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•41w

Good day, Autocar team. I currently own three motorcycles: a KTM Duke 200 (2014), a KTM Adventure 390 (2022), and a Honda CBR650R (2025). I frequently go on long road trips, including some off-roading, for which the Adventure 390 has been my primary companion. The bike has now crossed 50,000 km, and with concerns around E20 fuel compatibility and KTM’s long-term reliability, I am considering replacing it with a new adventure motorcycle. Since the CBR650R is not suitable for rough roads, I seek your expert advice on whether I should invest in a new adventure bike within a budget of ₹6-8 lakh.

•41w

If you want an adventure bike that is E20 compliant, you will need to either purchase a new bike or search the pre-owned market for a lightly used model manufactured within the last 1 or 2 years.

If you are looking for a new bike, we would recommend paying the high initial purchase price of the twin-cylinder Honda NX500. It is a rather sorted machine in almost every regard and will feel like a nice step up from your single-cylinder KTM. And since you're familiar with the trouble-free Honda big bike ownership experience, the NX500 makes for a logical step up.

If you decide to go for something a little less pricey, then bikes like the latest KTM 390 Adventure models and the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 are also options worth looking at.

You also have the option of waiting for the new BMW F 450 GS, although its pricing will be similar to the Honda bike rather than the single-cylinder models mentioned above.

A test ride of everything you shortlist should help you make a decision.

Explore bikes mentioned

Honda Bikes

NX500

from ₹8.05 Lakh

KTM

390 Adventure

from ₹3.06 Lakh

Royal Enfield

Himalayan

from ₹3.31 Lakh

BMW Bikes

F 450 GS

from ₹5.09 Lakh

More posts on similar bikes

•1w

I currently own a H'ness CB350 which is causing me some discomfort even after upgrading its seat. The Mumbai roads are further giving me a hard time and I am thinking of upgrading to an ADV bike for city purpose under a budget of approximately Rs. 5 lakh. A pillion also accompanies me occasionally, however, I ride solo. Which bike should I upgrade to and should I even upgrade it right now or wait?

•4d

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is a fantastic Swiss army knife of a motorcycle and will serve your needs well. It has sublime suspension comfort and its spacious ergonomics are great for carrying two people. Coming from a CB350, its liquid-cooled 452cc engine will also seem like a pretty substantial jump up in terms of performance. We'd wholeheartedly recommend splurging for the cross spoke laced wheels which bring in the convenience of tubeless tyres and even so, you'll be well under your budget. If you want to stick with Honda then we'd advise you to wait for the XR300 models to become available in dealers on a widespread basis (which will take 4-6 months) and then take a test ride of these to see if they are up your alley. Do bear in mind that the Himalayan is a proper adventure bike which means it will have better comfort and capability but will be significantly heavier, whereas the XR300s are focused, lightweight dualsport machines which will be less comfortable in terms of seating.

Royal Enfield Himalayan

•3d

Is Bajaj Pulsar 220F a good choice for daily commute of 50km?

•3h

In isolation, the Bajaj Pulsar 220F is a proven workhorse with a punchy engine, comfortable rider's traingle position and good highway stability, which makes it well-suited for longer daily runs. It is also relatively affordable to maintain and has a wide service network, which is important for a high-mileage commuter.That said, the 220F is now nearly 2 decades old and has only seen regulatory and minor feature-related updates since. It does not offer the refinement or modern features of newer-generation bikes in the segment. If your commute is mostly highway and you don't mind the old-school feel of the 220F, it can make sense for you. However, if you are looking for a more modern package with better refinement, consider Bajaj's own Pulsar N250, the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V or Honda Hornet 2.0 as similiarly-priced and comparable alternatives. Try to take a test ride of all four before you make your decision to see where your preferences lie.

Bajaj Pulsar N250

Bajaj Pulsar 220F

TVS Apache RTR 200 4V

Honda Bikes Hornet 2.0

•1d

When will deliveries of the Honda Rebel 300 begin?

•4h

Deliveries of the new Honda Rebel 300 (both the standard & E-Clutch variants) are likely to begin by the end of this year or latest in the first quarter of 2027. For a more specific timeline, if you have pre-booked the motorcycle, we'd recommend reaching out to your nearest BigWing dealer.

Honda Bikes Rebel 300

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Has E20 fuel affected your mileage?

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•5d

I'm planning to purchase my first motorcycle and have narrowed down my options to the Bajaj Pulsar N160 SS and Dominar 250. My primary usage will be short daily commutes of approximately 5-6 km one way in Hyderabad's traffic (around 12km two way), with occasional longer rides. I'm a relatively new rider, so low-speed usability, manoeuvrability and ease of handling matter to me. The N160 SS appeals to me because of its lighter weight, Crawl Tech, TFT and city-friendly characteristics. However, the Dominar 400 has been my dream motorcycle for the past ten years, ever since it was launched in India while I was still in school. While the Dominar 400 remains my dream bike, the Dominar 250 seems like a reasonable compromise for my primarily urban use, offering some of that Dominar experience without going straight for the 400. I've ridden the Dominar 400 and found it surprisingly manageable and planted, but I haven't been able to test-ride the Dominar 250 because dealerships don't have test-ride units. I've also heard that the Dominar 250 lacks low-end urgency, requires frequent gear changes in slow traffic and is relatively heavy for city use. On the other hand, my uncle, who has owned a Dominar 400 for years and uses it in Hyderabad, has suggested that the Dominar 250 could be a reasonable choice for my requirements. The Dominar 250 is currently quoted at approximately Rs. 2.42 lakh (on-road), compared with around Rs. 1.86-1.94 lakh for the N160 SS. Given my usage, beginner experience and long-standing desire to own a Dominar, would you recommend the N160 SS as the more sensible long-term choice, or is the Dominar 250 a motorcycle that I could realistically grow into and enjoy despite its compromises? I would particularly appreciate your thoughts on low-speed tractability, bumper-to-bumper traffic, manoeuvrability for a beginner, and whether the Dominar's additional weight and cost are justified for someone whose riding will primarily be urban.

•4d

There's no doubt that the Bajaj Dominar 250 will fit the bill well for your needs as a first-time motorcyclist. However, what stops us from recommending it wholeheartedly is that the smaller Dominar sells in extremely microscopic numbers which means sometimes you'll be waiting a long time for a small part, leaving your bike out of action which is never a good thing. Truth be told, the Dominar 400 (especially since it is now powered by a downsized 349cc motor) is a perfectly acceptable first bike and since you have had an inclination towards the Dominar for a long time, why not go ahead and scratch and that itch! The only caveat here would be that the Dominar is a hefty machine, weighing 190kg, which can catch you off-guard at slow-speed scenarios but in time, you'll get used to it. On the other hand, if you don't want to deal with the extra weight and purchasing cost of the Dominar 400, then the Pulsar N160 SS is a very different but nonetheless, a great option for a beginner. It has a peppy engine, predictable handling, good comfort and comes with all the latest gizmos and gadgets that people these days want their two-wheelers to be festooned with. Not to mention, it will also be far more fuel efficient than the Dominar. These are 2 very different bikes which will give you starly different experiences so its best you take a test ride and see which one you're leaning towards more before you make your decision.

Bajaj Dominar 250

Bajaj Dominar 400

Bajaj Pulsar N160

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