World Motorcycle Day: Top 5 Bikes With Best Price, Features AND Performance In Different Budgets Up To Rs 3 Lakh

These bikes offer the best performance, features for every rupee you pay!

Motorcycling is all about passion and the thrill of riding. The Indian market has now matured enough to offer a variety of choices at different price points. So, on this World Motorcycle Day, we have compiled a list of the most value-for-money and fun-to-ride bikes in different segments in different budgets. Whether you're looking for an affordable city commuter, an all-rounder, or a performance machine, these bikes will surely put a smile on your face:

1. Up To Rs 80,000 - TVS Radeon Digi Disc

Engine: 109.7cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder

Power: 8.08PS at 7350rpm and 8.7Nm at 4500rpm

Tested Real-world Mileage: 73.68kmpl in the city and 68.6kmpl on the highway

Price: Rs 80,944 (ex-showroom Delhi)

The TVS Radeon is the smallest and most affordable bike on this list. It may look underrated but TVS has jazzed it up with a range of single-tone and dual-tone colour options. The bike also has chrome highlights that give it a premium look. While the Radeon is known to offer impressive mileage figures, it is surprisingly exciting to ride, thanks to the peppy engine. This along with the unique exhaust note should make your everyday commutes a lot more fun, not to mention pocket-friendly.

The top-end variant of the TVS Radeon is equipped with a full LCD instrument console. It includes a speedometer, odometer, tachometer, fuel level indicator, tripmeter, a clock and basic telltale lights along with additional details like a real-time mileage indicator and service indicators. Other features of the Radeon include an electric starter, a USB charger and an LED DRL (daytime running light), which is placed just below the headlight.

2. Up to Rs 1 Lakh: Hero Xtreme 125R

Engine: 125cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder

Power: 11.4PS at 8250rpm and 10.5Nm at 6500rpm

Tested Real-world Mileage: 81.53kmpl in the city and 61.68kmpl on the highway

Price: Starts at Rs 99,500 (ex-showroom Delhi)

The Hero Xtreme 125R is the Jaipur-based manufacturer’s answer to the popular TVS Raider 125. The Xtreme 125R comes with a properly sporty design. Thanks to its lightweight nature, it handles really well and changes directions quickly, making it a very engaging bike to ride. Also, while the engine is quite refined it is also punchy. With such a great engine and tractable gearbox, city commutes should be an absolute breeze.

The Xtreme 125R is the only air-cooled 125cc bike to get single-channel ABS. It comes equipped with an all-LED lighting setup and gets a negatively-lit full-LCD instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity for call and SMS alerts. The digital display includes a speedometer, odometer, tachometer, fuel level indicator, tripmeter and basic tell tale lights. Other features include hazard lights and an i3S technology (idling stop system) which saves fuel when the bike idles for a while. 

3. Up to Rs 1.5 Lakh: TVS Apache RTR 200 4V

Engine: 197.75cc, air-oil-cooled, single-cylinder

Power: 20.82PS and 17.25Nm (Sport mode), 17.32PS and 16.51Nm (Urban and Rain modes)

Tested Real-world Mileage: 47.61kmpl in the city and 49.80kmpl on the highway

Price: Rs 1,47,820 (ex-showroom)

Another TVS bike on this list, the Apache RTR 200 4V stands out as one of the most versatile 200cc bikes in the market. The TVS Apache RTR 200 4V comes with sharp and aggressive looks. The 200cc naked makes 20.82PS and 17.25Nm in Sport mode, but in Urban and Rain modes, the power figures are reduced to 17.32PS and 16.51Nm. It’s also the first bike in its segment to get riding modes. The engine’s got bottom-end grunt, lots of mid-range drive as well as decent top-end drive. Moreover, the segment-first adjustable suspension makes it suitable for riders of different weights or riding styles, making the already impressive handling even better.  

The Apache RTR 200 4V features a full-LCD instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity via the TVS SmartXonnect app, that provides call and SMS alerts, turn-by-turn navigation, vehicle diagnostics, and crash alerts. The bike also gets a Glide Through Traffic Technology (that lets you ride through traffic without just feathering the clutch). Additional features include an LED headlight with LED DRL (daytime running lights), LED tail light and three-step adjustable brake and clutch levers.

4. Up to Rs 2 Lakh: Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z

Engine: 373cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder

Power: 40PS at 8800rpm and 35Nm at 6500rpm

Mileage: 28.5kmpl (claimed)

Price: Rs 1,85,000 (introductory, ex-showroom Delhi)

The Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z is by far the cheapest 40PS bike in India. Priced at Rs 1,85,000 (introductory, ex-showroom Delhi), it is an extremely value-for-money motorcycle. It features a similar design as the other Pulsar NS bikes but has a different headlight design that differentiates it from the smaller NS models. The engine handles low speeds very well, and in fact, the gearbox is so tractable that you can even ride it from a standstill in 6th gear. The top-end performance of the Pulsar NS400Z is also impressive and it cruises comfortably on triple-digit speeds on the highways.

The Pulsar NS400Z is the most feature-rich Bajaj bike and comes loaded with rider aids and connectivity features. The bike gets an all-LED lighting setup. It has a colour LCD console with a dot matrix inset. Along with the basic speedometer, odometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, trip meter and basic telltale lights, it gets Bluetooth connectivity with call/SMS alerts, phone battery and signal indicators on the LCD, whereas the dot matrix inset shows turn-by-turn navigation. Additionally, it gets a USB charging port and five-step adjustable brake and clutch levers.

Rider aids on the bike include switchable traction control, ride-by-wire throttle and four riding modes: Road, Sport, Rain, and Off-road.

5. Up to Rs 3 Lakh: Royal Enfield Himalayan 450

Engine: 452cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder

Power: 40.02PS at 8000rpm and 40Nm at 5500rpm

Tested Real-world Mileage: 29.54kmpl in the city and 31.87kmpl on the highway

Price: Starts at Rs 2,98,000 (ex-showroom)

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is a fun-to-ride and versatile motorcycle. The ADV effortlessly handles city commutes, highway touring as well as off-road adventures. It provides exciting performance with a comfortable ride experience, which is a boon while touring on Indian highways which many times have bad patches. The engine has sufficient power to keep you engaged but it isn’t scary at all. While it may look intimidating, the Himalayan 450 is an easy-to-ride bike for riders of different skills. Moreover, its segment-first adjustable seat helps even shorter riders to sit comfortably and handle the bike with ease, especially while parking it.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 has all LED lights. It is equipped with a circular 4-inch TFT instrument console with Bluetooth Connectivity and integrated Google Map navigation. The console has two display modes for riding in the day and night. It shows info like speed, odometer, fuel level, rpm, trip meter and other basic tell tale lights. The Himalayan 450 also gets two riding modes: Performance and Eco, a slip-and-assist clutch, new switchgear and a USB charging socket. 

6. Honourable Mention - Up to Rs 4 Lakh: KTM Duke 390

Engine: 399cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder

Power:  46PS at 8,500rpm and 39Nm at 6500rpm

Tested Mileage: 25.26kmpl in the city and 29.64kmpl on the highway

Price: Rs 3,10,520 (ex-showroom)

While this list is up to Rs 3 lakh, it’s important to note that when it comes to budgets extending beyond Rs 3.5 lakh or even up to Rs 4 lakh, nothing can top the KTM Duke 390. It is an all-rounder motorcycle with aggressive and sporty looks and performance that’ll make your heart race, be it while commuting or while going on weekend runs. It is also light, flickable and handles like a dream at both low and high speeds. The Duke also comes equipped with a lot of features and rider aids, some of which are usually found on big bikes.

The KTM Duke 390 has all-LED lighting all around. It comes with a 5-inch TFT instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, and call/SMS alerts. The naked 390 gets three ride modes - Street, Rain and Track. The bikes come with a lot of electronic aids including launch control, supermoto ABS, cornering ABS, traction control and cruise control. The front and rear suspension are also adjustable, significantly enhancing the ride quality.