The best road trip companions: Top 10 Indian bikes for long rides
There are few things that bikers enjoy more than a long road trip. The adventure that is long-distance touring is one of the best ways to escape from the monotony and routine of daily life. And while India gets a lot of stick for its poor road quality, there is absolutely no shortage of amazing road trips one can take in the country. So if that is what you intend to do and you’re having difficulty selecting the right bike, then here are the top 10 Indian bikes for long rides that you should consider.
Bajaj Dominar
The flagship motorcycle from Bajaj Auto Ltd has been rather quick to establish itself in the bike market. The Dominar is a feature-laden offering that offers some excellent features like the full-LED headlamp. It’s powered by a 373.3-cc motor that finds its roots in the KTM Duke 390’s powerplant. However, the motor has been re-tuned to offer 35 PS of max power and 35 Nm of peak torque. The Dominar offers a very comfortable riding position that is just correct for ‘sports touring’. It’s easily among the best long-distance touring motorcycles that you can buy for roughly Rs. 1.5 lakh.
Royal Enfield Himalayan
The Royal Enfield Himalayan is the least-priced adventure motorcycle in the country. Also, it’s the most modern Royal Enfield model you can buy today. It’s powered by a 411-cc, single-cylinder engine that outputs 24 bhp and 32 Nm. The Himalayan comes with an onboard compass that helps the rider navigate efficiently. The Himalayan offers a high ground clearance of 220 mm and high-set exhaust, which helps it easily wade through deep water crossings.
Royal Enfield Thunderbird
The Royal Enfield Thunderbird is a comfortable cruiser motorcycle that impresses with its relaxed ergonomics and a sufficiently punchy motor. The Thunderbird has been a really popular motorcycle among long-distance tourers. It’s available with two engine options – 350cc and 500cc. The 350-cc motor outptus 19.8 bhp and 28 Nm while the 500-cc motor outputs 27.2 bhp and 41.3 Nm.
Mahindra Mojo
While the Mahindra Mojo has failed to garner a great response from bike buyers, it’s still among the best touring motorcycles you can buy for a reasonable sum of money. It’s powered by a punchy 295-cc motor that outputs a maximum power of 27 bhp and peak torque of 30 Nm. The motor comes mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Mojo also offers super-sticky Pirelli tires that aid the handling in a big way. The Mojo is now available in two variants – UT and XT, which cost Rs. 1.59 lakh and Rs. 1.91 lakh respectively.
Yamaha Fazer 250
The Fazer 25 is based on the FZ25 streetfighter motorcycle that Yamaha launched in India last year. The motorcycle comes with a full fairing, which protects you from wind blast at high speeds. Also, its all-LED headlamp offers decent illumination on dark roads. Its 249-cc, single-cylinder motor outputs 20.4 bhp and 20 Nm. The high refinement and good ride quality make it a comfortable long-distance motorcycle.
Bajaj Avenger 220 Cruise
The Bajaj Avenger is the least-priced cruiser motorcycle that you can purchase in India. The Avenger range of motorcycles is available in two trims and offers two engine variants. The 220 Cruise variant comes with spoke wheels and a huge windscreen. While the spoke wheels help the motorcycle take on the rough terrain, the windscreen offers sufficient protection from the wind blast. The 220-cc mill outputs a maximum power of 18.8 bhp along with a peak torque of 17.5 Nm. The Avenger is also available with a 180-cc motor, but we feel that the 220 Cruse variant is the best bet for long distance tourers.
Royal Enfield Bullet
The Royal Enfield Bullet has been among the most iconic motorcycles around. While it’s too fast or too sharp in the corners, it offers a lot of old world charm and a relaxed riding position. It’s powered by a 346-cc, single-cylinder engine that outputs 19.8 bhp and 28 Nm. It’s also available with a 499-cc motor that offers 27.2 bhp and 41.3 Nm. Both the motors offer decent low-end torque, which makes it easy for this motorcycle to tackle steep inclines. The torque also helps the rider carry a lot of luggage.
Bajaj Pulsar 220F
While the Bajaj Pulsar 220F is at the fag-end of its career, it still makes for a decent long-distance tourer. It offers a punchy 220-cc motor that has been refined by its manufacturer over the last few years. It outputs 20.8 bhp and 19.12 Nm. The 220 is also pretty well priced and costs less than Rs. 1 lakh (on-road). It also offers an excellent headlamp and decent high-speed stability.
UM Renegade
The UM Renegade is not too popular among Indian bike buyers, but it is a decent long-distance tourer. It’s available in two variants – Sport S and Commando. The motorcycle is powered by a 279-cc engine that outputs 25.4 bhp and 23 Nm. The Renegade offers a very relaxed seating position. It also offers a sufficiently punchy motor.
Hyosung Aquila 250
The Hyosung Aquila 250 is the only twin-cylinder cruiser on our list here. It’s powered by a 249-cc, oil-cooled V-Twin engine that offers 26.21 bhp of maximum power along with 21.37 Nm of peak torque. The Aquila 250 offers a punchy motor and a very relaxed riding position. This is yet another affordable motorcycle that’s a great mile-muncher.
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