Hi team, I'm looking for a two-wheeler for city commuting and am open to both motorcycles and scooters, although I'd prefer a motorcycle. I'm 41 years old, weigh 98 kg and am 5'6" tall. I ride only in the city, mainly through Bengaluru's heavy traffic, with occasional stretches of open roads. My daily commute to and from work is around 10-20 km. I mostly ride alone, but occasionally carry my wife and my four-year-old child as pillion passengers. Budget isn't a concern. Please suggest suitable options, including newly launched models and those expected to launch soon. I currently own a first-edition Royal Enfield Hunter 350, but I don't like its proportions because it feels too cramped for me. I'm looking for a more relaxed riding position and comfortable suspension.

autocar.india

•11h

The Yamaha FZ-Fi is one of the most dependable, practical and fuel efficient commuters in its class but its not what you'd call cutting edge or exciting from a performance standpoint. Over the years, the FZ has transformed from one of the most powerful machines in its category to now making power akin to most sporty, new-age 125cc commuters like the Raider and Xtreme. Where that pays dividends is in terms of fuel economy and the FZ scores really high in this regard. In some ways the TVS Apache RTR 160 2V is similiar to the FZ in that it is a decades-old product that has been soldiering on with small updates sprinkled in over the course of its lifecycle. Where it differs from the FZ is that this is still a quick and peppy commuter and will 'feel' fun to ride. Its engine isn't the most refined and its design is now the better part of two decades old but the Apache 160 2V is nonetheless a sorted machine in its own right. These bikes have very different riding experiences so we'd recommend a test ride of both to figure out which one makes more sense for you.

autocar.india

•2d

On most Hero motorcycles, as you've pointed out, the gearbox is quite notchy & lacks a snick, precise feel. While we can't comment on why the company has been unable to solve this issue, we can say that the latest Xtreme 160R 4V doesn't seem to suffer from this issue - at least our experience from the first ride event tells us that it doesn't. We'd recommend you get an extended test ride of the bike to properly try it out before going ahead with your purchase, or look at alternatives like the Bajaj Pulsar N160 or TVS Apache RTR 160 4V.