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James Sebastian

10w

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.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
10w

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. 

Honda NX500

Honda NX500

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Latest questions people are discussing

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Rayvonne Gonsalves

1w

I currently own a Dominar 250 and was looking for an upgrade. Want a comfortable bike for city 70% and highways 30%. On long rides the Dominar seats feel very hard and I need frequent breaks. I checked out the Honda CB350C and Hness but didn't find the ride quality so impressive. I'm 5ft 6in and have tested the Triumph speed 400 and Scrambler 400x and have made up my mind to go for the Scrambler 400X. But since theres a lot of buzz around that the same will be discontinued to make way for 350cc models, would it be wise to wait for it? Another option im looking for is the TVS Apache RTX 300. What would you suggest?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
6d

The Triumph Scrambler 400 X that you have shortlisted is a good one bike to do it all. If you have your heart set on it, you should indeed hurry up and get one soon before the 350cc replacement is launched in the coming months. While its slightly smaller successor will be identical in most ways, the smaller engine with likely reduced performance could affect performance at highway speeds. So it's better to go for the 400cc model while you can. The TVS Apache RTX 300 is another great all-rounder, and if you are ready to deal with its size and weight, then you should absolutely consider it. Do bear in mind that for someone of your stature, the RTX could prove to be a little much inside the city at slower speeds. So we would recommend a thorough test ride before you make a decision. Another option worth considering is the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450. It has a very approachable 780mm seat height, which will be helpful for you and has good performance and comfort for both city and highway usage. Since all the bikes you're considering are quite different, take a test ride of each before making a decision.

Triumph Scrambler 400 X
TVS Apache RTX
Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450
DK

Dharmender Kaushik

5d

I want to buy a 125-150 cc bike. My height is 165 cm. I want it for the daily office commute. I want a bike with low seat height, not too high, with a refined engine, decent mileage of 45+ and with ABS.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
17h

Pretty much every single 150-160cc commuter comes with at least single-channel ABS, so that won't be a deciding factor for you. Our top picks in this class are the Bajaj Pulsar N160 and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V if you want something sportier and feature-rich. If you want to stick to a simple, no-nonsense machine, then the Honda Unicorn remains a safe bet. If ridden sensibly, you should see in excess of 45kpl for all of these 150cc bikes.In the 125cc class, if having ABS is non-negotiable, then your options are restricted to the TVS Raider and Honda CB125 Hornet. Of these three, the TVS is our top recommendation. The 125s will be quite fuel-efficient, and you'll seldom see a mileage figure below 50kpl, no matter your riding style.You should first decide which segment you want to stick with and then take a test ride of the bikes accordingly before you make a decision.

TVS Raider
Bajaj Pulsar N160
TVS Apache RTR 160 4V
Honda Bikes Unicorn
Honda Bikes CB125 Hornet

Posted on: 30 Dec 2025