I am 38 years old and am planning to buy a scooter or bike under Rs. 1.9 lakh. I mostly travel around 25-30 km daily. I have persistent back pain due to which good suspension is my primary requirement. Please suggest a suitable two-wheeler.

autocar.india

•3d

There's no one product right now which will give you all of these attributes in one package today in the 125cc segment. The Suzuki Burgman will probably come closest but its not a heavy or substantial feeling machine - but we think that's a good thing considering you'll usually be using it in tight urban confines. If you want a 125cc scooter with 14-in wheels for added stability, the Hero Xoom 125 is one option we'd recommend. Its motor is fuel efficient and smooth, its styling is very modern and catchy and its suspension is pretty decent too. It doesn't have a TFT display and its boot is rather small because of its larger wheels, points to keep in mind before you go ahead with your purchase. The TVS Ntorq 125 is a great scooter which balances fun and practicality very well although, again, this is not a heavy-feeling scooter and like we mentioned earlier, this is a good thing. You should also consider the Aprilia SXR GT 125 because this scooter will have the "heavy feeling" you're after but it doesn't have a TFT display and from what we experienced on the SXR GT 175 when we reviewed it, its front suspension is not very comfortable over bad roads. Aprilia's dealer network is also far smaller than the bigger Indian brands and its aftersales and service cost has historically been on the more expensive side too. We'd recommend you take a test ride of the aforementioned options and see which one you gel with the most before you make your decision. We would also be remiss if we didn't recommend you at least take a look at and get a test ride of the Suzuki Access because while it may not be the flashiest option out there, it is really a sublime scooter which and its highest variant comes with ABS which no other mainstream manufacturer offers on a 125cc scooter.

autocar.india

•1d

It would be unfair to directly compare a Royal Enfield Meteor 350 to a TVS Ntorq 125 so we'll list out what each vehicle is good at and where it will struggle. The Meteor 350 is a textbook small-capacity cruiser which will be easy to use thanks to its chaming and torquey engine, light clutch action and pretty comfortable rear suspension. If you are of short stature, then its 765mm perch will prove welcoming too. The downsides here are that thanks to its seating position, all big road imperfections will filter through to your spine and it is also a rather heavy bike with what can be best described as unhurried performance. At almost the polar opposite of the spectrum is the Ntorq 125 which balances practicality and rider engagement rather well. It is quite comfy for a scooter, has an extensive feature set and its underseat storage is pretty decent too. It will struggle over big road undulations and by virtue of its form factor, stability at higher speeds isn't its strong point. You should also factor in that the Meteor's price is well over Rs. 2 lakh on-road, whereas the Ntorq will cost you just above one lakh rupees. According to your usage and budget, we'd recommend you choose your next vehicle.

autocar.india

•3d

If you are after an affordable, twin-cylinder Japanese machine, then the Kawasaki Z300 is a good option to consider. The newly-launched Kawasaki Z300 should be very similiar to the Ninja 300 in how it rides - an old but rev-happy engine with a basic chassis that still works decently more than a decade after it launched.The Versys-X 300 is the machine to look at if you intend to do long trips and venture out of the city. Its engine will have similiar characteristics but its handling will be more neutral and planted than the more eager feeling Ninja and Z. The Versys-X does have more ground clearance - and consequently, a taller seat - than its siblings which will be helpful over unpredictable Indian road conditions. A test ride of both as well as an objective evaluation of what you're looking to use the bike for will give you the answer to which one you should choose.