You’re a rider, and you’ve come to India for a nice ride. Now how do you go about finding the right bike in the huge plethora of options available? Well, it’s not too difficult if you know what to look out for.
Let’s discuss the criteria to keep in mind while scouring the market for your next two-wheeled companion.
Budget
The first question is ‘how much should you spend?’ and that depends on how long you will be riding and where – city roads or highways. If it’s just some short rides around town then spending less than Rs 50,000 on a bike isn’t such a bad idea – there are many good 150cc bikes but they don’t really have mileage and after-sales service which you’ll need if you’re going to be using it daily. But a healthy budget is essential if you plan on covering any distance – a decent commuter under Rs 1 lakh should have mileage in the range of 35 kmpl and after-sales service is integral as well. Spending more than Rs 2 lakh on a bike makes no sense whatsoever since there are so many good options for less than that and you may also check Hornet Bike Price in India.
Engine capacity
The bigger the cc value, the more powerful the bike will be. If you intend on using it for highway rides, make sure there are enough gears available because bikes with lower cc engines generally have only five speeds. Many modern motorcycles also come equipped with technology like four valves per cylinder which promote better combustion and efficiency – these advanced features turn into extra power when you need it most. Also, a larger cc engine is capable of producing more torque which means the acceleration will be better and you can reach higher speeds with ease.
Design
There’s also the fact that motorcycle manufacturers now build bikes designed for specific purposes, so you’re better off with an ‘allrounder’ rather than a bike that excels at one task but fails miserably at another. For example, those who want performance will look at the KTM Duke 200 or the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V – both are equally good for commuting and long-distance touring.
Purpose
The best thing to do is pick a specific task in mind, then shortlist bikes that suit your needs. For example if you just want to go on weekend rides around town, look at buying either a Royal Enfield Classic 500 or Bullet Standard 350 – they’re capable of cruising at high speeds but don’t have any road presence so not suitable for highway driving. If you want something practical with reliability and higher fuel efficiency, look at the Yamaha FZ25.
Strokes
Your next question should be – do you want a four-stroke or two-stroke? Two strokes are more popular, but they’re harder to maintain. A modern four-stroke will not require any special attention during the entire duration of the bike’s use. If you ride regularly then it makes sense to buy a four-stroke since paying for repairs can be quite expensive with two-strokes. The downside is that they don’t have as much power as their smaller counterparts so on highways they feel sluggish at high speeds.
Research
The most important thing you should do is research – look at all the options available to you, shortlist one or two that fit your requirements best, then test them out before making a purchase. It’s worth noting that if you plan on using the bike only for city commutes it doesn’t make sense to spend more than Rs 1 lakh since it may lie unused for large periods of time, but if you’re touring with friends then anything under Rs 50,000 won’t be suitable. If sensible usage is what you’re after then it makes no point buying an expensive bike unless you need it for some specific purpose – like racing.
Accessories
While buying a bike, there are several accessories other than the actual two-wheeler itself that you should consider. You always need to have riding gear – helmet, gloves, and preferably cover too. Only then will your rides be safe. You can buy bike accessories online having good quality at Carorbis. There are plenty of other smaller but still important accessories like panniers to carry things, mirrors, engine oil for bikes, gear oil, and so on, which can complete the riding experience.
Neutral movement
The most important part is to move the motorcycle in neutral without starting it and see if you can freely move all four parts of the handlebar with your hands. There shouldn’t be any resistance or tension when moving them up or down, left or right. Next check that both brakes are working properly by coming to a complete stop at different speeds on an incline this time) and looking at how much the front and rear suspension compress on being applied. If you have friends who are more experienced riders, bring them along so they can give their opinions as well, because even though you might think something feels wrong, chances are there’s still room for improvement. When test driving doesn’t focus on the engine’s performance, there’s no point picking a bike with a lot of power if you won’t make use of it. Feel free to ask the bike parts names and pay attention to other factors.
If you don’t want to go through all this trouble yourself, visit an experienced buddy or a motorcycle dealership where they’ll give you advice after checking your riding skills. Do as much research as you can before setting out to buy a motorcycle, or if time is an issue then at least have a checklist ready so that you don’t miss out on anything important. After all this, your demands should be satisfied and it’s time to bring home your first two-wheeler!
