I’m planning to buy a bike next year (around August). I want a mid-range model (<300 cc) with ground clearance >175 mm, a comfortable pillion seat, and adventure-style capability. I won’t commute daily, but my rides are long when I do them, so good mileage is important. I plan to start longer trips from 2027 and prefer to avoid brands with higher maintenance costs (e.g., Yamaha). Could you suggest suitable models?

autocar.india

•4d

Since you want comfort as a top priority in your next purchase, the two bikes that will deliver that much better than the others in your shortlist are the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 X. The Himalayan is more adept on the highway front, but the Scrambler is the better city bike, so depending on where you spend more time, pick between these two. The TVS Apache RTX 300 is a phenomenally capable bike (especially for the price), but its engine feels a little dull once you spend some time with it. If you are okay with that, then as an overall package, the TVS is quite hard to fault. If you decide you want something more road-biased, then the 350cc Triumph Speed 400 and Honda CB350RS are good options to consider. We'd skip the RE Meteor models because the Super Meteor has stiff rear suspension, and instead of the Meteor, look at the Classic / Bullet if you want more comfort with an old-school relaxed retro vibe. These are all very different machines within a broad price range, so depending on the segment you are looking at specifically, we'd advise you to take test rides of the options above and then make your decision.

autocar.india

•1d

Electric motorcycles do make sense for daily predictable city commutes with a fixed distance and secure charging. There's no hassle of changing gears and modulating the clutch, and your running costs are also pleasingly low. However, it seems like you want to venture out farther from your home in Pune, in which case a petrol motorcycle is the more enjoyable choice. The Harley-Davidson X440 is a wonderful machine because it is one of the last authentic, air-cooled, long-stroke, single-cylinder experiences available today, and since you are looking to buy a machine that you can build a cherished bond with over time, it has the right ingredients to make that happen. Stepping up from a 125cc machine, you will also appreciate the step up in performance and comfort it has to offer you. From the Triumph stable, we'd recommend you take a good, long look at the 350cc Scrambler 400 models because they are great city machines that can also prove to be good fun on the highway and when the road turns squiggly. If you want a properly sporty riding experience, then the 350cc KTM 390 Duke and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 are good options to consider, and these will be - by far - the fastest and sharpest machines from the ones listed here.Make sure to take exhaustive test rides of all machines before you make your decision.

autocar.india

•6d

Go for the Hyundai Venue 1.0 Turbo DCT. As a first-time buyer who has just learned driving, you want something that is easy to handle, not too big and still offers good ground clearance for Hyderabad roads. The Hyundai Venue fits that brief perfectly.It is compact enough to be easy to park and manoeuvre, while still offering a comfortable seating position for a 6-foot-tall driver and enough space for a family of four with two toddlers. The automatic gearbox in this Hyundai car is smooth, easy to use in city traffic, and low running costs make it a very sensible first car. The Skoda Kylaq automatic is also worth considering.

Hyundai Venue

Skoda Kylaq