[BlackStrat]

Have you ever wondered why is it that some of us like an ADV more than a Roadster, or a tourer more than an ADV or a cruiser more than a roadster? Is it the engine or is it the looks, maybe it’s the performance or wait, maybe it’s the other millions of things that makes a like one type of machine more than the other. If one thinks about it at length, preferably while doing 90 kmph on the Mumbai – Bangalore highway, then it all boils down to the nature of the rider. Your nature makes you choose the kind of machine you end up choosing. A plain vanilla thought, but have we ever thought about something as simple as this? Imagine a calm and composed personality riding a superbike, are they a match made in heaven? Maybe…maybe not.

The reason for penning down my thoughts on this topic are quite persona. So, I was in the market for a motorcycle which can cruise at 90-100 kmph on the highway without breaking a sweat and this led me to shortlist a host of machines. The Scram 411 by Royal Enfield, Vstrom 250 by Suzuki, KTM duke 250, Triumph Scrambler 400X and the Hero Mavrick. Before you jump to conclusions about me barring the Royal Enfield Classics or the Bullet from the list, I already own one of these and hence these impeccable machines were left out of contention. As we can see here, I shortlisted the machines based on their specific capabilities and while all of them were able to meet the most important criteria of cruising at a specific speed, I still gravitated towards only one of these. I test rode all of these as choosing something based on some Youtube videos or reading a spec sheet just doesn’t cut the bill for me. I’d like to share my experience of riding each of these and would like the audience to guess which machine was chosen at the end.


I’ll start off with the machine with the best finish quality. The Triumph is an absolute pleasure to ride with its low-end torque and an amazing throttle map which helps pull from almost any gear and/or speed you are in. If anyone is looking for a city commuter then this is the machine they should own and pamper. What a beauty! On the highway too, the bike feels planted with the tyres and a suspension setup(to die for) which is godly. One reaches the cruising speeds of 90-100 kmph in a flash and staying there is not an issue at all as the bike feels composed and the engine seems stress free. There are vibrations but that is what old-timers call “character”, and what’s the point of owning a single cylinder mill if one can’t deal with a few vibes. Rev-happy is an understatement for this bike and boy it liked to be revved.

Next up, the V-strom 250. Now you must wonder what is a 250cc bike doing amongst a bunch of 400s. This question is answered once you take the bike for a spin. Great stance, great build quality, suspension that almost pummel the road into submission and a throttle response to write home about (literally me right now). While the engine is the same from the Gixxer 250, the way it pulls and pulls and pulls when needed is mind-blowing. On my test ride, I remember hitting 50-70 kmph in a flash. Smooth, but not always crisp, gear shifts and an easy clutch action (I come from the Cast iron and UCE era of RE) makes this machine a good one in the city and a top notch one on the highway. 70-80 kmph is a breeze, 90 is not much of an effort and while you are at it, the speedo shows 100. Seating ergonomics too are impressive and the top all of this off, the fuel efficiency is way about all the bikes mentioned above.

After this was the Scram 411. The sales representative at the showroom was surprised when I asked for a bike which was older as compared to the Hunter 350 and according to him a downgrade from the bike I owned currently. They didn’t have a test bike hence I had to ask a friend of mine to allow me to take his bike for a spin. Most of us know the old Himalayan engine was such a sweetheart at providing low end torque and this engine was no different, it’s the same one as the old Himalayan. As is their trademark, RE delivers on their promise of a mild-mannered tourer with some off-road capabilities. Suspensions were good, the seating position was great, ride quality was almost at par with all the test rides I took. Handling was also manageable, while the bike was on the heavier side at around 190 kgs (my friend got the centre stand mounted) it was not unmanageable. Yes, when you compare it with the Vstrom and the Triumph, it does fall short on the weight department and the tubeless tyres in this day and age are bothersome.

Coming to the KTM Duke 250. Man this bike was manic. If the triumph was rev happy, this was a couple of notches above that. Amazing street naked, that engine is a gem. City commute was not an issue, yes one needs to work the gear to keep it chugging along at the right RPM but that too is a breeze with the gear shifter in the new bike. Suspension setup is good but on the firmer side, which I don’t mind at all due to the road quality around my city. Highway runs were fun but the aggressive riding position won’t let you tour for more than an hour or so at a stretch. Cruising speeds were not at an issue at all as that 250cc mill is almost the best engine amongst all the bikes we test rode.

Last but not the least, the Mavrick 440. Dual shocks are so nostalgic, only Hero can pull off something like this on a 400cc bike. Hero is the Maruti Suzuki of bikes, as most of their consumers ask the “kitna deti hai?” question more often than not. I remember when Maruti launched the S-cross(a good car) but it didn’t work out as the average Indian was not ready to pay more than 10 lakhs for a Maruti. Hero, sadly suffers from this image. There is nothing wrong with the bike and I would go as far as to say that this is one of the best engines from the Hero stable with its character and power delivery. Handling too is top notch with little to complain. Cruising on the highway and city runs are a breeze due to the ease of gear shifts and the tractability of this engine. Yes the fit and finish needs an upgrade but that is something only time can teach as this is their first “premium” product.
So, were you guys able to ascertain which machine did I end up selecting as my new partner for the road? .
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I congratulate readers who thought I went for the Suzuki. You too have great taste in bikes ��

So here’s the deal on why I went for the Suzuki. You see, I as person and by extension as a rider am calm and like things which are mild mannered and not extremely aggressive. It’s in my nature to allow someone in a hurry to pass. I am that guy who waits at signals even if its way past midnight, not because I can’t jump a signal, but because what the harm in following the law. I am one of those who slows down at every intersection to check all sides even if it’s my signal, this is more of a precaution due to impeccable drivers on our road. The moment I sat on the Triumph it was felt in a hurry. The engine was just too jumpy for my taste. After reading this, you should know how the KTM felt. The Scram 411 almost felt sluggish at a point of time and frankly a bit dated when I compare it with the rest of motorcycles I rode. The Hero was nice but it didn’t feel as comfortable on the highway as the V-strom did. In fact, only the Triumph came close to the V-strom when you compare highway comfort. Both have great suspension setup with the V-strom having a slightly firmer setup.

Reiterating a fact here, all these bikes are wonderful machines, but the choice of the pseudo ADV was partly due to its characteristics and mostly due to my nature. Calm, composed, stable and safety-first approach is what best describes me a driver. I expect the same things from the vehicle I own.

Moral of the story, the next time you test ride/drive and don’t like a particular machinery, think about it in this way, does this machine fit my inherent nature? You may be surprised by the answer.

[supermax]

Nice post! When it comes to Hero though, or Hero Honda as it was called back then, the Karizma was their first real premium vehicle. Many people would look at one like an alien when you mentioned what it cost, or its fuel efficiency numbers!

[bijims]

Great observations and you provided us with something to look out for while on a test ride as well. Thank you so much for the thread and I appreciate your efforts in bringing out your views on these bikes.

[Sudarshan42]

Nice reviews, Blackstrat. Got me thinking about my own decision as well. Was there a reason you didn't include the CB300F in your list? That seems to have a slight torque advantage over the Suzuki, and has decent tyres, brakes, suspension too. Maybe not a pummel-potholes-into-submission feel, but still a great city bike for relatively calm riding.

Asking because I'm straddling the same dillemma too, and I'm confused if my usage warrants a 400, or if a simpler, cheaper 250/300 will do the trick.

[BullettuPaandi]

Thoughtful post! Congrats on your new ride.

I think riding style can be adaptable; so I find it hard for me to decide on a bike based on riding style. When I'm on a test ride, I like to imagine 'where I'd want to be riding this' and if it's indeed something that I'm looking to do. This has helped me better, personally. Allow me to expand:

My first bike - a used FZ FI V2 - sort of fell on my lap and saved me from the confusions: I was saving up to buy a bigger bike, but my family wanted me to buy one right away, as it was needed for errands & happened to find this really good deal on a forum - Rs.38k (2019) for a 2015 FZ. Being the beginner I was, a reliable, easy to maintain commuter, with decent mileage and power was really a no-brainer, especially for that price & I'm glad I got to my senses down from 'cloud bhp land' on that one. I learnt a lot from that motorcycle, taking it to all sorts of roads and trails; and whenever I found the road for it, I wasn't sedate at all with the throttle. The bike had enough in it for me & was rather smooth even at higher RPMs, all things considered. I sold it sooner than I could've ever imagined, between seeing no use in the pandemic and me moving to my native.

So, it was only when it came to choosing my next bike, that I realised that this could be confusing. I was looking for bikes that sound good, as it was the one thing that I found to be missing, when I had the FZ. It didn't help that my taste was all over the place: I had an RX135, a G2 Bullet and everything in between on my shortlist. During test rides, I couldn't say which bike suits me better based on riding style. I'm not quite sure if I even have one! I seemed to enjoy both the instant acceleration & bicyle-ish body of the RX and quite the opposite of a Bullet. I eventually landed on a 2013 Classic 350 for Rs.80k (2021), as I wasn't so sure about riding the RX on highways with crosswinds & the only reasonably priced G2 Bullet in TN, incidentally, had an accident history. But, I got bit by the RE bug, and found the BSIII Classic to be recent enough for VFM & old enough to produce the thump I was after.

After a few mods, I thoroughly enjoyed cruising around with the sound from the Classic, even though the speeds and RPMs I was on were completely different. But I was nowhere near comfortable on it. The bike was too heavy for it's own good on poor and off roads of my rural native & on highway cruising speeds, that thing was practically vibrating the piss out of my bladder. I only had the bike for about a year, before exchanging it for Rs.85k off on an XPulse 200 4V (my current bike). Now, although I'm far more comfortable on this bike than any I've ever ridden on the roads I do & it opens up more trails for me, come rocks or mud, I do miss being pleased aurally & the design and fit-and-finish on this bike isn't nearly as plush as the ride is. Also, it is not the best on highways - I've been fairly comfortable on this bike on tours in and around my southern state, but don't think I'd take this any further North, let alone Leh & Spiti. So now, in my next bike, I'll likely be looking to only fill this gap.

I understand that different people look for different things; am just unsure if riding style or nature could be fluidic, or if I've just haven't found/realised mine yet. So, though of sharing this; hope it adds something to the conversation.

[Karthik1100]

Originally Posted by BlackStrat

Have you ever wondered why is it that some of us like an ADV more than a Roadster, or a tourer more than an ADV or a cruiser more than a roadster?

You have mentioned lot of motorcycles except Dominar 400. If you have not tried, please take one for a ride of 300+kms and then decide.

With my experience I am telling, Dominar 400 is one of the best tourer available in India.
Bajaj has never promoted Dominar as a tourer, It has got one of the best seat and suspension and balanced weight to travel long distance effortlessly.
Advantages
1. It comes under 400-600cc category - which is considered most preferred engine size for touring motorcycle.
2. Engine is tuned for endurance, hence less stress on long rides.
3. It's heavy enough to hug the road at high speeds.
4. Fuel efficient - if you cruise in 90-110kmph, you can get above 32kmpl.
5. Rider seat has been designed for long distance travel, it won't hurt u even after 700kms continuous ride.
6. Suspension is perfect enough to keep your back tailbone safe
7. Riding position is great for 5'3" - 5'7" tall riders, beyond 5'8" riders need handle bar raisers for relaxed riding position.
8. Exhaust note is sweet at cruising speed.
9. Easy to get parts and find mechanics of fix issues almost anywhere.
10. Tyre size is common now and almost available in every city and town, If replacement is inevitable.
11. Engine heat management is very good. Unlike Triumph 400, KTM, RE interceptor.

Disadvantages
1. Niggles like one or the other bolt gets loose on long rides, you need to keep an eye on, every time you take a break.
2. Turning radius is long.
3. Pillion seat is not as comfortable as rider seat.
4. Ground clearance is less.
5. Suspension travel is less compared to KTM adv 390.

[ss11011988]

Thoughtful thread OP, while I was unable to test ride all the bikes that you mentioned through, one thing I will wholeheartedly agree with you is on the performance of the Suzuki's 250cc mill. I test rode the Gixxer SF 250, and man was I grinning ear to ear like a maniac. The way that thing pulled and pulled throughout the rev range was something I will never forget. I also loved the way it let me putter around the town at 45-50kmph in top gear without throwing a tantrum. The fueling felt just perfect. I loved the split personality of that engine. Calm and docile when you wish to quietly make it from point A to point B, and ready to gallop with a twist of the throttle.

Congrats on your acquisition, wishing you many happy and trouble-free miles with the V-Strom. Do post your short-term and long-term ownership reviews, if time and situation permit through, thank you.

Regards,
NI

[Deamon0508]

You're absolutely on point there. If driving or riding decisions were solely based on what a random youtuber or magazine says on 'how it feels', it completely detracts you from the core purpose of why you're buying the machine after all. There have been multiple occasions, where I've come back from a test drive woefully underserved, even though the reviews mentioned how 'great' it felt.

I distinctly remember the second gen Duke 390 facelift (2021 model year I think), every publication on earth was raving about how BS-6 had fewer vibrations, and a less jumpy throttle. But when I rode it in the thick of Bangalore traffic, I was dead sure that I don't want to endure this for years to come. While people may be okay to manage the heat and part-throttle responses and overlook other things that are absolute no-go in my books. My circle of preference had different weightages for different parameters, for instance how smooth is the on-off throttle, how is 10% throttle, where is the gust of hot air blowing, how much does it rattle (or have a tendency to do so in the future, taking proxy of the vibrations on the machine). While I completely understand how someone could fall in love with the machine, it just wasn't meant for me.

Recently, while I was replacing my ageing RTR200, I was in a similar dilemma, I wanted something light, and nimble, with enough sturdiness to withstand weeks parked, with the ability to make Bangalore city commutes that much more bearable, and not burn a hole in my pocket with service expenses and bring along the ability for me to get it serviced without too many variables.

Guess what, I got a Honda CB300R, and I couldn't be happier, directly putting the spanner in the middle of the soup of comparisons, that can be found dime a dozen.

[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by BlackStrat

Have you ever wondered why is it that some of us like an ADV more than a Roadster, or a tourer more than an ADV or a cruiser more than a roadster? So, though of sharing this; hope it adds something to the conversation.

To brief it up extremely simply, the thoughts of you two gentlemen, "I always say, never ask recommendations on whom to marry, what job to go, and what motorcycle to buy! Almost 99.99% of the time you'd be fed a time-tested CRM answer that perhaps best worked for their gamut and it's not a bummer either!

Just like reviewers, keyboard-warriors the gamut is pretty spread across and with the long arms of the Internet, the influence shorts, videos and podcasts have these days is simply mind-numbing and doom-scrolling adds to the experience.

No motorcycle is perfect and no motorcycle ever will be. But there's one aspect of motorcycling that makes it better. It eventually comes down to the Nut that connects the Bars

Thus fellas, it all boils down to..

A compromise it will be, a compromise it shall ever remain

Cheers!
VJ

[7000plusrpm]

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

No motorcycle is perfect and no motorcycle ever will be.

Cheers!
VJ

I agree that it will always be a compromise. Eventually, some of us may find ourselves needing a specialized tool for a specific job.

For example, my CB300R is excellent for city rides. I love its handling, acceleration, speed when needed, low maintenance costs, and impressive mileage.
However, its seating posture and small fuel tank are not ideal for longer tours.
I am willing to compromise until I can afford to maintain two motorcycles: one for touring and the CB300R for shorter rides and commuting to the office.