Sir, I currently own a 9-year-old Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350, which is still in good condition. I am now 64 years old and would like to replace it with a 150cc motorcycle. My priorities are a comfortable ride, good pillion comfort, complete peace of mind, inexpensive spare parts and an upright riding position similar to the Thunderbird.

autocar.india

•1d

Since you mentioned comfort is your top priority, switching to a motorcycle makes sense, as it usually offers better ride comfort than a scooter. We would recommend you look at the 160cc segment, specifically options like the Honda Unicorn / SP160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Bajaj Pulsar N160. These bikes have low seat heights, manageable kerb weights and will be much more comfortable than your Pleasure over road imperfections. Another upside will be that you will see a noticeable step up in terms of performance with just a small drop in fuel economy, provided you ride sensibly.If, instead, you want to go for a smaller 125cc machine, then look at proven options like the Honda Shine / CB125 Hornet, TVS Raider and Hero Xtreme 125R. These bikes will be extremely fuel-efficient and will give you the step-up in comfort over your Pleasure that you want. Since you are a shorter person, their lower kerb weights and friendly seat heights will also appeal to you.Take test rides of options from both segments based on your preferences and then make your decision.

autocar.india

•1d

Both the Honda Hornet 2.0 and Bajaj Pulsar N160 have similar performance and fuel economy in the real world, so picking between the two will boil down to which bike's design, comfort, features and overall ownership experience you prefer. The N160 is also considerably more affordable than the Hornet, and, at the Hornet's price, you could even consider the larger Pulsar N250.However, Honda bikes are generally known for their hassle-free ownership experience with bulletproof long-term reliability and low maintenance costs. Bajaj's ownership costs, too, are quite frugal, but service can be a point of friction.Take test rides of both bikes and also speak to your nearest authorised dealer and service center for both brands before you make your decision.

autocar.india

•38m

After-sales and servicing depend on a multitude of factors, and you should choose between the Rizta and Chetak based on which dealer and service centre feels like the safer bet to you. Cost per kilometre will also vary largely based on how much you ride every day and how fast you do so (because range will vary as per the riding mode you're in), so it's hard to accurately gauge this. Both the Rizta and Chetak are proven products and are pretty evenly matched, except in terms of price, where the Rizta is quite a bit more expensive. So, pick whichever one you like more.