Top 5 Best Touring Bikes Between Rs 2-3 lakh

You can choose between ADVs, a roadster, a scrambler and even a sportbike!

Whether you are a hardcore motorcycle enthusiast or a regular motorcycle lover, the idea of touring on two wheels is always a very appealing one. So, if you have a budget of Rs 2-3 lakh, here are the 5 best touring bikes in that range to choose from:

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 

Price: Rs 2,85,000 (ex-showroom Delhi)

Real-world Tested Mileage: City - 29.54kmpl, Highway - 31.97kmpl

Royal Enfield launched the second-generation Himalayan, the Himalayan 450 last year and it is the first Royal Enfield bike to have a liquid-cooled engine. The 452cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled ‘Sherpa’ engine producing 40PS at 8000rpm and 40Nm at 5500rpm is punchy and offers good mid-range and top-end performance. The low-end grunt could have been better and the better tractability would’ve made riding it in the city much easier. But if you are looking to use the bike mainly for touring, then the engine has enough power at all times to overtake other vehicles without shifting down a gear. It is quick too, as the ADV accelerated from 0-100kmph in 6.91 seconds (only 1 second slower than the KTM 390 Duke) during our tests. The ADV gets a fuel tank capacity of 17 litres and delivered a mileage output of 29.5kmpl in the city and 31.97kmpl during our tests. 

Also, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450’s inverted fork and monoshock (both with 200mm wheel travel) suspension setup is pliant and soaks up bumps and potholes quite well. And along with the comfortable upright riding posture, the Himalayan 450 offers a really fuss-free riding experience during those long hours on the saddle while touring. There are vibrations on the handlebar and the footpegs when you push the motor a bit hard but it is just a matter of getting used to it. The ADV is pretty agile for a bike that weighs 196kg. And with the round TFT instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity and Google Maps navigation, touring on the Himalayan 450 is a great experience. 

Harley-Davidson X440

Price: Rs 2,39,500 (ex-showroom)

Claimed Mileage: 35kmpl 

Touring on a Harley-Davidson got much more affordable than before when the manufacturer launched the Harley-Davidson X440 last year. The X440 has a good road presence with the Harley-Davidson badge turning heads wherever you go. The baby Harley is powered by 440cc, 2-valve single-cylinder, air-oil-cooled engine making 27.4PS at 6000rpm & 38Nm at 4000rpm. The engine is smooth and has lots of grunt at the low-end of the rev range. The mid-range is quite good as well, and you can comfortably cruise at triple digit speeds on the highway for long periods of time. Vibrations do creep at the top-end, though. The slip-and-assist clutch works really well and with a claimed mileage of 35kmpl and a fuel tank capacity of 13.5 litres, you won’t have to make too many fuel stops on the way when you are travelling from one town to another.  

It gets an upright riding posture that makes you feel in command of the bike and the 43mm KYB inverted fork and gas-charged twin shock absorbers suspension setup does a pretty good job of keeping the rider comfortable even over bad roads. The bike feels quite agile and tips into corners quite easily, making it fun to ride in the mountain twisties. At high speeds, the straight line stability is very good, making it perfect for mile munching on big, wide highways. So, if this is the kind of a tourer you were looking for, then the X440 will suit you best for your next trip. 

Triumph Scrambler 400 X 

Price: Rs 2,64,496 (ex-showroom)

Similar to the X440, owning a Triumph got a whole lot more affordable with the arrival of the Speed 400 and the Scrambler 400 X. The Scrambler is powered by a 398.15cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine and it is a smooth motor that also offers quick acceleration when the taps are opened. The bike has ample low-end grunt, the gearing is a bit short but the mid-range makes it effortless to cruise on the highways. Also, the wide handlebar and the upright riding posture translate into a comfortable riding experience. And that is well complemented by the pliant suspension setup.

Show the Triumph Scrambler 400 X some corners and you’ll notice that the handling characteristics are quite nimble. Not as nimble as the Speed 400, but the difference is not that big. The bike can handle all kinds of trails easily but is not really suited for hardcore off-roading. So, if you’ve wanted a Triumph for touring and a bike that’ll take care of all the aspects without giving you too many headaches in the middle of a long trip, then you should consider the Scrambler 400 X.

Suzuki V-Strom 250 SX

Price: Rs 2,11,600 (ex-showroom Delhi)

Real-world Tested Mileage: City - 36.6kmpl, Highway - 40.05kmpl

The Suzuki V-Strom 250 SX has a commanding presence in the flesh and doesn't look like a 250cc bike. The large beak and the fairing make it look like a bigger capacity ADV. Also, build quality is of the highest order. Powering it is the same 249cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine found in the Suzuki Gixxer 250 and the Gixxer SF 250. The engine has a smooth, linear power delivery and feels quite peppy at the lower revs. The third gear is tall, which allows you to commute at city speeds effortlessly. The mid-range could’ve been better and downshifts are required if you want to overtake other vehicles on the highway. 

The spacious seat and the upright riding posture complement the relaxed nature of the engine very well. But with the rear suspension being on the stiffer side, the bike feels a bit nervous going over bumps and potholes. Also, with the 19-inch front wheel and the wheel travel being not too long, the V-Strom 250 SX is best suited for trails and not for hardcore off-road riding. For touring, the bike offers agile and predictable handling characteristics. This one will be good for you if you like to tour on bikes with a smooth motor and comfortable ergonomics and travel long distances at your own pace. 

TVS Apache RR 310

Price: Rs 2,72,000 (ex-showroom Delhi)

Real-world Tested Mileage: City - 33.1kmpl, Highway - 34.45kmpl

A sportbike for touring? Well, even though the TVS Apache RR 310 is a sportbike, it also offers a good balance of everyday liveability, great performance and handling characteristics. We chose the RR 310 over the RTR 310 because the latter has shorter gearing, which isn’t ideal for touring. The 312cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled motor offers a crisp response from any throttle input and makes its peak power output at 9700rpm. It offers great grunt at the mid-range and top-end of the revs, which translate into exciting performance when you are touring at triple-digit speeds on the highway. You can comfortably cruise at speeds of 100kmph in 6th gear all day and at 120kmph with 7000rpm on the rev counter, minimal vibes can be felt on the footpegs and the handlebar. 

What makes the bike really suitable for touring is its not-so-committed riding posture. The riding posture is almost like a sports tourer with the handlebars being positioned high enough for a comfortable experience and the footpegs being not that rear-set for a sport bike. And combined with the agile handling and great stopping power, the Apache RR 310 is the one if you like to tour on sport bikes.