At this price point, you can get anything from an adventure bike to a fully-faired sportbike to a street naked.
Motorcycles have undoubtedly become considerably more expensive over the past few years, but that doesn’t seem to have deterred too many buyers. Leisure motorcycling is more popular than ever in India, and manufacturers are indulging customers by rolling out more options every day. With purchasing power also steadily going up, the Rs 2 lakh to 3 lakh space is one that’s gaining popularity, and here are the best bikes you can get yourself at this price point.
KTM 390 Duke
Rs 2.96 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Yes, it has received only minor updates since the current generation arrived in 2017. But if performance is your poison, the KTM 390 Duke still remains the most exciting steed you can get for under Rs 3 lakh. Whether it’s outright firepower from the 373cc engine, the taut chassis package or class-leading features like a bi-directional quickshifter, the 390 Duke continues to lead the way when it comes to sporty nakeds. And if a fully-faired sportbike is more your flavour, then its cousin, the RC 390, is only slightly beyond the Rs 3 lakh bracket, at Rs 3.16 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
TVS Apache RR310
Rs 2.72 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
If stretching your budget to accommodate the RC isn’t an option, then the TVS Apache RR310 makes a very compelling case for a faired sportbike under Rs 3 lakh. The once-gruff motor has been refined over the years, and as always, the RR does a great job of balancing sensibility and sportiness. It’s received a good deal of updates over time, and today, TVS’ Built To Order (BTO) program allows you a great deal of customisation on the flagship Apache, including things like adjustable suspension and revised ergonomics. If the brand value is a bigger consideration for you, BMW also sells you essentially the same bike, but with more prestigious badges, for a little more cash.
Honda CB300R
Rs 2.77 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Glance at the spec sheet and the Honda CB300R might come across as a little underwhelming for the price. Its 286cc single-cylinder mill is down on power and torque compared to something like a 390 Duke. But there is one figure on the spec sheet that really stands out. And that’s the 147kg kerb weight. That’s a whole 24kg less than the Duke, meaning that the little CB weighs the same as an Apache RTR 160 4V! What this translates into is a very reactive and alive-feeling motorcycle that’s thoroughly enjoyable to ride, and a lot quicker than its power figure would have you believe. In our performance tests, it completed the dash to 100kph in 6.58sec, which is even quicker than the more powerful BMW and TVS 310s.
Suzuki V-Strom SX
Rs 2.12 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Of course, outright performance isn’t everyone’s idea of motorcycling. For many, it’s about going places and seeing things. Which means you’re looking for a tourer. And the Suzuki V-Strom SX makes for a great one. Based on the competent underpinnings of the Gixxer 250, the little Strom seats you more comfortably and shelters you better from your surroundings. The smooth quarter-litre powerhouse is more than happy to hold you at triple-digit speeds on the highway, and with a 19-inch front wheel and semi-knobby tyres, you can even venture off the tarmac a little. Though with no additional suspension travel over the Gixxer, you can’t get too hardcore. For that, you’ll need to look at something like a Yezdi Adventure or Royal Enfield Himalayan.
Royal Enfield Classic 350
Rs 1.90 lakh to 2.21 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
In its most distilled form, leisure motorcycling is about jumping on a bike to feel good. And few bikes at this price point make you feel any better than the Royal Enfield Classic 350. Throwing on a helmet to ride this bike goes hand-in-hand with donning rose-tinted glasses because it offers a true-blue motorcycling experience. In everything from the way it looks to the way it sounds and its very demeanour, the Classic is a laid-back, easygoing motorcycle that makes you want to take the scenic route and never stop riding. In its latest guise, it strikes the perfect balance of new-age convenience and old-world charm, minus the old-world problems.