Quote:
Originally Posted by darkLightning 1. Previous riding experience - |
My start of outstation trips started with a friend's Star City, easing around in the slow lanes at 50-60kmph, talking, chai breaks and random stops at off beat locations peppered the entire trip. Maintaining any time wasn't important nor was the destination. Our first trip was supposed to be a casual coffee stopped ride to Mysore but we ended up in Ooty in pouring rain.
Star City with two 70-75kg blokes had done Bangalore-Ooty, Bangalore-Coorg with ease, returned 75kmpl and never broke down barring punctures in the first trip due to bad tyres.
Then came the RTR 180 with mostly solo trips around the 300-400km/day mark.
Longest was a Bangalore-Pune trip(June 2012) but with a night halt in Belgaum since I had managed to overheat the engine courtesy barren but beautiful roads back then, the Motul 300V which brilliantly masked the roughness which the bike used to get when it started running hot and most importantly the RTR180 which doesn't like cruising.
RTR180's(
not applicable for the RTR200) rear seat was horrible for a pillion. I experienced it once for barely 30-40kms and would never do it again. Friends who have rode pillion for 300-400kms have expressed a strong desire to throw the bike off a cliff after they reach back complemented with some unmentionable words
Quote:
Originally Posted by darkLightning 2. Bangalore Bhopal round trip - |
Just to test your endurance its doable but there is a big difference in riding 400km and 800km at a stretch.
Around the 400km mark your body is getting tired so if you reach your destination you feel you can go more but that endurance will most likely fade in another 100 kms on the bikes you've mentioned. Most likely by this time daylight is thinning out, you are tired but now you try to make the the destination, a recipe for disaster IMO. Not saying its not possible but highly risky.
I have been in this situation once since I didn't have an option, most harrowing experience till date and didn't repeat it again, will skip the details.
But if you ever want to do Bangalore-Bhopal then break it into 500kms/day considering the roads are fine and cover more distance if you're making good progress.
Things which I practice and recommend, assuming you and the bike are properly geared up and serviced:
- Carry raingear for all on board
- Start early but have breakfast
- Waypoints and Alternates : example my halfway marker was to reach Belgaum by 1300 so I can have lunch and head out by 1400. Any delay more than 30 mins means halt at Belgaum, have lunch then enjoy the town or have an alternate within 2 hours of driving time to halt and explore, that's the most fun part of travelling with your own vehicle, IMHO.
But this rule has to be followed religiously since the you'd have only 4-5 hours of daylight remaining after that in summers in the western areas. - Never travel at night : If you don't have halfway markers you'll end up stuck somewhere you don't want to be, in the dark, neither enjoyable nor safe. With a pillion as your direct responsibility not worth a shot at all.
- Highways are boring on a two-wheeler especially the bikes we're talking about, so it has to be enjoyable meaning take it easy.
- For long distances like the one you're talking about you should have liquid cooling. Personal experience.
My primary objective of any road-trip is enjoyment, everything else is a side-effect and if it isn't enjoyable it becomes a task, IMHO.
Quote:
Originally Posted by darkLightning - So the true target trips for this purchase will be more on the line of Bangalore-Gokarna, Bangalore - Ooty as I mentioned in opening post. |
For this your shortlist is good enough, Gokarna might be a bit of a stretch but doable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by darkLightning I am trying to stay away from Dominar or any Bajaj to be honest as I have some trust issues with the Bajaj experience I have observed of my friends over the years. |
I had the exact same experience/perception with multiple friends owning Pulsar 150/180/200 but the Dominar is different and a friend in Bangalore is extremely happy with his 2018 D400 and its SC.
I rode the bike and its very good, in the city and outside it. Well suited for your needs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by darkLightning Thanks shancz, your experience with RTR 180 is another positive in a way for RTR 200 4V. |
But remember that both engines are different, all the flaws in the 180 seem to have been sorted in the 200. Primary being the engine vibes and power delivery.
The RTR200, IMHO the best of the upto 200cc with adjustable suspensions and riding modes(as a learning experience) but its compact and not sure if your wife would be happy with the seat and space. Check it out over a TD.
As for the bikes I can recommend the following essentials, from experience, targeting a 400-500km trip distance regularily :
- dual disc brakes
- dual channel ABS
- tubeless tyres
- liquid cooling(essential IMO but could be skipped if you're cautious during summers)
Bikes I can foresee to fit your needs, not in order with a few cautions :
- RTR 200 4V : check rear seat space and comfort
- XPulse 200 4V : check for riding dynamics with pillion, the higher GC might not be very usable for your trips which are mainly road based
- XTreme 200R/S : take a TD, I have a feeling it might get an update soon with a 4V motor, pillion should be more comfortable than the RTR200.
- Dominar 400 : tank range is a bit low for its size ~250kms, weight is felt mainly during U turns
- CB350 : cost and big wings service reach
- Himalayan : Some niggles and RE service issues
- Classic 350 : more comfortable for a pillion than the Meteor but a new engine and RE service concerns
- 390 Adventure : expensive, stiff suspension, pillion might not be happy
All in all if your wife is happy with the RTR200's seat get that. If she isn't TD all the bikes and get the one which both of you are happy with.
Hope it helps.
Check out my response from
girimajiananth's thread (Buying advice: Hero Xpulse vs TVS Apache RTR 200 vs Honda Highness vs Others).
Good Luck