Which Motorcycle Should I Buy?

There are varieties of motorcycles in the Indian market to choose from. Which motorcycle should I buy? Based on your needs, there are motorcycles that can do one job perfectly and there are others who can do a bit of everything.

I will broadly classify the types of motorbikes and their primary mode of function or use so that you’ll get an answer to ‘Which motorcycle should I buy?’

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Types of motorcycles available on the Indian market.

City Commuters

City commuters are generally 100 – 150cc scooters and bikes that are just powerful and comfortable enough for city rides. They are usually lightweight, have an upright seating posture and are easy to manoeuvre in city traffic. Eg Activa, Splendor.

Naked Street Bikes

Bikes with exposed engines and surroundings with a bit of sporty aggression are common in our streets. They are good for city commutes as well as short-distance highway touring. They have larger capacity engines ranging from 150 to even 1000cc ones. Dukes, Pulsars.

Cruisers

Perhaps motorcycles with the most upright seating ergonomics, cruisers are meant for long-distance highway touring. Their wide and tall handlebars, plush seats and forward-placed foot pegs make long highway hauls easy. They can be a bit difficult on city roads due to their heavy weight but are still manageable. Eg Classic, Meteor, Avenger.

Sports Tourers

Resembling a sports bike, they have the most aggressive seating ergonomics in the group. They are meant to go fast on the highways owing to their aerodynamic design. Sports tourers are difficult for city commutes due to their wider turning radius and low ground clearance. eg R15, RCs, Gixer SFs

Dirt Bikes

Although not very common on Indian roads, dirt bikes are the most suitable ones. Their long travel suspension, larger radius tyres and better low-end torque offer great advantages in riding harsh off-road terrain. New models are coming up on the market as these bikes have gained popularity over the years. eg Xpulse with rally kit, Impulse.

Dual purpose ADVs

ADV bikes offer the best of both worlds – cruisers and dirt bikes. The upright seating ergonomics and long travel suspension offer great highway touring and moderate off-road riding capabilities. Their popularity has skyrocketed in the Indian market over the past decade due to their versatility. eg Himalayan, KTM ADVs

There are many more types of motorcycles that ply on our roads. A few examples would be scramblers, roadsters, retro bikes, bobbers, and so on. These ones are not very common and their functionality can be attributed to one of the above-mentioned ones.

When deciding which motorcycle to buy you should ask yourself which functionality I use the most in my daily life. Is it city commuting, long-distance touring or even dirt racing? Find a motorcycle type that fits your need overall. This can help you narrow down your available choices and thus make your decision faster.

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Which Motorcycle Should I Buy? – Types Of Motorcycles