suggest motorcycles that are reasonably fuel-efficient, relatively easy to maintain, and suitable for ownership over the next 10 years? Thanks!

Verified
5h

Since you have mentioned you've ridden the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 in the past and you are buying this bike to fulfill a dream, we'd recommend the Bullet itself. It is a comfortable machine with a characterful and smooth engine and will fit within your budget too. If you want brighter colours and a slightly more different look, then look at its sibling, the Classic 350. If you want something that won't be as commonplace as either of these aforementioned bikes but still want a machine that can be used daily, their offbeat sibling, the Goan Classic 350 is the right bike for you. It has a lower seat height than both the Classic and Bullet which will make it easier for a person with a shorter frame like yours to manage around town, which is where you're going to be spending most of your time. Take test rides of the Goan and the Bullet and then make your decision based on which one you like more.

Royal Enfield Classic 350
Royal Enfield Bullet 350
Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350
1d

I own a Mahindra XUV 3XO MPFi Petrol, and I mainly use it for city driving. However, I'm getting only around 7-8 kmpl in the city. Should I consider installing a CNG kit in the car?

Verified
9h

We wouldn't recommend installing an aftermarket CNG kit on your Mahindra XUV 3XO MPFi Petrol. While it may significantly reduce your running costs, there are a few important compromises to consider. An aftermarket CNG conversion can affect your manufacturer's warranty, reduce boot space and may also impact long-term reliability and refinement if the installation isn't carried out to a very high standard. We'd be even more cautious when it comes to turbo-petrol engines. Unless the CNG system has been developed and validated by the OEM, we generally don't recommend fitting one. Turbo-petrol engines are more complex to calibrate for CNG, and an aftermarket installation may not deliver the same levels of drivability, performance and reliability as a factory-engineered solution. Tata is one of the few manufacturers currently offering a factory-fitted CNG option with a turbo-petrol engine on the Nexon, and that has been engineered from the outset to work with CNG.A city's fuel efficiency of 7-8kpl is on the lower side, but if your driving is predominantly in heavy stop-start traffic, it isn't entirely unexpected. Before considering a CNG conversion, we'd recommend getting the car inspected at the service centre to ensure there are no underlying issues. Also check that the tyre pressures are correct and review your driving style, as these can have a noticeable impact on fuel economy.

VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO