Looking to buy my first bike in 2 lakh budget: Confused with options

Fuel economy and quality of pillion support do not concern me.

BHPian McQueen recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi T-BHP, this is my first post on this site. I am planning to purchase a new bike in the next 6-8 months. Having only ridden a borrowed commuter a few times, and an Ntorq several times, I'm seeking guidance in compiling my initial list of options for test rides.

I have only considered bikes that are currently in the market (except for the FZ 25). You may suggest ones that are going to be launched later this year.

I'll list my requirements:

Seat Height: Bike that suits a 5'4" rider. For reference, if I'm sitting (not to be confused with standing) on the edge, I can flat-foot on a TVS Ntorq which has 770 mm seat height. However, my most comfortable position would mean my toes and soles touch fully but not my heels.

• Budget: Around 1.5 lakhs and can be extended till 2 lakhs. OTR, Delhi.
• Purpose: Commuting and occasional tours. I don't know how many kms I'll log weekly - it'll either be my primary vehicle and/or my recreational touring vehicle.
• Riding posture: Should not be very aggressive as that would make it less suitable for (occasional) touring/weekend trips or even for commutes.
• Segment: Doesn't bother me as such as long as it's not a commuter or a commuter-looking bike like the Pulsar 220 F (unpopular opinion perhaps!).
• Suspension: Shouldn't be too hard or too plush. The later will make it uncomfortable while the former will make it less practical or completely disallow going at high speeds.
• Fuel economy and quality of pillion support do not concern me.
• Reliability is important. Every company listed, including Bigwing, has its service centre/showroom within 2-4 kms from where I stay, but if I need to wait a few weeks for spare parts or source them myself, then the bike is not for me.
• I would prefer something that's less common on the road but not at the cost of the "perfect" bike. Every second bike has the Pulsar badging - that italicized logo has become an eyesore for me. Still considering it!

Disclaimer: Everything mentioned is based on official specs and other's reviews. I have not ridden any of these bikes.

Sports Bikes long list:

Yamaha:

• FZ 25 (FZS 25) - 795 mm seat height, relaxed riding position (upper body more than lower body), soft suspensions, dual-channel ABS. Cornering capability doesn't inspire confidence. However, it's no more in production and the seat height could be a problem given how it's built (For ref., the R15's 800 mm seat goes below FZ 25's 795 mm seat after you sit down.)
• FZ-X over FZS-FI v4 due to its unconventional, neo-retro look (I loved it!) and more comfortable riding stance/suspensions/seats. However, the 810 mm seat height and low power are a matter of concern.
• MT-15 v2 - Checks a lot of boxes but the riding quality is very stiff - not comfortable at all. The seat height is 810 mm which may be challenging (without a lowering kit for which OEM spares may not be available). Probably a reject.

Honda:

• CB300F - 787 mm seat height, dual-channel ABS, slipper clutch (yet gets stuck at 3rd/4th gear?) Gruffy and slightly less refined compared to usual Honda engines. Bigwing service another major issue I heard. Most probably a reject since there are better bikes in the same category/pricing.

Bajaj:

• Dominar 250 - Almost everything except for its seat height (800 mm), weight (180 kg) and looks goes in its favour. It packs in both comfort and performance. Considering this!
• Pulsar N250/N160/N150/NS200/NS160 - God knows how to differentiate them. Be my God and guide me. Probably still won't buy a Pulsar - I mentioned why

TVS:

• Apache RTR 160/200 4V - Probably a VFM bike but I have no clue about them. Can't figure out if they have an advantage over the Pulsars, Fazers and Gixxers.

Suzuki:

• Gixxer 155/155 SF - Lack of USD fork suspensions and dual-channel ABS, and presence of air-cooled engine (which may heat it up) makes me go for the 250 cc variant.
• Gixxer 250/250 SF - Ticks almost every box it seems! Strong contender although service doesn't seem like what "Maruti Suzuki" is known for in our country. (I know, it's a completely different and wholly-owned subsidiary of Suzuki.)

Cruisers long list:

• RE Hunter 350 - Suspensions setup is poor (risky going over a bump at high speed), hard clutch, seat not comfortable. Cool looks but still a reject probably.
• [Goes above my budget, still considering] RE Classic/Meteor 350 - The Meteor is a better highway muncher while the Classic is more practical (due to its suspension setup and slightly more engaging riding stance) for all types of roads. But I read somewhere that the Classic's Nitrox suspensions on the Meteor will make it better. (Someone please tell me how the change in suspension will help!) The weight, however, is a matter of concern while the height is not as the low-rider seat will reduce Classic's height to 773 mm. Need to check how good the weight distribution is!
• TVS Ronin - No clue!
• Bajaj Avenger 220 - Extremely comfortable but I wonder how that riding stance will play out in moderate/heavy traffic. The torque isn't good either. I doubt if it's a practical bike. Looks old-fashioned too.
• Shortlist based on what I understand about bikes (nothing?):
• Gixxer 250/250 SF - Maybe it's because of the suspensions, but the 800 mm seat height didn't seem very high on 5'3"-5'4" folks on YouTube compared to its 800 mm heighted rivals. (Someone please confirm that.) I learnt that the height can be reduced but don't know by how much and whether it affects its weight distribution.
• Meteor/Classic 350 - Love the bike's character! Other than that, it's probably going to be a difficult vehicle for me to maneuver in traffic.

If there are good bikes that I should consider, please tell me. I'm also willing to consider second-hand bikes under 1 lakh and bikes that are going to release later.

Here's what BHPian rahulcmoulee had t o say on the matter:

I have been using the Meteor with Nitrox suspension for more than a year now, and it really does help improve the bump absorption and makes the whole experience much more pleasant. For starters, it is a lot softer than the stock Meteor suspension which is really stiff. The good thing is the softness doesn't come at the expense of stability or handling. It still remains sure footed and confident through the corners.

Coming to the bike itself, it is an ideal choice for shorter riders. The stock seat is already pretty low at 765mm and the low seat further reduces this. It is super easy to flat foot. The bike also has a low Centre of gravity due to its low slung stance. This makes it very easy to take it off the side stand or put the bike on the main stand despite the 191kg weight. Only time you will feel the weight is when you have to move the bike around by hand. Once on the move, the weight is very well masked and the bike is balanced.

With the nitrox suspension, it makes for a comfortable ride both in the city and the highway.

Here's what BHPian ajay0612 had to say on the matter:

Your requirements favor a roadster with good starting torque and mid-range, also a not so common model.

Ronin is also a great choice at around 1.5L. It is light, has good starting torque and mid-range, good fuel economy too. Its riding stance is a bit more relaxed than CB300F.

May test drive both and take your pick.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.