TVS bikes in India (21)

In the petrol scooter space, our top recommendations will be the TVS Jupiter 110 / 125 and the Suzuki Access. These scooters have good seating and suspension comfort, are quite fuel efficient and will be easy to own and maintain as well. 

The only two electric scooters which we'd recommend under the Rs 1 lakh mark are the new Bajaj Chetak C2501 and the TVS Orbiter. Do bear in mind that the Chetak is quite a small scooter, so if you're a taller person or ride two-up frequently, this could be something to watch out for. 

The Orbiter is a nicely spacious machine, but it prioritises range over performance, so its acceleration is quite dull. 

A test ride of these machines will help you narrow down which machine is best for you. 

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and the TVS Apache RTX 300 are two very different motorcycles. The Meteor is a relaxed cruiser, while the RTX is an adventure bike, a sporty streetfighter.

Objectively speaking, the RTX will be more comfortable and capable in just about every situation you'll find yourself in. However, it is quite a tall machine, so if you are a shorter rider, this could be something to look out for, especially at slower speeds in city traffic. 

Instead of the Meteor, we'd actually recommend considering the Classic / Bullet 350 because they have a more comfortable and upright seating position, which will be more conducive to comfort over your long daily commute. 

A test ride of these bikes will help you figure out which one is best for your needs.  

The TVS Jupiter 125 has a nifty winged preload adjuster for the rear suspension, which will allow you to quickly and easily set the preload when you're carrying two people, which is quite often for you. It also comes with 12-inch wheels at both ends, which endow it with better stability at higher speeds and will help round off bigger bumps better. TVS' iGO start/stop system will undoubtedly aid fuel economy, but its execution is a little lethargic in the real world, which can get frustrating in big city traffic. 

Coming to the Suzuki Access, this too is a comfortable scooter. Its strengths lie in its creamy smooth engine that packs zippy performance and bulletproof reliability. Also, its spare parts are affordable and easily available. It will also be great to carry a pillion around in the city; however, in that regard, the Jupiter is slightly better. 

Realistically, both scooters are great purchases and will serve you well in the long run. We'd recommend getting whichever one is more affordable for you and has a service centre close to you. 

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. 

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. 

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The Kawasaki Ninja 300 is a thoroughly dated machine in all respects, but it has some unique strengths in today's market. If you like the baby Ninja, then it still makes sense to go for it, although we'd recommend paying full price and going for the latest model. Because the older ones won't be E20 compatible. Real-world fuel economy is subjective and depends on a multitude of factors. So we can't tell you what you should expect; for reference, you may check out our fuel efficiency numbers from when we road tested the Ninja 300. 

Coming to the TVS Apache RR 310, this is a more modern and feature-rich machine and will also be cheaper to buy and maintain in the long run. However, purchasing it without taking a test ride is an avoidable risk, and we'd recommend you try to get a test ride from TVS once more before you make a decision. 

Based on your needs, we'd recommend taking a look at the Honda Unicorn, Bajaj Pulsar N160 single-seat variants and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. All bikes are well-finished, comfortable and smooth, so you should choose the one you find easiest to manage. 

The service experience is also an area where you should pay extra attention to. Therefore, in that regard, most people have reported Honda's service to be quicker and friction-free compared to Bajaj and TVS. 

We'd recommend a test ride of all three. Also, discuss the service intervals and cost to ascertain which would be the best fit for you. 

The two frontrunners in the ADV space within your budget would be the TVS Apache RTX 300 and Hero Xpulse 210. The Xpulse will be the more city-friendly machine compared to the RTX because it is lighter and not as physically large a machine. It will also return noticeably better fuel economy, and if that's important to you, then it becomes the clear pick. The RTX does have better seating comfort, although in isolation, the Xpulse is good too. 

A test ride of these two will help you decide which is the better machine for you. 

Since you aren't familiar with the clutch/gear shift coordination that a motorcycle will demand. We would recommend you first learn these basics under the guidance of a professional or a trusted relative/friend. 

The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 may seem like a small machine, but it can comfortably accommodate larger riders without a hassle. Coming to the Xpulse 210, this is a lighter and taller machine than the Hunter and will also have a very different riding experience. 

The Honda SP125 will undoubtedly give you excellent fuel economy, but it can't compete with the Hunter and Xpulse in terms of performance or road presence. We'd recommend a test ride of all three before you make your purchase, as that will help you make an informed decision. 

However, if you think that riding a motorcycle is too complicated, and you want to stick with a scooter. It makes sense to go with proven options in the ICE and EV segments like TVS Jupiter, Honda Activa, Suzuki Access and TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta and Vida VX2, respectively. 

Both the Hero Xpulse 210 and TVS Apache RTX 300 are both good bikes for tackling bad roads, but when it comes to off-road riding, the Xpulse is clearly more capable. 

It has longer travel suspension and wire-spoke rims, both making it better suited for the job. It is also the lighter and narrower of the two machines and has minimalist bodywork. It will be helpful in the inevitable case of a tipover because neither the bike nor your wallet will sustain too much damage.