[Doge]

Hi all,
After years of contemplating and want, I have decided that I wanna get my self a motorcycle, my first one. I have always loved motorcycles, but worried parents never let me hop on one.
I also resisted, thinking I’ll get one in Europe or somewhere else where I won’t be run over while riding.
Anyways, I can’t wait and have been looking around. I wanna ride a bike, even if it’s just an hour long early morning ride a few times a week ( for now ).
I don’t really need the bike and probably won’t commute on it, this will be an A to A machine.
So I have a budget of around 80k max, I will buy a good helmet, jacket, boots and pants too after getting a bike. Since I have only ridden a thunderbird for 5 mins so far, I don’t have the option to test bikes as I can’t really ride them yet. I am in my early twenties and am 6”5 tall and weight 90 kilos.
FE is not a problem, but don’t want a bike which keeps breaking unexpectedly. Most important I suppose is that the bike should be able to cruise at 100 kph easy all day as I live right next to some of the fastest expressways in NCR and I use them all the time to get anywhere. I am a sedate driver but I have seen how fast cars overtake 110 cc bikes in the left most side of the express way and I don’t wanna be the guy who gets hit from behind riding at 60. Abs would be great too but I think it will be tough to find it in this vintage. Decent breaks are a must.
I will learn on this machine only. Here is what I have found:

My first choice is a CBR 250R, I still find the 2012 VFR coloured ones gorgeous and have heard good things about it. Problem is finding a nice one, they are usually used by boy racers in slippers. These tatty looking ones are the early VFR coloured ones and are around 50k, 2012 or 2013 model years. Nicer and later ones are in the 70k range but rare and don’t have the VFR colours. Abs ones are even rarer. I am not sure if this bike has good parts availability? Also the fairings are a bit worrisome, if I drop the bike I will break them.

Second choice is the Yamaha Fz25. Found a 2018 for 70k. Seems low on power compared to the Honda, looks a bit too busy but not a deal breaker. Still in production so that’s another plus point.

Third one- the Pulsar AS200, I like the way it looks, seems to have decent power and should be a good cruiser at 100 but it’s so hard to find, and the RS 200 is hideous.

Wildcard choice is the Honda Unicorn.... yes i know. I just like the unicorn, it’s a handsome honest machine. Has a mono shock and from what I’ve heard, a great engine. Also cheaper than others but I think that this bike will struggle on the expressway and probably tops out at 100.

So I look forward to your suggestions, what bike for under 80k that can cruise all day over 100 and is not tiny to sit on?

[IshaanIan]

Was gonna say Duke 200 for 60k plus 10k on tyres and another 10k on other service bits and bobs. Then you mentioned you are 6'5" I find most bikes to be built for people between 5'7" and 5'10". CBR250R may sound great but I found it a bit scrunched up (I am only 6'0") which to an extent is bearable on well balance nakeds like the Duke 200 but not on something with a sportier stance. Certainly not for someone that is 6'5". Personally I bought the RC390 as my first bike mostly because it genuinely felt roomy and felt like it fit well not leaving me feeling too scrunched up. I understand that you want a bike asap but I would recommend taking the time to actually ride and sample a whole bunch of bikes before buying one. Just to find out what fits you and doesn't even if it might look great.

[Doge]

Originally Posted by IshaanIan

Was gonna say Duke 200 for 60k plus 10k on tyres and another 10k on other service bits and bobs. Then you mentioned you are 6'5" I find most bikes to be built for people between 5'7" and 5'10". CBR250R may sound great but I found it a bit scrunched up (I am only 6'0") which to an extent is bearable on well balance nakeds like the Duke 200 but not on something with a sportier stance. Certainly not for someone that is 6'5". Personally I bought the RC390 as my first bike mostly because it genuinely felt roomy and felt like it fit well not leaving me feeling too scrunched up. I understand that you want a bike asap but I would recommend taking the time to actually ride and sample a whole bunch of bikes before buying one. Just to find out what fits you and doesn't even if it might look great.

Hi Ishaan,
I suppose you do make a good point about naked bikes being more roomy.
I didn’t like the duke but do love the Dominar but don’t wanna buy that as my first bike as I want to get good gear at the start which I can keep for long and maybe in the future get a 650 RE or a D400. I would love to test bikes but the problem is I barely can shift into neutral now, and I need a bike to learn, don’t wanna test others bikes without learning first. Basically I need to buy a bike so I can test bikes. So the plan is to buy a used bike for cheap and ask the owner to drop it home and then start learning from there lol. Looks are not so important to me either, just the CBR in dual tone pulls the strings, but I wouldn’t even mind a Suzuki Inazuma.
I am not too worried about looking like I’m riding a Honda monkey as almost any bike bar maybe the Xpulse would look small on me but I think it’ll struggle at 100 and is too rare and out of budget.

[IshaanIan]

If you're into the Dominar then a really beginner friendly option might be the Thunderbird from Royal Enfield. Not sure what they sell for but I guess you ought to be able to find one within your budget.

[KPR]

Your height and weight says a RE TB but at your early 20s I don't think RE will suit you. At 80K budget I'm sure you can get good used TB500 even. But my suggestion will be to get FZ25. Why not try out Xpulse less used ones?

[MotoBlip]

If you loved the Dominar, I think you should go for it. I'm a beginner myself and have rented it a few times and I think it's an excellent bike. The first time I rented it, after an hour of locking up the rear and stalling, I was comfortable with it and once that hesitation is gone, it's so much fun to drive.

Whatever bike you decide on, do rent it for a day or two and familiarize yourself with all it's nuances before the actual purchase.

[Doge]

Originally Posted by KPR

Your height and weight says a RE TB but at your early 20s I don't think RE will suit you. At 80K budget I'm sure you can get good used TB500 even. But my suggestion will be to get FZ25. Why not try out Xpulse less used ones?

Xpulse are hard to find for 80k, and I feel it may struggle on the fast expressways I live by. Some other time I will get one with a rally kit for sure .
My cousin has a TB500 that feels like it will lose all its bits at high rpms lol. Anyway, I will swap bikes with him for fun so don’t see why I should get another TB500. Plus they always keep breaking, I am really not sure why they commanded such a premium,

[KPR]

Originally Posted by Doge

Xpulse are hard to find for 80k, and I feel it may struggle on the fast expressways I live by. Some other time I will get one with a rally kit for sure .
My cousin has a TB500 that feels like it will lose all its bits at high rpms lol. Anyway, I will swap bikes with him for fun so don’t see why I should get another TB500. Plus they always keep breaking, I am really not sure why they commanded such a premium,

You can get one at 1L if you try. Look for a good used Mojo. It is one heck of a highway monster and mostly trouble free.

I drive a TB500 daily for upto 40km. It has super comfortable seats and decent torque. I don't do highway long ride in it because of the fear of failure . The machine is tractable until 80-90 kmph. But again as I said at my late thirties it suits me better than a young person like you in early twenties.

[Doge]

Guys, I forgot to update but I did find my bike, a 2012 CBR250R Abs. I will add a full report either on the CBR thread or a new thread documenting my experience of picking up motorcycling.

[Ritz2010]

Fantastic thread. I'm in similar position and need suggestions. I had booked interceptor twice and cancelled looking at the wire ends exposed in 3L bike in 2019/2020.

Thank god didn't buy as covid locked us all at homes and no vechiles were used for months together.

Now with permanent WFH the long rides to office aren't there and became more comfortable with car.

Looked at Olx and could see Interceptors going at 2.5 (BS6) and wanted to take plunge but not sure if it's worth to go for 650cc when no long drives are possible (even the office ones).

Bike mechanic had RX100 and there started the thought to look for RX100 which will be easy on budget like 80k and would appreciate as well (I mean if it doesn't go below the price I've bought it's good I believe).

Needs are just city commute, fun to ride, not a avid tourer and 80k budget (from the sale of TB350).

Please share - Thanks in advance.

[boniver]

Originally Posted by Ritz2010

there started the thought to look for RX100

If you want an RX100, nothing except an RX100 will keep you happy. I've learnt that the hard way. Bangalore is the mecca for 2 strokes in India, both for availability of spares and mechanics and I'm sure you'll find the perfect RX for yourself soon. In case you're unable to, do let me know and I can connect you with some people