My wife and I both currently ride an 11-year-old Yamaha FZ. She is 5′3″ and I am 5′8″; both of us weigh over 90 kg. I don’t feel confident that this bike is safe and responsive enough — it needs a lot of throttle, is hard to manoeuvre in traffic, and handles pothole-ridden city roads poorly, especially for pillion riding. I also have back issues. What would be the ideal bike for us to upgrade to so we can ride together comfortably, mainly in the city with potholes and occasionally on the highway?

autocar.india

•19h

The Bajaj Pulsar N250SS is a budget-friendly, capable, and comfortable motorcycle that is likely to be a good fit for your needs. You should also look at the TVS Ronin and Royal Enfield Hunter 350, as well as the base Battalion Black Bullet 350. These neo-retro bikes place more emphasis on engine character and comfort, and all of them should be around the Rs 2 lakh mark (on-road). Take test rides of all and see which one suits your riding style and stature best before you make a decision.

autocar.india

•20h

The TVS Ronin is a good option to consider for your needs but you are right to be worried about TVS' aftersales because unlike its impressive products, it is rather hit or miss. Nonetheless, this remains an option you should consider, do visit your nearest TVS dealership and service centre and try to get some assurances from them before you go ahead with your purchase.In a similiar vein, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 too is a sweet and charming motorcycle which will suit your needs rather well. Royal Enfield has a widespread service network and the bike has been around long enough that you can trust it without major issues cropping up. Another underrated option that you should seriously consider is the newly launched Bajaj Pulsar N250SS. The Pulsar may look sporty and angular but it has a very neutral riding position, good suspension and a capable engine which can handle both city & highway duties. A test ride of all three should help you determine which is the best bike for your needs.

autocar.india

•2d

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!