Choosing The Right Machine With Evolving Motorcycle Scene In India

The Evolving Motorcycle Scene

The Indian motorcycle scene has changed drastically over the last few years. I mean, who would have thought that Indian roads would see a surge in ADV bikes and sports bike cruising in a blink of an eye on the open highways. The roads and highways have improved over the last decade. We have great connection of roadways and infrastructure now. The Indian roads are now ready for the higher cc engines and bigger bikes. To keep up with the winds of change the motorcycle manufacturers are now focusing on ADV bikes and and bigger engines. 
Brands like Triumph, Harley Davidson have already tried to put in their firm step for the Indian markets by collaborating with  Bajaj and Hero respectively. This is a great move strategically that draws the enthusiasts towards these brands without burning a hole in the pocket. 
With Aprilia launching its 457cc bike Tuono in India it is quite evident that the motorcycle space has evolved and moving towards a better direction in India today. 

However, with a plethora of options it often becomes difficult to choose the right bike when buying for the first time. 

Important considerations to make before buying your first motorcycle

Now before you head out to the showroom and book your first motorcycle consider the below factors before getting swayed away by the looks and aesthetics:

- Comfort: How is the seating posture, how comfortable the seats are and what about the ergonomics of the motorcycle?

- Safety: Does it offer ABS or other advanced features like traction control, hill assist? How is the braking performance and how stable the bike is? Try seeking answer to these questions and then decide.

- Engine performance: How is the power output? Does it align with the purpose of commuting, touring or off-roading?

- Practicality- Consider your budget and cost of maintenance. Ask yourself whether it fits your daily lifestyle or not.

Bikes I have owned and my buying journey with the RE Himalayan 411

Yamaha Fz- V2 2015 Model

I had been owning TVS Apache 150, 2011 model, Yamaha FZ V2 2015 model and now a proud owner of the RE Himalayan 411 2021 model. All of these motorbikes have taken me to places. So irrespective of the engine cc, your motorbike is designed to take you to faraway places. Now, when we talk about buying a new motorcycle there are numerous things to consider:

When I was buying the RE Himalayan 411 I was clear about 3 things:
- The purpose for which I was buying this.

- How well I can handle the city traffic with this huge motorcycle.

- How comfortable my long rides would be with the Himalayan.

In my case, commuting was the primary reason as I would use it to travel in the Bangalore traffic to reach office and come back home.
Long rides- Heck yeah! Weekends for me means a new place and some riding fun either in a group or solo.
Adventure? Yes, I want to explore India and the world on a motorcycle.

Initially, Himalayan was not my first choice until I took the test ride. But with the test ride I realized that managing this huge machine in traffic would not be so difficult as I thought it would be. Now, the major concern that I had in my mind about riding in the traffic was answered. The long travel suspensions, comfortable seats and the upright sitting posture were perfect for long rides too. And bad roads or no roads the motorcycle seemed to absorb most of the impact and did not hurt my back. So, this was fitting perfectly to my needs and budget so, I booked it and I am happy with my decision till date. This motorcycle gave me the confidence to successfully complete a ride of 2100kms crossing 5 states riding across varied terrains with a pillion rider and luggage.

 

Conclusion: Choosing the right motorbike

Choosing a motorcycle is not as easy as it seems looking at the specs only. It is more about fitting into your riding lifestyle. Asking the right questions is important before buying. A motorbike that looks and feels great in your garage may not turn out to be your best companion on road!

Taking test rides are crucial as it gives you a feel for comfort, maneuverability and gives you a real world practicality before deciding.

After all it is not just about the specifications but how much you enjoy the ride!