Best City Commuter Motorcycle

Honda offers the widest two-wheeler range in India, covering commuter motorcycles, sporty bikes, retro roadsters, cruisers, adventure bikes, superbikes and electric scooters. Its range starts with the 99cc Shine 100 and extends to the 1,833cc Gold Wing Tour.
The idea for this wide range is simple: different riders want very different things from their motorcycles. For example, the Shine is built around simple everyday commuting that is light on fuel and easy to run. While an office-goer may put more value on comfort and want the relaxed character of the CB350 range, the NX500 is aimed at adventure touring. For someone buying a CBR1000RR-R SP superbike, it is more likely to be chasing performance and the thrill of riding.
Honda offers motorcycles across a wide range of engine capacities. Buyers can choose from small-capacity commuter bikes to large-capacity motorcycles designed for performance and touring.
100cc bikes: The Shine 100 and Shine 100 DX are Honda's entry-level commuter motorcycles, aimed at affordable everyday riding and good fuel efficiency.
110cc Scooters: The Livo and Activa 110 offer practical options for daily commuting, with the Livo using a manual gearbox and the Activa using an automatic transmission.
125cc bikes: The Shine 125, SP 125, CB125 Hornet and Activa 125 cover commuter and sporty requirements in the 125cc class.
160cc-200cc bikes: The Unicorn, SP160, Hornet 2.0 and NX200 offer more performance while remaining suitable for everyday road use.
350cc bikes: The CB350, CB350 H'ness, CB350RS and CB350C form Honda's retro-styled middleweight range.
400cc-500cc bikes: The NX500 offers a road-focused adventure touring option, while the upcoming CB500 and Rebel 500 add more choices in this capacity range.
750cc-1,000cc bikes: The CB750 Hornet, XL750 Transalp, Hornet 1000 SP and CBR1000RR-R SP cater to performance and adventure touring requirements.
Large touring bike: The Gold Wing Tour sits at the top of Honda's range, with its 1,833 cc engine and automatic transmission.
Honda offers several bikes under 125cc that focus on fuel efficiency and low running costs. They are suited to daily commuters who want good mileage without spending too much on fuel.
Honda bike | Engine | Autocar India efficiency | Suited for |
Shine 100 | 98.98cc | 77kpl | It has a lightweight design, an upright riding position, and simple mechanics that make it easy to handle, especially for new riders. |
Livo | 109.51cc | 58-65kpl | It produces around 8.55hp paired with a 4-speed gearbox, and has a seat height of about 790 mm, which makes it suitable for many riders. |
Shine 125 | 123.94cc | 50-55kpl | It is a budget-friendly commuter motorcycle built on Honda's long-running Shine nameplate, sold in 3 variants: Drum, Disc and Limited Edition, all powered by the same engine. |
SP 125 | 123.94cc | 61.87kpl | It has sharper, more contemporary lines from Honda's larger Hornet-series bikes, with an LED headlight and a TFT colour display. |
CB125 Hornet | 123.94cc | 50-55kpl | A sporty commuter motorcycle that is also the first bike in its segment to feature a 37mm golden USD fork at the front |
Honda retro bikes, including the CB350 series and the new CB500 big-single, stand out from rivals such as Royal Enfield with their lighter weight, smoother engines and lighter handling.
Engine Refinement: Honda’s air-cooled 350cc and 500cc long-stroke engines are smoother and have fewer vibrations at higher revs than traditional rivals.
Lighter Weight: Honda’s neo-retro motorcycles are generally lighter than comparable Royal Enfield models, making them easier to manoeuvre in city traffic and tight spaces.
Torque and Gearing: Royal Enfield models focus more on low-end torque, while Honda uses slightly taller gearing. This means more frequent gear changes, but also gives the bikes a smoother and more responsive feel.
Fit, Finish and Styling: Honda’s retro bikes use classic CB design elements such as sculpted fuel tanks, chrome fenders and brushed aluminium parts, along with modern features such as LED lighting.
Honda’s adventure range includes ADVs, crossovers such as the NX500 and tourers such as the Africa Twin, which focus on easy rideability, refinement and long-distance ability.
Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT): Honda offers its DCT on models such as the Africa Twin and X-ADV. It can shift gears automatically while also allowing the rider to take manual control when needed.
Road-Focused Practicality: Models such as the NX500 and Transalp are designed to be smooth and approachable on roads. They offer comfortable highway cruising and can also handle rough city roads, rather than being focused only on hardcore off-road riding.
Reliability and Engine Refinement: Honda’s adventure engines are known for smooth power delivery and strong low-end tractability. The range includes everything from 500cc parallel-twins to the 1,084cc engine used in the Africa Twin.
Adv Bikes with Everyday Utility: Honda also combines adventure styling with everyday practicality in models such as the ADV 160 and X-ADV. These bikes combine features such as rugged suspension and block-pattern tyres with scooter-style convenience and storage.





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No. Honda does not sell any electric bikes in India.
Popular Honda bikes that are known for efficiency include models like the Shine 125, SP 125, and Livo
Honda offers 5 bikes under 1 lakh in India. These bikes are Honda Shine 100, Shine 100 DX, Shine 125, Livo, and SP 125.
Touring-friendly models include the Honda CB350, CB350RS, CB350 H’ness, NX500, and Goldwing Tour.
The Honda 350cc bike lineup includes the CB350, H’ness CB350, CB350RS, and CB350C.
Yes. As per Honda, the customer preferences are changing rapidly and buyers are looking for greater variety across motorcycle segments, hence the brand wants to speed up how new products reach the Indian market.
No. They don’t consider flex-fuel technology as a replacement for electric vehicles. As per Honda, flex-fuel is not being positioned as an alternative to electrification but as a complementary technology within its broader portfolio.
The Honda Activa e uses swappable batteries and offers a claimed range of 102km. It relies on battery-swapping stations instead of home charging.
Honda's electric two-wheeler range includes models such as the Activa e: and QC1, while the company is also expanding its electric scooter lineup.
Honda is expanding its electric lineup with upcoming models such as the QC3, which gets a 3kWh battery and a claimed IDC range of 145km.
Honda has recently launched several new motorcycles in India, including the Rebel 300, while more models are planned for the Indian market.
Honda's upcoming motorcycle lineup includes models such as the XR300L, XR300 Rally, CB500 and Rebel 500.
Honda bikes are known for their focus on reliability, everyday usability, fuel efficiency and practical features, with models available across commuter, premium and adventure segments.
Honda's main rivals in India include Hero MotoCorp, TVS Motor, Bajaj Auto, Suzuki and Yamaha. In the electric scooter segment, Honda also competes with brands such as Ather, Ola Electric and Vida.
I am looking for an electric or petrol scooter for a 58-year-old lady. Her monthly usage would be around 100km, and there is no specific budget constraint. A lightweight scooter with easy handling and comfortable riding ergonomics would be preferred. Please suggest some suitable options.
Since your usage is rather minimal, we'd recommend you go with a petrol-powered scooter. You should look at options like the TVS Zest 110, Yamaha Fascino/Yamaha RayZR and Honda Activa 110, which are all lightweight, simple and practical options with low seat heights. This will ensure the rider is able to command the vehicle with confidence and given that these are established products coming from reputed brands, you'll have no unwelcome surprises waiting for you. If you are open to buying an electric scooter, the TVS Orbiter is a good choice given your limited running and priority of ease of use. Take test rides before you make a decision.
I’m planning to buy an entry-level adventure bike, mostly for my 30 km daily commute in Pune, along with weekend rides of more than 200 km once or twice a month. I’m confused between the Honda NX200 and the TVS Apache RTX 300. I’m 45 years old and 5 ft 9 in tall. I’ve had lumbar problems in the past, but I’m fine now. Which one would you recommend?
If you are looking for a comfortable ADV motorcycle, the TVS Apache RTX and Hero Xpulse 210 should be on your radar in this price range. The Honda NX200 is a dressed-up Hornet 2.0 and, aside from its look, isn't a 'proper' adventure bike. Both the RTX & the Xpulse are capable, comfortable and quick motorcycles, with the latter being the easier of the two to ride and manage - given that both have a tall 835mm seat height. However, the RTX has the better road manners and the far superior feature set. Take a test ride of both before you make your decision.It would also be prudent to wait for the Honda XR300 Rally, which should be available in a BigWing showroom near you in a few months' time.
I’m a 40-year-old man, 6 ft 4 in tall and of slim build, and I’ve never ridden a motorcycle before. I don’t have a commute, since I live on a residential campus, so the bike will be for fun weekend rides. I’m considering the Honda XR 300 Rally Edition, because I don’t want to spend much more than Rs 2 lakh and its power-to-weight ratio is good. As a first-time rider, I want a light bike that can survive falls and drops without much damage. I also live in a non-metro city, where service and maintenance can be a problem, so I’m choosing Honda for its reliability. Is this the right choice, or have I missed anything?
The Honda XR300 Rally you're considering seems to have quite a lot going for it, judging from what we know of it so far. Another alternative you could consider is the Hero Xpulse 210, which has been around for far longer and is more of a proven commodity than the XR300 Rally. It's not as if the Xpulse is free from issues, but they are well documented and usually have a quick and inexpensive fix. Given that the XR300 Rally is a brand-new product, there could be small teething issues at the start, although given the badge on the tank, you're likely to be in safe hands in terms of the ownership experience, even if there are.
I’m deciding between the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and the Honda CB350RS. Which one is better in terms of riding position, riding comfort, fuel economy, service network in Chennai, longevity, frequency of problems and build quality?
Answering based on the things you have asked for, in ascending order:1) Depending on your stature, you will have different feelings about the rider's triangle on the RE Hunter 350 and CB350RS2) Both bikes have well-sorted suspension setups, so they will fare quite well. 3) Fuel economy depends on your riding style, prevailing traffic & weather conditions as well as a multitude of other factors, so it's hard to give you an accurate number. That being said, the Honda 350cc engine is known to be quite frugal (even in our experience), in comparison to the RE 350cc motor. 4) Local service is again a very subjective issue, even for people who reside in the same city and go to the same workshop, so we can't accurately comment on that. Historically speaking, both RE & Honda are known to have largely trouble-free service experiences. 5), 6) & 7) Both the Hunter and CB350RS are high-quality, reliable machines, and you will likely not go wrong with either of them, barring any isolated unit-specific issues.
Hello Autocar team, I’m looking to buy a bike for my daily commute, and I ride more than 40 km a day. I want a feature-rich bike with the latest tech, good performance and strong fuel efficiency. Could you suggest some bikes that meet my requirements?
You haven't specified your budget, so we'll suggest some options across various price brackets - within reason. The prices we have mentioned are all ex-showroom, Delhi prices and on-road prices will be higher.If you are open to spending Rs 1 lakh - Rs 1.50 lakh, you can get proven 125-160cc options from reputed brands such as Honda Unicorn / SP160, various Yamaha FZ models, Bajaj Pulsar 125 / 150 / N160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Hero Xtreme 160R 4V. These are all straightforward commuters, but the newer variants are packing in the latest tech and features, which is something you value. If you're okay to extend to Rs 2 lakh, then options like the Bajaj Pulsar N250SS, TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, Hero Xpulse 210, TVS Ronin and Yamaha XSR155 come into the picture. Depending on where you look, you get more performance, more comfort or both compared to the bikes under Rs 1.50 lakh listed above. These bikes will return lower fuel efficiency owing to their larger displacement motors but compensate for that with better performance.Depending on your budget, take a test ride and then make your decision. Should you need more help, please write back to us, and we'll get back to you!
Last Updated on: 6 Nov 2026