Hi,
I need suggestions on which motorbike to choose given the below set of requirements -
1. Budget - 1 lac +/- 10K
2. Age - 27
3. Height - 6'1''
4. Weight - 80
5. Intended usage - City ride/ Office commute.
Although having said a city ride, I stay in Bangalore and the distances easily add up to 60-70 km on any given Saturday or Sunday. Weekdays are a fixed 20 km ride. Not a mile more.
6. Fuel Efficiency requirement - Anything upwards of 30 kmpl will do.
7. City & Highway percentage usage - 97 & 3 respectively.
8. Approximate Monthly running - 600-700 kms per month (weekday use of 20 km, weekend use of 50/70 km - average figures)
9. City - Bangalore.
10. Brand / Bike type preference (if any) - Yamaha, Suzuki.
11. Pillion comfort - Good to have. Surely won't want my wife to jump on a spring to climb the tomb of butthurts.
12. Previous bike owned - Bajaj Pulsar 150 (the Definitely male version with round headlights)
Some other misc. pieces of info -
I have test driven the below bikes for comparison so far -
a. Yamaha FZs version 2 - Great handling, cornering, braking. BUT it stops at that. Not impressed with the power & pick up at higher RPMs. Decent riding comfort. Pillion rides just about ok. Pillion Butt Hurt Threshold (PBHT) - 45-60 mins. On road price of 93.5K.
b. Yamaha Fazer - Haven't owned a bike with fairing ever. Felt a bit weird while cornering or maneuvering sharp turns. But I think that's a matter of habit & whether you are used to it or not. Riding comfort was decent though not exceptional. Nothing noticeably different from FZ version 2 on power & pick up front. PBHT - 45 - 60 mins.
c. Bajaj Pulsar 200NS - I know there would be Pulsar fanboys out there vouching for the power packed features with a KTM Duke engine base on this machine - which is why, agreeably, with bias, I test rode this motorbike. And boy it vibrates!! I found the vibrations prominently disturbing at a humble speed of 45 kmph. This motorbike is supposed to redeem the image of Pulsar and with the features it packs, its a commendable attempt but with all the jazz that's put in the engine & styling, had they managed the vibrations better, I would have still considered this beast. Oh, and not to mention, my wife WILL need a spring to jump up high on the back. PBHT - 30 - 45 mins.
d. Bajaj Avenger - Smooth ride as expected from a cruiser. Good power, pick up. Cornering & maneuvering not as great as all other motorbikes listed here, but I am not sure if that is to be expected of a cruiser. Only factors weighing this one down - tubed tires & the tendency of the front tire to skid, especially so in rains. Also, traffic compatibility is so so. PBHT - 120 - 180 mins.
e. Suzuki Gixxer - Ditto the feel of a FZ version 2 but with more power and pick up. However, the handling & braking is not as great as the FZ ver 2.0. Any factors to weigh this down? Not sure of the post sales services or the ownership experience given its recent launch (Aug/ Sep 2014). Honestly I wasn't even aware of this motorbike till I accidentally stumbled on the review by ZigWheels and PowerDrift on YouTube.
Given these facts, I am considering the FZ version 2.0 (Not sure if I will ever cross a 80 kmph in Bangalore unless I want to be consumed in part by the black concrete a**holes on road (potholes) and Bajaj Avenger ( I can totally relate to the lazy a** lumbering of this motorbike in traffic. I ain't the guy who cuts lanes or overtakes 4 wheelers from blindside like a maniac on speed.)
I specifically need your inputs on anything which I may have missed in comparison OR if there are any other alternatives which I have not considered. That said, I am also open to revisiting the conversation on the motorbikes I have listed here but haven't shortlisted.
Kaustubh
I need suggestions on which motorbike to choose given the below set of requirements -
1. Budget - 1 lac +/- 10K
2. Age - 27
3. Height - 6'1''
4. Weight - 80
5. Intended usage - City ride/ Office commute.
Although having said a city ride, I stay in Bangalore and the distances easily add up to 60-70 km on any given Saturday or Sunday. Weekdays are a fixed 20 km ride. Not a mile more.
6. Fuel Efficiency requirement - Anything upwards of 30 kmpl will do.
7. City & Highway percentage usage - 97 & 3 respectively.
8. Approximate Monthly running - 600-700 kms per month (weekday use of 20 km, weekend use of 50/70 km - average figures)
9. City - Bangalore.
10. Brand / Bike type preference (if any) - Yamaha, Suzuki.
11. Pillion comfort - Good to have. Surely won't want my wife to jump on a spring to climb the tomb of butthurts.
12. Previous bike owned - Bajaj Pulsar 150 (the Definitely male version with round headlights)
Some other misc. pieces of info -
I have test driven the below bikes for comparison so far -
a. Yamaha FZs version 2 - Great handling, cornering, braking. BUT it stops at that. Not impressed with the power & pick up at higher RPMs. Decent riding comfort. Pillion rides just about ok. Pillion Butt Hurt Threshold (PBHT) - 45-60 mins. On road price of 93.5K.
b. Yamaha Fazer - Haven't owned a bike with fairing ever. Felt a bit weird while cornering or maneuvering sharp turns. But I think that's a matter of habit & whether you are used to it or not. Riding comfort was decent though not exceptional. Nothing noticeably different from FZ version 2 on power & pick up front. PBHT - 45 - 60 mins.
c. Bajaj Pulsar 200NS - I know there would be Pulsar fanboys out there vouching for the power packed features with a KTM Duke engine base on this machine - which is why, agreeably, with bias, I test rode this motorbike. And boy it vibrates!! I found the vibrations prominently disturbing at a humble speed of 45 kmph. This motorbike is supposed to redeem the image of Pulsar and with the features it packs, its a commendable attempt but with all the jazz that's put in the engine & styling, had they managed the vibrations better, I would have still considered this beast. Oh, and not to mention, my wife WILL need a spring to jump up high on the back. PBHT - 30 - 45 mins.
d. Bajaj Avenger - Smooth ride as expected from a cruiser. Good power, pick up. Cornering & maneuvering not as great as all other motorbikes listed here, but I am not sure if that is to be expected of a cruiser. Only factors weighing this one down - tubed tires & the tendency of the front tire to skid, especially so in rains. Also, traffic compatibility is so so. PBHT - 120 - 180 mins.
e. Suzuki Gixxer - Ditto the feel of a FZ version 2 but with more power and pick up. However, the handling & braking is not as great as the FZ ver 2.0. Any factors to weigh this down? Not sure of the post sales services or the ownership experience given its recent launch (Aug/ Sep 2014). Honestly I wasn't even aware of this motorbike till I accidentally stumbled on the review by ZigWheels and PowerDrift on YouTube.
Given these facts, I am considering the FZ version 2.0 (Not sure if I will ever cross a 80 kmph in Bangalore unless I want to be consumed in part by the black concrete a**holes on road (potholes) and Bajaj Avenger ( I can totally relate to the lazy a** lumbering of this motorbike in traffic. I ain't the guy who cuts lanes or overtakes 4 wheelers from blindside like a maniac on speed.)
I specifically need your inputs on anything which I may have missed in comparison OR if there are any other alternatives which I have not considered. That said, I am also open to revisiting the conversation on the motorbikes I have listed here but haven't shortlisted.
Kaustubh