Top 5 Two-wheelers For Santa In India

Christmas is here and Santa is all geared up to go! Here’s what he’d ride if he were in India

Riding the sleigh down the sky, Santa Claus brings joy to children with various gifts for the well-behaved ones. Us motorcycle enthusiasts derive joy from the simple pleasure of biking, and ergo, we aren’t all that different from children when it comes to finding happiness! So as children, we let our imagination run wild to see what if he rode a two-wheeler in India? It would definitely trump an reindeer-driven ride, wouldn’t it? Well, here’s our top five list:

TVS XL 100 - Frugal workhorse

With the XL 100, TVS really gave the masses an affordable means of two-wheeled heavy-hauler. With 4.2PS of power on tap, it may not be as powerful as the rest of the two-wheelers in this list but it is versatile enough to carry luggage (and goods for that matter) of all different shapes and sizes. In fact, TVS offers the moped in two broad versions: the XL 100 Comfort and the XL 100 Heavy Duty. 

The latter features a split-seat setup with the option of getting rid of the pillion seat in favour of a large luggage rack. The trusty moped from TVS starts from just Rs 29,990 (ex-showroom Delhi), and you can read more in-depth about all the variants here. With the XL100, Santa may be slow but it would save him a lot of money when it comes to ownership!

Honda Activa 5G - Reliable, spacious

The Honda Activa has become pretty much a household name when it comes to a no-nonsense, reliable scooter. And likewise, Santa would also want a trouble-free ride for his deeds of generosity. The Activa 5G comes with a bullet-proof 109.19cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine which generates 7.96PS and 9Nm. The floorboard is wide enough to fit even a gas cylinder and the underseat storage stands at a decent 18 litres.

It is priced from Rs 55,934 (ex-showroom Delhi), and is available in two variants STD and DLX. Additionally, Honda also offers the Activa 5G Limited Edition version which comes in these two variants as well. This version features exclusive graphics and colour schemes while the rest of the scooter is similar to the normal variant.  

Royal Enfield Himalayan - Terrain tamer

Dropping off gifts to millions of children is no easy task, and Santa would definitely be traversing through some of our notoriously bad roads. For this, the Royal Enfield Himalayan makes perfect sense as it comes with a properly rugged ADV styling, long-travel suspension on both ends, and an off-road-friendly 21-inch front and 17-inch rear spoke wheels with block pattern tyres.

The 411cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine with oil cooler churns out 24.5PS of power and 32Nm of torque. It is refined enough to sustain triple-digit speeds, and this is one of the reasons why the Himalayan is sought after by many adventure touring enthusiasts. Moreover, at Rs 1.80 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), it is reasonably affordable too.

Ather 450 - Practical and eco-friendly

With fast-melting polar ice caps, Santa would definitely need something that’s environmentally friendly. For this, the Ather 450 seems to be perfect. Thanks to the floorboard-mounted battery and compact electric motor, the scooter comes with a humongous 26-litre underseat storage that is good enough to fit in a proper full-face helmet too. 

That said, the scooter offers a real-world range of only about 75km, so Santa might have to charge-up more frequently. Also, at Rs 1.13 lakh (on-road Bengaluru), it commands a fair amount of premium considering the fact that it offers performance that’s equivalent to that of a 110cc petrol-powered scooter.

New Honda Gold Wing - Luxury on two wheels

The perfect motorcycle for Santa would definitely be the new Honda Gold Wing. The new-generation motorcycle was launched in India in December 2017, and it features a host of updates to make it an even more decadent luxo barge on two-wheels. With a massive 110 litres of total storage in the Gold Wing Tour variant, storing Santa’s goodies wouldn’t be a problem at all. 

What’s more, the new-gen model is loaded with cutting-edge tech like a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) with reverse gear, ‘walking’ mode for low-speed manoeuvrability, electronically-controlled windscreen, music system, heated grips, and even an optional air-bag for enhanced safety! The bike retails at Rs 27.76 lakh and is sold via the CBU route.