I’m confused between the BMW F 450 GS and the Norton Atlas. My riding will be mostly in the city on bad roads and potholes, with weekend breakfast rides. I won’t be doing much off-roading. I currently own a KTM Duke 390 and want a clear upgrade in power while keeping comfort and ease of use. Can the lighter BMW 450 GS compete with the Norton Atlas in real-world performance, especially for city riding and comfort?

autocar.india

•2d

The Honda Unicorn will make for a good upgrade over your Activa, given your daily 70km stint. Commuter motorcycles are some of the most comfortable and fuss-free machines you can buy today, especially so in the case of the Unicorn. If you want alternatives to the proven Honda, look at the Bajaj Pulsar N160 and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V for a sportier, more feature-rich experience without sacrificing comfort and usability. A test ride of all three will help determine which is the right one for you.

autocar.india

•2d

Do not worry, it is completely normal to see a 1-3 km drop in the displayed range on your Ather 450 X after a full charge, even if the scooter has not been ridden. This is not a sign of battery degradation or a fault. What you are seeing is a combination of two things: battery self-discharge and the way the range estimator works. All lithium-ion batteries lose a tiny amount of charge when parked overnight or for a few days, even when the scooter has not been in use. More importantly, the range estimate is not a fixed number - it is a calculation based on the current state of charge and your recent riding patterns. Even a small change in battery percentage can cause the displayed range to drop by a few kilometres.

autocar.india

•2d

Within your budget, there are only two EVs from reputed brands available, like the Vida (Hero) VX2 Go 2.2 and TVS Orbiter V2 (3.1kWh battery). These have enough range for a 25km daily loop and will surely help reduce your running costs to a great extent. If you have a secure charging location, then opting for an EV definitely makes sense. They have gentle but surefooted performance, and to decide between these two, take a test ride before you make your decision.If, however, you are not keen on making the switch to an EV, then sticking with proven options like Honda Activa 110, TVS Jupiter 110 and Suzuki Access 125 makes sense. The Activa and Jupiter are slightly more frugal than the Access, which consequently has zippier performance. All three are proven products, and you should go for the one you gel with the most on your test ride.