[MandarMax]

I am in the market for a 600 - 800 cc bike. I am relatively inexperienced when it comes to big bikes, so would appreciate your help.

Sharing some background for context, but feel free to skip to the next section:

• Currently, I don’t have a two-wheeler except for my wife’s 15-year-old Honda Dio which we use only for market/grocery rides nearby (1-2 km max)
• For long distances and commuting, we have been using only cars (Jetta & Eon)
• I have ridden big bikes ~500+ cc in the past, but that was abroad. I even had a full motorcycle license in Victoria, Australia. But for the past 18+ years, I have switched to cars and have not ridden bikes at all.
• I am a cyclist and my weekend rides are typically on my bicycle (Trek Domane SL5), typically in the 50-100 km range on weekends, occasionally longer than that. I have been averaging over 400+ km of rides per month and I am fairly consistent (rain or shine!)

My requirements are:

Usage:

• I want to start doing weekend rides 100 - 200 km roundtrip near Pune (once or twice a month)
• Occasional long rides, probably 2-3 times a year (e.g. Konkan, Goa or the Himalayas)
• Occasional city rides- I primarily use my car but I guess once I have a bike I am sure I will be tempted to take it to the office or to shopping given the roads and the traffic conditions in Pune
• Most rides would be solo, with occasional pillion.

My expectations from the bike:

• My primary usage would be on road, but the bike should be able to handle occasional bad roads, detours, and stream crossings such as those on the Manali-Leh highway
• Should be able to cruise comfortably at 100-120 kph speed
• Should be able to attach a bag or panniers
• Should be reliable and usable for a long term (5-10 years)

Budget:

• Comfortable with spending around 5-6 lakhs, but can stretch further by a couple of lakhs if needed

Basically, I think I need an all-rounder bike - which can do it all, but I am not sure though if such a bike exists and that's why I need your guidance.

I have recently started test rides and have ridden the following so far (listed in order of test rides):

• RE Meteor 350
• Honda CB350 / CB 350 RS
• Honda CBR300R
• RE Interceptor 650
• Kawasaki Versys 650
• Kawasaki z650rs
• Triumph Tiger Sport 660
• Ducati Scrambler
• Moto Morini Seiemmezzo and X-Scape

Note: When I started looking for bikes, I thought 350cc should be good enough, but after test riding more powerful bikes, I know I will not be satisfied with *just* 350cc. This is also one of the reasons I have not tried the KTM 390 bikes so far.

RE Meteor 350 - As I mentioned before, I was not looking for a cruiser bike, but the RE dealer in Kothrud didn't have any other bike available at that time, so to get the feel of the engine I did the test ride on the Meteor. The bike felt more refined than RE’s of the past, but it didn’t appeal much to me.

Honda CB350 / CB 350 RS - After my RE test ride experience, the Honda felt more refined and easier to ride in the city. I also tried the Honda CBR300R and it felt like a nice, modern machine - smooth, refined and thoroughly enjoyable.

RE Interceptor 650 - This one felt noticeably powerful after the 350 cc ride experience. Definitely, something I could use on highways and in the city. Looks good too and if I were in the market for a retro-looking bike, I would pick this. It is also much more VFM as compared to other 650 cc bikes available in India. My only two dislikes were the seat - I wish it was more wider and supportive, and the second thing is the riding position - it is definitely more comfort-oriented than the cafe racer Continental GT, but I am not sure how I would feel after 100+ kilometres with that seat and the riding position.

Kawasaki Versys 650 - It’s a big bike and is probably too big for my liking. Found the seat height to be a bit high (I am 5’8’’ if it helps). Still, actually riding one might have felt different, but they didn’t have anything for test rides. On my insistence, I was allowed a test ride in their parking lot but that obviously didn’t help change my opinion. It’s a fine bike, but I don’t think it’s a “do it all” kind of bike. Still, if serious touring was my objective, I would have definitely considered this.

Kawasaki z650rs - small, nimble, and powerful, but for strict city or highway use only. Don’t think it can handle much in terms of rough roads. Also, I kind of have a love/hate relationship with that green colour and golden wheels. If at all I buy it, I will probably end up putting a different coloured wrap.

Triumph Tiger Sport 660 - I really liked this bike. I did a long test ride on the highway and city roads and I immediately fell in love with it. It’s just the right size for me, found it quite easy to handle in traffic and on the highway. The engine sound is sweet, the power is just right and it looks good. In 6th gear, you can easily do speeds of 40 - 140+. I have read a number of critical reviews, but for me, it checks most of the boxes (if not all) and it can be that do-it-all kind of bike that I have in my mind. The only two negatives are the price (around 10 lakhs OTR after considering some year-end discounts) and the engine heat. Engine heat is a common problem with most big bikes, so I hope it is manageable. Would like to hear your suggestions as well.

Ducati Scrambler - Lightweight, very easy to ride and can potentially handle some bad roads. I very much liked the riding position and the torquey motor. It’s very addictive. The main con is the price. The bike also looks a bit ordinary.

Moto Morini- X-Scape is big and I would rather prefer the Versys 650. But I liked the Seiemmezzo. It’s a fine-looking bike. Sounds good too. Good spec sheet, and good components, but long-term reliability and A.S.S. would be a gamble as of now. For this reason alone, I have decided to not consider these bikes.

As I said before, I am planning to test-ride the KTM 390 Adventure next. From what I have read, it’s a very competent bike, but I am not a fan of those headlights and for that reason alone, I have not visited KTM so far.

I would like to hear your thoughts on;

• Are there any good bikes that I have left out that I should be considering?
• Are there any upcoming bikes that are worth waiting for? I am ok to wait for 6 months.
• Is it worth stretching for Triumph Tiger 660? How about the long-term reliability and A.S.S. of Triumph?
• Should I be considering used bikes instead? I generally avoid used stuff, but for the bike, I am not averse to the idea. (Please DM me if you or your friends are planning to upgrade or share info about used bike dealers or online portals)

Thanks in advance.

[WhiskeyTangoFox]

My Initial Recommendation would have been the Tiger Sport 660, but Triumph's ASS, as ennumerated upon by many members on the forum leaves much to be desired. The Honda CB500X may also float your boat, do check it out.

The 390 Adv is definitely a very good bike and you should give it a shot. You could also try out the BMW G310GS. If you are willing to wait for a while, the Himalayan 450 is around the corner, but then again, not too sure about how reliable a new product will be. Out of these, if speed is your primary goal, the 390 ADV is your best friend. But if long term reliability and pretty decent service is also part of your agenda, the G310GS is probably better suited. Plus you could use the extra cash to accesorize the crap out of it.

[SoumenD]

Originally Posted by MandarMax

I would like to hear your thoughts on;[list][*]Are there any good bikes that I have left out that I should be considering?

Thanks in advance.

I would strongly recommend Honda CB500X. I believe it is a do-it-all bike. Have been following it since a couple of years now and keep reading about people’s experiences. Have hardly seen anyone complaining ever across the world. You won’t have to stretch much to get one(6.8ish OTR pune IIRC).

Yes you won’t find a lot of features like the adv 390 but the peach of an engine and overall honda reliability has been stellar

P.S: I keep an eye on used bike market to see if this pops up. Currently it’s fairly new in India, so understandably not available in used market yet.

[MadTitan]

Originally Posted by SoumenD

I would like to recommend Honda CB500X. I believe it is a do-it-all bike. Have been following it since a couple of years now and keep reading about people’s experiences. Have hardly seen anyone complaining ever across the world. You won’t have to stretch much to get one(6.8ish OTR pune IIRC).

Yes you won’t find a lot of features like the adv 390 but the peach of an engine and overall honda reliability has been stellar

P.S: I keep an eye on used bike market to see if this pops up. Currently it’s fairly new in India, so understandably not available in used market yet.

+1 to this!

I firmly believe the CB500X is all the bike one needs for India, and it fits your requirement perfectly. Have heard some rumours that Honda is getting this and the CB500F back in early 2023.

[drt_rdr]

Do-it-all bikes do exist. Any bike can potentially be a do-it-all bike. But it's not a one-size-fits-all affair. It depends on what the rider wants out of it.

A sport bike\street bike can be a do-it-all bike... if you're willing\able to compensate for\live with things like not-so-good offroad\bad road handling, ergonomics and seat comfort. People have taken their sportbikes upto leh\spiti after all.

An adventure bike by design is made to be a do-it-all bike. Usually takes care of the shortcomings of sportbikes\nakeds for long distance travel but has its own caveats in terms of seat height, slower and less connected handling due to the usually longer wheelbases and suspension and more weight.

A standard\roadster\scrambler style bike can be a do-it-all bike. Common compromises involve lazier engines and less responsive suspension and handling.

For my personal needs and preferences, a do-it-all bike would be a small capacity dual sport. But it may totally not work out for you depending on your wants.

Since you've been out of the motorcycle scene for a while, take your time in making the decision. Rent out different bikes and spend a good bit of time with them and your thoughts\feelings about them. See which one ticks your boxes the best and which compromises you'd be willing to live with. More often than not, showroom test rides don't reveal the full story. And bigger bikes may not always be better.

And you may want to give a wide assortment of bikes a try, leaving aside your personal biases until you try them out. You may be able to land on a surprise hit that you'd never even have considered otherwise.

[MandarMax]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyTangoFox

Out of these, if speed is your primary goal, the 390 ADV is your best friend. But if long term reliability and pretty decent service is also part of your agenda, the G310GS is probably better suited. Plus you could use the extra cash to accesorize the crap out of it.

I wasn't considering the G310GS, but I checked the reviews again and it does sound interesting. I will go and check it out.

Originally Posted by SoumenD

I would strongly recommend Honda CB500X. I believe it is a do-it-all bike. Have been following it since a couple of years now and keep reading about people’s experiences. Have hardly seen anyone complaining ever across the world. You won’t have to stretch much to get one(6.8ish OTR pune IIRC).

Originally Posted by MadTitan

+1 to this!

I firmly believe the CB500X is all the bike one needs for India, and it fits your requirement perfectly. Have heard some rumours that Honda is getting this and the CB500F back in early 2023.

CB500X wasn't on my radar because the bike wasn't available at the dealership and they had no idea when it would be available. I will check again or wait a couple of months to see if the (re)launch is planned.

One potential issue I see with Honda Big Wings is they seem to be content with selling only their 350 cc models. Also, Honda seems pretty confused about their product strategy when it comes to superbikes, pricing, and A.S.S. There are many stories on this forum where people have struggled due to bad customer service, bad attitude of Honda dealers and management, spare parts availability, etc. I would be happy to be proven wrong though.

Originally Posted by drt_rdr

Do-it-all bikes do exist. Any bike can potentially be a do-it-all bike. But it's not a one-size-fits-all affair. It depends on what the rider wants out of it.

I agree with you that with any do-it-all bike there would be compromises. But if the bike is purposely built only for on-road use (such as cruisers with low ground clearance) or off-road use (such as rally bikes) then I am not considering them. I will be happy as long as it is road-biased but can do a bit of everything, while not being at two extremes in terms of ground clearance, price, size, or weight etc.

[Mustang_Boss]

If you are looking for a stable high speed handling, often, the low speed ride will be bumpy.

If you seek reliability on a ride to Himalayas, Twins and triples are less reliable than a single cylinder bikes.

If you seek good ride on bad roads, excluding verysys, others will be bouncy at high speeds.

Your choices are too broad and you are trying too many things, i guess.

I would start with:
- Which kinda bikes do i like the most (CB350 kind or a Ninja kind or a Verysis kind or the maniac's Yamaha R7/9 kind)
- Once the type is clear, then i would refine by running through the available choices.

For general commute as you have described like trips to goa and other places (Excluding Himayas), assuming you would ride with a pillion, i would look at Verysis kind.
Yes, they are big, but a lot comfy on highways.

[Vatsa]

Originally Posted by MandarMax

I am in the market for a 600 - 800 cc bike. I am relatively inexperienced when it comes to big bikes, so would appreciate your help.

The few bikes that fit the above criterion which you have missed.
1.KTM 390 adventure
2.BMW GS 310
3.Sukuzi vstorm
4.Honda cb500X

I would shop in the same order as above.There is nothing to beat the KTM 390Adv today in the market for the best overall bike. I have seen folks take it to the track too.

But I would suggest waiting for the Himalayan 450X and then take a call. Though I am not a huge fan of the RE and definitely not their initial batch of any new bikes.

[GoBlue]

A pre-worshipped Tiger 800 XCx would be perfect for this requirement.

It will come in a 5.5-7L range and be all the bike you'll ever need.

Plus, the 800cc triple engine is a gem.

[MandarMax]

Originally Posted by Mustang_Boss

If you seek reliability on a ride to Himalayas, Twins and triples are less reliable than a single cylinder bikes.

How so? Didn't understand the reason behind this.

Originally Posted by Mustang_Boss

Your choices are too broad and you are trying too many things, i guess.

I would start with:
- Which kinda bikes do i like the most (CB350 kind or a Ninja kind or a Verysis kind or the maniac's Yamaha R7/9 kind)
- Once the type is clear, then i would refine by running through the available choices.

For general commute as you have described like trips to goa and other places (Excluding Himayas), assuming you would ride with a pillion, i would look at Verysis kind.
Yes, they are big, but a lot comfy on highways.

Definitely not the maniac/racing bikes. I want a calm, composed, and powerful miles muncher. On your "bike type" question - my first preference would be the Versys type (but not Versys per se), but a tad smaller (and that's why I really find the Tiger 660 ideal in size/weight/power).

Originally Posted by Vatsa

The few bikes that fit the above criterion which you have missed.
1.KTM 390 adventure
2.BMW GS 310
3.Sukuzi vstorm
4.Honda cb500X

But I would suggest waiting for the Himalayan 450X and then take a call. Though I am not a huge fan of the RE and definitely not their initial batch of any new bikes.

Definitely planning to check out 1, 2, and 4. Not a fan of the Vstrom purely from the looks PoV. Just don't like that headlamp at all. Not a huge fan of RE either (not being snobbish here, please believe me! ), that said, open to considering the upcoming, more powerful version of the Himalayan.

Originally Posted by GoBlue

A pre-worshipped Tiger 800 XCx would be perfect for this requirement.

It will come in a 5.5-7L range and be all the bike you'll ever need.

Plus, the 800cc triple engine is a gem.

Sounds good. Please do share information if you know of someone planning to sell. Thanks!

[Mustang_Boss]

Originally Posted by MandarMax

How so? Didn't understand the reason behind this.

I meant, if any support is needed, Singles are very easy to fix. Most mech's can do it in a few mins. For twins and triples, getting road side support is difficult.

[TorqueMonster]

I think you should get the Tiger 600. Yes, it may be pricey, and it has engine heat issues like most big bikes. But ultimately, you have stated many reasons on why you liked the bike, when compared to that, the pricing and other factors will be a lesser worry. You would enjoy a bike that you like much more thoroughly, and from what you have written, it does seem like you liked the Tiger 600 and you should go ahead with that itself.

[iamahunter]

In your situation, I would suggest the Honda CB500X as a first option. Its a do it all bike, period.

Positives : Doesn't heat, light, easy to handle, easy to maintain(Honda), quite manageable due to the weight and balance of the bike and a very refined engine.
Negatives : The bike lacks power and character. With the power on par with duke 390 and a very plain jane power band, you might get bored with this quite soon.

Second option I would suggest the Versys 650 , the next do it all 650 parallel twin!
Postives : The bike has looks and power to go with it. The engine is refined and proven over time. Versys is not very loud ( you don't want a loud one while on the full day rides). With it come a huge family support of versys owners, and kawasaki also has the most number of service centers. Once used to it, the bike can be ridden/handled like a smaller city bike.
Negatives : The bike is top heavy and therefore feels heavier than it actually is. The spares are expensive, the staff for sales and service has a ton of attitude at some showrooms.

Third option which you can consider, but I would not suggest whole heartedly - Tiger 660.
It is a wonderful bike which sound the most beautiful and is the most ergonomic of all for the rider. The end.
The baby Tiger is not really a Tiger but a jacked up Trident. The triple heats up in the traffic, the pillion seat is next to non existent. Also the cost is not justified, especially if you compare it with its elder siblings, they are much more worth it.
Honestly, if you want a Triumph increase you budget and get a Tiger 850.

I was in the market for a middleweight bike a year ago. Baby Tiger was yet to launch, CB 500x was costing as much as a versys 650, Vstrom was out of budget and the versys was top heavy.
I was most impressed with the CB, but did not find it worth the price back then. Rode the Vstrom and Versys back to back and the difference was mildly noticeable, however the cost difference was huge. So I thought if the Vstrom was worth the 4 lacs extra, nope.
Brought the versys 650. Its been 10 months and 9k kms with the versys, I am super happy with the bike!

My Versys Experience (The All-Rounder | My Kawasaki Versys 650 | Ownership Review)

[Senotrius]

The perfect do it all bike doesn't sell yet in India. 2023 Honda Transalp 750 that is. The CB500X or Versys 650 fits your bill on paper at least. The latest 2023 V-Strom doesn't sell here either. If you're willing to put up with the high labour costs / ASC attitude / maintenance of Triumph, then please go for it. Or you'll have to wait it out for the 2023 CB500F and 500X. One of the members here has got the CBU 500F, you can ask him.

[shyamg28]

I know you said you didn't like the looks of the V Strom 650 XT, but how about a test ride nonetheless
It's one do-it-all bike especially for India, if there ever was one.



Next would be the KTM Adv 390. Another bike that offers tremendous capabilities. Spec sheets can be best left in a dustbin.



There's a chap on the forum (@rb2399 I believe) who's done 100k kms on both bikes in 2-3 years.

CB500X - if Honda gets their act together, don't see why you shouldn't check it out.

I've had discussions about this in the past with friends - get an Interceptor 650 and modify the crap out of it. But from what I hear, it can be a frustrating experience. Still, a lot cheaper though.

End of the day, my only suggestion is, test ride them all. Your experiences might surprise you