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27th April 2020, 13:09 | #31 |
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| Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike? Fz25 if you like hassle free. The Fz25 is 1. Refined - its Japanese 2. Simple mechanicals - so relatively easy to maintain 3. Efficient(seen and heard better mileages than some 200 cc's) 4. Low end torque makes it easy to ride in the city traffic 5. Riding at low speeds is very enjoyable too 6. Affordable in the range. You can always keep this as your city bike when you upgrade to a bigger bike. |
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28th April 2020, 01:38 | #32 |
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| Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike? The thought of getting a new bike has been on my head for quite some time now. In the mean time, my family and friends have been getting some good bikes and I've been fortunate enough to have some extensive firsthand experience during my vacations in India. I actually wrote a long post with my experience of how each of the contenders felt. It was getting too long and boring to read. So here's my 2 cents. The Dominar 400 is a great value for money proposition. Good highway manners and good for the city too provided one can handle the heft. The upkeep is not that expensive too. The build quality isn't on par with the Japanese although it's better than it's stablemates. The bike doesn't make you feel special in anyway. It just gets it's job done better than most in it's price segment. Those brilliant headlights deserve a special mention too. The Himalayan is a go anywhere bike. The seating posture, the suspension manners, the low end grunt etc. makes it perform well in almost all scenarios. The BS6 version seems to have ironed out most of the niggles. While the power and torque may be adequate for decent offroading, city rides and sane highway speeds, one may start craving for more power soon. It could be ruled out if offroading isn't your cup to tea. The Interceptor 650 makes you feel special. Being the only twin and the most powerful in this bunch, it deserves a special consideration. The engine is very smooth and the power delivery of a twin keeps it apart from the rest. The low end power delivery makes it great in city and highway cruising. The retro charm will keep it fresh for much longer. However, the ergonomics is a bit off, especially the footrests. How well you fit on the bike depends on personal preference. The pillion comfort is not great too. Although the Interceptor is probably the most well built RE, the upkeep wouldn't be as easy as the Japanese machines as it requires more TLC to prevent oxidation and rusting. KTM Adventure 390 is the jack of all trades here. It's better suited as a tourer rather than as an Adventure conversely to what the name may suggest. The Adventure 390 can do it all. City, Highway, Offroad, anything except hitting the track. The chink in it's armor is the lack of low end grunt. But there are a few videos on how it could be resolved to an extend with the Duke 250's front sprocket. Although it is the priciest of the lot, it justifies the premium with the hardware and feature set. The power, features and other capabilities makes it the best for long term ownership. |
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28th April 2020, 18:02 | #33 | ||||||||||||||
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| Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike? Quote:
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Yeah. I have slowly drifted away from FZ25. It does sound like it might not be the wisest of upgrades. Last edited by vamsi2390 : 28th April 2020 at 18:06. | ||||||||||||||
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28th April 2020, 18:22 | #34 | |
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| Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike? Quote:
I had the Thunderbird 350 earlier, and had to sell it due to some urgent cash need. Things got better later on, and I picked up the Dominar. I have clocked about 16,000 kms on my Dominar so far, and honestly, it's been a mixed bag. It's a reliable machine, but it does have some flaws as well. Also, I have owned 2 Pulsars earlier - the 150 and the 220, and for some reason, could never convince myself to hold on to Bajaj bikes for long. So my plan was to replace the Dominar with the Interceptor which I intend to keep as a long termer. If I do get it, I'll be using it for my city commutes and the occasional intercity rides to meet my friends. The other part of my plan, is to fulfill my long pending big bike dream and use that for long rides. I'm not sure if I can get the Interceptor and get a big bike as well, so for now, I'm playing the waiting game till next year and see if Goddess Laxmi smiles on me sometime soon | |
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28th April 2020, 20:49 | #35 |
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| Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike? Get either of the Suzuki 250's and call it a day. Runs similar to the FZ25 on the streets and similar to the CBR250R on the highways while offering better FE than both. This is the first motorcycle in India to actually come with proper oil cooling i.e SOCS, while the one on the FZ25 is merely an oil cooler that cools oil in the sump, the system on the Suzuki actually cools the combustion area, hence why you do not see any cooling fins on the cylinder, this is the same technology they used in the GSXR750 back in its oil cooled days. Now the advantage it has over the Liquid Cooled CBR250R is that it simply lacks the hardware i.e water pump, pipes, coolant...etc and the headaches associated with it i.e when you blow a mechanical seal or a head gasket and render the motorcycle un-tour'able. Practically there are no arguments against the Suzuki 250 even when it comes to; Ergonomics? It has Clip-On's on the SF variant for better handling over the FZ25 but they aren't as aggressive as the CBR250R's. Price? It sits somewhere between the other two contenders. Anyhow you think of it you simply cannot ignore the Suzuki. To think of it even the Gixxer 150 is a good motorcycle, a friend and fellow enthusiast has one that has run close to 100k on the odo, during a few interstate runs I was quite jealous to see that the 150cc motorcycle could cruise at 120kmph with a pillion and perfectly keep pace with my P220 while returning better FE than mine. P.S. If you think the FZ25 is smooth and concern free, then you need to head towards the xBhp ownership threads and give it a quick read, a good motorcycle nonetheless but opting for it merely for the "Japanese" insignia could possibly leave you dissatisfied. Cheers, A.P. Last edited by ashwinprakas : 28th April 2020 at 21:03. |
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28th April 2020, 20:51 | #36 |
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| Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike? My previous opinion remains the same but if in case the OP decides to buy a bike, I feel Apache 310 BS VI should definitely be in the consideration list. Reasons being: 1. Doesn't cost more than RE twins 2. Premium parts used throught the bike ( tyres, clutch, electric parts like cluster etc) 3. TVS's reputation for quality is better than RE and Bajaj 4. Far superior handling 5. It's more of a sports tourer than your regular tourer (Not an extreme committed ergonomics) 6. For most people it is a better looker. Most importantly Apache feels like it's a long term keeper bike. |
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28th April 2020, 22:03 | #37 |
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| Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike? vamsi2390 - Interceptor should be the bike you should go for since your primary requirement is touring and city commute. Its an awesome piece of machinery with adequate torque and power. Cruising on the highways will be a bliss. If you are over 6 feet tall, then you may need to change the handlebars for a comfortable cruising position. You will have a lot of options to customize the motorcycle to suit your needs. (Eg) High windscreen, Panniers, Custom touring seats etc. On the downside, it will heat in bumper to bumper traffic and I personally didn't like the way the silencers are placed. You need to be extremely careful when you filter through tight spots or you may end up ripping apart a bumper of a car. Also, if you are tall, you may feel the foot pegs are positioned a bit aggressively. Test ride it. And if you like it, go for it. Happy purchasing! Happy Riding! |
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29th April 2020, 02:57 | #38 |
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| Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike? Going through the above posts I feel the shortlist has come down to Dominar 400, Interceptor and may be even the Adventure 390. As all of them has their individual traits and their pros and cons, I think how your priorities are ranked can make it easy to pick one of them. Riding style If relaxed cruising at sane speeds is your thing, then the D400 or the Interceptor will suffice. A point to consider here is the availbilty of aftermarket windshields. The Dominar 400 has a plethora of options. Interceptor doesn't have much options tall enough to tackle the windblasts as it will completely spoil it's looks. City rideabilty of all of them are more or less the same when in comes to weight and heat. Interceptor may get a bit more hotter and manueverabilty may suffer because of the weight. If the bike is likely to see occassional broken paths now or in the future, then the Adventure 390 is the one to pick. Whether you wish to ride solo or with a pillion is also a factor to consider. Interceptor fares poorer compared to the others in this regard. Cost of buying and ownership If this is the priority, then Dominar 400 takes the cake here. It's cheaper to own, run and maintain than the other two which can lead to a more peaceful ownership experience. Duration of ownership If the bike is to be kept for 3 years or more, then rule out the D400. If you are anything like me, you will soon get used to the bike and start craving for more power sooner than later. For me, it was a trip to Ooty on the D400. At the inclines of the ghat sections, I had to downshift more than I would have liked considering the power and torque figures. The stress on the engine was also showing up it's rough edges. Trying a friend's Interceptor shortly after the trip was a revelation. The engine characteristics and the feel of riding was much better on the Interceptor. The low end grunt and the smooth power delivery of the engine is unforgettable. The Interceptor's retro charm will keep it fresh for more years than both the others too. The Adventure 390 is powerful enough to hold off the crave for entry into superbike spectrum. The hardware and feature set makes it a capable all-rounder and you could take the bike pretty much anywhere and it would do it much better than either the D400 or the Interceptor. Another thing to consider is that something like an Adventure 390 will leave the it open to explore more motoring avenues like offroading. You could ride an Interceptor on a highway cruise at any age. But to ride on the less explored paths like offroad trails needs the fitness of the young age. |
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1st May 2020, 14:14 | #39 |
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| Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike? With budget of 3 lacs, I cannot think of any bike better that KTM Duke 390. BSIV version is even more refined than 2017 one. RE 650 twins are good, but can't beat the value for money offered by KTM. Powerful engine, superb breaks, best possible road tires, fancy but very informative TFT, ride by wire and what not. I know you have a concern on temparamental nature of D390. Trust me, you can control it. I bought D390 in 2017 after selling my Thunderbird 500. Almost 28k on ODO now. It is extremely easy to ride. Handling is sublime. It can easily manage highway duties. City traffic is little bit of work with engine heating. But its not too bad and managable. Do test ride before making the final decision. Me and my brother had terrible experiances with RE SVCs. KTM SVCs are far better. Maintenance costs is reasonable. |
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1st May 2020, 16:25 | #40 |
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| Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike? Hi Vamsi, I have to go with the minority here and suggest you to hold on the buying decision for couple of years. 1. The primary reason being you already own the bike you need currently. 2. The new BS6 engines need to be tested first hand and let the engines run for some time. 3. Couple of years down the line you will be in better frame of mind about your choices. 4. In your current position your solo touring prospects are not looking good at least for next 2 years. I am also close to 30 and of a similar mindset as you in terms of the 3 lac mental barrier. My advice is to save the money but don't make a buy, who knows couple of years down the line you may start thinking about a totally different breed of motorcycles or you may feel that more than long touring you are interested in leisurely weekend drives or maybe hands on tinkering. However if you really want to buy (and also do a bit of showoff ) then apart from the above options depending on your ground clearance and luggage carrying requirements I would also suggest you to take a look at the three Jawa's since pillion comfort is not a very big priority for you. A BS-4 CBR250 may also be available due to the extension given by Supreme court but what it can do I believe your Electra can also do |
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3rd May 2020, 12:31 | #41 |
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| Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike?
Hi Vamsi, Hope you're doing well and safe! Below is my experience: I was in the similar situation couple of years back. I was using a pre-owned Classic 350 for 5 years and did run about 30K kms mostly on touring. However I ended up buying an used Apache 200 RTR after TD the FZ25 and other models. I had toured on Apache from Chennai to Goa and I felt the power to be adequate for crusing in 90-95kmph with ease. Few cons I felt were 1. Straight line stability on highways 2. Braking perfomance on high speeds ( #1 and #2 are due to bikes weight I guess) 3. Lack of 6th gear Int 650 : I recently rode a friend's Int 650 for about 100kms and I felt to be very good. Also, I feel you may like it since you have an experience of owning RE. D400: I got a chance to take it for a short spin and I quite liked it but need to be sure of the bike's built quality as your intention is retain the bike for a longtime Points to be considered 1. If you're planning to cruise effortlessly in the range of 120+ speeds, I think you need to consider Int 650 or D400 2. If you're looking for a pocket friendly and a decent power with touring capabilities, I think you can consider Gixxer 250 and the FZ25 Cheers, Deepak Last edited by vb-saan : 3rd May 2020 at 14:31. Reason: For readability please don't quote the whole post. Thanks! |
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5th May 2020, 23:16 | #42 |
BHPian | Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike?
I have had the Dominar UG 2019 since Sep, 2019. I have done 3-4 long rides already before the lockdown. The bike has performed very well with no issues. Some earlier feedback was about excessive engine heat but I had no such issue even in bumper to bumper traffic. The only issue I faced was the leg guard nut broke with the threads inside, had to leave the bike at the Bajaj service centre for half a day for it to be removed Free of Cost. And the Service Advisor said many other bikes had the same issue so it was sub standard quality of bolt. Other than that really happy with the purchase (FYI - I had the Honda CBR 250R ABS before) |
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9th May 2020, 23:48 | #43 |
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| Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike? I have been following a few moto vloggers and websites and got a new perspective on this. The long term users helped to get how the shortlisted bikes perform in real-world scenarios. With a better understanding, I am updating my opinion on this. Considering 3 Lakhs is a mental barrier and a financially sensible one at that, the Dominar 400 still makes a lot of sense with it's price tag and overall capabilities. One could kit up the D400 and make it more touring friendly and even get decent riding gears all under 3L. Even a Powertronics ECU could be squeezed in. The only question is how long it will remain exciting considering the plan for a long term ownership. The Interceptor 650 is ruled out for me as the bike is going to cost a lot more to get it touring friendly from seat, handlebars, auxiliary lights, windshield, rims capable of tubeless tires etc. and push it close to the 4L mark overall. The heating in city traffic is another issue which I'm not comfortable with. Before moving on to a retro cruiser, I'd consider getting a better all rounder which leaves more scope for exploration and that's where the KTM Adventure 390 comes in. The KTM Adventure 390 is nearly complete and it would require much lesser mods than the other two when it comes to customizations for touring. This is the one that seems to be built to take on any roads or no roads than the other two. The electronics safety net and the additional hardware makes it well worth the premium over the Interceptor. Waiting for a year or so and saving up more feels like the best option here. There is a host of machines that are going to launch soon. RE is readying a scrambler which could be more capable than the current 650 duo, KTM is bringing in the 250 Adventure at a lower price point compared to the 390 and Hero is readying a 300cc+ Adventure bike backed by it's Dakar experience. Going by what Hero has managed to achieve with the Xpulse 200, I have high hopes for the Hero Adv. It's likely to be most VFM in buying, cheapest to upkeep and the least problematic during the long term ownership. |
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10th May 2020, 04:29 | #44 | |
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| Re: Ramblings of a bored mind! Do I need to get a new touring bike? Quote:
That Hero 300/450 Adv or Hero Xpulse 300 whatever it will be called is the bike I am also rooting for. This certainly has the biggest potential and can be a true all rounder. Being a Hero, VFM quotient, reliability and cheaper maintenance is guaranteed. Only thing that is holding XPulse 200 back is relative lack of power which will definitely be sorted with higher power engine and that extra high exhaust which does make saddle bags a slightly tricky affair. If Hero can get the exhaust down a little bit then it would be the perfect bike. | |
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13th May 2020, 12:14 | #45 | |
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