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Delhi
BO

Bocha

7w

I’m 43 years old and looking to upgrade from my Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 to a new brand. Please suggest a reliable brand and model within my budget limit of ₹6 lakh.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
6w

Unfortunately, within your budget, you won't find a brand-new machine from a reputed Japanese or European maker on the market today. In fact, some of the most affordable big bikes in India, like the Kawasaki 650s, Triumph Trident 660 and the Honda CB750 Hornet, all start above the Rs 7 lakh (ex-showroom) mark, with GST 2.0 partly contributing to this.

If you are open to the idea of a used machine, you will find Kawasaki Z650 / Ninja 650 and perhaps even a Honda CBR650F in your budget. Do bear in mind that you need to be cautious and do a thorough background check on these machines. Because a replacement mechanical part will cost you a pretty penny. And these older bikes also won't be E20 petrol compatible, so that's another factor to consider. 

Triumph Trident 660

Triumph Trident 660

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MW

Mohnish Waikar

2w

Between the Hornet 750 and the Suzuki GSX-8R, which is better for comfort over Indian potholes? I have a bad back and want comfort on poor roads. Also, what would be the annual maintenance cost?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
6d

The Suzuki GSX-8R - while it may look like an aggressive sport bike - is actually quite a comfortable road bike. Its clip-ons are set quite high, and its suspension is set up to tackle real-world road conditions. However, the GSX-8R has a service interval of 6 months / 6,000km (whichever is earlier), which could result in higher annual maintenance costs.Since we haven't ridden the Honda CB750 Hornet, we can't comment on its ride quality. Honda big bikes are generally easier to maintain and have a good reputation for low running costs (in the big bike space) and great resale value.We'd recommend a test ride of both machines before you make a decision.

Suzuki GSX-8R
Honda Bikes Hornet 750
TS

Tanmay Srinath

2w

I’m a 25-year-old rider from Bangalore (6 ft, 95 kg) currently using a 2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V (non-ABS). After a few close calls, I want to upgrade to a comfortable supersport or naked bike. My budget is flexible up to ₹10 lakh. I’m open to superbikes if they look great, but spares availability, service practicality, ground clearance, and E20 compatibility are important for Indian roads. I have tested multiple bikes: TVS RR 310: Loved the package. Best posture, great suspension for potholes, features, and comfort. My only worry is the engine refinement stories I’ve heard. I'm also worried that TVS might phase it out, and I'd be left searching for parts. Aprilia RS 457: Found the posture torturous and honestly didn’t get the hype around it. Hurt my fingers when doing a full turn with the handle. KTM Adventure 390: Felt unsafe due to excessive vibrations. I also don't like how adventure bikes look. Too bulky for my tastes. I'm 25 - should be able to enjoy my life! Kawasaki Ninja 300: Felt very outdated, and the engine character didn't impress me. The Kawasaki dealership experience was also quite poor. Aprilia Tuono 457: Posture was okay, but the engine didn't feel special enough to justify the high purchase price and service costs. Looks didn't impress me one bit. Suzuki GSX-8R: Comfortable and fast, but 11 lakhs feels unjustified given the high maintenance concerns. I loved Rishaad's review on it (great reviewer and presenter - send him my love!), but I didn't really understand what's so special about it. I could barely use 20% of its power :) I mostly ride in the city with occasional highway trips. Since I know decent TVS service folks, after-sales for the RR 310 isn't an issue. My main questions are: How bad is the refinement on the RR 310 really? Have the recent updates fixed the vibration issues? Is the 310 platform being phased out anytime soon, or is it safe to buy now? Should I wait for the 450 RR? Given my requirement for a comfortable posture and E20 compatibility, is it worth waiting for an updated Yamaha R3 or another 2026 twin, or should I just go ahead with the RR 310? I'm looking to purchase something in the March-April timeframe, but happy to wait longer if there's anything better coming up :)

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
1w

TVS has been giving the Apache RR 310 an update almost every year since it came out, improving small areas like refinement, features and adding more colours too. Today's Apache RR 310 is a feature-loaded machine which has significantly improved NVH levels, although it's still a single-cylinder machine. So, you will have to deal with some vibrations in certain bands of the rev range. Since you seem to prefer a twin-cylinder sportbike experience over a single and have the budget to go for it, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 is a bike we'd recommend you seriously consider. It has reasonably comfortable ergonomics and decently compliant suspension for daily usage. Its 451cc, twin-cylinder engine has a healthy spread of mid-range grunt, and it will also be fun to chase the redline, given some open tarmac. Yes, Kawasaki bikes are expensive to maintain, but that's something you will have to make peace with if you want a twin-cylinder sportbike today. You can also rest easy about E20 compatibility because all new bikes and scooters sold in India are compatible with our fuel. If you don't think the Ninja 500 justifies its high price tag, then move up to the little more expensive but quite a bit more capable Ninja 650. It is one of the few big bikes on sale in India that can genuinely be used on a day-to-day basis. As long as you're mindful of the low ground clearance and expensive rims. Coming to the TVS/BMW 450cc sportbike, an official launch is unlikely to happen anytime soon, considering we have only just spotted a heavily camouflaged test mule for the first time. Thank you for your kind words about Rishaad. We'll be sure to pass them on!

TVS Apache RR 310
Kawasaki Ninja 500
Kawasaki Ninja 650
CH

Chetan

2w

I own a Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTSi (2006). It has been perfectly maintained and is doing well, but I feel the need to upgrade to a bigger bike. I’m looking for a bike for my daily commute to office (30 km) and fairly frequent long weekend rides. My budget is close to ₹3.5 lakh. Kindly suggest options I should consider. P.S. - I have a tendency to ride relatively fast.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
1w

Since you are looking for a bike that is good for daily commuting as well as long rides, and are presently a Pulsar owner, a good upgrade option would be the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z. The NS400Z is a sporty machine that isn't too aggressive and will also be usable on a day-to-day basis, while entertaining you on longer journeys. It also has an excellent price tag, which means you will come in well under your budget. If you want to look elsewhere, options like the KTM 250 / 390 Duke, TVS Apache RTR 310 and Triumph Speed 400 are what we would recommend. The Speed 400 will be the best option inside city limits, but at high speeds, its engine feels a little strained. The Apache and Duke models are good all-rounders with genuine sporting intent and come with a host of techy and feel-good features. Take a test ride of the bikes mentioned above to make an informed decision about your next purchase.

Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z
KTM 250 Duke
KTM 390 Duke
TVS Apache RTR 310
Triumph Speed 400

Posted on: 18 Jan 2026