Top Five Used Bikes And Scooters For College Students

These five options make the most sense for cash-strapped yet stylish college-goers

College life is one of the most memorable phases of your life. Amidst classes, submissions, deadlines, field trips, exams and bunking, being a college-student can get quite hectic. Having a personal mode of transport during this phase can be quite thrilling. However, the limited monthly allowance you get from home gets spent on yourself, your friends, at the chai tapri, with your partner and lastly, on fuel. That said, you would also need a stylish and powerful ride to enjoy your college commutes and getaways. Here are five two-wheelers that fit the bill perfectly:

1) TVS NTorq 125 - Rs 60,000

Packing a combination of sharp looks, with a punchy engine, all without burning a hole in your pocket, the TVS NTorq 125 is the perfect option for those looking for both performance and practicality. Powered by a 124.8cc single-cylinder producing 9.38PS and 10.5Nm, this scooter strikes a perfect balance between mileage and dynamics. Not to mention, it also comes with bluetooth connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation among other geeky features.

You will be able to find a well maintained previous generation NTorq starting from around Rs 60,000

2) Yamaha R15 V2 - Rs 70,000

While the Yamaha R15 V4 is too pricey in the used-bike market, fret not, as the Yamaha R15 V2 is still a very good proposition. At its heart is a 149.8cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that develops 16.8PS and 15Nm, and is mated to a six-speed gearbox. This coupled with the razor sharp chassis makes it a great bike to learn the art of riding. It still looks striking, and has a wide fan base. Moreover, Yamaha’s well-known reliability makes it light on your pocket to run and maintain. 

This Japanese supersport can be found for a starting price of about Rs 70,000

3) Bajaj RS 200 - Rs 55,000

If you’re looking for a head-turner, look no further than the Bajaj Pulsar RS 200. With its muscular styling and performance, the Pulsar RS200 suits the college-going riders. The Pulsar has been a popular brand among the young buyers and the RS200, along with the Pulsar NS200 were  game-changing products in the Pulsar lineup. It draws power from a KTM 200 Duke-derived 199.5cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that produces 23.5PS and 18.3Nm and is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. It is very economical to maintain and bides well with a college student’s cash-strapped budget.

This Bajaj sports bike is available on sale in the used-bike market from around Rs 55,000. That’s about the same amount of money you’d spend on a good mid-spec smartphone, and the Pulsar RS200 offers the best bang for the buck in this list if you’re looking for performance.

4) TVS Apache RTR 160 4V - Rs 80,000

The TVS Apache 160 RTR 160 4V is the ultimate amalgamation of design, technology, and outright performance. Featuring multiple riding modes, adjustable levers, connectivity tech, and a powerful 160cc engine that makes 17.55PS and 14.73Nm, this bike is the perfect tool to give you bragging rights amongst your mates at the college parking, while being fairly economical to run thanks to the 160cc heart. In fact, in our tests, the 2021 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V returned 51 kmpl in the city and 48 kmpl on the highway, which is pretty impressive for a 160-odd cc naked. 

Available in different variants, you will be able to find an used Apache RTR 160 4V from around Rs 80,000

5) Bajaj Pulsar 220 F - Rs 40,000

The most iconic motorcycle in this list, and still very desirable amongst youngsters, the Bajaj Pulsar 220 F is a popular half-faired motorcycle among enthusiastic riders who do not want to burn a hole in their pockets. This bike employs a 220cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine churning out 20.4PS and 18.55Nm. This bike can easily touch triple digit speeds, and also tour comfortably.

As it has been a very popular option, you would be able to get a Bajaj Pulsar 220 F home from as low as Rs 40,000