Bajaj bikes in India (20)

The Honda Unicorn and SP160 you are considering are mechanically near identical, sharing their engines, chassis and quite a few features. Where they differ is in their styling and riding position, so choosing between these two will come down to your personal preference for which bike you and your pillion find more comfortable. 

The TVS Apache RTR 160 2V is a proven machine, but its older engine can't match the smoothness and refinement that most modern peers in the segment will offer you, and we'd instead suggest you look at the 4V version of the Apache for a better experience. You should also consider the Bajaj Pulsar N160, as that is another competent machine in this class and comes with a single-piece seat on some of its variants, which will meet your comfort requirements nicely. 

All of the aforementioned bikes have mostly flat and wide single-piece seats, which should be conducive to rider and pillion comfort, and to make an informed decision, we'd recommend a thorough test ride of each with your frequent pillion.

On the test ride, do a 15‑minute two‑up loop; have your pillion check knee bend, seat comfort, and grab‑rail reach. Also, ride over some speed breakers and rough patches to test suspension comfort thoroughly. 

All three options you have shortlisted are actually very well-rounded EVs and are frontrunners in the electric scooter market in terms of sales, long-term reliability and brand recall. Therefore, picking between them will boil down to personal preferences toward design, comfort, real-world range and features. 

The TVS iQube S and Bajaj Chetak 3501 are undoubtedly more VFM here because they come with larger battery packs, thus, longer distances before you need to charge them. You can easily expect a real-world range of over 100km, even when ridden quite aggressively, which the Ather Rizta 2.9 will not be able to match because it has a smaller battery pack. 

When it comes to boot space, it might seem like all three are evenly matched, but the real-world picture is slightly nuanced. To recap, the iQube S has 32 litres of underseat storage, whereas the Ather Rizta has 34 and the Bajaj Chetak has 35. Now, on paper, it's a negligible difference, but the TVS' boot is much shallower than the Bajaj and Ather scooters. It means you'll have to be smart with how you pack your belongings in it. Plus, an imported ECE-certified helmet will not fit inside the TVS, in case that is a consideration for you. 

When it comes to after-sales experience, all three are largely good to live with, although it will vary depending on where you're located.

Take an exhaustive test ride of all three before you make a decision. All three are straightforward, practical, reliable EVs, so no matter which one you choose, it's likely you'll be happy with it. 

Since you've said that your commute has bad roads, replacing your Jawa 42 with a scooter wouldn't be our recommendation. While they are innately more practical than motorcycles, scooters have their smaller wheels and shorter, thinner suspension units. It won't really enhance your comfort, at least not to a great extent. 

Instead, we would advise you to get a practical 160cc commuter like the Honda Unicorn / SP160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V or Bajaj Pulsar N160. These are comfortable, fuel-efficient and peppy machines perfectly suited to city use. To make an informed decision before you go ahead with your purchase, ensure to take a test ride of all three to see which one you gel with the best.

If, however, you want to go with a scooter as your next purchase, consider the following options. In the family scooter space, the TVS Jupiter 110 / 125 and Suzuki Access would be our top picks. If you want something sportier feeling and looking yet comfortable enough for daily usage, then the TVS Ntorq 125 & 150 are what you should be looking at. 

Again, a test ride of all of these is imperative before you make your decision. Make sure you intentionally go over bad patches of road and make tight, lock-to-lock U-turns to see if the handlebars foul with your knees, since you are a taller rider.

If you are looking for the best comfort on a petrol scooter, the TVS Jupiter 110 and Suzuki Access are the best options. The Jupiter has 12-inch wheels at both ends, which will also help round off bigger bumps more nicely. It's also got a winged preload adjuster, which will easily help you adjust preload when carrying a passenger and luggage. 

If you are looking for something in the EV space, then you should look at the TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Vida VX2 Plus and Ather Rizta. These scooters have spacious riding positions, comfortable suspension setups and come from reputed manufacturers with widespread and proven service networks. 

Take a test ride of these scooters before you decide. 

Between the three bikes you've shortlisted, all three are comfortable for city use, but they all sit at very different price points, and it wouldn't be right to compare the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V with the Honda CB350RS and Triumph Speed 400. If you want a straightforward commuter, then sticking to a machine in the 150-160cc space like the aforementioned Apache, Bajaj Pulsar N160, and Honda Unicorn would make sense. 

These bikes will be lighter and easier to manage within the city (which is where you'll spend most of your life), as well as be fuel-efficient and comfortable. 

If instead you do want to look at something more premium, the Honda and Triumph you have shortlisted are also good options. You should also look at the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350 in this segment. These bikes will be larger and more spacious than the 150/160cc options mentioned above, with better build quality, road presence and pillion comfort. 

However, they will demand a little more effort at slow speeds and will also not be as fuel-efficient as the commuters. 

Since you are intimately familiar with the Vida ownership experience, buying the Vida VX2 Go 3.4 will likely be your safest bet. This scooter also offers more range and performance than the TVS Orbiter and Bajaj Chetak C2501 models you have shortlisted. So, objectively speaking, you should stick with the Vida e-scooter.

The Orbiter's USP is that it is one of the most spacious electric scooters around, while on the other end of the spectrum, you have the petite Bajaj Chetak C2501. Unless you have an unusually tall or shorter physique, we'd recommend sticking with the Vida. 

The only reason you should look at the others is if you want to change things up and switch to a different brand. 

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. 

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. 

Within your budget, you will get very old examples of the Kawasaki Ninja 300, which will likely not be in good shape after all these years. We'd recommend you go for a new bike for the peace of mind that comes with it and the warranty coverage that comes with it. 

Since you have mentioned you want something sporty, we'd recommend the Bajaj Pulsar NS200 and the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. Both have energetic engines, good handling and will also be comfortable for day-to-day use with their upright ergonomics. 

Both are also reasonably comfortable bikes to carry pillion with, although larger people will be pressed for space. 

A test ride of these two should help you decide which is best for you.