Respected Autocar India team, I have been riding a scooter for around six years now and wish to upgrade to a bike. I am 182 cm tall. I am looking for a beginner-to-intermediate bike with dual-channel ABS and good braking, reasonable suspension, smooth clutch (preferably assist and slipper), good mileage (around 35-50 kmpl), low maintenance, a decent headlamp, and confidence in corners with reasonable spare part costs. I am fond of the MT-15 - do you think an updated version could be launched? Other bikes I’ve considered are the Bajaj NS200, TVS NS400Z, and Harley-Davidson N160. I’ve also considered the Honda CB350 series and the RTR 310, but the cost margins are high. I feel the NS400Z is a good trade-off. What would your experts suggest?

Autocar India

•3d

While the government has started the roll-out of E85/E100, these higher blends won’t replace regular E20 petrol at your local pump. These higher blends need tailored flex‑fuel engines and materials to be compatible. For now, E20 is going to stick around and remain available nationwide.

Autocar India

•3d

There are plenty of options in the electric scooter market that will comfortably meet your needs. We'd recommend you choose from reputed options like TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta and Vida VX2. All of them are offered in a range of variants with different battery capacities, so pick an option with a battery capacity in the 3kWh - 3.5kWh ballpark.Our advice would be to take test rides of all four and pick the option you get along with the best. Try to choose an option with a service centre or showroom near you; this is an important factor in EV ownership.

Autocar India

•2d

Since you're innately familiar with Royal Enfield ownership, upgrading to the Himalayan 450 seems like a safe bet. The Himalayan's suspension can iron out pretty much any road imperfection you encounter and its performance will be a big step up over the Hunter you own too. The only caveat with going for the Himalayan is that it is a tall and heavy bike, and these attributes will make their presence felt at slower speeds inside the city. If you want slightly higher performance levels on a lighter machine, then the KTM 390 Adventure models (whether you opt for 350cc or 399cc iterations is up to the budget you have) are worth considering. The KTM bikes have great handling, punchy top-end performance and come with features like adjustable suspension, traction control and a bidirectional quick shifter - depending on the variant. In your Rs. 7 lakh budget, you can also get the BMW F 450 GS, although depending on your city's taxation structure, you may need to stretch your budget a little if you are eyeing the top Trophy variant. The new entry-level GS is a competent machine and will be a step up in refinement from the single-cylinder machines mentioned above and it is also lighter than them. You will, however, need to be prepared for higher running and maintenance costs expected of a machine wearing the BMW badge. Take test rides of these machines to decide which one works best for you before you make your next purchase. If none of these options seem enticing, you could also retrofit the latest-gen Hunter's suspension to your older model which will bring some much needed relief in terms of ride quality. Do bear in mind that this swap will likely void your warranty and we'd recommend reaching out to your nearest dealership for more clarity on the same.