Honda SP160

Autocar India

•4d

In the 150/160cc commuter bike segment, options like the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Bajaj Pulsar N160 are great bets if you want your commuter to pack in a little bit of spice and some feel-good features like a USD fork, TFT display and the like. These bikes are also quite fuel efficient and comfortable, making them good daily-use machines. If, on the other hand, you want a simple, no-nonsense commuter, then we'd advise you to look at the Honda Unicorn / SP160. Both are mechanically very similiar but the SP has more features and sharper styling than the Unicorn which has the same silhouette since it debuted 20 years ago. Depending on the sort of bike you prefer, make a choice between these three. To make an informed decision, we'd recommend test rides of all three before you make your purchase.

Autocar India

•2w

In the 125cc class, if you're looking for a comfortable bike that has a monoshock for its rear suspension, then look no further than the TVS Raider and Hero Xtreme 125R. Both are popular, proven, fuel efficient and have good ride and seating comfort, making them well-suited to daily use. These bikes should easily be able to return upwards of 50kpl in the real world even if you are a quick rider.Moving to the 150/160cc segment, options like the Honda Unicorn / SP160, Bajaj Pulsar N160 and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V are mainstays of the segment and opting for any of them would make for a safe bet. The Honda models are the more straightforward option while the TVS bikes and Bajaj are the sportier, more feature-rich options. It will be quite tough to see fuel economy of 50kpl and above on these machines unless you are a very gentle rider and expect real-world economy to hover around the 45kpl mark, depending on how you ride. Take a test ride of these machines before you make your decision and before you do, choose which category of bike suits you best and proceed accordingly.

Autocar India

•2w

There are three bikes in this class that you cannot go wrong with - Honda Unicorn / SP160, Bajaj Pulsar N160 and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. The Unicorn and SP160 are mechanically identical and are simple, straightforward commuters, with the latter having slightly better features and more modern styling. If you want a reliable, no-nonsense machine, either of these two will be up for the job.The Pulsar and Apache, on the other hand, promise better features, performance and handling with similar fuel economy. These two are accomplished city bikes, and if you want your daily machine to have a dash of sportiness, then both are very compelling options.Take a test ride of all three to see which one suits you best before you make a decision.

Autocar India

•3w

Look at bikes like the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, Bajaj Pulsar N160, Honda Unicorn or Honda SP160 for your usage. They are reliable, comfortable, fuel efficient and low maintenance machines that should fit well within your budget. If you want a more premium product, then options like the TVS Ronin and RE Hunter 350 are to be considered. And if you're open to considering a dual purpose bike, the Hero Xpulse 210 is a fantastic option for commuting with its peppy engine, long travel suspension and flat, comfortable seat. First, decide what sort of bike would fit your usage best, take exhaustive test rides of each and then make your decision.

Autocar India

•10w

Since you have mentioned you're looking at the Yamaha FZ, we'll give you the best recommendations in this segment. If you want something with performance, features and sharp styling that doesn't sacrifice comfort or fuel efficiency, then our top picks in the segment would be the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Bajaj Pulsar N160. Both are offered in multiple variants with different permutations and combinations of features and tech, so pick the one you like best.If you want a simple, straightforward commuter, then pick between the Honda Unicorn and SP160, depending on which one you prefer the look of. A test ride of these should help you narrow down which bike is right for you.

Autocar India

•12w

The Honda Unicorn and SP160 you are considering are mechanically near identical, sharing their engines, chassis and quite a few features. Where they differ is in their styling and riding position, so choosing between these two will come down to your personal preference for which bike you and your pillion find more comfortable. The TVS Apache RTR 160 2V is a proven machine, but its older engine can't match the smoothness and refinement that most modern peers in the segment will offer you, and we'd instead suggest you look at the 4V version of the Apache for a better experience. You should also consider the Bajaj Pulsar N160, as that is another competent machine in this class and comes with a single-piece seat on some of its variants, which will meet your comfort requirements nicely. All of the aforementioned bikes have mostly flat and wide single-piece seats, which should be conducive to rider and pillion comfort, and to make an informed decision, we'd recommend a thorough test ride of each with your frequent pillion.On the test ride, do a 15‑minute two‑up loop; have your pillion check knee bend, seat comfort, and grab‑rail reach. Also, ride over some speed breakers and rough patches to test suspension comfort thoroughly.

Autocar India

•12w

Since you've said that your commute has bad roads, replacing your Jawa 42 with a scooter wouldn't be our recommendation. While they are innately more practical than motorcycles, scooters have their smaller wheels and shorter, thinner suspension units. It won't really enhance your comfort, at least not to a great extent. Instead, we would advise you to get a practical 160cc commuter like the Honda Unicorn / SP160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V or Bajaj Pulsar N160. These are comfortable, fuel-efficient and peppy machines perfectly suited to city use. To make an informed decision before you go ahead with your purchase, ensure to take a test ride of all three to see which one you gel with the best.If, however, you want to go with a scooter as your next purchase, consider the following options. In the family scooter space, the TVS Jupiter 110 / 125 and Suzuki Access would be our top picks. If you want something sportier feeling and looking yet comfortable enough for daily usage, then the TVS Ntorq 125 & 150 are what you should be looking at. Again, a test ride of all of these is imperative before you make your decision. Make sure you intentionally go over bad patches of road and make tight, lock-to-lock U-turns to see if the handlebars foul with your knees, since you are a taller rider.

Autocar India

•17w

The Honda SP160 is based on the same platform as the popular Unicorn and should have similiar strengths like good comfort, exceptional fuel efficiency, as well as durability and reliability in the long run. The TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is one of the best options in the sporty commuter bike segment and will offer you good performance and features without sacrificing comfort and practicality. Do bear in mind that if you are a tall person, then this bike will feel a little cramped, especially with its tight seat-to-footpeg distance.Coming to the TVS Ronin, this bike will offer you more performance and comfort than the other 150/160cc options you're looking at, but it will return lower fuel economy. And since you're looking at the base variant, you'll only get single-channel ABS like the smaller bikes. The Yamaha FZ-X Hybrid will likely be the most fuel-efficient machine of this lot, but it offers lacklustre performance, and its comfort levels aren't that high either.Our advice would be to take a test ride of everything you shortlist before making a decision.

Autocar India

•18w

Since you already own a 150cc bike, it would make sense for you to stay in this same category. Of the options you have shortlisted, the Honda SP160 and Bajaj Pulsar N160 are the ones we'd recommend you go with. Both are smooth, comfortable, stylish and reliable bikes that will give you the fuel economy you desire when ridden sensibly. Another great option in this class you should take a look at is the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. Make sure you take a test ride of these bikes to see which one suits you best.

Autocar India

•20w

Since you already have a Unicorn, you could stick with Honda and get either a new Unicorn or its more stylish sibling, the SP160. Both are mechanically very similar, with the differences boiling down to features, seating ergonomics and a small price difference. These will return good fuel economy and also be reliable in the long run. It is an important thing to consider since your last bike is 17 years old. If you want to look elsewhere, bikes like the Bajaj Pulsar N160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Yamaha FZ models are worth considering. Of these three, the FZ has the best fuel economy but is the least engaging to ride. The Pulsar and Apache have slightly lower fuel efficiency but offer you more comfort, power and features. A test ride should help you decide which is the right bike for you.