Kawasaki Ninja 650

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Since your priority is road riding and you like to cover more than 1,000 km in a day on your travels, we'd recommend you look at machines like the Honda NX500 and Kawasaki Versys 650. Both offer very good seating comfort, wind protection and smooth twin-cylinder engines that can comfortably sustain triple-digit cruising speeds without intrusive vibrations. While they may look like adventure bikes, both are much more road-focused in the way they ride and behave. They can handle bad roads if needed, but they are not hardcore off-road machines.If you want something that's a little more road-focused and sporty, then the Kawasaki Ninja 650 is also a good option. It has a smooth engine and is very capable at highway cruising speeds, though it will not be as comfortable over very long distances as the NX500 or Versys 650. You will also need to be mindful of the low ground clearance and the expensive alloy wheels over bad roads.Depending on the sort of bike you prefer, make your decision, and before doing so, take a test ride of all three to figure out which one is right for you.

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In the 650cc segment, both Kawasaki and Triumph offer multiple options which cater to different use cases so before you start looking at a particular bike, its important to figure out which one suits you best. In the Kawasaki bike lineup you have the Z650, Z650RS, Ninja 650, Vulcan S and Versys 650. If you're mainly going to be riding in the city, any of them - except the Versys - will be a good tool for the job. Pick the one you like the styling and rider's position of the most. From Triumph bike lineup, you have the 660cc Trident, Daytona and Tiger Sport. Since you'll be using the bike mainly in the city, the Trident and Daytona make more sense and we’d advise choosing the one you prefer in terms of looks and seating position. The Daytona is a fair deal more powerful than the Trident so that's something to bear in mind. Another point to keep in mind that these imported motorcycles are generally more complicated and expensive to own and maintain.

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TVS has been giving the Apache RR 310 an update almost every year since it came out, improving small areas like refinement, features and adding more colours too. Today's Apache RR 310 is a feature-loaded machine which has significantly improved NVH levels, although it's still a single-cylinder machine. So, you will have to deal with some vibrations in certain bands of the rev range. Since you seem to prefer a twin-cylinder sportbike experience over a single and have the budget to go for it, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 is a bike we'd recommend you seriously consider. It has reasonably comfortable ergonomics and decently compliant suspension for daily usage. Its 451cc, twin-cylinder engine has a healthy spread of mid-range grunt, and it will also be fun to chase the redline, given some open tarmac. Yes, Kawasaki bikes are expensive to maintain, but that's something you will have to make peace with if you want a twin-cylinder sportbike today. You can also rest easy about E20 compatibility because all new bikes and scooters sold in India are compatible with our fuel. If you don't think the Ninja 500 justifies its high price tag, then move up to the little more expensive but quite a bit more capable Ninja 650. It is one of the few big bikes on sale in India that can genuinely be used on a day-to-day basis. As long as you're mindful of the low ground clearance and expensive rims. Coming to the TVS/BMW 450cc sportbike, an official launch is unlikely to happen anytime soon, considering we have only just spotted a heavily camouflaged test mule for the first time. Thank you for your kind words about Rishaad. We'll be sure to pass them on!

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Unfortunately, within your budget, you won't find a brand-new machine from a reputed Japanese or European maker on the market today. In fact, some of the most affordable big bikes in India, like the Kawasaki 650s, Triumph Trident 660 and the Honda CB750 Hornet, all start above the Rs 7 lakh (ex-showroom) mark, with GST 2.0 partly contributing to this.If you are open to the idea of a used machine, you will find Kawasaki Z650 / Ninja 650 and perhaps even a Honda CBR650F in your budget. Do bear in mind that you need to be cautious and do a thorough background check on these machines. Because a replacement mechanical part will cost you a pretty penny. And these older bikes also won't be E20 petrol compatible, so that's another factor to consider.

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The Kawasaki Ninja 500 - while priced very high for what it is - is a sweet, capable and in true Japanese fashion. It is a machine that is likely to be reliable and last you for years without giving significant issues, provided you maintain it correctly. You could also take a look at the Yamaha R3, although most dealers we have spoken to in major metro cities have informed us that they don't have any stock, nor are they expecting a new shipment anytime soon. Its best to speak to your nearest authorised Yamaha dealer and see what the situation in your area is like. The R3 is a rather simple machine with no frilly features. But it packs a potent engine and chassis, and it has also cemented its reputation for reliability in our market. The Kawasaki Z650 and Ninja 650 are the only reliable big bike options below the 10 lakh rupee mark from a reputed make. Also, you'll have to considerably extend your budget for anything else. Should you be able to do so, bikes like the Suzuki GSX-8R and Honda CB750 Hornet will be the next stepping stones. Try to take a test ride of these machines to see which one suits you best before you make a decision.