Budget Rs. 1.5 lakh for buying my first bike: What are my options

I have never owned a bike before, and I don't see myself riding more than 50 km per week on a bike.

BHPian enthusiasticbud recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello everyone!

I have been a longtime lurker in these forums and finally decided to join to get some advice on my bike purchase. Please bear with me for some context before the questions.

The context:

I was peacefully driving my Creta (2018) around Srinagar when my office decided to call off WFH for everyone and I had to land in Bangalore.
My office provides free cab services for pickup and drops so I don't really need a bike for everyday use. It will primarily be used for running errands, going to the gym, and on the weekends.

I have never owned a bike before, so I want something light within INR 1.5 lakh (showroom) for short trips within the city and around. I don't see myself riding more than 50 km per week on a bike. I have tried the following and here are my observations:

Yamaha FZ X:

The seat is comfortable and the riding stance for my height (6'1") is good. It is a light bike with good looks but feels lacking in power.

Kawasaki W175:

The bike seems tiny but is comfortable. I am not very fond of the looks but it rides smooooooooth. It's light and very maneuverable. If not for the hefty price tag for the lack of features, it's a very nice bike.

TVS Ronin:

It is a bulky bike. I feel like it looks the best among the three options, but I can't ride it in the city.

The questions:

• I will be moving out of Bangalore within the next 6-8 months. Does it make sense to buy a new bike in Srinagar and get it transported to Bangalore right out of the showroom? Financially, it will save me money as taxes in J&K are much lower than in KA and the cost of transporting a bike from Srinagar to Bangalore and back to Srinagar is still less than the tax difference in J&K and KA. I want to know about it from the safety and warranty aspects.
• Does it make sense to buy the Kawasaki? I will have to buy the Kawasaki here in Bangalore because there's no Kawasaki showroom in Srinagar. When I go back to Srinagar, my bike will be under warranty but there will be no Kawasaki service center around me.
• Should I just buy a used scooter for 6 months and sell it before moving out?

Let me know if you have any other bike suggestions. I am also eyeing Hunter 350 but I think that's a heavy bike.

Thank you in advance!

Here's what BHPian aargee had to say on the matter:

Whether you buy a motorcycle or scooter, please refrain buying in from JK & using it in KA, the money saved is not worth the trouble. If I were you, I would simply opt for an automatic scooter for riding within city. Even if you ride 100 Km a week, a petrol scooter/motorcycle (at the time of writing) is most suited than an EV vehicle.

Would suggest waiting for 6-8 months at Bangalore before taking a decision to spend 1-1.5 Lakhs on a vehicle unless you're compensated for that money. And no, not worth the trouble spending on transportation back & forth from JK-KA-JK please.

Here's what BHPian krishnakumar had to say on the matter:

I'm confused. Are you saying you're shifting to Bangalore but will move out within 6-8 months? Or is that a typo and you intend to say you'll be moving into Bangalore?

If it is the former, don't buy anything. Manage with office cabs and public transport until you move out of Bangalore.

If it is the latter, I'd still recommend buying a used Active or similar scooter for running errands, going to gym and such. It is way more comfortable, practical and low maintenance.

Are you going to bring your car as well? This should mostly cover for the use cases when you want to go out somewhere. But please be aware that Bangalore was notorious for cracking down on out of state vehicles. Right now, they are a bit laxed about it but it is only a matter of reprioritization before the BTP picks this up as their next charter.

If you're shifting to Bangalore for good, with your car, I'd suggest getting an NOC from your J&K RTO and registering it here in Bangalore. Instead, if you're only shifting for 6 months, then bring your car for those occasional trips and use it until you move out.

As per KA local MVD laws, I believe out of state vehicles can be used up to a year. It is unlikely such a crackdown is going to start anytime soon, so if you plan to move out in 8 months, your car should cover.

Here's what BHPian shancz had to say on the matter:

Warranty is pan India so as long as you can find the authorised service center its ok. Safety I am not sure of but like a lot of other places an outside registration vehicle is bound to be stopped more by the police.

No point buying the Kawasaki in your situation, just not worth it.

This makes the most sense, you can also get a used motorcycle.

Suggestions based on the experiences you mentioned:

• XPulse 200T 4V
• Pulsar N250
• FZ 25

Anything workable that's available in the used market.

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