TVS Raider Single Seat

Since you have a long daily commute, you will need a scooter with a battery capacity of 3.5kWh or more, so you have a healthy buffer in case of emergencies or to account for spontaneity. Among our top picks in the EV space today are the Bajaj Chetak, TVS iQube and Ather Rizta. 

Among the 125cc commuters, you can consider the TVS Raider, Hero Xtreme 125R, Honda Shine / SP125, Honda CB125 Hornet, Hero Super Splendor and Hero Glamour X. In the 150/160cc space, we would recommend the Honda Unicorn / SP160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Bajaj Pulsar N160.

We would recommend you take a test ride of everything you shortlist before you make up your mind.

Since you have a long commute, we'll recommend bikes in the 125cc segment as they will be quite fuel efficient, which will be an important factor for you. From Honda's stable, you can take a look at the Shine 125, SP125 and Hornet 125 - all three are based on the same platform, but the Hornet is sportier and has more features than the other two. 

From TVS' lineup, you can take a look at the Raider, which will be light, fuel efficient and comfortable and is available across a wide price band too. 

Take proper test rides of all options you shortlist before you make a decision. 

Considering you have some back pain, we would recommend you stick with a motorcycle as the big wheels, longer-travel suspension and neutral riding ergonomics will keep you shielded from road imperfections. Inside your budget, we would recommend 125cc bikes like the Honda Shine 125, Hero Super Splendor / Glamour models, TVS Raider 125 and Hero Xtreme 125R. Depending on the sort of style you are after, you can choose between any of these. 

Since you have asked us about a scooter, our current top picks are the TVS Jupiter 110, Suzuki Access and Honda Activa 125. While the scooters will be more practical, they will not be as ultra comfortable as a motorcycle over bigger bumps. 

Take an exhaustive test ride before you decide. 

Since you are learning to ride and haven't specified your budget, we will stick to recommending 125-150cc machines as they are affordable, fuel-efficient and beginner-friendly. Since you want a bike that stands out from the crowd, we would recommend considering the TVS Raider, Hero Xtreme 125R and Honda CB125 Hornet in the 125cc class. All are peppy, frugal and have catchy styling while being very easy to ride. All three come with single-channel ABS on at least one variant, and we'd recommend going for one of the ABS variants, considering you are a newer rider.  

In the 150/160cc class, bikes like the Bajaj Pulsar N160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, Suzuki Gixxer and Honda SP160 would be a good bet.

In the electric scooter space, you can consider the TVS iQube 2.2 / 3.1, Bajaj Chetak 3001 and Ather Rizta 2.9 variants - all three are comfortable and practical offerings with enough range for your daily needs. 

In the petrol scooter space, options you can consider are the Honda Activa models, TVS Jupiter duo and Suzuki Access 125 - all are fuel-efficient, practical and comfortable options. 

Entry-level motorcycles like the TVS Raider or Hero XTreme 125R can also be considered if you like their sporty designs. In case you want a straightforward commuter, something like the Honda Shine 125 will serve you well. 

Since you're considering a wide variety of options, make sure you take a test ride before you decide.