Hi - I’ve been riding a 2014 Unicorn and now I’m looking to buy a new bike. Could you help me decide whether I should go for a 150 cc or a 350 cc model? I won’t be doing long rides very often - my weekly distance will be just about 10-12 km at most. I’m looking for something stylish, not the traditional Unicorn look. Here are some models I’m considering: the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, Honda CB350RS, Bajaj Pulsar N160 / Pulsar N250, and the TVS Apache RTR 160. Could you advise?

autocar.india

•5d

It seems that you value peace of mind over everything else, so choosing an unimpeachable product like the Honda Unicorn will be a safer bet. The Unicorn can't match the Pulsar in terms of outright performance, handling or features, but it consistently provides reliable transportation to lakhs of Indians, which makes it the better fit for your needs. It would also be advisable to throw the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V into the mix. To be sure, take test rides of all three before you make your decision.

autocar.india

•6h

Since you have said you want to start riding long distances in addition to your daily commutes, buying a machine with good performance for highway rides would be a smart move. Therefore, we'd recommend choosing between the 350cc Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X, Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, TVS Apache RTX 300 and 350cc KTM 390 Adventure. The Guerrilla 450 and Speed 400 will offer you a traditional roadster experience wherein they are easy to manage 'standard' bikes with good performance and comfort to handle your needs. If you plan to do a lot of solo riding, these bikes make good sense. If, instead, you want space for a pillion and luggage, and the ability to simply shrug off bad roads without giving it a second thought, then the RTX and 390 Adventure are the way to go. The KTM will offer more performance and is the machine that has been around much longer but the RTX is the better rounded product of the two. In the city, these ADVs can feel a little big and cumbersome, especially at slower speeds although in time you would get used to it. They also have big windscreens which will block cooling air coming to the rider, another hindrance in our climate. Lastly, the Scrambler 400 X is a jack of all trades sort of machine wherein it is good fun to ride it both in a spirited and laidback fashion, as your mood changes and it will give you a similiar amount of comfort and space to the ADVs but will lack the weather protection. Coming to why your palms were hurting, all of these bikes have very upright riding postures so it's unlikely to have anything to do with the rider's triangle. If you are to grip the handlebar tightly and stay like that for an extended duration, you will experience this. On your next ride, pay special attention to this. Based on your needs, it would be wise to pick between the Scrambler, Speed and Guerrilla, depending on which one fits your budget and personal case the best.

autocar.india

•5d

If you can sort out secure charging at your residence, then going for a proven electric scooter like the TVS iQube, Ather Rizta, Bajaj Chetak, or Vida VX2 would be our recommendation. For daily use, an e-scooter will be more practical and also save you money with its lower running costs. While the Yamaha MT-15 will surely be more fun and engaging to ride, it won't be able to match the practicality or low running costs of an EV. If you can't go for an EV, but want something more affordable than your MT, then look at 160cc commuters like TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, Bajaj Pulsar N160 and Honda Unicorn / SP160. Take a test ride of these products before you make your decision, depending on what category you're shopping in.