I want to upgrade from my current motorcycle to a mid-size bike, mainly for weekend rides and occasional city use in Mumbai. Please help me decide between the Triumph Daytona 660 and the Honda CBR650R.

Autocar India

•11w

Both the Triumph Daytona 660 and Honda CBR650R are great options to have for a weekend fun spin, and make good sense as your first multi-cylinder bike, too. The Daytona 660 has the punchier performance and is more affordable than the Honda bike, but you need to bear in mind that Triumph's ownership costs for the big bikes have risen sharply since Bajaj took over the British company's Indian operations. And in Mumbai, there are only 2 service centres for Triumph - Andheri and Thane - which usually have quite a bit of waiting when it comes to servicing these days because of the sales the new 400cc models are generating.

Coming to the Honda CBR650R, this is a proven package which has been around in India for more than a decade and now with its E-Clutch technology, it will be very easy to ride in city traffic. Honda big bikes are well regarded for reliability, manageable ownership costs, and effective heat management in Indian conditions. All of this said, we would steer you toward the Honda more than the Triumph bike.

However, we would encourage you to take a test ride and visit authorized dealers for both brands to make a more informed decision.

Explore bikes mentioned

Triumph

Daytona 660

from ₹10.84 Lakh

Honda Bikes

CBR650R

from ₹12.27 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Tamil R

•5d

I’m 22 and planning to buy my first bike, mainly for city commuting, with strong pillion comfort as a top priority. We already have a 15-year-old Honda Shine that is still reliable. My parents encouraged me to buy something better than basic commuter bikes like the TVS Sport or Bajaj Platina, and even offered financial help, which I would prefer to avoid since I’ve just started working. Initially, I shortlisted the TVS Raider, Hero Glamour (with cruise control, which I don’t really need), and Honda SP125 because they are affordable. However, I’m concerned about long-term service with TVS and Hero, and the lack of ABS on the Honda SP125. Then I looked at higher-segment options but ruled out sporty bikes with stepped seats (like the Hero Xtreme 125R and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V) due to pillion comfort concerns. That left me considering the TVS Ronin, Royal Enfield Hunter 350, and Yamaha XSR155 (which I ruled out due to pillion comfort). Now I’m confused between the comfort and efficiency of the TVS Ronin and the road presence and perceived reliability of the Royal Enfield Hunter 350. At the same time, I’m wondering if it would be smarter to save money and stick with a premium 125cc bike, since 90% of my usage will be relaxed city riding and I value cruiser-like comfort over speed.

Autocar India

•18h

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.

TVS Raider

Hero MotoCorp Xtreme 125R

TVS Ronin

Royal Enfield Hunter 350

Ravi Ganesh

•5d

I am a 42-year-old private company employee with a height of 5 ft 11 in and a weight of around 120 kg. I am looking to buy a reliable commuter motorcycle that can also be used occasionally for touring. My budget is around ₹1.5 lakh. Could you suggest a good bike that would suit my build, offer comfort, reliability, decent mileage, and low maintenance?

Autocar India

•15h

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.

Yamaha XSR155

TVS Apache RTR 200 4V

TVS Ronin

Hero MotoCorp Xpulse 200 4V

Marisetty Venkata VIdyadhar

•2d

I have been using a Royal Enfield 350cc BS6 model and now want to buy another two-wheeler, mainly for office commuting and household errands. I am currently 55 years old and am considering scooters like the TVS Jupiter, Honda Activa, or Suzuki Access. However, I am slightly concerned about the stability of these scooters because they have relatively small wheels, which I have heard may make them more prone to skidding during sudden braking or when hitting potholes. What would you recommend in this situation?

Autocar India

•18h

In the family scooter space, the TVS Jupiter, Suzuki Access and Honda Activa models are options that are hard to go wrong with. All are proven models with great service coverage and a reputation for being reliable, fuel-efficient and easy to maintain. While it is true that scootersare more prone to skidding than motorcycles due to their smaller wheels. It also varies from rider to rider and also upon the road conditions. If you are worried about this specific problem, Suzuki now sells the Access with ABS on its top two variants, which should address that qualm. However, if you prefer the stability and comfort of a motorcycle but want to downsize to something more approachable and urban area-friendly than your 350cc Royal Enfield. We'd recommend you look at the lineup of 125cc commuters from TVS, Hero and Honda before making your decision.

TVS Jupiter

Suzuki Access

Honda Bikes Activa 110

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