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Delhi
SB

Sugam Bera

17w

Hi Autocar Team. I’m a 28-year-old man, 5 ft 4 in tall, planning to buy my first motorcycle. I really love the cafe racer body style and want to buy a bike in this segment. My budget is ₹5 lakh, and I will use it for daily city commuting of about 8-10 km and short weekend trips. My focus is on good mileage, comfort, low maintenance costs and a strong, reputable service network. Please suggest a suitable motorcycle.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
11w

Cafe racers are known for many things, but comfort isn't one of them - we must clarify this at the outset before we proceed. Since this is going to be your first motorcycle, we'd recommend getting a roadster or street naked because they will be vastly more comfortable and usable. 

As a first bike, there is a litany of good options from Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, KTM, TVS and Royal Enfield. Look for something around the 25-30hp mark ideally. 

If you really have your heart set on a cafe racer, the only two options in your budget are the Triumph Thruxton 400 and the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650. Both are quite powerful and won't be ideal beginner machines because of their committed riding positions. The Royal Enfield is also a rather heavy machine, which won't be easy to manage due to your stature. 

Triumph Thruxton 400

Triumph Thruxton 400

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I want to buy a 125-150 cc bike. My height is 165 cm. I want it for the daily office commute. I want a bike with low seat height, not too high, with a refined engine, decent mileage of 45+ and with ABS.

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Pretty much every single 150-160cc commuter comes with at least single-channel ABS, so that won't be a deciding factor for you. Our top picks in this class are the Bajaj Pulsar N160 and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V if you want something sportier and feature-rich. If you want to stick to a simple, no-nonsense machine, then the Honda Unicorn remains a safe bet. If ridden sensibly, you should see in excess of 45kpl for all of these 150cc bikes.In the 125cc class, if having ABS is non-negotiable, then your options are restricted to the TVS Raider and Honda CB125 Hornet. Of these three, the TVS is our top recommendation. The 125s will be quite fuel-efficient, and you'll seldom see a mileage figure below 50kpl, no matter your riding style.You should first decide which segment you want to stick with and then take a test ride of the bikes accordingly before you make a decision.

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I am planning to buy a scooter for my daughter for her short daily trips to tuition classes, which would be around 15-20 km per day. My priorities are low seat height, good balance, and a reliable machine. I am considering buying a second-hand scooter like the Suzuki Access 125 or TVS Jupiter for around ₹50,000. Do you think this would be a good decision, or should I instead consider buying an electric scooter, which would cost ₹1 lakh or more? Some friends suggested buying an assembled electric scooter, but I am not comfortable with that option due to concerns about safety and reliability. What would be the best option in my situation?

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Since your daily running is quite low, you should look at a petrol scooter - preferably brand new, for the peace of mind and the manufacturer's warranty it will come with. We'd recommend looking at the base variants of the Honda Activa 110, Suzuki Acess and TVS Jupiter 110. All scooters will be friendly for a newer rider because of their low kerb weights and approachable seat heights. If, however, your budget doesn't permit you to go for a new scooter, then a pre-owned Activa or Access would be our recommendation. The Activa and Access are some of the most popular scooters available, and finding a good example will be fairly straightforward. Because of their popularity and widespread service network, sourcing replacement parts should also be quite easy.

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Posted on: 21 Dec 2025