KTM bikes in India (23)

Since you are looking for a bike that is good for daily commuting as well as long rides, and are presently a Pulsar owner, a good upgrade option would be the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z. The NS400Z is a sporty machine that isn't too aggressive and will also be usable on a day-to-day basis, while entertaining you on longer journeys. It also has an excellent price tag, which means you will come in well under your budget. 

If you want to look elsewhere, options like the KTM 250 / 390 Duke, TVS Apache RTR 310 and Triumph Speed 400 are what we would recommend. The Speed 400 will be the best option inside city limits, but at high speeds, its engine feels a little strained. The Apache and Duke models are good all-rounders with genuine sporting intent and come with a host of techy and feel-good features. 

Take a test ride of the bikes mentioned above to make an informed decision about your next purchase. 

The KTM 250 Duke you have shortlisted will be a good option to step up to, and with its less bodywork than your RS200, you'll likely not run into the same issue again. The quarter-litre Duke is also an entertaining and punchy machine that feels at home both inside the city and out on the highway. In a similiar vein, you could also consider the TVS Apache RTR 310, which will offer you more performance and features, although it will be a little more expensive to buy even in base trim. 

If you are instead leaning toward an ADV, then you should consider bikes like the KTM 250 Adventure and TVS Apache RTX 300. 

A test ride of these bikes will help you decide what sort of bike is right for you and which one suits you best. 

Since you've said that this bike will be used mainly for touring and occasionally in the city, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 makes more sense over the Triumph Scrambler 400 X. That's because the Scrambler's shorter gearing will result in the engine feeling like its running out of breath past 100kph and also because the Himalayan is a more spacious machine that was purpose-built to cover long distances. 

Royal Enfield's service experience varies from city to city and, in fact, even person to person. So we would advise you to pay a visit to your nearest authorised dealer and service centre to get a clearer picture.

You should also take a look at the KTM 390 Adventure X because it has good road manners and will be the quickest bike of these three. It also comes standard with cruise control, which will be a boon for you on long days in the saddle. 

In fact, if you don't want tall motorcycles, the KTM 390 Duke will make for a good touring partner, and you'll have way more fun on twisty roads, although you will sacrifice some comfort compared to the ADVs.

A test ride should help you make a decision. 

The KTM 250 Duke you are considering makes for a great one-bike garage to handle city and highway duties both. It has a punchy - yet not overwhelming - amount of grunt, engaging handling and will also return good fuel economy. 

Coming to the Triumph Speed T4, depending on how you ride, you should see decent fuel economy even inside city traffic. Since the bike is made by Bajaj, it shouldn't be too expensive to maintain. The advantage of the Speed T4 over the Duke will be its more effortless performance and more comfortable seating and suspension. 

And since you are shopping in this space, the TVS Apache RTR 310 is also worth taking a look at. The RTR 310 is a feature-rich machine with good performance and handling. Also, we will recommend you get the variant with the quickshifter as it is still priced sensibly, and this feature will enhance the riding experience. 

Since these are different machines in the riding experience they deliver, we'd recommend a test ride of all three before you decide.