I’m 5′8″, 35 years old, an IT professional with back pain, and I ride occasionally. Last year, I purchased a Speed 400 after 12 years of riding just an Activa, and I found the Duke too powerful at that time. I ride mostly in the city and take highway trips of 400–800 km once every month or two. I am thinking about buying a new bike because I am not fully satisfied with the Speed 400, especially on the highway. Don’t get me wrong - it’s a great bike - but I want to cruise comfortably at 110–120 km/h. With the Speed 400, I’ve found 90 km/h to be the sweet spot; anything above that becomes irritating. The bike can easily reach 140, but when I let go of the throttle, it feels like the bike brakes itself and only smooths out again near 90 and below. I am not into off-roading, and I am not a serious rider. I am looking for something more powerful than the Speed 400 but not excessively so - something in the range of 50-60 bhp. Budget is not a constraint.

autocar.india

•2d

Both the Bajaj Pulsar 125 and Honda SP125 are great commuter bikes, and it's hard to go wrong with either. The latest Pulsar 125 is a refined, feature-loaded (the top variants, especially so) and decently comfortable machine which should be fuel efficient and reliable in the long run as well. The SP125 has largely remained the same since its BS6 update, gaining only a few features and new colours - it is largely a Shine 125 in different clothes, which means it should be a straightforward and dependable workhorse of a commuter. As we said at the outset, it's hard to go wrong with either, so make sure you get a test ride and see which one you like more before you make your decision. It would also be wise to choose an option that has a sales & service touchpoint near your office or residence.

autocar.india

•2d

If you are looking for a comfortable ADV motorcycle, the TVS Apache RTX and Hero Xpulse 210 should be on your radar in this price range. The Honda NX200 is a dressed-up Hornet 2.0 and, aside from its look, isn't a 'proper' adventure bike. Both the RTX & the Xpulse are capable, comfortable and quick motorcycles, with the latter being the easier of the two to ride and manage - given that both have a tall 835mm seat height. However, the RTX has the better road manners and the far superior feature set. Take a test ride of both before you make your decision.It would also be prudent to wait for the Honda XR300 Rally, which should be available in a BigWing showroom near you in a few months' time.

autocar.india

•6d

Given that we are yet to ride both the Triumph Bonneville T40 and Honda Rebel 300, we can't yet comment on which one is better, although judging purely from a practicality standpoint, the Bonnie ought to tackle Indian roads better with its longer suspension travel, larger wheels and taller ground clearance. If you must have either of these bikes, we'd recommend waiting a few months until ownership and media reviews are out and you can test ride both before making a decision. This is especially pertinent since you mentioned that neither brand has a presence in your city and it's a 100km round trip for you.In the meantime, why don't you check out the slower and heavier but charming and proven Royal Enfield Classic 350? The Classic may lose a comparison against these two judged purely based on its specification sheet, but if you like an effortless, torque-rich riding experience with great comfort, then the Classic will be up your alley. We've seen spy shots of the bike (finally!) coming with centre-laced spoked wheels, which will permit tubeless tyres, and we recommend you go for that when it is launched.