I am looking to upgrade to a bike after riding an Activa for almost 10 years, which served my daily commute of about 15 km on most days. I want a motorcycle that offers good comfort, decent mileage, and is suitable for occasional long rides with a partner. I am 5 ft 6 in tall and weigh 75 kg. I am interested in bikes like Royal Enfield and Bajaj Avenger, but I’m unsure if these will be compatible with my physique in the long run. Please advise.

Autocar India

•17h

Since you've said that most of your riding is relegated to city riding with a pillion, where comfort and fuel efficiency are top priorities, we'd recommend you stick to a premium 125cc commuter. The TVS Raider is a good option as it offers a comfortable ride and a spacious seat for the rider and pillion. In that category, our top picks are the TVS Raider and Hero Xtreme 125R. Both are available with variants that have a long, single-piece seat, so pillion comfort as well as fuel efficiency will be taken care of. In case you do want to scratch the itch of getting a larger machine, you will be well served by the TVS Ronin as well as the Royal Enfield Hunter 350. Both have smooth, torquey engines, plush suspension and are large enough to carry a pillion. Take a test ride of these bikes and see which one you prefer the most before purchasing.

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Autocar India

•14h

Within your budget, you have three very different options you can look at - Yamaha XSR155, TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, TVS Ronin and Hero Xpulse 200 4V. The XSR is the least powerful but is also the lightest motorcycle here. It will also feel the sportiest to ride because its engine and underpinnings are derived from the popular Yamaha R15 and MT-15. The downsides of the XSR are that it is a rather petite motorcycle. For someone of large stature such as yourself, this will be a potential challenge, and its rear suspension is quite stiff. It can get uncomfortable over repeated bad patches. The Apache RTR 200 4V is another sporty roadster, and with its larger engine than the XSR, it will feel more at home at sustained higher speeds. Its suspension comfort and more spacious seats will also be helpful for your usage. The TVS Ronin is a relaxed roadster with its smooth and torquey engine and relaxed and neutral ergonomics. Also, plush suspension setup and relatively larger size - compared to the other two bikes here - the Ronin has the potential to be the most suited to your use case.Moving on to the Hero Xpulse 200 4V, this is the bike you should buy if you want to venture off-road on your long tours. It will have by far the most plush suspension of all the bikes here, although its on-road handling will leave you wanting once you pick up the pace. We'd recommend a test ride of all three before you make a decision. Also, do note that all four bikes are all slightly above Rs 1.50 lakh (your stipulated budget), within that amount, there's no credible option for your requirements.

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Autocar India

•20h

The Suzuki V-Strom SX may be a dated machine, but it is a great option for someone who wants a relaxed, reliable and fuel-efficient touring machine. If you are open to considering other form factors aside from the adventure bike style, there are some other machines that will fit the bill for your usage as well. In the neo-retro space, the TVS Ronin, Honda CB350 models and Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350 will be good options to consider with their relaxed riding triangles, smooth and torquey engines, as well as plush suspension setups. These bikes won't be as fuel-efficient as the V-Strom, but the drop isn't going to be too drastic either. Take a test ride of these bikes before you make a decision.

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