Top 5 Performance Motorcycles Under Rs 2 Lakh: Real-World Performance Test

Looking for an affordable performance motorcycle? Here’s a list of the top five ranking bikes from our road test bank, and they all cost under Rs 2 lakh

The motorcycles under this segment are not only reasonably affordable but are good enough for office commutes and leisure rides as well. Their sporty design will also appeal to those who are young at heart. The Pulsar was one of the first to kick-start this segment, and now we’re spoilt with choices, thanks to the availability of accessible technology. Let’s see which motorcycle then offers the best performance in terms of power and acceleration, amongst the ones we’ve tested with our trusty VBox.

KTM 250 Duke: 0-100kmph: 8.49s

Thanks to its explosive 248.8cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled DOHC engine, the KTM 250 Duke effortlessly tops our list with a 0-100kmph time of just 8.49s. It reaches 60kmph from a standstill in only 3.51s. Nestling inside a trellis frame, the powerplant pushes out 29.9PS at 9000rpm and 24Nm at 7000rpm. The performance of the motorcycle is more than sufficient for our roads, and the 1290 Super-Duke-derived styling makes the bike an even more tempting proposition. The 250 Duke costs Rs 1.79 lakh.

Yamaha FZ25: 0-100kmph: 10.33s

The strong low-end grunt of the 249cc, SOHC, air/oil-cooled engine helps the Yamaha FZ25 reach 60kmph from zero in 3.77s in our tests. On the other hand, nought to 100kmph up comes in 10.33s. Paired with a 5-speed transmission, the FZ25’s engine is good for 20.9PS at 8000rpm and 20Nm at 6000rpm. The naked motorcycle will set you back by Rs 1.19 lakh. Yamaha has retained the design language of the FZ series in this motorcycle while adding a bit more muscle to it.

Yamaha YZF-R15 V3: 0-100kmph: 11.42s

The Yamaha YZF-R15 V3’s light kerb weight of 139kg and its brilliantly peppy 155cc SOHC VVA-enabled (Variable Valve Actuation) liquid-cooled engine has made it one of the quickest accelerating motorcycles in its segment. The R15 V3 reaches 60kmph from zero in a blistering 3.4s, making it the quickest accelerating motorcycle in this list. However, the engine runs out of steam when closing in on the ton, taking 11.42s from standstill. Speaking about output figures, the V3 makes 19.3PS at 10,000rpm and 15Nm at 8500rpm. The motor works in conjunction with a 6-speed gearbox actuated by slipper clutch. At Rs 1.26 lakh, the R15 V3 commands a small premium of around Rs 6,600 owing to its sophistication of technology and significantly superior riding dynamics.

Bajaj Pulsar NS 200: 0-100kmph: 12.58s

Bajaj’s flagship naked street bike, the Pulsar NS 200 takes 4.86s to reach 60kmph, and 12.58s to crack the ton, both from a dead stop. The tall 6th gear is perfect for high-speed cruising. A 199.5cc SOHC triple-spark DTS-i engine sits inside the perimeter frame and produces 23.5PS at 9500rpm and 18.3Nm at 8000rpm. The motorcycle also comes with an option of single-channel ABS, which is Rs 12,000 more expensive than the non-ABS variant, at Rs 1.11 lakh.

TVS Apache RTR 200 (Carb): 0-100kmph: 12.94s

Despite having a less complex engine than the Pulsar NS 200, the RTR 200 is quicker from 0-60kmph, at 4.02s. However, due to the lack of a sixth gear, the motorcycle is slightly slower than the NS in hitting 100kmph, at 12.94s. A sixth gear could’ve improved the bike’s cruising capability. Interestingly, the RTR 200 Carb variant is 0.65s (from 0-60kmph), and 0.53s (from 0-100kmph) quicker than its fuel injected variant. The 197.75cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled motor with oil cooler generates 20.5PS at 8500rpm and 18.1Nm at 7000rpm. A variant with dual-channel ABS and rear wheel lift-off protection is also available as an option. At Rs 1.10 lakh, this variant is Rs 13,800 more expensive than the non-ABS carb version. All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.