TVS Ronin

Autocar India

•1h

The Bajaj Avenger is a tried and tested product, and it still remains a good VFM cruiser in the entry-level class. However, if you are willing to stretch your budget a little more, modern and well-rounded offerings like TVS Ronin and the base Royal Enfield Bullet 350 will become available. These are comfortable and refined machines which will provide a more well-rounded riding experience than the Avenger. Even though your usage is limited, buying a new bike makes sense if you intend to keep it for a longer time because it will come with the peace of mind of the manufacturer's warranty. Take a test ride of these two before you decide.

Autocar India

•2w

From a strictly technical standpoint, the higher grade 10W40 oil should theoretically help in hotter climates like ours because it will retain its viscosity at higher temperatures better than 10W30. Thereby being better suited to cooling the TVS Ronin's air/oil-cooled motor. However, this will likely void your warranty if it isn't recommended by TVS. We would advise you to stick to whatever the owner's manual and service advisors recommend, especially if your bike is still inside the warranty period. If your manual or service advisor strictly specifies 10W30 only, or you ride mostly in cooler weather, consider switching to a fully synthetic 10W30 oil from a different brand instead to keep cold‑flow performance optimal. But before you do all this, we'd first recommend a trip to the service centre to ensure that idle RPM is set as per the manufacturer's recommendation. Also, make sure to clean the engine’s as well as the oil cooler's fins and airflow path. Then, use the bike for a few weeks as you normally would to see if that has solved your problem.

Autocar India

•4w

Within your budget, you have three very different options you can look at - Yamaha XSR155, TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, TVS Ronin and Hero Xpulse 200 4V. The XSR is the least powerful but is also the lightest motorcycle here. It will also feel the sportiest to ride because its engine and underpinnings are derived from the popular Yamaha R15 and MT-15. The downsides of the XSR are that it is a rather petite motorcycle. For someone of large stature such as yourself, this will be a potential challenge, and its rear suspension is quite stiff. It can get uncomfortable over repeated bad patches. The Apache RTR 200 4V is another sporty roadster, and with its larger engine than the XSR, it will feel more at home at sustained higher speeds. Its suspension comfort and more spacious seats will also be helpful for your usage. The TVS Ronin is a relaxed roadster with its smooth and torquey engine and relaxed and neutral ergonomics. Also, plush suspension setup and relatively larger size - compared to the other two bikes here - the Ronin has the potential to be the most suited to your use case.Moving on to the Hero Xpulse 200 4V, this is the bike you should buy if you want to venture off-road on your long tours. It will have by far the most plush suspension of all the bikes here, although its on-road handling will leave you wanting once you pick up the pace. We'd recommend a test ride of all three before you make a decision. Also, do note that all four bikes are all slightly above Rs 1.50 lakh (your stipulated budget), within that amount, there's no credible option for your requirements.

Autocar India

•4w

Since you've said that most of your riding is relegated to city riding with a pillion, where comfort and fuel efficiency are top priorities, we'd recommend you stick to a premium 125cc commuter. The TVS Raider is a good option as it offers a comfortable ride and a spacious seat for the rider and pillion. In that category, our top picks are the TVS Raider and Hero Xtreme 125R. Both are available with variants that have a long, single-piece seat, so pillion comfort as well as fuel efficiency will be taken care of. In case you do want to scratch the itch of getting a larger machine, you will be well served by the TVS Ronin as well as the Royal Enfield Hunter 350. Both have smooth, torquey engines, plush suspension and are large enough to carry a pillion. Take a test ride of these bikes and see which one you prefer the most before purchasing.

Autocar India

•4w

The Suzuki V-Strom SX may be a dated machine, but it is a great option for someone who wants a relaxed, reliable and fuel-efficient touring machine. If you are open to considering other form factors aside from the adventure bike style, there are some other machines that will fit the bill for your usage as well. In the neo-retro space, the TVS Ronin, Honda CB350 models and Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350 will be good options to consider with their relaxed riding triangles, smooth and torquey engines, as well as plush suspension setups. These bikes won't be as fuel-efficient as the V-Strom, but the drop isn't going to be too drastic either. Take a test ride of these bikes before you make a decision.

Autocar India

•7w

The Bajaj-made 350cc Triumph bikes will be launched in the coming months, and going by our experience with the current 400cc bikes, it would make a lot of sense to wait and see how these turn out.The Honda CB350RS is a good option if you want a retro, relaxed and comfortable riding experience with modern styling and trademark Honda strengths of being easy to ride and own.The TVS Ronin is also a good option to consider because it has similar performance to the air-cooled 350s from Honda and Royal Enfield bikes, while being much more affordable to purchase. It also ticks the box of having plush ride quality, which is important for you.We'd recommend a test ride of the Ronin, CB350RS and Royal Enfield Hunter 350 if you want to purchase a bike immediately but if you can wait for some months, then the Triumph 350s could be the way to go.

Autocar India

•7w

Since you haven't specified what style of bike you want, nor given some details about your physique, recommending something concrete will not be possible. However, we'll give you a variety of options to choose from, spanning multiple classes. In the neo-retro space, you can look at bikes like the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet / Hunter 350, TVS Ronin, Triumph Speed T4 and Honda CB350 models. These will have a relaxed riding experience and a plush, comfortable ride quality. The Speed T4 will be the quickest and most responsive of them all, but still very manageable for daily use.If you want something sportier, the KTM 250 Duke makes for a compelling option for your one-bike garage. If you're leaning towards the more adventurous side of things, then the Hero Xpulse 210 and the TVS Apache RTX 300 are the way to go. It would be advisable to take test rides of all of these bikes to see what style you prefer and which bike you are most comfortable with.

Autocar India

•7w

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

•9w

If you want to stay within the Royal Enfield fold, you can look at the Hunter 350, which will feel much more manageable and comfortable than your older Bullet. But if you want to get a new version of your bike, the base Battalion Black and Military variants of the Bullet 350 will fit in your budget.The latest Bullet is a refined, comfortable and reliable machine which should return decent fuel economy, when ridden sensibly. Do bear in mind that with the Hunter, you will get dual-channel ABS. But the Bullet's base models only come with single-channel ABS and a rear drum brake. Alternatively, other options from reputed brands worth considering are the TVS Ronin, Apache RTR 200 4V, Honda CB300F, and Bajaj Pulsar N250. These smaller bikes will offer similar performance to the RE 350s - if not more - while being more fuel efficient too. Take a test ride of these machines before you make a decision.

Autocar India

•9w

Within your budget, the best option would be the TVS Ronin. Compared to other comparable machines, the Ronin is a good deal lighter and has a low 795mm seat height, too. With its neutral rider's triangle, comfortable suspension setup and smooth, torque-rich engine, the Ronin will be good for both short city rides and long highway trips. We'd recommend getting a variant with dual-channel ABS since your budget will be able to accommodate it.