I’m planning to buy an entry-level adventure bike, mostly for my 30 km daily commute in Pune, along with weekend rides of more than 200 km once or twice a month. I’m confused between the Honda NX200 and the TVS Apache RTX 300. I’m 45 years old and 5 ft 9 in tall. I’ve had lumbar problems in the past, but I’m fine now. Which one would you recommend?

autocar.india

•1h

The Honda XR300 Rally you're considering seems to have quite a lot going for it, judging from what we know of it so far. Another alternative you could consider is the Hero Xpulse 210, which has been around for far longer and is more of a proven commodity than the XR300 Rally. It's not as if the Xpulse is free from issues, but they are well documented and usually have a quick and inexpensive fix. Given that the XR300 Rally is a brand-new product, there could be small teething issues at the start, although given the badge on the tank, you're likely to be in safe hands in terms of the ownership experience, even if there are.

autocar.india

•2h

You haven't specified your budget, so we'll suggest some options across various price brackets - within reason. The prices we have mentioned are all ex-showroom, Delhi prices and on-road prices will be higher.If you are open to spending Rs 1 lakh - Rs 1.50 lakh, you can get proven 125-160cc options from reputed brands such as Honda Unicorn / SP160, various Yamaha FZ models, Bajaj Pulsar 125 / 150 / N160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Hero Xtreme 160R 4V. These are all straightforward commuters, but the newer variants are packing in the latest tech and features, which is something you value. If you're okay to extend to Rs 2 lakh, then options like the Bajaj Pulsar N250SS, TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, Hero Xpulse 210, TVS Ronin and Yamaha XSR155 come into the picture. Depending on where you look, you get more performance, more comfort or both compared to the bikes under Rs 1.50 lakh listed above. These bikes will return lower fuel efficiency owing to their larger displacement motors but compensate for that with better performance.Depending on your budget, take a test ride and then make your decision. Should you need more help, please write back to us, and we'll get back to you!

autocar.india

•1h

Answering based on the things you have asked for, in ascending order:1) Depending on your stature, you will have different feelings about the rider's triangle on the RE Hunter 350 and CB350RS2) Both bikes have well-sorted suspension setups, so they will fare quite well. 3) Fuel economy depends on your riding style, prevailing traffic & weather conditions as well as a multitude of other factors, so it's hard to give you an accurate number. That being said, the Honda 350cc engine is known to be quite frugal (even in our experience), in comparison to the RE 350cc motor. 4) Local service is again a very subjective issue, even for people who reside in the same city and go to the same workshop, so we can't accurately comment on that. Historically speaking, both RE & Honda are known to have largely trouble-free service experiences. 5), 6) & 7) Both the Hunter and CB350RS are high-quality, reliable machines, and you will likely not go wrong with either of them, barring any isolated unit-specific issues.